| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08045708B2 |
Discrete key generation method and apparatus
A computer enabled secure method and apparatus for generating a cryptographic key, to be used in a subsequent cryptographic process, where the key is to be valid only for example during a specified time period. The method uses a polynomial function which is a function of an input variable such as time, and dynamically computes the key from the polynomial. This is useful for generating decryption keys used for distribution of encrypted content, where the decryption is to be allowed only during a specified time period. |
| US08045703B2 |
Apparatus and method for echo-cancellation
There is disclosed a multi-carrier transceiver system for use in echo cancellation. The transceiver system is arranged to generate from input data a multicarrier transmit signal comprising a plurality of multi-carrier data blocks. The transceiver system also has a multi-carrier signal receiver responsive to an input multi-carrier receive signal received from a remote signal transmitter. An echo canceller is arranged to generate from a pair of multi-carrier data blocks (u) a set of frequency-domain echo parameters for use in generating an echo signal, to generate the echo signal using the frequency-domain echo parameters, and to input the echo signal to the multi-carrier signal receiver for use in generating an echo-cancelled receive signal from the input receive signal and the echo signal. |
| US08045701B2 |
Method and apparatus for active reduction of speakerphone singing
In a speakerphone device identification of signals (i.e., voice input or speaker output) in a process for reducing acoustic feedback, in a communication device, is accomplished by adding a signature noise (i.e., an identification mark) to output signals radiated by the speaker to enable these signals to be separated from speech input to the microphone. Having identified the signal (i.e., speech output) likely to cause a “singing” phenomenon, appropriate insertion loss to reduce the feedback may be added to the appropriate speech path within the communication device, to reduce a probability of singing. |
| US08045698B2 |
Adaptive communication application programming interface
An apparatus and method for maintaining data for multi-channel communication queuing associated with different media formats such as telephone, email, and fax. A list of agent data includes information related to types of communication media an agent can access. The data can further include information related to an agent's skills, a list of media routes, statistics for communication channels of specified media types, statistics for an agent, and journals for work items. Priority values for the media routes, the maximum number of queued items for the media routes, and times for escalating a work item can also be included. |
| US08045697B1 |
Method and apparatus for interfacing a customer with a call center
A method and apparatus for interfacing a customer with a call center allows information obtained from a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag to be transmitted to the call center to provide additional information about the customer and allow the session to be routed within the call center more accurately. The call center may be accessed by telephone, computer, or via another type of customer premises equipment over a voice or data network. The RFID tag may be an identification tag provided to the customer for access to the call center or may be a tag associated with the customer and not specific to the call center. The call center may route calls based on routing information contained in the RFID tag information, customer identity and previous sessions with that customer, personal and demographic information and statistical support records for other sessions involving customers with similar personal and demographic information, and according to agent statistical support records. |
| US08045696B1 |
Method and apparatus for determining customer routing in a call center
A method, apparatus and computer program product for determining customer routing in a call center is presented. Information relating to a customer in a communication session with the call center is recorded. The information relating to the customer in a communication session with the call center is evaluated and a determination made whether to transfer the customer to a generalist. The customer is transferred to a generalist when a result of the determining is that the customer should be transferred to a generalist and the customer is not transferred to a generalist and when the result of the determining is that the customer should not be transferred to a generalist. |
| US08045692B2 |
System and method for determining whether to request additional telephone numbering resources by a telecommunications carrier
A system for determining whether to request additional telephone number resources for a telecommunications carrier. The system may include a first database operated by a telecommunications carrier and configured to store data indicative of telephone number usage of telephone numbers assigned to the telecommunications carrier. A computing device may be in communication with a second database via a network, the second database may contain telephone number usage information associated with multiple telecommunications carriers. The computing device may execute software to query the first and second databases to retrieve information associated with the telecommunications carrier (i) to determine current utilization of telephone numbers of a rate center and (ii) to determine months to exhaust of telephone numbers. |
| US08045683B2 |
Tune master caller identification device
Systems for providing a tune master caller identification (ID) device include a telecommunications network and a caller device configured to provide caller identification information for an incoming telephone call, and a tune master caller ID device that is coupled to a telephone device. The tune master caller ID device receives caller identification information, associates a tune with the caller identification information, and plays the tune associated with the caller identification. The telephone device coupled to the tune master caller ID device provides telephone call processing capabilities. Other systems and methods are also provided. |
| US08045682B2 |
Stream current song
An electronic equipment includes a monitor circuit and a message generation circuit. The monitor circuit is operative to obtain information corresponding to media content reproduced by the electronic equipment, and the message generation circuit is operative to include the obtained information in an outgoing message. |
| US08045681B2 |
Method of operating a telecommunications link between two telecommunications devices which transmits display control commands in a separate data channel
A method for operating a communications link between two telecommunications device requires that speech information be transmitted in a speech channel and data signals are transmitted in a data channel that is separate from the speech channel. This provides a particularly user-friendly, convenient method for operating a telecommunications link. To achieve this, display control commands are transmitted in the data channel as data signals, the display control commands triggering a display on a screen of the telecommunications device that receives the display control commands. |
| US08045680B2 |
Imaging device
An imaging device includes an imager 7 which images an X-ray image generated by X-ray irradiation; an X-ray detector 90 which detects X-ray irradiation and outputs a detected signal showing the result of the detection; an EP-ROM 93a storing an offset value of the X-ray detector 90; and a signal processor 61 which generates reference information for acquiring a start timing of imaging by the imager 7 from the detected signal based on the offset value stored in the EP-ROM 93a. |
| US08045679B2 |
Charged particle cancer therapy X-ray method and apparatus
The invention comprises an X-ray method and apparatus used in conjunction with charged particle or proton beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The system uses an X-ray beam that lies in substantially the same path as a proton beam path of a particle beam cancer therapy system. The system creates an electron beam that strikes an X-ray generation source where the X-ray generation source is located proximate to the proton beam path. By generating the X-rays near the proton beam path, an X-ray path that is essentially the proton beam path is created. Using the generated X-rays, the system collects X-ray images of a localized body tissue region about a cancerous tumor. The generated image is usable for: fine tuning body alignment relative to the proton beam path, to control the proton beam path to accurately and precisely target the tumor, and/or in system verification and validation. |
| US08045674B2 |
Method and system for use of TSPC logic for high-speed multi-modulus divider in PLL
Aspects of a method and system for use of true single phase clock (TSPC) logic for a high-speed multi-modulus divider in a phase locked loop (PLL) are provided. A fractional-N PLL synthesizer may comprise a divider that generates a divider signal from a VCO output reference signal. The divider may comprise at least one divider stage that utilizes true single phase clock (TSCP) logic D flip-flops. The first divider stage may operate at substantially the same frequency as that of the VCO signal. The divider may also re-synchronize the VCO signal and the divider signal by using at least two re-synchronization stages that utilize a TSCP logic D flip-flop and a stage for adjusting duty-duty cycle of the divider signal. The TSCP logic D flip-flops circuitry may be integrated with a two-input NAND gate or a three-input NAND gate to speed up the operation of the divider. |
| US08045673B2 |
Core spray sparger T-box clamp assemblies and methods of using thereof
Example embodiments are directed to core spray sparger T-box repairs, specifically, to universal core spray sparger T-box weldless clamps having remote-friendly operation and methods of using universal core spray sparger T-box weldless clamps. Example embodiment clamps may be secured without welding to a variety of upper and lower sparger T-box configurations. Example embodiment clamps may be configured to simultaneously engage a sparger T-box in multiple dimensions to allow a universal fit. Further, example embodiment clamps may be accessed, installed, or removed by interacting only with a front side of the example embodiment clamps, thus potentially reducing difficulty and cost in remote access repairs to example clamps. |
| US08045672B2 |
Core spray sparger T-box attachment and clamp and method for clamping
A core spray sparger T-box clamp for a sparger T-box in a shroud of a nuclear reactor pressure vessel, the sparger T-box clamp including: an anchor plate substantially aligned with a closed end of the T-box; a carrier plate slidably secured to an upper side the anchor plate and latched to the T-box; a saddle bracket secured to a lower side of the anchor plate and latched to the T-box, and a pair of clamp blocks on opposite sides of the anchor plate fixed to sparger pipes coupled to the T-box. |
| US08045667B2 |
Deserializer and data recovery method
A deserializer including a plurality of registers, a sync detector, and a lost bit storage unit. If there is a phase difference between an external input data packet and a recovery clock signal transmitted together with the data packet, the sync detector generates an activated sync detect signal. The lost bit storage unit detects a data bit of the data packet corresponding to an activation point of the sync detect signal. The deserializer recovers the data packet by combining the detected data bit with the data packet. |
| US08045666B2 |
Spread spectrum clock generator
Disclosed are embodiments of methods and circuits to generate spread spectrum clocks. |
| US08045665B2 |
Method of transmitting/playing multimedia data over wireless network and wireless device using the method
A method and apparatus for efficiently transmitting large multimedia data over a wireless network are provided. A wireless device includes a device information reading unit which receives and reads information regarding available capabilities of devices included in a wireless network; a control unit which selects a first device which can process a video stream and a second device which can process an audio stream from the devices based on the information; a stream generation unit which generates a video stream and an audio stream which form the same content; and a wireless transmission/reception unit which transmits the generated video stream to the first device and transmits the generated audio stream to the second device. |
| US08045661B2 |
System and method for blind identification of multichannel finite impulse response filters using an iterative structured total least-squares technique
A system for, and method of, blind identification of multichannel finite impulse response filters. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a decomposition generator configured to construct, from noisy symbols containing data, a block-Hankel structured matrix and a decomposition thereof, (2) an iterative matrix re-estimator coupled to the decomposition generator and configured iteratively to re-estimate singular vectors corresponding to a scalar that satisfies the block-Hankel matrix until a sufficient convergence occurs, (3) a structured low-rank estimate matrix generator coupled to the iterative matrix re-estimator and configured to generate a block-Hankel structured low-rank estimate matrix related to the block-Hankel structured matrix and (4) an STLS channel estimator coupled to the structured low-rank estimate matrix generator and configured to obtain STLS channel estimates from the block-Hankel structured low-rank estimate matrix. |
| US08045660B1 |
Wideband digital spectrometer
A method for reducing interference, comprising receiving a wideband signal, having at least one large amplitude component; adaptively modifying the wideband signal with respect to at least one high intensity component without substantial introduction of non-linear distortion, while reducing a residual dynamic range thereof; digitizing the modified wideband signal to capture information describing at least the high intensity signal at a sampling rate sufficient to extract modulated information present within the wideband signal at an upper limit of the band. The system analyzes a spectral characteristic of the wideband signal; and extracts adaptation parameters for the adaptive filtering. The system therefore provides both large net dynamic range and wideband operation. Preferably, the digitizer and filter, and part of the spectral characteristic analyzer is implemented in using superconducting circuit technology, with, for example low temperature superconducting digital signal processing components, and high temperature superconducting analog filtering components. |
| US08045658B2 |
Reception apparatus, reception method and program
A reception apparatus includes: an extraction section; a transmission line characteristic estimation section; an estimation section; a frequency shift amount production section; a control section; an addition section; a first frequency shifting section; a second frequency shifting section; an interpolation section; a compensation section; a detection section; and an operation section. |
| US08045656B2 |
Weather band radio having digital frequency control
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a digital mixer to receive and digitally mix incoming weather band radio data with a control signal, a digital demodulator to demodulate the data to obtain a demodulated signal, and a digital feedback loop coupled between the demodulator and the digital mixer. The digital feedback loop includes a loop filter to receive the demodulated signal and to generate a filtered output and a fine tune controller to receive the filtered output and a frequency control signal and to generate the control signal based on them. In this way, audible artifacts caused by a frequency step change occurring in an analog front end to which the digital circuitry is coupled can be reduced or removed. |
| US08045654B1 |
Matched detector/channelizer with adaptive threshold
A method of detecting a signal in an input channel of a receiver includes applying each of a plurality of pre-detection bandwidths to an input signal. The method can include deriving, in a cascaded fashion, a plurality of pre-detection bandwidths for the input channel, and determining a temporal and spectral extent of pulsed energy in each of the plurality of pre-detection bandwidths. The derivation of the pre-detection bandwidths for the input channel can be performed by dividing the input channel into a sequence of smaller bandwidth sub-channels, so that the number of sub-channels is determined by how much bandwidth and pulse width range is able to be covered by a single detector. |
| US08045652B1 |
Efficient decoding of spatially-multiplexed signals
A method for communication includes receiving a spatially-multiplexed signal using multiple receivers to produce multiple respective received signals. The spatially-multiplexed signal includes multiple simultaneously-transmitted symbols, which are selected from respective sets of constellation symbols, each constellation symbol representing a respective set of values of a group of data bits. Combinations of the constellation symbols are traversed iteratively. Each combination includes one constellation symbol from each of the sets of the constellation symbols and represents N data bits. The traversed combinations are searched for a combination that matches the received signals. During traversal of the combinations, at least 2N measures of likelihood regarding the values of the data bits represented by each traversed combination are accumulated. The accumulated measures of likelihood are processed to produce soft bit metrics. The values of the data bits carried by the multiple transmitted symbols are reconstructed responsively to the soft bit metrics. |
| US08045650B2 |
Radio receiving apparatus
A radio receiving apparatus capable of making compensation for both amplitude variations and phase variations and of suppressing image interference in a short period of time is provided. A correction value calculation section combines a signal, obtained by multiplying a first digital signal by an amplitude correction candidate value and rotating the phase of the first digital signal, with a signal obtained by multiplying a second digital signal by a multiplicative inverse of the amplitude correction candidate value and performing, for the second digital signal, phase rotation which is in a quadrature relationship to phase rotation performed for the first digital signal, so as to obtain a first combined signal, obtain an inflection point of the first combined signal, and input, to a demodulation section, the amplitude correction candidate value and a phase correction candidate value, which correspond to the inflection point, as an amplitude correction value and a phase correction value, respectively. The demodulation section makes compensation for the amplitudes and the phases and suppresses image interference, based on the amplitude correction value and the phase correction value. |
| US08045648B2 |
Amplitude-shift-keying (ASK) radio-frequency (RF) signal decoding device and method thereof
An amplitude-shift-keying radio-frequency (ASK RF) signal decoding method includes separating a low frequency and a high frequency from an ASK RF signal, which includes a pause section and a non-pause section, generating a divided signal by dividing the high frequency signal, counting the divided signal for the non-pause section of the low frequency signal, and decoding the ASK RF signal based on a result of the counting. |
| US08045646B2 |
Apparatus for estimating phase error and phase error correction system using the same
Provided are an apparatus for estimating a phase error and a phase error correcting system using the phase error estimating apparatus. The apparatus includes: a probability value estimating unit for estimating a negative log probability value for each transmission symbol by transforming a soft output information transferred from the outside to a log A posterior probability ratio (LAPPR) value; an APP value calculating unit for calculating a posterior probability (APP) value by applying a negative exponential function to the transmission symbol; an average value deciding unit for deciding an average value for each transmission symbol using the probability information entirely, partially, or selectively according to a probability information type; and a symbol phase estimating unit for estimating a phase of a symbol based on the decided average value. |
| US08045645B2 |
Signal processor for estimating signal parameters using an approximated inverse matrix
A device that estimates information from a signal includes a receiver for receiving an input signal and electronic processing circuitry. The electronic processing circuitry generates a matrix associated with the input signal and determines an approximation of an inverse of the matrix based on the adjoint of the matrix and a scaling factor associated with the determinant of the matrix. This approximation avoids possible mathematical difficulties that may be encountered in certain situations when a typical matrix inversion is calculated. The approximated inverse matrix is applied to the input signal to transform the input signal into an output signal. Information associated with the input signal is then determined based on the output signal. |
| US08045641B2 |
Encoding of RFID
A method is disclosed for generating data encoded RF (radio frequency) waveform without a separate memory device/chip. The hardware in the proposed method consists of entities performing the operations of time-delay (B), phase shifting (C), attenuation, power dividing (D) and power combining (E). An integral part of the invention is the application of the method in designing radio frequency identification devices or RFID-tags. |
| US08045638B2 |
Method and apparatus for impairment correlation estimation in a wireless communication receiver
A wireless communication receiver improves signal impairment correlation estimation in MIMO/MISO systems by considering different transmit power allocations and different transmit antenna power distributions in its impairment correlation calculations. The receiver may be implemented in according to a variety of architectures, including, but not limited to, Successive Interference Cancellation (SIC) Generalized RAKE (G-RAKE), Joint Detection (JD) G-RAKE, and Minimum Mean Squared Error (MMSE) G-RAKE. Regardless of the particular receiver architecture adopted, the improved impairment correlations may be used to calculate improved (RAKE) signal combining weights and/or improve channel quality estimates for reporting by receivers operating in Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA) systems transmitting HSDPA channels via MIMO or MISO transmitters. A transmitter may be configured to facilitate impairment correlation determinations by wireless communication receivers operating in MIMO/MISO environments, by signaling one or more values, e.g., data-to-pilot signal transmit power ratios and/or transmit antenna power distributions for the data and pilot signals. |
| US08045636B1 |
Maximum-likelihood frame synchronization algorithms for OFDM systems
Autocorrelation algorithms are employed in systems and methods to detect preamble symbols for frame synchronization in WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) or OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) systems. An ML (“Maximum Likelihood”) estimator estimates segment index and frame timing information for an ideal signal scenario. When using the ML estimator, a received time domain signal is sampled. Groups of samples are formed, and the group is further divided into a plurality of portions. Then, an autocorrelation between time domain samples of each portion results in a maximum value which indicates the start of a preamble of the time domain signal. Frame synchronization can then be performed. In other transmission scenarios, the algorithm is modified to use modified estimators of the preamble symbol location. When using the modified estimators, less than all of the portions of samples are compared to one another to find a maximum value. |
| US08045632B2 |
Systems and methods for dual-carrier modulation encoding and decoding
Systems and methods for dual-carrier modulation (DCM) encoding and decoding for communication systems. Some embodiments comprise a DCM encoder for applying a pre-transmission function to at least one 16-QAM input symbol and mapping resulting transformed symbols onto at least one larger constellation prior to transmission. Some embodiments joint decode, by a DCM decoder, a predetermined number of received data elements and compute a set of log-likelihood ratio (LLR) values for at least eight bits from a resulting at least one transformed symbol. |
| US08045628B2 |
Digital video broadcast service discovery
Embodiments are directed to binary phase shift key modulating a first pilot symbol according to a reference sequence, and differentially binary phase shift key modulating a second pilot symbols. The original reference sequence and the delayed differentially modulated sequence are then combined before performing an Inverse Fast Fourier Transform and inserting a guard interval. Receiver operations are an inverse of the transmitter operations, which were just discussed. The receiver does not have to know the reference sequence. Embodiments are directed to specifying a plurality of seeds that are bit patterns each having r bits not all of which have a value of zero, extending the seeds into respective sequences by applying to each seed a recurrence formula; and using one of the sequences as a comb sequence and using the sequences other than the comb sequence as binary phase shift keying patterns. |
| US08045618B2 |
Method and apparatus for MPEG-2 to VC-1 video transcoding
A method for transcoding from an MPEG-2 format to a VC-1 format is disclosed. The method generally comprises the steps of (A) decoding an input video stream in the MPEG-2 format to generate a picture; (B) determining a mode indicator for the picture; and (C) coding the picture into an output video stream in the VC-1 format using one of (i) a VC-1 field mode coding and (ii) a VC-1 frame mode coding as determined from the mode indicator. |
| US08045616B2 |
Image coding device, image coding method, image decoding device, image decoding method and communication apparatus
Each of an image coding apparatus and an image decoding apparatus uses a motion compensated prediction using virtual samples so as to detect a motion vector for each of regions of each frame of an input signal. Accuracy of virtual samples is locally determined while the accuracy of virtual samples is associated with the size of each region which is a motion vector detection unit in which a motion vector is detected. Virtual samples having half-pixel accuracy are used for motion vector detection unit regions having a smaller size 8×8 MC, such as blocks of 8×4 size, blocks of 4×8 size, and blocks of 4×4 size, and virtual samples having ¼-pixel accuracy are used for motion vector detection unit regions that are equal to or larger than 8×8 MC in size. |
| US08045614B2 |
Quantization control for variable bit depth
The quantization parameter QP is well-known in digital video compression as an indication of picture quality. Digital symbols representing a moving image are quantized with a quantizing step that is a function QSN of the quantization parameter QP, which function QSN has been normalized to the most significant bit of the bit depth of the digital symbols. As a result, the effect of a given QP is essentially independent of bit depth—a particular QP value has a standard effect on image quality, regardless of bit depth. The invention is useful, for example, in encoding and decoding at different bit depths, to generate compatible, bitstreams having different bit depths, and to allow different bit depths for different components of a video signal by compressing each with the same fidelity (i.e., the same QP). |
| US08045613B2 |
Module and architecture for generating real-time, multiple-resolution video streams and the architecture thereof
A module for generating real-time, multiple-resolution video streams and the architecture thereof are disclosed. A module for generating multiple-resolution video streams as well as the architecture thereof for use with a video encoder includes a system bus, an external memory and a main processor. The main processor and the external memory are coupled to the system bus. The main processor includes a microprocessor, a main arithmetic unit and a secondary arithmetic unit. By applying the present invention, a less time-consuming arithmetic module can synchronously perform together with a more time-consuming arithmetic module, thereby reducing idle time and increasing hardware efficiency and parallelism. |
| US08045612B1 |
Fast inverse integer transform for video decoding
In video decoding using the H.264/AVC standard, the computation of an inverse 4×4 integer transform of a coefficient matrix derived by variable length decoding may be carried out using data reduction techniques to reduce the computation load. If the index value of the highest-indexed nonzero coefficient in the matrix is three or higher, the transform is computed conventionally, using two 1D transform operations separated by a transpose operation, and followed by rounding and shifting. If the index value of the highest-indexed nonzero coefficient in the matrix is zero (including the case where there is no nonzero coefficient), the inverse integer transform operation includes only rounding and shifting of that coefficient. If the index value of the highest-indexed nonzero coefficient in the matrix is one or two, then the inverse integer transform operation can be performed using a single integrated 2D transform followed by rounding and shifting. |
| US08045611B2 |
Video processing and recording apparatuses and methods
A method for video processing. A first video sequence (VS) is received. The first VS is processed to generate a second VS in a first resolution. The second VS is adjusted to a third VS in a second resolution. It is determined whether the difference between the first VS and the third VS is lower than a predetermined bias level. The second VS is encoded and output if the difference between the first VS and the third VS is lower than the predetermined bias level. |
| US08045608B2 |
Adaptive equalization employing pattern recognition
In described embodiments, an adaptive equalizer employed by a receiver in a communication channel, such as Fibre Channel, employs pattern recognition. When a repeating pattern, such as an IDLE or ARBFF pattern, is employed by a standard to, for example, maintain a communication link, an equalizer of the receiver might adaptively set its equalizer parameters based on characteristics of the signal energy of the repeating pattern rather than adaptively set its equalizer parameters based on characteristics of the signal energy of generally random user data carried on the link. Pattern recognition by the receiver allows for maintaining adaptive equalizer parameters at settings preferred for data detection of the typical random data, improving data detection performance of the receiver when the channel transitions from a preset or synchronization repeating pattern to a user random data pattern. |
| US08045597B2 |
Multi-path searching
A method of multi-path searching in a cellular network is provided. The method carries out a correlation process over a predetermined integration period in relation to a first pilot signal received in connection with a first cell of the cellular network to generate first multiple correlation measurements corresponding to a plurality of time delays in the signal, analyzing the first multiple correlation measurements in relation to the time delays to identify multi-path positions in the signal. Information of the multi-path positions over a first predetermined integration period is stored as a first set of candidate multi-path positions and compared with a second set of candidate multi-path positions derived from second multiple correlation measurements corresponding to the time delays over a second predetermined integration period in relation to the first pilot signal, so as to confirm or reject candidate multi-path positions and define modified candidate multi-path positions. |
| US08045593B2 |
Method of controlling a frequency-converted laser source comprising an external optical feedback component
A method of controlling a frequency-converted laser source is provided where the laser source comprises a laser cavity, an external optical feedback component, a wavelength selective component, and a wavelength conversion device and the method comprises driving a gain section of the laser cavity with a gain signal that comprises a data component and a modulation component. The modulation component of the gain signal comprises a gain modulation amplitude IMOD that is sufficient to shift the available cavity modes in the spectral domain such that lasing at several different cavity modes sequentially is established as the gain signal is modulated. |
| US08045592B2 |
Multiple antenna multiplexers, demultiplexers and antenna assemblies
Exemplary embodiments are provided of apparatus and methods relating to antenna multiplexers and demultiplexers are disclosed. In exemplary embodiments, antenna multiplexers include two or more inputs for receiving a corresponding number of signals from multiple antennas. The antennas may include world cell antennas, AM/FM antennas, SDARS antennas, GPS antennas, and/or antennas combining the preceding. Exemplary antenna multiplexers also include an output for simultaneously outputting the combined signals received by the multiplexer. Demultiplexers for receiving such combined signals and outputting each signal via a separate output are also disclosed. |
| US08045591B2 |
Broadcasting signal receiver and method for transmitting/receiving broadcasting signal
A broadcasting signal receiver and a method for transmitting/receiving a broadcasting signal are disclosed. An identifier of a cell is set in the broadcasting signal and, if the cell is changed, channel information of the changed cell can be obtained from program table information having the channel information of the cell. Accordingly, the broadcasting signal receiver can continuously output a program although the cell is changed. |
| US08045589B2 |
Radio communication system with data structure change
Provided is a radio communication method including: notifying a reception-side radio communication apparatus of omitted-source-address information indicating a first source address permanently assigned to a source device of a first data frame to be transmitted to the reception-side radio communication apparatus; determining whether or not the first source address is identical to a second source address permanently assigned to a source device of a second data frame to be transmitted to the reception-side radio communication apparatus; and transmitting the second data frame to the reception-side radio communication apparatus after omitting transmission of the second source address and also adding, to the second data frame, an omission indication indicating that the second source address is omitted, if the first source address is determined to be identical to the second source address. |
| US08045587B2 |
Apparatus for reconstructing control message, apparatus for restoring control message, method of reconstructing control message, and method of restoring control message
The present invention relates to an apparatus for reconstructing a control message, an apparatus for restoring a control message, a method of reconstructing a control message, and a method of restoring a control message. To this end, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for reconstructing a control message, the apparatus including an index parameter generating section that classifies a plurality of first parameters in a control message according to a predetermined criterion to generate group information and generates one or more index parameters corresponding to the group information, and a control message reconstructing section that reconstructs the control message on the basis of the group information and the index parameters. According to the present invention, the size of a control message to be transmitted and received between a base station and a terminal can be reduced, thereby providing more additional services to the terminal through a limited radio resource. |
| US08045585B2 |
Method and apparatus providing media aggregation in a packet-switched network
Techniques are described for aggregating multiple media packets to improve end-to-end bandwidth efficiency. The techniques include using an RTP aggregation protocol that is not sensitive to packet loss to aggregate multiple media packets under a single header. According to the RTP aggregation protocol, the single header for an aggregated media packet comprises a version field, a zero field, a sequence number field and a trunk ID field. The single header encapsulates the aggregated payload, which is an aggregation of Real-Time Protocol (RTP) segments. An RTP segment either has a compressed format or an uncompressed format. The uncompressed RTP segment includes the complete uncompressed RTP packet copied from the original User Datagram Protocol (UDP) packet. The compressed RTP segment includes the payload of the original RTP rather than the complete original RTP packet. |
| US08045582B1 |
Variable bandwidth communication system
A communication system is provided, which comprises a data conversion module and a framer. The data conversion module is configured to receive a first plurality of data streams. The data conversion module is also configured to provide a second plurality of data streams. Each of the second plurality of data streams comprises first data units, channel identifiers, and format indicators. Each of the first data units is associated with one of the channel identifiers and one of the format indicators. The format indicators are based on variable bandwidths of data streams. The framer is configured to receive the second plurality of data streams. The framer is also configured to identify channel information of the second plurality of data streams. The framer is also configured to allocate the second plurality of data streams into one or more self-describing superframes. |
| US08045580B2 |
Band control method and communication apparatus
The present invention intends to improve communication efficiency between two communication apparatuses each engaged in the communication by full duplex communication method by using a surplus band of the one to transmission band of the other. A first bandwidth required by a first communication apparatus (A) at data transmission and a second bandwidth required by a second communication apparatus (B) at data transmission are presumed. Next, the first bandwidth presumed as mentioned is compared to a first bandwidth used which the first communication apparatus (A) currently uses and at the same time, the second bandwidth presumed as mentioned is compared to a second bandwidth used which the second communication apparatus (B) currently uses. The first bandwidth and the second bandwidth are then adjusted, and a third bandwidth which the first communication apparatus (A) uses at data transmission and a fourth bandwidth which the second communication apparatus (B) uses are determined. |
| US08045575B2 |
Network access mechanism and method
A communications system includes a network that is coupled to a number of terminals, at least some of which are capable of audio or other forms of real-time interactive data communications over the network. Each of the terminals includes a network adapter that is capable of detecting a collision with another terminal on the network. If a collision is detected, transmission of a data frame is aborted, and a backoff time delay is selected. The backoff time delay is selected from a group of delay periods that vary at a rate different than exponentially with a number of collisions. The group of one or more delay periods can contain delay periods that increase linearly with the number of collisions, delay periods that increase according to some power of n, where n is the number of collisions, or a delay period that is selected at random based on a predetermined mean backoff delay. Alternatively, the selected backoff time delay is selected from a group of delay periods that increases exponentially with the number of collisions, but with a maximum value set that is less than the maximum set according to conventional backoff algorithms. |
| US08045571B1 |
Adaptive jitter buffer-packet loss concealment
An audio decoding system comprises a buffer module that receives packets including encoded audio frames that each store audio parameters. A packet loss concealment module that selectively extracts the audio parameters from ones of the encoded audio frames, determines recovered audio parameters based on the extracted audio parameters, and encodes the recovered audio parameters into recovered audio frames. An audio decoding module that decodes the encoded audio frames and the recovered audio frames and outputs decoded audio samples. |
| US08045570B2 |
Extended private LAN
A virtual private network is provided across a Provider Link State Bridging (PLSB) network between a first node connected to a private LAN and a second node connected to a roaming device. The roaming device is authenticated. A successful authentication results in a Service Identifier for the VPN being sent to the second node. Connectivity between members of the VPN service instance is maintained as part of the PLSB Link State process for forwarding table maintenance, rather than by any form of explicit signalling. A single Customer Virtual Bridge/Virtual Switch Instance can be located at the first node to provide point-to-point connectivity to each roaming device. A virtual Residential Gateway function can be combined with the Customer Virtual Bridge/Virtual Switch Instance. |
| US08045566B2 |
Automated router load balancing
One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of load balancing between a plurality of routers. A packet is received at a router from a source host to be forward to a destination host. An algorithm is applied at the router to select a gateway for the source host for packets destined to the destination host. An ICMP redirect message is then sent from the router to the source host to reset the gateway of the source host for packets destined to the destination host. An ARP request is received at the plurality of routers from a requesting host from a source IP address in relation to a destination IP address. An algorithm is applied at each router to determine which single router is to respond to the request. The responding router sends an ARP reply to the requesting host. |
| US08045565B1 |
Method and apparatus for an environmentally hardened ethernet network system
In an environmentally hardened network, a data and power distribution cable is employed in connection with reliable end connectors, high performance physical layer transceivers clocked at a lower rate than is specified and full duplex switched packet transmission techniques between switched nodes in order to extend operational distance between network elements. In a specific embodiment, the data and power distribution cable comprises a data distribution element, a power distribution element, an optional strain distribution element, an optional hollow conduit, and an extra shield and outdoor sheath. The cable may incorporate: 1) a Gel filled outdoor UTP (CAT-5) cable; 2) end connectors of type DB-9 [D-Sub] for connection of the UTP to network equipment; 3) power transmission cable of wire gauge sufficient to carry the power required by network equipment (switches, etc) for the specific segment of the network; and optionally 4) a hollow conduit that permits installation of optical fiber before or after installation of the cable. |
| US08045564B2 |
Protocol-level filtering
Mechanisms are disclosed for detecting protocols independently of the ports used by streams associated with the protocols or applications that may send out such streams. The detecting may entail using a content filter that is hosted on a networking stack, where the content filter may be composed of a stream buffer and handlers for detecting the protocols. The handlers may be further used to modify streams incoming to a port or streams outgoing from an application. The handlers can modify the streams in a variety of ways, including reading, inserting, replacing, deleting, and completing data in the streams according to some policy criteria, such as those set by parental controls. Individual handlers may be selected from a plurality or set of handlers so that they can be matched up to the appropriate streams. |
| US08045563B2 |
Dynamically adjusted credit based round robin scheduler
A credit based queue scheduler dynamically adjusts credits depending upon at least a moving average of incoming packet size to alleviate the impact of traffic burstiness and packet size variation, and increase the performance of the scheduler by lowering latency and jitter. For the case when no service differentiation is required, the credit is adjusted by computing a weighted moving average of incoming packets for the entire scheduler. For the case when differentiation is required, the credit for each queue is determined by a product of a sum of credits given to all queues and priority levels of each queue. |
| US08045561B1 |
Two stage traffic scheduling
A first traffic flow directed to a first wireless device is received. A second traffic flow directed to a second wireless device is received. These traffic flows comprise at least a first service flow classification and a second service flow classification. The first traffic flow and the second traffic flow are scheduled based on the first service flow classification and the second flow classification. This produces first and second device scheduled flows. The first and second device scheduled flows are classified into a plurality of flow classes. The plurality of flow classes comprises at least a first flow class and a second flow class. The first scheduled flow and the second scheduled flow are scheduled based on the first flow class and the second flow class. This produces an aggregate traffic flow. |
| US08045558B2 |
Extensions to IPv6 neighbor discovery protocol for automated prefix delegation
In one embodiment, a method comprises detecting, by a router, a first router advertisement message from an attachment router that provides an attachment link used by the router, the first router advertisement message specifying a first IPv6 address prefix owned by the attachment router and usable for address autoconfiguration on the attachment link. The router detects an unsolicited delegated IPv6 address prefix from the attachment router and that is available for use by the router. The router claims a second IPv6 address prefix from at least a portion of the delegated IPv6 address prefix, for use on at least one ingress link of the router. |
| US08045556B2 |
Apparatus and method for sending multicast packet in mobile digital broadcast system
Apparatus and method for sending a multicast packet in a mobile digital broadcast system are provided. The mobile digital broadcast system includes a broadcaster for indicating the designated recipient in an Internet Protocol (IP) header of a multicast packet and including a temporary IP address of the recipient in the IP header when multicasting data of a designated recipient; a receiver for providing the received multicast packet to an application program for outputting a digital broadcasting when the receiver joins a group of the multicast packet and the recipient is designated to the receiver upon receiving the multicast packet; and an IP allocating server for allocating a temporary IP address when the receiver requests to allocate the temporary IP address, storing the allocated temporary IP address and ID information of the receiver, and sending the allocated temporary IP address and the ID information of the receiver to the broadcaster. |
| US08045552B2 |
Wired exchange of control information in wireless system
Pairing information is automatically exchanged over a temporary cable in a wireless high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) system. Subsequently, the cable is disconnected and a source of HDMI (such as a disk player) wirelessly sends HDMI A/V to a sink (such as a HDTV). |
| US08045548B1 |
Data stream labeling and processing
A transaction is sent over a communication link to a receiving node. The transaction includes data along with a tag identifying a data type of the data. The receiving node either forwards or processes the data according to whether the data type matches the type of data type processed by circuitry associated with the receiving node. Thus, a destination is determined for data transported on the communication link using a data type identifier sent with the data. |
| US08045547B2 |
Method and apparatus for routing and forwarding between virtual routers within a single network element
A method and apparatus for routing and forwarding between virtual routers is described. A method in a single network element comprises peering a first virtual router to a second virtual router, wherein the first and second virtual routers have separate address spaces and separate routing tables, distributing a set of one or more routes from the first virtual router to the second virtual router, wherein a first of the set of routes identifies the first virtual as a next hop of the first route, said first route including a destination, and downloading to a set of one or more forwarding tables, the destination and the next hop. |
| US08045546B1 |
Configuring routing in mesh networks
A plurality of processor tiles are provided, each processor tile including a processor core. An interconnection network interconnects the processor cores and enables transfer of data among the processor cores. An extension network connects input/output ports of the interconnection network to input/output ports of one or more peripheral devices, each input/output port of the interconnection network being associated with one of the processor tiles such that each input/output port of the interconnection network sends input data to the corresponding processor tile and receives output data from the corresponding processor tile. The extension network is configurable such that a mapping between input/output ports of the interconnection network and input/output ports of the one or more peripheral devices is configurable. |
| US08045539B2 |
Virtual group connection scheme for ATM architecture in an access node
A Virtual Group Connection (VGC) scheme for grouping ATM connections. A plurality of VPCs, VCCs, or both are managed together as a single virtual data pipe having a pool of common connection resources (e.g., bandwidth, buffering, etc.) associated therewith. Shaping, grooming, policing, switching, and other traffic engineering operations may be performed on a VGC as a single connection hierarchy operable to be associated with a single customer. |
| US08045538B2 |
Wireless communication method, receiving method, and wireless communication device
In a wireless communication method, a base station device allocates elements of a sequence having an index indicative of a communication parameter to synchronization channel symbols generates a synchronization channel while maintaining symmetry of the sequence, and transmits signals including the synchronization channel. A mobile station device restores synchronization of the signals which are faded corrects the signals based on the symmetry of the sequence, and extracts the communication parameter. |
| US08045535B1 |
Power-efficient channel condition feedback for OFDM channels
A wireless device includes a transceiver that receives packets via a wireless channel. A measurement circuit measures a channel condition of the wireless channel when the measurement circuit is in an active state. A controller identifies a request for a channel condition of the wireless channel in a first packet received by the transceiver, transitions the measurement circuit from an inactive state to the active state in response to the request, and transitions the measurement circuit to the inactive state in response to the measurement circuit having completed measuring the channel condition of the wireless channel during processing of a second packet received by the transceiver. |
| US08045523B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing media independent handover
A technology of detecting MIHP information before an OSI layer 3 process is performed. A method of performing Media Independent Handover (MIH) includes analyzing a field for indicating Internet Protocol (IP) version information, if a value of the field for indicating IP version information corresponds to an MIH layer, performing a process of the MIH layer and performing a process of an IP layer, and if a value of the field for indicating IP version information does not correspond to the MIH layer, directly performing the process of the IP layer. Accordingly, an IP layer that is the third layer of the OSI 7 layers can determine without performing a separate operation whether an MIH process is performed. Thus, a delay of a processing speed of a device can be prevented, resulting in an increase of QoS of a network. |
| US08045520B2 |
Downlink power control for multiple downlink time slots in TDD communication systems
The present invention is a method and system for controlling downlink transmission power levels in a spread spectrum time division communication system having frames with time slots for communication, which receives at a user equipment (UE) a downlink communication from a base station and determines an error rate of the received communication. The UE then produces power level adjustments for each of the time slots based in part on the error rate and transmits an uplink communication to the base station which includes the power level. In response to the power level adjustments and (or) other information, transmission power level is set for each time slot in the downlink communication. |
| US08045514B2 |
Transmitting frames in wireless local area network (WLAN)
A method and apparatus for transmitting frames in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), each station in the WLAN determines whether there is another station in a hidden state. The station transmits a frame to an Access Point (AP) without performing an Request To Send/Clear To Send (RTS/CTS) mechanism when there is another station in a hidden state, thereby improving use efficiency of the wireless network and minimizing frame transmission delay. |
| US08045509B2 |
Network movement detection method in mobile node of DSMIP6 environment
There is provided a movement detection method of a mobile node in a DSMIP6 environment. The movement detection method includes performing neighbor unreachability detection in a network to which a mobile node moves, confirming network movement detection and simultaneously performing IPv4 address allocation when the neighbor unreachability detection fails, performing router discovery at the same time as the IPv4 address allocation, recognizing the movement detection into the IPv4 network when the IPv4 address allocation succeeds, and recognizing the movement detection into the IPv6 network when the router discovery and the IPv6 router discovery succeed. Therefore, the movement detection method can be useful to continuously perform operations as defined in a DSMIP6 specification so as to confirm whether the network to which the mobile node moves is an IPv6 network or an IPv4 network and detect movement to the confirmed network, and to perform a binding update in time. |
| US08045504B2 |
Method and apparatus for facilitating network mobility
Various embodiments are described for facilitating network mobility in communication networks with an aim toward enhancing the scalability of MIP. Generally, in most of these embodiments, a network node (121) sends a message to a network device (131) to establish a data path for a remote unit (101) served by the network node. This message comprises a source link layer address which is associated with the remote unit. The message may or may not be sent in response to receiving signaling to facilitate wireless connectivity of a remote unit via the network node. In addition, the network device to which the message is sent may be an access router (AR) or a foreign agent (FA) of the remote unit. |
| US08045503B2 |
Method for establishing HRPD network packet data service in 1x network
A method for an Access Terminal (AT) in a 1x network to establish an High Rate Packet Data (HRPD) network packet data service includes: initiating, by the AT, a session establishment request to a target Access Network/Packet Control Function (AN/PCF) of an HRPD network; establishing, by the target AN/PCF, an HRPD session with the AT after obtaining session information of an existing HRPD session; performing, by the target AN/PCF and the AT, session configuration based on the obtained session information, and establishing a data connection for the packet data service. In the present invention, an AT in the 1x network can establish a packet data service with an HRPD network when there is an existing packet data session in the HRPD network. The present invention is advantageous for seamless service handoff between the 1x network and the HRPD network, thereby realizing complement of the two networks and improving user experience. |
| US08045501B2 |
Method and apparatus for signaling uplink scheduling information
A method (300) and apparatus (200) for signaling uplink scheduling information is disclosed. The method may include determining (320) whether an enhanced general packet radio service 2-B mobile device and an enhanced general packet radio service non-2-B mobile device are assigned to a same uplink time slot. The method may also include limiting (330) downlink communications to Ap and B radio link control block families when sending packet data to the enhanced general packet radio service 2-B mobile device, if the enhanced general packet radio service 2-B mobile device and the enhanced general packet radio service non-2-B mobile device are assigned to the same uplink time slot. |
| US08045499B2 |
Method of communicating which channel is to be monitored by subscriber units that are idle in a communication system
The present invention discloses, in a two-way radio frequency (RF) communications system having at least one repeater, a plurality of channels, and a plurality of subscriber units, a repeater receives a message that identifies a channel that is selected to serve as a rest channel for the system. The channel that is currently serving as the rest channel for the system is monitored by subscriber units that are idle in the system. If the repeater determines that the channel selected to serve as the rest channel is hosted by the repeater, the repeater periodically transmits an identity of the channel as the channel currently serving as the rest channel on at least the channel. |
| US08045492B2 |
Dynamic establishment of virtual circuits using multi-segment pseudowires
The present invention provides a technique for automatically establishing a virtual circuit from one edge device to another through a core network. The virtual circuit may comprise one or more pseudowire segments. These pseudowire segments extend between adjacent edge and core devices within the core network. Pseudowire segments through the core network are automatically stitched together as a setup message is forwarded from a first edge device to a second edge device through the core network. A virtual circuit is established in one direction, and packets are forwarded in an opposite direction. With the present invention, a virtual circuit comprising any number of pseudowire segments, as well as two attachment circuits, may be established in an automatic and efficient manner upon being initiated by the first edge device. |
| US08045489B2 |
Method and system for the automatic configuration of conference resources
A method for the automatic configuration of conference resources includes receiving a user request identifying at least one conference resource to be used in a conference. The at least one conference resource is reserved for the conference. Operation of the conference resource is automatically initiated without user interaction. |
| US08045483B1 |
Methods and apparatus for performing reverse auto-negotiation in network communication
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for performing reverse auto-negotiation, in which one network device establishes a link with another network device at a preferred operating mode (e.g., the lowest speed) common to both devices without linking twice. The physical layer of a local network device (local PHY) may stall the normal auto-negotiation process with the link partner, while receiving the abilities of the link partner. The local PHY may then transmit a signal having only the preferred common operating mode (e.g., the lowest speed) encoded within. The link partner may then conclude that the local PHY is only capable of the preferred common operating mode (e.g., the lowest speed) and a link between the two devices may be established at that common mode. |
| US08045477B2 |
Smart protection escalation mechanism prevention
Techniques are provided for detecting at a controller associated with a physical layer of a network an occurrence of a failure within the physical layer of the network. In response to detecting the failure, the controller sends messages to at least first and second nodes in a transport layer of the network, where the messages are configured to indicate normal operations in the physical layer so as to prevent execution of transport layer protection processes for a period of time. |
| US08045475B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing availability metrics for measurement and management of ethernet services
Maintenance entities may be defined between customer and provider flow points to allow performance management to take place on an Ethernet network. The maintenance entities may be defined for access link, intra-domain, and inter-domain, and may be defined on a link or service basis. Performance parameters, including availability metrics, may be collected for the maintenance entities. The provision of such availability metrics in an Ethernet based solution to facilitate consistency of service management and operations for carriers transitioning to the Ethernet solution. |
| US08045472B2 |
Credit management when resource granularity is larger than credit granularity
In one embodiment, a receiver on a credit-based flow-controlled interface is configured to free one or more data credits early when a data payload is received that incurs fewer unused data credits within a buffer memory that is allocated at a coarser granularity than the data credits. In another embodiment, header credits and data credits are dynamically adjusted based on actual packet data payload sizes. |
| US08045468B2 |
Apparatus and method of displaying power line communication channel information
Provided is an apparatus and method of displaying power line communication (PLC) channel information. The apparatus for displaying PLC channel information includes a channel information determining unit which performs channel estimation of a PLC channel, and, based on the channel estimation, determines channel information on the PLC channel including a bandwidth of the PLC channel which is available for a user in a PLC network; and a channel information displaying unit which displays the channel information to the user. |
| US08045466B2 |
Communication method and apparatus
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of sending, from a processing system, a message to a destination identified in the message, the destination being one of a plurality of destinations, the message being sent via an intermediate module, each of the processing system and the destinations being connected to the intermediate module by individual point-to-point connections, comprising: resolving the address of the destination identified in the message; sending the message and the resolved address across the connection to the intermediate module; and at the intermediate module, receiving the message and resolved address, selecting, based on the resolved address, through which of the point-to-point connections the message should be sent; and sending the message through the selected connection. |
| US08045461B2 |
Method and device for implementing virtual-switch
The present invention provides a method and a device for implementing a V-Switch. Through setting up a V-Switch correlation with respect to at least two VLAN tags, a DRE performs a V-Switch transmission on an Ethernet frame received according to the V-Switch correlation with respect to at least two VLAN tags. The invention can expand the number of V-Switch connections carried on a local link to 4096×4096, or even to 4096×4096×4096 . . . Therefore, the problem of insufficient VLAN tag resources is solved, and the requirements for the scale of V-Switch technology is met. Moreover, a more effective V-Switch method is provided, the switching capability of V-Switch is improved, and the application scale of V-Switch technology is enlarged. |
| US08045451B2 |
Apparatus and method for channel estimation in a mobile communication system
An apparatus and a method for estimating a Channel Impulse Response (CIR) with respect to a location where a power of a channel exists are provided to enhance a channel estimator in a mobile communication system. The apparatus includes a CIR searcher for selecting a CIR group that is a region where a channel power exists, a CIR estimation part for estimating a CIR of the selected CIR group, and a Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) for performing a DFT on the estimated CIR. |
| US08045447B2 |
Low peak-to-average power ratio transmission in frequency-division multiple access systems
A method for communication includes allocating, in a multiple-access communication system (20) that uses multiple subcarriers, first subcarriers to a first communication terminal for transmitting first data, and second subcarriers to a second communication terminal for transmitting second data. The first communication terminal is assigned to modulate the first data onto at least some of the first subcarriers using a first multi-carrier modulation scheme, to produce a first signal. The second communication terminal is assigned to modulate the second data onto at least some of the second subcarriers using a second multi-carrier modulation scheme, which has a reduced peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) relative to the first multi-carrier modulation scheme, to produce a second signal. Simultaneous communication is carried out with the first and second communication terminals by simultaneously receiving the first and second signals over the first and second subcarriers. |
| US08045440B2 |
Optical disk cleaning device
An optical disk polishing device which includes: a disk holder for rotatably holding an optical disk, the disk holder installed in a lower fixed portion; a cylindrical buff disposed in parallel with the surface of the optical disk and perpendicular to a rotary shaft of the disk holder in an offset manner; a drive motor to rotate the buff; and an upper opening-and-closing portion normally urged to an open state to the lower fixed portion by a spring or other member. The device makes it possible to clean a readout surface of the optical disk in a short period of time, and to be offered at a low price owing to the simple and small-sized structure thereof. |
| US08045439B1 |
System and method for storing data to an optical recording device
A system includes an encoding module and a laser driver module. The encoding module is configured to encode a data stream. The laser driver module is configured to convert the encoded data stream into a write signal including one or more edges. The write signal is output to an optical writer. The laser driver module is configured to adjust an actual position at which the optical writer writes a first edge of the one or more edges on an optical storage medium away from a desired position for the first edge. The adjustment is made based on (i) a first preceding edge position, (ii) a first following edge position, (iii) a second preceding edge position or a second following edge position, and (iv) a third preceding edge position or a third following edge position. The first edge corresponds to a beginning of a mark edge of the write signal. |
| US08045434B2 |
Method of accessing information stored in predetermined data area on optical disc and information reproducing apparatus thereof
A method of accessing an optical disc is disclosed. The method includes: enabling a focus servo control without enabling a tracking servo control, and then moving an optical pick-up unit in a radial direction of the optical disc; obtaining at least a first reference signal and a second reference signal according to a laser beam reflected from the optical disc when the optical pick-up unit is moving in the radial direction; and monitoring at least the first reference signal and the second reference signal to identify a boundary of a predetermined data area on the optical disc. |
| US08045432B2 |
Optical disc device
Light emitted from a radiation light source 1 passes through a diffraction grating 3a and is separated into transmitted light a and +1st/−1st order diffracted lights b, c. These lights are collected through an objective lens 7 on tracks of an optical disc 8 in a partially overlapped state. Light reflected by the tracks passes through the objective lens 7 and is incident upon light diverging means 13a. Subsequently, light corresponding to the transmitted light “a” diverges into two light beams that are respectively incident upon light detection regions A1, A2, light corresponding to the diffracted lights “b” and “c” respectively diverges into two light beams that are respectively incident upon light detection regions B1, B2, and C1, C2. A tracking error signal associated with the tracks of the optical disc 8 is generated by combining signals detected in the light detection regions A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2. |
| US08045422B2 |
Near-field light generating element comprising surface plasmon antenna and waveguide with groove
Provided is a near-field light generating element in which as much amount as possible of waveguide light can be coupled with a plasmon antenna. The element comprises a light waveguide and a plasmon antenna comprising a surface or edge for propagating surface plasmon excited by waveguide light, extending to a near-field light generating end. A groove is formed in a waveguide side surface. And at least a portion of the surface or edge is embedded in the groove or located directly above the groove, being opposed to a wall or bottom surface of the groove with a predetermined distance, so as for waveguide light to be coupled with the plasmon antenna in surface plasmon mode. This configuration enables the surface or edge to be located at the position in which the surface or edge can be coupled with more amount of light, thereby to improve the light use efficiency. |
| US08045420B2 |
Medicine timer
A medicine holder encloses one or more medicines which are in their original labeled containers, and emits an alarm signal when each dose is due. The alarm is automatically silenced when the holder is opened to retrieve the medicine. The timer is then automatically restarted when the holder is closed. The dose regimen is determined by an easily-operated selector switch, and is visibly displayed. |
| US08045416B2 |
Method and memory device providing reduced quantity of interconnections
Methods, devices and systems for reducing the quantity of external interconnections of a memory device are disclosed. Implementation of one such method, device and system includes inputting over an address bus a first portion of an address of a next row of memory cells to be activated. The first portion of the address of the next row of memory cells to be activated is embedded in a command related to the previously activated row of memory cells. The next row of memory cells is subsequently activated according to a concurrently received second portion of the address of the next row of memory cells also received over the address bus. The portioning of the address signals can reduce the width of the address bus and, therefore, the number of required respective external interconnections. |
| US08045413B2 |
High speed DRAM architecture with uniform access latency
A Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) performs read, write, and refresh operations. The DRAM includes a plurality of sub-arrays, each having a plurality of memory cells, each of which is coupled with a complementary bit line pair and a word line. The DRAM further includes a word line enable device for asserting a selected one of the word lines and a column select device for asserting a selected one of the bit line pairs. A timing circuit is provided for controlling the word line enable device, the column select device, and the read, write, and refresh operations in response to a word line timing pulse. The read, write, and refresh operation are performed in the same amount of time. |
| US08045410B2 |
Memory cell array
A complementary field-effect (CMOS) circuit is provided which includes a current-limiting device arranged along a power-supply bus or a ground bus of the circuit The current-limiting device is configured to prevent latch up of the CMOS circuit. More specifically, the current-limiting device is configured to maintain a junction of the parasitic pnpn diode structure as reverse-biased. A method is also provided which includes creating a current-voltage plot of a pnpn diode arranged within a first CMOS circuit which is absent of a current-limiting device arranged along a power bus of the circuit. In addition, the method includes determining a holding current level from the current-voltage plot and sizing a current-limiting device to place along a power bus of a second CMOS circuit comprising similar design specifications as the first CMOS circuit such that the current through the second CMOS circuit does not exceed the holding current level. |
| US08045409B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cells that are arranged at intersections of a word line with bit line pairs, a precharge circuit that is arranged for each of the bit line pairs and is configured to precharge each of the bit line pairs, and a Y-switch circuit that is arranged for each of the bit line pairs and is configured to select each of the bit line pairs. The semiconductor memory device further includes a mode switching unit that switches the normal mode and the test mode in accordance with a mode selection signal that is externally supplied, a plurality of individual control units that control operation of each of the precharge circuits in accordance with operation of each of the Y-switch circuits in the normal mode, and a block control unit that collectively turns off all of the precharge circuits in the test mode. |
| US08045408B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit with multi test
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a multi-mode control signal generating unit configured to control an activation of a up/down mat I/O switch control signal, which controls I/O switches in a up/down mat, according to a multi-test mode signal and a read/write discriminating signal, a multi-mode decoder configured to output multi-mat select signals to simultaneously activate a plurality of mats according to a multi-test mode active write signal, and a mat controller configured to enable word lines and the I/O switches according to the up/down mat I/O switch control signal and the multi-mat select signals. |
| US08045406B2 |
Latency circuit using division method related to CAS latency and semiconductor memory device
A latency circuit for use in a semiconductor memory device includes a latency control clock generator generating an m-divided division signal from an external clock and at least one latency control clock from the m-divided division signal, wherein m is a natural number greater than or equal to 2. The latency circuit also includes a latency signal generator generating a latency signal in response to the at least one latency control clock, a latency control signal and an internal read command signal, wherein the latency control signal is generated from a column address strobe (CAS) latency and the internal read command signal is generated in response to a received read command. |
| US08045402B2 |
Assisting write operations to data storage cells
A data store and method of storing data is disclosed that comprises: an input for receiving a data value; at least one storage cell comprising: a feedback loop for storing the data value; an output for outputting the stored data value; the feedback loop receiving a higher voltage and a lower voltage as power supply, the data store further comprising: a voltage supply for powering the data store, the voltage supply outputting a high voltage level and a low voltage level; write assist circuitry arranged between the voltage supply and the at least one storage cell, the write assist circuitry being responsive to a pulse signal to provide a discharge path between the high voltage level and a lower voltage level and thereby generate a reduced internal voltage level from the high voltage level for a period dependent on a width of the pulse signal, the reduced internal voltage level being lower than the high voltage level, such that when powered the feedback loop receives the reduced internal voltage level as the higher voltage for a period determined by the pulse width and the high voltage level at other times; and pulse signal generation circuitry for generating said pulse signal. |
| US08045401B2 |
Supporting scan functions within memories
A memory is disclosed comprising: a storage array for storing data; and access circuitry for transmitting data to and from the storage array. The access circuitry forms a data path for inputting and outputting data to the storage array. The access circuitry comprises a latch configured to latch in response to a first phase of a first clock signal and a further latch configured to latch in response to a second phase of a second clock signal, the further latch comprises an output latch for outputting the data from the storage array, and the first and second clock signals are synchronized with each other. The memory further comprises: a multiplexer, a scan input and a scan enable input, the multiplexer being responsive to an asserted scan enable signal at the scan enable input to form a scan path comprising the latch and the further latch connected together to form a master slave flip flop, such that scan data input at the scan input passes through the master slave flip flop and not through the storage array while the scan enable signal is asserted and is output by the output latch. |
| US08045400B2 |
Circuit and method for controlling read cycle
A circuit for controlling the read cycle includes plurality of shift stages configured to sequentially shift read signals; and an activating unit configured to activate a read cycle signal which represents a read cycle, by performing logical operation for output signals of the plurality of the shift stages, wherein the plurality of the shift stages are configured to sequentially shift the read signals for a period corresponding to burst setting information. |
| US08045399B2 |
Data output circuit in a semiconductor memory apparatus
A data output circuit in a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a pre-driver configured to receive input data and then produce a pull-up signal and a pull-down signal, a pull-up driver configured to pull-up drive a first node in response to the pull-up signal and provide an additional pull-up drive when a voltage level on the first node transitions, a pull-down driver configured to pull-down drive a second node in response to the pull-down signal and provide an additional pull-down drive when a voltage level on the second node transitions, and a pad coupled to the first and second nodes to generate output data. |
| US08045396B2 |
Memory and reading method thereof
A reading method applied for a memory, which includes a cell row including a first memory cell coupled to a first bit line and a second memory cell coupled to a second bit line is provided. The reading method comprises the following steps. Firstly, the first bit line coupled to a first terminal of the first memory cell is selected for reading the first memory cell in a time period. Next, the second terminal of the first memory cell is discharged via the second bit line coupled to the second memory cell in the time period. |
| US08045391B2 |
Non-volatile memory and method with improved sensing having bit-line lockout control
In sensing a group of cells in a multi-state nonvolatile memory, multiple sensing cycles relative to different demarcation threshold levels are needed to resolve all possible multiple memory states. Each sensing cycle has a sensing pass. It may also include a pre-sensing pass or sub-cycle to identify the cells whose threshold voltages are below the demarcation threshold level currently being sensed relative to. These are higher current cells which can be turned off to achieve power-saving and reduced source bias errors. The cells are turned off by having their associated bit lines locked out to ground. A repeat sensing pass will then produced more accurate results. Circuitry and methods are provided to selectively enable or disable bit-line lockouts and pre-sensing in order to improving performance while ensuring the sensing operation does not consume more than a maximum current level. |
| US08045389B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A dummy cell array is provided in a memory cell array, and an intermediate buffer is provided between input/output circuits, whereby control signals to the input/output circuits can be operated at high speed and with a high frequency while the area increasing effect is reduced even in a memory with a large bit width. |
| US08045386B2 |
Methods and apparatus for programming a memory cell using one or more blocking memory cells
Methods and apparatus for programming a memory cell using one or more blocking memory cells facilitate mitigation of capacitive voltage coupling. The methods include applying a program voltage to a selected memory cell of a string of memory cells, and applying a cutoff voltage to a set of one or more memory cells of the string between the selected memory cell and a select gate. The methods further include applying a pass voltage to one or more other memory cells of the string between the selected memory cell and the select gate. Other methods further include applying other pass voltages, other cutoff voltages and/or intermediate voltages to still other memory cells of the string. |
| US08045383B2 |
Non-volatile memory devices including dummy word lines and related structures and methods
A non-volatile memory device may include a semiconductor substrate including an active region at a surface thereof, a first memory cell string on the active region, and a second memory cell string on the active region. The first memory cell string may include a first plurality of word lines crossing the active region between a first ground select line and a first string select line, and about a same first spacing may be provided between adjacent ones of the first plurality of word lines. The second memory cell string may include a second plurality of word lines crossing the active region between a second ground select line and a second string select line, and about the same first spacing may be provided between adjacent ones of the second plurality of word lines. Moreover, the first ground select line may be between the second ground select line and the first plurality of word lines, and the second ground select line may be between the first ground select line and the second plurality of word lines. Moreover, portions of the active region between the first and second ground select lines may be free of word lines, and a second spacing between the first and second ground select lines may be at least about 3 times greater than the first spacing. Related methods are also discussed. |
| US08045382B2 |
Flash memory devices and erasing methods thereof
Disclosed is an erasing method for a flash memory device that includes erasing memory cells of a selected memory block and post-programming the erased memory cells to have a threshold voltage distribution with the lowest level that is at or near 0V. The post-programming includes first post-programming the memory block in the unit of memory block and second post-programming the memory block in the unit of word line. |
| US08045381B2 |
Device for protecting a memory against attacks by error injection
A memory is secured against an error injection during the reading of a datum. The memory includes: means for reading a reference datum in the memory during a phase of reading a datum stored in the memory; means for comparing the reference datum read with an expected value; and means for generating an error signal if the datum read is different from the expected value. Application is provided particularly but not exclusively to the protection of memories integrated into smart cards. |
| US08045380B2 |
Flash memory device and program method of flash memory device using different voltages
A flash memory and a program method of the flash memory include applying a pass voltage to word lines to boost a channel voltage, which is discharged to a ground voltage. A program voltage is applied to a selected word line and a local voltage is applied to at least one word line supplied with the pass voltage while the program voltage is being applied to the selected word line. The local voltage is lower than the pass voltage and equal to or higher than the ground voltage. The boosted channel voltage may be discharged before the program voltage is applied to the selected word line. |
| US08045373B2 |
Method and apparatus for programming memory cell array
Disclosed are a method and device for programming an array of memory cells. |
| US08045371B2 |
Magnetic storage device having a buffer track and storage tracks, and method of operating the same
An information storage device includes a magnetic structure having a buffer track and a plurality of storage tracks connected to the buffer track. A write/read unit is disposed on the magnetic structure, and a plurality of switching devices are respectively connected to the buffer track, the plurality of storage tracks, and the write/read unit. The switching devices that are respectively connected to the buffer track and the storage tracks. The information storage device further includes a circuit configured to supply current to at least one of the magnetic structure and the write/read unit. |
| US08045367B2 |
Phase change memory
A phase change memory with a primary memory array, a reference memory array, and a comparison circuit is provided. The electrical characteristic curve of the recording layers of the primary memory units is different from the electrical characteristic curve of the recording layers of the reference memory units. The primary memory array includes at least one primary memory unit to generate at least one sensing signal, wherein each of the primary memory units includes at least one recording layer can be programmed to a first resistance and a second resistance. The reference memory array includes at least one reference memory unit to generate at least one reference signal, wherein each of the reference memory units includes at least one recording layer can be programmed to change its resistance. The comparison circuit compares the sensing signal and the reference signal to generate a comparison result. |
| US08045355B2 |
Semiconductor memory device including a reference cell
A semiconductor memory device comprises a plurality of cell arrays, each cell array including a plurality of mutually parallel word lines, a plurality of mutually parallel bit lines disposed to cross these word lines, and a plurality of cells connected to the intersections of these word lines and bit lines, respectively, one portion of the cell arrays forming a memory cell array that has the cells as memory cells, and another portion of the cell arrays forming a reference cell array that has the cells as reference cells. A cell selection circuit is operative to select from the memory cell array a memory cell whose data is to be read, and to select from the reference cell array a reference cell at a position corresponding to a position of the memory cell selected in the memory cell array. A sense amplifier circuit is operative to detect and compare a current or a voltage of the selected memory cell with a current or a voltage of the selected reference cell, and thereby read data of the memory cell. |
| US08045354B2 |
Active generator control sequence
A method for operating a matrix converter to convert n phases of a generator into alternating voltage with nr (nr |
| US08045353B2 |
Integrated circuit capable of operating at different supply voltages
A chip configuration for dual board voltage compatibility comprising ballast I/O pads, regulator control block and VDDCO pad. If 1.8V is available on board, all 1.8V pads are connected to the package pins and the VDDCO pad is double bonded with one 1.8V package pin. This ensures that the regulator is in operation providing 1.2V supply to the core. If 1.2V is available on board, all 1.2V pads are bonded to the package pins and VDDCO pad is left unbonded. A weak pulldown ensures that the regulator is inoperational and the gate voltage of ballast transistor is pulled up. Now 1.2V pads directly get supply from the board through package pins and is provided to the core without suffering IR drop. |
| US08045352B2 |
Power converter
A power converter includes a switching device composed of parallel-connected semiconductor chips evenly divided into two groups. The power converter includes a positive conductor, a capacitor and an output electrode. The positive conductor includes first and second terminal portions. The output electrode includes an end portion joined to a base portion having first and second connecting portions. The output electrode is formed so as to reduce or cancel a difference existing between an inductance L1 of a current path from a positive terminal of the capacitor to the first terminal portion and an inductance L2 of a current path from the positive terminal to the second terminal portion, by providing a difference between an inductance L3 of a current path from the first connecting portion to the end portion and an inductance L4 of a current path from the second connecting portion to the end portion. |
| US08045346B2 |
Modular multi-pulse transformer rectifier for use in asymmetric multi-level power converter
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a system having multiple modular transformers each including a primary winding coupled to an input power source and phase-shifted secondary windings each coupled to a power cell. The system further includes different phase output lines coupled to a load. These lines may include first, second and third phase output lines. |
| US08045342B2 |
Plasma display device
A plasma display device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the plasma display device includes a plasma display panel (PDP), a chassis base having one side for supporting the PDP, and a printed circuit board assembly (PBA) mounted on another side of the chassis base. The chassis base includes a main frame mounted on the PDP, a bracket mounted on the main frame, a sub-frame mounted on at least one of the main frame, the bracket, and the PDP, and a shield box that is mounted to at least one of the main frame, the bracket, and the sub-frame, and that includes the PBA. One embodiment reduces weight of a chassis base and manufacturing cost, and improves impact resistance of a PDP. |
| US08045339B2 |
Multiple component mounting system
A multiple component mounting system includes a first carrier including a base. A plurality of first component coupling members are located on the base and define a first component channel. At least one of the first component coupling members include a first resilient member that is operable to engage a first component when the first component is located in the first component channel in order to secure the first component to the base free of the use of a tool. A plurality of second component coupling members are located on the base and define a second component channel. At least one of the second component coupling members include a second resilient member that is operable to engage a second component when the second component is located in the second component channel in order to secure the second component to the base free of the use of a tool. A plurality of second carrier coupling members are located on the base and operable to secure the base to a second carrier that may then be mounted to an information handling system chassis. |
| US08045335B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes first and second assembled bodies (12A, 12B). The first assembled body is provided with a first semiconductor chip, a high voltage bus bar (21) connected to one surface of the first semiconductor chip, a first metal wiring board (24-1) connected to the other surface of the first semiconductor chip with a bonding wire, and a third metal wiring board (24-3) connected to the first metal wiring board. The second assembled body is provided with a second semiconductor chip, a low voltage bus bar (23) connected to one surface of the second semiconductor chip with a bonding wire, a second metal wiring board (24-2) connected to the other surface of the second semiconductor chip, and a fourth metal wiring board (24-4) connected by being returned from an end portion of the second metal wiring board and arranged in parallel to the second metal wiring board. The first assembled body and the second assembled body are arranged in a stacked structure wherein the assembled bodies are being separated. Inductance of a main circuit is reduced by the semiconductor module structure. |
| US08045334B2 |
Component adapted for being mounted on a substrate and a method of mounting a surface mounted device
A supporting component (1) adapted for being mounted on a substrate (11) and for serving as a support for a surface mounted device (15) comprises a body (2) having a first surface (3) adapted for being mounted on the substrate (11), and a second surface (4) being adapted for supporting the surface mounted device (15). The second surface (4) is inclined in relation to the first surface (3). The supporting component (1) further comprises a first supporting component conductor (6) adapted for forming an electrical contact between a first substrate conductor (12) of the substrate (11) and a first electrode (16) of the surface mounted device (15). In a method of mounting a surface mounted device (15) in an inclined manner on a substrate (11) the supporting component (1) is mounted on the substrate (11) with the surface mounted device (15) on top of it. |
| US08045333B2 |
Intrinsically safe compliant circuit element spacing
A compliant circuit element spacing system comprises a circuit board, a dummy spacer component, and a compliant circuit element. One or more active components are mounted to the circuit board. The dummy spacer component is also mounted to the circuit board, such that the dummy spacer component is electrically isolated from each active component mounted to the circuit board. The compliant circuit element is positionable proximate the circuit board, and spaced from the circuit board by the dummy spacer component. The spacing component isolates the compliant circuit element from each active component mounted to the circuit board. |
| US08045330B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing an alternative power source for a graphics card
A method and apparatus for providing an alternative power source for a graphics card are disclosed. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method, which includes the steps of laying a set of gold fingers on a printed circuit board according to an industrial standard bus interface, positioning a wire in a middle layer of the printed circuit board, attaching a first end of the wire to a specific gold finger, and attaching the alternative power source to a second end of the wire, wherein the second end of the wire is an electroplated contact protruded external to the printed circuit board. |
| US08045328B1 |
Server and cooler moduel arrangement
A server and cooler module arrangement includes a server accommodating a stack of an operating system and an electronic device in an accommodation chamber therein at one side and an access device unit in the accommodation chamber at an opposite side, and a cooler module, which comprises a rack mounted in a partition way in the accommodation chamber between the stack of operating system and electronic device and the access device unit and a plurality of fans respectively adjustably mounted in respective open frames at different elevations and adapted for drawing air or sending air toward different heat sources in the operating system, the electronic device and the access device unit for quick dissipation of waste heat. |
| US08045324B2 |
Cable box and personal computer having same
A computer includes a computer case, a motherboard, a cable box, a power supply and a peripheral component. The computer case has a first disk drive slot and a second disk drive slot within the inner portion thereof. The cable box is installed in the first disk drive slot. The power supply is connected with the cable box through a power cord. The peripheral component is installed in the second disk drive slot, wherein electricity is transmitted from the power supply to the peripheral component through the cable box. |
| US08045323B2 |
Lid member and electronic device using the same
An electronic device has an opening in a case, a lid member that includes a first lid member having a pair of first engaging sections for putting a lid on the opening at its both ends, a second lid member that has a pair of second engaging sections engaging with the first engaging sections and slides on a main surface of the first lid member, and a projection disposed at an end of the sliding direction of the second lid member. The case has an engaging hole engaging with the projection disposed on the second lid member. |
| US08045320B2 |
Capacitor having collectors with separate regions between innermost and outermost circumferences of a wound element
A capacitor includes a wound element, and externally take-out electrode members corresponding respectively to a first pole and a second pole and connected to each one of end faces of the wound element. This capacitor features that the wound element is positively fixed to the externally take-out electrode members, and has advantageously a small internal resistance. Collectors in inner circumference region of the wound element are bent in an opposite direction to a core of a winding shaft, and collectors in an outer circumference region are bent toward the core of the winding shaft. End faces of these collectors are connected to a lid, thereby forming a first pole of the capacitor, and end faces of those collectors are connected to a housing, thereby forming a second pole of the capacitor. |
| US08045316B2 |
Systems and methods for predicting remaining battery capacity
A system according to various aspects of the present invention predicts remaining battery capacity for a battery used by a device. The system includes a memory that stores indicia of remaining battery capacity and a plurality of predefined increments of battery capacity consumption. The system further includes a circuit that determines a duration of operating corresponding to one or more of the increments and stores in the memory a predicted remaining battery capacity, adjusted in accordance with the duration and the one or more increments. Other systems, according to various aspects of the present invention, further include a display indicating remaining battery capacity, for example, as a percentage of initial battery capacity, and/or temperature compensation. |
| US08045315B2 |
Electronic device with ion cooling system
An electronic device includes an ion cooling system for cooling system components of the device. Through an arrangement, ionization of an air flow caused by the ion cooling can be determined and the electrostatic charge on the components that are located within the air flow can be measured. |
| US08045313B2 |
Solenoid controls, systems, and methods of use for obtaining optimum battery life
The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for controlling energy consumption in a system having a battery and including a controller and one or more solenoids. In accordance with the disclosure, the controller provides a controlling mechanism, such as a control algorithm, that will provide the necessary power to operate the one or more solenoids throughout the range of battery voltage in a manner that optimizes the voltage discharge from the battery and simultaneously maximizes battery life. Further power conservation measures are implemented by using a controller and an associated control algorithm to operate a solenoid throughout the range of battery voltage in a manner that places the discharge of the battery in reduced power consumption operating modes as the capacity of the battery is reduced. |
| US08045311B2 |
Load driving and diagnosis system and control method
A load driving and diagnosis system controls the feed and block of a load current flowing into an inductor such as a solenoid. The load driving and diagnosis system holds a counter-electromotive force, which is developed when the load current is blocked, at a voltage higher than a supply voltage so that the load current will decay for a short time. When an overcurrent condition is established in the load driving and diagnosis system because of a short circuit to a power supply, a malfunction of a circuit or destruction thereof may take place. In addition to a voltage holding means that holds a switching circuit output voltage at a predetermined voltage, a voltage holding means having a different predetermined voltage set therein is included. Moreover, a selection switch that switches the predetermined voltages according to a detected overcurrent condition is included. |
| US08045308B2 |
Clamp protection circuit and a PFC control circuit employing such clamp protection circuit
The present invention relates to clamp protection circuit and a PFC control circuit employing such clamp protection circuit. Said clamp protection circuit comprises a high voltage isolation module used for receiving power from a high voltage power supply; a voltage clamp module used for receiving an output low voltage from the high voltage isolation module and realizing a clamp protection; and a low voltage bias module used for providing bias voltage to the high voltage isolation module and the voltage clamp module. By employing the clamp protection circuit, the precision of the clamp voltage is improved, the design is simplified and the silicon area is reduced. Meanwhile, the transient response is enhanced. Moreover, when the clamp protection circuit is applied in a PFC control circuit, the design of the whole PFC control circuit is simplified and the silicon area is reduced, and the precision and transient response of the clamp voltage of the clamp protection circuit inside the PFC control circuit are improved. |
| US08045307B2 |
Faulted phase decision method between current and voltage based delta phase selectors
A method of identifying fault conditions in a three phase power system includes monitoring the changes of both the current and voltage properties on a three phase power network. A maximum phase change value of both the current and voltage is determined. Either the voltage or the current values are selected, whichever includes the largest maximum phase change. Thereafter, the selected set of measurements is analyzed to determine whether a fault condition exists on any phase of the three phase power. |
| US08045304B2 |
Semiconductor circuit including electrostatic discharge circuit having protection element and trigger transistor
A semiconductor circuit includes, a first pad for a first power source, a second pad for a second power source, a third pad for an input/output signal, a protection element arranged between the third pad and the second pad; and a transistor functioning as a trigger element for use in flowing a trigger current to the protection element. The transistor includes a gate and a backgate being connected to the first pad and is connected to the protection element such that a source potential of the transistor becomes lower than a potential of the third pad, based on a voltage drop caused by the protection element, when potentials of the first pad and the third pad are kept at a power supply voltage level. |
| US08045296B1 |
Aligned coverlay and metal layer windows for integrated lead suspensions
An integrated lead flexure having a spring metal layer, a dielectric insulating layer on a side of the spring metal layer, a conductor layer on the side of the insulating layer opposite the spring metal layer and a coverlay on the side of the conductor layer opposite the insulating layer. The flexure further includes base region, a gimbal region extending from the base region, and a tail region extending from the base region opposite the gimbal region. The conductor layer includes terminal pads at the tail region and head bond pads at the gimbal region. Traces in the conductor layer extend between the terminal pads and the head bond pads across the tail, base and gimbal regions. One or more spring metal windows in the spring metal layer at the tail region are adjacent to substantial portions of at least some of the traces. One or more coverlay windows in the coverlay at the tail region are adjacent to substantial portions of the tail region spring metal windows. |
| US08045294B2 |
Slider, integrated slider, and hybrid storage device
An opening (3) is formed on a surface of a metal film (2), a plurality of axes (4, 5, 6, 7) cross each other substantially perpendicularly at the opening (3), a plurality of periodic grooves (8, 9, 10, 11) are provided for respective axes (4, 5, 6, 7), and each of the periodic grooves (8, 9, 10, 11) includes a plurality of grooves (8-n, 9-n, 10-n, and 11-n) substantially perpendicular to the axis for which each periodic groove is provided, and the periodic grooves (8, 9, 10, 11) is positioned point-symmetrically with respect to the opening (3). |
| US08045293B2 |
Thin film magnetic head including thermal deformation-preventing layer
A thin film magnetic head includes a recording and playback element, a lead conductor layer for feeding a power to the recording and playback element, an electrically conductive bump for conductively connecting the lead conductor layer to an electrode pad for external connection, and an insulating protective layer filling between the recording and playback element and the electrically conductive bump. A thermal deformation-preventing layer composed of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than that of the insulating protective layer is disposed in the insulating protective layer in such a way as to locate between a medium-facing surface and the electrically conductive bump without being exposed at the medium-facing surface. In the resulting thin film magnetic head, protrusion of the recording and playback element toward the recording medium side can be prevented without changing the configuration of the recording and playback element nor the forming material. |
| US08045282B2 |
Measurement of track eccentricity on bit patterned media
The eccentricity of tracks defined on a rotating bit patterned media are measured using a readback signal, and the measured eccentricity may be used to control centering of the disk relative to a rotational spindle and/or to control movement of a read/write head relative to a selected track on the disk. |
| US08045280B2 |
Compact adjustable lens
The present invention provides a solution for designing a compact adjustable lens assembly, wherein a circular shaped piezoelectric crystal is bending a thin glass cover, thereby providing a shift of focal length of the lens assembly. |
| US08045276B2 |
Compact zoom lens with three lens groups and design method thereof
A compact zoom lens with three lens groups and a design method thereof. Along the optical axis from the object side to the image side, the compact zoom lens with three lens groups includes a negative power first lens group having a negative power first lens and a positive power second lens, a positive power second lens group having a positive power third lens, a negative power fourth lens leaned with the third lens and a positive power fifth lens, and a third lens group having a positive power sixth lens. The zoom lens matches requirements of optical properties for aberration correction. Minimum change of the distance between the first lens of the first lens group and the image forming plane from the WIDE position to the TELE position is used as the objective function of optimization. |
| US08045274B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus using the same
A zoom lens includes a first lens unit with a negative refractive power, a second lens unit with a positive refractive power, and a third lens unit with a positive refractive power in order from the object side to the image side. The first lens unit includes a negative lens and a positive lens. When the curvature radius of the object side surface and that of the image side surface of the negative lens are respectively defined as R11 and R12 and the curvature radius of the object side surface and that of the image side surface of the positive lens are respectively defined as R21 and R22, the following conditional expression is satisfied: −5.6<(R12+R21)/(R12−R21)<−4.7 and 1.5<(R11+R22)/(R11−R22)<2.3. |
| US08045266B2 |
Binocular loupe
Provided is a binocular loupe capable of adapting to current vision of a worker of a medical operation or precise operation in operating.The binocular loupe has frame means, a pair of binocular loupe bodies, attaching means for fixing the binocular loupe bodies to the frame means, focus adjusting means for adjusting a focal length of each of the binocular loupe bodies, and supporting means for detachably attaching the focus adjusting means to eyepiece portions of the binocular loupe bodies. |
| US08045258B2 |
Method for regulating OSNR in a fiber optic communication line using Raman amplification
A method for selecting a relation between a gain Gf of a Forward Raman Amplifier (FRA) at a transmitting end of a fiber optic transmission line and an optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) at a receiving end of the fiber optic transmission line satisfying limitations for real long transmission lines. The method comprises selecting the relation using a regulation function ROSNR obtained either in the form of a simplified equation, or in the form of one or more linear approximations of the function for practical ranges of the FRA gain. |
| US08045257B2 |
Nonlinear harmonic generation and devices in doubly-resonant Kerr cavities
A nonlinear harmonic generation system is provided. The nonlinear harmonic generation system includes a waveguide channel receives and propagates electromagnetic signals. A resonant cavity is coupled to the waveguide channel. The resonant cavity structure includes a plurality of resonant modes into which electromagnetic energy is coupled during the operation of the system. One of the resonant modes includes a resonant frequency that changes during operation of the system to reach either an input-signal frequency or a harmonic frequency for a majority of the time in which harmonic generation is occurring. Both reflected and harmonic fields are emitted back into the waveguide channel so as to allow efficient harmonic generation at a specified critical input power. |
| US08045256B2 |
Method and device for compensating for color shift as a function of angle of view
In one embodiment of the invention, a display is provided and includes a plurality of interferometric display elements. The display further includes at least one diffuser. Optical properties of the diffuser are selected to reduce color shift of the display when viewed from at least one angle. |
| US08045255B2 |
Process for producing microcapsules for electrophoretic display devices, as well as microcapsules for electrophoretic display devices, obtained by this process, and their applications
There is disclosed a process for producing microcapsules for electrophoretic display devices, including classifying microcapsules for electrophoretic display devices from a dispersion containing microcapsules in an aqueous medium, using a specific particle classification apparatus of the particle settling type. The resultant microcapsules for electrophoretic display devices are used, as their applications, for sheets for electrophoretic display devices, electrophoretic display devices, and electronic equipments. |
| US08045254B2 |
Structure body electrically connected via semiconductor material layer
The present invention discloses an image display system implemented with a spatial light modulator (SLM) having a plurality of pixel elements wherein each of the pixel elements further comprises an electrode having a structural body comprising: a first electrically conductive layer; a second electrically conductive layer; and a semiconductor layer disposed adjacently to the first electric conductive layer and second electric conductive layer and the semiconductor layer further comprises a doped conductive area for electrically connecting the first electric conductive layer and second electric conductive layer. |
| US08045251B2 |
Coherence length controller
Techniques for producing higher fidelity interferometer measurements by reducing sensitivity to spurious sources include reducing the coherence length of an electromagnetic beam. In addition, multiple surfaces within an optical system may be measured by electronically tuning the position of a coherence plane along the optical paths of an interferometer. A phase modulator is used in conjunction with a long coherence length electromagnetic source to generate beams for each leg of an interferometer. Providing a controlled broadband RF signal to the phase modulator increases the bandwidth of the beam and thereby reduces the coherence length of the beam. This reduces the spurious contributions to the output interference fringes from undesired surfaces along the beam path. |
| US08045250B1 |
Optical scanning using rotating parallel plate
A beam of incident light may be positioned on a target by directing the beam towards the target and transmitting the incident beam of light through one or more refractive plates having first and second parallel refracting surfaces in a path of the beam and adjusting an angular orientation of one or more refractive plates. |
| US08045249B2 |
Optical scanning device
An optical scanning device including a light source, a deflection device to deflect a light beam from the light source, an image focus optical system to focus the light beam deflected by the deflection device on a scanned surface to form an image thereon and scan a surface by the light beam deflected by deflection device to form an image thereon, a light path switching device provided between the light source and the deflection device, which switches a light path of the light beam emitted from the light source to deflect the light beam on different timings such that the light beam scans different surfaces. |
| US08045247B2 |
Post-objective scanning beam systems
Scanning beam systems, apparatus and techniques in optical post-objective designs with two beam scanners for display and other applications. |
| US08045245B2 |
Multicolor holgraphic replication by masking
A multicolor hologram (e.g., a two-color hologram) is replicated (copied) into a photosensitive layer by masking to produce a copy (replicate) of the hologram in a manner such that the copy is an accurate and true replication of the hologram (e.g., master hologram) and the copy is characterized to possess a high brightness level and color fidelity comparable to that of the multicolor hologram that was replicated. Both flood and scan modes can be employed in the replication. |
| US08045243B2 |
Method, apparatus, and program for generating synthesized images
Synthesized images having unpredictable appearances are obtained when generating the synthesized images by arranging a plurality of images in predetermined formats. A monotone image generating section generates a plurality of monotone images, by converting each of a plurality of images into monotone images of random hues. A synthesizing section arranges the plurality of monotone images in the predetermined layout, to generate the synthesized image. |
| US08045241B2 |
Scanner color correction device and control method thereof
A color correction apparatus of a scanner and a method of controlling the same. The color correction apparatus changes data existing outside of the gamut boundary to the other data existing within a gamut boundary in order to correctly express a gamut, and correctly corrects the color of the scanner. The color correction apparatus includes a calculator to calculate CIE data corresponding to RGB data, and a correction unit to change the CIE data to new CIE data existing within a gamut boundary if it is determined that the CIE data exists outside of the gamut boundary. |
| US08045239B2 |
External device configuration apparatus, external device configuration method and external device
An external device configuration apparatus includes a scanner controlling unit that controls a scanner for scanning an image, an external device controlling unit that determines whether the external device is connected, and an integrated management unit that when it is determined that the external device is connected by the external device controlling unit, acquires setting information about the scanner memorized in the external device and configures the setting for scanning of the image by the scanner based on the acquired setting information. |
| US08045235B2 |
Method of adding specific image information and image forming apparatus
Provided are a specific image information adding method with enhanced detection accuracy enabling multiple pieces of information to be added, and an image forming apparatus using the method. In the method of adding specific image information about a recorded image onto the recorded image, the specific image information consists of reference information and identification information, the reference information is formed so as to be able to set a reference position for reading of the specific image information, and the identification information is formed from dot images indicative of bit information at predetermined positions on an arc or a circumference around the reference position. The identification information can represent a single information item by a plurality of dot images, which are placed on a plurality of different arcs or circumferences and arranged at predetermined spacings in the circumferential direction and in the radial direction. |
| US08045225B2 |
Image forming apparatus, information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer-readable storage medium
An image forming apparatus includes a data recording unit to store a misregistration amount of a scanning line from an ideal scanning line when a plurality of laser beams is scanned in a main scanning direction, a calculation unit to calculate a shape of the scanning line based on the misregistration amount stored, and to determine a scanning line curvature cancellation curve which cancels misregistration of the calculated shape of the scanning line, and an image forming unit to form an image that reflects the scanning line curvature cancellation curve by shifting image data which is read out from a memory unit in a sub scanning direction according to the scanning line curvature cancellation curve. The image forming unit corrects the amount of misregistration which is smaller than a main scanning line interval by adjusting a transfer point at which the image data is shifted in the sub scanning direction. |
| US08045220B2 |
Method of creating color conversion table and image processing apparatus
In creating a color conversion table, search time for searching a point at which a color difference with a target color corresponding to a grid point is minimum can be reduced effectively. In a predetermined grid point constituting a second pre-color processing table, a post-RGB value of a target color of the grid point is determined by interpolation computation using a first pre-color processing table created beforehand. An interpolation operation using each grid point data of a plurality of grid points in the neighborhood in the table is executed, thus the post-RGB value of an object grid point is determined. Next, a neighboring region of the obtained post-RGB value is set, and a post-RGB value of most approximate to the target color in the neighboring region is determined as grid point data of the object grid point. |
| US08045219B2 |
Printed media products including data files provided in multiple layers of encoded, colored dots
A printed media product, such as a trading card, that has a substrate and an encoded data element applied to a surface of the substrate containing information. The encoded data element includes first, second, and third data layers with first, second, and third patterns of encoded, colored dots defined by a binary encoding scheme. The dots of the first, second, and third layers are different colors separately resolvable by a scanner with decoding software. The colors of the dots are cyan, yellow, and magenta, and the layers are printed so that the dots overlap. The binary encoding scheme includes a two dimensional run length limited code. The printed media product includes a graphics element that can be interpreted by a human user, and typically, the information encoded in the encoded data element layers is related to the information in the graphics element. |
| US08045216B2 |
Media storage apparatus and image forming apparatus configured to operate with regular-sized recording media and irregular-sized recording media
A media storage apparatus includes a media storing body that stores recording media, a guide member slidably provided in the media storing body for guiding the recording media, a first positioning portion that positions the guide member at a predetermined position where the guide member guides regular-sized recording media, and a second positioning portion that positions the guide member at a position where the guide member guides irregular-sized recording media. The first positioning portion and the second positioning portion have different shapes. |
| US08045215B2 |
Printer object list resolutions
A printer contains a list of objects to be printed under control of a controller. Different resolutions for the objects are included in the list of objects to be printed. In one embodiment, each item has an associated resolution indicating a minimum resolution for printing the item, unless the item before it has the same resolution. In such a case, the previous resolution is used to render ensuing objects for printing until an object requires a different resolution. A rendering module renders the object for printing as a function of the listed resolutions and resolutions supported by the printer. If the desired resolution is lower than that supported by the printer, the lowest resolution of the printer is used to render the object. |
| US08045212B2 |
Laser print apparatus that generates pulse with value and justification value based on pixels in a multi-bit image
A laser print apparatus includes a memory for storing a multi-bit image including a plurality of pixels. Each pixel is represented by an N-bit value, wherein N is greater than one. A modulation code generator analyzes three adjacent pixels. The three adjacent pixels include a left pixel, a center pixel, and a right pixel. The modulation code generator is configured to generate a pulse width value based on the value of the center pixel, and a justification value based on the values of the left pixel and the right pixel. A laser print engine forms an output pixel on media based on the pulse width value and the justification value. |
| US08045210B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image data transfer control method and image data transfer control program
An image processing apparatus being provided with: a volatile recording medium that stores image data; a nonvolatile recording medium that stores image data; a transfer portion that transfers image data page by page between the volatile recording medium and the nonvolatile recording medium; a controller that suspends transfer of one page of first image data, lets transfer of one page of second image data interrupt, and executes transfer of that page of the second image data on a priority basis, if a request to transfer that page of the second image data is issued with a higher priority level than that page of the first image data while that page of the first image data is being transferred by the transfer portion, and then, resumes transfer of an untransferred portion of that page of the first image data after that page of the second image data is completely transferred. |
| US08045207B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method, and computer program product extracting information from operation history and registering workflow
An image processing apparatus, in which an operator can register a workflow with an easy operation, the usage of a routine task function can thus be facilitated, and the work efficiency of the operator can be improved. A plurality of functions for an image processing are provided with the image processing apparatus capable of executing a process including a combination of the plurality of the functions as a workflow. An operation unit receives an operation by an operator for the image processing apparatus. A storing unit stores the operation, which is received by the operation unit, by the operator as an operation history. An extracting unit extracts operation information for causing the workflow to be executed from the operation history stored in the storing unit. A registering unit registers the operation information extracted by the extracting unit. |
| US08045205B2 |
Image forming device, and method and computer readable medium therefor
A print control device includes a first data processing unit configured to process first print job data based on a first file format, a second data processing unit configured to process second print job data based on a second file format, the second data processing unit including a data converter configured to convert first print job data into second print job data, a display control unit configured to display an image that may be printed based on the second print job data processed by the second data processing unit, an input unit configured to select therethrough one of the first print job data processed by the first data processing unit and the second print job data processed by the second data processing unit, and an output unit configured to output the print job data selected through the input unit so as to be printed. |
| US08045204B2 |
Methods and apparatus for facsimile transmissions to electronic storage destinations including tracking data
A method for a computer includes determining a call-in fax telephone number called by a facsimile transmission device, receiving the facsimile transmission from a facsimile transmission device including a digitized representation of a transmission page including an optical representation of data associated with an e-mail address, determining the data optically, which is independent of the call-in number, determining a graphics template associated with the call-in number, combining a digitized representation of the transmission page with the graphics template to form a digitized representation of a composite page, formatting the digitized representation of the composite page into a second format, determining additional service provider data in response to the facsimile or the scanned image, and transmitting the additional service provider data and the digitized representation of the composite page in the second format to the electronic destination address. |
| US08045203B2 |
Methods and apparatus for secure facsimile transmissions to electronic storage destinations
A method for a computer includes determining a call-in fax telephone number called by a facsimile transmission device, receiving the facsimile transmission from a facsimile transmission device including a digitized representation of a transmission page including an optical representation of a e-mail address, determining the e-mail address optically, which is independent of the call-in number, determining a graphics template associated with the call-in number, combining a digitized representation of the transmission page with the graphics template to form a digitized representation of a composite page, formatting the digitized representation of the composite page into a second format, determining additional service provider data in response to the facsimile or the scanned image, and transmitting the additional service provider data and the digitized representation of the composite page in the second format to the electronic destination address. |
| US08045201B2 |
Printing apparatus and system capable of judging whether print result is successful
The printing apparatus includes: a printing device which prints onto a prescribed print medium; a print result prediction device which predicts a print result on the print medium and accordingly outputs print result prediction data including image region print result prediction data for an image region and text region print result prediction data for a text region, the image region and the text region being recognized as an image and a text, respectively, by a person viewing a correct print result, the text region print result prediction data including a text code; an image reading device which optically reads in the print result on the print medium and accordingly outputs print result read data, the image reading device being disposed on a downstream side of a printing position of the print medium and on an upstream side of an output position of the print medium in a conveyance path along which the print medium is conveyed; and a print result judgment device which judges a printing failure on the print medium in accordance with the print result prediction data outputted from the print result prediction device and the print result read data outputted from the image reading device. |
| US08045200B2 |
Image processor with communication units for processing different job types according to priority
An image processor has a plurality of NICs (communication units), and a function of executing a plurality of jobs involving communication processes with terminals through the NICs. The job processing efficiency of the image processor is improved to the utmost extent. The types of priority jobs are preset for each of the NICs in priority job setting data, and the image processor carries out control so that a type of a job set to be given priority in the priority job setting data is processed in priority when a plurality of jobs involving communication processes through the NICs arise at overlapping timing. A job transmitter terminal transmits a job to the address of the NIC corresponding to the type of the job on the basis of the data that presets the corresponding relation between the types of jobs and communication addresses. |
| US08045196B2 |
Image processing system, image processing apparatus, and image processing program product suited for transmitting and receiving data among a plurality of image processing apparatuses
To allow inputting and outputting of data using any apparatus of a plurality of MFPs, each of the plurality of MFPs includes a HDD to store user data including user identification information for identifying a plurality of users, a job attribute information generating portion to generate job attribute information which associates location information on the network of data inputted in a scanner with one of a plurality of user identification information, a control portion to control so as to store the job attribute information in HDDs of other MFPs connected to the network, a user identification information input portion to accept an input of the user identification information, a job attribute information obtaining portion to obtain from the HDDs of other MFPs connected to the network the job attribute information including the user identification information inputted, and a data obtaining portion to obtain data associated by the job attribute information obtained. |
| US08045192B2 |
Image data encryption apparatus, image data encryption method and recording medium having computer executable program stored therein
An image processing apparatus disclosed in the present application includes a destination designation receiving unit that receives a designation of a destination to which image data is transmitted; a security information acquiring unit that acquires security information of the destination; and an image data transmitting unit that transmits the image data to the destination, using the security information acquired by the security information acquiring unit. |
| US08045190B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a convenient sheet insertion function
An image forming apparatus includes a scanner unit to read an original document, an image data storage unit to store read image data, a print unit to print out the image data, a sheet insertion designation unit to perform a sheet insertion processing and a sheet insertion control unit. The user performs execution designation of the sheet insertion processing by the sheet insertion designation unit before a reading job of a first original document. When the execution of the sheet insertion processing is designated and a reading job of a specified original document is ended, the sheet insertion control unit requests the user to select a mode of the sheet insertion processing, and creates page data for performing the sheet insertion in the mode designated there. The printout including the page data for the sheet insertion is performed collectively after reading jobs of all original documents are ended. |
| US08045187B2 |
Variable data printing within a print driver
The present invention provides for variable data printing by a print driver. Static print data is received, wherein the static print data is in a page description language. Variable print data is also received, wherein the variable print data comprises one or more sets of variable data. In addition, mapping rule data is received, wherein the mapping rule data comprises rules for mapping the one or more sets of variable data into the static print data. One or more modified versions of the static print data are generated, by applying the rules for mapping the one or more sets of variable data into the static print data. The one or more modified versions of the static print data are output for printing. As such, virtually any application can have VDP functionality, and a less complex VDP solution can be realized. |
| US08045185B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method of controlling same
In an image processing apparatus that is capable of setting desired image processing conditions for each of images that have been shot, an image of interest for which number of prints is to be set is specified and it is determined whether image processing conditions have been set for the specified image of interest. If image processing conditions have not been set for the specified image of interest, a number of prints for the image of interest is allowed to be set. If setting of number of prints has been allowed, then the setting of number of prints is accepted and the set number of prints is stored in correlation with the image of interest. |
| US08045184B2 |
Making method of sample for evaluation of laser irradiation position and making apparatus thereof and evaluation method of stability of laser irradiation position and evaluation apparatus thereof
A method for making a sample for evaluation of laser irradiation position and evaluating the sample, and an apparatus which is switchable between a first mode of modification of semiconductor and a second mode of making and evaluating the sample. Specifically, a sample is made by irradiating a semiconductor substrate for evaluation with a pulse laser beam while the semiconductor substrate is moved for evaluation at an evaluation speed higher than a modifying treatment speed, each relative positional information between pulse-irradiated regions in the sample is extracted, and stability of the each relative positional information between pulse-irradiated regions is evaluated. The evaluation speed is such a speed that separates the pulse-irradiated regions on the sample from each other in a moving direction. |
| US08045182B2 |
Location detection apparatus
A location detection apparatus is disclosed that includes: a light source; a light output side reflector having a reflecting surface for reflecting light from the light source to a space; a rotation mechanism for rotating the light output side reflector; a first light receiving element for receiving the light reflected from an object existing in the space; a light reception side reflector for reflecting the light from the object to the first light receiving element; a second light receiving element for receiving the light from the light output side reflector; a light conductor for conducting the light reflected from or transmitted through the reflecting surface toward the second light receiving element when the light output side reflector is in a predetermined position; and a rotational position detector that detects rotational position of the light output side reflector based on a detection result of the second light receiving element. |
| US08045181B2 |
Inspection system and method with multi-image phase shift analysis
An inspection system is provided. The inspection system comprises a light source, a grating, a phase shifting unit, an imager, and a processor. The light source is configured to generate light. The grating is in a path of the generated light and is configured to produce a grating image after the light passes through the grating. The phase shifting unit is configured to form and reflect a plurality of phase shifted patterns of the grating image onto an object surface to form a plurality of projected phase shifting patterns. The imager is configured to obtain image data of the projected phase shifted patterns. The processor is configured to reconstruct the object surface from the image data. An inspection method and a phase shifting projector are also presented. |
| US08045173B2 |
Adaptive linear filter for real time noise reduction in surface plasmon resonance systems
A method for linear filtering of noise in a SPR sensorgram generated from a surface plasmon resonance apparatus is provided. The method includes providing a linear filter of variable length to filter an output signal in the sensorgram. The method further includes determining an optimal length of the linear filter based on a slope of the signal in the sensorgram and multiple timing of occurrences of events during measurement of refractive index in the apparatus to reduce noise in the sensorgram. |
| US08045171B2 |
Inspection chip producing method and specimen detecting method
A method of producing an inspection chip includes a microstructure producing step of producing a microstructure where metallic portions having dimensions permitting excitation of surface plasmons are formed and distributed on one surface of a substrate, a specimen attaching step of attaching a specimen to the surfaces of the metallic portions of the microstructure, and a metallic particle attaching step of attaching metallic particles having dimensions permitting excitation of surface plasmons to the metallic portions and the specimen, wherein the specimen is attached to the metallic portions to which no substance capable of specifically binding to the specimen is secured in the specimen attaching step, and/or the metallic particles to which no substance capable of specifically binding to the specimen is secured are attached to the specimen in the metallic particle attaching step. |
| US08045160B2 |
Spectroscopy module
Alignment marks 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d are formed on the flat plane 11a of the peripheral edge portion 11 formed integrally with the diffracting layer 8, and when the lens portion 7 is mounted onto the substrate 2, these alignment marks 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d are positioned to the substrate 2, thereby making exact alignment of the diffracting layer 8 with respect to the light detecting portion 4a of the light detecting element 4, for example, not by depending on a difference in curvature radius of the lens portion 7. In particular, the alignment marks 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d are formed on the flat plane 11a, thereby image recognition is given to exactly detect positions of the alignment marks 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d, thus making it possible to make exact alignment. |
| US08045159B2 |
Optical apparatus of a stacked design, and method of producing same
An optical apparatus includes a first substrate including an optical functional element, and a second substrate including a movable micromechanical functional element, the first substrate and the second substrate being connected in a stacked manner, so that a light path exists which is convoluted between the first substrate and the second substrate, the movable micromechanical functional element and the optical functional element being arranged in the light path. In addition, a method of producing an optical apparatus includes producing a first substrate including an optical functional element, and producing a second substrate including a movable micromechanical functional element, as well as connecting the first and second substrates, so that a light path exists which is convoluted between the first and second substrates, the movable micromechanical functional element and the optical functional element being arranged in the light path. |
| US08045158B2 |
Spectrometer
In a state that the body portion 4 is regulated by inner wall planes 27, 29, 28 of the package 3 so as not to move in parallel or perpendicularly with respect to the rear plane 4b, the spectroscopic module is directly supported by the package 3, thereby when the spectrometer is downsized, the spectroscopic module 2 can be supported securely and also there is provided securely a positional accuracy between the light incident opening 22a of the package 3, the spectroscopic portion 6 of the spectroscopic module 2 and the light detecting element 7. Further, the lead 23 is buried into the package 3 to give derivation and support by the lead deriving portion 26, thereby the lead deriving portion 26 in itself of the package 3 is allowed to act as a base when wire bonding is conducted to electrically connect the lead 23 with the light detecting element 7, thus preventing breakage and deviation of the spectroscopic module 2. |
| US08045157B2 |
Spectroscopic module
Since a spectroscopic module (1) has a plate-shaped body section (2), the spectroscopic module can be reduced in size by reducing the thickness of the body section (2). Moreover, since the body section (2) is plate-shaped, the spectroscopic module (1) can be manufactured, for example, by using a wafer process. More specifically, by providing lens sections (3), diffraction layers (4), reflection layers (6) and light detecting elements (7) in a matrix form on a glass wafer which becomes many body sections (2) and dicing the glass wafer, many spectroscopic modules (1) can be manufactured. This enables easy mass production of spectroscopic modules (1). |
| US08045156B2 |
System and method for correlating photoreceptor pigmented film layer to electrical performance
The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to a system and method for obtaining spectra of highly scattering pigmented layers and providing a spectral reflection ratio, which can be correlated to photoreceptor electrical performance. The present embodiments employ the use of dark field microscopy in combination with a noise reducing normalization technique to provide real-time production adjustments to optimize photoreceptor characteristics and/or performance. |
| US08045151B2 |
Laminated film defect inspection method and laminated film defect inspection device
A first inspection process of inspecting presence of a defect on a front surface of a film body with a protective film separated therefrom; a separator removing process of separating a separator from the inspected laminated film; a second inspection process of inspecting presence of the defect in the film body in a vertical attitude while introducing the film body with the separator separated and removed therefrom to a film travel path directed in a vertical direction, and storing detection data; a separator laminating process and a protective film laminating process of laminating a separator and a protective film to a back surface and a front surface of the inspected film body, respectively; and a film collecting process of winding up the inspected laminated film laminated with the protective film and the separator are provided. |
| US08045148B2 |
System for monitoring foreign particles, process processing apparatus and method of electronic commerce
A system for monitoring foreign matter includes a manufacturing line having plural process processing apparatuses, a production management system which manages the processing of workpieces in the manufacturing line, plural optical heads which monitor foreign matter in relation to at least one of the workpieces, and which provide an output signal indicative thereof, and at least one image signal processing unit provided in a lesser number than a number of the plural optical heads for processing the output signal therefrom. |
| US08045143B2 |
Optical phase domain reflectometer
An apparatus to measure optical characteristics of an optical medium may include an optical source to generate an optical square wave for transmission into the optical medium and an optical receiver to receive a reflected optical waveform from the optical medium caused by a portion of the optical square wave being reflected by any anomaly in the optical medium. The optical receiver may convert the reflected optical waveform to a reflected electrical waveform. The apparatus may also include a module to combine the reflected electrical waveform with a reference waveform to form a resulting waveform. The reference waveform may correspond substantially to the optical square wave and may be delayed a predetermined time duration. A controller may be included to process the resulting waveform to detect any anomaly and a location of the anomaly in the optical medium based on an amplitude of the resulting waveform at a sample delay position in the resulting waveform. |
| US08045141B2 |
Detecting element, detecting device and detecting method
The present invention provides a detecting element which can stably detect a substance with high sensitivity; a detecting device therefor; and a detecting method therefor. The detecting element and the detecting device according to the present invention have a plurality of planes having a plurality of mutually-separated metallic structures arranged thereon. The detecting method according to the present invention includes making a detecting light irradiate the detecting element so that the light can intersect a plurality of the planes. Thereby, the detecting light is more frequently absorbed in the vicinity of the metallic structure and the detecting device can stably detect a slight change of a spectrum originating from a trace change of a refractive index occurring in the vicinity of the metallic structure, with the high sensitivity. |
| US08045140B2 |
Method for multivariate analysis of confocal temporal image sequences for velocity estimation
A method of determining individual velocity associated with one or more molecular species moving through a fluid medium involves obtaining multiple temporal images of the one or more species moving through the medium, analyzing the temporal images using multivariate image analysis to obtain temporal profiles of principal components, and determining individual velocity of the one or more species using the temporal profiles. Multiple species can be identified using the one or more individual velocities or ratio thereof. |
| US08045133B2 |
Electrically-driven liquid crystal lens and display device using the same
An electrically-driven liquid crystal lens, which can reduce crosstalk caused at the center of an electrode, includes first and second substrates arranged opposite each other and defined, respectively, with a plurality of lens regions corresponding to each other, first electrodes formed on the first substrate between centers of the respective neighboring left and right lens regions on the first substrate, a black matrix layer formed on the first substrate to correspond to edges of the respective lens regions, the black matrix layer having a first width, second electrodes formed on the first substrate to correspond to the edges of the respective lens regions, the second electrodes having a second width smaller than the first width, a third electrode formed throughout the second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. |
| US08045130B2 |
Rubbing method, method of fabricating liquid crystal display device using the same, and liquid crystal display device manufactured thereby
A liquid crystal display device capable of reducing a disclination region generated when an alignment layer is not normally rubbed due to physical interference between a pattern spacer formed on a substrate and fibers of a rubbing cloth in a rubbing process and a rubbing and fabricating method thereof are disclosed. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel having two bonded substrates with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, alignment layers formed on the two substrates to align liquid crystal molecules in a predetermined direction, and a pattern spacer formed on any one substrate to maintain a distance between the substrates. The alignment layers are rubbed by a rubbing cloth having fibers inclined in a left or right direction with respect to a perpendicular direction of a rotation shaft of a rubbing roll, and the pattern spacer has an inclined surface parallel to the fibers. |
| US08045128B2 |
Backlight unit and display device having the same
A backlight unit includes a light source, an optical member for adjusting a traveling path of light exiting from the light source, a frame accommodating and fixing the optical member and including a plane portion, a sidewall portion vertically extending from the plane portion and at least one frame fastening portion downwardly extending from the sidewall portion and a lower receiving member for accommodating and fixing the frame. The lower receiving member includes a bottom portion having at least one hole formed therein to be fastened to the frame fastening portion and a side surface portion upwardly extending from edges of the bottom portion. |
| US08045124B2 |
Liquid crystal display device's substrate, liquid crystal display device including the same, and manufacturing method of the same
A liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer sealed between the pair of substrates, and a seal member for sealing peripheries of the substrates. The seal member may be of rectangular shape in plan view, thereby defining two end parts and two side parts, with one of the end parts including an injection port. The device may also include one or more structures formed near the seal member for slowing an injection speed of a liquid crystal when it is injected into a space between the substrates. The structures may be formed integrally with the seal member. In certain embodiments, a thickness of the liquid crystal layer in a vicinity of the seal member is less than that of the liquid crystal layer in a display region, due to the structure. Also, in certain embodiments, the structures are generally L-shaped, in plan view. |
| US08045123B2 |
Display device with peel-preventing pattern
A display device includes a substrate having display portion and peripheral portion, a plurality of gate signal lines and a plurality of drain signal lines formed over the substrate, a plurality of switching elements connected to the plurality of gate signal lines and the plurality of drain signal lines and formed over the substrate, and a plurality of pixel electrodes connected to the plurality of switching elements and formed in the display portion. An organic interlayer film is formed in the display portion and the peripheral portion, and a covering layer is formed on the organic interlayer film in the peripheral portion and the insulating film includes at least one of a plurality of recesses and protuberances. |
| US08045121B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and fabricating method thereof
A method for fabricating a liquid crystal display, includes: preparing a first substrate having a first region and a second region positioned at at least one side of the first region, and a second substrate attached to the first region of the first substrate; forming a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines such that they cross each other to define unit pixel regions on the first region of the first substrate, and forming switching elements at crossings of the gate lines and data lines; and extending the gate lines and the data lines of the first region to the second region of the first substrate to form a plurality of pads constituting at least one group, wherein the intervals between pads at every region constituting the single group are the same, and the pad width is different as it goes from the pad positioned at the center toward the outermost pad. When FCTs with a small width size (L/α), namely, a width size of 35 mm, having 642 channels, based on the 17-inch or 19-inch LCD, are attached, misalignment between the pads of the liquid crystal panel and the output wirings of the FCTs attached to the pads can be prevented, and accordingly, a defective LCD can be reduced. |
| US08045115B2 |
Liquid crystal display with different twisting directions of liquid crystal molecules
A liquid crystal display includes a first alignment film having a first alignment direction, a second alignment film having a second alignment direction, and a liquid crystal layer having liquid crystal molecules between the first and second alignment films. The liquid crystal layer is doped with a chiral material that tends to induce a first twist in directors of the liquid crystal molecules when an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer. The first and second alignment films have orientations that tends to induce a second twist in the directors when an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer, in which the direction of the first twist is different from the direction of the second twist. |
| US08045109B2 |
Liquid crystal display device operated with an in-plane switching system and manufacturing method thereof
Provided are a method of manufacturing liquid crystal display device possessing transparent conductive layer exhibiting excellent optical transparency, resistance characteristic, evenness, adhesion to substrate, and hardness, and liquid crystal display device thereof. The liquid crystal display device possessing liquid crystal display panel and backlight unit, wherein liquid crystal display panel has a structure in which display electrode and reference electrode are provided on surface of region corresponding to unit pixel on liquid crystal layer side of one transparent substrate or each of both transparent substrates provided facing to each other via liquid crystal layer, and light transmitting liquid crystal layer is modulated by electric field generated parallel to transparent substrate between reference electrode and display electrode, wherein the method of manufacturing liquid crystal display device possesses the step of forming transparent conductive layer in pixel region by atmospheric pressure plasma method employing nitrogen gas as thin film forming gas. |
| US08045108B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
To provide a liquid crystal display device in which it is possible, with a simple configuration, to avoid a bright spot defect caused by a polishing flaw, called a dimple, formed in a surface of an observer side substrate of a liquid crystal display panel.A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal display panel having a first substrate, a second substrate disposed on an observer side of the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a transparent cover affixed by means of a first bonding member to a surface of the liquid crystal display panel on the observer side, wherein the transparent cover has an optical member affixed by means of a second bonding member to a surface of the transparent cover facing the second substrate, the second substrate has a chemically polished surface on the observer side, the first bonding member, as well as making direct contact with both the polished surface of the second substrate and the optical member, covers all of a surface portion of the second substrate facing a display area, and the first bonding member is 30 to 200 μm in thickness, while the second bonding member is 10 to 25 μm in thickness. |
| US08045105B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel and manufacturing method thereof
A thin film transistor substrate according to one or more embodiments of the present invention includes a gate line formed on a substrate, a data line that is insulated from and intersects the gate line, a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line, a barrier rub formed on the thin film transistor and partitioning a plurality of first openings, a reflecting electrode formed in each of the first openings, and a pixel electrode formed on the reflecting electrode and that is electrically connected to the thin film transistor. |
| US08045101B2 |
Liquid crystal display and display
A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel having a first substrate, a second substrate disposed on an observer side with respect to the first substrate and opposed to the first substrate, a liquid crystal held between the first substrate and the second substrate, an upper polarizing plate disposed on the observer side with respect to the second substrate, and a resin film disposed on the observer side with respect to the upper polarizing plate and affixed in contact with the upper polarizing plate. The resin film is higher in surface hardness than the upper polarizing plate and has a surface hardness of at least 3H in terms of surface pencil hardness. Each of the first and second substrates have a thickness of no greater than 0.5 mm, and a total thickness of the liquid crystal display panel is no greater than 2 mm. |
| US08045099B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
This invention provides a liquid crystal display device which can contribute to the stabilization of alignment of a liquid crystal and can improve the response speed. The liquid crystal display device comprises a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer held between the substrates. At least one of the pair of substrates has a polymer on its surface in contact with the liquid crystal layer. The surface shape of the polymer is in a substantially saw form as viewed from the cross-sectional direction of the substrate. The inclination azimuth of the inclination surface of the polymer is substantially the same as the liquid crystal alignment upon the application of the voltage. Preferably, the surface of the polymer has an approximately wedge shape as viewed from the vertical direction of the substrate, and the azimuth of the apex is approximately opposite to the liquid crystal alignment upon the application of the voltage. |
| US08045095B2 |
Backlight apparatus and display apparatus using same
A backlight apparatus has a housing composed of a first frame and a second frame, each having a side wall, put together, an optical guide plate housed in the housing, and a reflector inserted between the side surface of the light guide plate and the side wall of the housing. A reflector guide is formed on the side wall of the housing, and has a tilted surface tilted toward an insertion direction of the reflector. |
| US08045094B2 |
Backlight device, display device, and television receiver
A backlight device capable of preventing or reducing, even when an optical sheet bends, occurrence of luminance nonuniformity and/or shades due to the bend. The backlight device 1 controls the properties of light emitted by a light source 12 using two upper and lower diffusion sheets 16, 20 and a lens sheet 18 placed between the diffusion sheets and illuminates the back side of a display panel with the light, in which a space 24 for expansion is provided between the lens sheet 18 and the upper diffusion sheet 20, the space for expansion accommodating a bend of the lens sheet 18 which is caused by expansion due to heat from the light source 12. |
| US08045092B2 |
Multifunctional optical sheet and liquid crystal display device including the same
A multifunctional optical sheet for a liquid crystal display device includes a substrate diffusing incident light; a light-concentrating layer on the substrate and including a plurality of patterns that arranged to form alternating peaks and valleys; and reflection patterns between the substrate and the light-concentrating layer corresponding to the valleys of the light concentrating layer. |
| US08045083B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a substrate; a common voltage line formed on the substrate and transmitting a common voltage; a pixel electrode formed on the common voltage line and including a first subpixel electrode and a second subpixel electrode; a first thin film transistor connected to the first subpixel electrode, and including a first gate electrode, a first source electrode, and a first drain electrode; a second thin film transistor connected to the second subpixel electrode, and including a second gate electrode, a second source electrode, and a second drain electrode; a boosting capacitor connected to the first subpixel electrode; a third thin film transistor connected to the common voltage line and the boosting capacitor, and including a third gate electrode, a third source electrode, and a third drain electrode; and a fourth thin film transistor connected to the second subpixel electrode and the boosting capacitor, wherein the common voltage line is formed in the same layer as the third source electrode, and is electrically connected to the third source electrode. |
| US08045080B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel and a method for manufacturing the same
A thin film transistor array panel includes a substrate; a plurality of gate lines that are formed on the substrate; a plurality of data lines that intersect the gate lines; a plurality of thin film transistors that are connected to the gate lines and the data lines; a plurality of color filters that are formed on upper parts of the gate lines, the data lines, and the thin film transistors; a common electrode that is formed on the color filters and that includes a transparent conductor; a passivation layer that is formed on an upper part of the common electrode; and a plurality of pixel electrodes that are formed on an upper part of the passivation layer and that are connected to a drain electrode of each of the thin film transistors. |
| US08045079B2 |
Display device
A display device which includes a substrate, a gate line formed on the substrate, a data line intersecting the gate line, and a thin film transistor having a gate electrode connected to the gate line, a source electrode which overlaps the gate electrode and is connected to the data line, and a drain electrode which overlaps the gate electrode. The overlapping area between the gate electrode and the drain electrode is larger than the overlapping area between the gate electrode and the source electrode. |
| US08045078B2 |
Array substrate for liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same
An array substrate for a liquid crystal display device, including: a substrate; a gate line on the substrate; a data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel region; a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line, the thin film transistor including a gate electrode connected to the gate line, a semiconductor layer whose boundary is within the gate electrode, a source electrode connected to the data line and a drain electrode spaced apart from the source electrode; a passivation pattern covering the data line and the thin film transistor; and a pixel electrode extending from the drain electrode. |
| US08045077B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and fabrication method thereof
A method for fabricating a liquid crystal display includes: providing an array substrate and a color filter substrate facing the array substrate; forming a gate electrode and a gate line formed of a first conductive film on the array substrate through a first masking process; forming a second conductive film pattern at an upper portion of the gate electrode, a storage capacitor preliminary pattern at a partial upper region of the gate electrode and a data line substantially crossing the gate line to define a pixel region, the second conductive film pattern, the storage capacitor preliminary pattern and the data line being formed of a second conductive film through a second masking process; forming an opaque insulation film surrounding the data line; forming a transparent third conductive film on the entire surface of the array substrate with the opaque insulation film interposed therebetween; patterning the second conductive film pattern and a third conductive film through a third masking process to form a source electrode, a drain electrode separated from the source electrode, a pixel electrode contacting with the drain electrode, and a storage capacitor pattern contacting with a partial lower region of the pixel electrode; and attaching the array substrate and the color filter substrate. |
| US08045075B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of repairing bad pixels therein
A liquid crystal display device and a method of repairing bad pixels thereof, in which the bad pixels can be efficiently and easily repaired, includes a first insulating substrate, a gate wiring and a storage wiring arranged substantially parallel to each other in a first direction on the first insulating substrate, a data wiring intersecting the gate and storage wirings in an insulated manner and arranged substantially in a second direction, and a pixel electrode formed on a pixel area defined by the gate and data wirings. The storage wiring includes a horizontal portion arranged substantially in the first direction and at least a part of which does not overlap the pixel electrode, and a vertical portion branching off substantially in the second direction from the horizontal portion and overlapping the data wiring. |
| US08045074B2 |
Array substrate and display device
In the array substrate where the display region has the non-quadrangle shape, a sub-capacitance line which forms a sub-capacitance is disposed at the pixel, a intersection region of the scanning lead-out line and a signal lead-out line is located at the frame region on the outside of the display region, a common lead-out line which connects the sub-capacitance line in common is disposed at the frame region side where the scanning lead-out line is disposed, the common lead-out line is not disposed in the intersection region, but disposed in a region between a region of the scanning lead-out line and a region of the signal lead-out line while intersecting any one of the scanning lead-out line and the signal lead-out line. |
| US08045073B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having spacer provided in red pixel(s)
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which can more improve a luminance when the liquid crystal display device includes a column spacer. The present invention is a liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the pair of substrates, and the liquid crystal display device having a red pixel, a green pixel, and a blue pixel, wherein a column spacer structure is arranged in the red pixel among three pixels of the red, green, and blue pixels, and the red pixel has the smallest aperture ratio of the three pixels. |
| US08045067B2 |
Method and apparatus of locating channels in a frequency band
A method for searching a frequency band to locate a channel. The method includes the steps of setting an initial frequency and a first frequency step; determining a frequency point based on the initial frequency and the first frequency step; determining whether the frequency point satisfies a first condition, which is continuously detecting a horizontal signal a predetermined number of times. When the first condition is satisfied, the frequency point is recorded as an entrance point. A second frequency step based on the entrance point determines a second frequency point, wherein the second frequency step is less than the first frequency step. It is then determined if a channel exists at the second frequency point. The entrance point is recorded as the updated initial frequency for the next search. The described steps are repeated for the entire frequency band. |
| US08045064B2 |
Contrast control apparatus and method
A contrast control apparatus includes a memory for storing input image signals within one frame and an image reducing unit for selecting at least one image signal of the input image signals. An accumulation value calculating unit calculates accumulation values for predetermined sampling gray values with respect to the selected image signal. An image characteristic decision unit determines at least one characteristic of the selected image based on the accumulation values. A contrast control function calculating unit calculates a contrast control function based on the characteristic of the selected image. A contrast controller controls contrast of the image signals stored in the memory according to the contrast control function. |
| US08045063B2 |
Apparatus, method, and computer program for processing image, and recording medium storing the computer program
An image processing apparatus includes a non-linear smoother for smoothing input video data with an edge component thereof preserved, and outputting smoothed video data, a subtractor for subtracting the smoothed video data from the input video data and outputting high-frequency component video data not containing the edge component, an outline extractor for extracting the edge component from the smoothed video data and outputting edge component video data, a first amplifier for varying a signal level of the edge component video data, a second amplifier for varying a signal level of the high-frequency component video data not containing the edge component, and an adder for adding video data output from the first amplifier and video data output from the second amplifier to one of the smoothed video data and the input video data. |
| US08045051B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus that includes a main body that includes a recording and reproducing unit that houses a main recording medium and records an information signal. The information signal from the main recording medium is reproduced. An auxiliary recording medium unit is detachably mounted on a mounting section of the apparatus main body and houses an auxiliary recording medium separate from the main recording medium. During imaging, the apparatus main body is placed on one shoulder of a camera operator and a grip section is disposed on a front surface side of the apparatus main body. The mounting section is formed between the grip section and the recording and reproducing unit. The auxiliary recording medium unit is detachably attachable during imaging. |
| US08045048B2 |
Focus detection device, focus detection method, and image pickup apparatus
A focus detection device includes a light receiving element, an image shift detection unit, a movement detection unit, and a focus detection unit. The light receiving element receives a pair of light fluxes passing through different regions of a pupil of an optical system. The image shift detection unit detects an image shift amount caused by the pair of light fluxes, based on outputs of the pair of light fluxes received by the light receiving element. The movement detection unit detects an image movement amount caused by the optical system. The focus detection unit detects the focus adjustment state of the optical system by correcting the shift amount detected by the image shift detection unit, with the image movement amount detected by the movement detection unit. |
| US08045042B2 |
Image rotating adapter and camera having the same
An image rotating adapter includes: a first prism forming a subject image transmitted through an imaging lens on a position; and a second prism further reversing the subject image reversed by the first prism. The adapter also includes: a rotation drive unit rotating the second prism; a control unit controlling the rotation drive unit; a rotation instruction unit instructing the control unit to start or stop rotation; a target position setting unit previously setting one or more target positions to stop the second prism; a preset instruction unit instructing the control unit to perform a preset function for moving the second prism to the target position; a speed control unit adjusting rotation speed of the second prism; and a detection unit detecting a rotation position and a rotation direction of the second prism. |
| US08045038B2 |
Video camera with mount
A camera for mounting to a weapon includes a housing, a camera lens, a video recorder, a cover, and a mounting rail. The camera lens is located at a front end of the housing. The video recorder is located within the housing for recording images captured by the camera lens. The cover is coupled to a rear end of the housing for accessing components located within the housing and the mounting rail extends along an exterior surface of the housing and mounts the camera to the weapon. |
| US08045033B2 |
Solid-state image sensing device
A solid-state image sensing device has a plurality of pixels, a read-out circuit for reading out electric signals obtained by the photoelectric conversion element, and a signal processing unit for performing signal processing for the electric signal read out from the read-out circuit. The plurality of pixels include a first pixel having a transparent film, a plurality of second pixels each having a first color filter, a plurality of third pixels each having a second color filter, and a plurality of fourth pixels each having a third color filter. The signal processing unit has a color acquisition unit for acquiring a white pixel value and first to third color pixel values, an edge judgment unit, a color separation unit and a single color pixel calculation unit. |
| US08045032B2 |
Solid-state imaging device having a voltage clipping circuit to prevent image defects and driving method thereof
It is an object of the present invention to provide a solid-state imaging device capable of prevent image defects from appearing in an outputted image while suppressing increase in a layout area with a simple circuit structure and is an MOS solid-state imaging device. The MOS solid-state imaging device includes pixels which outputs signals corresponding to intensity of incident light, vertical signal lines which are respectively provided to columns of the pixels and each of which transmits the signals from said pixels in a column direction, and column amplifier circuits that amplify the signals from the pixels and are respectively connected to the vertical signal lines, and each of the column amplifier circuits includes a voltage clipping circuit includes a voltage clipping circuit which limits a maximum output voltage of said column amplifier circuit. |
| US08045029B2 |
CMOS image sensor for high speed signal processing
A CMOS image sensor includes: a plurality of CDS/PGAs (correlating double sampling/programmable gain amplifiers) for processing output signals of pixels corresponding to same colors on different paths; and an offset difference removing part for removing offset difference that occurs when the same color signals are processed on the different paths, wherein the offset difference removing part includes: a dummy pixel array where light is shielded; a unit for reading signals of the dummy pixel array through the CDS/PGAs and storing average offset values for each path; and a signal synthesizing unit for synthesizing the average offset values and signals of an effective pixel array, which are read through the respective CDS/PGAs, and outputting signals of which offset difference is removed. |
| US08045028B1 |
Six transistor (6T) pixel architecture
A pixel having a high voltage DC supply being replaced by a pulsed signal high voltage supply that is coupled to one of the plates of a memory capacitor in the pixel. |
| US08045027B2 |
Solid-state imaging apparatus
A solid-state imaging apparatus including: a pixel section where a plurality of pixels each containing a photoelectric conversion device are formed into an array; a retaining circuit for retaining one or the other of a reset signal and a light signal of the signals from the pixel; and an AD converter, the AD converter includes: a delay circuit having two input signal terminals to one of the input signal terminals of which the signal retained at the retaining circuit is inputted and to the other one of the input signal terminal of which the other signal not retained at the retaining circuit is inputted, said delay circuit having delay devices connected into a multiple of stages for giving to a running pulse a delay amount corresponding to the extent of a difference between the signals inputted to said one and the other input signal terminals; and an encoder for sampling and encoding a running position of the pulse at every predetermined timing to generate a digital value corresponding to the difference between the input signals. |
| US08045026B2 |
Solid-state image sensing device
In a solid-state image sensing device, a second substrate having transparency, including a via is placed on a solid-state image sensor having a pixel region and a logic region formed in a first substrate and in which a passive component electrically connected with the solid-state image sensor through the via is mounted on the second substrate. Thus, highly efficient location of passive components is attained for miniaturization. |
| US08045024B2 |
Producing full-color image with reduced motion blur
A method of forming a full-color output image using a color filter array image having a plurality of color channels and a panchromatic channel, comprising capturing a color filter array image having a plurality of color channels and a panchromatic channel, wherein the panchromatic channel is captured using a different exposure time than at least one of the color channels; computing an interpolated color image and an interpolated panchromatic image from the color filter array image; computing a transform relationship from the interpolated color image; and forming the full color output image using the interpolated panchromatic image and the functional relationship. |
| US08045020B2 |
Imaging apparatus having specific mode switching sequence and hard disk drive appearance to externally-connected devices
An imaging apparatus, comprising: a first recording module, which has a first initialization time from initialization to coming into a recordable condition; a second recording module which has a second initialization time from initialization to coming into a recordable condition, being longer than the first initialization time; a mode switching module, which is configure to switch over a power OFF mode, a mode for recording into the first recording module, and a mode for recording into the second recording module, wherein the mode exchange switch, which is configured to exchange the mode in an order from the power OFF mode to the mode for recording into the first recording module, and to the mode for recording into the second recording module, whereby shortening an apparent initializations time of the recording module having a long initialization time, while using a high-speed initialization characteristic of the recording module having a short initialization time effectively, thereby obtaining an improvement on the operability for a user. |
| US08045018B2 |
Picture recording device
An imaging processing unit signal-processes main picture data outputted from an imaging device. A zoom processing unit subjects the signal-processed main picture data to picture resize processing. A display picture management unit subjects the signal-processed main picture data to resize processing by the zoom processing unit to generate display picture data, aside from the main picture data recorded onto a recording medium at the time of photographing, and temporarily stores the display picture data in a memory area set inside or outside the integrated circuit. A display picture processing unit subjects the main picture data and the display picture data to display processing. |
| US08045017B2 |
Methods and systems for detecting flash rate of surrounding lights for controlling camcorder frame rate
Methods and systems for determining the frequency of the AC power supply of any pulsating light, such as fluorescent lights, for different purposes such as adjusting a camcorder's frame rate, is described in detail herein. In one embodiment a method is described that determines the frequency of the power supply, using a single sampling rate. In another embodiment two concurrent samplings of different rates are employed to determine the power supply frequency. Additionally, two exemplary systems describe the implementations of two embodiments of the presented methods. |
| US08045016B2 |
Video camera with flicker reduction function, and method for flicker reduction
To reduce flicker appropriately according to illumination condition of an imaging subject, a video camera is provided. The video camera includes an imaging unit for generating a subject image; a superimposing image generator for generating a superimposing image; an image synthesizer for synthesize the subject image and the superimposing image to generate a synthesized image; a video signal generator for generating a video signal from the synthesized image so as to display the synthesized image. The video camera also includes a flicker reduction unit to reduce flicker caused by luminance fluctuation of a light source. The flicker reduction unit has a plurality flicker reduction modes. The mode setting unit makes the superimposing image generator to generate a settings screen as the superimposing image for assisting selection of one of the flicker reduction modes. |
| US08045013B2 |
Imaging device, imaging method and computer program
An imaging device includes an image input unit for inputting an image of a subject, an image signal processing unit for processing the input image, an image recording unit for recording the input image on a recording medium, a smiling degree detection unit for detecting a smile level of the subject contained in the input image processed by the image signal processing unit, a detection threshold level setting unit for setting a smiling face detection threshold level at which a determination of whether the subject is smiling is performed based on the smile level detected by the smiling degree detection unit, and a photographing control unit for controlling a photographing operation in response to the smiling face detection threshold level being reached by the smile level of the subject detected by the smiling degree detection unit. |
| US08045011B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus including an infrared video camera. The infrared video camera includes a sensor array operable to produce successive video images in the form of pixelated two-dimensional images. The imaging apparatus further comprises a processing arrangement operable to reduce or increase the overall brightness of an image in dependence upon the overall brightness of the pre-enhanced image and the overall brightness of the preceding enhanced image, so that the change in the overall brightness (DC-level) between the enhanced image and the preceding enhanced image is decreased. |
| US08045008B2 |
Anti-shake apparatus
An anti-shake apparatus for image stabilizing of a photographing apparatus comprises a movable unit and a controller. The controller controls the movement of the movable unit for anti-shake operation. The controller controls the movement of the movable unit such as to hold the movable unit at a position without performing the anti-shake operation, for a specified time period that is a part of the time period from the point when the exposure time of the photographing apparatus is finished to the point when the photographing apparatus is set to a state where the next imaging operation can be performed. The position is the initial position where the movable unit is located when the specified time period commences. |
| US08045006B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining the best blending of overlapped portions of projected images
A best blending function from among a plurality of blending functions is determined. Each of the plurality of blending functions smoothes an overlap region of at least two projected images. The overlap image is captured and a processing unit analyzes the stored overlap image for color value linearity to calculate a first smoothness result. The processing unit analyzes the projection of the first or second image for color value uniformity to calculate a second smoothness result. These smoothness results for one blending function are paired and compared to smoothness result pairs corresponding to other blending functions to determine a best blending function from among those being analyzed. |
| US08045005B2 |
System and method for video transmission line fault detection
A video circuit including a video amplifier adapted to generate an amplified output video signal from an input video signal; a short detection circuit adapted to generate a first signal indicative of whether there is a short present at an output of the video amplifier; and a load detection circuit adapted to generate a second signal indicative of whether there is a load coupled to the output of the video amplifier. The video circuit may further include an input signal detection circuit adapted to generate a third signal indicative of whether an input video signal is present. The third signal generated by the input signal detection circuit may be used to enable the outputting of the first and second signals in order to prevent the false indication of faults at the output of the video amplifier in the absence of an input video signal. |
| US08045004B2 |
Display signal control apparatus, and display signal control method
The present invention displays a broadcast program without causing discomfort to the viewer caused by a shift in the display position. The burn-in of the display apparatus when displaying EPG and GUI images is prevented. When viewing a channel, the timing of events such as the broadcast start time of the next program and the insertion of CM video are acquired from program attribute information such as the SI and metadata. Information such as the time of the next program or insertion of an advert is detected from the attribute information, and video data that is displayed in the display area of the display unit is changed at that time. The change in video data is executed when setting the area of the video data to be applied to the effective video data area to the display area, by changing the coordinate data of this area. |
| US08045003B2 |
Onboard display device, vehicle, display method, image display program and recording medium
A display screen of an onboard display device is disposed so that a speedometer is displayed in front of a driver of a vehicle. When a right-turn instruction is detected, a blinker is displayed and a rightward rear view image outside the vehicle is displayed on the right side of the display screen. When a left-turn instruction is detected, a blinker is displayed and a leftward rear view image outside the vehicle is displayed on the left side of the display screen. Displaying the image in different positions of the display screen according to the right or the left turn instruction facilitates an intuitive determination of a meaning of the image and makes it easier to drive the vehicle. |
| US08044999B2 |
Image enhancer for detecting and identifying objects in turbid media
An image enhancer that includes a laser for emitting an optical signal toward an object in a turbid medium, a modulator for modulating laser intensity of the optical signal, an RF source for driving the modulator and for providing a reference signal, an optical detector for detecting the modulated optical signal that is reflected from the object, the optical detector converting the reflected optical signal into an electrical signal, the electrical signal having RF and DC components, an I/Q demodulator for mixing the RF component of the electrical signal with the reference signal and producing in-phase and quadrature phase signal components that can be digitized and processed such that both contrast and range images of the object are produced. |
| US08044998B2 |
Sensing apparatus and method for vehicles
A sensing apparatus for a host vehicle or the like, the apparatus comprises sensing means arranged to capture a first dataset of digital data comprising a set of data points representative of an image of a scene around the host vehicle, said image including at least one salient feature; first data processing means arranged to identify a subset of the data points which correspond to the at least one salient feature, and second data processing means arranged to apply a transformation to the subset of data points to produce a processed subset which corresponds to a digital image of the salient features in the scene that has been corrected for at least one type of distortion in the image. |
| US08044990B2 |
Camera controller and teleconferencing system
A teleconferencing system includes: a camera system for imaging a plurality of persons; a voice collector for capturing voices generated by a plurality of persons; and a transmitter for multiplexing an image signal acquired from the camera system and a voice signal acquired from the voice collector and transmitting a multiplexed signal via a communication line. The camera system includes: a camera; a driver for changing the viewing direction of the camera; and a camera controller for controlling the driver. The camera controller includes: a face position detection unit; a registration unit; a timing unit; a drive control unit; and a hold time control unit. |
| US08044989B2 |
Mute function for video applications
A mute function is provided that allows a user to mute a video application without alerting other participants to the muting. A user participating in the video application selects the mute function, which causes the user's video device to present a virtual image of the user to the other participants of the video application. Therefore, the other participants to the video application may continue to believe that the user is actively participating in the video application when, in fact, the user has selected the mute function and may be engaging in other activities. |
| US08044988B2 |
Spring Clip
A method and apparatus for attaching a mirror to a housing with a spring clip such that the spring clip applies a substantially constant force to the mirror when a fastener for attaching the spring clip to a mounting structure of the housing has an axis defining an angle with a surface of the mounting structure that is within a predetermined range of angles. An arched contact surface with an aperture for receiving the fastener is provided on the spring clip such that the fastener contacts the contact surface tangentially. |
| US08044987B2 |
Printer with a print head urged to come into contact with a platen roller
The invention provides a printer in which a lock lever comes into contact with a roller shaft of a platen roller in upper open grooves disposed in a frame and controls the position of the upper portion of the upper open grooves so that the platen roller is supported in a predetermined position of the frame and reliably comes into contact with a thermal head disposed to be opposite to the platen roller, and a lock lever member disposed so as to position a joint member for joining the upper open grooves and close to a bottom plate of the frame in a print portion in which the platen roller and a thermal head come into pressure contact with each other. |
| US08044985B2 |
Display overdrive method
A display overdrive method applicable to LCD picture process involves having image data containing gray scale presentation range inputted into the display; a corresponding gray scale range being set up based on the time of a frame from the former range to be present on the display; each gray scale code in the former range being corresponded to the that of the latter to drive the display; gamma voltage corresponding to gray scale in the former range being adjusted relatively to those in the latter range for reducing response time of pixels of the display comparatively to the frame time. |
| US08044980B2 |
Image display
There is disclosed an image display displaying a multicolor image by using image data expressing color components of a first color specification system. The image display is provided with a display unit displaying an image by a second color specification system which is different from the first color specification system, and displaying each of colors included in the second color specification system per pixel in correspondence to input device data, a basic color computing unit (46) determining basic data expressing each of the color components in the second color specification system by using the input image data of the first color specification system, a specific color computing unit (48) determining specific data expressing each of color components in a third color specification system by using the input image data of the first color specification system, a combining unit (54, 56, 58) combining each of reference data of the base color computing unit and each of specific data of the specific color computing unit so as to determine combined data of each of the colors, and an output data computing unit (60) determining device data of each of the colors of the display unit on the basis of the combined data. |
| US08044974B2 |
Image creating apparatus and image creating method
An image creating apparatus capable of creating cell images allowing reliable determination of cell structures in a cell is provided. This image creating apparatus comprises an image pickup portion picking up a plurality of images of a cell on different focal positions and an image synthesizing portion classifying the plurality of images picked up by the image pickup portion into a plurality of depth ranges as to the focal direction and synthesizing the plurality of images belonging to the respective ones of the plurality of depth ranges every plurality of depth ranges thereby creating focus-synthesized images in focus over corresponding depth ranges every plurality of depth ranges. |
| US08044973B2 |
Auto sorting of geometry based on graphic styles
Embodiments of the invention provide an auto layer sorting feature for a computer aided drawing (CAD) application where drawing elements are sorted into different drawing layers based on the graphic style associated with each individual drawing element. Objects added to the drawing may be automatically associated with a layer such that all objects on the layer have the same graphic style. If the user changes the properties of a given graphics style associated with one of the auto-sort layers, the updated style may be applied to each objects on that layer. |
| US08044971B2 |
Methods of and apparatus for processing computer graphics
When an alpha test is performed as part of the rendering process in a multisampled graphics processing pipeline, rather than taking the single alpha value initially defined for each fragment an individual alpha value is generated in respect of each of covered sampling position that the fragment in question is being used to render. The individual alpha values estimated for each sample position are then individually compared with a threshold alpha value defined for the alpha test, and the result of this alpha test comparison is used to decide either keep or discard the sample position from further processing. |
| US08044966B1 |
Method and apparatus for display image adjustment
Method and apparatus for display image adjustment is described. More particularly, handles associated with polygon vertices of a polygon rendered image are provided as a graphical user interface (GUI). These handles may be selected and moved by a user with a cursor pointing device to adjust a displayed image for keystoning, among other types of distortion. This GUI allows a user to adjust a projected image for position of a projector with respect to imaging surface, as well as for imaging surface contour, where such contour may be at least substantially planar, cylindrical, or spherical and where such contour may comprise multiple imaging surfaces. This advantageously may be done without special optics or special equipment. An original image is used as texture for rendering polygons, where the image is applied to the rendered polygons. |
| US08044965B2 |
Color processing apparatus and method
In order to calculate the calorimetric value of a color patch under a given viewing illuminant, a plurality of colorimetric value sets obtained by measuring the colors of color patches under a plurality of illuminants are stored in a memory, the type of spectral distribution and white point information of the viewing illuminant are obtained (S12), and a calorimetric value set corresponding to the type of spectral distribution of the viewing illuminant is selected (S13). A colorimetric value set under the viewing illuminant is calculated from the selected calorimetric value set, on the basis of the white point information of the viewing illuminant and the white point information of the illuminant of the selected colorimetric value set (S14). |
| US08044961B2 |
Automatic synthesis of font tables for character layout
Data tables that are required for the proper processing of font glyphs are automatically synthesized if they do not form part of an original font definition. The synthesized tables are stored in an annex file that is associated with the font, rather than being incorporated into the font definition. As a result, the integrity of the original font data is maintained, and does not adversely affect font protection systems that are based upon font data. |
| US08044958B2 |
Material creation support device, material creation support system, and program
When a position on a displayed graph is selected, a graph information processor acquires time information which is a parameter on an axis at the selected position. A character information acquirer acquires character information that includes date/time information as one of the attributes that matches the acquired time information. The acquired character information is displayed. |
| US08044957B2 |
Subdividing geometry images in graphics hardware
A system may include a graphics memory, a data bus, a processor, and a vertex shader. The data bus may be operatively connected to the graphics memory. The processor may send vertex data to the graphics memory via the data bus. The vertex shader may read the vertex data from the graphics memory and may subdivide the vertex data into subdivided vertex data. The vertex shader may also write the subdivided vertex data to the graphics memory. |
| US08044956B1 |
Coverage adaptive multisampling
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for improving antialiasing quality, while minimizing performance degradation, by adaptively selecting between multisampling and supersampling on a per pixel basis. The resulting performance may be generally comparable to multisampling. At the same time, however, the resulting quality may be generally comparable to supersampling. The antialiasing technique disclosed herein determines whether to use multisampling or supersampling on a particular pixel being rendered, based on the specific coverage of the associated geometry primitive. Because many pixel centers are covered by a geometry primitive, a statistical performance advantage is gained when pixels in a rendered image can be generating using multisampling rather than supersampling. The cases where pixel centers are not covered tend to be less frequent, but are very significant to image quality. High image quality is maintained by rendering these cases using supersampling. |
| US08044952B2 |
Method for supporting intuitive view specification in the free-viewpoint television application
A method of selecting first and second basis views from a group of at least three provided views where the first and second basis views are used in synthesizing a third virtual view. The group of provided views are spatially offset from one another in at least one dimension. |
| US08044949B2 |
Light emitting device and electronic apparatus for displaying images
To solve degradation with time of a light emitting element by a new method. When the potential of an electrode of a monitor pixel is sampled and fed back to a light emitting pixel, degradation with time of a light emitting element can be corrected. In addition, when a writing period is divided into a plurality of periods during which a plurality of rows are selected, a gray scale can be expressed by a weighted light emitting period. That is to say, a light emitting device of the invention has a plurality of monitoring light emitting elements, a monitor line for monitoring changes in the potentials of electrodes of the plurality of light emitting elements, and a means for preventing, when any one of the plurality of monitoring light emitting elements is short-circuited, a current from flowing to the short-circuited monitoring light emitting element through the monitor line. |
| US08044944B2 |
Defective pixel management for flat panel displays
Systems and methods for identifying defective pixels and adjusting an input to control display of the defective pixels may improve the quality of the image viewed on a flat panel display including one or more defective pixels. The screen position of each defective pixel is identified and stored. Adjustment information is also stored for each defective pixel. The adjustment information is used to modify a stored color value for each defective pixel or to disable one or more color components of each defective pixel prior to displaying an image on a flat panel display device including the defective pixels. |
| US08044943B2 |
Touch panel
Touch panels comprising a bias line biased at a bias voltage, a select line, a readout line, a photo cell and a readout circuit. The photo cell comprises a first photo switch, a second photo switch and a storage capacitor. The first photo switch and the storage capacitor is coupled in series between the readout line and the bias line, and the first photo switch is further controlled by the select line. The second photo switch is connected between the readout line and the bias line. The readout circuit and the select line are managed by a reset mode, an exposure mode and a readout mode. The voltage variation of output terminal of the readout circuit is used in obtaining the state of the photo cell. |
| US08044939B2 |
Mobile terminal having digital broadcast reception capability and PIP display control method
A mobile terminal capable of digital broadcast reception and supports a touch screen function, and a picture-in-picture (PIP) display control method for the mobile terminal. The PIP display control method includes processing a received digital broadcast signal into channel signals of individual channels, displaying video data of a selected channel signal on a main screen occupying an entire display area, and displaying video data of another selected channel signal on a sub-screen in the main screen; checking whether a touch event occurs to one of the main screen and the sub-screen; displaying control icons on one of the touched main screen and the touched sub-screen when a touch event occurs to one of the main screen and the sub-screen; and controlling digital broadcasts on channels associated with the main screen and sub-screen in response to occurrence of touch events to the control icons. |
| US08044938B2 |
Input device with improved touch panel surface and electronic device having the input device
To provide a thin input device capable of preventing foreign materials from entering into a gap between an input panel and a chassis and thus preventing malfunctioning of the input panel. A first detection base 3 is made of a thin material and has a planar size larger than a second detection base 4. A chassis 8 includes a side portion 9 opposed to a side surface of a touch panel 2 and a supporting portion 10 opposed to a bottom surface. The touch panel 2 is received in the inside of the chassis 8 in a state where an inner surface 3a of the first detection base 3 is opposed to a top surface 9a on an input side of the side portion 9 of the chassis so as to cover a gap 14 between the side portion 9 of the chassis 8 and a side surface of the touch panel 2 with the first detection base 3 from the input side of the chassis 8. The inner surface 3a of the first detection base 3 is attached to the top surface 9a of the side portion 9. |
| US08044936B2 |
Optical navigation device and method of operating the same
Provided is an optical navigation device and a method of operating the same. The optical navigation device includes: a light source for irradiating light; an image sensor for collecting incident light to obtain an image; and a controller for performing a calculation mode that obtains an image when the light source is ON to calculate a movement value and determines whether the optical navigation device is moved on the basis of the movement value, a sleeping mode that turns OFF the light source and stops an operation of the image sensor, and a detection mode that obtains the image when the light source is ON and an image when the light source is OFF and then compares characteristics of the images to determine whether the optical navigation device is separated from the work surface, wherein the controller performs the calculation mode when the optical navigation device is moved and not separated from the work surface, performs the sleeping mode when not moved and separated from the work surface, and periodically performs the detection mode. Therefore, it is possible to precisely detect whether the optical navigation device is spaced apart from a work surface to prevent malfunction and unnecessary power consumption of the optical navigation device due to separation from the work surface. |
| US08044934B2 |
Operating device, image display system, map display controller and program for map display controller
An image display system has an operating device, a specifying device and an image display device. If the operating device receives a single operation from an exterior (i.e., from user), the operating device outputs first and second signals based on the single operation. The specifying device specifies a viewpoint and a sight line direction to look down a picture based on the first and second signals outputted by the operating device. The image display device displays an image of the picture in such a manner that the picture is looked down from the viewpoint in the sight line direction specified by the specifying device. As a result, the operation for adjusting the viewpoint and the sight line direction is facilitated. |
| US08044933B2 |
Method and device for controlling display according to tilt of mobile terminal using geomagnetic sensor
Disclosed are a method and a device for dynamically changing the display of a picture according to the degree of tilt of a mobile terminal without any separate key input. The degree of tilt refers to the angle at which the mobile terminal is tilted with respect to a reference plane, and the degree of tilt is calculated using a geomagnetic sensor. |
| US08044931B2 |
Technique for determining a minimum size of presentation data
A presentation authoring tool is used to create presentation data for later projection, to determine a recommended font size for the created presentation data displayed on a display screen of a computer executing the presentation authoring tool. The user interface presents a display screen for receiving input of an expected viewing distance for the later projection of the presentation. The recommended font is determined based upon the expected viewing distance of the later projection having a projected font size viewable by a person, having a certain vision capability, at the expected viewing distance. The expected viewing distance may be a maximum viewing distance or a room depth of a room in which the later projection takes place. |
| US08044930B2 |
Light sensitive display
A light sensitive display. |
| US08044928B2 |
Method for pairing 1-way devices
Disclosed is a peripheral device, comprising a sensor to trip when in proximity to a host device, and a transmitter coupled to the sensor to transmit a bind request to a host device. Further described is a method of binding the peripheral device to a host device. |
| US08044922B1 |
Backlight dimming and LCD amplitude boost
Embodiments of the present invention generally provide m Methods and apparatus for reducing power consumption of backlit displays are described. Power consumption is reduced by dimming backlighting by a first scale factor and boosting pixel values by a second scale factor to compensate for the dimming. The scale factors may be constant values. Alternately, one or both of the scale factors may be determined based on pixel values for one or more frames to be displayed and/or one or more frames that have been displayed. For example, scale factors may be calculated based on an average linear amplitude of one or more frames of pixel values or from a maximum pixel value of one or more frames of pixel values. A graphical processing system is described including an integrated circuit capable of transforming a pixel value from a gamma-compensated space to a linear space. |
| US08044916B2 |
Shift register and organic light emitting display having the same
A shift register includes a sampling circuit to sample an input signal in response to a start pulse and two clock signals having different duty ratios from each other, a holding circuit to hold the input signal in response to an output signal of the sampling circuit and the two clock signals, an inverter to invert the output signal of the sampling circuit or the holding circuit, and a NAND gate to receive the output signal of the sampling circuit or the holding circuit and the output signal of the inverter and perform a logical operation on the received output signals to output an output signal. The first clock signal has a duty ratio smaller than the second clock signal. The sampling circuit and the holding circuit have a three-stack structure in which three transistors are coupled with one another in series. |
| US08044914B2 |
Method of compensating for kick-back voltage and liquid crystal display using the same
A method and apparatus of compensating for a kick-back voltage to reduce the generation of flicker in a liquid crystal display (LCD). The method of compensating for a kick-back voltage includes correcting input pixel data using a kick-back correction function that meets a condition on which a response characteristic of a voltage detected from a pixel electrode of a liquid crystal cell for a positive input pixel signal and a response characteristic of a voltage detected from the pixel electrode of the liquid crystal cell for a negative input pixel signal become symmetrical without causing a saturation state on a basis of a kick-back voltage measured from an LCD panel to generate corrected pixel data, and driving the LCD panel using the corrected pixel data. |
| US08044907B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display including two substrates, gate bus lines, liquid crystal molecules, and a polymer that determines directions in which the liquid crystal molecules tilt. A plurality of divisional areas are arranged on one of the substrates. The pixels are aligned in a column between drain bus lines. A pixel electrode is formed at each of the divisional areas. A first thin film transistor drives a first divisional area, and a second thin film transistor drives a second divisional area of the same column. The first and second thin film transistors are electrically connected to the same gate bus line. Either the pixel electrodes formed at each of the divisional areas are electrically insulated from each other, or they are connected to each other through a high resistance. A first threshold voltage within the first divisional area is different from a second threshold voltage of the second divisional area. |
| US08044906B2 |
Semiconductor device, and display device and electronic device utilizing the same
A semiconductor device having a normal function means is provided, in which the amplitude of an output signal is prevented from being decreased even when a digital circuit using transistors having one conductivity is employed. By turning OFF a diode-connected transistor 101, the gate terminal of a first transistor 102 is brought into a floating state. At this time, the first transistor 102 is ON and its gate-source voltage is stored in a capacitor. Then, when a potential at the source terminal of the first transistor 102 is increased, a potential at the gate terminal of the first transistor 102 is increased as well by bootstrap effect. As a result, the amplitude of an output signal is prevented from being decreased. |
| US08044903B2 |
Display device and driving method thereof
A display device includes a data voltage generating circuit supplied with a data signal and generating a data voltage. The data voltage generating circuit includes a gamma reference voltage generator generating first and second gamma reference voltages and a gray level voltage generator including a plurality of gray level voltage dividers generating a plurality of 2k gray level voltages. The gray level voltage dividers use the first and second gamma reference voltages, wherein one of the plurality of gray level voltage dividers is selected and supplied with the first and second gamma reference voltage. The data voltage is one of the selected 2k gray level voltages corresponding a gray level of a data signal. A display panel displays images using the data voltage. |
| US08044902B2 |
Method of driving a color liquid crystal display and driver circuit for driving the display as well as portable electronic device with the driver circuit
The present invention provides a method and a circuit for driving a color liquid crystal display in a normal driving mode and a power saving mode, wherein in the normal driving mode, voltages corresponding to image display data are applied to data electrodes of the color liquid crystal display, and wherein in the power saving mode, voltages corresponding to highly significant bit signals of the image display data are applied as display data signals to the data electrodes. |
| US08044891B2 |
Systems and methods for providing threshold voltage compensation of pixels
Systems and methods for providing threshold voltage compensation of pixels are provided. A representative system incorporates first switching element and a voltage compensation driver. The first switching element is operative to transfer a data signal. The voltage compensation driver is operative to generate a compensation voltage according to a reference signal and output a driving current according to the data signal and the compensation voltage. |
| US08044889B2 |
Plasma display device
There is provided a plasma display device. The plasma display device includes a plasma display panel (PDP) and drivers for supplying driving signals to the PDP. The driver includes a capacitor, a first switch turned on in order to supply a voltage of a first end of both ends of the capacitor to the PDP, a second switch turned on in order to supply a voltage of a second end of both ends of the capacitor to the PDP, a first voltage supplier connected to the first end of the capacitor to supply one of a sustain voltage and a reference voltage to the first end, and a second voltage supplier connected to the second end of the capacitor to supply the reference voltage to the second end. A voltage difference between the both ends of the capacitor is sustained as the sustain voltage. In the plasma display device, since the conventional large capacity of pass switch and the negative polar scan voltage source—Yy are replaced by cheap capacitors with the driving signals for driving the PDP applied in the same way, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the plasma display device. |
| US08044888B2 |
Surface discharge type plasma display panel divided into a plurality of sub-screens
A surface-discharge type PDP includes plural electrode pairs formed of first and second sustain electrodes arranged on a first substrate. Each pair extends along a line direction, and the first and second sustain electrodes are in parallel and adjacent to each other. Plural address electrodes arranged on a second substrate opposing the first substrate via a discharge space, each extending along a row direction, a matrix corresponding to a screen to be displayed is formed with the main electrodes and address electrodes, the address electrodes are orthogonal to the main electrodes, each of the address electrode is divided into, for example two partial address electrodes separated from each other by a border line located between adjacent main electrode pairs, whereby the screen is divided into two partial screens, wherein a first clearance between the partial address electrodes is substantially larger than a second clearance between main electrode pair adjacent across the border line. The arrangement order of the first and second sustain electrodes may preferably be such that first sustain electrodes of the first and second partial screens face each other via the border line, and the partial address electrodes may not cross over the first sustain electrodes nearest to the border line. |
| US08044885B2 |
Driving device of plasma display panel and method
A driving device of a plasma display panel for performing a reset period using a ramp pulse. The driving device changes the lowest potential of the ramp down pulse in response to temperature change in order to prevent or reduce low discharge or over-discharge due to the temperature change. The amount of wall charges in the pixels are maintained substantially constant over a temperature range to provide an optimal discharge condition, making it possible to prevent the discharge error and perform the low voltage address operation, in the address period. |
| US08044883B2 |
Method of driving plasma display apparatus with overlapping reset pulses and a second ramp-down pulse
A method of driving a plasma display apparatus is provided. The method of driving the plasma display apparatus includes applying a first pulse to a first electrode, applying a second pulse to a second electrode after the application of the first pulse, and applying a falling ramp pulse to the first electrode after the application of the second pulse. |
| US08044880B2 |
Projection type image display device
A theft preventing system easy to operate and capable of implementing countermeasures to theft of a projection type image display device is provided. The projection type image display device is equipped with a unit for detecting a used condition of the device and a unit for registering a used condition of the device. By further equipping the device with a unit for inhibiting normal operations of the device in its used condition other than the registered condition, a simple and easy-to-operate unauthorized use preventing system can be realized and thus protection of the device against theft can be attained. |
| US08044878B2 |
Signal receiving apparatus, display apparatus and control method thereof
A signal receiving apparatus includes: a communication part which communicates with a plurality of display apparatuses, and a controller which determines whether at least one of the plurality of display apparatuses is connected to the signal receiving apparatus, and, if it is determined that the at least one display apparatus is connected to the signal receiving apparatus, controls connection information related to a connection state of the display apparatus to be provided to at least one of the plurality of display apparatuses. |
| US08044877B2 |
Antenna
An antenna includes a substrate having a first layer, a second layer, a third layer and a fourth layer, and an antenna unit having a first pattern being of a substantially coiled shape and printed on the first layer, a second pattern being of a meandering shaped and printed on the second layer, a third pattern being of a meandering shaped and printed on a third layer, and a fourth pattern being of a substantially coiled shaped and printed on the fourth layer. The first pattern, the second pattern, the third pattern and the fourth pattern are of a serial connection. The free end of the first pattern connects a feeding point. The free end of the fourth pattern connects a grounding point. Thus, the antenna has advantages of compact size and low cost, due to the antenna unit printed on the substrate and the pattern of the antenna unit. |
| US08044869B2 |
Stealth wireless communications facility
A system for mounting a wireless antenna and equipment to a stealth communication tower in coastal areas and inland waterways, camouflaged as a sailboat. The Cellboat is retrofitted to securely and discreetly store wireless transceiver equipment, and an antenna is attached at the top of the mast. Access doors are disposed in the side of the Cellboat to provide access to the equipment for maintenance purposes. The Cellboat is stored at drydock, allowing for access and protection from flooding of the equipment. Alternatively, when the Cellboat is deployed in the water, the access doors will be located on the top deck of the Cellboat. |
| US08044867B2 |
Communication terminal apparatus
A problem of the invention is to provide a small-size communication terminal apparatus capable of reducing an SAR and also widening a band of an antenna and further achieving thinning.The communication terminal apparatus has a substrate (13) disposed inside a housing, a power feeding part (12) disposed in the substrate (13), a monopole antenna (11) having plural elements of multi-frequency sharing, the monopole antenna for feeding power by electrically connecting one end to the power feeding part, and a ground wire (14) electrically connected to a wireless ground of the substrate (13), and the monopole antenna (11) having the plural elements is arranged in a direction vertical to a surface of the substrate (13) and in a back surface direction of the housing so as to be opposed to a human body at the time of a call. |
| US08044860B2 |
Internal antenna for mobile device
A mobile device includes a ground plane, a conductive housing disposed on the ground plane including a sidewall, a first conductive strip spaced apart from the conductive housing, and a second conductive strip electrically connecting the first conductive strip to the conductive housing. |
| US08044857B2 |
System and method for correcting global navigation satellite system pseudorange measurements in receivers having controlled reception pattern antennas
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) pseudorange measurements are compensated for receiver hardware and directionally dependent antenna errors to obtain desired accuracies for high precision GNSS positioning applications using a multiple element controlled reception pattern antenna (CRPA). Pseudorange errors are calibrated and stored in a sky map by azimuth, elevation, radio frequency (RF) channel, and frequency. Corrections are applied in real time to each pseudorange measurement by applying a combination of the stored errors. The coefficients of the errors in the combination are computed as a function of steering vectors and CRPA filter weights. This implements a generalized pseudorange correction able to compensate a GNSS CRPA sensor for channel dependent errors such as group delay for both the case of uniform weights for all frequencies and the more complex case of frequency-dependent weights. |
| US08044854B2 |
Method for calculating current position coordinate and method for calculating pseudo range
A method for calculating current position coordinate and a method for calculating a pseudo range are applied to a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. A position coordinate of the GPS receiver at the positioning time point is calculated through an average pseudo range between the GPS receiver and each satellite at a positioning time point. With regard to calculating the average pseudo range between the GPS receiver and each satellite, for each satellite, original pseudo ranges are obtained through calculating a pseudo range between the satellite and the GPS receiver at each millisecond (ms) in a time range including the positioning time point, and then the average pseudo range between the satellite and the GPS receiver at the positioning time point is obtained through calculating an average value of the obtained original pseudo ranges between the GPS receiver and the satellite. |
| US08044850B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining the position and orientation of a missile
A system for determining the position and orientation of a flying object such as a missile includes a ground segment having at least one pseudolite station located on the earth's surface which transmits into space a navigation signal that uniquely identifies the pseudolite station, and a user segment having at least one sensor which is situated in the missile and is designed to receive the navigation signal from the at least one pseudolite station and to determine its absolute position and orientation in space on the basis of the received navigation signal. |
| US08044847B1 |
Enhancing reception of signals in global positioning system (GPS) receiver module
An antenna assembly for receiving the GPS signals in a global positioning system (GPS) receiver module automatically orients the antenna to better receive the GPS signals. The antenna is oriented by a positioner (e.g., a counterweight) that automatically rotates a frame on which the antenna is mounted. The GPS receiver module may also include multiple antennas oriented in different directions to maintain good reception of the GPS signals in any position. The multiple antennas are oriented in a manner so that the poor reception range an antenna is covered by other antennas. Signals from multiple antennas may be combined or chosen for processing by a GPS processor. Also, multiple GPS receiver modules may be deployed in close proximity so that wireless communication between the GPS receiver modules may be established. |
| US08044846B1 |
Method for deblurring radar range-doppler images
A method for displaying information relating to the range and Doppler of a remote target includes transmitting electromagnetic energy toward the target, and receiving reflected signals defining a two-dimensional (range-Doppler) radar image. The reflected signals are matched-filtered, which tends to blur the image. The image is deblurred while the features of thermal noise enhancement and irregularity of the deconvolved output are constrained to produce a single point deblurring output. |
| US08044845B2 |
Highly integrated circuit architecture
Various techniques may be implemented to isolate a receive signal from a transmit signal in an antenna. Signal isolation is desirable because it prevents interference of the signals with one another and minimizes signal noise, which reduces the signal quality. Some of the techniques are symmetry of at least two receive channels with regards to a transmit channel, using differential signals within the antenna, designing receive channel inputs to be orthogonal to a transmit channel, and designing a voltage controlled oscillator to be on the same substrate as the tuning circuitry of the voltage controlled oscillator. |
| US08044841B1 |
Geometry and sensitivity weighted dynamic multi-sensor selection system and method
A method of selecting a sub-set of a plurality of available sensors to guide an interceptor to a target is described. The method includes characterizing a quality of position estimate received from each of the plurality of available sensors, projecting the positioning errors of the sensors onto a plane normal to a line-of-sight of the interceptor, and selecting the sub-set of the plurality of available sensors based on the projection of positioning errors. |
| US08044840B2 |
Method for surveillance of space/air space
The invention proposes utilizing the known geometry of the measurements in order to assign them to one another and to resolve ambiguities, wherein the 3D position of an object (3) in space is determined by a spatial section at the same time. This is done using a plurality (N) of sensors (A, B, C) and their geometries (10, 11, 12), wherein a first sensor (A) is part of the master sensor and a space curve (A1) is calculated and then transmitted to the geometry (11) of a sensor (B) which is defined as a slave sensor and whose local geometry (11) is taken into account, a further sensor (C) is then defined as a slave in which the space curves (B1-B3) of the correspondence obtained in the preceding step are calculated and transmitted to the geometry (12) of the new slave sensor (C) together with the master curve (A1), wherein the steps are repeated at least until the last (N) remaining sensor is defined as a slave in a last step (N−1) and the master (A1) and all of its associated measurements of the previous slave sensors (B, C) are transmitted to the local geometry of the last (N) slave sensor and compared with the measurements. |
| US08044836B2 |
Continuous time sigma-delta A/D converter and electrical system comprising the A/D converter
A continuous time sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter comprising: a summator of an input analog signal and a feedback signal; a feed-forward integrator path connected to the summator and configured to provide a digital signal; a feedback digital-to-analog converter to convert the digital signal into a feedback analog signal; a feedback low pass filter structured to filter the feedback analog signal and provide the feedback signal to the summator. |
| US08044834B2 |
Track-and-hold circuit and A/D converter
A track-and-hold circuit includes a first sampling circuit that samples an analog input signal, a second sampling circuit that samples the analog input signal, the second sampling circuit and the first sampling circuit being connected in parallel, a first amplifier that amplifies a signal output from the first sampling circuit, and a second amplifier that amplifies a signal output from the second sampling circuit. |
| US08044832B1 |
Interleaver for turbo equalization
A plurality of “local” interleavers replaces a single global interleaver for processing encoded data. If the encoded data may be represented as a matrix of data blocks, or “circulants,” each local interleaver can be the size of one or a small number of circulants. Thus, for example, if the matrix has a certain number of rows and columns, the number of local interleavers may be equal to the number of columns. Each local interleaver is small so latency is low. |
| US08044831B2 |
Decoding apparatus and control method thereof
The invention provides a decoding apparatus which guarantees a decoding speed of a predetermined unit. To this end, the decoding apparatus includes a shifter which detects a start bit of a codeword from coded data, a table which stores decode values of a plurality of symbol data at one address, a table which is used to store a shift amount of the shifter, a table which generates a data length of the decode values of the plurality of symbol data, a decoder which is used to generate an address of the first table from the coded data, a decoder which is used to generate an address of the second and third tables from the coded data, and a packer which couples or separates the decoded values of the plurality of symbol data to data for the predetermined fixed number of bits. |
| US08044830B2 |
Method and an apparatus for processing a signal
A method of processing a signal is disclosed. The present invention includes receiving a maximum number of band and a code value of at least one section length, calculating a bit number corresponding to the code value of the at least one section length using the maximum number of the band, and obtaining the section length information by decoding the code value of the section length based on the bit number. A method of processing a signal is disclosed. The present invention includes receiving factor information of a current frame, receiving flag information indicating whether a coding mode of the factor information is an absolute value mode or a relative value mode, and obtaining factor data of the current frame using factor data of a previous frame and the received factor information based on the flag information. |
| US08044828B2 |
Method and system for encoding communications between wireless and other devices
A method for encoding a message communicated between devices, the message having at least one field, the method comprising: if the field is not optional and contains a value, writing the value to one or more data bytes in a byte buffer; and, if the field is optional and contains a default value, marking a bit in a reserved byte in the byte buffer to indicate that the field contains a default value. |
| US08044827B2 |
Communication device and method for inputting and predicting text
A communication device comprising an input device for inputting text character-by-character from a sequence of characters, a memory device for storing a plurality of reference character sequences of characters and a prediction device for comparing individual ones of the input characters with the reference character sequences and for proposing at least one of the reference character sequences after the inputting of individual input characters of the sequence of characters to be input in the case of a corresponding comparison result. The prediction device compares the input characters with not-immediately-adjacent characters of the reference character sequences. The input device may further a number of syllables or vowels between two input characters of the sequence of characters to be input and the prediction device compares the number of input syllables or vowels with corresponding numbers of syllables or vowels of the reference character sequences. |
| US08044825B2 |
Aircraft security
An aircraft has a passenger cabin security alert system for alerting authorized personnel (flight crew) in the flight deck to a problem in the passenger cabin. The system employs portable wireless transmitter units suitable to be carried or worn on the person of authorized personnel (cabin crew) in the passenger cabin. Each transmitter unit is adapted to transmit a warning signal when actuated that is received by detector units that communicate with control means operable to determine the position P in the passenger cabin of the transmitter unit that has been actuated. The control means activates an alert unit in the flight deck to indicate the existence and position of the problem to authorized personnel (flight crew) in the flight deck. |
| US08044822B2 |
Rotational transmitter
The invention relates to a rotary transmitter for example for use in machine tools with adjusting tools. The rotary transmitter comprises a stator part (18) and a rotor part (26), each having a respective stator core part (72) and a rotor core part (74), which are separated from one another at mutually facing ends via an air gap, and each having at least one respective power winding (76, 78), which is wound on the stator core part and the rotor core part, in order to transmit power using the transformer principle, and having respective stator and rotor coupling turns (80′, 80″, 82′, 82″), which are associated with one another in pairs, for inductive data transmission. One aim of the invention is to transmit data without interference. A further aim is a low maintenance requirement. In order to achieve this, the invention primarily proposes that the coupling turns (80′, 80″, 82′, 82″) are separated from the area of the power winding (76, 78), and are shielded from them, by parts of the respective core parts (72, 74), and are arranged in the associated stator part and rotor part (18, 26) in each case forming a three-dimensioned curved loop. |
| US08044820B2 |
Method and system for performing operations and for improving production in wells
A method for performing operations and for improving production in a well includes the steps of: providing radio identification devices at known locations in the well, and providing a reader device configured to read the identification devices, and to control the operations responsive to signals from the identification devices. The method also includes the steps of providing a process tool, and transporting the process tool and the reader device through the well. The reader device is programmed to control the process tool upon reception of a response signal from a selected identification device. The method can be used to perform perforating processes, packer setting processes, bridge plug setting processes, logging processes, inspection processes, chemical treating processes, and cleaning processes. In addition, the method can be performed dynamically by controlling the tool as it moves through the well, or statically by stopping the tool at a particular location within the well. A system for performing the method includes the identification devices, the reader device, the process tool, and a computer or controller. In addition the identification devices can be placed in casing collars of the well and can be configured as passive devices or as active devices. |
| US08044819B1 |
Coal boundary detection using an electric-field borehole telemetry apparatus
A method to detect the relative position of a drill bit with respect to a coal seam boundary using an electric-field borehole telemetry apparatus, that includes the steps: providing a measure-while-drilling apparatus that includes inclination sensors, directional sensors, logging sensors of choice and an electric-field borehole telemetry apparatus, within the electric-field borehole telemetry apparatus, in addition to monitoring the inclination, direction and logging parameters, monitoring one or more parameters of the electrical output of the telemetry apparatus, transmitting to the surface the inclination, direction and logging parameters as well as the one or more parameters of the electrical output by means of the telemetry apparatus, computing the usual drilling parameters needed to guide the drill string along the intended path, determining from the one or more transmitted parameters of the electrical output from the downhole apparatus parameters indicative of approaching or penetrating the coal boundary, and making corrections to the direction of drilling to maintain the drill string and bit in the coal seam. |
| US08044818B2 |
Method and handheld electronic device for detecting and providing notification of a device drop
A method and handheld electronic device for detecting and providing notification of a device drop are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method for detecting and providing notification of a device drop on an electronic device, comprising: measuring acceleration using an accelerometer of the electronic device; monitoring for and detecting freefall events in accordance with the acceleration measurements; and issuing an alert when a freefall event is detected. |
| US08044806B2 |
Security tag with engaging element
A theft deterrent tag is provided that has an engaging element which forms a loop for attaching to an article or object to be monitored thereby. A second engaging element can also be provided to secure an article or object. |
| US08044802B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimized workflow monitoring
A method and apparatus for monitoring work flow of a resource is disclosed. The method accounts for the expected work flow of the resource in determining the location of the resource as well as dwell times at each work zone. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by determining if subsequent work zones sequentially follows the first work zone in the expected sequence of work zones. |
| US08044794B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device blocker and associated methods
A vehicle wireless communications blocker may be used in a vehicle for an occupant's wireless communications device and may include a long-range and short-range wireless transceiver both coupled to a controller. The controller may be switchable between off-hook and on-hook states based upon control signals via the short-range wireless transceiver, and the occupant's wireless communications device may be blocked from occupant communication via the long-range transceiver when in the off-hook state. The blocker may include a housing to be installed in the vehicle, a short-range wireless transceiver carried by the housing to wirelessly communicate with the short-range wireless transceiver of the occupant's wireless communications device, and a controller carried by the housing and coupled to the short-range wireless transceiver to selectively switch the controller of the occupant's wireless communications device to the off-hook state so that the occupant's wireless communications device is blocked from occupant communication via the long-range transceiver. |
| US08044792B2 |
System and method for controlling remote sensors
A system and method for controlling one or more remote sensors includes wirelessly communicating with the sensors, monitoring operation of each one of the sensors, and causing any one of the sensors that is operating in an unauthorized manner to be disabled. In one embodiment, the sensors can include micro-mechanical structure supporting electronic circuitry. The electronic circuitry is capable of monitoring at least one performance parameter of the sensor, comparing the monitored parameter to a preset limit, and disabling the sensor if the preset performance limit is exceeded. |
| US08044791B2 |
Control of plurality of target systems
A system for controlling or operating a plurality of target systems via spoken commands is provided. The system includes a first plurality of target systems, a second plurality of controllers for controlling or operating target systems via spoken commands, a speech recognition system that stores interface information that is specific to a target system or a group of target systems that are to be controlled or operated. A first controller in the second plurality of controllers includes a microphone for picking up audible signals in the vicinity of the first controller and a device for transmitting the audible signals to a speech recognition system. The speech recognition system is operable to analyze the interface information to recognize spoken commands issued for controlling or operating said target system. |
| US08044789B2 |
Method and system for improving the monitoring of the external environment of a motor vehicle
The invention relates to a method and system for improving the monitoring of the external environment of a motor vehicle. According to the invention, the vehicle comprises a built-in system for detecting objects with which it is likely to collide, within a monitored area covering a blind spot, comprising a capturing device for acquiring images that are representative of one or more objects located within said area and an electronic system for processing and analysing input signals. The inventive method comprises the automatic activation of an infrared light source in the direction of the monitored area when the images acquired cannot be processed and analysed in order to provide a result that would reliably detect a determined object and the automatic deactivation of said infrared light source when the acquired images produce the correct result without the need for infrared light. In addition, the system comprises a model with an infrared light source. |
| US08044782B2 |
Protecting children and passengers with respect to a vehicle
There is provided a system and methods for mitigation of the potential dangers to which at least a child, and passengers, are exposed to prior to, during travel and after travel, when outside and adjacent a vehicle. Potential dangers to which a child is exposed are risks associated with driving and non-driving behavior of the driver, when the child is inside and outside the vehicle, when the vehicle is driven on public roads and on private property grounds, and as a result of deficient of mistaken operation of child and passenger related devices. The system and methods require input commands into an indicator to operate equipment elements aboard the vehicle, including sensors, operable devices and alert systems, and are operative for communication with remote stations, with adjacent-driven vehicles, and with the vehicle owner. |
| US08044780B2 |
Method and apparatus for predicting/alarming the moving of hidden objects
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for predicting/alarming the moving of hidden objects. The apparatus comprises: a distance sensing unit, for obtaining a distance data detected within a specific sensing range and thus outputting the distance data; a speed sensing unit, for measuring the movement of a carrier to obtain a real-time speed data of the carrier and thus output the speed data; a control unit, for receiving and analyzing the distance data and the speed data to obtain information relating to the position of the carrier, the environment surrounding the carrier and positions of objects moving in the blind spots of the carrier, and thus to perform an evaluation based upon the aforesaid information to determine a danger level for issuing a control signal accordingly; and an alarm unit, for issuing an alarm signal according to the control signal. |
| US08044779B2 |
Method and device for assisting a driver when maneuvering a vehicle or vehicle-trailer combination
The invention relates to a method and a device for assisting a driver when maneuvering a vehicle or vehicle-trailer combination (1) which has vehicle elements (2, 3) which can move with respect to one another. The method provides that the vehicle or vehicle-trailer combination is/are displayed in the straight-ahead position on a display unit (A) using a static display element (4) which corresponds to the straight-ahead position of the vehicle elements (2, 3) and in addition respectively using a dynamic display element (6, 7) which is assigned to the respective vehicle element (2, 3) and is determined as a function of an instantaneous or future position of the vehicle elements (2, 3) which can move with respect to one another. In this context, the dynamic display elements (6, 7) are displayed enhanced multiply and highlighted in terms of color. |
| US08044776B2 |
Rear vision system for vehicle
A rear vision system includes a video camera for capturing video images and a video display disposed in the cabin of the vehicle for displaying the video images captured by the camera. The camera has a field of view that at least encompasses a vehicle hitch connector of the vehicle. The display displays the video images for viewing by a driver of the vehicle to assist the driver in connecting the vehicle hitch connector of the vehicle to a tow hitch connector of a trailer. The camera may have an adjustable zoom, an adjustable iris and/or an adjustable field of view. A graphic overlay may be superimposed on the displayed video images for viewing by a driver of the vehicle to guide the driver during a reversing maneuver and/or to assist the driver in connecting a tow hitch connector of a trailer to the vehicle hitch connector of the vehicle. |
| US08044773B2 |
Parallel RFID system using CDMA
Various embodiments of the invention may use code division multiple access (CDMA) technology in communications from radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to RFID readers, so that multiple RFID tags may respond to the same RFID reader at the same time on the same frequency and still be reliably decoded by the RFID reader. In some embodiments, orthogonal CDMA PN sequences for the RFID tags to use in creating their responses may first be transmitted to those RFID tags, possibly using a non-CDMA technique. |
| US08044770B2 |
Keyless entry apparatus
A keyless entry apparatus determines whether a portable apparatus is positioned inside/outside an interface of a vehicle. When an in-vehicle control unit detects that a portable apparatus is positioned in a region which is affected by crosstalk and/or in which saturation occurs, in the vicinities of some of a plurality of transmitting antennas, based on intensity data from some of the plurality of transmitting antennas, the in-vehicle control unit determines whether intensity data from the transmitting antenna is included in a data group composed of a plurality of intensity data that are transmitted from the transmitting antennas and then received by the portable apparatus when the portable apparatus is positioned along the inside of an interface. When it is determined that the intensity data is included/not included in the data group, the in-vehicle control unit determines that the portable apparatus is positioned inside/outside the vehicle. |
| US08044769B2 |
Multi-dimensional control of lighting parameters
A multi-dimensional controller (150) controls the multiple parameters of a lighting system (250). A track-ball (100) that provides three axes of rotation (101-103), for example, is used to control each of three lighting parameters, such as chrominance, luminance, and saturation. In like manner, intensity, direction, and diffusion control may be controlled by a device with three degrees of freedom/control. Force-feedback (120) is optionally provided to indicate divergence from established presets (220) or recommended operating conditions. Switches (130) and other control elements are also provided to store or recall pre-set parameters (220), override scheduled lighting settings, and so on. |
| US08044768B2 |
Keyless entry system using communication via human body
A keyless entry system includes a vehicle-side device and a portable device including a portable device electrode. The vehicle-side device includes a vehicle-side controller and a vehicle-side electrode that is disposed in a position where communication with the portable device is performed via a human body when a person is getting off a vehicle. When the person carrying the portable device is getting off the vehicle, an electric field is induced by the portable device electrode in the human body. The vehicle-side controller performs authentication of the portable device upon detection of the electric field by the vehicle-side electrode. The vehicle-side controller determines the portable device has been left in the vehicle if the vehicle-side controller has no history of authentication or cannot perform authentication upon detection of the person's action of getting off the vehicle. A predetermined operation is performed based on this determination. |
| US08044766B2 |
Tongue operated magnetic sensor based wireless assistive technology
An assistive apparatus and method for remote control of an appliance by a subject are provided. The apparatus can comprise a tracer unit affixed to the tongue of the subject such that a change in position of the tongue changes position of the tracer; at least one sensor for detecting a position of the tracer unit; and a transmitter for transmitting a sensor signal to an appliance based on the detected position of the tracer unit, wherein the sensor signal effects control of the appliance. A method for tracking movement, position, or both of a tongue in a subject using the assistive apparatus is also provided. |
| US08044761B2 |
Varistor
A varistor 1 comprises a varistor element 10, a pair of external electrodes 30a, 30b on one main side of the varistor element 10 and a resistor 60 on the same main side, wherein the resistor 60 is formed so as to connect the pair of external electrodes 30a, 30b. The varistor element 10 contains zinc oxide as the main component and Ca oxides, Si oxides and rare earth metal oxides as accessory components, wherein the proportion X of the calcium oxides in terms of calcium atoms is 2-80 atomic percent with respect to 100 mol of the main component and the proportion Y of the silicon oxides in terms of silicon atoms is 1-40 atomic percent with respect to 100 mol of the main component, X/Y satisfying formula (1) below, and the external electrodes and resistor contain oxides other than bismuth oxide and copper oxide 1≦X/Y<3 (1). |
| US08044758B2 |
Open magnetic circuit multilayer coil component and process for producing the open magnetic circuit multilayer coil component
An open magnetic circuit multilayer coil component includes a laminate with magnetic layers, a coil, and a nonmagnetic layer provided within the laminate so as to cross a magnetic path formed by energization of the coil. A nonmagnetic material constituting the nonmagnetic layer is a Zn—Cu-based ferrite nonmagnetic material, and a magnetic material constituting the magnetic layer is a magnetic material containing 100 parts by weight of an Ni—Zn—Cu-based magnetic ferrite material and 0.1 to 2.0 parts by weight, in terms of Co3O4, of Co added to the Ni—Zn—Cu-based magnetic ferrite material. |
| US08044753B2 |
Common-mode choke coil
A common-mode choke coil includes a core, external electrodes, a pair of wires, and a top plate. The core includes a winding core portion and a pair of flanges at both ends of the winding core portion. The upper surface of the winding core portion and the upper surfaces of the flanges are covered with a metal film. The external electrodes are provided on lower portions of the flanges. A pair of wires are wound on the winding core portion of the core, and the ends of the wires are connected to the external electrodes. The top plate is bonded to the upper surfaces of the flanges preferably via an adhesive. |
| US08044750B2 |
Nano-resonator including beam with composite structure
A nano-resonator including a beam having a composite structure may include a silicon carbide beam and/or a metal conductor. The metal conductor may be vapor-deposited on the silicon carbide beam. The metal conductor may have a density lower than a density of the silicon carbide beam. |
| US08044749B1 |
Coupler device
The present invention is directed to a coupler that includes a coupler structure including at least one first transmission line disposed on a first major surface of a coupler dielectric substrate and at least one second transmission line disposed on a second major surface of the coupler dielectric substrate. The coupler structure includes four symmetric ports such that each port of the four symmetric ports is characterized by substantially identical impedance characteristics. A first ground plane structure is coupled to the coupler structure and including a first outer dielectric material and a first conductive exterior layer disposed substantially parallel to the first major surface. A second ground plane structure is coupled to the coupler structure and including a second outer dielectric material and a second conductive exterior layer disposed substantially parallel to the second major surface. A thermal path is disposed between the coupler structure and at least one of the first conductive exterior layer or second conductive exterior layer. The thermal path is characterized by a thermal resistance substantially within a range between 15 W/mK and 50 W/mK, such that the coupler has a power handling capability of more than 800 W per square inch of heat sink interface. |
| US08044743B2 |
Method and apparatus for pulse position modulation
A method for reducing the transition rate of a pulse width modulated signal representing an original signal having a predetermined frequency range of interest and producing an output signal, the method including the steps of: combining pulses from a predetermined number of consecutive frames into a combined pulse; and positioning the combined pulse within the predetermined number of consecutive frames, such that the output signal has substantially the same Fourier Transform phase as the pulse width modulated signal, for at least the predetermined frequency range of interest of the original signal. |
| US08044742B2 |
Wideband phase modulator
An apparatus for phase modulation includes a delay locked loop configured to generate from a reference signal a plurality of phase shifted signals, each of the phase shifted signals being locked to the reference signal and having a different phase shift from the other phase shifted signals with respect to the reference signal, and a multiplexer configured to select one of the phase shifted signals. |
| US08044741B2 |
Systems and methods for reducing flicker noise in an oscillator
Various systems and methods for implementing dynamic logic are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments of the present invention provide LC tank circuits having an inductance and a capacitance. In addition, the circuits include a flicker noise reducing switch that is operable to selectively incorporate the capacitance such that an output of the circuit operates at a frequency based on a combination of the inductance and the capacitance. |
| US08044740B2 |
Temperature compensated RC oscillator for signal conditioning ASIC using source bulk voltage of MOSFET
A temperature compensated CMOS RC oscillator circuit changes the source-bulk voltage to stabilize the MOSFET's threshold voltage variation over temperature using a resistor and temperature-correlated bias current. The MOSFET's source is connected to ground through a resistor. This temperature-correlated bias current also runs through this resistor. When temperature increases, the bias current also increases, which increases the MOSFET's source-bulk voltage. The increased source-bulk voltage helps to stabilize the threshold voltage of MOSFET at high temperature. A power saving logic is also embedded in this oscillator to achieve higher frequency at lower power consumption. In the present invention, there is no high gain op amp or high speed comparator, which makes the resultant oscillator to be low power design and which can be integrated into a single chip with other system. |
| US08044733B1 |
Stress tolerant differential colpitts voltage controlled oscillators
Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus comprising a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) having a first transistor, a first resistor operatively coupled between a first terminal of the first transistor and a first node, a first capacitor operatively coupled between a second terminal of the first transistor and the first node, and a second capacitor operatively coupled to the first node, wherein the first capacitor and the second capacitor forms a capacitive voltage divider. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08044730B2 |
Secondary vibration damping type crystal oscillator circuit
A secondary vibration damping type crystal oscillator circuit is formed as a Colpitts type, in which a crystal unit is connected between base and collector terminals, a first capacitor is connected between emitter and collector terminals, and a second capacitor is connected between emitter and base terminals of a oscillating transistor. A region between the emitter and collector terminals or between the emitter and base terminals includes a reactance parallel circuit, in which an LC series circuit is connected in parallel to the first or second capacitor. The reactance parallel circuit has resonant characteristics that the reactance parallel circuit is made capacitive at an oscillating frequency in principal vibration mode of the crystal unit as an oscillating frequency, and a resonant frequency of the LC series circuit corresponds to the vibrational frequency in secondary vibration mode that is close to the principal vibration mode. |
| US08044727B2 |
Phased locked loop circuit including voltage controlled ring oscillator
There is provided a voltage controlled ring oscillator having a plurality of ring-connected amplifiers (401), and a plurality of variable capacitance elements (502a, 502b) being respectively connected to the plurality of amplifiers and having capacitances varied by a voltage control. A plurality of load resistors (402) and a plurality of tail current sources (403) are respectively connected to the plurality of amplifiers. |
| US08044722B2 |
Oscillation frequency control circuit
To provide a highly stable oscillation frequency control circuit wherein the frequency thereof is corrected, an adequate range of the input levels of external reference signals is determined in accordance with temperature characteristics in detecting the external reference signal, and the control voltage to a VCO is controlled within and outside the adequate range. An oscillation frequency control circuit includes a selection switch that connects the phase comparator to the loop filter in an external reference synchronization mode and that connects the fixed voltage supplying circuit to the loop filter in a fixed voltage mode, and a CPU that switches the selection switch to the external reference synchronization mode or to the fixed voltage mode based on whether the detected voltage of an external reference signal level is within or outside of the adequate range. |
| US08044721B2 |
Low noise amplifier
A low noise amplifier including an amplifier kernel circuit and a DC bias unit is provided. The amplifier kernel circuit is used for receiving a single input signal or a differential input signal so as to output a differential output signal. The DC bias unit is coupled to the amplifier kernel circuit, and is used for processing a signal source to generate the single input signal or the differential input signal according to its circuit configuration. |
| US08044719B2 |
Class D amplifier circuit
A class D amplifier circuit for generating a pulse signal whose pulse width is modulated in response to an input signal, the class D amplifier circuit includes first to fifth switching elements, a first capacitance element and a control section. The control section controls transition between a conduction state and a non-conduction state of each of the first to fifth switching elements to control a current direction flowing into a load having a first end electrically connected to the output end and a second end set to the reference potential, so that the current flows from the first end of the load to the second end of the load at a first timing and the current flows from the second end of the load to the first end of the load at a second timing. |
| US08044717B2 |
Amplifier circuit and method therefor
In one embodiment, an amplifier circuit is formed to minimize pop and click noise on the outputs of the amplifier circuit. The amplifier circuit is configured to place an output stage of the amplifier circuit in a high impedance state to minimize the pop and click noise. In another embodiment, the amplifier circuit is configured to couple the inputs of two amplifiers together to minimize the pop and click noise. |
| US08044710B2 |
Filter cut-off frequency correction circuit
A filter cut-off frequency correction circuit, inputted with a step function increasing from a first voltage to a second voltage, comprises a linear passive filter, for integrating the step function to obtain a third voltage; a first comparator, outputting a first high-level signal when the third voltage is greater than a first predetermined reference voltage; a second comparator, outputting a second high-level signal in a first period from the time that the second voltage is applied to the time that the first comparator outputs the first high-level signal; a counter, for counting a number of clock pulses of a reference clock inputted in the first period; a digital block, for calculating a variation rate of time constant according to the number of clock pulses of the reference clock, and generating a correction code; and a filter, for correcting the cut-off frequency according to the correction code. The correction circuit can improve the speed of cut-off frequency adjustment. |
| US08044708B2 |
Reference voltage generator
A reference voltage generator includes: a reference voltage source 1 that generates a direct-current voltage that is used as a reference; a low-pass filter 2 that is connected to an output node of the reference voltage source; a first voltage buffer circuit 10 with an input terminal to which the output node of the reference voltage source is connected and an output terminal to which an output node of the low-pass filter is connected, which has a voltage gain of one time; and a hysteresis comparator 11 with one input terminal to which the output node of the reference voltage source is connected and an other input terminal to which the output node of the low-pass filter is connected. At start-up, during a time period in which a voltage difference between an output of the reference voltage source and an output of the low-pass filter exceeds a predetermined value, an output impedance of the first voltage buffer circuit is controlled based on an output signal of the hysteresis comparator. At start-up, the low-pass filter that reduces noise is charged with a low impedance rapidly, and thus an output voltage can be stabilized rapidly. |
| US08044706B2 |
Reduced capacitor charge-pump
Systems and methods to achieve a charge pump for generating from single supply voltage energy efficient supply voltages that are symmetrical around ground voltage have been disclosed. The charge pump requires two flying capacitors only. The charge pump generates positive and negative supply voltages following a 1/N ratio of Vdd voltage, i.e. +−Vdd/N, and can be generalized to generate +/−Vdd/2N voltages. This is especially useful for supplying class-G amplifiers. |
| US08044703B2 |
Diversity signal processing system and a producing method thereof
Each of APRM units equipped for each of the diversity channels has printed circuit boards having circuit patterns thereon and a circuit description elements installed on the printed circuit board. The circuit description elements are FPGA elements manufactured by mutually different providers for example and implemented an electric circuit described in a hardware description language by a configuration tool. The circuit description elements can be implemented mutually different descriptions of the electric circuit, or can be implemented the electric circuit by mutually different configuration tools. Also, the printed circuit boards for the diversity channels can be different from each other. |
| US08044700B2 |
Systems including level shifter having voltage distributor
An exemplary embodiment of such a system includes: a level shifter operative to transform an input signal into an output signal, the level shifter includes: a voltage distributor operative to receive the input signal and distribute potential levels at a first node and a second node to respectively output a first signal and a second signal, and the voltage distributor includes: a current limiter, operative to provide a limited current passing through the first node; a switch, operative to selectively establish an electrical connection between the first node and the second node; and a first transistor having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a first control electrode, wherein the first electrode is connected to the second node, the second electrode is utilized to receive the input signal, and the first control electrode is coupled to the first node; and an output circuit, operative to generate the output signal. |
| US08044699B1 |
Differential high voltage level shifter
A level-shift circuit translates a control signal to a level-shifted output. The level-shift circuit includes a pulse generator circuit for providing Set and Reset pulses based on the control signal and a level-shift circuit for translating the Set and Reset pulses to level-shifted Set and Reset pulses. First and second differential detectors are connected to monitor the level-shifted Set and Reset pulses to provide detection of communicated Set and Reset pulses despite the presence of transients in the level-shift circuit. A gate drive circuit employs the Set and Reset pulses communicated by the differential detectors to generate a gate drive signal. |
| US08044698B2 |
Liquid level detection apparatus
A liquid level detection apparatus includes a resistance plate which has a conducting pattern formed on a board, the conducting pattern including a first slide portion, a second slide portion, a plus electrode electrically connected to the first slide portion, and a minus electrode electrically connected to the second slide portion, a float which moves in accordance with a change of a liquid level, a float arm connected to the float, a sliding arm which slides over the resistance plate in accordance with a pivotal movement of the float arm, a plus connection terminal connected to the plus electrode, a minus connection terminal connected to the minus electrode, and a protective layer formed on the plus connection terminal so as to cover the plus connection terminal. |
| US08044696B2 |
Delay circuit having long delay time and semiconductor device comprising the same
A delay circuit has a long delay time and a semiconductor device includes the delay circuit. The delay circuit includes an inverter circuit unit having at least one inverter. Each of the inverters includes a first transistor connected to a supply voltage and a second transistor connected to a ground voltage. The inverter circuit unit receives a first signal and outputs a second signal by delaying the first signal. At least one capacitor unit is connected to an input terminal of the inverter such that a loading capacitance of the inverter circuit unit is increased. |
| US08044695B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit including a master-slave flip-flop
A semiconductor integrated circuit having a flip-flop with improve soft error resistance, including a controller which controls a clock signal generating circuit to output a first clock signal and a second clock signal with a timing so that logic of data retained in a first data retaining terminal becomes identical to logic of data retained in a third data retaining terminal, and then turns on a first switching circuit to connect between the first data retaining terminal and the first data retaining terminal. |
| US08044679B2 |
On-die termination control circuit of semiconductor memory device
On-die termination control circuit of semiconductor memory device includes a counter configured to count an external clock to output a first code, and to count an internal clock to output a second code, a transfer controller configured to determine whether to transfer the first code and the second code in response to a first termination command and a normal termination controller configured to compare the first code and the second code with each other to determine enabling/disabling timings of a termination operation in response to a second termination command. |
| US08044674B2 |
Semiconductor device with thermal fault detection
A semiconductor device with a thermal fault detection is disclosed. According to one example of the invention such a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip including an active area. It further includes a temperature sensor arrangement that provides a measurement signal dependent on the temperature in or close to the active area, the measurement signal having a slope of a time-dependent steepness, and an evaluation circuit that is configured to provide an output signal that is representative of the steepness of the slope of the measurement signal and further configured to signal a steepness higher than a predefined threshold. |
| US08044671B2 |
Method for servicing an apparatus for capacitive ascertaining and/or monitoring of a process variable
A method for servicing, especially checking, an apparatus for capacitive ascertaining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium, wherein the apparatus has at least one probe unit with a probe electrode and an auxiliary electrode. The probe electrode and/or the auxiliary electrode are/is supplied at least with one test signal or connected with at least one electrical potential, that at least one response signal is tapped from the probe unit, and that, at least from the response signal and a predeterminable desired value, information is obtained concerning the apparatus. |
| US08044670B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining a resonant frequency of a wind turbine tower
An apparatus for determining a resonant frequency of a wind turbine tower is provided. The apparatus includes a processing unit configured to receive an acceleration measurement value, the acceleration measurement value representative of the acceleration of the wind turbine tower in the direction parallel to a rotor rotational axis of the wind turbine and/or in the direction perpendicular to both the rotor rotational axis and the tower axis of the wind turbine. The apparatus includes a memory configured to store a series of acceleration measurement values, and the processing unit includes a Fourier transform module configured to calculate a spectral vector based on calculating a convolution-based fast Fourier transform of the series of acceleration measurement values, and includes a resonant frequency calculation module configured to calculate the tower resonant frequency based on the calculated spectral vector. |
| US08044668B2 |
Method and system for calibrating measurement tools for semiconductor device manufacturing
A method and system for calibrating a plurality of measurement systems. The method includes obtaining a first plurality of calibration standards. The first plurality of calibration standards is associated with a plurality of predetermined values. Additionally, the method includes measuring the first plurality of calibration standards by a plurality of measurement systems to obtain a first plurality of measured values, processing information associated with the first plurality of measured values, and selecting a first measurement system from the plurality of measurement systems based on at least information associated with the first plurality of measured values. Moreover, the method includes calibrating the first measurement system with the first plurality of calibration standards, obtaining a second plurality of calibration standards, and measuring the second plurality of calibration standards by the first measurement system to obtain a second plurality of measured values. |
| US08044665B2 |
Sensor product for electric field sensing
A sensor product for electric field sensing. The sensor includes a substrate, at least one electrically conductive area on the surface of the substrate, an output, and at least one conductor between the at least one electrically conductive area and the output. Also a sensor product web. |
| US08044659B2 |
Rotational angle sensor and method manufacturing same, and throttle control device with rotational angle sensor
A rotational angle sensor and a method for manufacturing the same, and a throttle control device with a rotational angle sensor, which may lower the cost, are provided. The rotational angle sensor includes each sensor IC 50(1), 50(2) for detecting a rotational angle of a rotor based on a magnetic field generated between a pair of magnets respectively disposed across the rotational axis of the rotor; each main terminal 61, 62, 63, 64 connected with each connection terminal 55, 56, 57 of each sensor IC 50(1), 50(2); and a holder member 90 for holding each sensor IC 50(1), 50(2) and connection portions of each main terminal 61, 62, 63, 64 on each sensor IC 50(1), 50(2) side. A sensor assembly 100 is constructed to form the sensor ICs 50(1), 50(2), the main terminals 61, 62, 63, 64 and the holder member 90 into an assembly. A potting material 102 is potted into the holder member 90. |
| US08044658B2 |
Position detector
In a position detecting apparatus, a magnetic scale part has a magnetic pattern formed by magnetization along a longitudinal direction. An increased magnetization part is arranged at an end portion of the magnetic scale part in the longitudinal direction. The increased magnetization part is magnetized with an increased intensity of magnetization as compared to the magnetic scale part. A magnetic field shaping part is disposed adjacent to the magnetic scale part for shaping a magnetic field generated from the magnetic scale part. A magnetic detection part detects both the magnetic field from the magnetic pattern of the magnetic scale part and the magnetic field from the increased magnetization part. The magnetic detection part is arranged in opposed relation to the magnetic scale part movably in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic scale part. The magnetic pattern and the increased magnetization part are arranged along a track through which the magnetic detection part moves. |
| US08044656B2 |
Device for calibration of a field transmitter
Device for calibration of a field transmitter comprising a shaped body on which there are disposed first means for sensing magnetic fields the activation of which allows calibration of a first measurement parameter of the transmitter, second means for sensing magnetic fields the activation of which allows calibration of a second measurement parameter of the transmitter, magnetic actuation means suitable to activate said first and second means for sensing magnetic fields. Said shaped body is configured so that it can be removably connected to the transmitter on the external surface of the enclosure thereof. |
| US08044653B2 |
Low drop-out voltage regulator
A low drop-out DC voltage regulator regulates a voltage from a DC supply and includes: a pass device controllable to maintain a voltage at an output of the regulator and arranged to provide a first current from the DC supply, at least part of said first current being provided to a load coupled to the output of the regulator; and a current regulator coupled to said pass device and to the output of the regulator. The current regulator is arranged to conduct a second current controllable such that the first current through said pass device remains constant irrespective of variations in a load current to said load. |
| US08044651B2 |
Efficient PWM controller
This patent discloses an efficient PWM controller for generating a pulse signal in response to a feedback signal, capable of operating in a normal mode or a green mode, comprising: a capacitor for building a saw-tooth signal by current integration, the saw-tooth signal having a ramp-up period and a ramp-down period; a first composite current source for the ramp-up period, detachable into a first constant current source and a first variable current source; and a second composite current source for the ramp-down period, detachable into a second constant current source and a second variable current source; wherein, the first variable current source is attached to the first constant current source and the second variable current source is attached to the second constant current source respectively in the green mode. |
| US08044648B1 |
Start mode in switching regulation
A voltage regulator is operated by, during a finite period of a voltage regular start mode having a plurality of current pulses, monotonically increasing the maximum current of the current pulses and a target voltage. |
| US08044647B2 |
Voltage down converter
A voltage down converter includes a voltage comparator for comparing a first reference voltage and an internal voltage to provide a first driving signal; a driving signal controller coupled with the voltage comparator, the driving signal controller configured to generate a second driving signal in response to an external voltage and selectively providing any one of the first and second driving signals; and a voltage supply coupled with the driving signal controller, the voltage supply configured to receive the selectively provided first and second driving signals, wherein the voltage supply is activated in accordance with the first or second driving signal, thereby providing the internal voltage. |
| US08044645B2 |
Multi-phase voltage regulator
A multiphase voltage regulator provides a voltage to an output terminal. The voltage regulator includes N parallel switches providing respective current phases that are added together to generate a total current for a general load coupled to the output terminal. The voltage regulator also includes N inductive circuits. Each inductive circuit is between an output node of a respective switch and the output terminal. A sense circuit adds the voltages in each of the output nodes of the N switches. An amplifier circuit has an input receiving the added voltage, and outputs a current proportional to the total current. A controller with two pins reads the total current. The two pins are connected to the inputs of the amplifier. |
| US08044643B1 |
Power supply switching circuit for a halogen lamp
A power supply and methods are provided. In one implementation, the power supply includes a switching circuit and a converter. The switching circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor, and the converter includes a capacitor and an inductor. The switching circuit alternately switches an input voltage to the converter. The power supply further includes a controller operable to adjust a switching frequency of the first transistor and the second transistor to substantially match a resonant frequency of the capacitor and the inductor. |
| US08044640B2 |
Method for stepping current output by a battery charger
A battery charger is provided for implementing a charging method having a stepped output current. The battery charger includes: a power supply circuit that receives an AC input signal and outputs a DC output signal. The power supply circuit includes a power supply controller configured to receive a feedback signal indicative of current being output by the power supply circuit via an amplifier and operates to control current output by the power supply circuit in accordance with the feedback signal. A charger controller is interfaced with the power supply controller to implement a charging method having a stepped output current. The charger controller may set the output current level by adjusting gain of an operational amplifier having a negative feedback configuration with the feedback signal input to a non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier, where the charger controller sets the output current level by changing the resistance at an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier. |
| US08044634B2 |
Enhanced portable battery powered electrical appliance
An appliance, such as a flashlight, accepts first and second batteries. The appliance also includes an electrical load, such as a light source. A first circuit, such as a DC to DC converter, receives power from the first battery and supplies power to the load. A second circuit, such as a DC to DC converter, receives power from the second battery and supplies electrical power to the load. In one embodiment, the appliance accepts batteries having multiple physical sizes. |
| US08044629B2 |
Self-tuning vibration absorber
A self-tuning vibration absorber including a carrier rod assembly having operatively connected thereto a mounting mechanism for mounting the carrier rod assembly to a primary system and a hollow shafted motorized tuning mechanism for tuning a phase difference between vibration of the primary system and vibration of the carrier rod assembly to 90 degrees, the carrier rod assembly further including a detecting mechanism for detecting the vibration of the primary system and the vibration of the carrier rod assembly, and a controller in electrical connection with the detecting mechanism and the tuning means for controlling the tuning mechanism based on the vibration of the primary system and the vibration of the carrier rod assembly detected. A method of vibration dampening, a method of controlling a self-tuning vibration absorber, and a method of reducing hunting motion in railcars. |
| US08044622B2 |
Sensorless control apparatus of synchronous motor
A PWM modulation unit modulates a three-phase voltage instruction, which is input, on the basis of a PWM method, and outputs a gate signal to each phase switching element of an inverter. A high-frequency component arithmetic unit calculates, at each time of switching of the inverter, a high-frequency component of a current occurring due to a voltage which is determined by the PWM modulation unit and is output from the inverter. An index arithmetic unit calculates, as an index R proportional to a rotational phase angle estimation error, from the high-frequency component of the current. A rotational phase angle estimation unit executes an estimation arithmetic operation of the rotational phase angle by using the index R. The invention provides a synchronous motor sensorless control apparatus which enables stable driving with simple adjustment, and does not cause an extreme increase in amount of arithmetic calculations. |
| US08044617B2 |
Motor control circuit and operation method thereof
A motor control circuit for controlling a motor includes a brake circuit and a control circuit. The brake circuit is for making the motor enter a braking state. The control circuit is for detecting a residual energy of the motor in the braking state. When the residual energy conforms to a predetermined criterion, the control circuit makes the motor exit the braking state. |
| US08044610B2 |
LED driver with adaptive algorithm for storage capacitor pre-charge
A method is provided for driving a plurality of light emitters in a plurality of output paths with each output path including at least one light emitter. The method includes the steps of applying a supply voltage level to a plurality of output paths; generating a current for each path during a period of a predetermined length for the output path; sensing a current level for each output path during the period; comparing each sensed current level with a reference level; increasing the supply voltage level if the sensed current level is lower than the reference level; determining a lowest supply voltage level for the worst case output path; and using the lower supply voltage level as a common supply voltage level for all output paths. |
| US08044608B2 |
Driving circuit with dimming controller for driving light sources
There is provided a driving circuit for controlling power of a light source. The driving circuit includes a power converter and a dimming controller. The power converter is coupled between a power source and the light source, and can receive power from the power source and provide a regulated power to the light source. The dimming controller is coupled to the power converter, and can receive a switch monitoring signal. The switch monitoring signal can indicate an operation of a power switch coupled between the power source and the driving circuit. The dimming controller is further operable for adjusting the regulated power from the power converter by controlling a switch coupled in series with the light source according to the switch monitoring signal. |
| US08044606B2 |
Power supply for supplying power to a lamp
A power supply for supplying power to a lamp with functions of dimming, over-current protection, over-voltage protection, arcing protection, and low-temperature start-up is provided. When frequency of the output current exceeds a predetermined value, the power supply is turned off to accomplish a dimming goal and extend lifetime of the lamp. When abnormal statuses such as open-circuited status, short-circuited status, or arcing status occur, a surge current induced by the abnormal statuses may be eliminated to prevent the power supply from being damaged. A high-frequency current detection circuit is configured to detect whether a current supplied to the high-voltage load is a high-frequency current to prevent damage to the electronic elements in the high-voltage load. A current adjusting circuit is configured to adjust an alternating current outputted to a lamp set in response to an environment temperature to supply an adequate alternating current at a low temperature for starting the lamp set. |
| US08044604B2 |
Inverter
A soft start circuit generates a soft start voltage which changes over time when light emission of an EEFL is started. A pulse modulator receives a feedback voltage that corresponds to the output voltage of an inverter and the soft start voltage, and adjusts the duty ratio of a pulse signal PWM such that these two voltages match one another using a feedback operation. A striking control circuit monitors an error signal which is asserted when an abnormal state occurs. In a case in which the error signal has been asserted at a detection timing after the soft start voltage has reached a target voltage, the striking control circuit resets and restarts the soft start circuit. A driver controls the switching of the voltage at the primary coil of a transformer according to the pulse signal received from the pulse modulator. |
| US08044595B2 |
Operating a plasma process
A method for operating one or more plasma processes in a plasma chamber, with at least two power supplies, the method comprising the following process steps: a. carrying out an arc detection for at least one of the power supplies; b. generating at least one signal relating to the arc detection and/or data relating to the arc detection; transferring the at least one signal and/or the data to a plasma process-regulating device and/or to one or more other power supplies or to one or more of the arc diverter devices associated with the other power supplies. |
| US08044593B2 |
Methods and systems for controlling the activation of agricultural vehicle lighting
An agricultural vehicle lighting system includes a plurality of HID lamps and a lighting controller. The HID lamps are configured to be mounted to the agricultural vehicle and powered by an existing electrical circuit of the agricultural vehicle. The lighting controller controls activation of the lamps and is configured to initially activate a first set of the lamps and to subsequently activate a second set of the lamps once it determines that the electrical circuit has the capacity to safely handle both the first and second sets of the lamps. The lighting controller may determine that the electrical circuit has sufficient capacity by determining when current drawn from the first set of the lamps drops below a threshold current level. Alternatively, the lighting controller may determine that the electrical circuit has sufficient capacity by delaying activation of the second set of the lamps for a time period corresponding to a current decay characteristic of the lamps. |
| US08044582B2 |
Organic display apparatus comprising moisture propagation preventing means
Provided is a display apparatus including: a substrate; plural thin film transistors formed on the substrate; a planarizing layer covering the plural thin film transistors; plural organic light emitting devices formed on the planarizing layer to form a display area; and plural nondisplay devices formed on the planarizing layer outside the display area. The organic light emitting devices each have a first electrode, an organic compound layer, and a second electrode on the substrate in the stated order. In the display apparatus, in each of the plural nondisplay devices, the discontinuous part of the planarizing layer is formed. |
| US08044581B2 |
Inorganic electroluminescence device
An inorganic field emission device includes a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, and a light emitting layer disposed therebetween. A dielectric layer is disposed between the first electrode and the light emitting layer and/or between the second electrode and the light emitting layer. A field reinforcing layer is disposed between a dielectric layer and the light emitting layer and includes carbon nanotubes having a length of about 20 nanometers to about 1 micrometer. |
| US08044577B2 |
Full-color electroluminescent display device with multiple emission layers and method of fabricating the same
A full-color organic light emitting display device and a method of fabricating the same, including a substrate, at least one color conversion layer, a color filter, and an organic light emitting diode having a lower electrode disposed on the substrate, an upper electrode disposed on the lower electrode, and an organic layer with at least a first emission layer. |
| US08044574B2 |
Display device and manufacturing method of display device
It is an object of the present invention to provide a reliable display device and a method for manufacturing the display device reducing the number of manufacturing steps, and with higher yield. A display device according to the invention includes a plurality of display elements each having a first electrode, a layer containing an organic compound, and a second electrode. The display device further includes a heat-resistant planarizing film over a substrate having an insulating surface, a first electrode over the heat-resistant planarizing film, a wiring covering an end portion of the first electrode, a partition wall covering the end portion of first electrode and the wiring, a layer containing an organic compound, and a second electrode over the layer containing an organic compound. |
| US08044573B2 |
Organic light emitting display and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light emitting display includes a substrate, an organic light emitting device on the substrate, the organic light emitting device including a first electrode, an organic emitting layer, and a second electrode, a UV light shielding layer having at least two layers, each layer absorbing different wavelengths of UV light, and an encapsulation layer sealing the organic light emitting device. |
| US08044570B2 |
Lighting device comprising a color conversion unit
A lighting device includes a printed wiring board, a plurality of light-emitting elements, a sealing member, and a color conversion unit, and an adhesive layer. The sealing member has light transmitting properties and seals the light-emitting elements mounted on the printed wiring board. The color conversion unit includes a cover member of light transmitting properties, and a fluorescent substance layer provided on the inner surface of the cover member. The adhesive layer has light-transmitting properties, and adheres the sealing member to the fluorescent substance layer of the color conversion unit in an airtight manner. |
| US08044569B2 |
Light emitting device
A light emitting device includes a wavelength converting member for absorbing light emitted by an exciting light source and emitting light of a different wavelength. With a wavelength at which the light from the exciting light source has a maximum energy intensity denoted as a first wavelength, a wavelength at which the light from the wavelength converting member has a maximum energy intensity denoted as a second wavelength, a wavelength lying between the first and second wavelengths at which the light from the light emitting device has a minimum energy intensity denoted as a third wavelength, and 650 nm denoted as a fourth wavelength, then the light emitting device has an emission spectrum such that the proportion of the energy intensity at the first wavelength to the energy intensity at the third wavelength is in a range from 100:15 to 100:150, and the proportion of the energy intensity at the first wavelength to the energy intensity at the fourth wavelength is in a range from 100:45 to 100:200. |
| US08044565B2 |
Composite ceramic electrode and ignition device therewith
A spark plug, center electrode and method of construction is provided. The spark plug has a generally annular ceramic insulator and a conductive shell surrounding at least a portion of the ceramic insulator. A ground electrode is operatively attached to the shell, with the ground electrode having a ground electrode sparking surface. A center electrode has an elongate body with a center electrode sparking surface. The center electrode sparking surface and the ground electrode sparking surface provide a spark gap. The center electrode body is constructed of a composite material including at least one ceramic material. |
| US08044562B2 |
Spark plug
There is provided a spark section (80) of needle-like shape protruding from an inner surface (33) of a ground electrode (30) to define a spark gap between the spark section and an electrode tip on a center electrode. The spark section (80) has a noble metal member (81) and an intermediate member (86) joined to each other. The materials of the noble metal member (81) and the intermediate member (86) are selected in such a manner that the thermal conductivity of the intermediate member (86) is lower than that of the noble metal member (81). This limits heat radiation through the heat radiation passage from the noble metal member (81) through the intermediate member (86) to the ground electrode (30) so as to maintain the noble metal member (81) at a higher temperature than conventional types and reduce a quenching effect of the noble metal member (81) on a flame core generated in the spark gap for improvement in ignition performance. |
| US08044557B2 |
Piezoelectric device and its manufacturing method
An upper adhesion layer 35 formed between a piezoelectricity layer 32 and an upper electrode layer 34 so as to abut on the piezoelectricity layer 32 and the upper electrode layer 34 is included. The upper adhesion layer 35 includes a first tungsten layer 47 made of tungsten in which an α phase and a β phase coexist and a second tungsten layer 48 made of α-phase tungsten. The first tungsten layer 47 is configured so as to abut on the piezoelectricity layer 32. It is possible to obtain a piezoelectric device which is capable of improving the adhesion property of both the piezoelectricity layer and the electrode layer and reducing a basic point voltage fluctuation at the time of high-temperature operation so as to improve reliability. |
| US08044554B2 |
Ultrasonic motor and manufacturing method of the same
An ultrasonic motor and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The ultrasonic motor includes an active layered section including a piezoelectric material; an inactive section disposed below the active layered section, which has a contact portion profile as a lowest layer; a first lower layer positioned one layer below an uppermost layer of the active layered section; a second lower layer formed with separated electrodes in an upper surface thereof and positioned two layers below the uppermost layer; and a repeated structure in the active layered section having a same structure as a combination structure comprising the first lower layer and the second lower layer, the repeated structure being downwardly layered from the combination structure. |
| US08044548B2 |
Permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine
An object of the present invention is to provide a permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine capable of realizing a variable-speed operation at high output in a wide range from low speed to high speed and improving efficiency and reliability. The permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine of the present invention includes a stator provided with a coil and a rotor in which there are arranged a low-coercive-force permanent magnet whose coercive force is of such a level that a magnetic field created by a current of the stator coil may irreversibly change the flux density of the magnet and a high-coercive-force permanent magnet whose coercive force is equal to or larger than twice that of the low-coercive-force permanent magnet. At the time of high-speed rotation with a voltage of the permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine being around or over a power source maximum voltage, the low-coercive-force permanent magnet is magnetized with a magnetic field created by a current in such a way as to decrease total linkage flux of the low- and high-coercive-force permanent magnets, thereby adjusting a total linkage flux amount. |
| US08044546B2 |
Permanent magnet machine
A permanent magnet electric machine with optimum motoring efficiency is disclosed. It is adapted for use in a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain. An asymmetric magnetic flux distribution pattern in the rotor of the machine is established by asymmetrically positioning rotor openings relative to rotor magnets to improve operating efficiency of the machine when it is in a motoring mode. |
| US08044542B2 |
Motor rotor and compressor equipped with the motor rotor
A motor rotor for a compressor includes a rotor core, at least one gas passage and an oil passage. The rotor core is configured to rotate about a rotation axis and has a plurality of stacked steel plates. The gas passage penetrates the rotor core in its axial direction and allows a gas fluid to flow therethrough from a first axial direction end portion of the rotor core to a second axial direction end portion on the opposite axial side. The oil passage is positioned radially outwardly of the gas passage inside the rotor core relative to the rotation axis. The oil passage allows oil to flow from the second axial direction end portion to the first axial direction end portion, which is opposite to the gas flow direction through the gas passage. |
| US08044536B2 |
Powering devices having low and high voltage circuits
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a device that includes a battery having an output of a battery voltage, a step-up voltage converter, a high voltage circuit, a low voltage circuit and a controller. The step-up voltage converter includes an input that is coupled to the battery voltage. The step-up voltage converter is configured to produce a high supply voltage at an output. The high voltage circuit is coupled to the output of the step-up voltage converter. The controller selectively powers the low voltage circuit using either the output from the step-up voltage converter or the battery voltage. |
| US08044530B2 |
Fluid-based electrical generator
The fluid-based electrical generator utilizes driven flow of a fluid to power an electrical generator for driving an external electrical device. The generator includes a reservoir having at least one sidewall and a floor. A motor coupled to a rotating shaft is mounted external to the reservoir, and a propeller is secured to the rotating shaft. The propeller is driven by the motor and is positioned within the reservoir for generating fluid flow. A rotating support having at least one vane secured thereto is rotatably secured to the floor of the reservoir, and the rotating support is driven to rotate by the fluid flow. An axle is further provided, with a lower end thereof being secured to the rotating support. The electrical generator is coupled to an upper end of the axle, with rotation of the axle driving the electrical generator to produce electricity for the external device. |
| US08044523B2 |
Semiconductor device
The invention relates to a semiconductor device with a semiconductor chip, on which a terminal contact formed in one piece, a patterned metallization layer, contacting the terminal contact, and a connecting layer are successively arranged, the patterned metallization layer and the patterned connecting layer forming an electrically conducting contact layer. |
| US08044521B2 |
Semiconductor device
An improved reliability of a junction region between a bonding wire and an electrode pad in an operation at higher temperature is presented. A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip provided on a lead frame, which are encapsulated with an encapsulating resin. Lead frames are provided in both sides of the lead frame. A portion of the lead frame is encapsulated with the encapsulating resin to function as an inner lead. The encapsulating resin is composed of a resin composition that contains substantially no halogen. Further, an exposed portion of the Al pad provided in the semiconductor chip is electrically connected to the inner lead via the AuPd wire. |
| US08044519B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming an insulating film above a semiconductor substrate, forming a concave portion in the insulating film, forming a precursor film including a predetermined metallic element on a surface of the insulating film, carrying out a heat treatment on the precursor film and the insulating film to react with each other, thereby forming an insulative barrier film mainly comprising a compound of the predetermined metallic element and a constituent element of the insulating film in a self-aligned manner at a boundary surface between the precursor film and the insulating film, removing an unreacted part of the precursor film after forming the barrier film, forming a conductive film comprising at least one of Ru and Co on the barrier film, depositing a wiring material film on the conductive film, and forming a wiring from the wiring material film to provide a wiring structure. |
| US08044514B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
In a semiconductor integrated circuit, a second wiring layer includes a ground conductor having at least one opening formed therein. At least one opening is overlapped by at least one patch conductor included in a third wiring layer. At least one patch conductor and the ground conductor are electrically connected to each other by at least one via hole included in a second dielectric layer. A first wiring layer includes a signal line above the ground conductor. |
| US08044506B2 |
Thermal-emitting memory module, thermal-emitting module socket, and computer system
The invention provides a thermal-emitting memory module, a thermal-emitting module socket, and a computer system comprising the thermal-emitting memory module and the thermal-emitting module socket. An embodiment of the thermal-emitting module includes: a module substrate having electrically-conductive traces; and a semiconductor device disposed on the module substrate and coupled to the electrically-conductive traces, the module substrate including a thermal-emitting portion disposed in proximity of the semiconductor device without directly contacting the semiconductor device. |
| US08044504B2 |
Semiconductor device including an inner conductive layer which is cut out in the vicinity of a corner
A semiconductor device, includes: an organic multilayer wiring substrate having an inner conductive layer; a semiconductor element mounted and connected on one surface of the wiring substrate; and a plurality of solder balls disposed on the other surface in a grid array. A defect portion is formed at an area corresponding to a corner solder ball disposed at an outer peripheral corner, or at an area corresponding to the corner solder ball and peripheral solder balls at the inner conductive layer. Temperature rises of the solder balls disposed in a vicinity of the corner are suppressed, and therefore, the semiconductor device of which fatigue life is prolonged and superior in reliability can be obtained. |
| US08044501B2 |
Contact structure, display device and electronic device
A contact that takes a structure to laminate a protective conductive film over a metal film has a high hardness of the protective conductive film; therefore, a damage of contact surface made by contacting with an electrode of an inspection apparatus can be prevented in an inspection before boding FPC. However, the protective conductive film has higher resistivity compared to the metal film; therefore, contact resistivity with FPC gets higher, and power consumption gets bigger in the condition of using the display device. The present invention provides a contact structure, wherein a structure of FPC contact is formed of a layered film of the metal film and the protective conductive film, and a conductive particle included in an anisotropic conductive film is formed of the protective conductive film in a slit shape having a space wider than a width necessary for an electrical connection with the metal film and a space narrower than a width of an electrode of an inspection apparatus and can be electrically connected with the FPC in both of the protective conductive film and the metal film, and a display device having the contact structure. |
| US08044499B2 |
Wiring substrate, manufacturing method thereof, semiconductor device, and manufacturing method thereof
A wiring substrate is provided, including an insulating resin layer which is provided on both surfaces of a sheet-like fibrous body and with which the sheet-like fibrous body is impregnated, and a through wiring provided in a region surrounded by the insulating resin layer. The through wiring is formed using a conductive material, the conductive material is exposed on both surfaces of the insulating resin layer, the sheet-like fibrous body is positioned in the conductive material, and the sheet-like fibrous body is impregnated with the conductive material. A manufacturing method of the wiring substrate is also provided. |
| US08044492B2 |
Compound semiconductor device including AIN layer of controlled skewness
A semiconductor epitaxial substrate includes: a single crystal substrate; an AlN layer epitaxially grown on the single crystal substrate; and a nitride semiconductor layer epitaxially grown on the AN layer, wherein an interface between the AlN layer and nitride semiconductor layer has a larger roughness than an interface between the single crystal substrate and AlN layer, and a skewness of the upper surface of the AlN layer is positive. |
| US08044491B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
The semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a lower electrode made of a metallic material, a capacitance film made of an insulating material and laminated on the lower electrode, an upper electrode made of a metallic material, opposed to the lower electrode through the capacitance film, and having an outline smaller than that of the lower electrode in plan view along the opposed direction, and a protective film made of the same material as that of the capacitance film and laminated on the upper electrode. |
| US08044487B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device including a high voltage element and a low voltage element, including: a semiconductor substrate having high voltage element region where the high voltage element is formed, and a low voltage element region where the low voltage element is formed; a first LOCOS isolation structure disposed in the high voltage element region; and a second LOCOS isolation structure disposed in the low voltage element region, wherein the first LOCOS isolation structure includes a LOCOS oxide film formed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate and a CVD oxide film formed on the LOCOS oxide film, and the second LOCOS isolation structure includes a LOCOS oxide film. |
| US08044486B2 |
Bottom anode Schottky diode structure
This invention discloses a bottom-anode Schottky (BAS) diode that includes an anode electrode disposed on a bottom surface of a semiconductor substrate. The bottom-anode Schottky diode further includes a sinker dopant region disposed at a depth in the semiconductor substrate extending substantially to the anode electrode disposed on the bottom surface of the semiconductor and the sinker dopant region covered by a buried Schottky barrier metal functioning as a Schottky anode. The BAS diode further includes a lateral cathode region extended laterally from a cathode electrode near a top surface of the semiconductor substrate opposite the Schottky barrier metal wherein the lateral cathode region doped with an opposite dopant from the sinker dopant region and interfacing the sinker dopant region whereby a current path is formed from the cathode electrode to the anode electrode through the lateral cathode region and the sinker dopant region in applying a forward bias voltage and the sinker dopant region depleting the cathode region in applying a reverse bias voltage for blocking a leakage current. |
| US08044481B2 |
Photodiode chip having a high limit frequency
The invention relates to a photodiode chip which has a great limit frequency and a junction from the active photodiode area of a photodiode mesa to the output pad of the high-frequency output of the photodiode chip. The aim of the invention is to further increase the bandwidth factor of photodiode chips. Said aim is achieved by establishing the connection from the photodiode mesa to the output pad by means of a high-resistance wire with impedance (Zleitung) which is spread across the length thereof and is at least as high as the load impedance (Zlast) effective at the output pad. |
| US08044473B2 |
Light sensor
A light sensor includes an intrinsic layer, a first ion doping area disposed one side of the intrinsic layer, a second ion doping area disposed at the other side of the intrinsic layer, an oxide insulating layer on the intrinsic layer, and a gate metal on the oxide insulating layer. The first and second ion doping areas have the same P type or N type doped ions. The intrinsic layer further includes a first light sensing region close to the first ion doping area. The first light sensing region is used for generating electron-hole pairs based on luminance of incident light. |
| US08044469B2 |
Semiconductor device and associated methods
A semiconductor device and associated methods, the semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate with a first well region, a first gate electrode disposed on the first well region, and a first N-type capping pattern, a first P-type capping pattern, and a first gate dielectric pattern disposed between the first well region and the first gate electrode. |
| US08044466B2 |
ESD protection device in high voltage and manufacturing method for the same
An ESD protection device comprises a substrate of a first conductive type; a transistor formed in the substrate having an input terminal of the first conductive type, a control terminal of a second conductive type, and a ground terminal of the first conductive type; and a diode formed in the substrate having a first terminal of the first conductive type and a second terminal of the second conductive type, wherein the input terminal and the second terminal are coupled to an input, and the ground terminal and the first terminal are coupled to a ground. |
| US08044458B2 |
Semiconductor device including a vertical gate zone, and method for producing the same
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body defining a trench structure having walls. A plurality of vertical gate zones each have a gate electrode and a gate oxide that covers the walls of the trench structure. A body zone of a first conduction type is arranged between two of the gate zones and a drift zone of a complementary conduction type with respect to the first conduction type vertically adjoins the body zone. Floating shielding zones of the first conduction type are arranged adjacent to the gate zones and extend into the semiconductor body deeper than the trench structure of the gate zones. A pn junction with the drift zone is below the trench structure. A buried dopant zone of the same charge type as the drift zone has a higher impurity concentration than the drift zone and is arranged in a space charge region of the pn junction at a distance from the trench bottom of the trench structure. |
| US08044452B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a high-quality semiconductor device in which deterioration in transistor characteristics and an increase in interface layer due to a gate insulating film are suppressed, and a method for manufacturing the same. In the present invention, an interface layer, a diffusion suppressing layer and a high dielectric constant insulating film are formed sequentially in this order on one surface of a silicon substrate. |
| US08044449B2 |
Memory device with a length-controllable channel
A memory device is provided. The memory device includes a substrate, a trench having an upper portion and a lower portion formed in the substrate, a trench capacitor formed in the lower portion of the trench, a collar dielectric layer formed on a sidewall of the trench capacitor and extending away from a top surface of the substrate, a first doping region formed on a side of the upper portion of the trench in the substrate for serving as source/drain, a conductive layer formed in the trench and electrically connected to the first doping region, a top dielectric layer formed on conductive layer, a gate formed on the top dielectric layer, an epitaxy layer formed on both sides of the gate and on the substrate and a second doping area formed on a top of the epitaxy layer for serving as source/drain. |
| US08044447B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
There is provided a semiconductor device including a silicon substrate, a source/drain region formed in a surface layer of the silicon substrate, a first insulating film provided with a first hole on the first source/drain region, a conductive film formed on an inner surface of the first hole, a filler body, which is formed with a thickness to fill the first hole on the first conductive film, forms a first conduct plug together with the conductive film, and is formed of an insulating material with an upper surface being amorphous, and a capacitor, which is formed on the first contact plug and is provided with a lower electrode electrically connected to the conductive film, a capacitor dielectric film formed of a ferroelectric material, and an upper electrode. |
| US08044443B2 |
Photosensitive integrated circuit equipped with a reflective layer and corresponding method of production
A method for producing a photosensitive integrated circuit including producing circuit control transistors, producing, above the control transistors, and between at least one upper electrode and at least one lower electrode, at least one photodiode, by amorphous silicon layers into which photons from incident electromagnetic radiation are absorbed, producing at least one passivation layer, between the lower electrode and the control transistors, and producing, between the control transistors and the external surface of the integrated circuit, a reflective layer capable of reflecting photons not absorbed by the amorphous silicon layers. |
| US08044441B2 |
Electrode patterning layer comprising polyamic acid or polyimide, and electronic device employing it
Provided is an electrode patterning layer used for forming an electrode pattern of any optional shape depending on the difference in wettability with an electrode-forming solution, the electrode patterning layer employing a polyimide type resin which is highly reliable as an electronic material. The electrode patterning layer is prepared by irradiating a layer comprising a polyamic acid having repeating units at the formula (1) or a polyimide obtainable by cyclodehydration of such a polyamic acid, with ultraviolet ray in a pattern shape: wherein A is a tetravalent organic group, B is a bivalent organic group, each of A and B may be of a single type or plural types, and n is a positive integer, provided that at least one type of A is a tetravalent organic group having an alicyclic structure. |
| US08044435B2 |
Sub-pixel nBn detector
A method of making a two-dimensional detector array (and of such an array) comprising, for each of a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of individual detectors, forming an n-doped semiconductor photo absorbing layer, forming a barrier layer comprising one or more of AlSb, AlAsSb, AlGaAsSb, AlPSb, AlGaPSb, and HgZnTe, and forming an n-doped semiconductor contact area. |
| US08044434B2 |
Semiconductor device employing group III-V nitride semiconductors and method for manufacturing the same
The semiconductor device includes a P-type group III-V nitride semiconductor layer, an N-type group III-V nitride semiconductor layer, and an electrode in contact with both of the P-type group III-V nitride semiconductor layer and the N-type group III-V nitride semiconductor layer. The electrode includes a first electrode portion made of a first conductive material, and a second electrode portion, made of a second conductive material different from the first conductive material, bonded to the first electrode portion. The first electrode portion is in contact with the P-type group III-V nitride semiconductor layer, and the second electrode portion is in contact with the N-type group III-V nitride semiconductor layer. |
| US08044432B2 |
Low density drain HEMTs
Methods and devices for fabricating AlGaN/GaN normally-off high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). A fluorine-based (electronegative ions-based) plasma treatment or low-energy ion implantation is used to modify the drain-side surface field distribution without the use of a field plate electrode. The off-state breakdown voltage can be improved and current collapse can be completely suppressed in LDD-HEMTs with no significant degradation in gains and cutoff frequencies. |
| US08044430B2 |
Nitride semiconductor light-emitting device comprising multiple semiconductor layers having substantially uniform N-type dopant concentration
A nitride semiconductor light-emitting device according to the present invention includes a nitride based semiconductor substrate 10 and a nitride based semiconductor multilayer structure that has been formed on the semiconductor substrate 10. The multilayer structure includes an active layer 16 that produces emission and multiple semiconductor layers 12, 14 and 15 that have been stacked one upon the other between the active layer 16 and the substrate 10 and that include an n-type dopant. Each and every one of the semiconductor layers 12, 14 and 15 includes Al atoms. |
| US08044429B2 |
Light-emitting device and method for manufacturing the same
A light-emitting device including a light-emitting element and a substrate where the light-emitting element is arranged. A housing part housing the light-emitting element and having a shape that is tapered upward from the substrate and a metal frame surrounding the light-emitting element and including the side face of the housing part made into an almost mirror-polished surface are provided on the substrate. |
| US08044427B2 |
Light emitting diode submount with high thermal conductivity for high power operation
This invention relates to the thermal management, extraction of light, and cost effectiveness of Light Emitting Diode, or LED, electrical circuits. An integrated circuit LED submount is described, for the packaging of high power LEDs. The LED submount provides high thermal conductivity while preserving electrical insulation. In particular, a process is described for anodizing a high thermal conductivity aluminum alloy sheet to form a porous aluminum oxide layer and a non-porous aluminum oxide layer. This anodized aluminum alloy sheet acts as a superior electrical insulator, and also provides surface morphology and mechanical properties that are useful for the fabrication of high-density and high-power multilevel electrical circuits. |
| US08044426B2 |
Light emitting device capable of removing height difference between contact region and pixel region and method for fabricating the same
A light emitting device includes a first substrate and a second substrate. Each substrate may be subdivided into a contact region and a pixel region. Conductive elements positioned in each of the contact region and pixel region of the first substrate may be of substantially the same height. |
| US08044416B2 |
Method for fabricating high-power light-emitting diode arrays
One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for fabricating a high-power light-emitting diode (LED). The method includes etching grooves on a growth substrate, thereby forming mesas on the growth substrate. The method further includes fabricating indium gallium aluminum nitride (InGaAlN)-based LED multilayer structures on the mesas on the growth substrate, wherein a respective mesa supports a separate LED structure. In addition, the method includes bonding the multilayer structures to a conductive substrate. The method also includes removing the growth substrate. Furthermore, the method includes depositing a passivation layer and an electrode layer above the InGaAlN multilayer structures, wherein the passivation layer covers the sidewalls and bottom of the grooves. Moreover, the method includes creating conductive paths which couple a predetermined number of adjacent individual LEDs, thereby allowing the LEDs to share a common power supply and be powered simultaneously to form a high-power LED array. |
| US08044407B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and electronic device provided with the same
A liquid crystal display device provided with a thin film transistor with excellent electrical characteristics and reduced off current, for which increase in manufacturing costs can be suppressed while suppressing reduction in yield. A thin film transistor includes a gate electrode provided over a substrate; a gate insulating film provided to cover the substrate and the gate electrode; a first island-shaped semiconductor layer and a second island-shaped semiconductor layer each formed as a stack of a microcrystalline semiconductor layer and a buffer layer with a depression on an upper surface thereof, over the gate electrode with the gate insulating film interposed therebetween; a conductive semiconductor layer; and a conductive layer provided on the conductive semiconductor layer. The conductive semiconductor layer is provided between the first island-shaped semiconductor layer and the second island-shaped semiconductor layer in contact with the gate insulating film. |
| US08044405B2 |
Thin film transistor substrate and manufacturing method thereof
A thin film transistor (TFT) substrate is provided in which a sufficiently large contact area between conductive materials is provided in a contact portion and a method of fabricating the TFT substrate. The TFT substrate includes a gate interconnection line formed on an insulating substrate, a gate insulating layer covering the gate interconnection line, a semiconductor layer arranged on the gate insulating layer, a data interconnection line including a data line, a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the semiconductor layer, a first passivation layer formed on the data interconnection line and exposing the drain electrode, a second passivation layer formed on the first passivation film and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the drain electrode. An outer sidewall of the second passivation layer is positioned inside an outer sidewall of the first passivation layer. |
| US08044404B2 |
Display apparatus and manufacturing method thereof
A display apparatus includes; a substrate, a transistor formed on the substrate, a pixel electrode connected to the transistor, a wall surrounding the pixel electrode, the wall including a main wall and a sub wall, the main wall having a first height and the sub wall having a second height less than the first height of the main wall, an organic layer formed on the pixel electrode, a common electrode formed on the organic layer, and an encapsulation substrate coupled to the substrate. |
| US08044402B2 |
Amorphous insulator film and thin-film transistor
An amorphous insulator film is provided which is composed of silicon (Si) oxide, in which the amorphous insulator film includes Ar and an amount of Ar included therein is equal to or larger than 3 at. % in terms of atomic ratio with respect to Si. |
| US08044395B2 |
Semiconductor memory apparatus for controlling pads and multi-chip package having the same
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes a first pad group located along a first edge of a plurality of banks, a second pad group located along a second edge of the plurality of banks opposite the first pad group, and a pad control section configured to provide first and second bonding signals and to implement control operation in response to a test mode signal and a bonding option signal to selectively employ signals from the first and second pad groups. |
| US08044394B2 |
Semiconductor wafer with electrically connected contact and test areas
The invention relates to an arrangement of contact areas and test areas on patterned semiconductor chips. The contact areas and the test areas are electrically connected to one another via a conduction web. Whereas the contact areas are arranged in a first region, which has no components of an integrated circuit, the test areas lie in a second region of the top side of the semiconductor chip, which region has components of an integrated circuit. |
| US08044390B2 |
Material for organic electroluminescent device, organic electroluminescent device, and organic electroluminescent display
A material for an organic electroluminescent device including an imine derivative represented by the following formula (Ia) or (Ib), wherein Y1 to Y4 are independently a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom; R1 to R4 are independently hydrogen, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocycle, a halogen atom, a fluoroalkyl group or a cyano group; and R1 and R2, or R3 and R4 may be bonded together to form a ring. |
| US08044388B2 |
Method of forming a carbon nanotube-based contact to semiconductor
Manufacturers encounter limitations in forming low resistance ohmic electrical contact to semiconductor material P-type Gallium Nitride (p-GaN), commonly used in photonic applications, such that the contact is highly transparent to the light emission of the device. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can address this problem due to their combined metallic and semiconducting characteristics in conjunction with the fact that a fabric of CNTs has high optical transparency. The physical structure of the contact scheme is broken down into three components, a) the GaN, b) an interface material and c) the metallic conductor. The role of the interface material is to make suitable contact to both the GaN and the metal so that the GaN, in turn, will make good electrical contact to the metallic conductor that interfaces the device to external circuitry. A method of fabricating contact to GaN using CNTs and metal while maintaining protection of the GaN surface is provided. |
| US08044384B2 |
Group III nitride based quantum well light emitting device structures with an indium containing capping structure
Group III nitride based light emitting devices and methods of fabricating Group III nitride based light emitting devices are provided. The emitting devices include an n-type Group III nitride layer, a Group III nitride based active region on the n-type Group III nitride layer and comprising at least one quantum well structure, a Group III nitride layer including indium on the active region, a p-type Group III nitride layer including aluminum on the Group III nitride layer including indium, a first contact on the n-type Group III nitride layer and a second contact on the p-type Group III nitride layer. The Group III nitride layer including indium may also include aluminum. |
| US08044375B2 |
Apparatus and method for ion beam implantation using scanning and spot beams
An ion implantation apparatus with multiple operating modes is disclosed. The ion implantation apparatus has an ion source and an ion extraction means for forming a converging beam on AMU-non-dispersive plane therefrom. The ion implantation apparatus includes magnetic scanner prior to a magnetic analyzer for scanning the beam on the non-dispersive plane, the magnetic analyzer for selecting ions with specific mass-to-charge ratio to pass through a mass slit to project onto a substrate. A rectangular quadruple magnet is provided to collimate the scanned ion beam and fine corrections of the beam incident angles onto a target. A deceleration or acceleration system incorporating energy filtering is at downstream of the beam collimator. A two-dimensional mechanical scanning system for scanning the target is disclosed, in which a beam diagnostic means is build in. |
| US08044370B2 |
Gas ion source with high mechanical stability
A gas field ion source is described for a charged particle beam device having a charged particle beam column. The gas field ion source includes an emitter unit, a cooling unit, and a thermal conductivity unit for thermal conductivity from the cooling unit to the emitter unit, wherein the thermal conductivity unit is adapted for reduction of vibration transfer from the cooling unit to the emitter unit. |
| US08044369B2 |
Electrostatic deflection control circuit and method of electronic beam measuring apparatus
An electrostatic deflection circuit and method of an electronic beam measuring apparatus which can achieve the high precision of the electronic beam measuring and contribute to the simplification of the structure of the apparatus is provided. In an analog arithmetic circuit included in an analog operation part constituting an electrostatic deflection circuit, output voltages of multipliers are added and output by an adder. When the magnification is low, as the side of an ordinarily closed contact is closed driven by a relay driving circuit, the output of the adder is amplified by a high gain amplifier with a high amplification factor and applied to an electrostatic deflecting board. When the magnification is high, the side of an ordinarily open contact is closed and it is amplified by a low gain amplifier with a low amplification factor and applied to the electrostatic deflecting board in the same way. |
| US08044365B2 |
High-resolution ion chamber
Nested ionization chambers provide independent measurements of a radiation beam that does not fully irradiate the volume of one or both chambers. By mathematically combining these independent measurements, partial volume effects caused by a change in ionization detector calibrations when the full detector volume is not irradiated by the radiation beam, may be decreased, providing more accurate measurement of extremely small radiation beams. |
| US08044360B2 |
Radiation detector
The present invention provides a radiation detector that can suppress a deterioration of image quality of a radiation image while suppressing the size of the radiation detector. Namely, a conductive layer configured by a conductive member is disposed at a portion that corresponds to at least the back side of the peripheral edge portion of a bias electrode, on the surface of an insulating substrate. |
| US08044349B2 |
Mass spectrometer
A mass spectrometer includes a linear multipole electrode, an auxiliary electrode that applies a DC potential on the center axis of the linear multipole electrode, and a DC power supply that supplies a DC power to the auxiliary electrode. The DC potential slope formed on the center axis of the multipole electrode is changed according to the measuring condition. The ejection time of ions can be adjusted optimally by adjusting the potential slope so as to satisfy the measuring condition. If the ejection time of ions is shortened, confusion of different ion information items that might otherwise occur on a spectrum can be avoided. If the ejection time of ions is lengthened, detection limit exceeding can be avoided and ions can be measured efficiently, thereby highly efficient ion measurements are always assured. |
| US08044347B2 |
Method for processing mass analysis data and mass spectrometer
Intensity data of the signals produced by an ion detector are sequentially stored in a data processor, with each piece of intensity data being associated with time t required for each of the various ions ejected from an ion trap to fly through a time-of-flight space and reach the ion detector. The data obtained within a time range T2 corresponding to a measurement mass range are extracted as profile data. The data obtained within either a time range T1 before the arrival of an ion having the smallest m/z value or a time range T3 after the arrival of an ion having the largest m/z value are extracted as noise component data. Various kinds of noise information such as the noise level or standard deviation are calculated from the noise component data. Based on this noise information, a noise component is removed from the profile data. For every mass scan cycle, the noise component data and profile data are almost simultaneously obtained. Therefore, even if the electrical noise from the ion detector changes with time, the noise can be properly removed with little influence from that change of the noise. |
| US08044345B2 |
Method for determining the concentration of a molecule
The present invention relates to a method for determining the concentration of a first molecule having a chemical structure, which contains a first peptide sequence comprising: (a) obtaining a sample containing the first molecule, (b) providing a reference sample which contains a second molecule having a certain concentration and chemical structure, which contains a second peptide sequence, wherein the chemical structure of the second molecule only differs from the structure of the first molecule in one or more permutations in the first peptide sequence, (c) combining the reference sample and the sample containing the first molecule, (d) identifying at least one fragment peak in a mass spectrum (MS) of the first molecule and the second molecule, wherein the mass difference of the fragment peaks is only caused by the permutation of the at least two different amino acids, and (e) determining the concentration of the first molecule relative to the certain concentration of the second molecule by comparing of the identified peaks. |
| US08044344B2 |
Mass spectroscope
A mass spectroscope includes a mass analysis device having a surface provided with metallic members capable of exciting plasmons when irradiated by laser light, the mass analysis device allowing an analyte to be attached to the surface, a light radiation unit for irradiating the surface of the mass analysis device with laser light to ionize the analyte attached to the surface and desorb the analyte from the surface, and a detection unit for detecting a mass of the analyte ionized and desorbed from the surface of the mass analysis device from a time of flight of the analyte. The light radiation unit includes a polarization adjusting mechanism for adjusting a polarization direction of the laser light. |
| US08044336B2 |
Detector and optical system
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a detector comprising first and second lenses for use with respective first and second sensing means; each lens comprising a plurality of Fresnel facets having respective fields of view adapted such that the fields of view of the first lens are alternately arranged with the fields of view of the second lens such that the fields of view of the first lens are adjacent only to, but do not overlap with, the fields of view of the second lens in a single direction. |
| US08044335B2 |
Level sensor implemented with a plurality of light receiving elements
A level sensor, i.e., a light receiving section (11X) having multiple light receiving elements (PDX1 to PDXn) arranged in parallel. In the level sensor, each two adjacent output terminals of the light receiving elements (PDX1 to PDXn) are connected by one of resistors (RX1 to RXn). |
| US08044329B2 |
Compact limiter and controller assembly and method
A power control system has a controller housing, a power switch disposed within the controller housing for selectively providing power from a power supply to a power load, a limiter disposed within the controller housing configured for providing a limit switching function in response to a threshold limit, and a controller disposed within the controller housing and configured for controlling one or more operations of the control system. |
| US08044324B2 |
Solid wire
A solid wire contains C of 0.020 to 0.100 mass percent, Si of 0.25 to 1.10 mass percent, Mn of 1.20 to 1.65 mass percent, P of 0.008 to 0.017 mass percent, S of 0.045 to 0.150 mass percent, O of 0.0050 mass percent or less, N of 0.0050 mass percent or less, wherein P*(O+N)*105≦15 is satisfied, and the remainder including Fe and impurities, wherein the relevant impurities contain Ti of 0.15 mass percent or less, B of 0.0050 mass percent or less, and Cr, Ni, Al, Nb, V, Zr, La and Ce of 0.20 mass percent or less respectively. According to such a configuration, a solid wire is provided, in which while increase in welding cost is controlled to the minimum, stability of wire feed, burn-through resistance, undercut resistance, and crack resistance are excellent, slag and spatter are hardly produced, hardness of weld metal is equal to or higher than that of base metal, and brittle fracture hardly occurs. |
| US08044320B2 |
Method and apparatus for the correction of defective solder bump arrays
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for the correction of defective solder bump arrays arranged in a plurality of cavities in a mold. In the method, a faulty solder bump is searched, identified and located (i.e., its position is determined) in an arrangement of solder bumps disposed in cavities of a mold and the faulty solder bump is subsequently replaced by a prefabricated solder bump. The apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a mold holder, a scanning and locating device for finding and locating faulty solder bumps and a repair device for replacing the faulty solder bump by a prefabricated solder bump. |
| US08044314B2 |
Hybrid button
A hybrid button according to the invention is provided. In one embodiment, the button can be implemented in an electronic device such as a media player. The button can include a metal or other non-plastic portion having a reverse flange and a plastic portion including anti-rotation legs. The legs can prevent rotation at least in part because they are retained by another structure. The plastic portion can be injection-molded onto the reverse flange of the metal or non-plastic portion. As such, the reverse flange fixes the position of the plastic portion with respect to the metal portion. Finally, the metal portion can include an actuator nub that actuates a switch when the button is depressed. |
| US08044312B2 |
Electrical service device with depressions for increasing air gaps and leakage paths
An electrical service device having a housing is disclosed, in which voltage-carrying components are accommodated which are accessible via openings in the housing of the service device. At least one opening can have at least one wall-like insulating barrier associated with it which consists of an electrically insulating material and with which it is possible for the air gaps and leakage paths between two adjacent openings to be increased. The insulating barrier can be fixed to the housing of the service device. |
| US08044307B2 |
Power transformer/reactor
A power transformer/reactor immersed in oil including a transformer/reactor core and windings accommodated in a tank including a tank base plate and tank walls. A foundation supports the tank. An elongated continuous band forming a closed frame is arranged between the base plate and the foundation. An outer periphery of the base plate extends outside an inner periphery of the frame and thereby encloses an air volume within the frame, the base plate and foundation. The tank support reduces sound emitted from the transformer/reactor. |
| US08044305B2 |
Circuit board including hybrid via structures
A circuit board may include hybrid via structures configured to connect to components, such as connectors and electronic components, mounted on the circuit board. A hybrid via structure may include one or more micro-vias configured to provide an electrical connection to a signal trace in the circuit board and one or more through-vias configured to provide a ground connection to at least one reference plane in the circuit board. In one embodiment, a plurality of circuit boards including the hybrid via structures and signal traces may be connected to establish a channel supporting differential signaling and data transfer rates of at least about 5 Gb/s. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment. |
| US08044302B2 |
Printed circuit board having coplanar LC balance
Provided is a printed circuit board having coplanar LC balance, comprising: an insulation layer, printed circuit patterns formed on the insulation layer, power source wirings supplying power in the printed circuit patterns, and at least three signal wirings formed between the power source wirings, wherein widths of signal wirings far from the power source wirings are wider than widths of signal wirings adjacent to the power source wirings to achieve LC balance, thereby reducing the skew between signal wirings and improving the quality of signal transfer. |
| US08044297B2 |
Ground electrode
A land electrode for a high voltage direct current transmission system including a converter station with a grounding point. The land electrode is connected to the grounding point and includes a plurality of electrode sections. A line electrode includes a part interconnecting two electrode sections. The part of the line electrode exhibits a line resistance. Each electrode section includes at least one electrode element. |
| US08044296B2 |
Photovoltaic device and method for manufacturing the same
A photovoltaic device uses a single crystal or polycrystalline semiconductor layer which is separated from a single crystal or polycrystalline semiconductor substrate as a photoelectric conversion layer and has a SOI structure in which the semiconductor layer is bonded to a substrate having an insulating surface or an insulating substrate. A single crystal semiconductor layer which is a separated surface layer part of a single crystal semiconductor substrate and is transferred is used as a photoelectric conversion layer and includes an impurity semiconductor layer to which hydrogen or halogen is added on a light incidence surface or on an opposite surface. The semiconductor layer is fixed to a substrate having an insulating surface or an insulating substrate. |
| US08044293B2 |
High performance thermoelectric nanocomposite device
A thermoelectric device includes a nanocomposite material with nanowires of at least one thermoelectric material having a predetermined figure of merit, the nanowires being formed in a porous substrate having a low thermal conductivity and having an average pore diameter ranging from about 4 nm to about 300 nm. |
| US08044288B1 |
Proprietary music rotation supporting the equal temperament tuning system
A musical notation system is provided wherein the twelve pitches of the 12-TET tuning system are represented by horizontal lines placed at the top, center and bottom of four different reference heads. Pitches, intervals chords and scales degrees are named by the positions of these lines at the reference heads and by the relationship between them. Assistant is provided to performers by representing the correlation between these reference heads and positions or keys in the musical instruments as well as a method to aid identify intervals, scale degrees and pitches. Relative note-on is represented in a timing row with demarcation of beats and measures; note-off is represented by the end of the lines as a proportional indication of the duration of sound. |
| US08044286B2 |
Inbred corn line PHEHG
A novel inbred maize line designated PHEHG and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing inbred maize line PHEHG with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHEHG through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the inbred line PHEHG or a trait conversion of PHEHG with another maize line. Inbred maize lines derived from inbred maize line PHEHG, methods for producing other inbred maize lines derived from inbred maize line PHEHG and the inbred maize lines and their parts derived by the use of those methods. |
| US08044285B1 |
Maize variety inbred PH12TJ
A novel maize variety designated PH12TJ and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH12TJ with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH12TJ through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH12TJ or a locus conversion of PH12TJ with another maize variety. |
| US08044280B1 |
Maize variety inbred PHVCK
A novel maize variety designated PHVCK and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHVCK with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHVCK through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHVCK or a locus conversion of PHVCK with another maize variety. |
| US08044274B1 |
Inbred maize variety PH8KF
A novel maize variety designated PH8KF and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH8KF with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH8KF through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH8KF or a trait conversion of PH8KF with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PH8KF, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PH8KF and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods. |
| US08044273B2 |
Pepper hybrid E 499526
Hybrid pepper cultivar designated ‘E 499526’ which is a Sweetbite type and suitable for covered cultivation and open field, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of hybrid pepper cultivar ‘E 499526’ and to the plants of hybrid pepper cultivar ‘E 499526’. The invention also relates to methods for producing a pepper plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the hybrid cultivar ‘E 499526’ with itself or another pepper cultivar. The invention further relates to methods for producing other pepper cultivars derived from the hybrid ‘E 499526’. |
| US08044272B2 |
Cotton variety 06T201F
The invention relates to the novel cotton variety designated 06T201F. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants, plant parts and derivatives of the cotton variety 06T201F. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the cotton variety 06T201F and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing cotton plants by crossing the cotton variety 06T201F with itself or another cotton variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US08044268B2 |
Soybean variety 93Y10
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated 93Y10. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety 93Y10, to the plants of soybean 93Y10 to plant parts of soybean variety 93Y10 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety 93Y10 with another soybean plant, using 93Y10 as either the male or the female parent. |
| US08044265B2 |
Gene promotors which can be used in plants
The present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences which have a transcriptional promoter activity preferentially in the phloem of plants under conditions of stress, or in the roots, to derived sequences, to constructs containing such sequences, and also to cells transformed with said constructs and to transgenic plants. The present invention makes it possible to place any transgene under the transcriptional control of a promoter, the activity of which is tissue-specific, organ-specific and/or inducible by environmental factors, such as biotic or abiotic stresses. |
| US08044264B2 |
Polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and polynucleotides encoding same
The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides. |
| US08044263B2 |
Cytokinin oxidase promoter from maize
The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions and methods include expression cassettes and transformed plants and provide for downregulation of cytokinin oxidase in a plant. |
| US08044261B2 |
Glyphosate-N-acetyltransferase (GAT) genes
Proteins are provided herein, including proteins capable of catalyzing the acetylation of glyphosate and other structurally related proteins. Also provided are polynucleotides capable of encoding these proteins, compositions that include one or more of these proteins and/or polynucleotides, recombinant cells and transgenic plants comprising these compounds, diversification methods involving the compounds, and methods of using the compounds. Some of the methods and compounds provided herein can be used to render an organism, such as a plant, resistant to glyphosate. |
| US08044255B2 |
Treatment of personal care products to reduce leakage
The present disclosure relates to personal care products such as diapers, training pants, feminine care articles, incontinence articles, bandages, and the like, that have been treated to enhance liquid intake and distribution performance characteristics and reduce leakage. Advantageously, the treated personal care products described herein not only reduce the viscosity and elasticity of viscoelastic fluids that come in contact with the treated product, but also reduce the fouling effect of such fluids. |
| US08044251B2 |
Process for the preparation of halo-olefins
Described is a process for preparing a halo-olefin comprising contacting a halogenated hydrocarbon with a metal dehalogenating agent, in a solvent, in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst, under conditions sufficient to dehalogenate said halogenated hydrocarbon to produce a product stream comprising said halo-olefin. In one embodiment, the halogenated hydrocarbon is trifluorotrichloroethane and the halo-olefin is chlorotrifluoroethylene. |
| US08044248B2 |
Treatment of bisphenol-A residue streams
In a method of reducing the viscosity of a residue stream from the production of bisphenol-A, the residue stream is combined with at least one of (a) a bottoms stream comprising polyalkylaromatic compounds and remaining after the fractionation of an effluent from an aromatics alkylation process to remove monoalkylaromatic compounds, (b) a stream containing at least 90 wt % phenol and (c) a mixture of phenol and said bottoms stream (a) to produce a combined stream. |
| US08044236B2 |
Carboxilic acid derivatives
A compound represented by the following general formula (I) or a salt thereof, or a hydrate thereof or a solvate thereof having an inhibitory action against plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1): wherein R1 represents a C6-10 aryl group; or a substituted C6-10 aryl group, R2 represents a C6-10 aryl group; or a C6-10 aryl group substituted with a group or groups selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, nitro group, a C1-6 alkyl group, a halogenated C1-6 alkyl group, a C1-6 alkoxy group, a halogenated C1-6 alkoxy group, a phenyl group and carboxy group, X represents —CH2—, —CH2CH2—, —CH═CH— or —N(R3)—C(═O)—, Y represents carboxy group or a bioisostere of carboxy group, R3 represents hydrogen atom, a C1-4 alkyl group or a C7-12 aralkyl group, m represents 0 or 1. |
| US08044233B2 |
Process for preparing vinyl carboxylates
The present invention relates to a process for preparing vinyl carboxylates, wherein a carboxylic acid is reacted with an alkyne compound in the presence of a catalyst which is selected from carbonyl complexes, halides and oxides of rhenium, of manganese, of tungsten, of molybdenum, of chromium and of iron and rhenium metal at a temperature of ≦300° C.The process gives the desired vinyl esters with high yield. |
| US08044232B2 |
Surface-active polymer and its use in a water-in-oil emulsion
The present invention relates to a succinic diester polymer which is used in the preparation of water-in-oil macroemulsions. Said polymer, which has an excellent ability to stabilize a water-in-oil macroemulsion, has the formula (I) wherein L is a polyalkenyl group having a number average molecular weight of are poly(alkyleneoxy) chains with a molecular weight of from 500 to 1,200, where each alkyleneoxy group contains 2 or 3 carbon atoms and the number of alkyleneoxy groups being ethyleneoxy groups is at least 50% of the total number of alkyleneoxy groups, and R1 and R2 independently are alkyl groups having of from 1 to 3 carbons atoms. The emulsions of the invention can be used as a diesel fuel, a gasoline fuel, a heating fuel, a dry cleaning liquid, a metalworking fluid or a personal care formulation. |
| US08044229B2 |
Alicyclic polycarboxylic ester mixtures with a high trans proportion and method for the production thereof
The present invention relates to the preparation of alicyclic polycarboxylic esters by ring-hydrogenation of the corresponding aromatic polycarboxylic esters on a catalyst which comprises at least one metal from the triad iron, cobalt, nickel, and at least one metal of the IInd, IIIrd, IVth, Vth, and/or VIth transition group of the Periodic Table.An alicyclic carboxylic ester mixture with a proportion above 10 mol % of the trans isomers.The use of the alicyclic polycarboxylic ester mixtures.Mixtures made from plastics and from alicyclic polycarboxylic ester mixtures. |
| US08044224B2 |
Chiral iridium aqua complex and method for producing optically active hydroxy compound by using the same
The invention relates to a chiral iridium aqua complex of formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and each is an aryl group optionally having at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a haloalkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a nitro group, a carboxyl group and a cyano group, or the like; and wherein R3 and R4 are the same or different and each is an alkyl group or the like, as well as the use of such a chiral iridium aqua complex for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation. |
| US08044221B2 |
Fluorine-containing boronic acid ester compound and method for producing the same
A fluorine-containing boronic acid ester represented by the general formula: (R1 is a linear or branched divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, R2 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or phenyl group, n is an integer of 1 to 3, and m is an integer of 0 to 4) having an improved solubility in organic solvents is produced by reacting a fluorine-containing 3,5-dihalogenoanilide derivative represented by the general formula: (R2 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or phenyl group, X is a halogen atom, n is an integer of 1 to 3, and m is an integer of 0 to 4) with a dialkoxyborane represented by the general formula: (R1 is a linear or branched divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms). |
| US08044209B2 |
Pyrrolydine derivatives as IAP inhibitors
The present invention relates to novel IAP inhibitor compounds of: Formula (I). |
| US08044208B2 |
Imidazole derivatives as inhibitors of TAFIa
The present invention is directed to a compound of formula I: or any stereoisomeric form of the compound of the formula I or a mixture of these forms in any ratio or a physiologically acceptable salt of the compound of the formula I which inhibit the enzyme TAFIa (activated thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor), and to a process for their preparation and to their use to treat described diseases where the substituents are as described in the specification. |
| US08044206B2 |
Nitrogen—containing heterocyclic derivatives having 2,6-disubstituted styryl
The invention provides a novel nitrogen-containing heterocyclic derivative having 2,6-disubstituted styryl and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the nitrogen-containing heterocyclic derivative and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in particular, a pharmaceutical composition effective as a sodium channel inhibitor, having an excellent analgesic action especially on neuropathic pain with minimized side effects. |
| US08044203B2 |
Chiral indole intermediates and their fluorescent cyanine dyes containing functional groups
This invention relates to the functionalized cyanine dyes and more particularly, to the synthesis of chiral 3-substituted 2,3′-dimethyl-3H-indole and its derivatives as intermediates for preparation of cyanine dyes, to methods of preparing these dyes and the dyes so prepared. |
| US08044201B2 |
Stem cell cultures
The present invention relates compounds for stabilizing cells and methods of their use. |
| US08044194B2 |
Cyclic carbonyl monomers functionalized with carbohydrates, polymers derived therefrom, and methods of preparation thereof
A cyclic carbonyl monomer has the formula (7): wherein at least one W′ or Wa group comprises a protected glycoside; each Z independently represents O, S, NH or NW″; n is an integer from 0 to 6 wherein when n is 0, carbons labeled 4 and 6 are linked together by a single bond; each W′ and Wa group independently represents a hydrogen, a halide, an alkyl group comprising 1 to 20 carbons, an ester group comprising 1 to 20 carbons, an amide group, an aryl group comprising 1 to 20 carbons, an alkoxy group comprising 1 to 20 carbons, or a foregoing W′ or Wa group substituted with a protected glycoside; and each W″ group independently represents an alkyl group comprising 1 to 20 carbons, an aryl group comprising 1 to 20 carbons, or a foregoing W″ group substituted with a protected glycoside. |
| US08044191B2 |
P EF-TU expression units
The present invention relates to the use of nucleic acid sequences for regulating the transcription and expression of genes, the novel promoters and expression units themselves, methods for altering or causing the transcription rate and/or expression rate of genes, expression cassettes comprising the expression units, genetically modified microorganisms with altered or caused transcription rate and/or expression rate, and methods for preparing biosynthetic products by cultivating the genetically modified microorganisms. |
| US08044187B2 |
Human luteinizing hormone superagonists
The invention is directed toward a human glycoprotein hormone having at least one, two, three, four, or five basic amino acids in the α-subunit at positions selected from the group consisting of positions 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, and 20. The invention is also directed to a human glycoprotein where at least one of the amino acids at position 58, 63, and 69 of the β-subunit of the human thyroid stimulating hormone are basic amino acids. The invention is further directed to a modified human glycoprotein hormone having increased activity over a wild-type human glycoprotein hormone, where the modified human glycoprotein comprises a basic amino acid substituted at a position corresponding to the same amino acid position in a non-human glycoprotein hormone having an increased activity over the wild-type human glycoprotein hormone. The invention is also directed to a method of constructing superactive nonchimeric analogs of human hormones comprising comparing the amino acid sequence of a more active homolog from another species to the human hormone, and selecting superactive analogs from the substituted human hormones. The invention is also directed to nucleic acids encoding the modified human glycoprotein hormones, vectors containing those nucleic acids, and host cells containing those vectors. |
| US08044186B2 |
Heterologous production of capreomycin and generation of new capreomycin derivatives through metabolic engineering
Provided are nucleic acid molecules comprising at least a functional fragment of the capreomycin biosynthetic gene cluster, polypeptides encoded by the cluster and recombinant host cells transformed with any of the nucleic acid molecules disclosed herein. Various methods using any of the vectors or expression cassettes that encode one or more of the gene products of the cluster are provided for heterologous production of capreomycin and capreomycin derivatives. |
| US08044180B2 |
FcγRIIB specific antibodies and methods of use thereof
The present invention relates to antibodies or fragments thereof that specifically bind FcγRIIB, particularly human FcγRIIB, with greater affinity than said antibodies or fragments thereof bind FcγRIIA, particularly human FcγRIIA. The invention provides methods of enhancing the therapeutic effect of therapeutic antibodies by administering the antibodies of the invention to enhance the effector function of the therapeutic antibodies. The invention also provides methods of enhancing efficacy of a vaccine composition by administering the antibodies of the invention. |
| US08044173B2 |
Asymmetric synthesis of peptides
A process comprising substitution of an acceptor molecule comprising a group —XC(O)— wherein X is O, S, or NR8, where R8 is C1-6 alkyl, C6-12 aryl or hydrogen, with a nucleophile, wherein the acceptor molecule is cyclised such that said nucleophilic substitution at —XC(O)— occurs without racemisation, is provided. This process has particular application for the production of a peptide by extension from the activated carboxy-terminus of an acyl amino acid residue without epimerisation. |
| US08044172B2 |
Barrier membrane
Cell-occlusive membrane, obtainable by reaction of at least two precursors in the presence of water. The first precursor A comprises a core and n chains each having a conjugated unsaturated group or a conjugated unsaturated bond, and the second precursor B comprises a core and m chains each having a thiol group, wherein m is greater than or equal to 2, n is greater than or equal to 2, and m+n is greater than or equal to 5. The reaction forms a three dimensional network with crosslinking-points. The adjacent crosslinking-points are connected by a chain having less than 600 atoms. |
| US08044170B2 |
Highly functional, highly branched or hyperbranched polyesters, the production thereof and the use of the same
High-functionality highly branched or hyperbranched polyesters based on di-, tri- or polycarboxylic acids and di-, tri- or polyols, processes for preparing them, and their use. |
| US08044164B2 |
Golf ball
A golf ball which has excellent abrasion-resistance and spin performance is provided. The golf ball of the present invention includes a core and a cover covering the core. The cover contains, as a resin component, polyurethane which is obtained using, as a polyisocyanate component constituting the polyurethane, 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate having a mole ratio ((B)/(A)) of non-cis-structure molecule (B) to cis-structure molecule (A) in a range from 3/7 to 9/1. |
| US08044162B2 |
Adhesion-promoting agent, curable organopolysiloxane composition, and semiconductor device
An adhesion-promoting agent represented by the following average formula: R1aSiO(4-a/2 (where R1 is a group selected from an optionally substituted alkyl group with 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group with 2 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group with 6 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group with 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an epoxy-containing organic group; however, in one molecule, the content of the alkenyl groups should constitute at least 5 mole % of all groups designated by R1; the content of the aryl groups should constitute at least 5 mole % of all groups designated by R1; the content of the alkoxy groups should constitute at least 5 mole % of all groups designated by R1; the content of the epoxy-containing organic groups should constitute at least 5 mole % of all groups designated by R1; and “a” is a number that satisfies the following condition: 1.0≦a<4) is a novel adhesion-promoting agent, and a curable organopolysiloxane composition that contains the aforementioned adhesion-promoting agent, has excellent adhesion to various organic-resin substrates and suitable for forming a cured body having high refractive index and high light transmissivity. |
| US08044161B2 |
Use of tocopherol
The present invention relates to the use of tocopherol as a co-catalyst in the ring opening polymerisation of cyclic siloxanes. The present invention further relates to a method for manufacturing hydrophilic polysiloxanes, wherein a hydrido-containing cyclic siloxane is reacted with a hydrophilic molecule comprising a carbon-carbon double bond, having the general formula (I) H2C═CH—(CHR)n—O—(CHR1CR2R3)mR4 or (II) H2C═CH—(CHR)n—R5, wherein n is an integer from 0 to 4, m is an integer from 0 to 5, R, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each independently hydrogen or a C1 to C6 alkyl, R5 is a saturated cyclic hydrocarbon containing carbonyl group, in the presence of a first catalyst to obtain a monomer, and polymerising said monomer in the presence of a second catalyst and tocopherol as a co-catalyst. |
| US08044157B2 |
Water absorbent resin production method and usage thereof
A method for producing a water absorbent resin comprises the steps of: (i) polymerizing a monomer including an unsaturated monomer containing a carboxyl group, in the presence of an internal cross-linking agent (A) having two or more radical polymerizable unsaturated groups in its single molecule and in the presence of a non-polymeric internal cross-linking agent (B) having in its single molecule two or more functional groups each of which allows formation of an ester bond or an amide bond by reacting with a carboxyl group so as to obtain a cross-linked polymer hydrogel; (ii) crushing the cross-linked polymer hydrogel obtained in the step (i); and (iii) drying crushed cross-linked polymer hydrogel products obtained in the step (ii), wherein: an amount of the internal cross-linking agent (A) is 0.01 mol % or more and 0.2 mol % or less relative to an amount of the unsaturated monomer containing a carboxyl group, and a molar ratio (B)/(A) of the internal cross-linking agent (A) and the non-polymeric internal cross-linking agent (B) is 0.01 or more and 1.8 or less. |
| US08044152B2 |
Epoxy resin containing side-chain-tethered caged POSS and preparation method thereof as well as epoxy resin material containing POSS-epoxy and preparation method thereof
An epoxy resin containing side-chain-tethered caged POSS and a preparation method thereof as well as epoxy resin material containing POSS-epoxy and a preparation method thereof are disclosed. The epoxy resin containing side-chain-tethered caged POSS (POSS epoxy) is formed by tethering of POSS group to the side chain of the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) epoxy resin. The preparation method of the POSS epoxy includes a step of reacting epoxy resin with caged POSS to form epoxy resin containing side-chain-tethered caged POSS (POSS-epoxy). The preparation method of epoxy resin material containing POSS-epoxy includes a step of reacting DGEBA epoxy resin with POSS-epoxy to get epoxy resin material containing POSS-epoxy. The POSS-epoxy is distributed evenly in the epoxy resin material with POSS-epoxy. |
| US08044150B2 |
Transparent static dissipative coating compositions
A method of preparing an electrostatic dissipative composition that includes combining a conductive polymer; a crosslinkable polymer, and a crosslinking agent to form a fluidized dispersion, and providing the fluidized dispersion with a pH of about 7 to 9 to form the electrostatic discharge composition. |
| US08044148B2 |
Modified styrene-maleic acid copolymer and use thereof
The present invention relates to a modified styrene-maleic acid copolymer obtained by reacting a carboxylic acid group in a styrene-maleic acid copolymer with a halogen and/or epoxy compound. The modified styrene-maleic acid copolymer is useful as a low profile additive for a thermosetting resin, a water-absorbing material, etc. |
| US08044147B2 |
Nitrile group-containing copolymer rubber and a vulcanizable nitrile group-containing copolymer rubber composition
A nitrile group-containing copolymer rubber comprising 10 to 40 wt % of α,β-ethylenically unsaturated nitrile unit (a), 10 to 60 wt % of α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester unit (b), and 20 to 70 wt % in total of conjugated diene unit (c) and saturated conjugated diene unit (d), wherein a content ratio “x” of a conjugated diene unit (c) based on the total content of said conjugated diene unit (c) and said saturated conjugated diene unit (d) is 0.08 or smaller, and “x·A” defined as a product of said ratio “x” and a content ratio “A” (%) of said α,β-ethylenically unsaturated nitrile unit (a) is 1.5 or smaller. According to the present invention, a nitrile group-containing copolymer rubber capable to provide a rubber vulcanizate highly balanced in mechanical strength, heat aging resistance, oil resistance, cold resistance and ozone resistance, and a vulcanizable rubber composition using the rubber can be provided. |
| US08044143B2 |
Polyester/polycarbonate alloy resin composition and molded product made using the same
Disclosed are a polyester/polycarbonate alloy resin composition that includes: (A) a mixed resin including (A-1) a polycarbonate resin having a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 30,000 to about 200,000 g/mol and (A-2) a polyester resin having an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.85 to about 1.52 dl/g; (B) an acryl-based resin; and (C) an impact-reinforcing agent, and a molded product made using the polyester/polycarbonate alloy resin composition. |
| US08044141B2 |
Tinting optical substrates
The present invention provides a method for tinting an optical substrate. The method includes the steps of applying a coating composition containing: a polymerisable monomer having a polyoxyalkylene backbone containing at least four contiguous oxyalkylene units, and an abrasion resistant agent and/or a high crosslinking polymerisable monomer to the optical substrate, polymerising the coating composition to form an abrasion resistant coating layer, and introducing a tinting compound into the coating layer to thereby tint the optical substrate. The invention also provides a coating composition and an optical substrate that is tinted according to the method of the invention. |
| US08044133B2 |
Rubber composition and tire using same
The present invention provides a rubber composition for a tire which makes it possible to consider an effect on environment, prepare for decrease in supply quantity of petroleum in future and improve weather resistance and rubber strength in good balance, and a tire prepared by using the rubber composition. The rubber composition of the present invention comprises not less than 20 parts by weight of a silica, not more than 5 parts by weight of a carbon black and 2 to 20 parts by weight of a turpentine soot and/or lamp black having an average particle diameter of not more than 1,000 nm, based on 100 parts by weight of a rubber component comprising a natural rubber and/or an epoxidized natural rubber, and a tire prepared by using the rubber composition. |
| US08044132B2 |
Fluorine-containing elastomer composition
A fluorine-containing elastomer composition, which comprises (A) a fluorine-containing elastomer consisting of a copolymer comprising (a) tetrafluoroethylene, (b) perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) or perfluoro-(alkoxyalkyl vinyl ether), and (c) a cyano group-containing perfluorovinyl ether, (B) a cross-linking agent, and (C) spherical silica, wherein the spherical silica is high purity amorphous silica particles obtained by calcining metallic silica powders, and cooling the resulting vaporous silicon oxide. The present fluorine-containing elastomer composition can provide seal materials having distinguished processability, product appearance, plasma resistance, etc. by the cyano group-containing perfluoroelastomer having a good heat resistance and only silica as contained therein. |
| US08044130B2 |
Surface-coated flame-retardant particle and method of producing the same, and flame-retardant resin composition and method of producing the same
A surface-coated flame-retardant particle comprising a flame-retardant grain and a coated layer provided on a surface of the flame-retardant grain, wherein the coated layer comprises an organic compound or a polysilicone, the flame-retardant grain comprises a metal hydrate and has a volume average particle diameter of 1 to 500 nm, and the metal hydrate comprises Mg and at least one of Ca, Al, Fe, Zn, Ba, Cu, and Ni. Also provided is a flame-retardant resin composition comprising the surface-coated flame-retardant particle. |
| US08044127B2 |
Thermoplastic resin composition, polycarbonate resin composition, and molded article thereof
The present invention provides a thermoplastic resin composition containing 100 parts by mass of a mixture of a thermoplastic resin (A) and carbon nanotubes (B), the mixture comprising the component (A) in an amount of 20 to 99.95 mass % and the component (B) in an amount of 0.05 to 20 mass %; a flame retardant (C) in an amount of 0.05 to 30 parts by mass; and a polyfluoroolefin resin in an amount of 0 to 2 parts by mass.The flame retardant is preferably a phosphorus compound, and the thermoplastic resin preferably contains, as a component, an aromatic polycarbonate-polyorganosiloxane copolymer. |
| US08044122B2 |
Polycarbonate composition containing UV absorber
The present invention relates to a composition containing polycarbonate and from 0.05 wt. % to 0.5 wt. % of a UV absorber and from 0.0001 wt. % to 0.03 wt. % 2-[2-hydroxy-4-(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]phenyl-4,6-di(4-phenyl)phenyl-1,3,5-triazine. |
| US08044121B2 |
Cement mold-making silicone rubber composition
A cement mold-making silicone rubber composition is provided comprising (A) 100 parts by weight of a polyorganosiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded monovalent aliphatic unsaturated hydrocarbon groups in a molecule, (B) a polyorganohydrogensiloxane having at least three silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in a molecule, in such an amount as to provide 0.1-5 silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per monovalent aliphatic unsaturated hydrocarbon group in component (A), (C) a platinum base compound in such an amount as to provide 1-100 ppm of platinum atoms based on the weight of component (A), (D) 5-60 parts by weight of finely divided silica having a specific surface area of at least 50 m2/g, and (E) 0.1-100 parts by weight of coal ash and/or pozzolan powder. |
| US08044120B2 |
Ionic liquids for solubilizing polymers
The present invention relates to a liquid composition which comprises at least one polymer and at least one ionic liquid, the cations of which are derived from polycyclic amidine bases, and a process for isolating cellulose from cellulose-containing sources using at least one such ionic liquid. |
| US08044118B2 |
Preparation process of oil extended rubber for tire, oil extended rubber for tire, and rubber composition and tire using the same
The present invention provides a process for preparing an oil extended rubber, in which an effect on environments can be taken into consideration, provision for the future decrease of petroleum supply can be satisfied, and further, strength is excellent without molecular breakage, an oil extended rubber obtained by the preparation process, and a tire using the oil extended rubber. A process for preparing an oil extended rubber, comprising (a) a step of preparing an oil-in-water type emulsion by emulsifying a vegetable oil having an iodine value of not less than 135 with a surfactant, (b) a step of mixing said emulsion and a modified natural rubber latex, and then aging the mixture, and (c) a step of coagulating the mixture obtained in the step (b) to obtain a lump of a rubber, an oil extended rubber obtained by the preparation process, and a rubber composition for a tire and a tire which use the oil extended rubber. |
| US08044117B2 |
Latent hardener, process for producing the same, and adhesive containing latent hardener
A latent curing agent (30) of the present invention includes a core member (31) and a capsule (37) covering up the surface of the core member (31). The core member (31) includes a secondary particle (32) and a curing agent (35) retained in a gap (38) of the secondary particle (32). The curing agent (35) is liquid at ambient temperature. When the capsule (37) is destructed so that the curing agent (35) is emitted into an adhesive, the curing agent (35) is mixed with other ingredients in the adhesive. A metal alcoholate which is liquid at ambient temperature or a metal chelate which is liquid at ambient temperature is used as the curing agent (35), while a silane coupling agent is added to the adhesive. A reaction takes place between the curing agent (35) and the silane coupling agent to yield cations. By these cations, the epoxy resin undergoes cation in polymerization. Since the cation generating reaction proceeds at a temperature lower than in the case of the conventional adhesive, curing proceeds more promptly and at a lower temperature than in the case of the conventional adhesive. |