| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08082015B2 |
Optical measurement of tissue blood flow, hemodynamics and oxygenation
An embodiment of the invention includes a device, system and method for determining the characteristics of deep tissue. The novel method includes measuring blood flow rate and oxygenation characteristics of the tissue, and determining oxygen metabolism of the tissue as a function of the measure blood flow rate and measure oxygenation. The blood flow rate characteristics are measured as a function of light fluctuations caused by the tissue, while the oxygenation characteristics are measured as a function of transmission of light through the tissue with respect to the wavelength of light. The tissue may be layered tissue, for example, a portion of a brain. The tissue characteristics may be measured during times of varying levels of exercise intensity. |
| US08082013B2 |
Information processing apparatus and cellular phone
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus including: a storing unit configured to store a coded audio data corresponding to one of a plurality of codec types, an acquiring unit configured to acquire first information which indicate codec types supported by an external device, a receiving unit configured to receive second information, which designates a codec type to be used for decoding received coded audio data, from the external device, a determining unit configured to determine whether the designated codec types is acceptable to transmit the coded audio data stored in the storing unit by comparing codec type corresponding to the coded audio data and the codec type designated by the external device, and a requesting unit configured to request the external device to switch the designated codec type to another codec type which is one of the codec types detected based on the second information. |
| US08082012B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device, and non-contact type IC card and portable information terminal using the semiconductor integrated circuit device
The present invention provides a semiconductor integrated circuit device and a non-contact type IC card and a portable information terminal which uses the semiconductor integrated circuit device. The semiconductor integrated circuit device includes antenna terminals LA, LB which are connected to an antenna L1, a power source circuit B5 which has a rectifier/smoothing circuit B1 which obtains a DC voltage by rectifying and smoothing an AC signal which is supplied to the antenna terminal from the antenna and a shunt regulator B6 and a series regulator B7 which stabilize the DC voltage, and an internal circuit B8 which is operated upon the supply of the DC voltage from the power source circuit. The series regulator operates and the shunt regulator stops in a stage that a signal is transmitted to a reader/writer. The shunt regulator operates and the series regulator stops in a stage other than the stage that the signal is transmitted to the reader/writer. |
| US08082007B2 |
Messenger strand mounted pico-cell radio
A messenger strand mounted low-power pico-cell radio, having its own environmentally controlled box, mounted on utility messenger strands, connects to the cable using the Internet protocol (IP) for back-haul, and has in-band monitor and control capability. These pico-cell radios also receive power through the same cable connection. The configuration control and monitoring is by independent discretely-managed internal mechanisms that can be remotely addressed. These internal mechanisms include the modem for backhaul, wireless radio transceiver(s), and the system management device for operation, administration, maintenance, and control. Such pico-cell radios help to provide wireless connectivity and coverage efficiently by reducing dark spots in wireless coverage. Distributing these radios in reasonable, close proximity enables wireless coverage in difficult terrains, where current high power systems fail. The radios disclosed herein eliminate the need and cost for additional power lines and IP connection lines, and are therefore easy to install and maintain. |
| US08082006B2 |
Base station, receiving apparatus, and receiver trouble diagnosing method
A receiver of a wireless base station that uses a simple mode to detect a failure is provided, and an SW 201 switches whether an input port of the receiver 133 is to be connected with an antenna 114 or to be terminated. An LNA (a low noise amplifier) 205 amplifies an input signal with a low distortion. SWs 202 and 203 switch between a first path which runs through the LNA 205 and a second path 204 which does not run through the LNA 205. An AGC AMP, the gain of which is controlled such that the output thereof is constant, amplifies the signal with the controlled gain. A base station control section uses the SW 201 to terminate the input port of the receiver so that thermal noise is input to the LNA 205. Further, the SWs 202 and 203 are changed over to determine the normality of the receiver based on the fact that a first gain of an AGC-AMP 211 when connected to the first path, a second gain of the AGC-AMP 211 when connected to the second path, and a difference between the first and second gains fall within their respective predetermined ranges. |
| US08082004B2 |
System and method for removal of a universal integrated circuit card
A Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC), such as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card is pressed into place in a wireless communication device. The SIM card includes notched edge portions that allow a tool to be used to assist in the removal of the SIM card. The notched edge portions are positioned around the periphery of the SIM card and allow a user to pry the SIM card from the wireless communication device. In an alternative embodiment, the SIM card package may include one or more holes to allow the user to insert a tool and press to remove the SIM card from the wireless communication device. In yet another alternative embodiment, the holes may be used in combination with the notched edge portions to aid in the removal of the SIM card. |
| US08081999B2 |
Enhanced assisted cell change
A system and method for minimizing signalling loads due to mutual exchanges of information between neighboring cells in which the same session is transmitted, and for reducing the time required to transmit MBMS neighbor cell information messages in a serving cell when a higher level of signalling occurs, wherein all broadcast control channel (BCCH) carriers indicated in a BCCH allocation are monitored by a mobile station (MS). A list of the cells having the strongest non-serving carriers is updated as often as the duration of the running average for measurements of the BCCH allocation. Base transceiver station identity codes (BSICs) and neighboring cell indexes of BCCH carriers are added to an uplink radio link control/medium access control (RLC/MAC) message that is transmitted to a network. As a result, the network is provided with the identity of which cell the mobile station is most likely to reselect to upon reception of the uplink RLC/MAC control message carrying the BSICs and neighboring cell indexes of the neighboring non-serving BCCH carriers of the mobile station. |
| US08081998B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication control method with power adjustment to avoid interference between apparatuses on first and second networks
A communication control technique that makes it possible to avoid interference with another wireless communication system. To realize this technique, a tributary station according to the present invention transmits a beacon in an asynchronous BP after being started up, thereby determining whether or not another wireless communication network has received that beacon, and in the case where it has been determined that the other wireless communication network has received the beacon, the tributary station decreases its transmission power until the beacon is no longer received by the other wireless communication network. |
| US08081991B2 |
Wireless based positioning method and apparatus
A system and method is described herein to determine the physical location of a user within an edifice. At least three wireless access points, for example, 802.11 nodes, receives and transmits information to a handheld device in order to determine the location information. |
| US08081989B2 |
Legacy cellular device with upgraded GIS functionality
Embodiments of the present invention recite a method for implementing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data collection utilizing a legacy electronic device. In one embodiment, a GIS data collector application is installed upon a legacy electronic device which is not originally intended to be used as a GIS data recording device. The method further comprises selecting a data dictionary comprising at least one desired GIS feature type which was not originally intended for use by the legacy electronic device based upon an assigned membership of the legacy electronic device to a workgroup. The method further comprises sending the data dictionary to the legacy electronic device via a wireless communication network. |
| US08081980B2 |
Method and system for recovering from hand-off fail for use in CDMA 2000 1xEV-DO system
A multimedia mobile communication system for recovering a handoff failure comprises: a hybrid access terminal; a base station transceiver subsystem for transmitting and receiving the voice and the data; a base station a mobile switching center a 1×EV-DO transceiver; and an access network controller for controlling the handoff by transmitting a traffic channel assignment signal when there is no response from the hybrid access terminal upon receiving the route update signal from the hybrid access terminal and transmitting the traffic channel assignment signal in response to the route update signal and a packet data serving node. |
| US08081978B2 |
Bandwidth-based cell selection in a cellular network
A method of cell selection in a wireless cellular network having a plurality of radio system cells involves determining a bandwidth indication for data communication through each of a serving cell and at least one neighboring cell to the serving cell. The bandwidth indication comprises an indication of the capacity for data communication through each cell. One of the cells is then selected for packet-based communication in accordance with the determined bandwidth indications. |
| US08081974B2 |
Method and procedures for prioritized transmission on contention channels
A method and mobile terminal for an improved random access prioritization scheme for Random Access Channel (RACH) transmission is provided by increasing the transmission probability based on remaining access cycles and, whereby the access delay for terminals having less remaining access cycles is decreased by increasing the transmission probability. |
| US08081968B2 |
System for creating an air-to-ground IP tunnel in an airborne wireless cellular network to differentiate individual passengers
The Aircraft Air-To-Ground IP Tunnel System provides wireless communication services to passengers located onboard an aircraft by storing data indicative of the individually identified passenger wireless devices located onboard the aircraft. The Aircraft Air-To-Ground IP Tunnel System assigns a single IP address to each Point-to-Point Protocol link connecting the aircraft network to the ground-based communication network and creates an IP subnet onboard the aircraft. The IP subnet utilizes a plurality of IP addresses for each Point-to-Point link, enabling each passenger wireless device to be uniquely identified with their own IP address. This is enabled since both Point-to-Point Protocol IPCP endpoints have pre-defined IP address pools and/or topology configured, so each Point-to-Point Protocol endpoint can utilize a greater number of IP addresses than one per link. Such an approach does not change IPCP or other EVDO protocols/messaging but allows this address to be directly visible to the ground-based communication network. |
| US08081965B2 |
Simple technique for detection of physical presence and management of information
A method, system, and computer readable media that when executed determines and manages presence information and presents the information to a plurality of devices. A determination is made if a presence device is within a range of a detection device. If the presence device is within a detectable range, presence information is prepared. The presence information includes the location of the detection device and the availability of the user of the presence device. Then, the presence device updates a plurality of devices with the presence information. |
| US08081958B2 |
User initiated invite for automatic conference participation by invitee
A mobile device, system, and method are directed towards enabling a user, virtually on the fly, to invite another user to participate in an on-line conferencing session, by providing a link that automatically enables the other user to participate in the conferencing session. In one embodiment, the conferencing session is a text messaging conference session, such as one that might employ instant messaging, or the like. In one embodiment, a user may request a conferencing session to be established, by sending a request to a server device. The request may, include an identifier of an invitee with whom the first user wishes to communicate. The server determines a unique link for the invitee and session, and sends the invitee an invite message with their unique link. Selecting the unique link enables the invitee to automatically access and to participate in the conferencing session with the first user. |
| US08081957B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing multimedia information services over a communication network
In a communications network, a network access point address is determined that is currently associated with at least one of a plurality of subscriber mobile devices associated with a subscription to an information service. Content associated with the information service is formatted to provide subscriber content that is configured to be used by the plurality of subscriber mobile devices. The subscriber content is broadcast from a transmitter at the determined network access point address to the at least one subscriber mobile device over a wireless network. |
| US08081955B2 |
Managing content to constrained devices
Content is managed and delivered to mobile devices, often through a wireless network. Mobile devices have content management software containing instructions to receive and manage content at the mobile device. Content management servers select and manage content and transmit content to the mobile devices, receiving requests for content, and up-to-date information regarding quantity of content to be transmitted. Up-to-date information regarding quantity is repeatedly sent and received, and content is repeatedly selected and transmitted using the information to make selections. Specific embodiments provide methods, systems, and devices for automatically managing content to increase the probability that the user is gaining access to the content they want to see and for decreasing the chance that the delivery of content is tying up limited resources of mobile devices. |
| US08081954B2 |
System and method for determining mobile device capabilities
Methodologies and system functionality are provided to determine mobile device capabilities and/or configuration setting and user abilities and/or inclinations as a precursor to or as part of the management, delivery and/or assessment of the efficacy of promotional material. The determination of the mobile device capabilities and/or configuration settings and user abilities and/or inclinations may be performed, for example, when provisioning a new service or after such a service has been utilized by a mobile device user. Further, such a determination may be performed in connection with a mobile device service that provides free or subsidized service to mobile device users. |
| US08081951B1 |
Emergency cellular telephone system
A telephone system includes a user-carried emergency communication system in combination with a cellular telephone. The user-carried handset has a large button on a first face. Pressing the button summons help by automatic connection to the 911 emergency telephone network. It also activates a signaling device mounted on the inside glass surface of a window that illuminates a message that 911 has been called. It may also sound an alarm. A pre-recorded massage may also be sent to the emergency call center. The other face has the functions of a cellular telephone. All elements are within the building, with installation by simply plugging cords into power outlets the same as any cellular phone and mounting the signaling device with suction cups. There are no monthly fees except for the usual cellular phone fee. |
| US08081948B2 |
Analog signal processor in a multi-gigabit receiver system
An analog multi-gigabit receiver and/or transceiver can be implemented for the reception and demodulation of multi-gigabits quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modulated using a CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) process. Further, an analog multi-gigabit receiver and/or transceiver can be implemented for the reception and demodulation of multi-gigabits binary phase shift keying (BPSK), minimum shift keying (MSK), and/or amplitude shift keying (ASK) signal modulated in CMOS processes. |
| US08081946B2 |
Interference cancellation for reconfigurable direct RF bandpass sampling interference cancellation
Sampling may be employed to cancel an analog input radio frequency (RF) signal by using an upconverted analog cancellation RF signal to cancel the analog input RF signal at the sample instances. At least two sampling paths may be employed, a signal path and a cancel path, and direct RF bandpass sampling may be included in both the signal and cancel paths. |
| US08081945B2 |
Feedback cancellation system and method
A system and method for detecting antenna coupling and for providing feedback cancellation in response to the antenna coupling includes a signal feedback cancellation circuit configured to be coupled between a signal receiver and a signal transmitter. The feedback cancellation circuit is responsive to received signals, amplified signals and the detection of signal coupling between a receiving antenna any transmitting antenna, for providing a feedback cancellation signal to a signal amplifier. The feedback cancellation circuit may employ time domain or frequency domain methods. In the case of a time domain method, the feedback cancellation circuit may further include a White noise generator which serves to the tune or adjust the feedback cancellation circuit. |
| US08081940B2 |
Method and system for dynamically tuning and calibrating an antenna using an on-chip digitally controlled array of capacitors
Methods and systems for dynamically tuning and calibrating an antenna using on-chip digitally controlled array of capacitors are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include dynamically tuning a mobile terminal antenna (MTA) using on-chip arrays of capacitive devices. The tuning may be, for example, to compensate for center frequency drift during operation of the mobile terminal. The tuning may be accomplished by selecting capacitive devices in the on-chip arrays of capacitive devices to use in conjunction with an inductive circuit coupled to the MTA, where the inductive circuit may be either off the chip or on the chip. Accordingly, an impedance of the circuit formed by the capacitive devices in the on-chip arrays of capacitive devices and the inductive circuit may be adjusted with respect to the MTA. A valid circuit configuration may include a configuration where no capacitive device may be selected for use with the inductive circuit. |
| US08081939B2 |
Correlation-driven adaptation of frequency control for a RF receiver device
A frequency-control unit is used for controlling an external controllable reference-frequency source. The frequency-control unit includes a filter unit with a controllable filter parameter, which is configured to derive, using the filter parameter, from a frequency-error signal a frequency-control signal for minimizing the frequency error of the reference frequency; and a correlation unit, which is configured to determine from frequency errors of the reference frequency at different points in time a correlation measure indicative of a correlation between the frequency errors at the different points in time. The frequency-control unit is configured to adapt the controllable filter parameter of the filter unit in dependence on the determined correlation measure. The value of the filter parameter can depend also on a receiver path strength, such as an RSCP value. |
| US08081935B2 |
Multiple-mode modulator to process baseband signals
A multiple-mode modulator is configured similarly to a direct conversion quadrature modulator with an infusion of an amplitude modulation signal path from a large signal polar modulator to improve the power amplifier efficiency. The multiple-mode modulator also includes a radio frequency signal path. The multiple-mode modulator is configured to receive a baseband signal, convert the baseband signal to a radio frequency (RF) signal, and to process the RF signal according to either a polar mode or a quadrature mode, depending on a time-varying input voltage of the RF signal. When the power amplifier operates in the linear region, the RF signal is processed according to the quadrature mode. When the power amplifier operates in the compressed region, the RF signal is processed according to the polar mode. The multiple-mode modulator can be configured according to a small signal polar architecture or a large signal polar architecture, having either an open-loop or closed-loop configuration. |
| US08081934B2 |
Configurable frequency band elimination for powerline network
A communication device for use in adapting an appliance to a computer network consistent with certain embodiments has a data transmitter that receives data to be transmitted and generates output signals carrying the data at a plurality of carrier frequencies. A user configurable notch filter, receives the output signals from the data transmitter, for reducing the amplitude of a user selected range of frequencies, and producing a filtered output. A network communication medium interface receives the filtered output and transmitting the filtered output over a network communication medium. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. |
| US08081930B2 |
Trace functionality in a mobile device
Systems and methods are provided for tracing parameters indicative of performance of a mobile device that is not tethered to a host computer. The mobile device is instructed to monitor a performance characteristic when the mobile device is not tethered to the host computer. The instructions may be to trace the characteristic at a certain point, for a span in the future, under certain conditions, or at all times. When the mobile device is later tethered to the host computer, the traced parameter data is transferred to the host computer. Applications that decrease performance, as indicated by the traced parameters, may be debugged or optimized. The behavior of the mobile device before, during, and after tethering to the host computer or to a second device may be observed. The performance of a plurality of untethered mobile devices may also be traced, transferred, and compared. |
| US08081929B2 |
Method and system for optimal frequency planning for an integrated communication system with multiple receivers
Methods and systems for optimal frequency planning for an integrated communication system with multiple receivers may include adjusting a center frequency of a low IF signal to reduce interference by a second order interference signal. The center frequency may be adjusted to avoid high power portions of the second order interference signal. The interference level corresponding to a center frequency may be determined by, for example, a SNR of the low IF signal, or by determining a BER for the low IF signal. The center frequency of the low IF signal may be dynamically adjusted to keep second order interference level at an acceptable level. Adjusting the center frequency of the low IF signal may also comprise keeping the low IF signal from being blocked by a DC component of the second order interference signal. |
| US08081925B2 |
Transceiver for an implantable medical device having switchable series-to-parallel tank circuit
An improved transceiver circuit particularly useful in an inductively coupled wireless communication system such as an implantable medical device system is disclosed. The improved transceiver circuit is switchable to assume a serial L-C configuration in the transmit mode and a parallel L-C configuration in the receive mode, but does not require high voltage switches. A low-drive transmitter and a high-input-impedance receiver are used, which reduces power consumption in receive mode, while still maintaining good transmitter performance. |
| US08081922B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for processing satellite positioning system signals
Methods and apparatus are provided for use in devices adapted to receive signals from at least one satellite positioning system (SPS). As part of at least one search for a transmission from a space vehicle (SV) associated with the SPS, the methods and apparatuses may correlate a code associated with the SV with a received signal to establish a plurality of correlation values, sample at least a portion of the correlation values during the search, and selectively transitioning the search early or prematurely based, at least in part, on at least one of the sampled correlation values. |
| US08081919B2 |
Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus has an original mount, a recording material mount for mounting recording materials, a supply roller, a separating unit, a reading unit for reading an image of the original, an original detection sensor for detecting the original on the original mount, and an original widthwise direction reference surface for being abutted by the original mounted on the original mount to position that original. The recording material widthwise direction reference surface is used to position the recording material so that a portion of the original does not superpose on the recording material having a maximum width and the original detection sensor detects that a portion of the original mounted on the original mount is not superposed on the recording material having maximum width. |
| US08081917B2 |
Image-bearing member protecting agent, protective layer forming device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus
To provide an image-bearing member protecting agent used for forming a protective layer on a surface of an image bearing member, the agent including: a compressed powder body formed by pressurizing a powder containing at least a fatty acid metal salt (A) and an inorganic lubricant (B), wherein a ratio Db/Da of an average particle diameter Db of the inorganic lubricant (B) to an average particle diameter Da of the fatty acid metal salt (A) satisfies 0 |
| US08081916B2 |
Protective agent for image bearing member, protective layer setting unit, and process cartridge
A protective agent for an image bearing member of an image forming apparatus. The protective agent is applied onto a surface of the image bearing member and includes a hydrophobic organic compound (A), an inorganic fine particle (B), and an inorganic lubricant (C). |
| US08081913B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An intermediate transfer belt and a photosensitive member form a transfer nip. An electrode is arranged close to an inner surface of the intermediate transfer belt in a portion on an upstream side of a direction of endless movement of the intermediate transfer belt with respect to a downstream-side exit of the transfer nip and on a downstream side of the direction of endless movement with respect to a position at which a transfer roller charges the intermediate transfer belt. A voltage of same polarity as the polarity of a toner is applied to the electrode, so that there is no movement of an electric charge between the electrode and the intermediate transfer belt. |
| US08081910B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
Provided is an image forming apparatus including: a latent image carrier; a charging unit; a latent image forming unit; a developing unit; a transferring unit; and a cleaning unit, wherein a voltage of the non-image portion of the latent image carrier is Vo, a voltage of the developing bias at the time when a force generated to bias the toner charged with the regular charging polarity in a direction from the latent image carrier to the toner carrier is maximum is Vmax, and a voltage of the developing bias at the time when a force generated to bias the toner charged with the regular charging polarity in a direction from the toner carrier to the latent image carrier is maximum is Vmin, in the developing position, an equation |Vmax−Vo|>|Vmin−Vo| is satisfied. |
| US08081899B2 |
Image forming apparatus having contacting members for contacting each other responsive to an external force when an opening/closing member is in closed position
An image forming apparatus configured to prevent damage to an opening/closing member when external force is applied in a direction perpendicular to a direction where a scanner unit is opened or closed with respect to an image forming unit. |
| US08081897B2 |
Seal member, developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A seal member covers a space between a developing roller and a casing of a developing device. The seal member includes a flexible sheet and a reinforcing member fixed to the sheet. The reinforcing member is fixed to the casing. Notches are provided in the reinforcing member in a direction perpendicular to the length of the reinforcing member. |
| US08081896B2 |
Image forming method and apparatus for convenient replacement of developer container
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism for forming an image, at least one developer container replaceably provided in the image forming apparatus for containing developer, a housing for housing the image forming mechanism and the at least one developer container, and an operation device provided on the housing. The housing includes at least one openable portion opened for replacement of the at least one developer container. The operation device includes an instruction display part for indicating a message prompting opening of the at least one openable portion, and at least one developer-end display part for indicating depletion or near-depletion of the developer contained in any one of the at least one developer container. The at least one developer-end display part and the instruction display part are placed adjacent to each other and are viewable from a front side of the image forming apparatus. |
| US08081892B2 |
Image forming apparatus
Bias correction control of an intermediate transfer belt 21 on which an image of each color formed on a surface of a photoconductive body 31 is transferred, and a second transfer belt 24 in pressure contact with the intermediate transfer belt 21 to transfer a toner image onto a recording sheet by passing the recording sheet between the intermediate transfer belt 21. Contents of the bias correction control (an amount of correction control and a cycle of correction control) can be changed in accordance with states of the belts i.e. whether the intermediate transfer belt 21 and the second transfer belt 24 are in a pressure contact state or a separate state. |
| US08081887B2 |
Selective print job aggregation
A selective job aggregation method includes identifying a predetermined usage match between a first consumable component and a second consumable component of printer device. Print jobs are then selectively aggregated to encourage expiration of a first expected useful life of the first consumable component to occur with expiration of a second expected useful life of the second consumable component. |
| US08081882B2 |
Optical high-rate pulse position modulation scheme and optical communications system based thereon
It is an object of the present invention to provide a communications system for communication between two remote terminals, where even at very long distances between these two terminals and/or at very small signal-to-noise ratios a robust communication is possible. The invention achieves the goal set before by suggesting an inventive pulse position modulation scheme and a corresponding optical communications system. The system and method according to the invention are very well suited for communication with a satellite in deep space, for instance. |
| US08081880B2 |
Inline pump sharing architecture for remotely-pumped pre- and post-amplifiers
A new transmission link configuration with remote Er post- and pre-amplifiers where pump power is shared between a pair of fibers carrying traffic in opposite directions is proposed. A budget increase of >4 dB is demonstrated. |
| US08081878B1 |
Remote control capture and transport
A system and method for wirelessly transmitting both real-time data streams and remote control signals is described. A first transceiver can be used for detecting remote control signals associated with an end device (e.g. a television), transforming these remote control signals into wireless signals, and transmitting the wireless signals. A second transceiver can be used for receiving the wireless signals and transforming the wireless signals into the recreated remote control signals. The recreated remote control signals can then be sent to a source device (e.g. a DVD player). Because wireless signals are used (instead of infrared (IR) signals, for example), the source device can be outside the line of sight of the end device and still respond to the remote control signals. |
| US08081877B2 |
Method of determining an optical distance for chromatic dispersion compensation
A method of determining an optical distance between two nodes of an optical network for chromatic dispersion compensation includes using existing optical supervisory channel components in each node to measure the “time-of-flight” of an optical signal having a known wavelength. The effective optical distance is determined based on the time-of-flight and known wavelength of the optical signal. The computed optical distance may then be used to compensate for the dispersion experienced by the optical signal when transmitted between the two nodes. Advantageously, the method allows tunable dispersion compensation of a wavelength channel to be periodically optimized at each node in response to incremental changes in environmental factors that affect the chromatic dispersion produced between the two nodes or in response to reconfigurations that affect the chromatic dispersion produced between the two nodes. |
| US08081875B2 |
Wavelength switch
The present invention relates to a wavelength switch including two switching stages. A single actuation array of reflecting elements of a first switching stage routes sub-beams at different wavelength bands to a plurality of actuation arrays of reflecting elements of a second switching stage. Each second-stage actuation array routes sub-beams to a group of output ports associated with that second-stage actuation array. Advantageously, the sub-beams are redirected from the first switching stage to the second switching stage by a reflecting relay assembly, without being combined or coupled into fibers. |
| US08081874B2 |
Interchangeable lens and camera body
An interchangeable lens which is mountable to a camera body and operates according to a command from the camera body includes a diaphragm operable to regulate an amount of light from a subject by changing an aperture, a drive unit operable to change the aperture of the diaphragm, and a lens controller operable to control the drive unit to change the aperture of the diaphragm according to an instruction received from the camera body. When the lens controller receives a new instruction from the camera body while changing the aperture of the diaphragm, the lens controller controls the drive unit to change the aperture of the diaphragm based on the new instruction without waiting for completion of the change of the aperture according to a previous instruction. |
| US08081873B2 |
Hair dryer mount with oscillating holder for use with a hand-held hair dryer
A hands-free hair dryer mounting apparatus adapted for holding a hair dryer in an oscillating universal hair dryer holder assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes a wall mountable housing that is removably affixed to a wall mounting plate adapted for secure attachment to a wall or other supporting surface. A universal hair dryer holder, adapted for receiving and holding any type, size, or style of handheld hair dryer, projects outward from the housing. The hair dryer holder is connected to an oscillating arm via a horizontal pivot connection that allows for manual angular adjustment and affixation of the hair dryer about a generally horizontal pivot axis. The oscillating arm extends into the base and is connected to an electric motor by mechanical linkage such that angularly adjustable side-to-side oscillation is enabled. Angular adjustment is accomplished by providing the oscillating arm with an elongated longitudinal slot that receivably engages an eccentric motor driven axel, and by providing a manual adjustment lever that permits the user to selectively position the eccentric motor driven axel at various positions within the longitudinal slot thereby adjusting the angular displacement of the oscillating arm. The mounting base further includes a plurality of electrical outlets in electrical communication with the power source for providing power to the hair dryer as well as optional accessory devices, such as a curling iron. |
| US08081869B2 |
Time-varying image recording device
A time-varying image recording device controls a recording operation for recording time-varying image data in a recording medium. The time-varying image data is sequentially recorded in blocks, and block information containing the total number of blocks and so on is recorded after a series of blocks. It is determined whether a recording process result for the time-varying image data is normal or not. A block information recording capacity, which is a capacity that is necessary to record block information, is obtained based on the number of blocks already recorded in the recording medium, when the recording process result is abnormal. An address of the recording medium, at which the block information should be recorded, is sensed in accordance with the block information recording capacity. |
| US08081866B2 |
Selected playback apparatus, selected playback method, and program
A playback apparatus includes a classified region selecting section that selects a classified region at random from among a plurality of classified regions on a recording medium, the recording medium including recorded data managed such that a plurality of pieces of unit data belong to corresponding classified regions serving as data storage logical regions generated in accordance with a predetermined classification rule; a unit data selecting section that selects a piece of unit data from among the pieces of unit data that belong to the selected classified region; a reading section that reads from the recording medium the selected piece of unit data in order to play back the selected piece of unit data; and an execution controller that controls the repeated execution of a series of selecting and reading operations including selection of a classified region, selection of a piece of unit data, and reading of the selected piece of unit data. |
| US08081864B2 |
Captured image recording apparatus, captured image recording method, captured image reproducing apparatus, captured image reproducing method, and captured image recording/reproducing system
An image of an object is picked up by an image processing unit (10) to acquire an image signal of variable frame rate. An audio signal is acquired by an audio processing unit (20) to generate an audio signal having the number of frames caused to be in conformity with the system frame rate to generate a recording signal of recording frame rate from the image signal of the variable frame rate and an audio signal having the number of frames caused to be in conformity with the system frame rate. In recording a recording signal of the recording frame rate onto or into a recording medium (35) by a recording/reproducing unit (30), discrimination information indicating image pick-up frame rate and system frame rate is recorded onto or into the recording medium (35), e.g., as MXF (Material Exchange Format) file along with the image signal of the variable frame rate and the audio signal having the number of frames caused to be in conformity with the system frame rate. |
| US08081861B2 |
Optical disc apparatus
An optical disc apparatus comprises: a data reading unit for reading VTS_TMAPT and TMU; a preliminary search address calculating unit for calculating, based on the read data and a search time designated by a user, address of a destination VOBU to which an optical pickup is to be moved; a VOBU reading unit for reading a cell time, a VOBU time and video data reproduction time of the destination VOBU; a VOBU determining means for determining whether the designated search time belongs to reproduction time zone of the destination VOBU; and a search address calculating unit for calculating, based on VOBU_SRI data of the destination VOBU, address of a next destination VOBU when the designated search time is determined to be outside the reproduction time zone of the destination VOBU. This disc apparatus can accurately find a point of the designated search time from which to start reproducing video data. |
| US08081859B2 |
Recording device
When a recording device is connected to a power source and a main power is supplied, position information of the recording device is obtained by using GPS satellites. A region where the recording device is installed is decided based on the obtained position information. Channel information appropriate for the decided region is read out from a storage medium such as a memory, and a tuner of the recording device is set automatically using the read channel information thus read. Additionally, when the position information is obtained, it is decided whether or not the position where the recording device is installed is within a predetermined distance from a boundary between regions. If it is adjacent to other region, a plurality of region codes are read out, and a request for selecting one to perform the channel setting is displayed using a display panel or an OSD function so that the selection can be received. |
| US08081852B2 |
Two-ring optical buffer
A two-ring optical buffer comprising a first ring operatively connected to a waveguide and a second ring, the second ring being operatively connected to only the first ring, the second ring and the first ring having a circumferential ratio substantially equal to 2m, where m is an integer. A ratio of resonance splitting over resonance broadening may be approximately 0.6. |
| US08081851B2 |
Electrooptical high-index contrast waveguide component
A high-index contrast waveguide component is presented, which is based on the fast changing of the transmission properties of an optical waveguide by applying electric voltages, or by embossing electric currents. The waveguide consists of a high-refractive waveguide core surrounded by a low-refractive surrounding material, which at least area by area has electro-optical properties. By applying a voltage to completely or partially optically transparent electrodes, an electric field is generated having a strong overlap with the optical mode, being in interaction with it, and therefore changing the transmission properties of the waveguide. The transparent electrodes or supply line areas are laminar, connected at low resistance with conductor paths of high conductivity by means of structures continually repeated along the propagation direction. Thus, it is possible for example to very fast load the capacity being effective between the electrodes, and to thus achieve a high electric band width. In certain embodiments, the waveguide core itself consists of one or more electrically conductive stripes being used as electrodes at the same time. These embodiments make especially small switching voltages possible.For example, the presented component makes fast electro-optical modulators with small switching voltages possible, which modulators may be integrated together with electronic components on a common semiconductor substrate (e.g. silicon). |
| US08081847B2 |
Method for up-scaling an input image and an up-scaling system
The invention relates to techniques of up-scaling an input image represented by an input video signal in an image up-scaling system, especially to a method and an image up-scaling system for up-scaling an input image represented by an input video signal, the method comprising steps of receiving and processing the input video signal in an up-scaling device (21, 23), providing a linear up-scaled video signal generated by the up-scaling device (21, 23) to a signal combining device (24), receiving and processing the input video signal in a harmonics generation device (22, 25, 26, . . . , 30), generating an up-scaled output image represented by an up-scaled output video signal by combing the up-scaled video signal with a higher harmonics video output signal provided by the harmonics generation device (22, 25, 26, . . . , 30) in the signal combining device (24), and providing the up-scaled output video signal to an output of the combining device (24). |
| US08081844B2 |
Detecting orientation of digital images using face detection information
A method of automatically establishing the correct orientation of an image using facial information. This method is based on the exploitation of the inherent property of image recognition algorithms in general and face detection in particular, where the recognition is based on criteria that is highly orientation sensitive. By applying a detection algorithm to images in various orientations, or alternatively by rotating the classifiers, and comparing the number of successful faces that are detected in each orientation, one may conclude as to the most likely correct orientation. Such method can be implemented as an automated method or a semi automatic method to guide users in viewing, capturing or printing of images. |
| US08081841B2 |
Mosaic oblique images and methods of making and using same
A system, including a computer system running image processing software, receives an identification of a desired area to be imaged and collected into an oblique-mosaic image. The computer system creates a mathematical model of a virtual camera having a sensor higher in elevation from which the source oblique images were captured and looking down at an oblique angle, the mathematical model having an oblique-mosaic pixel map for the sensor of the desired area encompassing multiple source images. The computer system assigns a surface location to each pixel included in the oblique-mosaic pixel map and selects source oblique images of the geographic coordinates captured at an oblique angle and compass direction similar to the oblique angle and compass direction of the virtual camera. The computer system reprojects at least one source oblique image pixel of the area to be imaged for each pixel included in the oblique-mosaic pixel map to create the oblique-mosaic image. |
| US08081840B2 |
Appliance for controlling transparent or reflective elements
The invention relates to an appliance for measuring or controlling an optical element (3) comprising illumination means (1) and an associated artificial vision system (2), in which the optical element (3) can be inserted between the illumination means (1) and the artificial vision system (2), said illumination means (1) comprising programmable optoelectronic means for producing a luminous background with spatially and temporally variable brightness. The inventive appliance is characterised in that the programmable optoelectronic means are embodied in such a way as to consecutively generate a plurality of mires, each comprising a pattern which is repeated in a contrasted manner on a uniform background with a high spatial frequency of between 0.01 and 100 patterns/mm, or such that two adjacent patterns are separated by an angle between 0.1 and 30 degrees, said angle being measured from the point of the object on which the pattern is observed. Said generated mires are consecutively spatially staggered in such a way that a plurality of images corresponding to the mires is captured by the artificial vision system after reflection or transmission by the optical element (3), and recombined in the form of a single composed image. |
| US08081831B2 |
Image processor performing a high precision retinex process
An image processor includes: a decimal point position determining unit; an image inputting unit; and a calculating unit. The decimal point position determining unit determines a position of a decimal point based on a size of a mask that has a plurality of filter coefficients. The image inputting unit receives image data indicative of an image having a plurality of pixels, the image data including a pixel value for each pixel. The calculating unit performs, while setting a decimal point to be fixed at the determined position, a convolution operation on a pixel value of each pixel and pixel values of peripheral pixels for the each pixel by using the filter coefficients of the mask to find an average peripheral pixel value for the each pixel. |
| US08081830B2 |
Enhancement of digital images
Processing of at least one digital image includes performing first and second separable block transforms in first and second directions; modifying results of the second block transforms; and performing first and second separable inverse block transforms in the first and second directions on the modified results. Transform coefficients are re-used while performing at least one the transforms. The processing can be performed on 2-D signals such as still images and 3-D signals such as video. |
| US08081829B2 |
Motion estimation apparatus and control method thereof
The present invention enables highly accurate estimation of a motion amount of a target pixel for motion-estimation located between two adjacent lines in a current field when generating a non-interlaced video signal from an interlaced video signal. To achieve this aim, an inter-field motion-estimating unit estimates a motion amount between a current field and a previous field. An intra-field motion-estimating unit estimates a motion amount within a current field. A motion amount calculation unit calculates a final motion amount based on the inter-field motion amount estimated by the inter-field motion-estimating unit and the intra-field motion amount estimated by the intra-field motion-estimating unit, and then outputs the motion amount. |
| US08081828B2 |
Method for transmitting image bit stream and image encoder
The invention discloses a method for transmitting image bit stream and an image encoder utilizing the method. The image format comprises a start of image (SOI) marker, a start of scan (SOS) marker and a primary compressed data. First, the invention generates redundant data according to a first start address of the SOI marker, a data size between the SOI marker and the SOS marker, and a second start address of the primary compressed data. Afterward, the redundant data is selectively padded into the image bit stream between the SOI marker and the SOS marker. Accordingly, the required time for transmitting image data to a storage medium will be reduced, and the transmission performance will be improved apparently by utilizing the method. |
| US08081825B2 |
Method for realtime target detection based on reduced complexity hyperspectral processing
There is provided a method for real-time target detection comprising detecting a preprocessed pixel as a target and/or a background, based on a library, and refining the library by extracting a sample from the target or the background. |
| US08081821B1 |
Chroma keying
Systems, methods, and apparatus, including software tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, involve receiving reference data and source data. The reference data includes a portion of a background image, and the background image includes an image of a background. The source data includes a portion of a source image, and the source image includes an image of the background and a foreground. A reference saturation value, which relates to a saturation of the portion of the background image, is calculated based on the reference data. A difference value, which relates to a difference between the portion of the background image and the portion of the source image, is calculated based on the source data and the reference data. A source image weighting value is determined based at least in part on a ratio between the difference value and the reference saturation value. The source image weighting value is stored, for example, in a machine-readable medium. The source image weighting value can be used for combining the source image with a replacement background image, which includes an image of a replacement background. Multiple source image weighting values can be calculated, for example, to generate an alpha channel for the source image. |
| US08081811B2 |
Method, apparatus, and program for judging image recognition results, and computer readable medium having the program stored therein
To obtain more accurate image recognition results while alleviating the burden on the user to check the image recognition results. An image recognition unit recognizes a predetermined structure in an image representing a subject, then a recognition result judging unit measures the predetermined structure on the image recognized by the image recognition unit to obtain a predetermined anatomical measurement value of the predetermined structure, automatically judges whether or not the anatomical measurement value falls within a predetermined standard range, and, if it is outside of the range, judges the image recognition result to be incorrect. |
| US08081806B2 |
User interface and method for displaying information in an ultrasound system
A user interface and method for displaying information in an ultrasound system are provided. A medical image display of the ultrasound system includes a plurality of segmented regions each corresponding to a region of an imaged heart. The medical image display further includes a tracking quality indicator displayed in connection with one or more of the plurality of segmented regions having a tracking quality below a predetermined level. |
| US08081803B2 |
User authorization system containing a user image
A user authorization system including printing a human cognizable digital image of a user onto an article. The article being a bracelet, a pass key, a placard, a legal citation, a vehicle rental agreement and a tag. The human cognizable image optionally being stored in a computer memory in combination with personal user information, the memory to be accessed to verify user authorization. |
| US08081800B2 |
Detection device of vehicle interior condition
A detection system of vehicle interior condition includes an illumination unit for illuminating a plurality of mutually different illumination regions including at least one seat of a vehicle and a surrounding region thereof so as to have different illumination time durations shifted by a predetermined time. An imaging unit photographs an occupant and/or an object on the seat upon each illumination of the illumination unit. A control processor compares a plurality of images photographed by the imaging unit, and generates information indicative of a condition of the occupant or object, based on the result of the comparison. |
| US08081798B2 |
Method and system for detecting polygon boundaries of structures in images as particle tracks through fields of corners and pixel gradients
A stochastic method and system for detecting polygon structures in images, by detecting a set of best matching corners of predetermined acuteness α of a polygon model from a set of similarity scores based on GDM features of corners, and tracking polygon boundaries as particle tracks using a sequential Monte Carlo approach. The tracking involves initializing polygon boundary tracking by selecting pairs of corners from the set of best matching corners to define a first side of a corresponding polygon boundary; tracking all intermediate sides of the polygon boundaries using a particle filter, and terminating polygon boundary tracking by determining the last side of the tracked polygon boundaries to close the polygon boundaries. The particle tracks are then blended to determine polygon matches, which may be made available, such as to a user, for ranking and inspection. |
| US08081796B2 |
Method for determining properties of fractured rock formations using computer tomograpic images thereof
A method for estimating a petrophysical parameter from a rock sample includes making a three dimensional tomographic image of the sample of the material. The image is segmented into pixels each representing pore space or rock grain. Porosity of the sample is determined from the segmented image. An image of at least one fracture is introduced into the segmented image to generate a fractured image. The porosity of the fractured image is determined. At least one petrophysical parameter related to the pore-space geometry is estimated from the fractured image. |
| US08081795B2 |
System and method for assessing a condition of property
A system and method for assessing a condition of property for insurance purposes includes a sensor for acquiring a spectral image. In a preferred embodiment, the spectral image is post-processed to generate at least one spectral radiance plot, the plot used as input to a radiative transfer computer model. The output of the model establishes a spectral signature for the property. Over a period of time, spectral signatures can be compared to generate a spectral difference, the difference attributed to a change in the condition of the property, such as a fire or flood. In response to the change, an insurance company initiates an insurance-related action such as processing a claim. |
| US08081791B2 |
Loudspeaker
A loudspeaker includes a frame, a magnetic circuit supported by the frame, voice coil body provided movably in relation to a magnetic gap provided at the magnetic circuit, a diaphragm having an outer rim being joined via a first edge to the frame and an inner rim being joined to the voice coil body, and a damper located towards the magnetic circuit from the diaphragm. The damper has an inner rim joined to the voice coil body. The damper has an outer rim joined via a second edge to the frame. The second edge protrudes towards the diaphragm or in a direction opposite to the diaphragm. The damper includes a first protrusion protruding towards the diaphragm and a second protrusion protruding in a direction opposite to a direction in which the first protrusion protrudes. A protrusion out of the first and second protrusions is closest to the second edge among the protrusions. A further projection out of the first and second protrusions is located more inside than the protrusion and protrudes in a direction opposite to a direction in which the second edge protrudes. The further protrusion has a size largest among sizes of other protrusion. This loudspeaker has a small distortion and a large driving efficiency. |
| US08081788B2 |
Shielding device for a hearing aid
A shielding device for a hearing aid is able to shield components against interference from the outside and vice versa. The shielding device has at least three sections, which are each connected to one another via a flexible connecting section. It being possible for at least a first section to be provided with a printed circuit board and to be populated with at least one component and/or an integrated circuit, it being possible for the two other sections to be folded around the first section by the flexible connecting sections, in order to shield the first section. |
| US08081785B2 |
High efficiency converter providing switching amplifier bias
An audio amplifier system having improved power efficiency by wasting less power in its bias voltage circuit. An amplifier provides a voice signal to a first (+) input of a loudspeaker and a high efficiency converter provides a bias voltage to a second (−) input of the loudspeaker. In multi-loudspeaker systems, a single high efficiency converter can bias all the loudspeakers at a common node. The high efficiency converter can be a charge pump or a buck converter or the like, and has greater than 90% efficiency. |
| US08081784B2 |
Electrostatic electroacoustic transducers
An electrostatic electroacoustic device comprising a first electrode configured to receive an audio signal, a first conductive film configured to receive the audio signal, a first electret between the first electrode and the first conductive film, the first electret being capable of vibratory motion relative to the first electrode based on the audio signal, a second electrode configured to receive the audio signal, a second conductive film configured to receive the audio signal, the second conductive film being electrically isolated from the first conductive film, and a second electret between the second electrode and the second conductive film, the second electret being capable of vibratory motion relative to the second electrode based on the audio signal. |
| US08081780B2 |
Method and device for acoustic management control of multiple microphones
An earpiece (100) and a method (640) for acoustic management of multiple microphones is provided. The method can include capturing an ambient acoustic signal from an Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM) to produce an electronic ambient signal, capturing in an ear canal an internal sound from an Ear Canal Microphone (ECM) to produce an electronic internal signal, measuring a background noise signal, and mixing the electronic ambient signal with the electronic internal signal in a ratio dependent on the background noise signal to produce a mixed signal. The mixing can adjust an internal gain of the electronic internal signal and an external gain of the electronic ambient signal based on the background noise characteristics. The mixing can account for an acoustic attenuation level and an audio content level of the earpiece. Other embodiments are provided. |
| US08081779B2 |
Audio circuit
An object is to provide an audio circuit in which flow of excessive current through a capacitive speaker and a drive circuit thereof can be prevented while degradation of sound quality of high-pitched tones is suppressed. The audio circuit for driving a capacitive speaker includes: a weighting circuit for performing weighting in conformity with frequency components of an audio signal; and a signal-voltage limiting compression circuit for compressing a signal, which is input to the drive amplifier or which has been output from the drive circuit, at a prescribed compression ratio in accordance with a difference voltage between the output signal of the weighting circuit and a preset threshold voltage when the weighted signal exceeds the threshold voltage. Alternatively, the audio circuit is provided with a signal-voltage limiting compression circuit for passing, with amplitudes unchanged, signal components below a prescribed frequency contained in the signal reproduced by the capacitive speaker and compressing amplitudes of signal components not less than the prescribed frequency at a prescribed compression ratio. |
| US08081776B2 |
Indoor communication system for a vehicular cabin
A system automatically determines an equalizing filter characteristic for a communication system within a vehicle. The communication system includes a loudspeaker and a microphone or microphone array. The system transmits a predetermined test signal through the loudspeaker and receive the test signal through the microphone or microphone array. Based on the predetermined test signal and the received test signal, a transfer function is developed. The equalizing filter characteristic is then developed from the transfer function. |
| US08081774B2 |
Circuit for eliminating pop sounds at power on and off by a moderate waveform
A circuit for eliminating pop sounds at power on and off by a moderate waveform, which includes a switch, a feedback network, an operational amplifier and an output network. When power-on, a first input terminal of the switch is connected to a low voltage, and an output terminal of the output network provides an operating DC bias which is gradually increased. When power-off, the first input terminal of the switch is connected to a reference voltage, and the output terminal of the output network provides an operating DC bias which is gradually reduced. |
| US08081772B2 |
Vehicular microphone assembly using fractional power phase normalization
A triangular microphone assembly (101) for use in a vehicle accessory includes a mirror housing (106) adapted for attachment to the interior of the vehicle. A mirror is disposed in an opening of the mirror housing (106) and a plurality of virtual digital microphones (108a, 108b, 108c) are arranged in a substantially triangular configuration in the mirror housing (106). A digital signal processor (DSP) (537) is used for receiving signals from the plurality of digital microphones (108a, 108b, 108c) such that the digital microphones exhibit directional characteristics for reducing undesirable noise in at least one direction by normalizing the phase of the received signals as a function of signal frequency. |
| US08081770B2 |
Pattern detection circuitry
A pattern detection circuit detects a pattern in a received bit stream, for example a repetitive 8-bit silence pattern in a stream of digital audio data. Summing circuitry forms during first alternate time periods a sum of a first sequence comprising a predetermined number of alternate bits in the bit stream; and forms during second alternate time periods an inverse of a sum of a second sequence comprising the predetermined number of alternate bits in the bit stream. It is then determined whether successive sums formed by the summing circuitry are equal. |
| US08081767B2 |
Method for adjusting frequency response curve of speaker
A method for adjusting frequency response curve of a speaker comprises these steps: testing sensitivity of the speaker in at least two types of hardware conditions and recording corresponding frequency response curves; selecting a frequency response curve that comes closest to falling within a predetermined range for selected frequency ranges; and adjusting the selected frequency response curve with a filter. |
| US08081766B2 |
Creating digital signal processing (DSP) filters to improve loudspeaker transient response
A method is provided for creating a series of digital signal processing (DSP) filters to improve the transient response of a loudspeaker, wherein the loudspeaker is formed of multiple components. The method includes generally six steps. The first step involves identifying a substantially linear, time-invariant, and spatially-consistent loudspeaker mechanism causing transient response distortion. The second step involves characterizing the identified mechanism. The third step involves determining the characterized mechanism's two-port response. The fourth step involves establishing a target response for the characterized mechanism. The fifth step involves calculating an ideal filter to achieve the target response. The sixth step involves designing a cost-reduced filter based on the ideal filter. |
| US08081763B2 |
Efficient and scalable parametric stereo coding for low bitrate audio coding applications
The present invention provides improvements to prior art audio codecs that generate a stereo-illusion through post-processing of a received mono signal. These improvements are accomplished by extraction of stereo-image describing parameters at the encoder side, which are transmitted and subsequently used for control of a stereo generator at the decoder side. Furthermore, the invention bridges the gap between simple pseudo-stereo methods, and current methods of true stereo-coding, by using a new form of parametric stereo coding. A stereo-balance parameter is introduced, which enables more advanced stereo modes, and in addition forms the basis of a new method of stereo-coding of spectral envelopes, of particular use in systems where guided HFR (High Frequency Reconstruction) is employed. As a special case, the application of this stereo-coding scheme in scalable HFR-based codecs is described. |
| US08081762B2 |
Controlling the decoding of binaural audio signals
A method for generating a parametrically encoded audio signal, the method comprising: inputting a multi-channel audio signal comprising a plurality of audio channels; generating at least one combined signal of the plurality of audio channels; and generating one or more corresponding sets of side information including channel configuration information for controlling audio source locations in a synthesis of a binaural audio signal. |
| US08081760B2 |
Offline message security via selective data replication
A method, system and apparatus for the offline securing of messages through selective security data replication. A method for selectively replicating security data for offline processing of electronic messages can include identifying a messaging partner associated with the electronic message responsive to processing an electronic message. Subsequently, it can be determined whether electronic messages previously had been received from or transmitted to the identified messaging partner. If it is determined that electronic messages previously had been received from or transmitted to the identified messaging partner, identifying information for the identified messaging partner can be added to a batch listing. Consequently, during a replication process, security data can be selectively replicated from an external repository to a local repository only for security data associated with messaging partners corresponding to identifying information in the batch listing. |
| US08081753B2 |
Hybrid echo canceller controllers
Hybrid echo canceller controllers are described herein. By way of example, a system for controlling an echo canceller can include a signal indicator and an echo canceller controller. The signal indicator can be configured to indicate periods of near-end signal and to indicate periods of echo only with echo-path change in the corrupted signal based at least in part on cross-correlation between two signals associated with the echo canceller. The echo canceller controller can be configured to control the echo canceller according to indications from the signal indicator. |
| US08081751B1 |
Method for triggering content download during call setup
A method for causing a calling client station to obtain content from a network server in response to a trigger signal received by the client during the ringback period for a call. The trigger signal is transmitted from a ringback server to a calling client station during the ringback period of call setup, whereby the trigger signal, once received and recognized by the calling client station, causes the station to request and obtain content from a network server. In another aspect, a method for providing content to a calling client station by transmitting a trigger signal to the calling client station during call setup, thereafter receiving at a network-based content server a request from the calling client station, generated in response to the trigger, for a content-download, and providing the content-download in response to the request. |
| US08081750B1 |
Method for remote population of speed dial information
A method that permits a user to select a telephone number contained in an e-mail, web page, or other text page displayed on the screen of a computing device and store that telephone number in memory for later use. Other information may also be selected and stored, such as the name or e-mail address of a person associated with the telephone number. |
| US08081749B1 |
System and method for integrated queue management
A system and method for integrated queue management are provided. The method may include receiving, from a user, a request for a connection to one of a plurality of agents. The request for a connection may be queued if the plurality of agents are unavailable. A request to delay the connection with the one of the plurality of agents may be received, from the user. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, the connection with the one of the plurality of agents is delayed. A request to continue in the queue may be received from the user. Finally, the user may be connected with one of the plurality of agents. |
| US08081748B2 |
Call answering
A method, phone, and system for answering phone calls in such a manner as to limit or otherwise ameliorate interruptions to a called party and others in an environment of the called party. The answering optionally including silently answering the phone call with a message instead of requiring the called party to verbally communicate with a calling party. |
| US08081747B2 |
System and method of managing telephone calls within a voice over internet protocol telephone system
A voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) telephone server is disclosed and includes a computer readable medium that is accessible to a processor. A centralized address book is embedded within the computer readable medium. Further, a computer program is embedded within the computer readable medium and the computer program utilizes the centralized address book to selectively restrict incoming telephone calls and outgoing telephone calls. The centralized address book can include a plurality of address books and each of the plurality of address books is associated with a corresponding VoIP telephone coupled to the VoIP telephone server. The computer program can include instructions to determine whether an address book only calling lock is on for the VoIP telephone. Moreover, the computer program can include instructions to determine whether an originating telephone number associated with an incoming telephone is stored within the centralized address book. |
| US08081744B2 |
Interactive content for click-to-call calls
In a click-to-call (C2C) communication environment, a web client of a computing terminal is configured to initiate a C2C call when a user selects a call tag provided in a web page being presented to the user. The call is intended to be established between a remote endpoint associated with the call tag and one of either the computing terminal or another terminal associated with the user. If the C2C call is directed to an automated system and placed in a queue or on hold, the present invention allows supplemental content intended for the user to be delivered to the web client from which the C2C call was initiated. The web client may present the supplemental content to the user. |
| US08081743B2 |
Server apparatus
According to one embodiment, a server apparatus includes a memory which stores a control table respectively showing correspondence relations between user ID of the first data terminal and listener information indicating that the first data terminal is in operation in a pseudo manner, when the first data terminal contained in the call information event is out of operation, and a controller which refers the control table based on the user ID of the first data terminal, when the first data terminal which is out of operation is started, and establishes a communication connection between the first data terminal and the second data terminal based on a reference result. |
| US08081742B2 |
Technique for effectively providing a personalized information assistance service
A user may utilize a communication device, e.g., a wireless phone, mobile device or personal digital assistant (PDA), to contact an information/call center where an operator provides personalized information and communications services to the user in accordance with the invention. Such services include, e.g., providing individual listing information items on a restrictive basis, caller identification service, etc. To personalize the services, at least one profile record associated with the user is used which specifies the subscribed services and the preferred ways of receiving information. For example, the profile may specify use of a special skilled operator, personal interests, methods of delivery of targeted information to the user, etc. |
| US08081741B2 |
Saving and forwarding customized messages
Methods and computer-readable media provide presenting a customized message to an incoming calling party and for allowing the calling party to save or forward the customized message. A called party desiring to leave a customized message for certain incoming calling parties submits a customized message to an intelligent network component of her telecommunications service provider along with identifiers for specified incoming callers who are to receive the customized message upon calling the called party. After the customized message is prepared, incoming callers who have been associated with the customized message are presented with the customized message before being connected to the called party. After an incoming caller receives the customized message, the calling party may store or send the customized message for later retrieval. If the incoming call is not from a telephone directory number associated with the customized message, the incoming call is processed according to normal call processing methods. |
| US08081733B2 |
Method and systems for scanning a stream of objects
A method for scanning a stream of objects includes continuously acquiring raw data of the stream of objects using an X-ray system including a detector, determining a leading edge and a trailing edge of a first object of the stream of objects from the raw data acquired by the detector using a control system, processing acquired raw data of the first object based on the determined leading edge and the determined trailing edge using the control system, and reconstructing an image of the first object using at least the processed raw data. A system configured to perform the method is also disclosed. |
| US08081724B2 |
Wireless network and wireless access terminals using SYNC—ID having increased granularity
A wireless network comprising a plurality of base station capable of communicating with a plurality of mobile station in a coverage area of the wireless network. A first base station transmits an enhanced synchronization identifier parameter to a mobile station. The enhanced synchronization identifier parameter may apply to less than all of the plurality of base stations defined by the System Identifier/Network Identifier (SID/NIC) value associated with the wireless network. |
| US08081723B1 |
Serial data signal eye width estimator methods and apparatus
Methods and apparatus for determining at least part of the width of the eye of a high-speed serial data signal use clock and data recovery circuitry operating on that signal to produce a first clock signal having a first phase relationship to the data signal. The first clock signal is used to produce a second clock signal whose phase can be controllably shifted relative to the first phase. The second clock signal is used to sample the data signal with different amounts of phase shift, e.g., until error checking circuitry detects that data errors in the resulting sample exceed an acceptable threshold for such errors. The amount(s) of phase shift that caused exceeding the threshold can be used as a basis for a measurement of eye width. |
| US08081722B1 |
Communications system and device using simultaneous wideband and in-band narrowband operation and related method
A communications device includes a signal input for receiving both wideband and in-band, narrowband communication signals having wideband communications data that is transmitted over a wideband communications channel and narrowband communications data that is transmitted within an in-band, narrowband channels over the same wideband communications channel. A circuit splits the communications signals into a wideband signal channel and narrowband signal channels. A narrowband filter within the wideband signal channel filters the wideband communications signal and removes any narrowband communications signals. A demodulator within the wideband signal channel demodulates the filtered wideband communications signal to obtain any wideband communications data. An in-band, narrowband demodulators are positioned within the narrowband signal channels and demodulate the narrowband communications signals to obtain any narrowband communications data. |
| US08081720B1 |
System and method for controlling gain and timing phase in a presence of a first least mean square filter using a second adaptive filter
A communication system includes a variable gain amplifier (VGA) that receives an input signal. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) receives an output of the VGA. A first filter responsive to an output of the ADC, the first filter includes N tap weight coefficients. A first least mean square (LMS) engine updates the N tap weight coefficients of the first filter. A second filter responsive to an output of the first filter, the second filter including M tap weight coefficients, wherein N is greater than M. An adaptation engine updates a first tap weight coefficient of the second filter based on a value of the first tap weight coefficient for a next sampling time of the input signal, a value of the first tap weight coefficient for a current sampling time of the input signal, a first gain constant, and a change in timing phase error of the first filter. |
| US08081717B2 |
Delay estimation for a timing advance loop
An apparatus includes a radio frequency receiver and a timing adjustment unit that contains at least two channel impulse response estimators. The at least two channel impulse response estimators include an on-time estimator and at least one of an early estimator and a late estimator. The apparatus also includes a calculation unit that is configurable to obtain a channel estimate for each measured channel impulse response and to average obtained channel estimates over a plurality of received signal events to determine a timing adjustment in accordance with residual signal power. |
| US08081713B2 |
DTV receiving system and method of processing DTV signal
A DTV receiving system for processing digital broadcast data includes a tuner for receiving a broadcast signal from a DTV transmitter, an equalizer for compensating channel distortion of the broadcast signal using the known data sequences, and a decoder for decoding the equalized broadcast signal, wherein the broadcast signal results from generating a first data group including first, second and third regions; interleaving the first data group to generate a second data group including fourth, fifth and sixth regions; and trellis encoding the second data group. |
| US08081710B2 |
System and method for corrected modulation with nonlinear power amplification
A system and method for modulating and amplifying an input signal are provided in a communication transmitter. The transmitter includes a pre-distortion lookup table containing pre-distortion lookup data. An auto-calibration module is in communication with the pre-distortion lookup table. The auto-calibration module is configured to operate during a closed-loop auto-calibration interval and to calibrate the pre-distortion lookup data to compensate for a non-linearity in the transmitter. The pre-distortion is based on the pre-distortion lookup data and is used during an open-loop operational interval. |
| US08081708B2 |
Reradiation apparatus for terrestrial digital broadcasting and method for reradiating terrestrial digital broadcasting
A reradiation apparatus for terrestrial digital broadcasting includes plural antennas provided on a train and mutually spaced along the running direction of the train, plural receiving processing parts provided corresponding to the antennas, a master selecting part which sets the receiving processing part corresponding to the antenna provided at the rear of the train as a master receiving processing part, a monitoring part which monitors a received state of the terrestrial digital broadcasting signal received by the master receiving processing part and outputs a supervisory signal, a switching part, and a reradiation unit. The switching part chooses the terrestrial digital broadcasting signal received by the master receiving processing part or the terrestrial digital broadcasting signal received by another receiving processing part based on the supervisory signal output by the monitoring part. The reradiation unit reradiates the chosen terrestrial digital broadcasting signal in the train. |
| US08081707B2 |
Carrier less modulator using saw filters
A system and method of carrier less modulation is described in this disclosure that uses SAW filters as a modulator in addition to their conventional use as filters for band limiting an UWB system. This system and method is primarily designed to be used with any integer cycle, ultra-wide band or impulse type modulation and more particularly is designed to work with a method of modulation named xMax. This technique exploits the impulse response of the SAW filter producing a carrier less impulse radio system with limited bandwidth, low average power, but high peak power. |
| US08081706B2 |
Lane-to-lane skew reduction in multi-channel, high-speed, transceiver circuitry
Controllable delay circuitry is included in each channel of multi-channel, high-speed, serial transmitter and/or receiver circuitry to compensate for or to at least help compensate for possible skew (different signal propagation time) between the various channels. In systems employing CDR circuitry, the delay circuitry may be at least partly controlled by a signal derived from the CDR circuitry to make the amount of delay effected by the delay circuitry at least partly responsive to changes in data rate detected by the CDR circuitry. |
| US08081705B2 |
Digital video physical layer using a multi-level data code
Digital video data is transmitted from a video source (61) to a video sink (62) as a group of three multilevel symbols (611, 612, and 613) per pixel color with each associated symbol being sent at a rate of three times the pixel clock (601). When eleven levels are used per symbol (611) and undesirable symbol groups having excess DC residual or minimal energy are eliminated, and a built-in-test symbol group is added for pixel alignment; there results a one-to-one correspondence between the remaining symbol groups available and the two-hundred and sixty possible states that are used in the TMDS physical layer that is in widespread commercial use. |
| US08081694B2 |
Device, method, and program for signal analysis, and recording medium
The time required for analyzing a modulation accuracy of a modulated signal is reduced. A signal analyzing device which analyzes a signal to be measured including multiple frames each of which includes a preamble and a data symbol, includes frame acquisition units which acquire the frame from the signal to be measured, a symbol demodulation unit which demodulates the acquired frame according to symbol demodulation, and a modulation accuracy deriving unit which derives a modulation accuracy based on an output from the symbol demodulation unit, where the frame acquisition unit considers a position displaced by an integer multiple of the length of the frame from a start frame positioned at a start of the signal to be measured as a position of a subsequent frame positioned after the start frame, and acquires the subsequent frame. |
| US08081693B2 |
Guard interval length selection in an OFDM system based on coherence bandwidth of the channel
A system, apparatus and methods are described that select a guard interval length (345) for a multi-path communications channel. In one embodiment, the guard interval length is selected based on a relationship between a selected coherence bandwidth (335) and a RMS delay (340) of the communication channel. |
| US08081688B2 |
Radio transmitting apparatus and radio transmitting method in multicarrier communication
A radio transmitting apparatus wherein unnecessary consumption of transmission power can be suppressed and PAPR (Peak to Average Power Ratio) can be reduced in multicarrier communication. In the apparatus, a repetition part (105) replicates (repeats) each symbol outputted from a modulating part (103) to generate and output a plurality of identical symbols to an S/P part (107), which converts the symbol sequence outputted in series from the repetition part (105) into parallel symbol sequences and outputs them to an interleaver (109). The interleaver (109) then reorders the symbol sequences outputted from the S/P part (107) and outputs them to a mapping part (111), which removes, in accordance with the propagation path quality of each of subcarriers constituting OFDM symbols that are multicarrier signals, some of the identical symbols as replicated by the repetition part (105) and then maps the rest of the symbols onto subcarriers for application to an IFFT part (113). |
| US08081684B2 |
Picture-in-picture processing for video telephony
The disclosure is directed to techniques for picture-in-picture (PIP) processing for video telephony (VT). According to the disclosed techniques, a local video communication device transmits PIP information to a remote video communication device. Using the PIP information, the remote video communication device applies preferential encoding to non-PIP regions of video transmitted to the local video communication device. |
| US08081682B1 |
Video encoding mode decisions according to content categories
In some embodiments, encoding modes for a video image block are enabled according to similarity measures of the block with respect to multiple content categories. Content categories may identify potentially overlapping content types such as sky, water, grass, skin, and red content. In a priority mode, the encoding modes specified by a priority content category (e.g. a red category) are selectively enabled for the block, regardless of the block's similarity to other (non-priority) content categories, provided the block is sufficiently similar to the priority category. In a dominant mode, the encoding modes enabled by a maximum-similarity content category are enabled for the block. In an all-inclusive mode, any mode enabled by any sufficiently-similar content category is enabled for the block. Enabled encoding modes may be further evaluated for selection for the block. Encoding modes may include inter/intra modes, macroblock partition sizes, and intra-prediction directions. |
| US08081681B2 |
Method of scalable fractional motion estimation for multimedia coding system
A multimedia coding system has different picture qualities with different coding characteristics. It is done through a scaleable fractional motion estimation (FME) in H.264 and a block size trend prediction FME. Three quality levels are thus obtained. The first level processes a complete calculation and obtains a best picture; the second level, fewer calculation with a low power consumption and an acceptable picture quality; and the third level, fewest calculation with a fastest speed. And the present invention is suitable for hardware design to obtain a high efficiency, a low cost and a high performance. |
| US08081680B2 |
Selective inter-layer prediction in layered video coding
Systems and methods for using selective inter-layer prediction during layered video coding operations are described. In one aspect, a layered coded video structure is generated by selectively employing only objectively efficient inter-layer predictions between respective frames. Responsive to receiving a request for coded video data, one or more layers of the layered coded video structure are communicated to an application for decoding and presentation of video data to a user. |
| US08081679B2 |
Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes a quantizing unit configured to quantize an input moving image signal using a set quantization scale; a coding unit configured to perform variable length coding on an output of the quantizing unit; an activity detecting unit configured to detect an activity of the input moving image signal; a quantization-scale determining unit configured to determine the quantization scale; a changing unit configured to change a value determined by the quantization-scale determining unit, and to set the changed value, as the quantization scale; and a filling level detecting unit configured to detect the filling level of a virtual buffer in a decoder which decodes the coded moving image signal, and to control the changing unit such that the degree of change in the quantization scale caused by use of the activity is reduced as the detected filling level decreases. |
| US08081670B2 |
System and method for providing chirped electromagnetic radiation
A system and method for controllably chirping electromagnetic radiation from a radiation source includes an optical cavity arrangement. The optical cavity arrangement enables electromagnetic radiation to be produced with a substantially linear chirp rate and a configurable period. By selectively injecting electromagnetic radiation into the optical cavity, the electromagnetic radiation may be produced with a single resonant mode that is frequency shifted at the substantially linear chirp rate. Producing the electromagnetic radiation with a single resonant mode may increase the coherence length of the electromagnetic radiation, which may be advantageous when the electromagnetic radiation is implemented in various applications. For example, the electromagnetic radiation produced by the optical cavity arrangement may enhance a range, speed, accuracy, and/or other aspects of a laser radar system. |
| US08081668B2 |
High energy pulse suppression method
A laser processes a workpiece with laser pulses delivered at random time intervals and at substantially constant energy levels by characterizing the laser cavity discharge behavior and utilizing that information for adjusting dummy pulse time periods to compensate for the energy errors. Dummy pulses are laser pulses that are blocked from reaching a workpiece. A second way for providing constant pulse energies employs an AOM for varying amounts of laser energy passed to the workpiece. A third way of providing constant pulse energies entails extending the pulse period of selected pulses to allow additional laser cavity charging time whenever a dummy pulse is initiated. |
| US08081667B2 |
Single-mode high power multimode fiber laser system
A high power single mode fiber laser system is configured with an active fiber including coextending multimode core (MM) and cladding around the MM core. The MM core is doped with one or more ions selected from rare earth and transitional metals and has a bottleneck cross in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure. The bottleneck cross-section includes a relatively small uniformly dimensioned input end region, a frustoconical region and a relatively large uniformly dimensioned amplifying region. The refractive step index of the MM core is configured with a central dip shaped and dimensioned along the input region so as not to disturb a Gaussian field profile of fundamental mode, gradually transform the Gaussian field profile into the ring profile of the fundamental mode and support the latter along the amplifying region. In accordance with a further aspect, the core is further provided with an output transforming region with the dip which gradually shapes the ring field profile in the Gaussian field profile further distortlessly supported by the output end region. A variety of end and side pumping arrangements are employed with the structures configured in accordance with the first and second aspects. |
| US08081660B2 |
Method for requesting radio resource in mobile communications system
A method for requesting radio resource using a control signal in an evolved universal telecommunications system (E-UMTS) is disclosed. A terminal requests a radio resource for data transmission from a base station by selectively using the control signal or a random access channel (RACH) if data transmission to the base station is required when the terminal has no uplink radio resource. Fast data transmission is ensured since the terminal can quickly transmit the radio resource request message to the base station using the RACH or the control signal and can quickly acquire the radio resource from the base station. |
| US08081657B2 |
Method and device for providing video, data and voice to end user devices
Method and system for providing data, video and voice to a group of end user devices includes receiving end user device group quality of service rules and access network node bandwidth constraints; assigning multicast addresses and unicast addresses to end user devices of the group in response to the access node bandwidth constraints; and providing, in response to the end user device group quality of service rules and requests to receive services from the residential gateways, data, video and voice utilizing the assigned multicast addresses and unicast addresses. Further methods include receiving location information representative of distances between multiple end user devices and access nodes; defining end user bandwidth constraints in response to the location information and in response to access node bandwidth constraints; and providing, in response to the end user bandwidth constraints and to requests to receive services from the end user devices, data, compressed video and voice. |
| US08081653B2 |
Communication apparatus and control method thereof
In a communication apparatus which can directly wirelessly communicate with another communicate apparatus, whether or not a terminal connected to the communication apparatus supports a real-time transmission protocol is checked. As a result of checking, if it is determined that the terminal does not support the real-time transmission protocol, communication data to be exchanged with that terminal is converted. |
| US08081651B2 |
Radio communication method and radio communication device
A radio communication device includes a communication data selection unit for selecting from the received radio communication data containing communication time reservation request information in which a time slot for performing data transmission source radio communication device is described and a communication information analysis unit for extracting an identifier of the source radio communication device and the data transmission reservation time slot from the communication time reservation request information in the radio communication data. When the received radio communication data is addressed to the local device, a communication/response information generation unit correlates the identifier to the reservation time slot, records them in a communication reservation table, and generates communication time reservation response information including information of the reservation time slot. |
| US08081650B2 |
Method and system for selecting virtual lanes in fibre channel switches
A method for assigning virtual lanes (VL) in a fiber channel switch is provided. The fiber channel switch element includes a virtual lane cache that can compare incoming frame parameters based on which virtual lanes may be assigned; and a register to store parameters used for virtual lane assignment. The method includes, determining if VL assignment is to be based on an incoming frame parameter or a programmed value; determining if an incoming frame is a preferred frame; and assigning a preferred routing priority if the incoming frame is designated as a preferred frame. The method also includes, determining if a fabric topology is known; and assigning virtual lanes based on a known fabric topology. |
| US08081649B2 |
Network of intelligent devices communicating via powerline and radio frequency
Low-cost intelligent control and communication devices are arranged to communicate with one another over one or more shared physical media, such as a powerline or a radio frequency band. No network controller is needed, because any device can act as a master, slave, or repeater. Adding more devices makes the system more robust, by virtue of a simple protocol for communication retransmissions and retries. |
| US08081648B2 |
Method and apparatus for handling reset in a wireless communications system
A method for handing reset in a first communications device of a wireless communications system is disclosed. The first communications device includes a first transmitter and a receiver. The method includes receiving a packet from a second communications device by the receiver, triggering a reset procedure by the receiver when a protocol error is detected by the receiver according to the packet, and resetting the receiver and not resetting the first transmitter after the reset procedure is triggered. |
| US08081644B2 |
Method and device for controlling a queue buffer
A method and device of controlling a queue buffer, in which a congestion notification procedure is conducted if a queue length parameter exceeds a threshold value, said threshold value being adapted automatically by a procedure that takes into account a flow control parameter. |
| US08081643B2 |
Relay connection unit
Provided is an on-vehicle relay connection unit which forms a network by arranging electronic control units between buses to which the electronic control units are respectively connected and relays a message transmitted and received between the electronic control units belonging to the different buses. The relay connection unit includes a network management processing circuit of the relay connection unit and a storage device which stores as parameters, specification conditions of the network management functions held in the network management processing circuit and a condition which may be modified among the state transition conditions between the functions. Upon start of the relay connection unit, the network management processing circuit reads out the parameters from the storage device and executes the network management functions by using the parameters. |
| US08081639B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting client data transport with timing transparency
Clock recovery is used in a variety of communications network applications to enable nodes using different clocks to operate in an effectively synchronized manner. Example embodiments of the present invention include an apparatus and corresponding method for supporting client data transport with timing transparency and require neither a common clock to be available at both the ingress and egress sides of the connection nor overhead bytes to recover a client clock. Rather, client traffic clock recovery may be performed in example embodiments of the present invention entirely in the egress data path using the client data received from the ingress side after removing the clients signal from a higher level carrier signal. |
| US08081638B2 |
Communication system and communication apparatus controlling a switching for power saving
A CPU of an image forming apparatus controls, according to establishment of a sleep change condition, a MAC/PHY in a network unit to change the image forming apparatus from a link-up state to a link-down state. The CPU controls the image forming apparatus to change from a normal mode to a deep sleep mode. A CPU of the network unit controls, according to the change of the image forming apparatus from the normal mode to the deep sleep mode, the MAC/PHY to change the link-down state of the image forming apparatus to the link-up state. The CPU controls the MAC/PHY to transmit a MAC address necessary for causing the image forming apparatus to participate in VLAN to a switching hub. |
| US08081631B1 |
Technique for ethernet access to packet-based services
An Ethernet Metropolitan Area Network provides connectivity to one or more customer premises to packet-based services, such as ATM, Frame Relay, or IP, while advantageously providing a mechanism for assuring security and regulation of customer traffic. Upon receipt of each customer-generated information frame, an ingress Multi-Service Platform (MSP) “tags” the frame with a customer descriptor that specifically identifies the recipient customer. In practice, the MSP tags each frame by overwriting the Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) identifier with the customer descriptor. Using the customer descriptor in each frame, a recipient Provider Edge Router (PER) or ATM switch can map the information as appropriate to direct the information to the specific customer at its receiving site. In addition, the customer descriptor may also include Quality of Service (QoS) information, allowing the recipient Provider Edge Router (PER) or ATM switch to afford the appropriate QoS level accordingly. |
| US08081628B2 |
Multicast distribution tree establishment and maintenance in a wireless multi-hop relay communication system
A method and apparatus for multicast communications in a multi-hop relay network are described including sending an extended request message, wherein the request message includes a multicast connection identification, multicast distribution tree information and a path identification and receiving an extended response message. Correspondingly, a method and apparatus for multicast communications in a multi-hop relay network are described including receiving an extended request message, wherein the request message includes a multicast connection identification, multicast distribution tree information and a path identification and sending an extended response message. |
| US08081627B2 |
System and method for wirelessly connecting diverse Ad-hoc network groups
A wireless connection system and method are provided to connect diverse Ad-hoc network groups. A first Ad-hoc network group has a first network node and a first edge node wirelessly connecting with each other. The second Ad-hoc network group has a second network node and a second edge node wirelessly connecting with each other without connecting the first Ad-hoc network group. The first and second edge nodes have multiple wireless modules respectively. One of the wireless modules is used to connect wireless with other network nodes in the same Ad-hoc network group. The rest extra wireless module(s) is used to connect wirelessly with another extra wireless module(s) of the edge node(s) in different Ad-hoc network group(s). Therefore, the independent first and second Ad-hoc network groups are now capable of wirelessly connecting with each other. |
| US08081626B2 |
Expedited communication traffic handling apparatus and methods
Expedited communication traffic handling apparatus and methods are disclosed. A traffic block that includes an amount of communication traffic that has been received on a receive communication link at a receive rate is to be transmitted on an output communication link at an output rate. A determination is made as to whether transmission of the traffic block at the output rate would be completed before a remaining amount of communication traffic to be included in the traffic block is received at the receive rate. Transmission of the traffic block is started, before all of the traffic that is to be included in the block is received, if transmission of the traffic block at the output rate would not be completed before the remaining amount of communication traffic is received. Early transmission may also or instead be enabled only for certain types of traffic. A pre-emptive scheduling scheme is also disclosed. |
| US08081625B2 |
Method and system for utilizing a 10/100/1G/10G base-T PHY device for single channel and shared channel networks
Aspects of a method and system for utilizing a 10/100/1G/10GBase-T PHY device for single channel and shared channel networks are provided. In this regard, at least one switching element may be utilized to configure an Ethernet over twisted pair PHY device for communication over a single and/or shared channel. The switching element may enable switching between a transmitter being coupled to a shared channel and a receiver being coupled to a shared channel. Additionally, the switching elements may be based on whether the transmitter is connected to a standard 10/100/1G/10GBase-T network, or to a single and/or shared channel network, for example. In this manner, the configured PHY device may remain compatible with existing Ethernet networks. The PHY device may be configured externally and/or internally. The polarity of transmitted and/or received data may be configured based on a polarity of data received from a shared channel. |
| US08081624B2 |
Communication devices for network-hopping communications and methods of network-hopping communications
Wireless communication devices include a software-defined radio coupled to processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to execute computer programming code. Storage media is coupled to the processing circuitry and includes computer programming code configured to cause the processing circuitry to configure and reconfigure the software-defined radio to operate on each of a plurality of communication networks according to a selected sequence. Methods for communicating with a wireless device and methods of wireless network-hopping are also disclosed. |
| US08081621B1 |
Speaker-buffer management for voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) triggered by microphone-buffer arrival
A Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) system has improved audio-buffer control. Voice captured by a microphone (mic) is loaded into mic buffers by the sound card and sent to a VoIP application. When a mic buffer arrives from the sound card, a speaker buffer manager is activated. Voice data extracted from incoming VoIP packets is loaded into a speaker buffer and sent to a speaker queue on the sound card for playback. A speaker-buffer count is kept and increased as each speaker buffer is sent to the sound card, and decreased as each empty speaker buffer is recycled from the sound card back to the VoIP application. As each mic buffer arrives, the speaker buffer manager compares the speaker-buffer count to upper and lower limits and sends zero, one, or two speaker buffers when the speaker-buffer count is above, between, or below the limits. Speaker-buffer latency and playback timing irregularities are reduced. |
| US08081619B2 |
Method and apparatus of deciphering parameter synchronization in a wireless communications device
A method of deciphering parameter synchronization in a reception end of a wireless communications system includes setting a receiving window of a first entity as a Push Type window with a window size greater than or equal to a window size of a receiving window of a second entity when the second entity operates in an acknowledged mode. |
| US08081617B2 |
Radio transmitting apparatus and radio transmitting method
A radio transmitting apparatus and a radio transmitting method wherein the interference between codes can be reduced and the degradation of preamble detection capability can be prevented. According to these apparatus and method, a signature table storing part (103) that stores a table including a plurality of signatures obtained by classifying the magnitudes of propagation loss levels into levels in accordance with the distances from a base station, associating preamble detection window widths with those levels as classified, and by circularly shifting the pattern of a detection window signature #n corresponding to a signature #n to generate a signature #n+1. A signature selecting part (104) selects, based on the magnitude of a propagation loss level outputted by a propagation loss level determining part (102), one of the corresponding signatures from the signature table storing part (103) at random. A RACH signal generating part (105) uses the selected signature to generate a RACH signal. |
| US08081615B2 |
Method and apparatus to allow coexistence between wireless devices
The present invention relates generally to wireless transceivers, and more particularly but not exclusively to non 802.11 detection and avoidance methodologies for wireless devices including transceivers. In one or more implementations, a method for detecting non 802.11 operating in the unlicensed 5.25-5.35 and 5.47-10.725 GHz radio bands, using wireless devices, such as AP, are provided. An AP is used to automatically detect the presence of non 802.11 on all channels in these bands, alert all of its clients, and move to another channel that is known to be devoid of non 802.11 using one or more implementations. |
| US08081614B2 |
Voice transmission apparatus
A voice transmission apparatus includes a jitter absorbing buffer unit provided in the receiving unit and which absorbs a transmission delay in the packets, and a transmission wait control unit provided in a transmitting unit and which links a packet to be transmitted when transmission temporarily breaks down to a queue. A transmission wait control unit 15 includes an accumulated time computing unit 18 that computes the accumulated time of voice data in packets linked to a queue 19. The transmission wait control unit 15 extracts an oldest linked packet from the queue 19 and discards the same so that the accumulated time computed by the accumulated time computing unit 18 becomes equal to or less than a threshold in order to continuously link a new packet to the queue 19, thereby equalizing the threshold to an accumulation time of a jitter absorbing buffer unit 21. |
| US08081613B2 |
Wireless communication system and wireless communication apparatus and control method thereof
A display apparatus selects one of multiple wireless communication apparatuses and activates the selected wireless communication apparatus as a second access point of a second group. The activated wireless communication apparatus establishes the second group including multiple wireless communication apparatuses. After the second group is thus established, the transmission power of the wireless communication apparatus activated as the access point and the multiple wireless communication apparatuses included in the second group is controlled. |
| US08081612B2 |
Device, system, and method of selectively activating a wireless network connection
Device, system, and method of selectively activating a wireless network connection. In some demonstrative embodiments, a mobile device may include a wireless network communication unit capable of communicating with an access-point over a wireless network connection; a personal-area-network communication unit capable of communicating with one or more other mobile devices over one or more wireless personal-area-network connections, respectively; and a communication controller to mediate communications between the mobile devices and the access point when the wireless network connection is active, and to communicate with the access-point via at least one of the personal-area-network connections when the wireless network connection is not active. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08081607B2 |
Method and system for operating a mobile communication network
A method of operating a mobile communication network includes defining at least one criterion of inclusion of network objects in at least one group of network objects also referred to as an object zone, constructing at least one object zone from network objects satisfying said at least one criterion and performing at least one radio network optimization operation using said at least one object zone constructed in this way. |
| US08081605B2 |
Method for assigning scrambling codes in a CDMA cellular mobile communications network
A method of assigning scrambling codes to cells of a CDMA cellular mobile communications network includes assigning to each cell of a set of cells of a network area a cell attribute adapted to identify a cell typology, and, for each cell, assigning a respective primary scrambling code according to the cell typology, exploiting said cell attribute. The cell attribute includes a first attribute value adapted to identify a cell in which a complexity of computation to be performed by the user equipment for determining the cell primary scrambling code is to be minimized, and a second attribute value adapted to identify a cell in which a synchronization time of mobile communications user equipment is to be minimized. If the cell has an attribute value equal to said first attribute, the cell is assigned a primary scrambling code different from the primary scrambling codes assigned to neighboring cells. If the cell has an attribute value equal to said second attribute, the cell is assigned a primary scrambling code not belonging to a code group to which a primary scrambling code assigned to a neighboring cell belongs. |
| US08081602B2 |
Selecting a handover algorithm
The present invention provides methods for selecting a handover algorithm. The methods may include selecting the handover algorithm for a mobile unit based on at least one measurement indicative of a network state. The methods may also include receiving information indicative of the handover algorithm selected based on the measurement(s) indicative of the network state. |
| US08081599B2 |
Dynamic and fair resource allocation algorithm for OFDM systems
A resource allocation with dynamic bit control to achieve the greatest fairness for all users and minimize transmission power over orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems is presented. This technique can be also applied in WiMAX system. |
| US08081589B1 |
Access points using power over ethernet
An access point coupled to an Ethernet port detects whether it is using power over Ethernet, and if so, adjusts its operation to maintain its power requirements within those capable of being supplied by power over Ethernet. The access point might include a detector capable of determining if external power is available, or if that access point is operating using power over Ethernet. If the access point is operating using power over Ethernet, it adjusts the operation of its radios, gracefully degrading those radios from (first) both radios operating in 3×3 mode, to (second) a first radio operating in 3×3 mode and a second radio operating in 2×2 mode, to (third) both radios operating in 2×2 mode. The power adaptation circuit may also throttle clock speeds in the system (processor or peripherals), or shut down or idle various peripherals to lower power consumption for the duration consumption is high. |
| US08081588B2 |
Methods and apparatus for increasing data throughput by grouping data packets into maximum transmissible units
A mobile communication device has a wireless transceiver and one or more processors for communicating data in a wireless communication system. The one or more processors are operative to receive a plurality of data packets of varying payload size in a queue; associate one or more of the data packets from the queue into a group, such that a total size of the group is at or near a maximum transmissible unit (MTU) size of a data frame; cause the one or more data packets associated into the group to be formatted into the data frame for data transmission via the wireless transceiver; and repeat, for a plurality of data frames, the associating and formatting, for communicating the data via the wireless transceiver in the wireless communication system. By associating the data packets into groups having the MTU size, data throughput of the data transmission is increased. Preferably, the one or more processors are further operative to rearrange an ordered sequence of the data packets from the queue to better achieve the MTU size for each data frame. |
| US08081586B2 |
Method and apparatus to convey a URI for content indirection use in SIP
A content indirection communications method, server, device, data storage medium and computer program product, where in a method executed by the server, in response to a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) registration request from a device, informing the device in a SIP message of the identity of an address where the device may send information that is to be referenced by a SIP content indirection operation, and allocating storage for the information. Informing the device preferably uses a SIP message Call-Info header field with a purpose parameter set to ci-uri for indicating that the Call-Info header field contains a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) that specifies an identity of the storage location. |
| US08081582B2 |
Method for routing information over a network employing centralized control
A method and apparatus for centralized control of a network is described. The network includes a number of nodes. The method includes creating a database and storing the database on a master node of the network. The database contains topology information regarding a topology of the network. Each of the nodes is coupled to at least one other of the nodes, with the master node being one of the nodes. |
| US08081581B2 |
Sampling rules for information dissemination
Sampling rules for information dissemination are described which may be applied in a system containing a number of nodes arranged into groups. A target address is selected using one of two methods: selection of an address from the entire address space of the system and selection of an address from a part of the address space which corresponds to set of groups of nodes. The set of groups of nodes is updated when information is successfully disseminated to a node at a target address selected using the first of the two methods. Rules to determine which of the two methods are used for any particular selection operation are also described. |
| US08081568B2 |
Role determination for network devices
Techniques for selecting authentication roles when establishing a link between devices in a secure network are provided. By assigning role levels to devices, devices may be more likely to assume a preferred role when establishing a link. For example, during a negotiation process, each device may establish a timer value based on their role level. Each device may initiate a timer with the timer value and, the device whose timer value expires first may assume a role as authenticator. |
| US08081563B2 |
Protecting multi-segment pseudowires
The protection of multi-segment pseudowires by utilizing pre-computed backup paths is disclosed herein. Disclosed embodiments include methods that establish at least one backup path for multi-segment pseudowires, the establishing being performed prior to detection of failure in the primary path. Upon detecting a path failure, the detected failure is signaled to the head-end, a pre-computed backup path is chosen, and the chosen backup path is signaled to the tail-end. In other disclosed embodiments, apparatus are configured to establish, prior to detection of failure in the primary path, at least one backup path for the multi-segment pseudowire. Networks can be configured to signal a detected failure to the head-end; choose a pre-computed backup path; and signal the backup path to the tail-end. |
| US08081562B2 |
Configurable acknowledgement mode for a hybrid automatic repeat request protocol
The present invention relates to a method for configuring an acknowledgement mode of an HARQ re-transmission protocol used for acknowledging the delivery of data packets of a service provided from a transmitting entity to a receiving entity in a wireless communication system comprising a controlling entity in a radio access network. To improve the overall transmission efficiency while providing transmission robustness, the controlling entity configures, based on at least one of a QoS attribute or physical layer parameter, one of a first and second acknowledgement mode. An acknowledgement message is transmitted according to the configured acknowledgement mode, wherein, in case the data packet has not been decoded successfully by the receiving entity, the acknowledgement message in the first acknowledgement mode indicates one of a plurality of decoding quality levels of the data packet obtained when decoding the data packet at the receiving entity, and the acknowledgement message in the second acknowledgement mode indicates a decoding failure of the data packet. |
| US08081556B2 |
Optical pickup apparatus
An optical-pickup apparatus comprising: a laser-light source including first-and-second-light-emitting points for laser lights with first-and-second wavelengths which points are disposed at positions deviating in a direction optically corresponding to an optical-disc-tracking direction; a diffraction grating including a plurality of periodic structures which are joined to be different in phase from each other in the direction and each of which includes a recess and projection repeated in a direction optically corresponding to an optical-disc-tangential direction, the diffraction grating being configured to generate main-and-sub-luminous fluxes from the laser light; a holder to hold the diffraction grating to be movable in the direction corresponding to the tracking direction; a collimating lens; an objective lens to focus the main-and-sub-luminous fluxes from the collimating lens on the same track of an optical disc; and a photodetector to be applied with reflected lights of the main-and-sub-luminous fluxes from the optical disc, to generate main-and-sub-push-pull signals. |
| US08081553B2 |
Optical pickup apparatus
An optical pickup apparatus comprising: a laser diode emitting laser light having a first wavelength; an objective lens focusing the laser light having the first wavelength emitted from the laser diode to each signal recording layer of a first optical disc for which the laser light having the first wavelength is specified as laser light for reproducing a signal and a second optical disc for which laser light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength is specified as laser light for reproducing a signal; and a spherical aberration correction element disposed in an optical path between the laser diode and the objective lens, the spherical aberration correction element correcting each spherical aberration of the first optical disc and the second optical disc to reproduce a signal recorded in each signal recording layer of the first optical disc and the second optical disc. |
| US08081550B2 |
Optical pickup device
In a multilayer disc has an increased number of recording layers) spaced by spacing from each other, a generation interval between focus error (FE) signals detected from the respective recording layers becomes small. This causes mutual interference between the FE signals and a resulting undesired offset and the like in the signals, leading to a significantly deteriorated quality of the FE signals. To avoid this, in an optical pickup device according to the present invention, detection surfaces are newly added at positions adjacent to the FE signal detection surfaces, a predetermined detection signal obtained from the newly-added detection surfaces is multiplied by a predetermined coefficient value depending on the spacing between the recording layers, and the multiplied signal is subtracted from the original FE signal. As a result, mutual interference between the FE signals can be remarkably reduced. |
| US08081548B2 |
Method of evaluating characteristics of multilayer optical recording medium
A multilayer optical recording medium having three or more information recording layers is irradiated with a laser beam, and a first signal obtained from the reflected laser beam is subjected to a frequency filter. A second signal obtained by filtration through a high-pass filter is used to evaluate the characteristics of the multilayer optical recording medium. In this manner, even in a multilayer optical recording medium having three or more information recording layers, the influence of the variation of the thickness and material of the information recording layers and the influence of the variation of the thickness of a spacer layer can be clearly determined and evaluated. |
| US08081547B2 |
Method of and apparatus for managing disc defects in disc, and disc on which defects are managed
A method of and apparatus for managing disc defects in a disc using a temporary defect management area in the disc, and the disc, where the method includes recording in a data area user data; and recording in a temporary defect management area, which is present in at least one of a lead-in area and a lead-out area, which temporary defect information and temporary defect management information regarding the user data recorded in the data area are recorded. Accordingly, the method and apparatus are applicable to recordable discs and capable of effectively using the defect management area. |
| US08081543B2 |
Optical disc apparatus and focus control method
An optical disc apparatus according to the present invention steadily performs a focus jump operation and a track-crossing seek operation relative to an optical disc having a plurality of recording layers. A signal processing section generates a focus error signal based on a conventional astigmatism detection (CAD) system and a focus error signal based on a differential astigmatism detection (DAD) system from a detection signal generated by an optical detector. When a focus jump is to be performed from one recording layer of the optical disc to another recording layer, a focus drive signal that is generated from the focus error signal based on the CAD system is used. When a read/write operation is to be performed in relation to one recording layer, a focus drive signal that is generated from the focus error signal based on the DAD system is used. |
| US08081541B2 |
Optical disc
An optical disc includes an electromagnetic coupling module mounted therein. The electromagnetic coupling module includes a wireless IC chip and a feeder circuit substrate in which a feeder circuit including a resonant circuit having a predetermined resonant frequency is disposed. The electromagnetic coupling module is electromagnetically coupled to a reflective film defining a metal thin film of the optical disc, and the reflective film defines an antenna or radiation pattern of the electromagnetic coupling module. |
| US08081540B2 |
Rotary subwoofer marine seismic source
According to a preferred aspect of the instant invention, there is provided herein a system and method for creating low frequency seismic waves. In brief, the instant invention uses a rotary propeller-type system that has been mounted in, for example, a barge or other marine vessel as a seismic source. In the preferred arrangement, the instant source will generate a seismic signal that has greater low frequency content (e.g., frequencies that are less than about 10 Hz) than has been possible heretofore. |
| US08081535B2 |
Circuit for providing chip-select signals to a plurality of ranks of a DDR memory module
A circuit is configured to be mounted on a memory module connectable to a computer system so as to be electrically coupled to a plurality of memory devices on the memory module. The memory module has a first number of ranks of double-data-rate (DDR) memory devices activated by a first number of chip-select signals. The circuit is configurable to receive bank address signals, a second number of chip-select signals, and row/column address signals from the computer system. The circuit is further configurable to generate phase-locked clock signals in response to clock signals received from the computer system and to provide the first number of chip-select signals to the first number of ranks in response to the phase-locked clock signals, the received bank address signals, the received second number of chip-select signals, and at least one of the received row/column address signals. |
| US08081531B2 |
Temperature sensor capable of reducing test mode time
A temperature sensor includes a temperature sensing unit for producing a sensing level by sensing an internal temperature in a semiconductor memory device, a reference level generating unit for setting up a reference level by selecting one of a plurality of reference voltages, which are set up according to the internal temperature of the semiconductor memory device, in response to a test mode signal and a temperature detecting signal, wherein the reference level generating unit includes fuse, and a comparison unit for comparing the sensing level to the reference level and producing the temperature detecting signal. |
| US08081526B1 |
Serialized chip enables
A method and system for serializing an enable signal designating an electronic device such as a chip to enable or disable in order to reduce the number of pins and physical signal traces required to provide connections for enable signals of multiple electronic devices, such as memory, e.g. Flash and DRAM, is described. The enable signal can be encoded to reduce the number of clock cycles to send the serialized enable signal. A device controller can serialize, encode, and send the enable signal to a decoding module using reduced number of pins and physical connections. Then the decoding module can send a decoded enable signals to individual electronic devices or chips to enable or disable. |
| US08081523B2 |
Circuit with a memory array and a reference level generator circuit
A circuit comprises an array of memory cells (10). A plurality of sensing circuits (20), are coupled to the output (14) of respective memory cells (10), for comparing the output signal of the respective one of the memory cells (10) with a reference signal to form a data signal from the output signal from the respective one of the memory cells (10). A reference generator circuit (24, 26) forms the reference signal from a sum wherein each respective one of the memory cells (10) of the addressed group contributes a contribution that is a function of the output signal of the respective one of the memory cells (10). The contributions are equalized for output signal values at more than a saturating distance above the reference signal, and the contributions are equalized for output signal values at more than the saturating distance below the reference signal. In case of storage of multi-level data in the cells the distances from the central level to the saturation levels above and below the reference level are mutually different, with a ratio that corresponds to a ratio of the counts of cells that have been programmed to respective levels. |
| US08081522B2 |
Page buffer circuit for electrically rewritable non-volatile semiconductor memory device and control method
Within a page buffer 14 which is coupled to a non-volatile memory cell array 10 and temporally stores data as the data with a predetermined page unit is written in and read out to/from the memory cell array 10, at least one latch circuit 14v-1 including a bit line selector 14s, a page buffer unit circuit 14u including two latch L1, L2, and a latch L3 is set up for a plurality of bit lines. The bit line selector 14s selects one bit line and couples it to the page buffer unit circuit 14u. The latch L1 temporally stores the data which are read out from the memory cell of the selected bit line, and then outputs the data through the latch L2 or L3. On the other hand, the latch L1 temporally stores the programming data inputted through the latch L2 or L3, and after that outputs it to the memory cell of the selected bit line for programming. |
| US08081518B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a sense amplifier which senses identical multilevel data, which is stored in a memory cell, a plurality of number of times at a time of read, and a n-channel MOS transistor which has a current path one end of which is connected to the sense amplifier and the other end of which is connected to a bit line. The device further include a control unit which applies a first voltage to a gate electrode of the n-channel MOS transistor, thereby setting the n-channel MOS transistor in an ON state, and applies a second voltage which is higher than the first voltage, to the gate electrode during a period after first sense and before second sense. |
| US08081515B2 |
Trench monos memory cell and array
The MONOS vertical memory cell of the present invention allow miniaturization of the memory cell area. The two embodiments of split gate and single gate provide for efficient program and erase modes as well as preventing read disturb in the read mode. |
| US08081514B2 |
Partial speed and full speed programming for non-volatile memory using floating bit lines
Partial speed and full speed programming are achieved for a non-volatile memory system. During a program operation, in a first time period, bit lines of storage elements to be inhibited are pre-charged, while bit line of storage elements to be programmed at a partial speed and bit lines of storage elements to be programmed at a full speed are fixed. In a second time period, the bit lines of storage elements to be programmed at the partial speed are driven higher, while the bit lines of storage elements to be inhibited are floated and the bit line of storage elements to be programmed remain fixed. In a third time period, the bit lines of storage elements to be inhibited are driven higher while the bit lines of the storage elements to be programmed at the partial speed or the full speed are floated so that they couple higher. |
| US08081512B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor memory device
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a non-volatile memory having a plurality of blocks each including a plurality of memory cells, a bit line electrically connected to one end of a current path of the memory cell, a source line electrically connected to the other end of the current path of the memory cell, a word line electrically connected to the gate electrode, a sense amplifier circuit electrically connected to the bit line and configured to read data from the memory cell, a row decoder electrically connected to the word line and configured to apply a read voltage at which the memory cell is set to an ON state to the word line, and a controller configured to measure a cell current flowing through the memory cell in the ON state to judge whether the memory cell has been degraded. |
| US08081511B2 |
Flash memory device with redundant columns
Apparatus and methods are disclosed, such as those involving a flash memory device. One such apparatus includes a memory block including a plurality of columns. Each of the columns includes a bit line and a plurality of memory cells on the bit line. The plurality of columns include a plurality of groups of regular columns and a plurality of groups of redundant columns. The apparatus also includes a plurality of data latches. Each of the data latches is configured to store data read from a respective one group of regular columns. The apparatus further includes a plurality of redundant data latches. Each of the redundant data latches is configured to store data read from a respective one group of redundant columns. The apparatus also includes a multiplexer configured to selectively output data from the plurality of data latches and the plurality of redundant data latches. |
| US08081508B2 |
Flash memory device and memory system including the same
Provided is a flash memory device. The flash memory device includes a memory cell array, and a voltage generator. The memory cell array is connected to a plurality of word lines. The voltage generator generates a program voltage which is supplied to a selected word line of the word lines and a pass voltage which is supplied to a non-selected word line of the word lines, in a program operation. The voltage generator varies a level of the pass voltage with a temperature. |
| US08081504B2 |
Computer memory device with status register
Method and apparatus for operating a memory device with a status register. In some embodiments, the memory device has a plurality of individually programmable non-volatile memory cells comprised of at least a resistive sense memory. The memory device engages an interface and maintains a status register in some embodiments by logging at least an error or busy signal during data transfer operations. |
| US08081501B2 |
Multi-level nonvolatile memory device using variable resistive element
A multi-level nonvolatile memory device using variable resistive element with improved reliability of read operations is provided. A multi-level nonvolatile memory device comprises a multi-level memory which includes a resistance element, wherein the resistance level of the resistance element is variable depending on data stored in the multi-level memory cell, and a read circuit which provides the multi level memory cell with a read bias and performs a sensing operation in response to the read bias, wherein the read bias has at least two levels during a read cycle. |
| US08081494B2 |
Fully integrated multi-phase grid-tie inverter
In a grid-tie inverter, the DC input is phase and pulse-width modulated to define multiple phase shifted voltage pulses with the width of each pulse being modulated according to the grid AC amplitude for the corresponding portion of the AC phase. |
| US08081491B2 |
External neutral current sensor matched to a circuit breaker
A highly accurate current sensing transformer, such as an external neutral current transformer (ENCT), accommodates a wide range of loads. The ENCT includes a housing, first and second terminals each having an end portion extending from and external to the housing, a conductor for carrying a current to be measured, and a current sensor having an aperture for receiving the conductor and having a central axis. The conductor joins the first and second terminals to form a current path that passes through the aperture. Increased accuracy is achieved by arranging the conductor such that a portion thereof passing through the aperture forms a substantial angle relative to the central axis, such that the entry angle of the current path via the conductor through the aperture of the current sensor of the ENCT matches an entry angle of a conductor through an aperture of a current sensor in the electronic trip unit to which the ENCT is attached. Other features resist rotation of the terminals during attachment of the ENCT and allow the ENCT to receive any of a variety of different lugs or terminal nuts, enabling easy attachment. |
| US08081490B2 |
Computer chassis for mounting motherboard therein
An apparatus includes a computer chassis and a motherboard. The motherboard defines a mounting aperture and a securing hole. The mounting aperture includes a large hole and a small hole communicating with the large hole. The computer chassis includes a bottom plate which defines a screw hole therein. A first convex projection is formed on the bottom plate. A hollow pillar is formed on the first convex projection. The pillar defines a through hole extending through the pillar and the first convex projection. A blind rivet is mounted in the through hole. The blind rivet includes a cap located above the pillar. The cap has an area larger than the small hole. The motherboard is slidable between a first position and a second position. In the first position the motherboard is located on the first convex projection, the pillar extends in the large hole of the motherboard and the cap is positioned above the motherboard. In the second position the pillar is located in the small hole, the cap is misaligned with the large hole, the securing hole of the motherboard is aligned with the screw hole of the bottom plate. |
| US08081488B2 |
Portable electronic device
A portable electronic device includes: a casing provided therein with a battery compartment, the battery compartment being given an opening for the installation of the battery; a cover body pivotally supported on the casing to open and close the opening; a spring part for causing the battery inside the battery compartment to be spring-biased in a direction toward the opening; a lock lever provided to the casing, the lock lever being capable of moving back and forth between a locking position entering the opening and a lock releasing position retreating from the opening, while being spring-biased in a direction from the lock releasing position to the locking position; and a pressure applying part formed on the inner surface of the cover body, the pressure applying part pressing the lock lever placed in the lock releasing position toward the locking position immediately before the cover body is completely closed. |
| US08081483B2 |
USB flash disk
A USB flash disk is disclosed as being inserted therein with an internal structure composed of a printed circuit board, a metallic tray, a lower insulation seat and a clamping strip unit etc. for completing the USB flash disk. |
| US08081482B2 |
Multimedia enclosure
A multimedia enclosure having a housing with a base, a first sidewall and a second sidewall oppositely disposed from the first sidewall. The base and the first and second sidewalls define an interior region having an optical network terminal mounting area. An optical network terminal mounting area is disposed on the base of the housing in the interior region. A first radius limiter and a second radius limiter are disposed on the second sidewall with the first and second radius limiters defining a fiber passage into the interior region. |
| US08081481B2 |
Apparatus and method for a clip device for coupling a heat sink plate system with a burn-in board system
A clip for coupling a first board and second board, the first board having plurality of first post coupled thereto, the second board having a plurality of second posts coupled thereto, each second post being a cylinder for receiving a first post, the first and second boards having a predetermined relative position when the second posts fully engage the first posts, each second post having an aperture in a side exposing the interior of the cylinder, each first post having a tapered end and a notch around the posts. The clip includes a base member, the base member being coupled to the second board, a top member, the top member having an aperture therein, and a side member connecting the top member and the base member, the side member fabricated so that an edge of the aperture is forced through the aperture into the interior of the second post, edge being forced into the notch when the first and the second posts are engaged and the first and second boards are in the predetermined relationship. |
| US08081479B2 |
Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes a circuit board having a connector mounted at an end edge and a metal member reinforcing the connector, the connector including a fitting surface of the connector facing outside; a housing which accommodates the circuit board and includes a first opening for a keyboard arrangement formed in an upper surface thereof and a second opening for fitting with a mating connector formed on a side surface thereof, the second opening facing the fitting surface of the connector mounted on the circuit board; and a keyboard exposed to the outside from the first opening and having a plurality of keys arranged on an upper surface thereof. The metal member extends under the keyboard and supports a portion of the lower surface of the keyboard. |
| US08081477B2 |
Heat sink assembly having a clip
A heat sink assembly includes a heat sink adapted for thermally contacting an electronic component of a printed circuit board, and a clip pressing the heat sink and engaging with the printed circuit board. The clip includes a pressing portion pressing the heat sink, two arms extending slantwise and upwardly from opposite ends of the pressing portion, two connecting portions extending outwardly from the two arms, two securing portions engaging with the printed circuit board, and two operating portions. When the two operating portion are operated, the connecting portions are rotated and the securing portions rotate with the connecting portions to engage with the printed circuit board. |
| US08081476B2 |
Electromagnetic shielding device with heat dissipating function
An electromagnetic shielding device with a heat dissipating function for shielding at least one electronic element on a circuit board is provided. The electromagnetic shielding device includes a frame, a cover, and a heat dissipating element. The frame is disposed on the circuit board and surrounds the electronic element, and the frame is one-piece and seamless. The cover has a top portion and a side portion bent from borders of the top portion. The heat dissipating element is disposed on the top portion. The top portion of the cover is connected to borders of the frame, and the side portion is tightly combined with the frame so that the cover, the frame and the circuit board form a shielding space to surround the electronic element. |
| US08081475B1 |
Heat sinking assembly and method for power electronics in a trolling motor controller head
To prevent water intrusion, trolling motor heads cannot utilize ventilation methods of removing heat from power electronics. The assembly and method of the present application utilizes the existing metal column of a trolling motor to remove heat from the power electronics by utilizing a metal adapter that has flat outside surfaces for the power electronics and a round inside surface for the metal column. |
| US08081473B2 |
Apparatus and method of direct water cooling several parallel circuit cards each containing several chip packages
A cooling apparatus, system and like method for an electronic device includes a plurality of heat producing electronic devices affixed to a wiring substrate. A plurality of heat transfer assemblies each include heat spreaders and thermally communicate with the heat producing electronic devices for transferring heat from the heat producing electronic devices to the heat transfer assemblies. The plurality of heat producing electronic devices and respective heat transfer assemblies are positioned on the wiring substrate having the regions overlapping. A heat conduit thermally communicates with the heat transfer assemblies. The heat conduit circulates thermally conductive fluid therethrough in a closed loop for transferring heat to the fluid from the heat transfer assemblies via the heat spreader. A thermally conductive support structure supports the heat conduit and thermally communicates with the heat transfer assemblies via the heat spreader transferring heat to the fluid of the heat conduit from the support structure. |
| US08081472B2 |
Electric circuit device, electric circuit module, and power converter
The present invention provides an electric circuit device in which it is possible to achieve simultaneously the improvement of cooling performance and reduction in operating loss due to line inductance. The above object can be attained by constructing multiple plate-like conductors so that each of these conductors electrically connected to multiple semiconductor chips is also thermally connected to both chip surfaces of each such semiconductor chip to release heat from the chip surfaces of each semiconductor chip, and so that among the above conductors, a DC positive-polarity plate-like conductor and a DC negative-polarity plate-like conductor are opposed to each other at the respective conductor surfaces. |
| US08081471B2 |
Module for an automation device
A module for an automation device with a plurality of adjacent modules is provided. The module includes a housing capsule that has at least one rear wall and two side walls and which is provided for housing electric components. Further, an automation device including the module is provided. One of the side walls of the modules is embodied as being thermally conductive and that the other side wall is embodied as being thermally insulated. |
| US08081466B2 |
Overmolded electronics enclosure
An enclosure for electronics includes a body with a metal component and a polymeric component overmolded onto the metal component so as to be connected to the metal component without fasteners. The body defines a recess. A heat sink is defined in the metal component. A printed circuit board is located in the recess and includes a plurality of electronic components mounted thereon. The polymeric component includes at least one attachment feature that captures the printed circuit board at a select location in the recess such that: (i) at least a first one of the electronic components is electrically connected to a contact region of the metal component that is exposed through a portion of said polymeric component; (ii) at least a second one of the electronic components is electrically isolated from the metal component by an electrical isolation zone of the polymeric component; and (ii) at least a third one of the electronic components is located adjacent a thermal transfer region of the metal component that underlies the heat sink. The thermal transfer region is uncovered by the polymeric component so as to be exposed in the recess. |
| US08081465B2 |
Cooling apparatus for semiconductor chips
A cooling apparatus for semiconductor chips includes radiation fins formed on the opposite surface of metal base opposite to the surface of metal base, to which an insulator base board mounting semiconductor chips thereon, is disposed. The radiation fins, such as sheet-shaped fins having different lengths are arranged such that the surface area density of the fins becomes higher in the coolant flow direction, whereby the surface area density is the total surface area of radiation fins on a unit surface area of the metal base. As a result, the temperatures of semiconductor chips arranged along the coolant flow direction are closer to each other. |
| US08081462B2 |
Modular liquid cooling system
A method and kit of components for configuring electronics cooling configurations, the kit comprising a plurality of passageway forming members, each forming member including an extruded member having first and second ends and forming at least one passageway and at least one of an input port and an output port that opens into the passageway, each forming member also including at least one plug insert secured to the second end of the forming member to block the at least one passageway, a plurality of elastomeric seals, a plurality of mechanical fasteners, wherein forming members can be arranged adjacent each other with ports aligned and the fasteners can be used to mechanically fasten the forming members together with seals there between to form various cooling configurations. |
| US08081461B2 |
Cooling apparatus with thermally conductive porous material and jet impingement nozzle(s) extending therein
A cooling apparatus and method of fabrication are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic device. The cooling apparatus includes a thermally conductive porous material and a liquid coolant supply. The thermally conductive porous material (such as metal foam material) is coupled to a surface of the electronic device to be cooled, or a structure coupled to the electronic device. The liquid coolant supply includes a jet impingement structure, which includes one or more jet nozzles for directing liquid coolant onto the surface to be cooled. The jet nozzle(s) extends into the thermally conductive porous material, and facilitates delivery of liquid coolant onto the surface to be cooled. The thermally conductive porous material is in thermal contact with the surface to be cooled and facilitates cooling of the electronic device by boiling of the liquid coolant passing through the porous material. |
| US08081459B2 |
Air conditioning systems for computer systems and associated methods
Computer systems with air cooling systems and associated methods are disclosed herein. In several embodiments, a computer system can include a computer cabinet holding multiple computer modules, and an air mover positioned in the computer cabinet. The computer system can also include an airflow restrictor positioned proximate to an air outlet of the computer cabinet, and an overhead heat exchanger mated to the computer cabinet proximate to the air outlet. |
| US08081458B2 |
Heat dissipation apparatus for electronic device
A heat dissipation apparatus adapted for simultaneously cooling a first electronic component and a second electronic component includes a heat sink adapted for being thermally attached to the first electronic component, a fan duct receiving the heat sink therein and a fan mounted to the fan duct. The fan duct comprises a top plate and two side plates extending from two opposite sides of the top plate. A receiving space is defined in the fan duct between the top plate and a top of the heat sink and adapted for receiving the second electronic component. Airflow from the fan is guided by the fan duct to blow towards the heat sink and the second electronic component, simultaneously. |
| US08081449B2 |
Handheld electronic device and operating method thereof
A handheld electronic device and an operating method thereof are provided. The handheld electronic device includes a first body, a second body, and a moving assembly. The moving assembly includes a sliding module and at least one rotating module. The sliding module is coupled to the second body, wherein the second body is moveable between a first position and a second position. The rotating module is coupled between the first body and the sliding module so that the second body is rotated relative to the first body. The second body is automatically rotated from the second position to a third position to form a first angle with the first body. The second body can be rotated between the third position and a fourth position to form a second angle with the first body, wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle. |
| US08081447B2 |
Notebook personal computer
A notebook PC includes a main body, a cover rotatably mounted to the main body, a projector detachably received in the cover and electrically connected to the cover, a holding mechanism received in the cover, and a driving mechanism received in the cover. The holding mechanism releasably holds the projector in place when the projector is received in the cover, and the driving mechanism drives the projector out of the cover when the projector is released by the holding mechanism. |
| US08081445B2 |
Drainage structure and information processing unit
A drainage structure of the present invention includes a drainage groove, a drain, and a groove portion. Thus, even in the case where a user accidentally spills a liquid such as water on an upper face of a first housing, intrusion of the liquid into a disk drive can be prevented, and damage to the disk drive can be prevented. Moreover, the drain is connected to the groove portion. Thus, a liquid that drains from the drain can be collected in the groove portion. Accordingly, the liquid can be prevented from spreading over a wide area, and adhesion of the liquid to various types of electric components disposed in a back face of the first housing can be prevented. |
| US08081440B2 |
Portable computer and hinge mechanism thereof
A portable computer and a hinge mechanism thereof are provided. The portable computer includes a display monitor, a host and a hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism for rotating the display monitor and the host relatively includes a bottom board, a pivot, a power adapter, a locking bracket, a slanting board and a parallel board. The pivot is disposed on the bottom board. Two ends of the pivot are connected with the host and the display monitor respectively. The power adapter is disposed on the bottom board. The locking bracket having a locking hole is disposed on the bottom board. The slanting board disposed on the bottom board slants to the pivot. The slanting board has a first opening which exposes the power adapter. The parallel board disposed on the bottom board is parallel to the pivot. The parallel board has a second opening which exposes the locking hole. |
| US08081438B2 |
Electronic device
A power switch and connector that are conventionally included in a body are formed in spaces created at the outer ends of the shafts of hinges other than the body and a display, whereby the body is thinned. Electronic device comprises a body, a display, and a hinge that joins the body and display so that they can be freely opened or closed. A power switch is formed at an end of the shaft of the hinge. Furthermore, the electronic device comprises the body, the display, and another hinge that joins the body and display so that they can be freely opened or closed. A port of a connector opens at an end of the shaft of the hinge. |
| US08081437B2 |
Computer with projecting device
A computer with a projecting device comprises: a base shell, disposed with a top face, the top face being disposed with an opening, the opening communicating an inner part of the base shell; an expansible structure, comprising a first unit, a second unit and a third unit, in which first bottom end of the first unit is pivotally coupled to the base shell through at least one first pivot unit, a second bottom of the second unit is pivotally coupled to the first unit through at least one second pivot unit and the third unit is pivotally coupled to the second unit through a pivot structure; a first face of the third unit is coupled to a projection lens module to allow a height of the projection lens module to be changed and a projection direction thereof to be adjusted. |
| US08081436B2 |
Auxiliary mechanism
An auxiliary mechanism to be attached to a portable electronic device when capturing image data of an image medium, the portable electronic device includes an image capture element, the auxiliary mechanism comprises a body, a fixer and a connecting element. The fixer is connected to the body, wherein the image medium is placed on the fixer. The connecting element is connected to the body and detachably connected to the portable electronic device, wherein the image capture element corresponds to the image medium and captures the image data thereof. |
| US08081433B2 |
Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes a keyboard unit that has an upper surface on which a plurality of keys are provided, and one side and a different side each of which has an attachment section, the different side facing the one side, a fixing section that fixes the keyboard unit in cooperation with the attachment sections of the keyboard unit, and a mounting section on which the keyboard unit is mounted in a state in which the keyboard is upwardly curved with respect to a predetermined reference surface when the keyboard unit is fixed by the attachment sections of the keyboard unit and the fixing section. |
| US08081427B2 |
Signal amplifiers having plated aluminum housing bodies with a back plate permanently attached thereto
Signal amplifiers are provided that have a two (or more) piece housing that has an input port, an output port and a power port. At least one of the housing pieces comprises an aluminum housing piece. A first coaxial connector is mounted in the input port, a second coaxial connector is mounted in the output port and a third coaxial connector is mounted in the power port. A power amplifier is mounted within the housing, and is configured to amplify an input signal received through the first coaxial connector. At least first and second of the housing pieces have at least one metal plated thereon, and the first housing piece is soldered, welded or brazed to the second housing piece. |
| US08081423B2 |
Electrical installation having a container
An electrical installation has a container which encloses high-voltage components. The electrical installation can be fitted inexpensively and quickly, and at the same time provide sufficient cooling of the high-voltage components. A control room with control elements and/or display elements of the electrical installation and a cool room with a cooling device for at least one of the high-voltage components are disposed in the interior of the container. |
| US08081420B2 |
Solid electrolytic capacitor and method for manufacture thereof
On a surface of an anode member 12 having a valve action, a cathode layer 14 is formed, and at a terminal lead-out face 12a at one end of the anode member 12, an anode wire 16 is led out of it; thus a capacitor element 10 is formed. An anode terminal 4 is joined to the anode wire 16. A cathode terminal 5 is joined to the cathode layer 14. A protective layer 2 of resin covers part or all of the capacitor element 10. A packaging member 3 of resin harder than the protective layer 2 covers around the capacitor element 10 including the protective layer 2 and the anode wire 16 to form a package. The protective layer 2 has a larger linear expansion coefficient than the packaging member 3. The mass ratio of the packaging member 3 to the total mass of the packaging member 3 and the protective layer 2 between the terminal lead-out face 12a and the exterior face of the packaging member 3 opposite the terminal lead-out face 12a is 50% or more. |
| US08081417B2 |
Electrolytic capacitor comprising means for the sorption of harmful substances
An electrolytic capacitor is provided having an airtight casing, electrodes immersed in an electrolytic solution, electrical contacts connected to the electrodes, and a means (10, 43) for sorption of harmful substances. The means for sorption of harmful substances includes a polymeric housing (11, 12) permeable to the harmful substances but impermeable to the electrolytic solution and contain one or more getter materials (14, 45) for sorption of the harmful substances. |
| US08081416B2 |
Multilayer chip capacitor
A multilayer chip capacitor includes a capacitor body provided by a stack of a plurality of dielectric layers, a plurality of internal electrodes disposed in the capacitor body such that the internal electrodes of opposite polarities are alternately disposed to face each other with the dielectric layer interposed between each facing set of the internal electrodes, and a plurality of external electrodes disposed on an outer face of the capacitor body and electrically connected with the internal electrode. Each of the plurality of internal electrodes includes a main electrode part, and at least one lead extending from the main electrode part to a side face of the capacitor body and connected to a corresponding one of the external electrodes. The lead extends to the corresponding external electrode to be inclined with respect to the main electrode part thereof. |
| US08081413B2 |
Intrinsically safe ethernet-based communication
An intrinsically safe network switch (200) includes five electronically isolated ports, four for connections in hazardous areas (206-1, 206-2, 206-3, 206-4) and one for receiving an unsafe Ethernet input (204). The device may use 10/100 mbps Ethernet cables and connectors and provides speed and activity LED indicators for each port. The device may be din rail-mountable, wall mountable, or desk mountable, and includes an integral heat sink for cool operation. The device incorporates internal barriers and isolated circuitry to guarantee safety and high-integrity signals with resistance to ambient EMI/RFI radiation. This network switch (200) could be any Ethernet communication devices such as hub, managed or unmanaged switch etc. Also, it could have total “n” number of ports (isolated or un-isolated) with 1 port for safe area and “n−1” port of hazardous area. The number of ports for safe and hazardous area can be varied to meet specific application requirements. |
| US08081411B2 |
Combination current sensor and relay
A protection device for monitoring current in a power cable to an electrical device and for controlling a remotely located starter for the electrical device in response to a system controller. The device includes a transformer magnetically linked with the power cable to produce a voltage signal in response to the presence of a changing current within the power cable. An input circuit located in a single housing together with the transformer is electrically connected to the transformer so as to receive the voltage signal. The input circuit produces, in response to the voltage signal, either a first signal or a first circuit condition at the output terminal of the input circuit, representative of the changing current in the power cable. A switch circuit also in the same container with the transformer has a terminal for sensing either a second signal or a second circuit condition of the remotely located system controller. The switch circuit has a second terminal to provide either a third signal or a third circuit condition effective to control the starter, in response to sensing one of the second signal and the second circuit condition. All of the transformer, the input circuit, and the switch circuit are located in a single unitary package which is easily mounted and adjusted to a desired position. |
| US08081410B1 |
Overcurrent protection circuit
Designs of an overcurrent protection circuit Techniques are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, an overcurrent protection having continuous protection thresholds is provided to efficiently protect a battery from discharging overcurrent especially in all intermediate states. |
| US08081409B2 |
Embedded bridge rectifier integrated with configurable I/O pads
An embedded bridge rectifier is disclosed. By reconfiguring and reconnecting internal ESD protection circuits originally installed at two bonding pads of integrated circuits, the invention not only saves hardware cost of conventional external bridge rectifiers, but also reduces the space of print circuit boards. |
| US08081408B2 |
Protection of exposed contacts connected to a bridge rectifier against electrostatic discharge
Disclosed is a protection circuit for protecting a rectifier circuit from electrostatic pulses. The circuit employs a first bypass capacitor that is connected between positive and negative power lines to bypass electrostatic pulses that have a rise time that allows the diodes to conduct and prevent damage to the diodes as a result of reverse biasing, and a second bypass capacitor that is connected between an input node and the negative power line to discharge the electrostatic pulses that have a rise time that is faster than the turn-on times of the diodes. Connection of the bypass capacitors at locations close to the rectifying diodes minimizes the effects of stray inductance that affects the operation of the rectifier circuit in response to fast rise time transient pulses. |
| US08081407B2 |
Compact disconnector circuit-breaker for an alternator
An alternator disconnector circuit-breaker of the invention presents a compact structure. The axes of opening/closure of the change-over first switch (12, 14), of the circuit-breaker second switch (22, 24), and of the disconnector switch (32, 34) are such that an angle of 90° is present between two of them. Actuator means (40) associated with synchronization means (52, 54, 56, 58) make it possible to ensure that each switch is operated in a time-shifted manner by common control means. |
| US08081406B2 |
Thyristor controlled series capacitor module
A thyristor controlled series capacitor module including a capacitor connectable in series with a power line, a thyristor valve connected in parallel with the capacitor, a breaker connected in parallel with the thyristor valve, and an inductor. By providing a simplified breaker arrangement, the number of components is reduced. |
| US08081403B1 |
Magnetic element having a smaller critical dimension of the free layer
A magnetic element includes a pinned layer, a nonferromagnetic spacer layer, and a free layer. The nonferromagnetic spacer layer resides between the pinned layer and the free layer. The free layer has a track width of not more than 0.08 micron. |
| US08081402B2 |
Magnetoresistive head having a current screen layer for confining current therein and method of manufacture thereof
Embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic head incorporating a CPP-GMR device having a high output at a suitable resistance. According to one embodiment, in a Current Perpendicular to Plane-Giant Magneto Resistive (CPP-GMR) head comprising a pinned layer, a free layer, and a current screen layer for confining current therein, a planarization treatment is applied to the surface of the current screen layer, thereby allowing the current screen layer to have a fluctuation in film thickness thereof. As a result of the fluctuation being provided in the film thickness of the current screen layer, parts of the current screen layer, smaller in the film thickness, will be selectively turned into metal areas low in resistance, and as the metal areas low in resistance serve as current paths, effects of confining current can be adjusted by controlling the fluctuation in the film thickness. |
| US08081401B1 |
Disk drive including an actuator latch with a cantilevered stop portion
A novel actuator latch includes a catch portion interfering with actuator rotation with the latch in a closed position. The latch includes a first stop portion that is in contact with a fixed member with the latch in the closed position. The latch includes a pusher portion that is in contact with the actuator with the latch in the closed position and with the actuator in an extreme rotational position. The latch includes a second stop portion comprising a cantilevered finger having a supported end and a free distal end. The free distal end is in contact with the second fixed member with the latch in the open position. Neither the catch portion nor the pusher portion is disposed on the cantilevered finger. |
| US08081398B2 |
Thin-film magnetic head having function of adjusting closure height
Provided is a thin-film magnetic head, in which the magnetic spacing can be controlled appropriately, regardless of the presence of the variation in height of the medium-opposed surface of the closure. The thin-film magnetic head includes: at least one head element formed on or above an element-formation surface of a substrate, for reading data from a magnetic recording medium and/or writing data to a magnetic recording medium; an overcoat layer formed on the element-formation surface so as to cover the at least one head element; and at least one closure adhered to at least a portion of an upper surface of the overcoat layer. Here, at least one of the at least one closure includes at least one element for adjusting the height of a medium-opposed surface of the closure. The element is preferably a heating element provided within the closure. |
| US08081388B2 |
Photoelectric lens module and fabrication thereof
A photoelectric lens module is utilized to focus a light source. A fabrication method comprises steps of providing a first substrate; positioning a plurality of gap units on the first substrate, and forming a plurality of gap regions amongst the gap units on the first substrate; providing a second substrate comprising a plurality of photoelectric lens units, in which the positions of the photoelectric lens units are corresponding to the locations of the gap regions; and filling a transparent rubber in the gap regions in such that the first substrate and the second substrate are adhered closely. |
| US08081384B2 |
Multilayer reflective film coated substrate, manufacturing method thereof, reflective mask blank, and reflective mask
A multilayer reflective film coated substrate includes a multilayer under film comprised of Mo/Si alternately-layered films, an intermediate layer in the form of a Si film, and a multilayer reflective film comprised of Mo/Si alternately-layered films for reflecting exposure light. The multilayer under film, the intermediate layer, and the multilayer reflective film are formed on a substrate in this order. Given that a cycle length of the multilayer under film is d bottom (unit:nm), a thickness of the intermediate layer is d Si (unit:nm), and a cycle length of the multilayer reflective film is d top (unit:nm), relationships of a formula (1) and a formula (2) are satisfied,the formula (1) given by n×d top−0.05≦d bottom≦n×d top+0.05 where n is a natural number equal to or greater than 1, and the formula (2) given by m×d top−1.2≦d Si≦−m×d top+1.2 where m is an integer equal to or greater than 0. |
| US08081379B2 |
Screen and projection system for reducing effects of ambient light
A screen includes: a base material; and a pigmented layer provided on one surface of the base material, the pigmented layer including a first pigment that absorbs a visible light component contained in room light, and a second pigment that absorbs ultraviolet light, wherein the second pigment absorbs the ultraviolet light contained in sunlight, and varies the color imparted by a remaining visible light component unabsorbed by the first pigment absorbing the visible light component of the sunlight, the color being varied in such a manner as to reduce the absolute value of a color difference on a chromaticity diagram between a white point and a point indicative of the color imparted by the remaining component. |
| US08081378B2 |
Microscope
A microscope apparatus can generate information of a super-resolved image at high speed. For that purpose, the microscope apparatus of the present invention is equipped with an image-forming optical system for forming an intermediate image of light emitted from a specimen, a relay optical system for forming an image of the intermediate image, an illuminating optical system that jointly owns an optical path of the image-forming optical system and illuminates the specimen through the optical path of the image-forming optical system, and a spatial modulator disposed on a formation plane of the intermediate image. In this microscope apparatus, the specimen is subjected to structured illumination by an image of the spatial modulator. Light from the specimen which is modulated by the structured illumination is automatically remodulated in the spatial modulator. |
| US08081376B2 |
Multi-stage fiber amplifier to suppress Raman scattered light
The invention relates to a light source apparatus having a structure for effectively suppressing a negative effect due to a nonlinear effect generated in propagation of an amplifying light, and realizing a stable operation. In the light source apparatus, light amplified in an optical amplifier fiber is emitted to the outside of the apparatus through an optical output fiber whose one end is connected to an output connecter. At this time, a part of Raman scattered light, generated in the optical output fiber, propagates toward an pumping light source through the optical amplifier fiber from the optical output fiber. An optical component having an insertion loss spectrum that attenuates the Raman scattered light but allows pumping light or light to be amplified to transmit therethrough, is provided on a propagation path of the Raman scattered light, due to the light component, the intensity of the Roman scattered light reaching the pumping light source is effectively reduced. As a result, a negative effect due to a nonlinear effect generated in propagation of light to be amplified can be effectively suppressed, and the light source apparatus can be stably operated. |
| US08081373B2 |
Devices and methods for enhancing color shift of interferometric modulators
The color reflected by an interferometric modulator may vary as a function of the angle of view. A range of colors are thus viewable by rotating the interferometric modulator relative to an observer. By placing a textured layer between an observer and an interferometric modulator, a pattern which includes the range of colors may be viewed by the observer, and the range of colors may thus be viewable from a single viewing angle. |
| US08081371B2 |
Spatial light modulator and display apparatus
The present invention provides an image projection system comprising a spatial light modulator (SLM) comprises a plurality of pixel elements, wherein each of the pixel elements further comprises a deflectable mirror, and at least a first electrode and a second electrode for controlling the deflectable mirror to deflect to different tilt angles to reflect and modulate an illumination light for displaying an image; and a controller for applying a voltage to the second electrode wherein the voltage applied in an initial operation period is different from the voltage applied in an image display period. |
| US08081370B2 |
Support structures for electromechanical systems and methods of fabricating the same
A method of making an interferometric modulator element includes forming at least two posts, such as posts formed from spin-on glass, on a substrate. In alternate embodiments, the posts may be formed after certain layers of the modulator elements have been deposited on the substrate. An interferometric modulator element includes at least two spin-on glass support posts located on the substrate. In alternate embodiments, the support posts may be located over certain layers of the modulator element, rather than on the substrate. A method of making an interferometric modulator element includes forming a rigid cap over a support post. An interferometric modulator element includes support posts having rigid cap members. |
| US08081366B2 |
Oscillating device, light deflector, and image forming apparatus using the same
An oscillating device includes a supporting portion, a movable portion, a torsion spring that supports the movable portion with respect to the supporting portion so that the movable portion is capable of torsionally vibrating around a torsion axis, and a driving unit that vibrates the movable portion. The torsion spring is formed of single-crystal silicon, and a crystal orientation parallel to the torsion axis of the torsion spring is a [111] orientation. |
| US08081365B2 |
Optical scanner and image-forming device
An scanning unit scanner includes a light source and a polygon mirror unit. A front-to-rear rib is disposed between the light source and the polygon mirror unit and near the polygon mirror unit. An input side opening having a slit shape is formed as a cutout in the top edge of the front-to-rear rib. When laser light from the light source passes through the input side opening, the input side opening restricts the width of the light in a main scanning direction. |
| US08081363B2 |
Optical beam scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus
An optical beam scanning apparatus and an image forming apparatus having the optical beam scanning apparatus are provided. The optical beam scanning apparatus includes a light source; a pre-deflection optical system; an optical beam deflecting device; a sensor; and a post-deflection optical system. An exit surface of the imaging lens includes a lens-shaped portion for imaging the light flux on a scanned surface of the scanned object, and a totally reflecting surface-shaped portion having a totally reflecting surface for totally reflecting a portion of the light flux from the deflecting surface of the optical beam deflecting device at least two times, and the incident surface of the imaging lens includes a transmission surface-shaped portion having a transmission surface for transmitting the light flux totally reflected by the totally reflecting surface, and the light flux transmitted through the transmission surface is directed to the sensor. |
| US08081352B2 |
Image reading/recording apparatus
An image reading/recording apparatus which can prevent a reading unit from closing abruptly and reduce the force required to open the reading unit is to be provided. The apparatus is equipped with a damper unit which links the apparatus body and the scanner unit and the working direction of whose force is reversed on the way of the turning of the scanner unit, and a metal-made supporting member which is arranged in the apparatus body and supports the damper unit in a state in which the scanner unit is closed relative to the apparatus body. |
| US08081349B2 |
Printer having coded tag generator and controller for printing coded interface
A printer is provided having a coded tag generator configured to generate coded tags based on identity data indicative of an identity associated with an interface and position data defining a relative position of each tag on the interface, and a controller for controlling printing of the interface with the coded tags at the positions defined by the position data and having the identity data. |
| US08081346B1 |
System to create image transparency in a file generated utilising a print stream
A method to generate image transparency in a file created from a print stream includes accessing a source file of a source application, extracting transparency information from an image within the source file to generate a non-transparent image prior to generating a print stream based on the source file, and replacing the transparency information in a print file generated utilizing the print stream. |
| US08081339B2 |
Printing apparatus, data storage medium, interface device, printer control method, and interface control method
An interface device backs up printer settings and operating history data of printer so that the settings and history data can be easily restored. A nonvolatile memory 109 in the printer 101 stores printer settings data. Commands from a host 161 are passed by the interface device 131 and received by a receiver 103 within the printer. If the command data is a print command, the print mechanism 108 prints the specified text or image. If the command data is a command for updating the settings data, the corresponding settings data in the nonvolatile memory 109 is updated and at an appropriate backup time the updated settings data is copied to a nonvolatile memory 135 in the interface device 131. The settings data backed up into the interface device 131 can then be restored back to the printer's nonvolatile memory 109 at an appropriate data restore time. |
| US08081338B2 |
Form processing apparatus and method
A form processing apparatus receives input data from an external form processing system via an operating system. When there is a request to print form data, the form processing apparatus adds an identifier to the form data, and then transfers the form data to the operating system. The form processing apparatus includes an identifier determination unit configured to receive data output from the operating system, and to determine whether the identifier has been added. When it is determined that the identifier has not been added, the data output from the operating system are saved in a saving unit, as form data from the external form processing system. |
| US08081336B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image processing method, and program
The above object is achieved by an image forming apparatus connected to a network and used for forming an image on a sheet, comprising: a 1st obtaining unit operable to obtain via the network, with respect to each of one or more image files related to an authenticated user, (i) a corresponding identification information piece and (ii) a corresponding storage-destination information piece indicating a storage destination; a display unit operable to display the obtained identification information pieces; a receiving unit operable to receive a specification of, among the displayed identification information pieces, an identification information piece for an image file that the authenticated user desires to obtain; and a 2nd obtaining unit operable to obtain, via the network, the desired image file corresponding to the specified identification information piece from a storage destination indicated by a storage-destination information piece of the desired image file. |
| US08081331B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an input part for inputting information, a processing part for processing the information; a storing part for storing the information, an output part for outputting the information, a writing part for writing desired information to a portable recording medium, and a scanner for scanning an original as image information. In image forming apparatus, the image information scanned by the scanner is stored in the storing part, and wherein the input part, the processing part, the storing part, and the output part are centralized at one place, and send and receive the information to and from each other. |
| US08081330B2 |
Data outputting apparatus, and recording medium in which data outputting program is recorded
A data outputting apparatus, includes a box capable of storing data in a sorted manner, an outputting portion for outputting the data stored in the box, a data number setting portion for setting the number of data to be stored in the box, and a controller for making the outputting portion output the data stored in the box when the number of data stored in the box has reached the set number of data. |
| US08081329B2 |
Mixed output print control method and system
A merging module connects two printing systems at approximately 90 degrees to one another. The merging module includes a sheet rotator in a plane that is common to the paper paths of both print engines and a buffer. It also includes two bypass paths (one above and one below the rotator) to route the two paper paths around the rotator and enable both print engines to deliver their output to the appropriate finishing device as well as to the buffer. |
| US08081327B2 |
Information processing apparatus that controls transmission of print job data based on a processing designation, and control method and program therefor
Print job data is generated in accordance with a printing instruction from an application. When encryption of the print job data is designated, the generated print job data is encrypted, and the generated or encrypted print job data is output. When a printing apparatus serving as an output destination to which the encrypted print job data is output does not have a decryption function of decrypting the encrypted print job data, the output destination is changed to a decryption apparatus having the decryption function. When designation to save the print job data in the printing apparatus is detected in encryption, the print job is canceled. |
| US08081325B2 |
Image forming apparatus
When sample printing is executed, whether the printing is executed putting higher priority on the printing speed than the image quality based on printing data of each page or the printing is executed putting higher priority on the image quality than the printing speed is automatically judged and the sample printing is executed based on the judgment result. When the sample printing is executed, for each page, an image quality priority degree judging portion 14a judges whether the printing is executed in a speed priority printing scheme that puts higher priority on the printing speed than the image quality in printing or the printing is executed in an image quality priority printing scheme that puts higher priority on the image quality than the printing speed in printing, a printing scheme switching portion 14b automatically switches the printing scheme according to the judgment result, and the sample printing is executed. |
| US08081324B2 |
Information processing apparatus, image forming method, and computer readable storage medium storing a program for reducing print processing time
To speedily accomplish print processing, a computer produces print data processible in a printing apparatus based on application data if the application data is created, regardless of user's print instruction. The produced print data is stored in a storage region corresponding to a folder that stores the created application data. If the print instruction is entered by a user, the printing apparatus can promptly execute the print processing using the print data corresponding to the print instruction. |
| US08081321B2 |
Scanning unit of an optical position measuring arrangement and position measuring arrangement having this scanning unit
A scanning unit, by which a scale, which is movable in relation to the scanning unit in a measuring direction, can be optically scanned. The scanning unit including a detector arrangement and a transparent support having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the detector arrangement is arranged on the second surface. The scanning unit further including a transparent cover plate, which is fastened on the first surface of the transparent support and includes a shielding device for shielding the detector arrangement against electromagnetic fields. |
| US08081319B2 |
Adjustable two dimensional lamellar grating
An adjustable two-dimensional lamellar grating system including a lamellar grating and a movable mirror disposed substantially parallel to one another, and an interferometer using the adjustable lamellar grating system. In one example, the lamellar grating includes a dielectric wafer having a dielectric wafer having a plurality of periodically spaced recesses formed therein, wherein the dielectric wafer has higher reflectivity at its surface facing the movable mirror than at a second opposing surface. In one example, the system also includes a mechanism for moving the mirror relative to the dielectric wafer. |
| US08081313B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring gas concentration in a fluid
A monitor for monitoring gas concentration in an aerospace application is described, one such application being measuring the concentration of oxygen in or next to aviation fuel. The monitor comprises: a substance, the spectroscopic properties of which change when the substance is exposed to the gas; a light source, arranged to irradiate the substance with light; and a photosensor, arranged to detect light from the substance. The substance may be mounted on a solid substrate. |
| US08081303B2 |
Method and apparatus for analyzing individual cells or particulates using fluorescent quenching and/or bleaching
A method for analyzing a blood sample is provided that includes the steps of: a) providing a blood sample having one or more first constituents and one or more second constituents, which second constituents are different from the first constituents; b) depositing the sample into an analysis chamber adapted to quiescently hold the sample for analysis, the chamber defined by a first panel and a second panel, both of which panels are transparent; c) admixing a colorant with the sample, which colorant is operative to cause the first constituents and second constituents to fluoresce upon exposure to predetermined first wavelengths of light, and which colorant is operative to absorb light at one or more predetermined second wavelengths of light; d) illuminating at least a portion of the sample containing the first constituents and the second constituents at the first wavelengths and at the second wavelengths; e) imaging the at least a portion of the sample, including producing image signals indicative of fluorescent emissions from the first constituents and the second constituents and the optical density of the first constituents and the second constituents; f) determining a fluorescence value for each the first constituents and second constituents using the image signals; g) determining an optical density value for each of the first constituents and second constituents, which optical density is a function of the colorant absorbed by the constituents, using the image signals; and h) identifying the first constituents and the second constituents using the determined fluorescence and optical density values. |
| US08081300B2 |
Apparatus and method for laser ranging
The present invention relates to a method for laser ranging with high precision and high efficient, a method for identifying distance mode automatically during laser ranging process, and a laser ranger with high precision, high efficient and low power waste. The accuracy of ranging is increased through multi classes of receiving process; the accuracy of ranging is further increased through the selection of distance mode and the adjustment of receiving sensitivity before the measuring steps are executed; the accuracy of ranging is further increased through executing jitter judgment on obtained distance measured values to discard the distance measured values that do not satisfy the setting conditions and judge whether the number of remaining distance measured values satisfies the setting quantity requirement; and the present invention is also of simple structure, high measurement efficiency, and low power waste. |
| US08081299B2 |
Distance measuring apparatus
A distance measuring apparatus according to an aspect of the invention may include: a light source irradiating reference light to measure a distance; a lower reflective mirror reflecting the reference light to irradiate the reference light onto a peripheral obstacle, and reflecting reflected light, rebounded from an obstacle, so that the reflected light moves in an opposite direction along the same optical path as the reference light; a sensor lens arranged above the lower reflective mirror, converting the reference light into parallel light beams and focusing the reflected light; an upper reflective mirror arranged above the sensor lens and switching an optical path of the reflected light; and an optical sensor receiving the reflected light having the optical path thereof switched by the upper reflective mirror, wherein the upper reflective mirror reflects back the reflected light, focused after passing through the sensor lens, in an opposite direction to a moving direction thereof so that a focus of the reflected light is formed between the lower reflective mirror and the upper reflective mirror. |
| US08081297B2 |
Laser tracker having a camera with a constant magnification
A laser based coordinate measuring device measures a position of a remote target using a camera having an adjustable magnification set based on the distance from the coordinate measuring device to the remote target. The laser based coordinate measuring device includes a structure rotatable about two axes. The device includes a distance meter, a position detector for use in tracking the remote target, and two angular encoders for measuring the angles about the two axes. |
| US08081294B2 |
Method of evaluating optical beam source of exposure device, method of designing illumination shape of exposure device, and software for optimizing illumination shape of exposure device
A method of evaluating an exposure optical beam source of an exposure device used in an exposure process in manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed, in which the method includes dividing an exposure optical beam source into a plurality of unit optical beam sources in a unit size determined by an exposure device, acquiring a difference between an evaluation amount of a target pattern on a semiconductor substrate when a unit optical beam source is turned on and an evaluation amount of the target pattern on the semiconductor substrate when the unit optical beam source is turned off, and evaluating the exposure optical beam source by using the acquired difference as an index. |
| US08081288B2 |
Method of making a liquid crystal display device having a heat dissipation pattern
Disclosed are a liquid crystal display device 10 and a method of making such liquid crystal display device that improves display quality by providing heat dissipation pattern 4 for effectively dissipating heat generated by the driver ICs 2. The heat dissipation pattern 4 is formed on a glass substrate of a liquid crystal panel 1 along one side thereof so as to minimize non-uniform thermal distribution on the liquid crystal panel 1 at locations adjacent to and distant from the driver ICs 2. |
| US08081287B2 |
Liquid crystal display with carbon nanotube heating element
A liquid crystal display with at least one heating element located on at least one of a first substrate and a second substrate comprising at least one carbon nanotube structure. |
| US08081286B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having first column spacer corresponds to a TFT and a second column spacer corresponds to a storage capacitor
A liquid crystal display panel includes a color filter array substrate having a first column spacer and a second column spacer, the first column spacer being partially inserted in a first hole, and a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate facing the color filter array substrate having a protective passivation film. |
| US08081281B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes: a protective film; a polarizing plate; a liquid crystal cell for display; and a backlight, in this order, wherein the protective film is an antiglare optical film including a transparent substrate and at least one antiglare layer and having a concavo-convex shape on a surface of the antiglare optical film, and an integrated frequency value of tilted plane components having tilt angles between a normal line of the transparent substrate and a normal line of the concavo-convex shape on a surface of the antiglare optical film ranging from 0.05 to 0.25° is from 10 to 25% while an integrated frequency value of tilted plane components having the tilt angles ranging from 1.5 to 2.5° is from 10 to 25%. |
| US08081279B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device including a first substrate where pixel areas are defined, a second substrate facing the first substrate, liquid crystals aligned between the first and second substrates, and spacers that maintain a gap between the first and second substrates. The pixel areas are divided into a plurality of domains along the alignment direction of the liquid crystals by way of domain dividers. Optical characteristics are compensated in different domains, so that the viewing angle of the liquid crystal display device is increased. The display quality of the liquid crystal display device is improved by adjusting the shape and position of the domain dividers and the spacers. |
| US08081277B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel, liquid crystal display device, and method of manufacturing liquid crystal display panel
A liquid crystal display panel includes a first base, a second base, and a sealing member. The first base has a display-area portion including a transparent substrate, a light shielding film formed on a surface of the transparent substrate and having a through hole, a light reflecting film formed on the light shielding film, a color filter formed at least in the through hole of the light shielding film, and a transparent electrode formed on the surface of the transparent substrate. The second base includes a transparent substrate, and a transparent electrode formed on the surface of the transparent substrate. The sealing member is a member for sealing liquid crystal between the first base and the second base. |
| US08081273B2 |
Liquid crystal display
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a method of manufacturing the same. In the present invention, a wire grid polarizing pattern is formed on at least one of thin film transistor and color filter substrates in a manufacturing process thereof. According to the present invention, the thickness of an LCD panel can be reduced as compared with a method of attaching an existing polarizer to an LCD panel, and the wire grid polarizing pattern can be built in an LCD panel without increasing the number of masking processes. |
| US08081270B2 |
Backlight module and liquid crystal display incorporating the same
The present invention relates generally to backlight modules for display devices and liquid crystal displays incorporating the same, and more particularly, to a backlight module for generating light with a single polarization state. The present invention provides a backlight module, comprising an optical cavity for reflecting and depolarizing light that is incident upon a front surface of said optical cavity and a multilayer polarizer comprising a plurality of layers. Said multilayer polarizer faces the front surface of the optical cavity and the layers are arranged in such a way that a light of polarization substantially parallel to the transmission axis of said multilayer polarizer is substantially transmitted and the light of substantially orthogonal polarization is substantially reflected by said multilayer polarizer in at least one predetermined wavelength subrange of the visible wavelength range. At least one of said layers comprises rod-like supramolecules forming at least partially a three-dimensional structure in the layer. The present invention also provides a liquid crystal display, comprising a liquid crystal cell, a front polarizer, and a backlight module according to the first aspect of the present invention. The multilayer polarizer of the backlight module faces the back panel and serves as a back polarizer of the liquid crystal display. |
| US08081267B2 |
Display enclosure
A low profile display enclosure system for enclosing a display device for viewing that protects the display device from environmental effects and is configured to dissipate heat generated within the display enclosure. The substantially sealed display enclosure comprises a rigid bezel, a substantially transparent front cover coupled to the bezel, and a rear cover assembly that includes a heat sink portion. The thickness of the bezel is minimized to provide the enclosure with a low profile about the periphery of the display device enclosed therein. Thermal control devices may be mounted within the enclosure to modulate a temperature within the enclosure. |
| US08081266B2 |
Thin film transistor device, liquid crystal display device using the same, and method of fabricating the same
A liquid crystal display device includes a data line, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a pixel electrode disposed on a lower substrate, an island-shaped semiconductor layer overlapping the source and drain electrodes, a gate insulating layer along an entire surface of the lower substrate including the semiconductor layer, a gate line and a gate electrode on the gate insulating layer, a passivation layer along an entire surface of the lower substrate including the gate line, an upper substrate facing the lower substrate, and a liquid crystal layer between the lower and upper substrates. |
| US08081262B1 |
Safety sun glasses with high intensity light protection
A pair of safety sunglass, particularly for use when arc welding, includes auto darkening lenses having suitable characteristics for providing high intensity light protection during welding procedures. The sunglasses have a tight fitting frame conforming to an individual's face curvature. When an arc is struck, or another high intensity light source is present, the lenses instantly and automatically darken to protect the individual's eyes from damage. Each lens includes a plurality of layers for prohibiting the high intensity direct light rays from passing therethrough. A feature and benefit of such eyewear is that welding operations may be performed in confined spaces where a conventional welding face shield can not fit. When the welding is completed, the eyeglasses would quickly return to their sun tinted state allowing them to be used as a conventional pair of sunglasses. |
| US08081258B2 |
Extraction of data from a television signal using an adaptable slicing level
From a television signal data such as teletext or closed caption data is extracted by slicing. A binary data signal is formed dependent on whether the television signal level is above or below a slicing level (S). The slicing level (S) is selected by defining a reconstructed data signal (D) with signal values equal to plus and minus an amplitude value relative to a middle level and transitions between these signal values at time points where the television signal crosses the slicing level. An auxiliary signal (R) is formed that contains the television signal (Vi) from which the reconstructed data signal (D) has been subtracted. A feedback loop is provided that adapts the amplitude value (A) to regulate a residual data signal amplitude in the auxiliary signal (R) to zero. |
| US08081253B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus equipped with same
A zoom lens has a negative object side lens unit (or first lens unit G1), a positive image side lens unit (or third lens unit G3), a positive intermediate lens unit (or second lens unit G2), and an aperture stop. The distance between the object side lens unit and the intermediate lens unit is smaller at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end, the distance between the intermediate lens unit and the image side lens unit is larger at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end, the intermediate lens unit moves in such a way that it is located closer to the object side at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end, the image side lens unit moves in such a way that it is located closer to the image side at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end, the aperture stop moves integrally with the intermediate lens unit. The image side lens unit is composed of two lens component including a front lens component and a positive rear lens component arranged in the mentioned order from the object side. The absolute value of the paraxial radius of curvature of the image side lens surface of the front lens component is smaller than the absolute value of the paraxial radius of curvature of the object side surface of the rear lens component. |
| US08081252B2 |
Image displaying apparatus
The image displaying apparatus of the present invention provides a first display mode in which a first display region for one screen image is formed in a display screen, with the short side direction of the display screen aligned with the vertical direction; and a second display mode in which a first display region and a second display region for two screen images are formed in the display screen, with the long side direction of the display screen aligned with the vertical direction, and the first display region and the second display region formed such that they are arranged up and down. According to this configuration, when images are displayed in a double screen, each image can be displayed as large as possible. |
| US08081250B2 |
Image pickup apparatus having a correction unit for correction of noise components generated by clamping circuits
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric converting element; a plurality of capacitor which receive signals from the plurality of pixels at first terminals; a plurality of clamping switches for setting a second terminal of each of the plurality of capacitor into a predetermined electric potential; a plurality of first storing units for storing signals from the second terminals of the plurality of capacitor; a plurality of second storing units for storing the signals from the second terminals of the plurality of capacitor; a first common output line to which the signals from the plurality of first storing units are sequentially output; a second common output line to which the signals from the plurality of second storing units are sequentially output; and a difference circuit for operating a difference between the signal from the first common output line and the signal from the second common output line. |
| US08081249B2 |
Image sensor with a gated storage node linked to transfer gate
A CMOS imaging system with increased charge storage of pixels yet decreased physical size, kTC noise and active area. A storage node is connected to the transfer gate and provides a storage node for a pixel, allowing for kTC noise reduction prior to readout. The pixel may be operated with the shutter gate on during the integration period to increase the amount of time for charge storage by a pixel. |
| US08081248B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device and camera system
A solid-state image pickup device includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, and a pixel signal read-out circuit for reading out a pixel signal from the pixel array in units of a plurality of pixels. The pixel signal read-out circuit includes a plurality of comparators and a plurality of counters. The comparators are disposed to correspond to a column of the pixels, and compare a read-out signal potential and a reference voltage to generate a determination signal and output the determination signal. The counters are controlled by outputs of the comparators. Each of the counters is configured to count a comparison time of a corresponding comparator of the comparators. The counters have a different operation period for each one or a plurality of columns. |
| US08081247B2 |
Partial row readout for image sensor
An image sensor includes a color filter array, sense amplifiers, multiplexing circuitry, and an output. The color filter array acquires image data using an array of M columns and N rows of pixels. The sense amplifiers are coupled to the color filter array for reading out image data from the color filter array. The multiplexing circuitry couples the sense amplifiers to the color filter array, wherein each sense amplifier is time shared across multiple columns and multiple rows. The output is coupled to receive the image data from the sense amplifiers and output the image data off-chip. |
| US08081246B2 |
Drive circuit of solid-state image pickup device and method thereof utilizing a pulse generated based on a polynomial arithmetic operation
There is provided a drive circuit of a solid-state image pickup device capable of generating a pulse for vertical scanning, an interval of which changes non-linearly, and of generating a pulse other than the pulse for vertical scanning, without increasing a circuit size and a communication time for setting an electronic shutter. There also is provided a drive circuit of a solid-state image pickup device including a polynomial arithmetic operation unit for carrying out an arithmetic operation of a polynomial of a first or higher order; an arithmetic operation controller for generating a variable of the polynomial to control an arithmetic operation in the polynomial arithmetic operation unit; and a pulse generator for generating a pulse based on a result of an arithmetic operation in the polynomial arithmetic operation unit. |
| US08081243B2 |
Correlated double sampling circuit and CMOS image sensor unit
Embodiments of the present invention provide a correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit and a CMOS image sensor unit using the CDS circuit. The CDS circuit shifts levels of sampled sensing signal and reset signal with equal amounts. Thus a voltage difference of the sampled sensing signal and the reset signal remains unchanged, and their levels may fall within a linear input range by adjusting their levels. Compared to a conventional CDS circuit, a gain of the CDS circuit provided by the embodiment of the present invention is not reduced, and thus a design complexity of a rear circuit thereof is lower, and an induced noise is relatively low. Furthermore, the CMOS image sensor unit using the CDS circuit provided by the embodiment also has these advantages. |
| US08081229B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes: an image sensor having a plurality of pixels arranged in an array that captures an image of a subject and outputs pixel signals; a calculation unit that calculates a correction value for correcting an error of the pixel signals read out from the image sensor for each column of the array of the pixels; and a correction unit that corrects the image signals using the correction value calculated by the calculation unit. In a live view mode, the calculation unit calculates a new correction value by averaging the calculated correction value and a correction value for a previous frame. |
| US08081228B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing image data
An apparatus and method for processing image data are provided. Using the method of the present invention, image data output from an image sensor can be rapidly processes and the necessary amount of buffer memory can be reduced. To this end, first image data of one frame is processed and converted into second image data in an image sensor part. The converted second image data is stored in a plural buffer memory having a plurality of storage areas. The second image data is sequentially read from the plural buffer memory, and then encoded. |
| US08081225B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method, recording medium, and program
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method enabling to correct for camera shake given in image capturing, a recording medium, and a program. Discrete data pieces indicating shifts are obtained. The discrete data pieces are interpolated to obtain data indicating a shift every line. By the interpolation, a correction is calculated every line on the basis of the corresponding shift. On the basis of the corrections, pixel data read positions are determined. Pixel data is read based on the determined read positions. When a pixel to be read overlaps two pixels, pixel data of the pixel to be read is produced (interpolated) from pixel data pieces. In this manner, the effects of camera shake are corrected. The present invention is applicable to video cameras. |
| US08081222B2 |
Pressing mechanism for an image shake suppressing optical device
A pressing mechanism is adapted for use in an image shake suppressing optical device that includes a driving unit and an image capturing unit. The pressing mechanism is adapted to be disposed between the driving unit and the image capturing unit, and includes an arm body and a press head unit. The arm body has a driven end that is adapted to be connected to the driving unit, and a connecting end that is opposite to the driven end. The press head unit is adapted to be disposed between the connecting end of the arm body and the image capturing unit, and is adapted for providing a resilient pressing force on the image capturing unit when the driven end of the arm body is driven by the driving unit to move the connecting end in a pressing direction. |
| US08081221B2 |
Digital image processing method for correcting shaking blur
A digital image processing method for correcting a shaking blur corrects a blurred image caused by a shake when a user shoots an image with a digital camera, which includes the following steps obtaining a safe shutter time of the digital camera; performing an exposure adjustment procedure, for adjusting an aperture and a ISO speed of the digital camera respectively, and obtaining a shutter time of the digital camera after being adjusted; performing a shooting procedure; shooting a plurality of digital images, if the shutter time of the digital camera is greater than the safe shutter time; and then performing an image compensation procedure according to the digital images, to align the same image object in the digital images and then to overlay each pixel of the digital images one by one, thereby outputting an output image. |
| US08081218B2 |
Communication apparatus and method for providing a service to a desired communication device
A communication apparatus includes a notification unit configured to notify another communication apparatus on a network of the start of a service, a reception unit configured to receive a service join request in response to the notification, a determination unit configured to determine whether to provide the service to the communication apparatus that has transmitted the join request, a transmission unit configured to transmit a service rejection message to a communication apparatus that is determined by the determination unit as a service rejection target, and a re-notification unit configured to re-notify another communication apparatus on the network of the start of the service on the basis of the determination result of the determination unit. |
| US08081207B2 |
High accuracy stereo camera
A camera system has a chassis carrying one or more cameras. Each camera has support member mounted to the chassis and an imaging chip mounted to the support member. An optical system for imaging onto the imaging chip may also be mounted to the chassis. The chassis and support members may have coefficients of thermal expansion that are substantially matched. In some embodiments the support members are located between the imaging chips and one or more circuit boards to which the imaging chips are electrically connected. In some embodiments the imaging chips are located over apertures or other channels through the chassis and light is incident on the imaging chips by way of the channels. The relative locations of the imaging chips can be maintained constant to preserve calibration for stereo imaging. |
| US08081203B2 |
Light-amount detecting device, light source device, optical scanning unit and image forming apparatus
A light-amount detecting device includes: a light source which emits a light beam; a branching optical element which divides the light beam emitted from the light source into a first light beam traveling in a predetermined direction and a second light beam traveling in a direction different to the predetermined direction; a light-condensing element which condenses the second light beam; a light-receiving element having a light-receiving surface which receives the second light beam condensed by the light-condensing element; and a detector which detects a light-amount of the second light beam received by the light-receiving element, and at least one of a direction of reflected light of the second light beam reflected from the light-receiving surface of the light-receiving element and spread of the reflected light of the second light beam reflected from the light-receiving surface of the light-receiving element is adjusted to control a light-amount of the reflected light of the second light beam returning to the light source. |
| US08081202B2 |
Image forming apparatus and apparatus for correcting difference in oscillation speed among oscillating devices
An image forming apparatus includes a device-information storage unit configured to store a scanning frequency of an oscillating device; an image storage unit configured to store image data used for image formation; an image processing unit configured to perform an enlargement or reduction, in a direction orthogonal to a direction of the scanning of the laser beam and in accordance with a given parameter, on the image data stored in the image storage unit; a setting unit configured to calculate the parameter from the scanning frequency stored in the device-information storage unit and a predetermined reference frequency and configured to provide the parameter to the image processing unit; and a driving unit configured to drive a laser beam device according to the image data processed by the image processing unit. |
| US08081200B2 |
Laser exposure device, cleaning tool, and image forming apparatus
Emission windows are prevented from being contaminated and are cleaned easily. The emission windows for emitting light beams are disposed on a housing of a laser exposure device having optical elements arranged inside for exposing a photoreceptor, and the upper surface of the housing is provided with a slidable shutter with openings. An image forming apparatus includes guide rails independent of the laser exposure device to movably guide predetermined cleaning brushes in the longitudinal direction of the emission windows. When the cleaning brushes are mounted on the guide rails and moved toward the inner side of the apparatus, the cleaning brushes touch a slant portion of a rib and the shutter is moved to the right to align the openings with the emission windows. While the cleaning brushes touch a longitudinally extending portion, the emission windows are exposed to enable the cleaning of the exposed window using the cleaning tool. |
| US08081199B2 |
Light emitting element drive apparatus, planar illumination apparatus, and liquid crystal display apparatus
A light emitting element drive apparatus that drives light emitting elements reduces power loss caused by variability between forward voltage drops of the light emitting elements. A plurality of voltage applying sections (1, 32 and 33; and 2, 34 and 35) generate application voltages based on a detection voltage determined based on a maximum forward voltage drop among the forward voltage drops of the light emitting element arrays (11 to 14), and apply the generated application voltages to the light emitting elements (11 to 14). Switching sections (30 and 31) switch between a plurality of voltage applying sections (1, 32 and 33; and 2, 34 and 35) to which the light emitting element arrays (11 to 14) individually connect. Controlling sections (40 to 42) control the switching sections (30 and 31) to switch connection to minimize the difference between forward voltage drops of light emitting element arrays (11 to 14). |
| US08081197B1 |
System and method for angular image selection
Various embodiments of a system and method for angular image selection are described. Embodiments may include a graphics application that may receive input indicating a first displacement of a control from a first location of an image to a second location of the image. The angle of the first displacement may be non-zero with respect to horizontal and vertical axes of the display. The graphics application may receive input indicating a second displacement (perpendicular to the first displacement) of the control from the second location to a third location of the image. The graphics application may generate a rectangular selection area on the image such that two sides of the rectangular selection area are parallel to the first displacement and two other sides of the rectangular selection area are parallel to the second displacement. The graphics application may perform an image editing function on the selected portion of the image. |
| US08081194B2 |
Method for enhancing colour resolution and device exploiting the method
The invention relates to a method for enhancing color resolution and particularly for obtaining bit resolution in a display using a bits per pixel system frame buffer. The invention uses logic to create intermediate pixel values between bpp color values. The invention proposes to store the image in the system frame buffer always with a fixed number of bits and using Error Diffusion Dither. Then a postprocessing filter is provided to provide the enhanced color resolution using a greater number of bits per pixel as accepted by the display means. The invention also relates to a device exploiting the method. |
| US08081192B2 |
Centralised interactive graphical application server
A centralised game server in a bank (50) of game servers runs a game program for use by a user at a remote terminal (52, 56, 58). In the game server, the game program sends a first set of graphics instructions to a first graphics processing unit (76) which is intercepted by an instruction interception module (74). The first set of instructions, including vertex data, transformation data and texture data are passed to the first graphics processing unit (76) while a specially manipulated version of the instructions is generated and passed to a second graphics processing unit (78). The first graphics processing unit (76) renders the image data as the game intended while the second graphics processing unit (78) is used to render specially adapted graphics data from which to extract compression assistance data used for compression, e.g. motion vectors. In alternative embodiments, a first set of instructions include a program for a programmable pipeline module, such as a vertex shader or a pixel shader, and the second set of instructions include a modified program for the programmable pipeline module. |
| US08081190B2 |
System and method for optimizing a graphics intensive software program for the user's graphics hardware
A system and method for optimizing the performance of a graphics intensive software program for graphics acceleration hardware. This system and method encompasses a procedure that validates the different functions of a 3D acceleration capable video card, decides whether to use the acceleration hardware and optimizes the software application to selectively use the functions that work on the specific video acceleration card. Functions checked include sub-pixel positioning, opacity, color replacement and fog. If these tests are successful, then the graphics acceleration is used by the software application. However, if the tests are not successful the decision is made not to use graphics accelerator. Those with ordinary skill in the art will realize that it is not necessary to perform all of the tests in a specific order. Additionally, other types of tests could be performed to ensure software application and video card compatibility before the software application is uses graphics acceleration to render 3D graphics. |
| US08081189B2 |
Storage medium having stored thereon display control program and display control apparatus
In accordance with a size of a drawing area and a character size, the number of characters arrangeable in the drawing area is calculated. Based on the calculated number of characters, whether a character string in the obtained character size is arranged in the drawing area or the character string in a character size different from the obtained character size is arranged in the drawing area is selected, and the character string is arranged in the drawing area by using the determined character size. The arranged character string is displayed on the display apparatus. |
| US08081188B2 |
Image delivering apparatus and image delivery method
A determining unit determines a vector conversion method for a character image based on the character image and model information of a terminal device that receives the character image. A processing unit performs a vector conversion on the character image by the vector conversion method determined by the determining unit. |
| US08081187B2 |
Pencil strokes for vector based drawing elements
Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for generating displays of vector drawing elements that have the appearance of being hand drawn using traditional media materials, such as a pencil. Multiple pencil strokes to be rendered on top of each other and the structure of the simulated paper surface remains constant, generating a realistic appearance for multiple rendered pencil strokes. A variety of physical characteristics of pencils and paper surfaces may be specified, and a convincing appearance may be achieved by modeling these parameters in software, and speed may be realized by rendering the pencil effect using a shader program executed on graphics hardware. |
| US08081184B1 |
Pixel shader program thread assembly
Systems and methods for assembling pixel shader program threads for execution based on resource limitations of a multithreaded processor may improve processing throughput. Pixels to be processed by the pixel shader program are assembled into a launch group for processing by the multithreaded processor as multiple shader program threads. The pixels are assembled based on parameter storage resource limitations of the multithreaded processor so that common parameters shared by multiple pixels are not stored separately for each pixel. Therefore, the limited parameter storage resources are efficiently used, allowing more shader program threads to execute simultaneously. |
| US08081179B2 |
Method to display gray shades in RMS responding matrix display
A method to display gray shades in RMS responding display matrix, includes: selecting each row of the display matrix with a set of “s” discrete select voltages in a sequence or random and applying a set of discrete data voltages to a column of the display matrix wherein the data voltages are of both polarities and energy of the select and data waveforms that are applied to rows and columns are constants during the “s” time intervals for all the rows and columns to display gray shades in RMS responding display matrix. |
| US08081177B2 |
Chiplet display with optical control
A display device having a display substrate defining an optical waveguide for transporting light carrying pixel information; a chiplet disposed over the display substrate, having a chiplet substrate separate from the display substrate, a photosensor responsive to light from the optical waveguide at the selected control wavelength for providing the pixel information, a selection circuit responsive to the pixel information for providing a control signal, and a drive circuit responsive to the control signal, wherein the chiplet is adapted to receive the transported light; an optical transmitter for transmitting the pixel information from the controller as light at the selected control wavelength into the optical waveguide, and a display optical element located in or over the display area responsive to the drive circuit for providing light. |
| US08081172B2 |
Pen unit and electronic apparatus
A retention member holds a tip of a pen received in an inner space of a unit body through an opening. A narrowed path member is placed within the inner space at a position between a large-diameter member of the pen and the opening, when the retention member holds the pen. The large-diameter member expands outward from the outer peripheral surface of the pen by a predetermined amount. The narrowed path member contacts the large-diameter member when the pen is released from the retention member, and creates enough interference to prevent the pen from falling out of the unit body, but otherwise allows the pen to be drawn out of the opening. |
| US08081171B2 |
Digital pen and a method of storing digital records of the use made of the digital pen
A digital pen of the kind having means to sense and create a digital record of the use made of the pen and a memory in which the digitised record is stored also includes a reader for communication with memory tags by inductive coupling. The means to sense and create a digital record of the use made of the pen may include a camera. Preferably the reader for communication with memory tags is located at the opposite end of the pen from a nib for convention writing, and the pen includes a battery power supply. |
| US08081162B2 |
Optical navigation device with surface and free space navigation
An optical navigation device for operation in a surface navigation mode and a free space navigation mode is described. One embodiment of the optical navigation device includes a microcontroller, a surface navigation sensor, and a free space navigation sensor. The surface and free space navigation sensors are coupled to the microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured to process a movement of the optical navigation device. The surface navigation sensor is configured to generate a surface navigation signal in response to a surface navigation image. The free space navigation sensor is configured to generate a free space navigation signal in response to a free space navigation image. Embodiments of the optical navigation device facilitate an integrated optical solution to provide desktop navigation and scene navigation in a single optical navigation device. |
| US08081160B2 |
Separable and shape-changeable mouse
A separable and shape-changeable mouse includes a first housing, a second housing, a first connecting member and a second connecting member. The first housing includes a cursor signal generation unit, a first slant and a first connecting member. The second housing includes a receptacle for accommodating a battery therein, a second slant and a second connecting member. The first housing is combined with the second housing when the first connecting member is coupled with the second connecting member. By rotating the second housing with respect to the first housing, the shape of the mouse is changeable. |
| US08081157B2 |
Apparatus and method of scrolling screen in portable device and recording medium storing program for performing the method
A screen scroll apparatus of a portable device includes: a sensor unit which senses and outputs 2-dimensional coordinate values of at least one position related to the portable device; a display unit; a memory storing contents with a resolution higher than that of the screen that can be displayed; and a control unit which scrolls the screen based on the 2-dimensional coordinate values if the 2-dimensional coordinate values change when contents are read from the memory and provided to the display unit. A screen scroll method includes: if a resolution of contents displayed on the portable device is higher than a resolution of a screen that can be displayed, monitoring 2-dimensional coordinate values of at least one position related to the portable device output from the sensor unit; and if the 2-dimensional coordinate values change, scrolling a screen displayed on the portable device based on the 2-dimensional coordinate values. |
| US08081153B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and video display device
Disclosed herein is a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device includes: a first substrate; a second substrate; a liquid crystal layer; a first electrode part; and a second electrode part. The first electrode part includes a pixel electrode formed in the pixel area and a peripheral electrode formed in the peripheral area. The second electrode part includes a pixel electrode part formed in the pixel area and a peripheral electrode formed in the peripheral area. The peripheral electrode of at least one of the first electrode part and the second electrode part is formed by a plurality of electrodes adjacent to each other. Voltage values of driving voltages applied to the respective electrodes adjacent to each other of the peripheral electrode are different from each other. |
| US08081150B2 |
Output buffer of a source driver in a liquid crystal display having a high slew rate and a method of controlling the output buffer
Provided is an output buffer for a source driver of an LCD with a high slew rate, and a method of controlling the output buffer. The output buffer, which outputs a source line driving signal for driving a source line of the LCD, includes: an amplifier section amplifying an analog image signal; an output section outputting the source line driving signal in response to a signal amplified by the amplifier section; and a slew rate controller section, setting a capacitance of a capacitor section to a first capacitance, during a first charge sharing period in which the source line is precharged to a first precharge voltage, setting the capacitance of the capacitor section to a second capacitance smaller than the first capacitance during a second charge sharing period in which the source line driving signal is supplied to the source line, and setting the capacitance of the capacitor section to the first capacitance while the source line driving signal is maintained after the second charge sharing period. |
| US08081147B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device having optical sensors, for sensing a touch, embedded in a liquid crystal panel to improve touch sensitivity is disclosed. The liquid crystal display device includes pixel regions spaced from each other on a first substrate, gate lines formed to separate the pixel regions in a first direction, driving voltage lines parallel to the gate lines, data lines formed between the pixel regions in a second direction intersecting the first direction, storage lines parallel to the driving voltage lines, read-out lines separated from neighboring data lines by one pixel region in the second direction, display transistors formed at intersections of the gate and data lines, pixel electrodes formed in the pixel regions, output switching transistors formed between the gate and read-out lines, capacitors formed between the output switching transistors and storage lines, and photo sensing transistors formed on the output switching transistors and storage lines. |
| US08081146B2 |
Multifunctional driver controllers
The present invention discloses a multifunctional driver controller capable to drive one or more voltage-controlled devices or current-controlled devices. According to one embodiment, the multifunctional driver controller comprises a selection unit receiving a control signal, one of a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage, the selection unit selecting either one of the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage per the control signal, and a control circuit receiving a reference voltage from the selection unit and a feedback signal from a load being driven by a controlled analog signal from the control circuit, wherein the controlled analog signal is either a controlled voltage signal or a controlled current signal, the control circuit compares the reference voltage with the feedback signal and adjusts the controlled analog signal in reference to a difference between the reference voltage and the feedback signal until the feedback signal converges to the reference voltage. |
| US08081144B2 |
Plasma display panel drive method and plasma display device
A plasma display panel is driven by providing a plurality of subfields within one field period, the subfield having an initializing period in which the initializing discharge is generated in a discharge cell by applying a ramp-waveform voltage that is gradually descending to a scan electrode, an address period in which an address discharge is generated in the discharge cell by applying a scan pulse voltage to the scan electrode, and a sustain period in which sustain discharges by the number of times corresponding to the luminance weight are generated in the selected discharge cell. The lowest voltage is set of the descending ramp-waveform voltage in the subfield where the luminance weight is the smallest lower than the same voltage in the subfield where the luminance weight is the largest, and a voltage is kept for a prescribed period after the descending ramp-waveform voltage reaches the lowest voltage in the subfield where the luminance weight is the smallest. |
| US08081142B2 |
Memory circuit for display panel driving and driving method thereof
Provided is a circuit driving method which can minimize a problem generated by a peak current in a display memory device. Data to be transferred to a display panel is read out from a memory cell array storing binary information. The read-out data are stored in source data buffers and a plurality of source data buffers are divided into several groups and then enabled. An enable signal for each group is derived from a single enable signal and has a different delay time. In the source data buffers delayed by each group and enabled, consumption of current is distributed so that a peak current flowing in the overall source data buffer is lowered. Thus, reliability in the operation of a circuit is improved and the operation speed increases. |
| US08081138B2 |
Antenna structure with antenna radome and method for rising gain thereof
An antenna structure includes a radiating element and an antenna radome. The antenna radome has at least one dielectric layer, which has an upper surface having many S-shaped metal patterns and a lower surface having many inverse S-shaped metal patterns corresponding to the S-shaped metal patterns. The S-shaped metal patterns are respectively coupled to the corresponding inverse S-shaped metal patterns to converge radiating beams outputted from the radiating element. |
| US08081137B2 |
Air-supported sandwich radome
An air-supported sandwich radome with a hemispherical top region and a prolate region has a high strength, RF transmissive, low dielectric flexible wall. There is a defined region where damaging RF radiation is reflected. At least in the defined region, a flexible high strength, RF transmissive low dielectric layer is added and there is a low dielectric gap between the wall and the layer providing a 180° phase delay between RF energy reflected off the wall and RF energy reflected off the layer to cancel the effect of said reflected RF energy on radar equipment housed by the radome. |
| US08081135B2 |
Antenna arrays with dual circular polarization
The invention consists of an antenna array, for the reception of two frequency bands, comprising two pairs of radiating elements and an network for excitation of these elements for the reception of one of the bands. The radiating elements are positioned so as to free the center of the array to allow colocalized reception of the other band. The excitation network comprises hybrid elements so as to introduce a certain phase shift between the radiating elements allowing a dual circular polarization. This network must comply with two constraints: The phase shift introduced between the hybrids must be equal to the phase shift of the hybrid modulo 2 integer. and the length of the line L1 placed between the first hybrid H1 and the first patch PA1 is such that it introduces a phase shift equal to π modulo 2 integer. |
| US08081133B2 |
Satellite antenna with holder assembly for holding LNBF
A satellite antenna includes an antenna dish, a connecting arm, a pole, at least one clamp and a cover bracket. The antenna dish may include a front surface and a rear surface. The connecting arm has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled with the rear surface of the antenna dish. The pole may extend transversely with respect to the connecting arm and may include a channel extending from one end to the other end of the pole. The at least one clamp may each include a base with an opening that allows the pole to pass through. The cover bracket may include a front cover to seal the second end of the connecting arm, and a first cover integral with the front cover that includes a first side and a second side. The first cover may support the pole over the connecting arm on the first side and engage with the connecting arm with the second side. |
| US08081125B2 |
Antenna and radio IC device
An antenna includes a feeder terminal and a resonance circuit. The resonance circuit is defined by a capacitance element and an inductance element and includes first and second radiation plates. The capacitance element is electromagnetically coupled to the first radiation plate, and the inductance element is electromagnetically coupled to the second radiation plate. A radio IC device includes an electromagnetic coupling module including a feeder circuit substrate on which a radio IC chip is mounted, and radiation plates. The feeder circuit substrate includes an inductance element and a capacitance element. One of the radiation plates faces and is magnetically coupled to the inductance element. The other radiation plate faces and is electrically coupled to the capacitance element. The radio IC chip is operated by signals received by the radiation plates, and a response signal from the radio IC chip is radiated from the radiation plates. |
| US08081122B2 |
Folded slotted monopole antenna
A slotted monopole wideband antenna, comprising an insulating rectangular chip mounted on a carrier substrate, said carrier substrate including a feeding structure, and said chip comprising a first side adjacent to said feeding structure, a feed point of the antenna is located near said first side. An electrically conducting lamina is folded over four faces of said insulating chip, said lamina being connected to the feed point at one end, and to ground at another end. At least two slots are formed in an upper section of said folded lamina, said slots having the effect of lowering the principal resonance of said antenna, thereby providing a miniaturized antenna suitable for integration in a mobile wireless communications handset. |
| US08081121B2 |
Article having electromagnetic coupling module attached thereto
An article having an electromagnetic coupling module attached thereto includes an electromagnetic coupling module and a PET bottle having the electromagnetic coupling module bonded thereto. The electromagnetic coupling module includes a wireless IC chip arranged to process transmission and reception signals and the feed circuit board having the wireless IC chip mounted thereon. The feed circuit board includes a feed circuit including a resonant circuit having a predetermined resonant frequency. The feed circuit performs characteristic impedance matching between the PET bottle and the wireless IC chip. The PET bottle functions as a radiator arranged to radiate a transmission signal supplied from the feed circuit using electromagnetic field coupling and to supply a received reception signal to the feed circuit using electromagnetic field coupling. |
| US08081120B2 |
Broadband antenna unit comprising a folded plate-shaped monopole antenna portion and two conductive elements
In a broadband antenna unit including a ground plate, an antenna element disposed in the vicinity of an end of the ground plate, and a dielectric substrate for mounting the antenna element therein, the antenna element includes a folded plate-shaped monopole antenna portion having a U-shape in cross section, a first conductive element extending from a first location of the folded plate-shaped monopole antenna portion, and a second conductive element extending from a second location of the folded plate-shaped monopole antenna portion. The antenna element is disposed on the side of one side edge of the ground plate. The broadband antenna unit has a feeding point between the ground plate and the antenna element that is disposed at a feeding position apart from the one side by a predetermined distance. |
| US08081118B2 |
Phased array antenna radiator assembly and method of forming same
A phased array antenna radiator assembly that in one embodiment has a thermally conductive foam substrate, a plurality of metal radiating elements bonded to the foam substrate, and a radome supported adjacent the metal radiating elements. In another embodiment a phased array antenna radiator assembly is disclosed that has a thermally conductive substrate, a plurality of metal radiating elements bonded to the thermally conductive substrate, a radome supported adjacent the metal radiating elements, and an electrostatically dissipative adhesive in contact with the radiating elements for bonding the radome to the thermally conductive substrate. |
| US08081117B2 |
Antenna device
An antenna device according to this invention having: a transmission antenna which is the first antenna element formed on a surface of a substrate; and a receiving antenna which is the second antenna element formed on the surface of the substrate includes a photonic crystal structure between the transmission antenna which is the first antenna element and the receiving antenna which is the second antenna element. |
| US08081115B2 |
Combining multiple-port patch antenna
An exemplary apparatus providing an antenna for radiating electromagnetic energy is disclosed as having: a first dielectric substrate having opposite first and second surfaces, a patch of conducting material disposed on the first surface, a ground plane of conducting material disposed of the second surface, at least three input means coupled to a plurality of microstrip feed lines wherein the microstrip feed lines have an aspect ratio suitably configured to maximize antenna bandwidth. Disclosed features and specifications may be variously controlled, adapted or otherwise optionally modified to improve and/or modify the performance characteristics of the antenna. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention generally provide an antenna for providing wideband power combining and wideband radiation functions. |
| US08081114B2 |
Strip-array antenna
A representative embodiment of the invention provides an antenna having an electrically conducting ground plane and an array of electrically conducting strips located at an offset distance from the ground plane. Electrically conducting pathways, each attached to the middle portion of the corresponding strip, connect the strips to the ground plane. Electrically conducting lips, each attached to an edge of the corresponding conducting strip, extend about halfway toward the ground plane. The size of the array is smaller than the wavelength of the fundamental radiation mode supported by the antenna. Advantageously, the antenna has a bandwidth about three times larger than that of a comparably sized prior-art patch antenna. |
| US08081111B2 |
Method and apparatus for locating the source of an unknown signal
A method of locating the source of an unknown signal is provided that includes calculating a differential offset for a signal for each of a plurality of positions within a region in which the transmitter must lie, for each of a series of times m with respect to first and second signal relays and respective first and second receivers, the positions of the signal relays and receivers being known, generating a cross-ambiguity function (CAF) using data corresponding to samples of the unknown signal received at the first and second receivers via the first and second signal relays respectively, estimating the level of noise in the CAF, and using this data to obtain a measure of the likelihood that the source is located within defined areas within the region, where the differential offsets are differential time offsets, or differential frequency offsets, or both. The method provides location which is unconditionally convergent. |
| US08081110B2 |
Association in contention access period
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for association in contention access periods and to a method for multi-cycle training in channel time allocation periods. |
| US08081105B2 |
Method for measuring the radial velocity of a target with a doppler radar
An embodiment of the invention includes a step of transmitting an OFDM waveform including several frequency carrier signals transmitted simultaneously, the frequency carrier signals being coded in order to improve the Doppler response. An embodiment of the invention includes a step of receiving the echoed waveform from the target. The initial phase of each frequency carrier signal is recovered from the echoed waveform. The recovered initial phase of each frequency carrier signal is cyclically shifted in order to compensate for the Doppler effect and subsequently decoded. A compressed pulse is synthesized from the decoded initial phases. |
| US08081104B2 |
Radar detection circuit for a WLAN transceiver
A single chip radio transceiver includes circuitry that enables detection of radar signals to enable the radio transceiver to halt communications in overlapping communication bands to avoid interference with the radar transmitting the radar pulses. The radio transceiver is operable to evaluate a number of most and second most common pulse interval values to determine whether a traditional radar signal is present. The radio transceiver also is operable to FM demodulate an incoming signal to determine whether a non-traditional radar signal, such as a bin-5 radar signal, is present. After FM demodulation, the signal is averaged wherein a substantially large value is produced for non-traditional radar signals and a value approximately equal to zero is produced for a communication signal that is not FM modulated with a continuously increasing frequency signal. Gain control is used to limit incoming signal magnitude to a specified range of magnitudes. |
| US08081102B1 |
Compressed codeset database format for remote control devices
A database of codesets for a remote control device includes codeset information blocks for derivative codesets and codeset information blocks for nonderivative codesets. A codeset information block for a derivative codeset includes: a bit indicating that the block is for a derivative codeset, a plurality of bits each of which corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of fields in a referenced codeset information block, and a pointer that points to the referenced codeset information block. The digital value of a bit determines whether information from the corresponding field in the referenced block will be used as part of the derivative codeset or whether such information is contained in the derivative codeset information block itself. The sizes of the fields in the referenced block are predetermined or are determinable, so a field in the referenced block can be located if its bit is set in the referencing block. |
| US08081096B2 |
Signal generating apparatus and test apparatus
Provided is a signal generating apparatus comprising a DA converter that outputs an output signal corresponding to input data supplied thereto; a sample/hold unit that is provided between the DA converter and an output end of the signal generating apparatus, and that samples an output voltage of the DA converter and holds the sampled output voltage; a comparing section that compares (i) a level of a signal output from an analog circuit that propagates the output signal to output a signal corresponding to the input data to (ii) a level of the signal output by the DA converter; and a control section that, during a holding period, (iii) provides the DA converter with comparison data instead of the input data to cause the DA converter to output a comparison voltage corresponding to the comparison data, (iv) causes the comparing section to compare a voltage of the signal output by the analog circuit to the comparison voltage, and (v) adjusts the output voltage of the DA converter according to the input data based on a comparison result of the comparing section. |
| US08081095B2 |
Data output circuit
A data output circuit includes: a data generating circuit configured to generate output data; and a serial output circuit configured to receive an address corresponding to the data generating circuit, hold a parallel data input during a time period over which the address is being received, and serially output the output data generated by the data generating circuit and the held parallel data in accordance with an output direction signal for directing output of the data. |
| US08081092B2 |
Method for entering characters on a keyboard and a keyboard
In one aspect, a method for entering characters on a keyboard comprising a first character key, e.g. the space bar, to which a first character, e.g. a blank space is assigned and a second key, to which a second character, e.g. q and a third character, e.g. @ are assigned is provided. Accordingly, when the first character key is depressed, a timer is started. Before the time has run out and whilst the first character key is depressed, the second key can be pressed to obtain the third character. Before the time has run out, and before the second key is depressed, if the first character key is released, the first character is obtained. Once the timer has run out and the first character key has been released, if the second key is depressed, the second character is obtained. |
| US08081090B2 |
Method of transmitting key code of hot key from number pad
In a method of transmitting key codes of hot keys from a number pad, the number pad includes at least one hot key and several key code sets corresponding to the hot keys. Each key code set has key codes formed and edited according to a first key code conversion table and a predetermined sequence. When a hot key is pressed, the number pad transmits all key codes to an electronic device according to the predetermined transmitting sequence. The electronic device reads each key code by the first encoding format. The key codes are converted into characters corresponding to the first key code conversion table according to the first key code conversion table, and also into characters corresponding to the second key code conversion table according to the second key code conversion table in a second encoding format, such that the electronic device produces expected conversion results. |
| US08081084B2 |
Autolocation of gray goods
A device is allowed to be used only in a specified country. The device has an automatic location detection part, and automatically determines its location, and whether that location is authorized. If unauthorized, or if no location detection signal is detected for too long a time, the device is deactivated. |
| US08081078B2 |
Universal tracking assembly
A universal tracking assembly that is capable of supporting more than one protocol used in electronic article surveillance (EAS) labels. The universal tracking assembly includes an acousto-magnetic (AM) EAS portion with a Radio Frequency (RF) EAS portion. The intrinsic characteristics and properties of the components of these individual labels are utilized to enhance the overall performance and utility of the combined EAS universal tracking assembly. |
| US08081074B2 |
Security system for protecting construction site assets
An apparatus for deterring removal of electrical wiring that is installed in a building includes a controller, and a wiring module responsive to the controller and forming a monitored circuit with installed electrical wiring by coupling to an end of the wiring located at a load distribution junction. The other end of the wiring is electrically coupled, and can be coupled with a controlled impedance, or with a protected asset. The apparatus is configured with control logic to issue an alert if the integrity of the monitored circuit has been compromised. |
| US08081073B2 |
Integrated motion-image monitoring device with solar capacity
Security systems and methods are implemented using a variety of devices and methods. According to one such implementation, a security system uses a controller to communicate with security-monitoring devices and has an integrated image-capture device with a circuit board structure with an angle-setting support article, a circuit board with a nonadjustable surface, and data-communicating conductors. A camera is secured to the nonadjustable surface and is directed at a first angle relative to the nonadjustable surface. A motion detector is secured to the nonadjustable surface and is directed at a second angle relative to the nonadjustable surface of the circuit board. The support article sets the first angle relative to the second angle for capturing both images and motion in a target area. A data-communication circuit communicates data from the camera and the motion detector and wirelessly communicates the data to the controller. A solar circuit provides power to the device. |
| US08081069B2 |
Method and device for identifying a change in pressure in the liquid path of a microdosing device
An insulin pump and an infusion set adapter having a membrane which can be acted upon by a liquid flow path associated with the pump, wherein the pump comprises a sensor by which a change in shape or location of at least a portion of the membrane caused by a change in the liquid pressure in the flow path can be detected in a contact-free manner to identify an occlusion in the flow path. |
| US08081059B2 |
Chip resistor and manufacturing method thereof
A chip resistor (A1) includes a chip-like resistor element (1), two electrodes (31) spaced from each other on the bottom surface (1a) of the resistor element, and an insulation film (21) between the two electrodes. Each electrode (31) has an overlapping portion (31c) which overlaps the insulation film (21) as viewed in the vertical direction. |
| US08081057B2 |
Current protection device and the method for forming the same
A current protection device comprises a substrate having an upper portion and a lower portion; a fusing layer installed between the upper portion and the lower portion; ends of the fusing layer exposed from the substrate; a cavity formed near surfaces of the fusing layer for providing a space to receive the fusing layer as the fusing layer fuses; and an end electrode having three layers including a silver thin layer, a nickel thin layer and a tin thin layer; the end electrode being formed as a conductive electrode. The method for forming the same is provided. |
| US08081055B2 |
Inductive element having a gap and a fabrication method thereof
An inductive element having a gap and a fabrication method thereof are disclosed. The fabrication method is for fabricating an inductive element having a first core body, a second core body and a gap, and includes: coating an adhesive on a gap-facing side of the first core body and/or the second core body; providing a linear spacer and installing the linear spacer between the first core body and the second core body; and combining the side of the first core body where the adhesive is coated with the side of the second core body where the adhesive is coated, allowing the linear spacer to form the gap when the first core body is combined with the second core body. Thereby, the linear spacer establishes the size of the gap of the inductive element and improves the adhesion of the first core body to the second core body. |
| US08081053B2 |
Solenoid actuator
A solenoid actuator (1) comprises a case (9) made of a magnetic material and housing a coil (12) wound on a bobbin (11), and a pressure tube (17) made of a non-magnetic material and fitted into a hollow portion of the bobbin (11). A base (2) and a sleeve (3) made of a magnetic material are disposed in the pressure tube (17). A plunger (4) provided in an operation chamber (74, 75) formed in the base (2) and the sleeve (3) strokes according to energization of the coil (12) to axially drive a shaft (5) fixed to the plunger (4). The pressure tube (17) ensures that magnetic flux is transferred between the case (9) and the sleeve (3) while preventing pressure variation in the operation chamber (74, 75) from being transmitted to the bobbin (11), thereby achieving a high response and a pressure tightness in the solenoid actuator (1). |
| US08081051B2 |
EMI suppressor having bandpass filtering function
An electromagnetic interference (EMI) suppressor having a bandpass filtering function is provided. The EMI suppressor is disposed on a substrate, and includes a signal line, a ground line, an open-circuit line, a first line group, and a second line group. The signal line has an input terminal and an output terminal for feeding in and feeding out electromagnetic wave signals respectively. One terminal of the ground line is connected to the signal line and the other terminal is a ground terminal. One terminal of the open-circuit line is connected to the signal line and the other terminal is an open-circuit terminal. The first line group is formed by a first open-circuit line and a second open-circuit line, and is connected to the signal line. The second line group is formed by a third open-circuit line and a fourth open-circuit line, and is connected to the signal line. |
| US08081050B2 |
Multilayer planar tunable filter
An electronic device includes a first strip conductor formed from a first metal level over a substrate. A second strip conductor formed from a second metal level is located between the first strip conductor and the substrate. At least one of the first and the second strip conductors includes a stripline portion and a microstrip line portion. |
| US08081045B1 |
Beamformer power divider/combiner with transmission lines distributed between MMIC and associated PC board
A beamformer includes an integrated-circuit power divider/combiner including a common port. A first transmission line extends from the common port to an individual port on the integrated circuit substrate. A first portion of a second transmission line extends on the substrate from the individual port to an integrated-circuit port. A second portion of the second transmission line extends from the integrated-circuit port vertically through plural layers of an underlying printed-circuit board stack. The characteristic impedances of the first and second portions of the second transmission line, and their combined length, are selected to match the impedance at the individual port to a standard impedance. |
| US08081042B2 |
Apparatus, method and computer program
An apparatus, method and computer program, the apparatus including: a modulator including a first input for receiving a data signal and a second input for receiving an output signal from a phase locked loop wherein the modulator is for modulating the output signal from the phase locked loop using the data signal and providing the modulated signal to an output for connection to an amplifier; and a phase shifter configured to result in a predetermined phase shift to the modulated signal. |
| US08081038B2 |
Ring oscillator having wide frequency range
Provided is a ring oscillator having an extended range of oscillation frequency by varactors coupled to delay cells even in a simple structure. The wide frequency range results from simply varying an oscillation frequency by control signals applied to the varactors. Since additional switches connected to the delay cells contribute to increase or decrease of the oscillation frequency range, the ring oscillator can conveniently be employed in various types of oscillation systems. |
| US08081036B2 |
Electronic device used for measuring and detecting the variations of at least one input signal
The device has a component providing an outlet signal whose oscillation frequency depends on a physical unit to be measured, and a reference oscillator. A phase comparison component compares the component and the oscillator for control on the component or for mutual control. A synchronization unit permits alternatively blocking and oscillation of the component. A determination unit determines a derivative signal from evolution of the output signal of the component. The device also includes an electrostatic type keyboard having an electrode assembly. |
| US08081033B2 |
Variable gain amplifier and high-frequency signal receiving apparatus comprising the same
A cascode amplification unit includes a plurality of cascode amplifiers connected in parallel. Each of the cascode amplifiers has two transistors. A cascode current source unit includes a plurality of cascode current sources connected in parallel. Each of the cascode current sources has two transistors. Both the output end of the cascode amplification unit and the output end of the cascode current source unit are connected to a load circuit. The control circuit turns on and off each cascode transistor of the cascode amplifier and each cascode transistor of the cascode current source so that an amount of current passing through the load circuit is constant. |
| US08081025B1 |
Bias setting device
A biasing device can supply a bias voltage to bias-able element by coupling a bias circuit to the bias-able element, coupling a state adjusting device to the biasing circuit, configuring the state adjusting device to 1) increase an initial biasing voltage by a first amount when an intermediate voltage threshold exceeds a voltage drop across the bias-able element and 2) increment the increased initial bias voltage by a second amount, where the second amount is a fraction of the first amount, until the voltage drop across the bias-able element substantially equals a predetermined bias voltage. The bias circuit of the biasing device can include a variable resistance, which is controlled by the state adjusting device and configured to vary the biasing voltage, in series with the bias-able element. The variable resistance can include a first variable resistance coupled in series to a first terminal of the bias-able element and a second variable resistance coupled in series to a second terminal of the bias-able element. |
| US08081013B1 |
Digital phase and frequency detector
A method for digital phase detection, comprises the steps of: providing a reference clock; receiving a feedback clock; determining a timing difference between the reference clock and the feedback clock; determining a polarity that indicates the leading or lagging relationship between the reference clock and the feedback clock; adaptively selecting one of at least two operating modes for generating a quantized level indicative of the timing difference, wherein in a first operating mode the quantized level is a constant maximum value and wherein in a second operating mode the quantized level is proportional to the timing difference; and generating a digital phase detection output as a combination of the polarity and the quantized level. |
| US08081009B2 |
Printed circuit board testing fixture
A printed circuit board (PCB) testing fixture secures at least one PCB, each having a port. The PCB testing fixture includes a fixing frame and a testing plate. The fixing frame defines at least one first sliding groove to receive an edge of the at least one PCB. The testing plate is adjustably fixed on the fixing frame, and includes at least one backplane each including a connector corresponding to the at least one first sliding groove individually. The connector connects to the port of the at least one PCB. A location on which the testing plate is fixed to the fixing frame can be altered to test PCBs of different sizes. |
| US08081001B2 |
Device, system and method for automatic self-test for a ground fault interrupter
A self-test circuit is provided that includes a signal circuit adapted to periodically output a circuit inhibitor signal to inhibit a breaking signal from a ground fault detector. The signal circuit is also adapted to periodically output a test signal simulating a ground fault. The self-test circuit also includes an alarm circuit adapted to receive an output signal from the ground fault detector in response to detecting the ground fault, and adapted to output an alarm when the ground fault detector is not operative. The signal circuit may be further adapted to periodically output a second test signal simulating a grounded neutral condition. A ground fault circuit interrupter system and a method are also provided. |
| US08081000B2 |
Evaluation method and evaluation apparatus for evaluating battery safety, and battery whose safety indices have been determined with the same
The invention provides an evaluation method and an evaluation apparatus with which it is possible to know the safety level of batteries when an internal short circuit occurs through a chemical process, and a battery whose safety level has been determined with the evaluation method and the evaluation apparatus. A battery that has been charged to a predetermined voltage and into which conductive foreign matter has been incorporated is immersed in an electrolyte. The time at which the battery started to dissolve in the electrolyte is determined. Occurrence of an internal short circuit in the battery is detected based on a battery voltage. A time required for occurrence of short circuit is computed based on the above-described dissolution start time and the time of occurrence of the internal short circuit, and then output. |
| US08080999B2 |
Sensor cable for electromagnetic surveying
A sensor cable for surveying. The sensor cable has a housing, which includes one of more electrodes and a conductive gel surrounding the one or more electrodes. The conductive gel is configured to conduct electrical current to the one or more electrodes and keep the one or more electrodes moist. The housing may also have a membrane surrounding the conductive gel, wherein the membrane is configured to hold the conductive gel in contact with the one or more electrodes and permit electric current to flow between a surrounding medium and the conductive gel. |
| US08080997B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus and method for reduced eddy current generation in the imaged object
An MRI apparatus and method reduces eddy currents generated by changing gradient magnetic fields used to image an object. Positioning image data from a pilot imaging mode is used to set reference imaging conditions for a subsequent actual diagnostic imaging mode used to acquire diagnostic image data. An eddy current stimulus index is calculated for a gradient magnetic field polarity successively (i.e., iteratively) renewed (i.e., changed) by renewal of imaging conditions and phase-encoding direction. Diagnostic image data is generated during an actual diagnostic imaging mode based on a gradient magnetic field polarity and phase-encoding direction that provides the lowest eddy current stimulus index value, thus using an optimum set of imaging conditions. |
| US08080988B2 |
Switch driver with low impedance initial drive and higher impedance final drive
A driver circuit (for example, in a switching power supply or in a Class-D switching amplifier) drives a gate of a switch during a transition with a low output impedance during an initial period and then for the remainder of the transition drives the gate with a midrange output impedance. The switch in turn switches current flow through an inductor. The driver circuit includes a “Drive Node Voltage Dependent Impedance Circuit” (DNVDIC) that couples the gate to a supply voltage node. In one embodiment, there are two resistive current paths through the DNVDIC. A non-linear device in the first current path switches from having a small to a large impedance when a voltage drop across the device falls below a threshold voltage. The resulting increase in impedance of the first current path decreases voltage edge rates and reduces noise, whereas the low initial impedance reduces transition power losses. |
| US08080987B1 |
Method and apparatus for efficient transitioning between different operating modes of a regulator
A modulator circuit for a switching regulator including first and second ramp generators, a comparator circuit and a reset circuit. The switching regulator provides a compensation voltage indicative of output voltage error. The ramp generators generate leading- and trailing-edge ramp voltages which are compared to the compensation voltage for determining pulses on a pulse modulation signal. The reset circuit prevents the leading-edge ramp voltage from resetting if the leading-edge ramp voltage has not reached the compensation voltage while ramping. The reset circuit further clamps the leading-edge ramp voltage until the pulse modulation signal is asserted again. In a multiphase configuration, each leading-edge ramp voltage is suspended if any leading-edge ramp voltage is clamped. An offset voltage may be added to the compensation, leading-edge, or trailing-edge voltages when a mode select signal indicates a reduced load condition. The offset voltage may be adjusted based on various operating conditions. |
| US08080985B2 |
Method and apparatus for high performance switch mode voltage regulators
Circuit configurations for a high power switch-mode voltage regulator circuit is disclosed that include an array of Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) switching transistors electrically coupled to one another at their drains and sources and a plurality of gate driver circuits. Each gate driver circuit is coupled to a gate and dedicated to driving only one MOS switching transistor. |
| US08080983B2 |
Low drop out (LDO) bypass voltage regulator
A power element bypass and voltage regulation circuit shutdown is used in a low drop out (LDO) bypass voltage regulator to minimize current drawn by the voltage regulator circuit when the supply input voltage approaches the regulated output voltage of the voltage regulation circuit. Two modes of operation are used in the low drop out (LDO) bypass voltage regulator. A regulate mode is used when the supply input voltage is greater than the reference voltage input, and a track mode is used when the supply input voltage is less than or equal to approximately the regulated output voltage of the voltage regulation circuit. Hysteresis may be introduced when switching between the regulate and track modes of operation. |
| US08080982B2 |
Low drop-out voltage regulator with efficient frequency compensation
A low drop-out (LDO) voltage regulator with efficient frequency compensation is disclosed. The LDO voltage regulator includes an error amplifier, a transmission element, a voltage divider and a pole control unit. The error amplifier generates a control signal according to a reference voltage and a feedback voltage. The transmission element is coupled to the error amplifier, and adjusts an input voltage to generate an output voltage according to the control signal. The voltage divider is coupled to the transmission element, and performs a voltage division operation on the output voltage to generate the feedback voltage. The pole control unit is coupled to the transmission element, and provides and adjusts an output capacitor of the LDO voltage regulator to fix a frequency of a pole according to variation of an output impedance of the transmission element, so as to maintain loop stability. |
| US08080979B2 |
Charging system and charger utilizing battery state information received from a battery unit to determine if the battery unit is in a normal state
A charger that charges a battery unit including a secondary battery, includes a receiving unit, a detection unit, a determination unit, and a control unit. The receiving unit receives, from the battery unit, battery state information indicating a state of the battery unit, if the secondary battery is being charged. The detection unit detects charge state information indicating the state of the battery unit, if the secondary battery is being charged. The determination unit determines, using the battery state information and the charge state information, whether the battery unit is in a normal state. The control unit controls charging of the secondary battery in the battery unit depending on whether the battery unit is in the normal state. |
| US08080978B2 |
Battery charging system and method
Methods, devices, and systems for charging a battery in a mobile device are provided. For example, in one embodiment, among others, a battery charging system includes a monitoring circuit configured to monitor a battery and generate a sense current. The battery charging system further includes a comparing circuit configured to compare a reference current and the generated sense current. The comparing circuit is further configured to generate a comparison signal. Also, the battery charging system further includes a control circuit configured to control a level of a charging current applied to the battery based on the comparison signal. |
| US08080974B2 |
Battery charge indicator
The battery charge indicator provides a color-coded battery status indicator system adapted for attachment to or adjacent the battery compartment on a power tool body. The system includes a first member that is adapted for attachment to the surface of the power tool. The front face of the first member is provided with hook and loop fastener material thereon. A second member has a first face fabricated from green-colored hook and loop fastener material and an opposite, second face fabricated from red-colored hook or loop fastener material. Display of the red-colored face indicates that the battery needs recharging. Display of the green-colored face indicates that the battery is charged. |
| US08080973B2 |
Apparatus for energy transfer using converter and method of manufacturing same
According to an aspect of the invention, a motor drive circuit includes a first energy storage device configured to supply electrical energy, a bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter coupled to the first energy storage device, a voltage inverter coupled to the bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter, and an input device configured to receive electrical energy from an external energy source. The motor drive circuit further includes a coupling system coupled to the input device, to the first energy storage device, and to the bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter. The coupling system has a first configuration configured to transfer electrical energy to the first energy storage device via the bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter, and has a second configuration configured to transfer electrical energy from the first energy storage device to the voltage inverter via the bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter. |
| US08080969B2 |
Torque harmonic reduction control for switched reluctance machines
A controller for a switched reluctance machine (SRM) generates current commands that reduce torque harmonics generated by the SRM. The controller monitors the phase currents and rotor position of the SRM to estimate torque generated by the SRM. The current command signal is modified based on the difference between the torque command and the estimated torque. A multiplier that varies with the monitored torque command is applied to the modified current command to provide a smooth phase-to-phase transition. |
| US08080968B2 |
Drive control device for a stepper motor and drive control method of the stepper motor
A stepper motor control device includes a control device that controls an operation of a stepper motor. The control device implements a target rotational angle change computation process that calculates a target rotational angle change of the stepper motor and a divisional target rotational angle computation process that equally divides the target rotational angle change within a range not exceeding a rotational limit for loss of synchronism of the stepper motor. The divisional target rotational angle computation process divides the target rotational angle change within the range to calculate a “quotient” and a “remainder” thereof. The drive control device of the stepper motor sets the “quotient” to “quotient+1” in the case the “remainder” portion is not—and obtains a first divisional target rotational angle and a second divisional target rotational angle differing from the first divisional target rotational angle to drive the stepper motor. |
| US08080967B2 |
Brushless electric machine
The brushless electric machine includes a first drive member (30U) having a plurality of permanent magnets (32U); a second drive member (10) having a plurality of electromagnetic coils and capable of movement relative to the first drive member (30U); and a third drive member (30L) disposed at the opposite side from the first drive member (30U) with the second drive member (10) therebetween. The second drive member (10) has magnetic sensors (40A, 40B) for detecting the relative position of the first and second drive members. The third drive member (30L) has at locations facing the permanent magnets of the first drive member (30U) a plurality of magnetic field strengthening members (32L) for strengthening the magnetic field at the location of the second drive member (10) in conjunction with the permanent magnets. |
| US08080966B2 |
Motor control architecture for simultaneously controlling multiple motors
A motor control architecture is provided that simultaneously controls multiple motors. The motor control system includes memory, a plurality of motor control processors, and a communication controller. The motor control processors are each responsive to control signals supplied from the communication controller to selectively retrieve system commands and motor positions from the memory, to generate motor commands, and to supply the generated motor commands to the memory. The communication controller selectively receives system commands and transmits the received system commands to the memory, selectively supplies the command signals to selected ones of the motor control processors, selectively receives motor positions from a plurality of motors, selectively transmits motor positions to the memory, selectively retrieves generated motor commands supplied to the memory, and selectively transmits the retrieved motor commands. |
| US08080965B2 |
Motor controller with deterministic synchronous interrupt having multiple serial interface backplane
In one embodiment, a motor drive is provided that includes a control board and one or more option boards coupled to the control board via one or more serial interfaces such that data from the one or more option boards is communicated via one or more synchronous interrupts on the one or more serial interfaces. A method of operating a motor drive that includes transmitting one or more signals from an option board to a control board via one or more synchronous interrupts, wherein the option board is coupled to the control board via a serial interface. A tangible machine-readable medium implementing the method is also provided. |
| US08080956B2 |
Electric motor torque estimation
A method of controlling a vehicle including a permanent magnet (PM) synchronous motor is provided. The motor is calibrated such that for each torque command, there are corresponding direct-axis (d-axis) and quadrature axis (q-axis) current commands. The method includes establishing a torque command T*. D-axis and q-axis current commands Id* and Iq*, respectively, corresponding to the torque command T* are determined. The motor is controlled based on Id* and Iq*. D-axis and q-axis currents Id and Iq, respectively, are measured. An output torque is estimated as a sum of the torque command T* and a torque difference. The torque difference is determined as a function of Id*, Iq*, Id, and Iq. The vehicle may be controlled based on the estimated output torque. |
| US08080955B2 |
Driving method and related driving device for a motor
A driving method for a motor includes sensing variation of magnetic pole of a rotator of the motor, to generate a magnetic pole sensing signal, determining dead zone of the motor according to the magnetic pole sensing signal, to generate a determination result, and adjusting voltage outputted to a coil of the rotator according to the determination result. |
| US08080954B2 |
Inverter apparatus
An inverter apparatus comprises an inverter circuit using pairs of switching elements. The pseudo AC voltage of each phase of this inverter circuit is controlled by pulse modulation using pulses generated by a PWM generator, and the pseudo AC voltages are applied to a power supplied load. The average voltage of respective phases of the output voltages applied to the power supplied load is detected as a virtual neutral voltage corresponding to the neutral voltage of the power supplied load by detecting the voltage at a common node where the phases of a voltage detecting circuit provided between the inverter circuit and the power supplied load are connected. The detected virtual neutral voltage is fed back for controlling the output duty of each phase by the PWM generator. Thus the output voltage of each phase from the inverter circuit is controlled so as to become a target output voltage. The target output voltage can be accurately obtained stably at all times. |
| US08080952B2 |
Hands free waste flap apparatus and method
A method and apparatus for an automated waste receptacle includes a waste flap, a motor positioned on a side of the waste flap and an actuator located in proximity of the top side of the waste flap. The actuator is configured to operate the motor and subsequently move the flap between open and closed positions. |
| US08080951B2 |
Drive apparatus and method for its operation
A drive apparatus with at least one synchronous motor, a converter and a mechanical energy buffer able to be fed from an energy supply network, which, for converting mechanical energy into electrical current, includes a first asynchronous machine, and a method of operation for such a drive apparatus are specified, with which or in which the energy buffer, especially its first asynchronous machine is directly electrically connected via a switchover device to the at least one synchronous motor, so that the converter included in the drive apparatus is bypassed for such a switch position of the switchover device and the converter accordingly does not have to be designed for currents which flow in such a switch position of the switchover device. |
| US08080944B2 |
Ignition device
An ignition circuit arrangement and method for a discharge lamp, with which there is associated a supply circuit for providing an ac supply voltage to the lamp, includes an ignition transformer which is connected to a trigger circuit on the primary side and to the lamp on the secondary side for transmitting an ignition pulse; an input energy source for the ignition trigger circuit; a first switch means in the trigger circuit and a control means which actuates the first switch means. To assist with the ignition process, an energy storage means controllable by the control means, in particular a voltage source controllable by the control means, is arranged in the supply circuit in series with the gas-discharge lamp. The controllable energy storage means serves to provide an additional energy supply during the ignition process beyond the actual ac supply for the lamp. |
| US08080943B2 |
Image display apparatus
An image display apparatus of a present invention has a rear plate having a plurality of electron-emitting devices, a face plate having a light-emitting member, a high-voltage power source which applies a high voltage to the light-emitting member, a current detecting unit which detects an emission current from the electron-emitting devices, and a bypass capacitor. One end of the bypass capacitor is connected between the high-voltage power source and the current detecting unit, and the other end of the bypass capacitor is connected to a potential regulating electrode, and an electrostatic capacitance Cp of the bypass capacitor satisfies a following formula: Cp>∈A/d where ∈: permittivity of vacuum, A: an area of the light-emitting member, and d: a distance between the rear plate and the face plate. |
| US08080941B2 |
Cold cathode lamp, and illumination device for display device and display device provided therewith
The cold cathode lamp includes a light-transmissive insulating tube; the first and second internal electrodes disposed inside the insulating tube; the first and second external electrodes disposed outside the insulating tube and connected to the first and second internal electrodes, respectively; the first and second insulating members covering the first and second external electrodes, respectively; the first opposite electrode opposite the first external electrode with the first insulating member interposed therebetween, the second opposite electrode opposite the second external electrode with the second insulating member interposed therebetween, the first insulating layer covering the outer edges of the first opposite electrode; and the second insulating layer covering the outer edges of the second opposite electrode. It is possible to light up a plurality of cold cathode lamps that are connected in parallel to a power supply. It is also possible to suppress the generation of a corona discharge around the outer edges of the opposite electrode. |
| US08080936B2 |
Display device with improved moisture prevention
In a display device including, a display area having a plurality of organic EL devices on a substrate; a peripheral area having a driving circuit for the organic EL devices and surrounding the display area on the substrate; and an organic insulating film covering at least the driving circuit, the organic insulating film has a separating groove which divides itself into the inner part and outer part at the periphery of the display area. |
| US08080934B2 |
Organic electroluminescent device having an electrically insulating charge generation layer
An organic electroluminescent device includes at least two light-emissive units provided between a cathode electrode and an anode electrode opposed to the cathode electrode, each of the light-emissive units including at least one light-emissive layer. The light-emissive units are partitioned from each other by at least one charge generation layer, the charge generation layer being an electrically insulating layer having a resistivity of not less than 1.0×102 Ωcm. |
| US08080933B2 |
Electron-emitting device and image display apparatus
The present invention provides an electron-emitting device which does not need a fresh electrode to be added thereto, has excellent convergence and shows little change of a discharged electric current for short and long periods of time, and an image display apparatus using the device. The electron-emitting device includes at least a pair of device electrodes formed on an insulating substrate, and a plurality of electroconductive films which are formed so as to connect the device electrodes to each other and have gaps therein, wherein the surface of a region which is at least adjacent to the gap between the electroconductive films and is not covered with the electroconductive film is higher than the surface of the electroconductive film. |
| US08080927B2 |
Device and module for protecting against lightning and overvoltages
A device for protecting against lightning and overvoltages includes two electrodes closing off, in a gas tight manner, both end faces of a cylinder made of insulating material, and defining a discharge chamber in the interior of the chamber thus formed. At least one step is provided in the chamber in the contact area of at least one of the electrodes and the cylinder such that the chamber extends outwards past the internal wall of the cylinder. |
| US08080922B2 |
Ultrasonic sensor having a cover including a damping element
An ultrasonic sensor, in particular for a vehicle, including a housing, includes the following: a transducer element which is attached to the bottom of the housing for generating ultrasonic oscillations; a first damping element situated in the housing for damping oscillations of the bottom; and a cover for sealing the housing, the cover being provided with a second damping element and having continuous tapering of the cover thickness in the region of the second damping element. |
| US08080916B2 |
Direct current motor
A direct current motor with brushes in which an armature is provided with a rotating shaft that is supported by a yoke housing, an armature core that is fitted and fixed to a rotating shaft from the outer side, and a commutator that is provided on the rotating shaft adjacent to the armature core with nine segments arranged in the circumferential direction. The armature core has nine teeth that extend in the radial direction in a radial pattern and nine slots that are formed between the teeth and extend in the axial direction, the segments having the same polarity are connected with short-circuiting members, and a pair of brushes that make sliding contact with the segments is disposed so as to be mutually point symmetric centered on the rotating shaft. According to the preset invention, it is possible to effectively achieve flattening of the direct current motor. |
| US08080914B2 |
Torque generating device
Disclosed herein is a rotation power generating device. The rotation power generating device includes a stator consisting of a plurality of stationary units vertically connected to one another, and a rotator consisting of a plurality of rotating units vertically connected to one another with an angular orientation difference therebetween. Each of the stationary units has a pair of stationary magnets symmetrically embedded inside an inner surface thereof. Each of the rotating units has a pair of rotating magnets and is adapted to be rotated along the inner surface of the corresponding stationary unit about a rotating shaft that is installed in the center of the stator. The rotation power generating device compensates for energy loss of initially acting torque using repulsive force between magnets of the same polarity, resulting in reduced power loss and more effective transmission of energy. |
| US08080911B2 |
Spherical motor rotating in multiple degrees of freedom
A spherical motor rotating in multi degrees of freedom has a reliable capability of determining positioning. The spherical motor includes a hollow spherical-shaped stator installed with a bi-level bobbin wound by coil generating a synthesized magneto-motive force on an inner surface thereof; and a rotor formed inside the stator and rotating around a shaft, wherein a slope of the shaft is adjusted by the synthesized magneto-motive force. Two or more of the bobbins are provided and installed at regular intervals along the inner surface of the stator, and the rotor includes one or more permanent magnets. The spherical motor rotating in multi degrees of freedom, formed with the above mentioned figures, can embody multi degrees of freedom by the interaction between the flowing current in the winding coil around the bobbin and the permanent magnet. |
| US08080908B2 |
Cooling structure for rotor core in electric rotating machine
A rotor for an electric rotating machine includes d-axis through holes located on respective d-axes, hollow shafts formed in both axial sides of a rotating shaft not inserted into a rotor core, presser plates mounted on both axial ends of the rotor core, cooling grooves formed in faces of the presser plates in contact with the rotor core, a plurality of presser plate refrigerant outlet holes in the presser plates, the presser plate refrigerant outlet holes of one of the presser plates having diameters different from diameters of the presser plate refrigerant outlet holes of one of the other presser plates, and a refrigerant channel formed so that a refrigerant supplied into one of the hollow shafts of the rotating shaft flows through the refrigerant channel and further through the hollow shaft wall hole of said one hollow shaft and the radial grooves of the respective presser plates. |
| US08080904B2 |
Power supply and night vision device using the power supply
Disclosed is a power supply (40) and a night vision device using the power supply (40). The power supply (40) comprises a battery (41), a power switch (42), a booster (43) for boosting a battery voltage provided by the battery (41) to an established voltage according to an operation of the power switch (42) and outputting a boost voltage, and a voltage selector (44) for comparing the voltage provided by the battery with a reference voltage (VR), outputting the boost voltage when the battery voltage is below the reference voltage (VR), and outputting the battery voltage when the battery voltage is beyond the reference voltage (VR). The night vision device is operable by voltages supplied from the power supply (40). According to the invention, stable voltages are supplied and batteries (41) are effectively used by supplying constant voltages in the case of using batteries (41) with different voltages, and hence, usage time of the night vision device is increased. |
| US08080900B2 |
Direct-coupled IT load
Apparatus and associated method and computer program products involve a highly efficient uninterruptible power distribution architecture to support modular processing units. As an illustrative example, a modular processing unit includes an integrated uninterruptible power system in which a PFC-boost AC-to-DC conversion occurs between the utility AC grid and the processing circuit (e.g., microprocessor) loads. In an illustrative data center facility, a power distribution architecture includes a modular array of rack-mountable processing units, each of which has processing circuitry to handle network-related processing tasks. Associated with each modular processing unit is an integrated uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to supply operating power to the network processing circuitry. Each UPS includes a battery selectively connectable across a DC bus, and a AC-to-DC rectifier that converts an AC input voltage to a single output voltage on the DC bus. The regulated DC bus voltage may be close to the battery's fully charged voltage. |
| US08080897B1 |
Optimal sense location
Optimal feedback sensing locations are determined based on minimizing the sum of the differences between actual voltages and nominal voltages at the devices being supplied by the voltage regulator. An optimal sense location may be determined to be a location (for example, on a PCB or PKG) where the sensed voltage is equal to the nominal voltage of the multiple devices when the voltage output of the power source(s) is equal to a level that minimizes the sum of the differences between the actual voltages and nominal voltages at the devices being supplied by the power source(s). An optimal sense location may also be determined to be a location where the sensed voltage is equal to the average of the voltages at the devices that are supplied by the power source(s). Visual data is generated, the visual data indicating an area or areas that comprise optimal sense locations and locations that are optimal within a preset tolerance range. |
| US08080895B1 |
Energy generation from compressed fluids
A method and system to use compressed fluids to generate electrical energy or an equivalent useful form of energy. A first embodiment uses pressurized air that can be stored to selectively and directly generate energy as required. A second embodiment uses a pressurized working fluid that can be stored to selectively and directly generate energy as required. A third embodiment uses at least one compressible floor module to compress at least one working fluid that can be stored to selectively and directly generate energy as required. The working fluid in various embodiments of the invention can be air, steam, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, commercially available Freons, carbon dioxide, methane, ethane, propane, butane, various types of natural gas, ammonia, an equivalent type of gas, or an appropriate liquid. |
| US08080894B2 |
Wave powered electrical generator
A wave powered electrical generator includes: a floating unit that floats in water and accommodates a power generator therein. The floating unit has a wave power system that includes, a chamber containing fluid, a free-floating mass provided in the chamber that separates the chamber into first and second chambers defined at each side of the mass, a first valve that allows the fluid in the first chamber to be discharged from the first chamber as the free-floating mass moves toward the first chamber, and a second valve that allows the fluid in the second chamber to be discharged from the second chamber as the free-floating mass moves toward the second chamber. The fluid discharged through the first and second valves flows into a pipe that discharges the received fluid from an end thereof against a turbine attached to a power generator. |
| US08080892B2 |
Combined water tank and generator
A combined water tank and generator is provided. By capturing rainwater into a container at a higher point, using the weight of the container to drive an electrical generator, and releasing the stored water once it has reached the ground, a system is provided that provides electricity and provides a source of water for later use. |
| US08080884B2 |
Mounting structure and mounting method
A mounting structure of the present invention includes a semiconductor element 101, a circuit board 301 having electrodes 302 opposed to electrodes 102 of the semiconductor element 101, and conductive two-layer bumps 213. Second bumps 210 joined to the electrodes 302 of the circuit board 301 are formed larger than first bumps 209 joined to the electrodes 102 of the semiconductor element 101. The axis of the first bump 209 and the axis of the second bump 210 are not aligned with each other. |
| US08080880B2 |
Semiconductor device with arrangement of parallel conductor lines being insulated, between and orthogonal to external contact pads
A semiconductor device and manufacturing method. One embodiment provides a device including a semiconductor chip. A first conductor line is placed over the semiconductor chip. An external contact pad is placed over the first conductor line. At least a portion of the first conductor line lies within a projection of the external contact pad on the semiconductor chip. |
| US08080878B2 |
Semiconductor device having insulating film with surface modification layer and method for manufacturing the same
Provided is a semiconductor device, which includes an interlayer insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate, a wiring layer filled in a recess formed in the interlayer insulating film, and a cap insulating film. The interlayer insulating film includes a first SiOCH film and a surface modification layer including an SiOCH film formed by modifying a surface layer of the first SiOCH film, the SiOCH film having a lower carbon concentration and a higher oxygen concentration than the first SiOCH film has. The cap insulating film contacts with surfaces of the metal wiring and the surface modification layer. |
| US08080874B1 |
Providing additional space between an integrated circuit and a circuit board for positioning a component therebetween
A system, method, and apparatus are included for providing additional space between an integrated circuit package and a circuit board. An integrated circuit package is provided including a plurality of integrated circuit package contacts. Also provided is a circuit board in electrical communication with the integrated circuit package. Further, the integrated circuit package, the integrated circuit contacts, and/or the circuit board is configured for providing additional space between the integrated circuit package and the circuit board to position at least a portion of at least one component between the integrated circuit package and the circuit board. |
| US08080873B2 |
Semiconductor device, semiconductor package, and method for testing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device designed to facilitate testing. Superimposed first and second semiconductor chips each include a plurality of internal terminals, an external terminal, and a plurality of transistors. A plurality of wires connect the internal terminals, the transistors, and the external terminals of the first and second semiconductor chips in series. |
| US08080872B2 |
Surface mount package with high thermal conductivity
A package for use in encapsulating an electronic device is disclosed. In some embodiments, the package includes the following: a dielectric frame having first and second sides, an aperture, a raised shelf portion defined along an internal perimeter of the dielectric frame and extending outwardly from the second side, the raised shelf portion defining a first thickness of the dielectric frame, and a raised sidewall extending outwardly from the second side along an external perimeter of the dielectric frame, the raised sidewall defining a second thickness of the frame, the second thickness being greater than the first thickness; a metallic component bonded to the dielectric frame and extending across the aperture; and a seam weldable, low-profile metallic seal ring bonded to the raised sidewall of the dielectric frame. In some embodiments, the package includes the following: a dielectric frame having first and second sides and an aperture, the dielectric frame having an aperture thickness bordering the aperture; a metallic insert positioned within the aperture, the metallic insert having first and second sides, the metallic insert being sized so as to be movable within the aperture and the metallic insert having an insert thickness that is greater than the aperture thickness of the dielectric frame; a first metallic component bonded to the first side of the metallic insert and extending across the aperture; and a second metallic component bonded to the second side of the metallic insert and extending across the aperture. |
| US08080871B2 |
Carbon nanotube-based structures and methods for removing heat from solid-state devices
One aspect of the invention includes a copper substrate; a catalyst on top of the copper substrate surface; and a thermal interface material that comprises a layer containing carbon nanotubes that contacts the catalyst. The carbon nanotubes are oriented substantially perpendicular to the surface of the copper substrate. A Raman spectrum of the layer containing carbon nanotubes has a D peak at ˜1350 cm−1 with an intensity ID, a G peak at ˜1585 cm−1 with an intensity IG, and an intensity ratio ID/IG of less than 0.7 at a laser excitation wavelength of 514 nm. The thermal interface material has: a bulk thermal resistance, a contact resistance at an interface between the thermal interface material and the copper substrate, and a contact resistance at an interface between the thermal interface material and a solid-state device. A summation of these resistances has a value of 0.06 cm2K/W or less. |
| US08080870B2 |
Die-warpage compensation structures for thinned-die devices, and methods of assembling same
A back-side lamination (BSL) is applied after thinning a microelectronic die. The BSL is configured to be a thermal-expansion complementary structure to a metal wiring interconnect layout that is disposed on the active side of the microelectronic die. |
| US08080865B2 |
RF-coupled digital isolator
An RF-coupled digital isolator includes a first leadframe portion and a second leadframe portion, electrically isolated from one another. The first leadframe portion includes a first main body and a first finger. The second leadframe portion includes a second main body and a second finger. The first main body is connected to a first ground, and the second main body is connected to a second ground that is electrically isolated from the first ground. The first finger and the second finger are electrically isolated from one another, e.g., by a plastic molding compound that forms a package for the digital isolator. The first finger acts as a primary of a transformer, and the second finger acts as a secondary of a transformer, when an RF signal drives to the first finger. The first finger and the second finger can be substantially parallel or anti-parallel to one another. |
| US08080863B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A conventional semiconductor device, for example, a lateral PNP transistor has a problem that it is difficult to obtain a desired current-amplification factor while maintaining a breakdown voltage characteristic without increasing the device size. In a semiconductor device, that is a lateral PNP transistor, according to the present invention, an N type epitaxial layer is formed on a P type single crystal silicon substrate. The epitaxial layer is used as a base region. Moreover, molybdenum (Mo) is diffused in the substrate and the epitaxial layer. With this structure, the base current is adjusted, and thereby a desired current-amplification factor (hFE) of the lateral PNP transistor is achieved. |
| US08080857B2 |
Semiconductor photodetecting device and illuminance sensor
The present invention provides a semiconductor photodetecting device that suppresses sensitivity of a short wavelength component of irradiated light as well as a long wavelength component thereof and has a spectral sensitivity characteristic approximately coincident with a human visibility characteristic, and an illuminance sensor including the semiconductor photodetecting device. The semiconductor photodetecting device has a P-type well region and an N-type well region provided side by side along the surface of a P-type semiconductor substrate, a high-concentration N-type region formed in the neighborhood of the surface of the P-type well region, and a high-concentration P-type region formed in the neighborhood of the surface of the N-type well region. A first photoelectric current which flows through a PN junction formed by the P-type well region and the high-concentration N-type region, and a second photoelectric current obtained by adding a photoelectric current which flows through a PN junction formed by the N-type well region and the P-type semiconductor substrate to a photoelectric current which flows through a PN junction formed by the N-type well region and the high-concentration P-type region are extracted. Predetermined arithmetic processing is performed on the first and second photoelectric currents to obtain an output current. |
| US08080856B2 |
Photoelectric structure and method of manufacturing thereof
A photoelectric structure is presented, comprising one or more PiN cells. The PiN cell is formed by an intrinsic semiconductor bulk having front and rear surfaces enclosed between p- and n-type regions extending along side surfaces of said semiconductor bulk. The front and rear surfaces of the intrinsic semiconductor bulk are active surfaces of the PiN cell and said side surfaces of said semiconductor bulk formed with said p- and n-type regions are configured and operable for collecting excess charged carriers generated in said semiconductor bulk in response to collected electromagnetic radiation to which at least one of the active surfaces is exposed during the PiN cell operation. |
| US08080855B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
According to the present invention, a protective seal S1 for protecting a transparent member 11 is composed of an organic base 16, adhesive layers 17, and a second adhesive layer 18 having low adhesion. The adhesive layers 17 are provided only on edges corresponding, on the organic base 16, to sides 11b of the transparent member and the second adhesive layer 18 is provided on a portion corresponding, on the organic base 16, to a surface 11a of the transparent member. The organic base 16 is fixed to the sides 11b and the surface 11a of the transparent member 11 with the adhesive layers 17 and 18. |
| US08080852B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
The semiconductor device includes a first MIS transistor including a gate insulating film 92, a gate electrode 108 formed on the gate insulating film 92 and source/drain regions 154, a second MIS transistor including a gate insulating film 96 thicker than the gate insulating film 92, a gate electrode 108 formed on the gate insulating film 96, source/drain regions 154 and a ballast resistor 120 connected to one of the source/drain regions 154, a salicide block insulating film 146 formed on the ballast resistor 120 with an insulating film 92 thinner than the gate insulating film 96 interposed therebetween, and a silicide film 156 formed on the source/drain regions 154. |
| US08080851B2 |
Deep trench electrostatic discharge (ESD) protect diode for silicon-on-insulator (SOI) devices
A semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes a bulk substrate of a first polarity type, a buried insulator layer disposed on the bulk substrate, an active semiconductor layer disposed on top of the buried insulator layer including a shallow trench isolation region and a diffusion region of the first polarity type, a band region of a second polarity type disposed directly beneath the buried insulator layer and forming a conductive path, a well region of the second polarity type disposed in the bulk substrate and in contact with the band region, a deep trench filled with a conductive material of the first polarity type disposed within the well region, and an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protect diode defined by a junction between a lower portion of the deep trench and the well region. |
| US08080850B2 |
Semiconductor device having semiconductor layer on insulating structure and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device in which a semiconductor layer is formed on an insulating substrate with a front-end insulating layer interposed between the semiconductor layer and the insulating substrate is provided which is capable of preventing action of an impurity contained in the insulating substrate on the semiconductor layer and of improving reliability of the semiconductor device. In a TFT (Thin Film Transistor), boron is made to be contained in a region located about 100 nm or less apart from a surface of the insulating substrate so that boron concentration decreases at an average rate being about 1/1000-fold per 1 nm from the surface of the insulating substrate toward the semiconductor layer. |
| US08080848B2 |
High voltage semiconductor device with lateral series capacitive structure
According to the present invention, semiconductor device breakdown voltage can be increased by embedding field shaping regions within a drift region of the semiconductor device. A controllable current path extends between two device terminals on the top surface of a planar substrate, and the controllable current path includes the drift region. Each field shaping region includes two or more electrically conductive regions that are electrically insulated from each other, and which are capacitively coupled to each other to form a voltage divider dividing a potential between the first and second terminals. One or more of the electrically conductive regions are isolated from any external electrical contact. Such field shaping regions can provide enhanced electric field uniformity in current-carrying parts of the drift region, thereby increasing device breakdown voltage. |
| US08080846B2 |
Semiconductor device having improved breakdown voltage and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device is disclosed which improves the breakdown voltage of a planar-type junction edge terminating structure. The device includes an n-type semiconductor substrate layer common to an active section and an edge terminating section. An n-type drift region is formed selectively on the n-type semiconductor substrate layer in the active section and a p-type partition region is formed selectively on the n-type semiconductor substrate layer in the active section. A p-type base/body region is formed on the n-type drift region and the partition region. A source electrode is connected electrically to the p-type base/body region. A p-type partition region is formed in the edge terminating section between the p-type base/body region and the scribe plane of the semiconductor device such that the p-type partition region in the edge terminating section surrounds the p-type base/body region. A drain electrode is connected electrically to the n-type semiconductor substrate layer. |
| US08080832B1 |
Semiconductor device for electrostatic discharge protection
The invention provides an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device for protecting the internal circuitry of an integrated circuit chip from ESD current. The device includes a natively doped substrate having high resistance. A first well is formed in the substrate including a discharge circuit. A second well is formed in the substrate separated from the first well by the width of a natively doped region. The natively doped region has the same connectivity type and substantially the same doping profile as the substrate. During an ESD event, current leaking through the natively doped region between the discharge circuit and the second well creates a voltage that triggers the discharge circuit when reaching its trigger voltage. The resistance ratio between the natively doped region and the well is about 10 times or greater. The high resistance of the natively doped region can achieve the trigger voltage with a smaller ESD current leaking through, which decreases the size of the ESD protection device and increases its performance and sensitivity. Thus, the invention provides for more robust and cost effective ESD protection devices. |
| US08080828B2 |
Low profile side emitting LED with window layer and phosphor layer
Low profile, side-emitting LEDs are described that generate white light, where all light is emitted within a relatively narrow angle generally parallel to the surface of the light-generating active layer. The LEDs enable the creation of very thin backlights for backlighting an LCD. In one embodiment, the LED emits blue light and is a flip chip with the n and p electrodes on the same side of the LED. Separately from the LED, a transparent wafer has deposited on it a red and green phosphor layer. The phosphor color temperature emission is tested, and the color temperatures vs. positions along the wafer are mapped. A reflector is formed over the transparent wafer. The transparent wafer is singulated, and the phosphor/window dice are matched with the blue LEDs to achieve a target white light color temperature. The phosphor/window is then affixed to the LED. |
| US08080827B2 |
Top contact LED thermal management
An LED having enhanced heat dissipation is disclosed. For example, an LED die can have extended bond pads that are configured to enhance heat flow from an active region of the LED to a lead frame. A heat transmissive substrate can further enhance heat flow away from the LED die. By enhancing heat dissipation, more current can be used to drive the LED. The use of more current facilitates the production of brighter LEDs. |
| US08080824B2 |
Suppressing recombination in an electronic device
A semiconductor material structure includes at least one region capable of generating electrons and holes each having an associated mean kinetic energy during operation. A material layer in proximity to the region provides an associated potential energy larger than the mean kinetic energy associated with the generated electrons and the mean kinetic energy associated with the holes. |
| US08080819B2 |
LED package methods and systems
Methods and systems are provided for LED modules that include an LED die integrated in an LED package with a submount that includes an electronic component for controlling the light emitted by the LED die. The electronic component integrated in the submount may include drive hardware, a network interface, memory, a processor, a switch-mode power supply, a power facility, or another type of electronic component. |
| US08080818B2 |
Light emitting device
A light emitting device includes: a first layer made of a semiconductor of a first conductivity type; a second layer made of a semiconductor of a second conductivity type; an active layer including a multiple quantum well provided between the first layer and the second layer, impurity concentration of the first conductivity type in each barrier layer of the multiple quantum well having a generally flat distribution or increasing toward the second layer, average of the impurity concentration in the barrier layer on the second layer side as viewed from each well layer of the multiple quantum well being equal to or greater than average of the impurity concentration in the barrier layer on the first layer side, and average of the impurity concentration in the barrier layer nearest to the second layer being higher than average of the impurity concentration in the barrier layer nearest to the first layer. |
| US08080816B2 |
Silver-selenide/chalcogenide glass stack for resistance variable memory
The invention is related to methods and apparatus for providing a resistance variable memory element with improved data retention and switching characteristics. According to an embodiment of the invention a resistance variable memory element is provided having at least one silver-selenide layer in between glass layers, wherein at least one of the glass layers is a chalcogenide glass, preferably having a GexSe100-x composition. |
| US08080813B2 |
Ion implanter, internal structure of ion implanter and method of forming a coating layer in the ion implanter
An ion implanter includes a process chamber and a coating layer. The process chamber receives a substrate and provides a space to perform an ion implantation process on the substrate. The coating layer is disposed on an inner wall of the process chamber to reduce contamination of the substrate and includes the same material as that of the substrate. |
| US08080812B2 |
Multi-attribute light effects for use in curing and other applications involving photoreactions and processing
Systems and methods that provide multi-attribute light effects, including one or more channels for each light effect, preferably both channels being provided in an array of solid state light emitters. |
| US08080806B2 |
Electron tube
An electron tube of the present invention includes: a vacuum vessel including a face plate portion made of synthetic silica and having a surface on which a photoelectric surface is provided, a stem portion arranged facing the photoelectric surface and made of synthetic silica, and a side tube portion having one end connected to the face plate portion and the other end connected to the stem portion and made of synthetic silica; a projection portion arranged in the vacuum vessel, extending from the stem portion toward the photoelectric surface, and made of synthetic silica; and an electron detector arranged on the projection portion, for detecting electrons from the photoelectric surface, and made of silicon. |
| US08080803B2 |
Detector module, radiation detector and radiation recording device
A detector module is disclosed including a plurality of directly converting detector submodules, each with a back contact, and a scattered radiation collimator spanning the detector submodules. For contacting the back contacts, a contacting unit is provided in at least one embodiment and designed so that a contact connection is established between the contacting unit and the counter-electrodes by way of assembly-related proximity of the scattered radiation collimator and the counter-electrodes. |
| US08080802B2 |
Radiation detecting apparatus, radiographic image capturing system, and radiographic image capturing method
In a radiographic image capturing system, when a radiation detector is activated by a battery which is capable of being charged by a charging apparatus, charging of the battery by the charging apparatus is controlled based on whether image-capturing with respect to a subject is performed or not and/or whether delivery of the radiographic image information from the radiation detector is performed or not. |
| US08080801B2 |
Inorganic scintillating mixture and a sensor assembly for charged particle dosimetry
An inorganic scintillating mixture includes at least a first and a second component, each having a characteristic behavior in response to the irradiation with charged particles, such as protons and heavy ions, showing a typical Bragg peak with respect to a relative depth dose. The first component has a quenching characteristic in the Bragg peak region and the second component shows an increased efficiency in the Bragg peak region both related to a reference curve for the relative dose. |
| US08080798B2 |
Gas measurement system
A gas measurement system includes a housing adapted to be mounted on an airway adapter, and a luminescence quenching gas measurement assembly disposed in the housing. The luminescence quenching gas measurement assembly includes a source disposed in a first plane, and at least one detector also disposed in the first plane. |
| US08080794B1 |
Microbolometer heating compensation systems and methods
A microbolometer circuit includes, in accordance with an embodiment, a first microbolometer and a bias circuit, coupled to the first microbolometer, configured to provide a bias current to the first microbolometer to provide a first output signal based on a resistance of the first microbolometer. An output circuit, coupled to the bias circuit and the first microbolometer, is configured to provide an output signal based on the first output signal, wherein the bias circuit or the output circuit or both are configured to provide a varying signal level to compensate the first output signal for a change in the resistance of the first microbolometer due to the bias current increasing a temperature of the first microbolometer. |
| US08080792B2 |
Active adaptive thermal stealth system
The present invention relates to a thermal vision countermeasure system to enable concealment of objects from identification by thermal imaging night vision systems, including a screen made of thermoelectric modules, disposed between the target object and an IR detector. The screen, formed of at least one thermoelectric unit, is coupled to the target object, and the thermoelectric unit includes a Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC) module coupled to a plate formed of a material selected from aluminum, copper, or aluminum with copper, the plate being substantially larger than the TEC module. |
| US08080789B2 |
Sample dimension measuring method and scanning electron microscope
The present invention suppresses decreases in the volumes of the patterns which have been formed on the surfaces of semiconductor samples or of the like, or performs accurate length measurements, irrespective of such decreases. In an electrically charged particle ray apparatus by which the line widths and other length data of the patterns formed on samples are to be measured by scanning the surface of each sample with electrically charged particle rays and detecting the secondary electrons released from the sample, the scanning line interval of said electrically charged particle rays is set so as not to exceed the irradiation density dictated by the physical characteristics of the sample. Or measured length data is calculated from prestored approximation functions. |
| US08080788B2 |
Linear ion trap as ion reactor
In a linear ion trap ions of both positive and negative polarities are stored simultaneously for fragmentation reactions caused by electron transfer dissociation (ETD). The ion trap comprises a plurality of parallel pole rods or stacked rings and the ions are stored by applying two phases of a first RF voltage to the pole rods or stacked rings in alternation, thereby radially confining both positive and negative ions. A second, single-phase RF voltage is applied to all the pole rods or stacked rings in common and creates a pseudopotential barrier at the ends of the linear ion trap that acts axially on ions of both polarities in order to maintain the ions in the trap. |
| US08080783B2 |
Atmospheric pressure ion source for mass spectrometry
A multiple function atmospheric pressure ion source interfaced to a mass spectrometer comprises multiple liquid inlet probes configured such that the sprays from two or more probes intersect in a mixing region. Gas phase sample ions or neutral species generated in the spray of one probe can react with reagent gas ions generated from one or more other probes by such ionization methods as Electrospray, photoionization, corona discharge and glow discharge ionization. Reagent ions may be optimally selected to promote such processes as Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization of neutral sample molecules, or charge reduction or electron transfer dissociation of multiply charged sample ions. Selected neutral reagent species can also be introduced into the mixing region to promote charge reduction of multiply charged sample ions through ion-neutral reactions. Different operating modes can be performed alternately or simultaneously, and can be rapidly turned on and off under manual or software control. |
| US08080782B2 |
Dithered multi-pulsing time-of-flight mass spectrometer
A detection signal generated in response to incident ions accelerated at temporally-irregular intervals having an average repetition rate greater than a reference repetition rate represents detection events each having an event time and an intensity. For each detection event, respective allowed TOFs between the event time and the transient times are calculated. Using respective initial probabilities, initial apportionments of the intensity of each detection event among the allowed TOFs linked thereto are determined. For each allowed TOF, the intensity apportionments thereto are accumulated to generate an intensity accumulation linked thereto. For each detection event, respective revised probabilities are iteratively determined using the intensity accumulations linked to the allowed TOFs linked thereto, and the respective intensity is iteratively reapportioned among the allowed TOFs linked thereto using the revised probabilities to transform the detection signal to a time-of-flight spectrum. |
| US08080781B2 |
Configuration design of detector shielding for wireline and MWD/LWD down-hole thermal neutron porosity tools
An apparatus for estimating a property of an earth formation penetrated by a borehole, the apparatus includes: a carrier configured to be conveyed through the borehole; a neutron source disposed at the carrier and configured to irradiate the earth formation with neutrons; a neutron detector disposed at the carrier and configured to detect neutrons reflected by the earth formation to the detector; a neutron reflector disposed partially around the detector, an area of the detector not covered by the reflector being configured to admit the reflected neutrons; and a neutron absorber disposed at least around the reflector. |
| US08080778B2 |
Channel cell system
The present invention provides an improved cold-atom system having multiple chambers such that a first of the chambers includes an atom source. The system also includes an atom trap disposed inside a second of the chambers. A fluidic connection is provided between the first of the vacuum chamber and the second of the vacuum chamber. |
| US08080777B2 |
Optical device and optical system
Provided is an optical device, comprising a plurality of polarizers that are arranged along a propagation direction of incident light; a first phase element that is disposed between the plurality of polarizers and that has a phase lag axis forming a prescribed angle relative to transmission axes of the polarizers arranged along the propagation direction; and a second phase element that is disposed between the first phase element and one of the polarizers arranged along the propagation direction, and that provides the incident light with a prescribed phase difference. An angle of the phase lag axis of the second phase element is adjusted such that the optical device transmits light in a prescribed wavelength region in the incident light. |
| US08080775B2 |
Differential source follower source leader addressable node readout circuit
A readout circuit for reading from addressable nodes comprises first and second half-circuits of a differential amplifier. The first half-circuit comprises at least one source follower transistor adapted to receive an input signal from one of the addressable nodes, such as pixel readouts of an imaging system. The first half-circuit further comprises a row selector switch coupled to the source follower transistor to selectively activate the source follower transistor to receive the input signal. The second half-circuit comprises an output node for providing an output signal of a readout of a selected addressable node. The second half-circuit further comprises a source leader transistor coupled to the output node to provide a feedback signal based on the readout. A feedback loop is connected to the source leader transistor to provide feedback from the output node for utilization in a differential amplification of the input signal. |
| US08080771B2 |
Steering system and method for a guided flying apparatus
A steering system for use in a traveling guided flying apparatus (10) and method for driving the steering system are provided. The system includes an outer housing (111), an inner housing (113) and a support fins (112) extending inwardly from the outer housing (111) and holding the inner housing (113) thereon. The outer housing (111) and the inner housing (113) define a ram air inlet (114) at a nose of the forward portion (11), an annular inlet air passage (115), an annular pressure chamber (116), and an outlet air passage (125). The steering system further includes exhaust outlets (120) arranged in the outer housing and separately controlled valves (124) mounted at the exhaust outlets (120) configured to vary the flow of escaping air through the exhaust outlets (120). The steering system also includes a target seeker (121), one or more pressure sensors (119) mounted in the pressure chamber (116) and a control unit (122) for controlling flight of the guided projectile (10). |
| US08080768B2 |
Arrangement for a cooktop and a worktop
An arrangement with a worktop and a cooktop with a cooking surface, a mounting frame and a decorative frame, which is arranged in a recess in the worktop, with the distance elements, embodied for relative positioning of the cooktop in relation to the recess and on which the cooktop rests, being arranged between the cooktop and the worktop. |
| US08080764B2 |
Hair iron
A hair iron apparatus preferably includes an upper housing pivotally associated with a lower housing. A first heat transfer plate is associated with the upper housing and a second heat transfer plate is associated with the lower housing. A first heater is affixed to the first heat transfer plate by a first adhesive, and a second heater is affixed to the second heat transfer plate by a second adhesive. |
| US08080763B2 |
Method of controlling arc welding and welding apparatus
A wire feeding speed is decreased to a level lower than a base wire feeding speed in a short-circuiting period, and set to the base wire feeding speed in an arcing period. During the arcing period, a welding current is increased to a predetermined peak value by means of current control from the start of arcing to a first predetermined time, the welding current is then supplied with a welding voltage, a source voltage of which is controlled constant, from the first predetermined time to a second predetermined time, and the welding current is decreased to a predetermined base current by means of current control from the second predetermined time until the end of the arcing period. |
| US08080760B2 |
Apparatuses for adjusting electrode gap in capacitively-coupled RF plasma reactor
A plasma processing chamber includes a cantilever assembly configured to neutralize atmospheric load. The chamber includes a wall surrounding an interior region and having an opening formed therein. A cantilever assembly includes a substrate support for supporting a substrate within the chamber. The cantilever assembly extends through the opening such that a portion is located outside the chamber. The chamber includes an actuation mechanism operative to move the cantilever assembly relative to the wall. |
| US08080757B2 |
Sliding button mechanism and portable electronic device using the same
A sliding button mechanism includes a housing defining an aperture, a button slidably mounted on the housing and closing the aperture; a conductive and elastic connector member secured on the button; and a circuit board secured in the housing and including a plurality of contact areas. The connector member is positioned between the button and the circuit board. When the button is slid in the aperture, the connector member is driven to selectively contacts with the contact areas to generate different electronic connections. |
| US08080755B2 |
Key structure and keyboard having such key structure
A key structure and a keyboard including multiple key structures are provided. The key structure includes a keycap, a base plate and a scissors-type support member between the keycap and the base plate. The scissors-type support member includes an inner frame having a convex part and an outer frame having a V-shaped notch. The convex part is received in the V-shaped notch. By controlling relative positions between the convex part and the V-shaped notch, the keycap is stably moved in the vertical direction. |
| US08080754B2 |
Push switch
A push switch includes a housing having a top opening and a recessed section at a lower part, a push-type switch contact placed on an inner bottom face of the recessed section, an operating unit having an operating section at an upper part and a flange section at a lower part, a resilient unit placed under the operating unit in the recessed section for energizing the operating unit upward, and a cover for covering the top opening and having a center hole from which the operating section extends upward. The operating unit is movable vertically guided by a guide projection placed on inner walls confronting each other of the recessed section and extending vertically and by a concave section formed on the flange section for mating with the guide projection. The operating section includes faces vertically rising from the positions where the concave sections are recessed most inward. |
| US08080749B2 |
Switch and welding method of same
A switch comprises a switch housing including a cover, a terminal block welded to the cover and a fixed contact point therein, a moving block provided with a boss for fitting a manual shaft of an automatic transmission and a movable contact point corresponding to the fixed contact point and movable to the switch housing and elastic seal rings interposed between inner and outer peripheral surfaces of each of the terminal block and the cover, and the operation portion. One of the cover or the terminal block is formed of a colored, laser transmissive material and the other is formed of a laser non-transmissive material. The terminal block and the cover are automatically aligned with the moving block by an elastic force of the seal ring and a thermal welding part is circularly formed by means of a laser beam on the side of the outer periphery in each of the terminal block and the cover to be aligned for coupling the terminal block with the cover to fix the alignment. |
| US08080748B2 |
Circuit breaker with adjustable spring assembly biasing
An adjustable carrier assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus such as, for example, a circuit breaker. The adjustable carrier assembly includes a carrier body having a first carrier member and a second carrier member pivotably coupled to the first carrier member. An adjustment mechanism is coupled to the carrier body, and a plurality of springs is disposed between the adjustment mechanism and the second carrier member. The springs apply a bias force on the second carrier member, and the adjustment mechanism is adjustable with respect to the carrier body in order to adjust the bias force. |
| US08080740B2 |
Printed circuit board and method of manufacturing the same
A first insulating layer is formed on a suspension body, and a write wiring trace is formed on the first insulating layer. A second insulating layer is formed on the first insulating layer so as to cover the wiring trace. A ground layer is formed on the second insulating layer so as to be positioned above the wiring trace. Moreover, a third insulating layer is formed on the second insulating layer so as to cover the ground layer. A read wiring trace is formed on the third insulating layer. A fourth insulating layer is formed on the third insulating layer so as to cover the wiring trace. |
| US08080739B2 |
Signal connecting component
A signal connecting component is suitable to be disposed on a circuit board. The signal connecting component includes an insulation element, at least a first bridge line, at least a second bridge line, a plurality of first pins and a plurality of second pins. The first bridge line and the second bridge line are disposed on different layers of the insulation element. The first pins and the second pins are respectively electrically connected to both ends of the first bridge line and both ends of the second bridge line. |
| US08080737B2 |
Ceramic substrate, method of manufacturing the same, and electrical device using the same
Provided are a ceramic substrate, a method of manufacturing the same, and an electrical device using the same. A ceramic substrate includes a first laminated body, a second laminated body and an adhesive part. The first laminated body includes a predetermined electrode formed therein. The second laminated body is laminated on and electrically connected to the first laminated body. Also, the adhesive part is intervened between the first laminated body and the second laminated body to adhere the first and second laminated bodies through interfacial reaction. |
| US08080733B2 |
Electronic apparatus
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a casing, an attachment portion, a first projecting portion, a second projecting portion and a conductive member. The casing has an outer wall, an inner surface of which is provided with a first conductive layer. The attachment portion is provided on the inner surface of the outer wall, provided with an opening which is open to an outside of the outer wall and includes a bridging portion bridging the opening. The first projecting portion projects from the attachment portion in a position apart from the opening. The second projecting portion, projecting from the attachment portion, is located between the opening and the first projecting portion and provided with a second conductive layer electrically connected to the first conductive layer. The conductive member is attached to the attachment portion, and has a first portion elastically brought into contact with the second conductive layer. |
| US08080726B2 |
Solar cell modules comprising compositionally distinct encapsulant layers
The present invention provides a solar cell pre-laminate assembly comprising one or more solar cells laminated between two compositionally distinct encapsulant layers, and the method of preparing a solar cell module from such an assembly. |
| US08080723B2 |
Rhythm matching parallel processing apparatus in music synchronization system of motion capture data and computer program thereof
Computation time of correlation comparison between rhythm features obtained from motion capture (MoCap) data and rhythm features obtained from music data is shortened. A rhythm matching parallel processing apparatus includes a feature holding unit which holds beat information of a music segment of input music data and MoCap data having motion beat features of high correlation with beat features of the input music data, a correlative value computation parallel execution procedure registering unit which registers a correlation value computation parallel execution procedure, and a correlation value parallel computing unit which computes in parallel correlation values between the motion beat features of the MoCap data and the beat information of the music segment held in the feature holding unit. The correlation value parallel computing unit obtains in parallel a highest correlation value between the beat features of the music segment and the motion beat features of the MoCap data. |
| US08080722B2 |
Preventing an unintentional deploy of a bonus in a video game
Described are methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer program products, for preventing an unintentional deploy of a bonus in a video game. In one aspect this is accomplished by displaying, on a display in communication with a game platform, a target music data of a musical composition. The game platform receives a music performance input data via the microphone, and also determines if the music performance input data has a predetermined degree of matching with a vocal cue. If so, the performance input data is prevented from executing an improvisation deploy. |
| US08080721B2 |
Hammer for electronic keyboard instrument
A hammer for an electronic keyboard instrument, constructed to ensure secure mounting of a weight to a hammer body and enable both assembly and disassembly of the hammer to be easily performed. The hammer includes a hammer body having a weight mounting portion that is open on one side in a left-right direction and a weight removably mounted to the hammer body via a mounting portion. The weight mounting portion has a housing portion that has an opening having a shape complementary to the mounting portion, and houses the mounting portion in a manner slidable between a fit-in position and a fixed position, latching portions for latching the mounting portion incapable of falling off from the opening when in the fixed position, and holding portions for holding the mounting portion non-slidable to the fit-in position. |
| US08080719B1 |
Maize variety PHHEW
A novel maize variety designated PHHEW and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHHEW with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHHEW 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 PHHEW or a trait conversion of PHHEW with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHHEW, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHHEW and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods. |
| US08080714B2 |
Soybean cultivar S090245
A soybean cultivar designated S090245 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S090245, to the plants of soybean S090245, to plant parts of soybean cultivar S090245, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar S090245 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety S090245, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S090245, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar S090245 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US08080710B2 |
Soybean cultivar 88441198
A soybean cultivar designated 88441198 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 88441198, to the plants of soybean 88441198, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 88441198 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 88441198 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean variety 88441198, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 88441198 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 88441198 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US08080708B2 |
Maize multidrug resistance-associated protein polynucleotides and methods of use
Compositions and methods are provided for modulating the level of phytate in plants. More specifically, the invention relates to methods of modulating the level of phytate utilizing nucleic acids comprising multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) nucleotide sequences to modulate the expression of MRP(s) in a plant of interest. The compositions and methods of the invention find use in agriculture for improving the nutritional quality of food and feed by reducing the levels of phytate and/or increasing the levels of non-phytate phosphorus in food and feed. The invention also finds use in reducing the environmental impact of animal waste. |
| US08080707B2 |
Non-dehiscent sesame
Methods for improving the agriculture of sesame, an Improved Non-Dehiscent (IND) sesame class and methods for breeding IND are disclosed. The IND sesame holds its seed in capsules for four or more weeks after ideal harvesting time, during extended adverse weather conditions, thus offering the grower flexibility as to when to harvest. The methods also improve current agricultural methods for growing sesame by allowing growers to leave the crop in the field for a longer period of time without the loss of seeds and concomitant reduced yield. The grower is able to reduce the ratio of combine harvesters required for mechanical harvest of sesame crops. Further, a method of growing crops in geographical areas previously unsuitable for sesame agriculture is disclosed. IND allows ready release of seed from the capsule during mechanized harvesting with minimal broken seed. |
| US08080706B2 |
Isolated nucleic acids encoding autoactivated resistance proteins and uses thereof
The invention relates to nucleic acid, which codes for an autoactivated resistance protein for creating a resistance to pathogens in plants, characterized in that the nucleic acid has a limited portion of an NBS-LRR resistance gene, which extends from the 5′-end of the coded region of the NBS-LRR resistance downstream to the beginning of the NBS domain of the NBS-LRR resistance gene, the NBS-LRR resistance gene not being a TIR-NBS-LRR resistance gene. |
| US08080705B2 |
Superabsorbent polymers comprising direct covalent bonds between polymer chain segments and method of making them
The present invention relates to superabsorbent polymer particles with improved surface cross-linking and their use in absorbent articles.Superabsorbent polymers of the invention comprise polymer chain segments, wherein at least a part of these polymer chain segments are cross-linked to each other through direct covalent bonds.Moreover, the invention relates to a process for making these superabsorbent polymer particles. |
| US08080701B2 |
Method and apparatus for treating a hydrocarbon stream
A method of treating a hydrocarbon stream such as natural gas comprising at least the steps of: (a) providing a hydrocarbon feed stream (10); (b) passing the feed stream (10) through a first separation vessel (12) to provide a first gaseous stream (20) and a first liquid stream (30); (c) passing the first gaseous stream (20) from step (b) through a high pressure separation vessel (14) to provide a second gaseous stream (40) and a second liquid stream (80); (d) maintaining the pressure of the first gaseous stream (20) between step (b) and step (c) within +10 bar; (e) passing the first liquid stream (30) of step (b) through a stabilizer column (16) to provide a third gaseous stream (60) and a stabilized condensate (70); and (f) feeding the second liquid stream (80) from step (c) into the stabilizer column (16). |
| US08080696B2 |
Method for producing olefin
The present invention provides a method for producing an olefin represented by General Formula (II): RfCF═CH2 (II) (wherein Rf is defined as below), wherein the method includes the step of contacting a fluorohalide represented by General Formula (I): RfCF2CH2X (I) (wherein Rf is H(CF2)n (n=1 to 8) or F(CF2)n (n=1 to 8), and X is Br or I) with a metal in a reaction medium of a polar organic solvent, or a mixed solvent of water and a polar organic solvent to conduct a dehalogenation reaction.The production method of the present invention provides olefins in a highly selective manner at a low cost and high yield under relatively mild reaction conditions. |
| US08080693B2 |
Production of ethanol from methanol
A process for converting methanol to ethanol which comprises reacting methanol and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst to produce a product comprising at least 25 mole % methyl acetate and, in some instances, acetic acid. The acetic acid then is reacted with at least one alcohol to produce at least one acetate selected from methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, and butyl acetate. The at least one acetate (if produced) and the methyl acetate produced as a result of reacting methanol and carbon monoxide then are hydrogenated to produce ethanol. Syngas may be produced from biomass to produce all or a portion of the methanol, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide requirements for the process. |
| US08080690B2 |
Fragrance precursor
The invention relates to a compound of the following formula (I) X—CR1R2R3 wherein —R1 is an organic moiety having 6 to 24 carbon atoms; —R2 is H or an organic moiety having 6 to 24 carbon atoms; —R3 is X or OH; —X is a moiety of the following formula (II): or an ammonium or C1-C4 alkyl ammonium salt of the moiety of formula (II); wherein -x is 0 or 1; -y is 0 or 1; -z is 0 or 1; -m is a number from 2 to 10; -n is a number from 0 to 10; -o is a number from 0 to 10; —R4 is H or a C1-C4 alkyl group; —R5 is a C6-C22 alkyl or alkenyl group or, if n or o is at least 1, a C7-C23 acyl group; —R6 is H or R5; —R7 is a C1-C4 alkylene group. which is capable of delivering aldehyde-type or ketone-type fragrance compounds, providing a long-lasting release of said fragrance compounds. This compound can be incorporated into fiber conditioning compositions, such as hair conditioners and fabric softeners, to enhance the fragrance performance. The compound provides controlled release from the substrate where it has been deposited over an extended period of time. |
| US08080689B2 |
Nitrogen and hindered phenol containing dual functional macromolecular antioxidants: synthesis, performances and applications
Disclosed are compounds represented by structural formula (I): methods of producing compounds represented by structural formula (I), and their use in inhibiting oxidation in an oxidizable material. |
| US08080687B2 |
Method for reducing aerosol emissions in a urea granulation plant
The invention relates to a process for the granulation of a concentrated urea solution whereas the granulation produces a urea granulate and a dust laden air, which is then fed into a dust scrubber which removes the coarser dust with a less concentrated urea solution and which releases a residual air comprising air with ammonia, carbon dioxide water and an aerosol comprising mainly ammonium isocyanate and a part of very fine urea sublimate, whereas the aerosol is then separated off and fed into a isomerisation unit which comprises a stripping where the ammonium isocyanate reacts with steam to form urea which is then redirected into the dust scrubber as a less concentrated urea solution, and the residual air is directed into an acidic scrubber which releases clean air into the atmosphere which finally leads to a recycling of the aerosol of ammonium isocyanate into urea. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the related process. |
| US08080685B2 |
System and process for production of benzoic acids and phthalic acids
A method for producing benzoic acid or a methylbenzoic acid isomer is disclosed which comprises forming a dispersion comprising oxygen-containing gas bubbles dispersed in either toluene or an xylene isomer, wherein the bubbles have a mean diameter less than 1 micron. The dispersion is then subjected to reaction conditions comprising a pressure of less than about 1013 kPa and a temperature of less than about 160° C., whereby at least a portion of the toluene or xylene isomer is partially oxidized to form benzoic acid or the corresponding methylbenzoic acid isomer, respectively. In some embodiments, the methylbenzoic acid isomer is an intermediate compound, and the method further includes subjecting any unreacted xylene isomer and the intermediate compound to further oxidization, to form 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, or 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid. A system of apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed. |
| US08080683B2 |
Electrochromic compound and electrochromic display device using the same
An electrochromic compound represented by the following General Formula (1). A-(CX2)n—B General Formula (1) In the formula, A is a monovalent binding group, B is a redox chromophore, X is a halogen atom, and n is an integer of 1 or more. |
| US08080673B2 |
Synthetic processes for the preparation of aminocyclohexyl ether compounds
This invention is directed to stereoselective synthesis of compounds of formula (I) or formula (II): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, amide, complex, chelate, clathrate, solvate, polymorph, stereoisomer, metabolite or prodrug thereof; wherein R3, R4 and R5 are defined herein. Compounds of formula (I) and formula (II) are known to be useful in treating arrhythmias. |
| US08080670B2 |
Process for the preparation of irbesartan
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of 2-butyl-3-[[2′-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl]-1,3-diazaspiro[4,4]non-1-en-4-one by reaction of the corresponding nitrile with sodium azide and piperazine or its acid salt. |
| US08080669B2 |
Process for the synthesis of 2-aminoxazole compounds
The present invention relates to a process for synthesizing in good yield substituted 2-aminoaryloxazole compounds of formula I which are useful as certain tyrosine kinase inhibitors and more particularly as c-kit, bcr-abl, Flt-3 and mutant forms thereof. |
| US08080665B2 |
Piperidine compounds useful as malonyl-CoA decarboxylase inhibitors
The present invention provides methods for the use of compounds as depicted by structure I, pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, and methods for the prophylaxis, management and treatment of metabolic diseases and diseases modulated by MCD inhibition. The compounds disclosed in this invention are useful for the prophylaxis, management and treatment of diseases involving in malonyl-CoA regulated glucose/fatty acid metabolism pathway. In particular, these compounds and pharmaceutical composition containing the same are indicated in the prophylaxis, management and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and obesity. |
| US08080660B2 |
Metal complex glycogen synthase kinase 3 inhibitors
The present inventive subject matter relates to novel metal complex glycogen synthase kinase 3 inhibitors, methods for making such compounds, and methods for using such compounds for treating diseases and disorders mediated by glycogen synthase kinase 3 activity. Compound II, below, represents an exemplary metal complex glycogen synthase kinase 3 inhibitor according to the present disclosure, wherein variable groups are defined as provided herein: |
| US08080659B2 |
CXCR4 antagonists including diazine and triazine structures for the treatment of medical disorders
The invention provides compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use of certain compounds that are antagonists of the chemokine CXCR4 receptor for the treatment of proliferative conditions mediated by CXCR4 receptors or for the treatment of viral infections. The compounds provided interfere with the binding of SDF1 to the receptor. These compounds are particularly useful for treating or reducing the severity of hyperproliferative diseases by inhibiting metastasis, or for reducing entry of HIV in to a cell while not reducing the capacity of the stem cells to proliferate. The compounds may be useful for long term treatment regimes. |
| US08080658B2 |
Material for organic electroluminescent element and organic electroluminescent element employing the same
A material for organic electroluminescence devices for use as a host material in combination with at least one phosphorescent metal complex contains a compound represented by formula 1: wherein R1 to R10 are each independently hydrogen atom, halogen atom, alkyl group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl group having 3 to 15 carbon atoms, heterocyclic group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms which is optionally substituted, alkoxy group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms, non-condensed aryl group having 6 to 40 carbon atoms, condensed aryl group having 10 to 18 carbon atoms, aryloxy group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, aralkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, arylamino group having 6 to 40 carbon atoms, alkylamino group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms, aralkylamino group having 7 to 60 carbon atoms, arylcarbonyl group having 7 to 40 carbon atoms, alkyl halide group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms, or cyano group, R8 and R9 being optionally bonded to each other to form a ring structure and each of R1 to R10 being optionally substituted and having no polymerizable functional group at its terminal end; and X is sulfur atom or oxygen atom. |
| US08080654B2 |
Macrocyclic quinoxaline compounds as HCV NS3 protease inhibitors
The present invention relates to macrocyclic a compound of formula (I) and its use as inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 protease, and in treating or preventing HCV infections. |
| US08080653B2 |
Synthesis of phosphono-substituted porphyrin compounds for attachment to metal oxide surfaces
A method of making a phosphono-substituted dipyrromethane comprises reacting an aldehyde or acetal having at least one phosphono group substituted thereon with pyrrole to produce a phosphono-substituted dipyrromethane; and wherein the phosphono is selected from the group consisting of dialkyl phosphono, diaryl phosphono, and dialkylaryl phosphono. Additional methods, intermediates and products are also described. |
| US08080647B2 |
Tetracycline repressor and uses thereof
Compositions and methods relating to the use of tetracycline repressor in plants are provided. Compositions include a polynucleotide modified for expression in a plant, wherein the polynucleotide encodes a tetracycline repressor protein, as well as constructs, vectors, cells, plants and seeds comprising the polynucleotide, an/or produced by the methods. Also provided are methods to provide tetracycline repressor to a cell, and to regulate expression of a polynucleotide of interest in a cell, including a plant cell. |
| US08080643B2 |
HPV primers
The present invention provides methods, kits, and compositions related to human papillomavirus (HPV) primers, which may be used, for example, in nucleic acid detection assays for use in basic research, clinical research, and for the development of clinical detection assays. |
| US08080641B2 |
Process for the production of multiple cross-linked hyaluronic acid derivatives
The present invention relates to a process for the production of cross-linked hyaluronic acid (HA) derivatives, in particular multiple, e.g. double cross-linked hyaluronic acid derivatives. The invention also provides novel cross-linked HA derivatives, products containing them and their uses in medical and pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. |
| US08080640B2 |
Recombinant transferrins, transferrin half-molecules and mutants thereof
Recombinant transferrin, non-glycosylated recombinant transferrin, transferrin half-molecules and mutant transferrins having altered metal-binding or other properties are described. The recombinant transferrin molecules are expressed in functional form by stable eukaryotic cell lines such as baby hamster kidney cells transformed with an expression vector encoding the recombinant molecule. The recombinant transferrins can be used in metal chelation therapy to bind and clear excess toxic metals in patients suffering from metal overloads or as tissue culture medium supplements or replacements. |
| US08080635B2 |
Non-functional P2X7 receptor
The present invention provides antibodies that specifically bind to P2X7 receptors and distinguish between function and non-functional P2X7 receptors, pharmaceutical compositions and kits containing the antibodies, and methods of using the antibodies for the detection, diagnosis and treatment of disease conditions. |
| US08080632B2 |
Peptide mimics of melanocyte stimulating hormone
Provided are peptides having melanocyte stimulating hormone activity. Also provided are vectors encoding these peptides and transgenic cells comprising the above vectors. Additionally, methods of reducing or preventing release of an inflammatory cytokine from mammalian cells are provided, as are methods for treating a mammal suffering from, or at risk for, a condition mediated by an inflammatory cytokine cascade. Further provided are methods of reducing levels of an inflammatory cytokine in a mammal, methods of treating an overweight mammal, methods of decreasing food intake in a mammal and methods of inhibiting innate immunity in the digestive system of a mammal. |
| US08080631B2 |
Siloxane-modified hyperbranched polyimide
It is an object of the present invention to provide a siloxane-modified hyperbranched polyimide which has more excellent electric properties (low dielectric property), gas permeability, mechanical properties (low modulus), surface properties (adhesiveness) and the like while maintaining thermal stability, mechanical strength, chemical resistance and processability and the like intrinsic to polyimide and which may be variously functionalized and can be utilized advantageously in industrial applications. A siloxane structure represented by the following structural formula (1) is introduced into a three-dimensional structured hyperbranched polyimide molecule. (wherein R1 represents a hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and n indicates an integer of from 1 to 50). |
| US08080628B2 |
Polycarbonate resin and electrophotographic photosensitive body using the same
An electrophotographic photosensitive body which has both good image stability and wear resistance under high temperature and high humidity conditions can be obtained by using a novel polycarbonate resin, which contains a structural unit represented by the general formula (I) below and having a long-chain unsaturated hydrocarbon group having a double bond, as a binder resin for a charge transport layer of an electrophotographic photosensitive body. In the formula (I), R1-R4 preferably represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, respectively; a represents a number of 7-20; and R6 represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or a phenyl group. Particularly preferably, the structural unit represented by the general formula (I) below is derived from 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)-10-undecene or 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10-undecene. |
| US08080627B2 |
Polycarbonate resin, process for producing the same and electrophotographic photoreceptor using the same
The present invention provides an electrophotographic photoreceptor having excellent lubricity and abrasion resistance by using a novel polycarbonate resin comprising structural units having a polysiloxane chain in the shape of grafts as represented by the following general formula (1) with a viscosity-average molecular weight of 12,000 to 100,000 as a binder resin for a charge transport layer of a electrophotographic photoreceptor. wherein R1 to R5 each independently represents hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group or an aralkyl group. R6 represents an alkylene group. Y represents a polysiloxane chain. |
| US08080626B2 |
Chain extenders
This invention provides chain extender compositions. These compositions comprise (i) an aromatic primary diamine, and (ii) a component selected from the group consisting of: (a) an aliphatic secondary diamine; (b) an aliphatic primary diamine; (c) an aliphatic secondary diamine and an aliphatic primary diamine; (d) a diimine; and (e) a combination of any two or more of (a) through (d). When (ii) is (a), (a) has amino hydrocarbyl groups which are secondary or tertiary hydrocarbyl groups; when (ii) is (d), and (d) is an aromatic diimine, each imino hydrocarbylidene group has at least two carbon atoms. Processes for producing polyurethanes, polyureas, and polyurea-urethanes are also provided. |
| US08080625B2 |
Organopolysiloxanes containing quaternary ammonium groups, the production and use thereof
Polysiloxanes containing both epoxy groups and quaternary ammonium groups bonded to the polysiloxane through ring-opened epoxy groups provide a soft hand and wash fastness to fibrous substrates. |
| US08080622B2 |
Soluble silicone prepolymers
In one aspect, the invention relates to silicon-based prepolymers. The disclosed prepolymers exhibit satisfactory solubility in aqueous solutions or hydrophilic solutions and can overcome undesirable shrinkage, expansion, and related problems possessed by conventional silicone monomers and related conventional polymerization techniques by producing hydrogels from a crosslinkable prepolymer. Also disclosed are polymers and molded articles produced from the disclosed prepolymers, which attain a satisfactory oxygen permeability. Also disclosed are methods for producing the disclosed prepolymers. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. |
| US08080621B2 |
Aqueous process for making fluoropolymers
A novel aqueous polymerization process for making fluoropolymer dispersions is disclosed in which non-ionic non-fluorinated emulsifier is used to produce fluoropolymer emulsions. The emulsifiers contain blocks of polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol and/or polytetramethylene glycol. The process and fluoropolymer produced contain no fluorinated surfactant. The fluoropolymers have excellent resistance to discoloration. |
| US08080620B2 |
Process for continuously producing water-absorbing polymer particles
A process for continuously producing water-absorbing polymer particles, comprising polymerization, drying, grinding, classification and at least partial recycling of the undersize obtained in the classification, wherein the polymer gel obtained by the polymerization is withdrawn from the polymerization reactor and mixed with the recycled undersize. |
| US08080615B2 |
Crosslinkable graft polymer non-preferentially wetted by polystyrene and polyethylene oxide
Methods for fabricating a random graft PS-r-PEO copolymer and its use as a neutral wetting layer in the fabrication of sublithographic, nanoscale arrays of elements including openings and linear microchannels utilizing self-assembling block copolymers, and films and devices formed from these methods are provided. In some embodiments, the films can be used as a template or mask to etch openings in an underlying material layer. |
| US08080613B2 |
Process for the preparation of polyolefin nanocamposites
The instant invention discloses a process for the preparation a polyolefin nanocomposite which comprises melt mixing a mixture of a polyolefin, a filler and a non-ionic surfactant. |
| US08080612B2 |
Polymeric compositions having low glass transition temperatures
The present invention provides polymeric compositions having a high polymer size and a low Tg. These novel compositions are useful as plastic additives. Also provided is a method of improving the processing of a matrix resin by adding one or more of the novel polymeric compositions. |
| US08080609B2 |
Low energy surface bonding system containing a primer with long open time
The invention is a composition comprisinga) one or more prepolymers having on average three or more aliphatic isocyanate groups and further containing alkoxysilane groups; b) one or more aromatic polyisocyanates; c) one or more compounds having at least one heterocyclic ring which hydrolyzes when exposed to moisture to form at least one isocyanate reactive group; d) one or more solvents; and e) one or more amine and/or organometallic polyurethane catalysts; wherein the ratio of aromatic isocyanate groups to aliphatic isocyanate groups in the composition is from about 0.5:1.0 to about 1.5:1.0, preferably about 0.9:1.0 to about 1.5:1.0, and the equivalent ratio of isocyanate groups to isocyanate reactive groups derivable from the one or more compounds having at least one hydrolyzable heterocylic ring is from about 0.8:1.0 to about 5.3:1.0, and most preferably about 1.5:1.0 to about 1.7:1.0. |
| US08080608B2 |
Optical films comprising phenyl ethylene (meth)acrylate monomers
Presently described are (e.g. microstructured) optical films and polymerizable resin compositions comprising at least one (meth)acrylate monomer comprising an unsubstituted or substituted phenyl ethylene group referred to as phenyl ethylene (meth)acrylate monomers. |
| US08080605B2 |
Polymer-filler coupling additives
Polymer-filler coupling compounds with the formula B-A-Sx—N are claimed. In these compounds, B is an azaheterocyclic oxygen or sulfur containing moiety, or an allyltin moiety; Sx is a polysulfide, where x is between 2 and about 10; A is a linking atom or group that forms a bridge between B and Sx; and N is a blocking group. Sx can be a disulfide. N can be a conventional blocking group or other group such as -A-B. Methods for using the polymer-filler coupling compounds to modify polymers containing unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds and promote filler dispersion are also claimed. Additionally, vulcanizable rubber compositions containing the polymer-filler coupling compounds and methods for making vulcanized rubber compositions using the polymer-filler coupling compounds are also claimed. |
| US08080601B2 |
Lubricating compositions containing ashless catalytic antioxidant additives
The invention comprises lubricating compositions and hydraulic fluids containing N,N′-diaryl-m-phenylene diamine compounds that impart good levels of oxidation inhibition in the lubricants and hydraulic fluids. |
| US08080600B2 |
Layered mixed-metal phosphonates for high dielectric strength polymer nanocomposites
Mixed metal phosphonates are generally provided. The mixed metal phosphonate can generally have the composition: AB(RPO3)3, where A is Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Pb2+, La3+, Co2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, or combinations thereof; B is Ti4+, Zr4+, Al3+, or combinations thereof; and R is an organic group (e.g., aryl group, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, etc.). The mixed metal phosphonate can be combined with a polymeric material to form a polymeric film. Methods of making the mixed metal phosphonate by combining and reacting a metal oxide and an organophosphonic acid are also provided. |
| US08080595B2 |
Process for grinding in an aqueous medium of mineral matter and binders using a reverse emulsion of a polymer acrylamide with an acrylic monomer
The invention consists of a process for preparation of self-binding pigmentary particles, dry or in aqueous suspension or dispersion, using in a particular stage of the process a reverse emulsion formed from a dispersion in an oily phase of water particles and of at least one polymer of acrylamide with an acrylic monomer. |
| US08080592B2 |
Extruded polymer foams containing brominated fatty acid-based flame retardant additives
Extruded polymer foams are prepared using brominated fatty acids, an ester, amide or ester-amide of a brominated fatty acid, a glyceride of one or more brominated fatty acids, or a polymerized brominated fatty acid as an FR additive. The brominated FR additives unexpectedly are stable at the extrusion temperatures, and provide excellent flame retardancy to the foams. |
| US08080589B2 |
Method for producing a bio-based polymeric shoe component
A method for producing a bio-based polymeric shoe component includes: preparing a blend from a composition including 5˜50 weight parts of a modified starch, 50˜95 weight parts of an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, 5˜30 weight parts of a filler, 1˜50 weight parts of a polyolefin, 2.0˜8.0 weight parts of a foaming agent, 0.5˜3.0 weight parts of a foaming aid, 0.5˜2.0 weight parts of a lubricant, and 0.4˜1.2 weight parts of a crosslinking agent, the modified starch being obtained by hydrolyzing and esterifying a predetermined amount of a raw starch to form a hydrolyzed and esterified starch, followed by drying the hydrolyzed and esterified starch; processing the blend into a foamable product; and forming the foamable product into the shoe component. |
| US08080588B2 |
Surfactants for tertiary mineral oil extraction based on branched alcohols
Surfactants of the general formula R1—X where R1 is an aliphatic C17H35-alkyl radical and X is a hydrophilic group, and the mean degree of branching of the R1 radical is from 2.8 to 3.7. Mixtures which comprise such surfactants and the use of such surfactants and of mixtures thereof for tertiary mineral oil extraction. |
| US08080580B2 |
Dioxa-bicyclo[3.2.1]octane-2,3,4-triol derivatives
Compounds of Formula (I) are described herein and the uses thereof for the treatment of diseases, conditions and/or disorders mediated by sodium-glucose transporter inhibitors (in particular, SGLT2 inhibitors). |
| US08080579B2 |
Compositions and methods for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease
The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating inflammatory bowel disease. In particular, the present invention provides methods of therapeutically treating symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease using compositions comprising an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and polyethylene glycol. |
| US08080578B2 |
Methods for treatment with bucindolol based on genetic targeting
The present invention concerns the use of methods for evaluating bucindolol treatment for a patient, particularly one with heart failure. It concerns methods for determining whether to administer or prescribe bucindolol to a patient based on whether the patient is homozygous for the Arg 389 polymorphism in the β1-adrenergic receptor (AR). |
| US08080575B2 |
Gamma-lactam compounds for promoting bone growth
The present invention provides compounds, compositions and methods for promoting bone growth. Compounds useful in the methods of the present invention include compounds of Formula I, wherein each R1 and R2 is H, halogen, C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, C1-6 haloalkyl, C2-6 alkenyl, C2-6 alkynyl, C1-6 haloalkoxy, —OR4, —NR4R5, —SR4, —C(O)R4, —C(O)OR4, —C(O)NR4R5, —N(R4)C(O)R5, —N(R4)C(O)OR5, —N(R4)C(O)NR4R5, —OP(O)(OR4)2, —S(O)2OR4, —S(O)2NR4R5, —CN, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl. Each R4 and R5 is H or C1-6 alkyl. X is O, S or NR4. Y is an aryl ring system having 6-10 ring members or a heteroaryl ring system having 5-10 ring members where 1-3 ring members are each N, O or S. Subscript n is 1 or 2. The compounds also include salts, hydrates and isomers of the compounds of the present invention. |
| US08080570B2 |
α2B and α2C agonists
Described herein are compounds that can be useful as bioactive agents. More specifically, the compounds described herein can be useful as both α2B and α2C adrenergic agonists. Methods of synthesis and administration of the compounds are also disclosed. |