Document Document Title
US08244049B2 Method, medium and apparatus effectively compressing and restoring edge position images
Provided are an apparatus and method for effectively compressing and restoring edge areas in an image. Therefore, by predicting values of pixels positioned at each directional edge, among pixels constructing a 2×2 block in a current image, using values of neighbor pixels of the pixels positioned at each directional edge, selecting an edge mode corresponding to a directional edge in which the difference between the predicted values and actual values of the pixels is a minimum, and outputting edge mode data indicating the edge mode instead of the predicted values corresponding to the edge mode, it is possible to effectively compress edge areas in which little similarity exists between pixel values, and accordingly improve a compression rate of edge areas.
US08244046B2 Character string updated degree evaluation program
There is provided a character string updated degree evaluation program that enables quantitative grasping of an amount of intellectual work through editing and updating of character strings. A text subjected to comparison is divided into common part character strings each having a length greater than or equal to a threshold value, and non-common part character strings. A number of edited points from the original text and a context edit distance are calculated based on the rate of the common part character strings and the occurrence pattern thereof. A number of edited point is acquired from a number of elements contained in a common part character string set, and a context edit distance is acquired from a change in an order of occurrence of the common part character strings. Calculation of a new creation percentage and analysis by an N-gram are performed on the non-common part character string. The new creation percentage is acquired from the total length of the elements contained in a non-common part character string set, and a new creation novelty degree is acquired from a non-partial matching rate between a non-common part character string set and an element contained in the non-common part character string set. Calculations for the common part character string set and for the non-common part character string set are united, thereby calculating a text updated degree.
US08244044B2 Feature selection and extraction
Image feature selection and extraction (e.g., for image classifier training) is accomplished in an integrated manner, such that higher-order features are merely developed from first-order features selected for image classification. That is, first-order image features are selected for image classification from an image feature pool, initially populated with pre-extracted first-order image features. The selected first-order classifying features are paired with previously selected first-order classifying features to generate higher-order features. The higher-order features are placed into the image feature pool as they are developed or “on-the-fly” (e.g., for use in image classifier training).
US08244038B2 Text vectorization using OCR and stroke structure modeling
Systems and methods are described that facilitate dominant point detection for text in a scanned document. The dominant points are classified as “major” (e.g., structural) and “minor” (e.g., serif). A set of rules or parameters for each character is determined off-line. During the text vectorization, OCR is performed and the rules (parameters) associated with the recognized character are selected. Both major and minor dominant points are detected as a maximization process with the parameter set. For minor dominant points, additional processes are optionally employed.
US08244033B2 Image encoding apparatus, image decoding apparatus, and control method thereof
This invention generates, from multi-value image data, encoded data having a fixed length of L bits for each block including m×n pixels. An extraction unit extracts representative two colors C0 and C1 from an input block. A detection unit generates binary identification information, which indicates one of the colors C0 and C1 to which each pixel in the block is approximate. A generating unit determines, according to a deletion pattern, which of identification data elements indicating the color C0 and those indicating the color C1 are deleted more, and outputs the determination result as interpolated-identification data. A replacing unit replaces identification data which is the same as non-interpolated-identification data near the pixel position by the interpolated-identification data. A deletion unit deletes identification data according to the deletion pattern. A packing unit couples and outputs the colors C0 and C1, interpolated-identification data, and identification data after deletion.
US08244030B2 Method and measurement system for contactless coordinate measurement of an object surface
The invention relates to a method and a surveying system for noncontact coordinate measurement on the object surface of an object to be surveyed in an object coordinate system. With a 3D image recording unit, a first three-dimensional image of a first area section of the object surface is electronically recorded in a first position and first orientation, the first three-dimensional image being composed of a multiplicity of first pixels, with which in each case a piece of depth information is coordinated. The first position and first orientation of the 3D image recording unit in the object coordinate system are determined by a measuring apparatus coupled to the object coordinate system. First 3D object coordinates in the object coordinate system are coordinated with the first pixels from the knowledge of the first 3D image coordinates and of the first position and first orientation of the 3D image recording unit.
US08244025B2 Method of coalescing information about inspected objects
A method of coalescing information about inspected objects. The method includes acquiring an image set of an object to be inspected, the image set having a three-dimensional model of the object and a plurality of two-dimensional images of the object. A location of interest is identified on a surface of the modeled object and global coordinate points of the three-dimensional model are designated that characterize the location of interest of the modeled object. A markup tag annotating the location of interest is associate with the designated global coordinate points of the three-dimensional model, and the markup tag is conveyed when viewing any one of the plurality of two-dimensional images of the image set that have at least one image point that correlates to a corresponding designated global coordinate point of the three-dimensional model that characterize the location of interest.
US08244023B2 Shape measuring device and shape measuring method
A shape measuring device includes: a slit pattern projection unit (1) for projecting a slit light onto a test object (20); an imaging lens (3) and a plane parallel plate (4) for forming a plurality of slit images, which is generated when the slit light is reflected by the object (20), separated in a direction perpendicular to a slit base line direction; an imaging unit (5) for picking up the plurality of slit images and generating a plurality of slit picture images; an XYZ stage drive unit (12) for relatively moving the slit light and the test object (20) in a direction different from the slit base line direction of the slit light; a slit picture image selection unit (8) for comparing the brightness of each pixel of slit picture image on the slit base line direction, and selecting a slit picture image having an optimum brightness to determine the shape of the test object (20) on the slit base line direction, and acquiring image data to determine the shape of the test object (20); and a shape computing unit (9) for computing a shape of the test object (20) using a relative position of the slit light with respect to the test object (20) and the slit picture image data.
US08244017B2 Constructing three dimensional images using panoramic images
A computer implemented method and system for constructing a three dimensional (3D) tomographic image from an object's two dimensional (2D) panoramic image are provided. A first geometrical attribute set in a first coordinate system is assigned to one or more focal troughs. A second geometrical attribute set in a second coordinate system is assigned to the 2D panoramic image. Second geometrical attributes are correlated with first geometrical attributes for reconstructing the 2D panoramic image in multiple dimensions. Multiple defocused elements of the object are determined along the 2D panoramic image's horizontal dimension. A transverse dimension is determined for the reconstructed panoramic image by mapping the defocused elements to a translation along the transverse dimension in the first coordinate system on either side of the center of the focal troughs. The multiple dimensions of the reconstructed panoramic image are transformed into an orthogonal coordinate system to generate the 3D tomographic image.
US08244008B2 Methods involving optimizing and mapping images
A method for optimizing images, the method comprising, receiving a designation of a first feature of interest, receiving a designation of a second feature of interest, receiving a target image, receiving an atlas image including labels of first and second features of interest of the target image and a first optimization parameter associated with the first feature of interest and a second optimization parameter associated with the second feature of interest, mapping the atlas image onto the target image resulting in a global mapped image, defining an area of the first feature of interest and an area of the second feature of interest, mapping the reference image onto the area of the first feature of interest on the global mapped image using the first optimization parameter, and mapping the reference image onto the area of the second feature of interest on the global mapped image using the second optimization parameter.
US08244004B2 Image preprocessing
A method performed by a software process executing on a computer system, includes accessing a digital image having a plurality of pixels encoded in a color space that defines hue as a pair of Cartesian coordinates. The method also includes calculating a chroma value for a specified pixel by determining a distance between a point corresponding to a hue coordinate pair value for the specified pixel and a Cartesian origin point. The calculated chroma value is compared to a predetermined threshold and an image processing operation is performed on the digital image based on a result of the comparison.
US08244003B2 Image preprocessing
A method, performed by a software process executing on a computer system, includes accessing a digital image comprising a plurality of pixels. The method also includes determining whether one or more pixels bounding a first rectangular sub-region of a predetermined size within the digital image satisfy a specified criterion. If a predetermined percentage of bounding pixels satisfy the specified criterion, the method assumes that all pixels within the first rectangular sub-region also satisfy the specified criterion. The method further includes selectively executing an image analysis algorithm on the digital image using the assumption that all pixels within the rectangular sub-region also satisfy the specified criterion.
US08243998B2 Repeating band print artifact evaluation
A method and apparatus are provided for evaluating the severity in a printed image of a repeating band print artifact. After electronically capturing the printed image, each of a plurality of patches taken from captured image is analysed to produce an artifact severity measure for the patch; an overall artifact severity value is then determined for the printed image from the patch severity measures. The analysis of each patch involves producing a spatial intensity profile across the patch substantially at right angles to an expected direction of extent of any repeating band print artifact present; a Fourier-related transform is then applied to the spatial intensity profile and the patch artifact severity measure generated by summing the resultant spatial frequency coefficients in a limited range about a frequency of interest.
US08243995B2 Apparatus and method for eye margin calculating, and computer-readable recording medium recording program therefof
A center location of an eye pattern generated by superimposing waveform signal pieces cut out from a waveform signal generated by a simulator is calculated, and an arrangement of a mask as a quality evaluation criterion of the eye pattern on the center location is envisaged to calculate time coordinate values and voltage coordinate values of feature points included in the mask. First feature points not on a time axis is set as processing objects, and a margin in the voltage axis direction is calculated based on the voltage coordinate values of the first feature points and the voltage coordinate values of waveform signal piece parts associated with the first feature points. Second feature points on the time axis is set as processing objects, and a margin in the time axis direction is calculated based on the time coordinate values of the second feature points and the time coordinate values of waveform signal piece parts associated with the second feature points.
US08243992B2 Device for optically detecting position and/or orientation of objects comprising at least one linear sensor
The electro-optical system for determining the attitude of a mobile part comprises a fixed part and a mobile part, the fixed part being linked rigidly with at least one virtual image plane.The mobile part is linked rigidly with at least one first linear electro-optical device defining a first direction vector, the calculation of the position of the vanishing point of the projection of the straight line comprising the first direction vector in the image plane determining a first direction, representing the direction of the mapping of the first direction vector in the image plane, and a first choice of a first point of the projection in the image plane of the straight line comprising the first direction vector determining a first sense, representing the sense of the mapping of the first direction vector in the image plane.
US08243990B2 Method for tracking moving object
A method for tracking a moving object is provided. The method detects the moving object in a plurality of continuous images so as to obtain space information of the moving object in each of the images. In addition, appearance features of the moving object in each of the images are captured to build an appearance model. Finally, the space information and the appearance model are combined to track a moving path of the moving object in the images. Accordingly, the present invention is able to keep tracking the moving object even if the moving object leaves the monitoring frame and returns again, so as to assist the supervisor in finding abnormal acts and making following reactions.
US08243988B1 Clustering images using an image region graph
Methods for grouping images from image corpora using graph clustering are presented. In one embodiment, a method is presented where grouping of images from a collection of digital images is done by: representing regions of images as vertices in a graph; connecting each pair of matching-vertices with a matching-edge; connecting each pair of overlap-vertices with an overlap-edge; assigning weights to each said matching-edge and to each said overlap-edge; clustering the graph, wherein clustering generates one or more vertex-clusters; and grouping the digital images into visual-clusters based on the vertex-clusters. Corresponding systems and computer program products are also presented.
US08243987B2 Object tracking using color histogram and object size
A solution for monitoring an area uses color histograms and size information (e.g., heights and widths) for blob(s) identified in an image of the area and model(s) for existing object track(s) for the area. Correspondence(s) between the blob(s) and the object track(s) are determined using the color histograms and size information. Information on an object track is updated based on the type of correspondence(s). The solution can process merges, splits and occlusions of foreground objects as well as temporal and spatial fragmentations.
US08243986B2 Method and apparatus for automatic visual event detection
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for automatic visual detection of events, for recording images of those events and retrieving them for display and human or automated analysis, and for sending synchronized signals to external equipment when events are detected. An event corresponds to a specific condition, among some time-varying conditions within the field of view of an imaging device, that can be detected by visual means based on capturing and analyzing digital images of a two-dimensional field of view in which the event may occur. Events may correspond to rare, short duration mechanical failures for which obtaining images for analysis is desirable. Events are detected by considering evidence obtained from an analysis of multiple images of the field of view, during which time moving mechanical components can be seen from multiple viewing perspectives.
US08243977B2 Media player system, media player, and earphone
An exemplary media player system includes a media player and an earphone. The earphone includes a first earpiece, a second earpiece, a primary volume control unit, and a secondary volume control unit. The first earpiece and the second earpiece are configured for receiving first channel audio signals and second channel audio signals respectively, and converting the audio signals to yield audible sounds. The primary volume control unit adjusts the volume levels of the first earpiece and the second earpiece simultaneously. The secondary volume control unit adjusts the volume of sounds outputted from one of the first earpiece and the second earpiece.
US08243976B2 Earphone facility with vibration-isolated earphone
An earphone facility is proposed to reduce feedback in hearing devices with an external earphone. The earphone facility includes an earphone, which is embodied to convert electrical signals, and an earpiece, which lies snugly against the auditory canal when the earphone facility is being worn. A stem is attached to the earphone, having a smaller circumference than the smallest circumference of the earphone. Also a support element is disposed between the stem and an internal wall of the earpiece, said support element holding the stem in the earpiece in a movable manner. With this structure vibrations of the earphone are barely transmitted to the earpiece so that feedback is ultimately reduced.
US08243975B2 Condenser microphone unit
There is provided a condenser microphone unit in which the shield of a shielding member that covers a front acoustic terminal from the inside of a unit case is assured to prevent noise caused by electromagnetic waves radiated especially from a cellular phone from being generated. In a condenser microphone unit including a metallic cylindrical unit case 10 having a front acoustic terminal 11 on one end side; an electrostatic acousto-electric converter 20 housed in the unit case 10; and a shielding member 30 disposed between the acousto-electric converter 20 and the front acoustic terminal 11 to cover the front acoustic terminal 11 from the inside of the unit case 10, as the shielding member 30, there is used a shielding plate 32 consisting of a metallic porous plate integrally having a plurality of locking pieces 33, which dig into the inner wall surface of the unit case 10 on account of elastic deformation, in the peripheral edge part thereof.
US08243973B2 Communication eyewear assembly
A frame assembly worn to maintain at least one transparent eye panel in front of a wearer's eyes. A processor receives an incoming audio signal and wirelessly transmits it to an earpiece which audibly communicates the incoming signal to the wearer. An outbound microphone assembly picks up an outbound audio signal from the wearer and transmits it to the processor which transmits it to a remote recipient. An ambient microphone assembly picks up an ambient audio signal and transmits it to the processor. The processor is structured to enhance the incoming and/or the outbound audio signal based on the ambient audio signal. The processor transmits a voice component of the ambient audio signal to the earpiece. A camera assembly picks up an outbound visual signal and transmits it to the processor which further transmits it to a remote recipient. A display assembly displays an incoming visual signal.
US08243972B2 Method and apparatus for the configuration of setting options on a hearing device
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the configuration of at least one adjustment option on a hearing device, with the hearing device wearer having the task of setting the hearing device by ear with the aid of the adjustment option to be configured such that a predetermined characteristic on the hearing device is adjusted, with the adjustment option being enabled if the characteristics set by the hearing device wearer equate to the predetermined characteristics or has deviations herefrom, which lie within a predetermined tolerance range.
US08243971B2 Behind-the-ear hearing device having an external, optical microphone
An optically unnoticeable and acoustically improved behind-the-ear hearing device having a housing which can be worn behind the ear, a signal processing facility which is arranged in the housing, and which comprises an optoelectrical converter, and at least one optical microphone is provided. The optical microphone is arranged outside the housing and can be positioned in the concha or in the auditory canal. Furthermore, the optical microphone is connected to the signal processing facility by way of an optical wave guide for optical signal transmission purposes. An optical microphone of this type can be realized small and in an unnoticeable fashion on/in an otoplastic, such that during the acoustic recording, the typical frequency behavior through the concha can also be used.
US08243967B2 Hand-held electronic device
A hand-held electronic device for producing stereo effect sound in both a first and a second orientation of the device. The first and second directions are perpendicular to each other. The device comprises a pair of loudspeakers spaced from each other in two directions perpendicular to each other. One direction always lies in a horizontal plane irrespective of whether the device is in its first or second orientation.
US08243964B2 Piezo speaker pressure sensor
A piezo speaker pressure sensor that includes a bladder and a piezo speaker element. The bladder abuts the piezo speaker element. A pressure may be sensed from the piezo speaker element proportional to a pressure exerted on the bladder in a direction of the piezo speaker element. The piezo speaker element functions as a speaker when audio signals are received by the piezo speaker element.
US08243962B2 MEMS microphone and method for manufacturing the same
An MEMS microphone includes a casing (10) and a microphone chip (30) disposed in the casing. The casing defines a sound entrance (11) therein. The microphone chip includes a back plate (31), an isolation layer (32) and a diaphragm (33). The isolation layer separates the back plate from the diaphragm so as to form an air interstice (35) therebetween. The back plate and the diaphragm electrically connect with two electrodes (34a, 34b), respectively. The back plate defines a plurality of holes (36) therethrough. The holes communicate the air interstice with a sealed acoustic chamber (38) between the casing and the microphone chip. The diaphragm is adhered to an inner side of the casing at a position over the sound entrance.
US08243960B2 Planar audio amplifier output inductor with current sense
An audio amplifier, that includes a planar inductor structure that includes a first plurality of windings, formed on layers of a first circuit board and a second plurality of windings, formed on layers of a second circuit board. The planar inductor structure may further include a sense winding.
US08243959B2 Audio output control device and audio output control method
An audio output control device includes: display means for displaying two screens; speaker output control means for recognizing whether a main screen or a sub screen is being selected on the display means that is displaying the two screens and performing a control process to output a main or sub sound of the selected main or sub screen through a speaker; and headphone output control means for, before a headphone is connected, performing a control process to supply to a headphone terminal of the headphone the sub or main sound of the sub or main screen that is not being selected.
US08243958B2 Receiver
The present invention provides a receiver for making an earphone cord of an earphone function as an earphone antenna. The receiver includes a receiver circuit for receiving a broadcast wave signal received at the earphone code of the earphone and outputting an audio signal, an earphone jack into which a earphone plug is inserted, a first detector circuit for detecting whether the earphone is one of stereo and monaural functionalities, and a second detector circuit for the earphone is connected to the receiver. The earphone jack has an antenna terminal, left channel audio terminal and right channel audio terminal, a first detection terminal and a second detection terminal, and a ground terminal.
US08243956B2 Auto bias microphone system for use with multiple loads and method of forming same
An autobias vehicular microphone system (300) includes a microphone (301) uses an amplifier (306) for amplifying an output of the microphone. A first feedback path (308) provides an amplifier output signal to the amplifier input for providing amplifier linearity and a second feedback path (305) is used for providing bias to an voltage reference (303). The voltage reference (303) operates to provide an autobias to the amplifier (306) based upon amplifier loading. Thus, a DC feedback loop works as an average voltage sensing circuit operating to center the amplifier (306) to an operating point near one half its supply voltage. By allowing the bias point to vary, a constant clip level can be maintained depending on varying load conditions of electronic devices (307, 309, 311) using the microphone (301).
US08243955B2 System for attenuating noise in an input signal
A noise attenuation system attenuates noise in an input signal. The system may estimate a power of the input signal, and determine a noise power value based on the input power estimate. The noise power value corresponds to an estimate of a noise power within the input signal. The system may determine an attenuation factor based on the noise power value, and attenuate the input signal by using the attenuation factor.
US08243954B2 System and method for a device sound interface manager
A system for regulating the volume and frequency content of audio producing devices, the system includes: one or more noise making objects (NMO) configured with individual sound control devices in electrical communication with a noise management server and one or more audio producing devices configured with individual sound control devices; wherein the sound control devices have electronic logic processing, storage, and communication capabilities; wherein the noise management server utilize the sound control devices to: determine whether the NMO are producing noise in the audible range of one or more audio producing devices; determine a noise characteristic of the one or more NMO; command the one or more NMO to send the noise characteristic to the one or more audio producing devices; and wherein the volume and frequency content of audio produced by the one or more audio producing devices is adjusted in response to the received noise characteristic.
US08243948B2 Selector and amplifier device therefor
An amplifier device includes a plurality of input terminals for receiving input signals (e.g. audio signals), a main switch, which switches over the input terminals so as to select one input terminal, an analyzer, which analyzes the input signals at respective timings so as to determine whether or not each of the input signals corresponds to a playback signal, a storage for storing a plurality of determination results in connection with the input terminals, a controller for controlling the main switch to select the input terminal whose input signal is newly determined as the playback signal, and an amplifier for amplifying the input signal of the selected input terminal. The analyzer performs frequency analysis on the input signals so as to determine the input signal including a specific frequency component having a high intensity as noise not forming the playback signal.
US08243946B2 Personal acoustic device position determination
Apparatus and method for determining an operating state of a personal acoustic device by receiving a signal from one or more movement sensors indicating movement detected by the one or more movement sensors, wherein the one or more movement sensors are disposed on portions of the personal acoustic device structured to be worn on a user's head to enable the one or more movement sensors to detect rotational movements of a user's head when the personal acoustic device is in position on the user's head such that a casing of the personal acoustic device is adjacent an ear of the user.
US08243940B2 Medical device with communication, measurement and data functions
A medical diagnostic and communications apparatus with audio output comprises an electronic processor for processing stethoscope signals and secondary audio signals. An electronic stethoscope sensor is contained within a housing for transducing body sounds to electronic signals, and is operatively connected to the electronic processor. One or more secondary audio signal sources operatively connects to the electronic processor. A common audio output is connected to electronic processor to convert electronic stethoscope signals or secondary audio signals to acoustic output. These sounds may be produced separately or mixed.
US08243939B2 Hearing instrument with improved initialisation of parameters of digital feedback suppression circuitry
A method of modelling a feedback path from a receiver to a microphone in a hearing instrument, includes applying an electronic probe signal with an increasing level as a function of time to the receiver for conversion of the electronic probe signal into an acoustic probe signal output by the receiver, monitoring values of a first quality parameter calculated based at least in part on recorded microphone output signal, and after the first quality parameter reaches a predetermined first threshold value, determining at least one parameter of the feedback path based at least in part on the recorded microphone output signal values.
US08243937B2 Adaptive ambient audio transformation
A method and device for transforming ambient audio are provided. Example embodiments may include monitoring ambient audio proximate to a sound processing device located in an environment. The device may sense environmental conditions associated with the environment. Memory may be accessed to obtain transformation audio. The device may generate output transformation audio based on the transformation audio, the ambient audio, and the environmental conditions to provide modified output audio for propagation into the environment
US08243936B2 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.
US08243932B2 Methods and systems for distributed processing on consumer devices
Systems and methods are used to provide distributed processing on a service provider network that includes a plurality of remotely located consumer devices. Each of the remotely located consumer devices includes a processing device. A service is provided from the service provider network to the remotely located consumer devices. Distributed processing of a task on the processing devices of the remotely located consumer devices occurs, the distributed processing being unrelated to the service provided to the consumers. The distributed processing occurs even when the processing devices are in use by corresponding remotely located consumer devices.
US08243929B2 Gaming terminal and system with biometric identification
A gaming system is provided with biometric facilities for identifying or verifying the identity of a player or perspective player. In one aspect reference biometric data is stored in a portable biometric data storage device such as a smart card, PCMCIA card or the like and is preferably left in the possession or control of the individual or individuals to whom the biometric data relates. The reference biometric data is read in individual gaming terminals and compared, in individual gaming terminals to measured biometric data of a player or perspective player. In one aspect, gaming terminals use biometric verification or indication to implement a practical and feasible cashless gaming terminal.
US08243927B2 Digital video receiver, ECM extract equipment, EMM extract equipment, scramble key extract equipment, CCI extract equipment, digital video receiving system, ECM extract method, EMM extract method, scramble key extract method, CCI extract method, digital video receiving method, and recording medium
A decryption process chip has a memory in which a first decryption control unit for decrypting a scramble key by using an ECM and an EMM is downloaded from outside and stored. A stream input unit extracts a packet including the ECM based on first information obtained from the first decryption control unit, and the first decryption control unit extracts the ECM from the packet. An STB control unit extracts only data including the EMM based on second information set up from the first decryption control unit, and the first decryption control unit extracts the EMM from the data. The stream input unit indirectly obtains a scramble key decrypted by the first decryption control unit so as to extract the scramble key and transmit it to a descrambler.
US08243925B2 Method and apparatus for supporting multiple broadcasters independently using a single conditional access system
A method and apparatus for brokering the enablement of the communication of encrypted media programs from a plurality of independent broadcasters to a plurality of receivers is disclosed. The system makes use of a pairing key for each provided service, which is differently encrypted by a pairing server and by the broadcaster providing the service. The encrypted versions of the pairing key are decrypted in a first receiver module using information known to the pairing service but not the broadcaster and in a second receiver module using information known to the broadcaster. The pairing key is used to cryptographically bind the first and second receiver modules.
US08243924B2 Progressive download or streaming of digital media securely through a localized container and communication protocol proxy
Various embodiments are directed towards employing a container and communication protocol proxy component within a client device to receive securely real-time streamed, progressively downloaded, or adaptively streamed container over a network using one container and communication protocol, and to securely decrypt the container and provide it to a media player using a different container and communications protocol. In one embodiment, the container is in Flash Video (FLV) file format. A browser or the media player on the client device may be used to request the container. The requested container is sent over one communication protocol and intercepted by the container and communication protocol proxy component. The container may be received as selectively encrypted container. The container and communication protocol proxy component then may enable decryption of the container and providing of it to the media player using another container and communication protocol combination.
US08243920B2 Method for scalar multiplication in elliptic curve groups over binary polynomial fields for side-channel attack-resistant cryptosystems
A method for transforming data with a secret parameter in an elliptic curve cryptosystem based on an elliptic curve defined over an underlying binary polynomial field, includes multiplying a point of the elliptic curve, and representing the data to be transformed by a scalar representing the secret parameter, wherein the multiplying includes performing at least one point addition operation and at least one point doubling operation on points of the elliptic curve. The point addition operation includes a first sequence of elementary field operations, and the point doubling operation includes a second sequence of elementary field operations, both the first and the second sequences of elementary field operations including a field inversion of coordinates of the elliptic curve points. A representation of the elliptic curve points in affine coordinates is provided and the first and second sequences of elementary field operations are balanced. The field inversion of coordinates is performed by the extended Euclidean algorithm and the balancing includes balancing the extended Euclidean algorithm by adding at least one dummy operation.
US08243917B2 Method for indicating charge status of backup power supply and communication device employing the same
A method for indicating the charge status of a backup power supply of a communication device includes detecting the charge status of the backup power supply. If the charge status of the backup power supply is lower than or equal to a predetermined charge status, the communication device alerts via a telephone connected thereto. The communication device alerts a user by sounding one or more tones if the telephone is off-hook, and alerts user by sounding one or more rings if the telephone is on-hook.
US08243915B1 Network and location based phone number format identification
Method, system, and computer readable medium for detecting the collect phone number format to use based on the user current country and an original country associated with a number to be dialed. This information can be used to allow a user to keep phone numbers in his/her contact list in any common format on his/her country of origin and still allow numbers to be dialed correctly when the user is travelling anywhere in the world.
US08243912B1 Method and apparatus for providing transaction data in a packet network
A method and apparatus for providing transaction data in a packet network is described. In one embodiment, at least one routed call is received. Transaction data is subsequently obtained from the at least one routed call. In turn, the transaction data is provided to an entity (e.g., a business or store) associated locally to the at least one routed call.
US08243911B1 Failover mechanism based on historical usage data
Computer readable media and methods are provided for initiating a failover state in a network element. A failover is when the element's traffic is routed to a redundant element which takes over the functions of the element, and any session state information stored in the element is also transferred to the redundant element. If a failover occurs with an upstream element, a downstream element is not aware of the failover and does not transfer its session state information to its redundant element. By maintaining a database of historic usage information, the downstream element can determine that an upstream failover has occurred when the amount of data it is processing drops below a minimum usage threshold. The minimum usage threshold is based on the historical usage data and a relationship between a given time in the past and the current time.
US08243908B2 Systems and methods for restricting the use and movement of telephony devices
Systems and methods for restricting the use and movement of telephone system devices are presented. The system includes an interface configured to allow telephone calls to a limited set of telephone numbers or area codes. The interface may be configured to detect a number during a call attempt and compare the number to a stored sequence list of allowed numbers. If the detected number matches one of the allowed numbers, the call attempt is allowed to continue. However, if the detected number does not match a number in the stored sequence list, the call attempt is blocked. The interface may also be configured to restrict the movement of a cellular telephone based on received location data, configured with a physical lock to prevent removal from a docking station, or configured to generate a locking signal inhibiting use of the telephone after it has been moved greater than the predetermined distance.
US08243902B2 Method and apparatus for mapping of conference call participants using positional presence
A method includes receiving audio electronic business card data during a conference; comparing said audio electronic business card data with voices of conference speakers to confirm identities of said speakers; performing an acoustic triangulation to determine a position of speakers; correlating a position of said speakers with said identities; and displaying locations of said speakers.
US08243898B2 Call screening method and apparatus
A cellular telephone system is provided with a process and apparatus for screening an incoming call. The process is carried out by, and the apparatus comprises, a service provider (20) and a mobile station (30). The mobile station (30) answers the incoming call and places the call on hold. The mobile station (30) connects to the service provider (20) and places the service provider (20) and the incoming caller on multi-party hold. The mobile station (30) then signals the service provider (20) to begin screening the call. In response, the service provider (20) prompts the incoming caller for the incoming caller's identification and then communicates this information to the mobile station (30). Based on this information, the mobile station (30) can elect to accept or reject the incoming call.
US08243897B2 Automatic detection and notification of proximity of persons of interest
A computing device is configured to monitor a local vicinity around a user and detect identification devices located in the vicinity. When an identification device is detected, data is read from the device and a person associated with the device is identified. One or more user applications are searched to determine if the identified person is listed in a user application. If so, a notification is provided to the user that the identified person is in the vicinity. In one implementation, a user calendar is searched to determine if the identified person is scheduled to attend an upcoming event with the user (e.g. a meeting). If so, the user is notified that the identified person is in the area and that the person is scheduled to attend an upcoming event—which is particularly identified—with the user.
US08243896B1 Selection of a particular communication carrier from a plurality of communication carriers in a secure environment
Systems and methods which facilitate selection of communication carriers for communications made in association with a controlled environment facility by a party to the communications are shown. Embodiments allow for a calling party and/or a called party to select a preferred communication carrier from a plurality of communication carriers for a current communication and/or one or more future communications. A party's carrier selection may be stored by a communication processing system for use with respect to a plurality of communication sessions. Embodiments provide a conflict resolution algorithm to arbitrate conflicting carrier selections where both a calling party and a called party to select a carrier for a communication session. Embodiments provide a premise based communication processing system, a centralized communication processing system, or a distributed configuration comprising a hybrid of the foregoing premise based and centralized configurations.
US08243892B1 System, apparatus and method for managing switch capacity in broadcast messaging
A system, apparatus and method for identifying the capacity of a particular switch through which a plurality of telephone calls will be broadcast has a processor in operative communication with a communication network and an NPANXX database, and is configured to retrieve a telephone number from a call list from a call list database, then to retrieve from the NPANXX database a CLLI identification associated with the retrieved telephone number. The processor is configured to retrieve a maximum call capacity for a switch associated with the retrieved CLLI identification from a CLLI limit database. The processor is configured to store a number of current calls being made through the switch associated with the retrieved CLLI identification and to make a next telephone call when the number of current calls is less than or equal to the maximum call capacity.
US08243891B2 Voice message exchange
Disclosed is a voice message exchange system and method for improving communication between an inmate and a third party by enabling the inmate to leave a message when a call is not answered and further allowing the third party who receives the message to reply with a message to the inmate. Additionally, outside parties that meet the institution's requirements can leave messages for inmates at any time. The present invention can be used as an add-on to legacy inmate call management systems or incorporated internally into an inmate call management system. The system also provides monitoring, controlling, recording, and billing means.
US08243890B2 All-HTTP multimedia messaging
A WAP-free, IETF-Specification Compliant Multimedia Message Service Center (MMSC)-Multimedia Message Service (MMS) User Agent Interface based on the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is provided, as well as an all-HTTP multimedia messaging technique in general, using HTTP POST and GET techniques, between mobile stations and multimedia messaging service centers (MMSCs) for multimedia message (MM) submission and delivery.
US08243887B2 Identification of notifications in a mass notification system
A method for providing identification for voice notifications sent to notification recipients is disclosed. The method includes receiving, from a user, a request for transmitting at least one voice notification to a plurality of notification recipients, and receiving at least one identifier related to the at least one voice notification. The method also includes associating the voice notification with the identifier, and transmitting the voice notification and the identifier. In certain instances, the method further includes transmitting an alert containing the identifier before the voice notification is transmitted. A system for providing identification for voice notifications sent to notification recipients is also provided.
US08243881B2 Radiography device
A radiography device that can be applied to even general-purpose scattered radiation removing means, capable of producing appropriate radiation images that are independently of the status of installation of scattered radiation removing means. A pixel specifying portion specifies particular pixels of the various pixels that comprise an x-ray image. An intensity estimating portion estimates the scattered x-ray intensities (scattered radiation intensities) at the particular pixels specified by the pixel specifying portion and/or the direct x-ray intensities (the direct radiation intensities) of the particular pixels. Consequently, it is possible to estimate appropriately the scattered x-ray intensities and/or direct x-ray intensities at the particular pixels in consideration of the status of installation of a grid (scattered radiation removing means).
US08243877B2 Dual-use radiation system
The present invention relates to the field of medical imaging and therapy of lesions that are detrimental to the body. The system is capable of both imaging and treatment with the same kilovoltage radiation source. Dual-use collimators produce a wide beam, which is not a pencil beam or a fan beam, to image and treat a target that has an enhanced radiation cross-section after taking up contrast agent containing a high-Z element. This results in increased radiation dose in the lesion. Furthermore, the significant drop in intensity of a low-energy radiation beam traveling through tissue is surmounted by continually aiming the beam at the target while moving it around the patient. Wide detectors opposing the radiation source permit the imaging and measurement of contrast in the target. More specifically this invention relates to a system, which optimizes delivery of kilovoltage x-rays to a lesion containing contrast agents in higher concentration than the surrounding normal tissues. Thereby subsequent delivery of radiation becomes cytotoxic upon interaction with the contrast.
US08243869B2 Burst mode clock and data recovery circuit and method
Burst mode clock and data recovery (BCDR) circuit and method capable of fast data recovery of passive optical network (PON) traffic. An over-sampled data stream is generated from an input burst data signal and a phase interpolator generates sampling clock signals using a reference clock and phase information. A phase estimation unit (PEU) determines a phase error in the over-sampled data streams; and a phase retrieval unit sets the phase interpolator with the respective phase information of the input burst data signal prior to reception of the input burst data signal.
US08243865B2 Data processing apparatus
A disclosed data processing apparatus includes: a binarization unit binarizing input data based on a threshold voltage; a capture unit capturing data from a binary output binarized by the binarization unit; a duty cycle detection unit detecting a duty cycle of the binary output; and a control unit controlling a level of the input data based on the duty cycle detected by the duty cycle detection unit.
US08243858B2 Receiver and method for receiving
A procedure of receiving includes estimating a phase offset of a received signal and calculating one or more phase offsets which result in the estimated phase offset of the received signal and which have different phase rotation directions and/or different phase rotation amounts from one another; compensating for the phase offset of the received signal, using each of a plurality of phase offsets that are the estimated phase offset and the calculated phase offsets, and demodulating and decoding the plurality of compensated received signals; and selecting a decoding result that is the most likely to be the received signal among a plurality of results of the decoding corresponding one for each of the plurality of phase offsets.
US08243855B2 Calibrated quadrature generation for multi-GHz receiver
An integrated receiver circuit includes a phase locked loop circuit (21) with a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) (25) and a quadrature generator circuit (29) which uses hybrid-branch line coupler circuits (27, 28) coupled to buffered VCO outputs, where the hybrid-branch line coupler circuits (27, 28) are tuned by same control voltage (25a) that controls the VCO (25). By replicating the VCO core circuitry in each hybrid-branch line coupler circuit (27, 28) under common control of a control voltage, calibrated quadrature signals are generated that have the same frequency as the phase locked loop circuit (21).
US08243854B2 Amplitude control circuit, polar modulation transmission circuit and polar modulation method
The amplitude control circuit of the present invention can reduce output noise and suppress a decrease in reception sensitivity. An amplitude control section (120), which is an amplitude control circuit, is provided with: a DA converter (121) that converts amplitude data into differential amplitude signals and outputs the differential amplitude signals; a level control section (122) that controls the levels of the differential amplitude signals according to transmission power information P; and an offset calculating section (123) that assigns the DC voltage based upon transmission power information P to the differential amplitude signals subjected to level control in the level control section (122).
US08243850B2 Method and system for generating reference signals in a wireless communication system
A method of generating reference signals is provided. The method includes precoding a reference signal to generate a plurality of precoded reference signals. For each precoded reference signal, a signal based on the precoded reference signal is transmitted from a corresponding physical antenna.
US08243849B2 Digital television transmitter/receiver and method of processing data in digital television transmitter/receiver
A digital television (DTV) transmitter and a method of processing data in the DTV transmitter are disclosed. A pre-processor pre-processes the enhanced data by coding the enhanced data for forward error correction (FEC) and expanding the FEC-coded enhanced data. A data formatter generates enhanced data packets including the pre-processed enhanced data and for inserting known data to at least one of the enhanced data packets. A first multiplexer multiplexes the enhanced data packets with main data packets including the main data. An RS encoder RS-codes the multiplexed main and enhanced data packets, the RS encoder adding systematic parity data to each main data packet and adding RS parity place holders to each enhanced data packet. And, a data interleaver interleaves the RS-coded main and enhanced data packets, wherein a known data sequence is included in every Nth enhanced data segment outputted from the data interleaver.
US08243846B2 Transmission device with enhanced signals
A transmission device includes a first encoder, a plurality of current sources, a switch module, a second encoder, and a plurality of current enhanced circuits. The first encoder converts an input signal to a first control signal. The switch module is coupled between the plurality of current sources and a plurality of signal lines for controlling the connection of the current sources and the signal lines according to the first control signal to generate a current signal. The second encoder generates a second control signal according to the first control signal or the input signal. The plurality of current enhanced circuits is coupled to the plurality of current sources respectively. The plurality of current enhanced circuits provides an extra current in a predetermined duration to enhance the current signal.
US08243845B2 Pre-emphasis automatic adjusting method and data transmission system using same
A signal transmission system is provided which is capable of simplifying circuits and shortening time required for automatic adjustment of pre-emphasis. A signal having a single pulse pattern is generated by a single pulse pattern generating circuit. A signal having passed through a selector is divided into two signals whose phases are inverted and which are transmitted to a receiving circuit. An eye aperture of an eye waveform in a direction of time is measured by an eye aperture judging section by using the two signals and a sampling clock output from a sampling clock controlling section. An adjustment controlling section compares the measured eye aperture with a target value for judgment and transmits the judgment result to the transmitting circuit, where pre-emphasis is adjusted based on the judgment result.
US08243839B2 Base station, mobile station and method
A base station performs communication of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) scheme with a mobile station by using any one of equal to or greater than two frequency bands. The base station includes means that transmits a synchronization channel and a control channel using a band that includes a center frequency fA on a raster of a first band (20 MHz) and that has a bandwidth equal to or greater than that of a second band (5 MHz of the end). The control channel includes center frequency information for specifying a center frequency fA′ of the second band. Since the mobile station moves to a desired band after obtaining center frequency information using a band including the center frequency on a raster, the mobile station can connect to the desired band without searching frequencies that are not on the raster.
US08243836B2 Channel estimation apparatus and method in mobile communication system having dispersed pilot
Provided are a channel estimation method and apparatus in mobile communication system having dispersed pilot. The channel estimation apparatus includes an entire band channel estimation unit and an edge channel estimation unit. The entire band channel estimation unit performs channel estimation on an entire frequency band. The edge channel estimation unit performs channel estimation on an edge region. By separately performing the gating operation of the entire band channel estimation unit and the gating operation of the edge channel estimation unit, a channel frequency response is more accurately calculated even in an edge region.
US08243834B2 Wireless communication device
A wireless communication device (1) comprises a spatially-multiplexed PSC extracting section (8) for extracting a spatially multiplexed known pilot subcarrier signal (S5) from the received multicarrier-modulated signal, a reference signal generating section (7) for generating a reference signal (S4) of the spatially-multiplexed pilot subcarrier signal, and a phase compensating section (9) for compensating the phase difference of the received signal (S1) according to the pilot subcarrier signal (S5) extracted by the spatially-multiplexed pilot subcarrier extracting section (8) and the reference signal (S4). Therefore, even if a pilot subcarrier signal is spatially multiplexed and transmitted, phase difference detection and phase compensation can be performed by a simple constitution.
US08243821B2 For spatial Wyner Ziv coding
A system (100) for encoding an input video frame (1005), for transmitting or storing the encoded video and for decoding the video is disclosed. The system (100) includes an encoder (1000) and a decoder (1200) interconnected through a storage or transmission medium (1100). The encoder (1000) includes a turbo encoder (1015) for forming parity bit data from the input frame (1005) into a first data source (1120), and a sampler (1020) for down-sampling the input frame (1202) to form a second data source (1110). The decoder (1200) receives data from the second data source (1110) to form an estimate for the frame (1005). The decoder (1200) also receivers the parity bit data from the first data source (1120), and corrects errors in the estimate by applying the parity bit data to the estimate. Each bit plane is corrected in turn. Bits in bit planes other than a bit plane presently being processed are also modified based in a selective manner.
US08243814B2 Combing artifacts detection apparatus and combing artifacts detection method
A combing artifacts detection apparatus includes a feature-value calculating unit that calculates a feature value from an input image; a film-mode detecting unit that detects a film mode by using the feature value; and a pixel-difference calculating unit that calculates a pixel difference between fields by using 2:3 pulldown sequence detection information and input-image combination information that are results of the film mode detection. The apparatus also includes a luminance-variation determining unit that determines luminance variation based on a calculation result of the pixel-difference calculating unit; a combing artifacts-candidate detecting unit that detects a combing artifacts candidate per line based on a determination result of the luminance-variation determining unit; and a combing artifacts determining unit that determines whether a combing artifacts occurs for each image based on a detection result of the combing artifacts-candidate detecting unit.
US08243813B2 Moving picture decoding device, moving picture decoding program, and moving picture decoding method
The moving picture decoding device receives a moving picture bit stream compressed according to a coding method using interframe prediction and 2-dimensional discrete cosine transform. The device generates a decoded picture in a block unit from an interframe prediction picture generated by decoding the bit stream and a prediction residual generated by performing the 2-dimensional discrete cosine transform and integerization processing on a discrete cosine transform coefficient. The device judges, block-by-block, whether it is highly probable that the prediction residual of “0” is obtained by the processing of the 2-dimensional discrete cosine transform and integerization executed by the encoding device when compressing the bit stream. If YES, the interframe prediction picture is selected and outputted. Otherwise, the prediction residual generated by the decoding device is added to the interframe prediction picture so as to obtain a picture, which is selected and outputted.
US08243809B2 Image information encoding method and encoder, and image information decoding method and decoder
In an image information encoder (10) supplied with an interlaced image in a 4:2:0 format, a color-difference signal phase correction unit (22) shifts, for motion estimation and compensation, the phase of the color-difference signal in a reference image block adaptively to a selected motion estimate mode and the value mv of vertical component in motion vector information so that the reference image block will coincide in phase of the color-difference signal with an input image block.
US08243797B2 Regions of interest for quality adjustments
Quality settings established by an encoder are adjusted based on information associated with regions of interest (“ROIs”). For example, quantization step sizes can be reduced (to improve quality) or increased (to reduce bit rate). ROIs can be identified and quality settings can be adjusted based on input received from a user interface. An overlap setting can be determined for a portion of a picture that corresponds to an ROI overlap area. For example, an overlap setting is chosen from step sizes corresponding to a first overlapping ROI and a second overlapping ROI, or from relative reductions in step size corresponding to the first ROI and the second ROI. ROIs can be parameterized by information (e.g., using data structures) that indicates spatial dimensions of the ROIs and quality adjustment information (e.g., dead zone information, step size information, and quantization mode information).
US08243796B2 Image data compression device, encoder, electronic apparatus, and method of compressing image data
An image data compression device comprises a quantizing section for quantizing image data with a quantization step changing in accordance with a quantization parameter, a FIFO buffer section for buffering the quantized data corresponding to a plurality of frames, an encoded data generating section for generating encoded data obtained by encoding the quantized data retrieved from the FIFO buffer section asynchronously with writing thereto, and a rate control section for controlling a data size of the encoded data by changing the quantization step. The rate control section finds a predicted data size of the encoded data of the precedent frame from the size of the quantized data of the precedent frame, and sets or releases an upper limit threshold of the quantization parameter based on the number of assignable bits assignable to a compressing process or the number of remaining frames. When setting the upper limit threshold of the quantization parameter, the quantization parameter is found so as to be equal to or less than the upper limit threshold of the quantization parameter using the predicted data size.
US08243793B2 Apparatus for performing loop-filtering on a pixel of an image
In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a decoder configured to obtain quantization information of a first block including the pixel to be filtered, and obtain a block type of the first block and a second block. The second block is adjacent to the first block. The quantization information is compared to a threshold value by the decoder, and loop-filtering is performed by the decoder on the pixel to be filtered by using at least three successive pixels if the quantization information is greater than the threshold value and the type of the first and second block is an intra-coded block type. The at least three successive pixels include the pixel to be filtered.
US08243792B2 Method of performing loop-filtering on four successive pixels of an image
In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining quantization information of a first block, obtaining a block type of the first block, and comparing the quantization information and a threshold value. Loop-filtering is performed on four successive pixels by using at least three successive pixels if the quantization information is greater than the threshold value and the type of the first block is an intra-coded block type. Two pixels of the four successive pixels are in the first block and two pixels of the four successive pixels are in a second block adjacent to the first block.
US08243774B2 System and method for information scrambling in a wireless communication system
The present disclosure relates generally to a system and method for scrambling in a wireless communication system. In one example, the method includes receiving a bit group representing at least a portion of a signal, where a total number of bits in the bit group is defined by a modulation scheme applied to the signal. A bit of the bit group is identified that indicates a sign of an imaginary part of the signal and another bit of the bit group is identified that indicates a sign of a real part of the signal. Only the two bits indicating the signs of the imaginary and real parts of the signal are scrambled using a random sequence prior to wirelessly transmitting the bit group.
US08243771B2 Driving method of global positioning system using short-range communication
A global positioning system using Bluetooth technology, including: a first Bluetooth master that receives satellite orbit information; a Bluetooth slave that communicates with the first Bluetooth master in a Bluetooth protocol; and a second Bluetooth master that transmits an inquiry code for communication with the Bluetooth slave in the Bluetooth protocol. The second Bluetooth master provides positioning information by requesting the satellite orbit information from the first Bluetooth master through the Bluetooth slave and transmitting the satellite orbit information to the second Bluetooth master through the Bluetooth slave.
US08243769B2 Semiconductor light emitting device, optical pickup unit and information recording/reproduction apparatus
A semiconductor light emitting device downsized by devising arrangement of connection pads is provided. A second light emitting device is layered on a first light emitting device. The second light emitting device has a stripe-shaped semiconductor layer formed on a second substrate on the side facing to a first substrate, a stripe-shaped p-side electrode supplying a current to the semiconductor layer, stripe-shaped opposed electrodes that are respectively arranged oppositely to respective p-side electrodes of the first light emitting device and electrically connected to the p-side electrodes of the first light emitting device, connection pads respectively and electrically connected to the respective opposed electrodes, and a connection pad electrically connected to the p-side electrode. The connection pads are arranged in parallel with the opposed electrodes.
US08243763B2 Method and apparatus for generating information signal to be recorded
A compressively-encoding-resultant video signal resulting from compressively encoding a video signal, a first compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal resulting from compressively encoding a first audio signal having a synchronized relation with the video signal, a reference clock information signal relating to synchronization between the compressively-encoding-resultant video signal and the first compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal, and an indication timing information signal designating an indication timing of the video signal are multiplexed to get an AV multiplexing-resultant signal. A second audio signal is compressively encoded to get a second compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal. A sound-production-timing information signal is added to the second compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal to get a substitution playback audio signal. During playback, the substitution playback audio signal can be reproduced instead of the first audio signal while being synchronous with the video signal. The sound-production-timing information signal responds to the reference clock information signal, and relates to synchronization with the video signal.
US08243762B2 Method and apparatus for generating information signal to be recorded
A compressively-encoding-resultant video signal resulting from compressively encoding a video signal, a first compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal resulting from compressively encoding a first audio signal having a synchronized relation with the video signal, a reference clock information signal relating to synchronization between the compressively-encoding-resultant video signal and the first compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal, and an indication timing information signal designating an indication timing of the video signal are multiplexed to get an AV multiplexing-resultant signal. A second audio signal is compressively encoded to get a second compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal. A sound-production-timing information signal is added to the second compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal to get a substitution playback audio signal. During playback, the substitution playback audio signal can be reproduced instead of the first audio signal while being synchronous with the video signal. The sound-production-timing information signal responds to the reference clock information signal, and relates to synchronization with the video signal.
US08243761B2 Decoder synchronization adjustment
A device is disclosed that makes packetized and encoded speech data audible to a listener, as is a method for operating the device. The device includes a unit for generating a synchronization request for reducing an amount of synchronization delay, and further includes a speech decoder that is responsive to the synchronization delay adjustment request for executing a time-warping operation for one of lengthening or shortening a duration of a speech frame. In one embodiment the speech decoder comprises a code excited linear prediction (CELP) speech decoder, and the CELP decoder time-warping operation is applied to a reconstructed excitation signal u(k) to derive a time-warped reconstructed signal uw(k). The time-warped reconstructed signal uw(k) is input to a Linear Predictor (LP) synthesis filter to derive a CELP decoder time-warped output signal y^w(k) In another embodiment the speech decoder comprises a parametric speech decoder, and where an adaptation of the frame length N in the parametric speech decoder results in the use of a modified frame length Nw.
US08243758B2 Method and arrangement in a communications system
The object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for a more efficient carrier search. The object is achieved by a method for sending a signal in a first node. The first node communicates with a second node via radio communication, which radio communication is performed by multi carrier transmission. The first node uses a carrier, being associated with a frequency range. The method comprises the step of transmitting an end-marker signal within or close to the frequency range. The end-marker signal is intended to be received and used by the second node for identifying the frequency range of the used carrier.
US08243754B2 Devices and methods for matching link speeds between controllers and controlled devices
A controller system for detecting and matching link speeds. The present invention provides for a controller system. The controller system is a first controller and a first port. The first port is located in the first controller and has a first link speed. The first controller is adapted to match the first link speed to a second link speed of a second port of a first controlled device that is connectable to the first controller.
US08243752B2 Long-reach ethernet for 1000BASE-T and 10GBASE-T
A physical-layer device (PHY) having corresponding methods comprises: a data rate module to select a data rate divisor N, where N is at least one of a positive integer, or a real number greater than, or equal to, 1; and a PHY core comprising a PHY transmit module to transmit first signals a data rate of M/N Gbps, and a PHY receive module to receive second signals at the data rate of M/N Gbps; wherein the first and second signals conform to at least one of 1000BASE-T, wherein M=1, and 10GBASE-T, wherein M=10.
US08243749B2 Wireless communication system, associated methods and data structures
A wireless communication device, and a wireless communication system and a method of beamforming is presented. The wireless communication system and/or device includes a beamformee unit, a beamformer unit and two or more antennas to transmit the data unit and the protocol data unit according to the beamformee and the beamformer units, respectively. The beamformee conveys feedback information by a data unit in one of the feedback positions that include an immediate feedback position, an aggregated feedback position and a delayed feedback position. The beamformer unit generates a protocol data unit including a control field that includes one of the feedback request information types which is selected from a Channel State Information or uncompressed Steering Matrix or compressed Steering Matrix to request feedback from a remote communication device.
US08243748B2 Channel utilizing method and system for wireless networks
A channel utilizing method for a wireless network is adapted for channel utilization by a switch node having a number (N) of transceivers in an environment with a number (M) of channels, wherein (N)<(M). The channel utilizing method includes the steps of: calculating a channel weight set, and selecting one of the (M) channels according to the channel weight set; determining a notify mechanism according to a relation between the switch node and a neighbor node; using the notify mechanism to notify the neighbor node of a current state of the switch node; and calculating a channel stay-in period, and causing the switch node to stay in the selected one of the channels for a duration of the channel stay-in period. A channel utilizing system is also disclosed.
US08243747B2 System and method for scalable multifunctional network communication
A system and method for scalable multifunctional network communication between presentation devices and service providers are disclosed. A group of consumer premise equipment (CPE) units are coupled to the presentation devices, and a headend control computer receives upstream messages from the CPE units and for sending downstream messages to the CPE units. A group of service provider control subsystems interface between the headend control computer and the service providers. The head end control computer receives messages from the CPE units and transports them to the service provider control subsystems, and the headend control computer receives messages from the service provider control subsystems and transports them to the CPE units.
US08243741B2 Frame switching device and address learning method
A frame switching device includes a plurality of ports sending a sending frame and receiving a receiving frame; an address entry memory storing an address entry; a flooding processor executing flooding process; a flooding determination unit determining whether the flooding occurrence for the address satisfies a predetermined condition; a notification transmitting unit transmitting a searching frame; a notification receiving unit for receiving a predetermined notification for the address entry related to the address in flooding occurrence from an other frame switching device; and an address entry registration unit registering the address entry in the address entry memory.
US08243739B2 Broadband wireless network
Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for operating and deploying a broadband wireless network having at least one data transmission node and a plurality of CPE units, wherein there is a wireless data link at least in part between the data transmission node and the CPE units, and further wherein the management and configuration of the network is managed centrally and at least one of authorization, authentication, data stream prioritization or queuing is accomplished through the operation of the CPE units. According to one embodiment there is provided a user group manager that provides a user interface for at least one local service provider to manage information about end users served by the local service provider. In another embodiment, management and configuration of the network is managed using a device that communicates with CPE units and the data transmission nodes. The system and method further provides a data transmission node that includes routing capability, wherein the data transmission node is located with at least one CPE unit. In another embodiment, a network supervision and management device holds an original configuration file for each CPE unit wherein each CPE unit further includes a configuration file that includes an address reference to one or more of the supervision and management devices thereby providing for connectivity to the supervision and management devices and capability of redundancy when more than one supervision and management device is referenced.
US08243736B2 Packet capturing device
A next sequence number, which is a sequence number that a next packet should have, is compared with the sequence number of a current packet, an identifier of a previous packet is compared with the identifier of the current packet, and a delay is judged to be a simple delay when the next sequence number matches the sequence number of the current packet and the identifier of the previous packet is followed by the identifier of the current packet. Or the delay is judged to be caused by a retransmission when the identifier of the previous packet is not followed by the identifier of the current packet.
US08243733B2 Cascaded memory tables for searching
Devices, systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with cascaded memory tables for searching are described. In one embodiment, an integrated chip is implemented with two or more address tables. The two or more address tables are implemented with separate memory tables to store addresses. The two or more address tables are comprised of a first address table and a second address table. Connection lines connect the first address table and the second address table to create a cascaded address table. Search logic initiates a search of the first address table for an address. If the address is not found, the search logic initiates a search of the second address table through the connection lines.
US08243730B1 Geographically localizing mobile communication devices
This specification describes technologies relating to geographically localizing mobile communication devices. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a method that includes receiving information corresponding to a location of a wireless landmark in a mobile communication network. The method also includes communicating with the wireless landmark to estimate the location of a first node in the mobile communication network proximate to the wireless landmark. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products.
US08243726B2 System and method for enabling operation of an ethernet device over an extended distance
A system and method for enabling operation of an Ethernet device over an extended distance. In a multiple dwelling unit (MDU) a customer premises equipment (CPE) can be coupled to a network unit via a broad reach Ethernet link that is greater than 100 meters (e.g., 500 meters). In this example, a CPE having a conventional Ethernet port can be operated over the broad reach Ethernet link using a converter device.
US08243724B2 Enhanced calling features
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for scheduling and initiating calls. For example, a request for a prospective call between a caller and a callee can be received via a server. The prospective call can be electronically added to call lists associated respectively with the caller and the callee. In response to a determination that both the caller and the callee are available, a call between a caller device and a callee device can be automatically initiated.
US08243721B2 Jitter buffer and jitter buffer controlling method
A method of controlling a jitter buffer includes writing, buffering and reading data having a series of voice data frames. Writing and buffering the data is executed synchronously and repeatedly. Writing the data includes detecting whether the data packet is normally received, and calculating a storage address for each of the voice frames. Buffering the data includes buffering the voice frames in a corresponding storage address calculated in the data writing. Reading the data includes transmitting the voice data frames to a voice digital processor (VDSD) for playing.
US08243720B2 Voice-over-IP hybrid digital loop carrier
Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a method of use comprising: for a call between a local IP network and a remote non-IP network, converting between IP packets and PCM robbed bit signaling via a VoIP channelized router; providing the PCM robbed bit signaling to a TDM switch via the VoIP channelized router; and/or converting between IP packets and GR303 call reference values via the VoIP channelized router.
US08243713B2 Cellular radiotelephone signal which enables synchronisation at an entity of a supplementary channel by means of symbol numbering, and corresponding method, terminal and base station
A cellular radiotelephone signal is disclosed of the type that includes a main symmetrical bi-directional channel comprising a main up-link and a main down-link for the low- or medium-speed transmission of signaling and control information and data; and at least one supplementary channel which is assigned solely to the down-link and which is intended for high-speed data transmission using a multi-carrier technique, which ensures that the data are distributed over frequency/time space and which is structured in the form of pre-defined entities. Each entity contains a pre-determined number of symbols. At least one symbol from each entity of the supplementary channel includes a position identifier, which can be used to identify the position of the symbol within the entity, such that a terminal can read the symbol position identifier and deduce therefrom the start of the next entity, thereby obtaining synchronisation at the relevant entity of the supplementary channel.
US08243708B2 Method and apparatus for code division switching
Time division multiplexed input signals (i.e., separated into time slots) are spread in each time slot with a destination code. This spreading is applied for destination identification as opposed to signal information modulation. Each spreading signal is associated with a particular destination for a particular time slot. These spread signals are then combined on a code division bus. Output signals for retransmission to the destinations are recovered from the bus by application of despreading codes. Each despread signal has a destination code which appears in its individual time slot. In a variant code division multiplexed signals are directed to a destination by use of time slot interchanger to achieve time division switching to route the CDMA multiplexed channels.
US08243706B2 Method and system for providing multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) downlink transmission
An approach is provided for supporting transmission in a multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) communication system including a plurality of terminals. A preamble portion of a frame is transmitted by a multiple transmit antennas of a hub using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) to the terminals over a channel, wherein each of the terminals determines a characteristic of the channel with respect to the transmit antennas as feedback information. The hub receives the feedback information from the terminals. The hub selects, according to the feedback information, a subset of the antennas for transmission of a remaining portion of the frame to the terminal.
US08243705B2 System for transmitting high throughput data between multiple devices
A system for transmitting data directly between a plurality of client network devices in a network having an Access Point (“AP”) device separate from the plurality of client network devices is disclosed. The system may include a first client network device having a first client (“STA”) module and a second client network device of the plurality of client network devices.
US08243702B2 Wireless communication system
It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless communication system which can allow a wireless LAN terminal device (1000) to establish a connection to a wireless LAN through a simplified procedure. In the wireless communication system, a wireless LAN access point (1100) performs wireless communication with a wireless LAN terminal device (1000) having personal identification information (1005) necessary to identify a person as a registered user. The wireless LAN access point (1100) includes: a wireless interface (1101) operable to receive the personal identification information (1005) outputted from the wireless LAN terminal device (1000), and a connection permitting unit (1102) operable to have an input and output unit (1103) output the personal identification information (1005) received by the wireless interface (1101), wherein the connection permitting unit (1102) receives information on whether or not the connection is permitted by a network manager (1901), and allows the wireless LAN terminal device (1000) to establish the connection when the connection is permitted by the network manager (1901).
US08243701B2 Low power protocol for wireless terminal peer-to-peer communications
A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) system in which wireless terminals each operate upon battery power. One of the wireless terminals acts as a Master to coordinate the transmission and receptions of the Slaves so as to reduce the power consumed by all of the devices. The Slaves operate according to a power up and power down sequence to conserve battery power. Further, the terminals may alternate between being Slaves and being the Master to equalize battery consumption of the wireless terminals.
US08243695B2 Method and apparatus for improved detection of rate errors in variable rate receivers
A system and method for detection of rate determination algorithm errors in variable rate communications system receivers. The disclosed embodiments prevent rate determination algorithm errors from causing audible artifacts such as screeches or beeps. The disclosed system and method detects frames with incorrectly determined data rates and performs frame erasure processing and/or memory state clean up to prevent propagation of distortion across multiple frames. Frames with incorrectly determined data rates are detected by checking illegal rate transitions, reserved bits, validating unused filter type bit combinations and analyzing relationships between fixed code-book gains and linear prediction coefficient gains.
US08243687B2 Secure and seamless WAN-LAN roaming
Systems and methods are described for secure and seamless roaming between internal and external networks. Double and triple tunnels may be used to connect a mobile node to a correspondent host. A mobile node may include the ability to connect to two networks simultaneously to enable seamless roaming between networks.
US08243685B2 IP handoff method in mobile agent platform environment
Provided is an Internet protocol (IP) handoff method in a mobile agent platform (MAP). Accordingly, when an IP address of a mobile node (MN) is changed while the MN moves from an MAP to an adjacent MAP, the two MAPs generate border lists so as to share information on the MN, so that it is possible to perform a rapid IP handoff.
US08243680B2 Traffic transmission path relocation method for radio communication system
A method for effectively relocating a traffic transmission path when a mobile terminal changes a gateway for a traffic transmission that may include: when a mobile terminal performs handover from a first radio network node to a second radio network node, determining a gateway for processing traffic most suitable for the second radio network node; changing a traffic transmission path to the determined gateway; and transmitting, by a traffic transmission node, traffic to the second radio network node through the changed traffic transmission path.
US08243679B1 Initiating a handover in a communication network
Systems, methods, and software are provided to manage a handover of a mobile station from a source base station to a target base station. In an embodiment, a method comprises monitoring a condition of a first backhaul link between the source base station and an access node, processing the condition of the first backhaul link to determine if the handover should be initiated, and in response to determining that the handover should be initiated, transmitting a handover request to initiate the handover.
US08243677B2 Scheduler and method for allocating time and frequency dimensions of downlink bursts in broadband wireless access networks
Embodiments of a scheduler and a method for assigning frequency and time dimensions of downlink bursts in broadband wireless access networks are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, the frequency and time dimensions of downlink bursts are assigned to each of a plurality of subscriber stations based on one or more individual channel characteristics and one or more individual data requirements associated with the subscriber stations.
US08243669B2 Method, device and system for assigning ACK channels to users
A method for assigning acknowledgement (ACK) channels to a user is used to feed back ACKs of a plurality of downlink sub-frames in one uplink sub-frame. According to the method, reserved ACK channels are divided into blocks according to the number of downlink sub-frames; each downlink sub-frame corresponds to one block; each block is divided into several sub-blocks; control channel element (CCE) sets within the same sub-frame are respectively mapped to different sub-blocks; and the ACK channels are assigned to the downlink sub-frames according to a sequence of increasing a mapping label d first and then increasing a sub-block label m. Thus, more unused ACK channels can be released to form resource blocks (RBs) for transmission on other channels, for example, for PUSCH transmission. Other methods for assigning ACK channels to a user, a device for assigning ACK channels to a user, and a communication system are further provided.
US08243663B2 Method and system for adaptively obtaining bandwidth allocation requests
A method and apparatus for adaptively obtaining bandwidth requests in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes dynamically varying technique combinations enabling a plurality of users to efficiently request bandwidth from a shared base station. A user may “piggyback” a new bandwidth request upon, or set a “poll-me bit” within, presently allocated bandwidth. A base station may poll users, individually or in groups, by allocating unrequested bandwidth for new requests. Polling may respond to a “poll-me bit,” and/or it may be adaptively periodic at a rate based on communication status parameters, such as recent communication activity and connection QoS levels Group polling permits a possibility of collisions. Polling policies may be established for dynamically varying user groups, or may be determined for each user. Dynamic selection of appropriate polling techniques makes use of efficiency benefits associated with each technique.
US08243660B2 Method of transmitting scheduling request in mobile communication system and terminal apparatus for the same
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for transmitting an uplink scheduling request in a mobile communication system. A radio resource controlling node sets a priority for scheduling request retransmission, and cyclically notifies the priority in downlink. A terminal does not retransmit a scheduling request when the highest priority included in the scheduling request to be retransmitted is lower than the lowest priority for scheduling request retransmission. Alternatively, the radio resource controlling node sets scheduling request retransmission cycles (timers) according to priorities, and transmits the cycles in the downlink. The terminal does not retransmit a scheduling request before a cycle (timer) corresponding to the highest priority included in the scheduling request expires after the scheduling request is initially transmitted or retransmitted.
US08243654B2 Transmission frame and radio unit with transmission frame
For transmitting messages in a radiotelecommunications network from a first subscriber station, a transmission frame at least two data fields with data in a first data format transmitted in a first data field of the short message, and data in a second data format, different from the first data format, are transmitted in a second data field of the short message, a first identification code, which identifies a makeup of the short message, is transmitted in the first data field and includes information about at least one of a number of data fields, one or more data formats of data in the data fields, and a size of the data fields, and in each of two data fields, one data-field-specific identification code, which identifies a makeup and content of the corresponding data field, per data field is transmitted.
US08243653B2 Synchronization system and synchronizing method for plurality of base stations and mobile station in a forward link wireless transmission
There is provided a wireless communication system which can synchronize a mobile station with a destination base station in response to the mobile station determining to switch base stations. Each base station generates synchronization information to synchronize the mobile station with the base station from a reverse pilot signal received from the mobile station, generates reverse propagation quality information from the reverse pilot signal, and generates and transmits a control signal including the synchronization information and the reverse propagation quality information. A mobile station generates and transmits a reverse pilot signal, receives a signal including the control signal from each of the base stations.
US08243648B2 Spatial reuse techniques with wireless network relays
In various embodiments of the invention, a relay station in a wireless communications network may communicate with one or more subscriber stations at the same time and/or on the same frequency that the associated base station is communicating with another relay station in the same network. This contrasts with the conventional technique of devoting one time period or frequency exclusively to communications between the base station and the relay stations, and devoting another time period or frequency exclusively to communications between the relay stations and the subscriber stations.
US08243645B2 Method and apparatus for enhancing transmission efficiency in a wireless communications system
A method for enhancing transmission efficiency in a wireless communications system includes a first protocol entity of the wireless communications system always performing a duplication avoidance and reordering, called DAR hereinafter, function on a logic channel, without referring to a configuration of the DAR function by an upper-layer protocol entity.
US08243640B2 WCDMA device and method for discontinuous reception for power saving in idle mode and flexible monitoring of neighboring cells
A WCDMA enabled user equipment device configured to have functions collectively or selectively idle to conserve power. A discontinuous receiver is used to detect and read network messages and report the messages to the computer within the WCDMA enabled user equipment device. The computer then activates functions previously powered down to receive incoming messages for the user of the device. The discontinuous receiver is also used when the device is active to read network messages, freeing a modem of the device to operate on user messaging; and therefore, enhancing user related performance.
US08243629B2 Methods and apparatus for selecting between an ad-hoc conference mode and an infrastructure supported conference mode
Devices that are enabled to communicate with each other via an ad hoc conference mode and an infrastructure supported conference mode, are provided with processing capabilities that can allow them to evaluate one or more resources required to support an ad hoc conference communication session and/or one or more quality metrics associated with the ad hoc conference communication session, and determine whether one or more resources or metrics are outside optimal operating parameters. If so, the processing logic can initiate a transition from the ad hoc conference communication session to an infrastructure supported conference communication session hosted at a conference server. This way, the devices can drop the ad hoc conference communication session when one or more of the resources or metrics are outside optimal operating parameters, so that one of the devices does not need to mix communication information streams (CISs) from the devices, generate a plurality of conferenced communication information streams (CCISs), and transmit a unique one of the conferenced communication information streams (CCISs) to the other devices.
US08243628B2 Free market based pricing for bandwidth and network usage
A system and method for establishing a price for communicating over a communications network may include initiating a bandwidth occupancy query message to at least one network node along a traffic path to which a user is communicating. A highest bandwidth occupancy of the network nodes along the traffic path may be determined. A current price may be computed for a user communicating over the traffic path based on the highest bandwidth occupancy. The user may be notified of the current price for communicating over the traffic path, thereby enabling the user to adjust network usage.
US08243627B2 Methods, apparatus and data structures for preserving address and service level information in a virtual private network
Supporting virtual private networks by using a new layer 3 address to encapsulate a network-bound packet so that its context information, from which a layer 2 (e.g., MAC) address can be derived, is preserved. If this encapsulation was not done, the layer 2 address would change over each segment of the network. Thus, the encapsulation preserves the concept of group identification, using at least a part of the context, over the entire network and not just at the edge of the network. If a packet is received from the network (to be forwarded to a customer), the layer 3 address that was added in the encapsulation is stripped off. The original layer 3 destination address may be used with a client device addressing table to determine a new context information, and a layer 2 (e.g., MAC) address of a destination client device.
US08243625B2 Systems and methods for implementing multi-topology support for label distribution protocol (LPD) of a multiprotocol label switching network
System and method for support multiple topology in Label Distribution Protocol of Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network are disclosed. The system includes a number of network elements and a communication mechanism used to connect the network elements. The network elements discover LDP peers within the network topology, and create and maintain LDP sessions for each of the network topologies. The network elements further establish LSPs by mapping network layer routing information within each network topology to data link layer switches paths. Furthermore, the communication mechanism enables the network elements to advertise the multi-topology capability and exchange the mapping information of label and FECs within each network topology.
US08243624B2 Routing table generation, data transmission and routing route formation method for multi-hop services in high rate wireless personal networks
Provided are a routing table generating method, a data transmission method, and a routing route formation method for multi-hop communication in high rate wireless personal networks. In a high rate WPAN environment including a plurality of piconets, a piconet controller (PNC), which performs a topology server function to provide the optimal route, collects link state information from the PNCs or DEVs (devices) belonging to a sub-tree that serves as a root and applies a minimum cost algorithm based on the collected link state information to calculate the optimal route for all pairs of originations and destinations existing within the sub-tree in consideration of QoS. The optimal route information is transmitted to the origination PNC via the destination PNC/DEV. During performing this, the optimal route between the pairs of originations and destinations is set.
US08243623B2 Combined device and service discovery technique in stations supporting tunneled direct link setup (TDLS)
A tunneled direct link set-up (TDLS) capable wireless network may comprise a router such as an access point (AP) and a plurality of stations (STA) including service consumer and service provider station. A service consumer station may generate and send a layer-2 query frame to the plurality of stations. A service provider station may generate a layer-2 service frame in response to receiving the layer-2 query frame. The service consumer station may discover the service provider station and the services offered by the service provider station based on the layer-2 service frame. Also, the service consumer may discover the service provider station using layer-2 query frame and may discover the services offered by the service provider station using higher layer service discovery procedure.
US08243615B2 Allocation of user equipment identifier
A communication system that comprises a base station and a substation connected to the base station. The base station maintains a set of identifiers, each identifier of the set being at least temporarily allocatable to a user equipment for identifying the user equipment when it resides in a cell of the base station. From the set of identifiers of the base station at least one subset of identifiers is extracted, and assigned to the substation. The substation may then respond to a connection establishment request of user equipment by providing it with an identifier from the subset of identifiers assigned to it. The substation also transmits to the base station information on the connection establishment request and on the identifier provided to the user equipment.
US08243612B2 Dynamic channel-width allocation in wireless networks
Techniques for enhancing throughput capacity and/or bandwidth distribution fairness among APs in a wireless network are described. Specifically, a channel frequency profile which includes a center frequency and channel-width (i.e., channel bandwidth) is dynamically assigned to each of one or more APs in a wireless network. The assigned channel frequency profile for each AP is based, at least in part, on the current composition of the wireless network including, its topology and traffic load distribution. In this regard, each AP's channel frequency profile can be continuously or periodically changed such that the entire available frequency spectrum is effectively utilized and/or interference between APs is avoided or limited. This, in turn, enhances the throughput capacity and/or bandwidth distribution fairness of the wireless network.
US08243611B2 Method and system for configuring a device that has failed to obtain network address
Method and system for configuring a device that has failed to obtain a network address. In one aspect of the invention, a method for remotely configuring a device includes attempting to obtain a network address from a network server over a network, and receiving a valid network address over the network from a remote device connected to the network in response to failing to obtain the network address from the network server.
US08243606B2 Information acquisition device and method
A device includes a storage unit that stores in a predetermined unit an identifier acquired from a packet transmitted from a transmitting device in association with a source address. The transmitting device receives from each terminal device connected communicatable via a network a packet including a source address, an identifier generated by adding a numerical value every time a packet is sent by the terminal device, and a session ID, and converts and transmits the source address. The transmitting device and the terminal device are connected to the device via a different network. The device also includes a determining unit that determines whether the identifier stored has monotonically increased; and a detector that detects a source indicated by a certain source address to be the transmitting device, if the determining unit determines that the identifier for the certain source address has not monotonically increased.
US08243599B2 Method and apparatus for high resolution passive network latency measurement
A method includes receiving a first capture time corresponding to a first time that a data packet is received at a first probe and a second capture time corresponding to a second time that the data packet is received at a second probe. The data packet is from existing network traffic transmitted over a data network. The first and second probes can be configured to capture the data packet in response to a capture instruction. The first capture time and second capture time are different and are used to calculate the latency of at least a portion of a data network.
US08243598B2 Load-balancing via modulus distribution and TCP flow redirection due to server overload
A method, system and/or computer program product route IP packet flows. An Ethernet switch is coupled to a load balancing control engine, which contains load balancing logic that is logically isolated from the Ethernet switch. The Ethernet switch, which routes IP packet flows to servers, receives an IP packet flow. The load balancing control engine determines if the servers are balanced in their workloads. In response to the load balancing control engine determining that the servers are balanced, the Ethernet switch routes the IP packet flow to the servers without the Ethernet switch directly receiving any feedback from the servers regarding their workloads. In response to the load balancing control engine determining that the servers are unbalanced, the load balancing control engine instructs the Ethernet switch to redirect the IP packet flow to a server that is relatively less busy than other servers.
US08243597B2 Application layer synchronous traffic shaping
A method, a system, and a computer program product implements traffic shaping by processing as a synchronous request, tasks representing one or more units of work contained within the request. Before a request is sent through the network, the request is inspected in order to derive the amount of work that the request would generate in the network. A traffic manager queries the amount of work in that request compared to the amount of work that the network can support and generates a number of traffic envelopes. Based on the results of this query, “task pruning” may be implemented to break the request into smaller manageable task that fit into the traffic envelopes. Task pruning may also enable only a subset of the work to be performed. Thus, a measure of the amount of work, rather than the amount of data, within a request is considered when scheduling the request.
US08243591B2 Method and tool for router interface L2 redundancy
A method of router interface level 2 redundancy, and router implementing the method, including one or more of the following: starting redundant ports that are members of a level 2 redundancy group (L2RG) in a DOWN state; determining that none of the redundant ports are in an ACTIVE state; switching a first one of the redundant ports to an ACTIVE state; activating an Internet protocol interface for the L2RG; inserting an Internet protocol route for an interface subnet in an FIB of a router that contains the redundant ports; binding the Internet protocol route for the interface to the first one of the redundant ports; transitioning the first one of the redundant ports to a DOWN state; transitioning the Internet protocol interface to the DOWN state from an UP state; and removing the Internet protocol route for the interface from the FIB of the router.
US08243588B2 Disaster recovery for active-standby data center using route health and BGP
The present invention provides an active/standby data center that avoids the delay associated with a cached DNS entry to switch from the active data center to the standby data center. When the active data center becomes unavailable, the standby data center advertises the same address as the primary data center so the change over occurs quickly. When the IP address of the primary data center is no longer visible to the standby data center, the standby data center begins to advertise.
US08243586B2 Cross-layer reconfiguration method for surviving multiple-link network failures
A second link in a network is reconfigured after failure of a first link, so that multiple-link failures may be survived. After receipt of an OSPF link state advertisement (LSA) indicating use of a backup path bl after the failure of link l, new backup paths are determined for each impacted link (x,y) that has a backup path sharing one or more links with the backup path bl. The new backup paths are computed while ignoring the failed link l, the impacted link (x,y), and links common to the backup paths b(x,y) and bl. The LSA protocol is modified to accommodate information used in determining whether a link is an impacted link.
US08243583B2 OFDM/DMT/digital communications system including partial sequence symbol processing
A method of managing a signal over a symbol period includes supplying samples of the signal at beginning and end portions of the symbol period. The method further includes suppressing the supply of samples of the signal at a middle portion of the symbol period.
US08243582B2 Feedback for transmit precoding in wireless networks
Channel state information for closed-loop transmit precoding in MIMO networks is fed back from the MSs to the BSs. The feedback is quantized using codebooks shared by the MSs and BSs to reduce overhead. The codebooks can be full-rank or rank-one. The quantized feedback is applicable to any definitions of MIMO channel covariance matrix as well as MIMO channel matrix. Since these codebooks are designed for closed-loop MIMO precoded transmissions, no additional memory is needed to store the codebooks at the BS and the MS only for the quantized feedback purposes.
US08243579B2 OFDM receiving circuit having multiple demodulation paths using oversampling analog-to-digital converter
Embodiments according to the application relates to an OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) receiving circuit and methods thereof configured to have a plurality of demodulation paths for an oversampling ADC, which can increase or improve an overall performance of the circuit.
US08243576B2 Optical disc device and playing method of optical disc
To determine the optimum amplitude of high frequency signal for the loaded disc with a simple configuration to achieve stable playing performance, there is provided an optical disc device comprising: a light source driven by a drive signal with a high frequency signal superimposed; a detector for detecting return light emitted from the light source; and a controller for controlling amplitude of the high frequency signal to be superimposed on the drive signal for the light source; the optical disc device being configured to read data on an optical disc loaded therein by a signal outputted from the detector, wherein the controller determines the amplitude of the high frequency signal to be superimposed on the drive signal based on asymmetry of the signal outputted from the detector.
US08243574B2 Method and system for reading high density optical information
The invention relates to the writing and optical reading of high-density information. The higher energy density at the center of the reading laser beam is used for modifying the energy structure of an active layer in such a way as to make it capable of bearing surface plasmons. The coupling of the laser beam and the active layer thus modified can then excite surface plasmons in an interface between a dielectric layer and the active layer. These surface plasmons are disturbed by physical marks having very small dimensions and written in the optical storage medium; these disturbances generate a remote-field optical response which can be detected by a detector. The operation is carried out in super-resolution, the surface plasmons being generated only at the center of the laser beam and not at the periphery. It is therefore possible to write and to read again marks having dimensions of size smaller than the theoretical resolution of the optical reading system.
US08243573B2 High-speed optical disk drive
If the read speed is increased while high-frequency modulated carrier is fixed at a constant frequency, it becomes difficult to separate the read signal from the carrier by using bandwidth limitation of the analog system because the upper limit of the read signal band nears to the carrier frequency. Moreover, if the separation between them is eased by raising the carrier frequency, a problem that write-waveform controls become difficult arises. However, the carrier amplitude can be suppressed simultaneously preventing leakage to the read signal band by converting the carrier frequency into the stop-band of the adaptive equalizer by making the use of aliasing that occurs at the A/D conversion.
US08243570B2 System and method for combining pre-mastered errors with marks or printed spots on optical media
An optical article for playback in a player, the optical article including at least one sector having data, and a mark disposed in a predetermined relationship with the at least one sector, wherein the mark renders a portion of the data generally unreadable. The optical article further includes error correction code associated with the at least one sector, wherein data within the error correction code is configured as partially corrupted. The inclusion of partially corrupted error correction code reduces the size of the mark or spot required to render the data sector uncorrectable.
US08243569B1 Method and system for radial and tangential tilt calibration of optical storage systems
A system and method for adjusting the radial tilt, tangential tilt, or a combination of radial and tangential tilt of an optical detection unit in an optical disc reading system can include applying different weighting factors to different signal components depending on which detection area detects the component, measuring a value of a signal characteristic, such as signal-to-noise ratio, of two signals with different sets of weighting factors, and determining an adjustment factor to the radial tilt as a function of the of the measured signal characteristic values.
US08243561B2 Head for thermal assisted magnetic recording device, and thermal assisted magnetic recording device
In a head for thermal assisted magnetic recording device, a semiconductor laser is mounted so that the total height of the head does not become larger and light power fluctuation due to wavelength fluctuation occurs less frequently. In addition, the rise in temperature of the mounted semiconductor laser is suppressed. A semiconductor laser is placed on a side surface which is different from surfaces on an inflow end side and a trailing side, of four side surfaces of a floating slider. An entrance of a waveguide is placed on the side surface of the floating slider, to thereby cause emitted light from the semiconductor laser to directly enter the waveguide. A curved line part or a reflective mirror is formed in the middle of the waveguide so that the light which has entered the waveguide travels toward an optical near-field generating element.
US08243560B2 Heat-assisted magnetic recording head including internal mirrors of first and second inclined surfaces
A heat-assisted magnetic recording head has an internal mirror that includes a reflecting film support body and a reflecting film. The internal mirror reflects light that comes from above a waveguide so that the reflected light travels through the waveguide toward a medium facing surface. The reflecting film support body includes first and second inclined surfaces. The reflecting film includes first and second portions that are located on the first and second inclined surfaces, respectively. The step of forming the reflecting film support body includes two-taper etching operations to be performed on an initial support body.
US08243553B2 Portable electronic device having a history function and intended to display the value of variables on the basis of measurements made by a sensor
The present invention relates to a portable electronic device (1) comprising at least two analog display elements (16, 17) to display the current time in a first operating mode, the time mode, the electronic device (1) additionally comprising a sensor (23) for a physical magnitude to measure the value of this physical magnitude as a function of time in a second operating mode and memory elements (25, 26) intended to store at least a portion of the measured values with a given period. The display elements can be controlled in the second operating mode to respectively display a value representative of the measured physical magnitude and a calculated value representative of the variation in time of the physical magnitude. The electronic device (1) has a third operating mode, the history mode, in which the analog display elements (17, 16) are actuated to respectively display, chronologically and with a time interval of predefined duration, values representative of the physical magnitude on the basis of the stored values and values representative of the variation in time of the physical magnitude calculated on the basis of the stored values. The invention also relates to a method of displaying a history.
US08243550B2 Downhole communication method and system
A system and method is provided for communicating with a device disposed in a wellbore. Signals are sent through the Earth via signal pulses. The pulses are created by a seismic vibrator and processed by a receiver disposed in the wellbore. The receiver is in communication with the device and transfers data, such as command and control signal, to the device.
US08243547B2 Identification and suppression of multiples in ocean bottom seismic data
A method for identifying and suppressing water column reverberations (“multiple reflections”) in two-component ocean bottom seismic data is disclosed. The method involves processing the hydrophone (P) data and the geophone (Z) data separately to produce two stacked images of the subsurface (21). Analyzing the stacked P-image and the stacked Z-image together can be used to identify multiple reflections (22). Analyzing the stacked /′-image and the stacked Z-image together with an image of the subsurface created from hydrophone and geophone data combined in the usual way (PZ-image) (20) can be used to identify residual multiples in the PZ image (23). The stacked P and Z images can be combined using an existing PZ combination technique to suppress multiples (24). The efficiency of the PZ combination technique at suppressing multiples is increased because of the higher signal-to-noise ratio of stacked data.
US08243543B2 Semiconductor memory device for high-speed data input/output
Semiconductor memory device for high-speed data input/output includes a first serializer configured to partially serialize input 8-bit parallel data to output first to fourth serial data, a second serializer configured to partially serialize the first to fourth serial data to output fifth and sixth serial data and a third serializer configured to serialize the fifth and sixth serial data to output seventh serial data.
US08243540B2 Semiconductor memory device and test method thereof
Example embodiments disclose a semiconductor memory device and a test method thereof. The semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array that provides first and second data groups at a first data rate and an output circuit, in a normal mode of operation, serially outputs the first and second data groups at a first data rate on an external terminal. In a test mode of operation, the output circuit outputs the first data group or the second data group at a second data rate on the external terminal in response to control signals, without switching the test mode. The second data rate may be lower than the first data rate.
US08243539B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
When bit lines or sense amplifiers are checked whether they are defective during a test performed to check whether the bit lines are defectively open, an electrical current supplied from one sense amplifier is detected by another sense amplifier. Thus, if plural bit lines are defectively open, they can be detected simultaneously. Consequently, the test time can be shortened greatly.
US08243528B2 Erase method of flash device
In an erase method of a flash device, including a page buffer configured to transfer a virtual voltage in response to a discharge signal and further comprising strings each including memory cells and coupled to the page buffer via a respective bit line, applying a ground voltage to a gate of each of the memory cells and erasing the memory cells coupled to a selected bit line by supplying the virtual voltage wherein the virtual voltage is applied to the selected bit line and a unselected bit line.
US08243525B1 Refreshing non-volatile semiconductor memory by reading without rewriting
A non-volatile semiconductor memory is disclosed comprising a first memory device including a plurality of memory segments, and control circuitry operable to determine whether a memory segment in the first memory device needs refreshing, and when the memory segment needs refreshing, read data from the memory segment into a data register without rewriting the data.
US08243522B2 NAND memory programming method using double vinhibit ramp for improved program disturb
A method of applying an inhibit bias to an unselected word line when programming a NAND memory device is provided. The method may include ramping the inhibit bias to the unselected word line to a first predetermined voltage and ramping the inhibit bias to the unselected word line to a second predetermined voltage. Ramping of the inhibit bias to the unselected word line to a first predetermined voltage may occur until a boosted channel reaches a leakage limited saturation potential.
US08243520B2 Non-volatile memory with predictive programming
A method of operating an integrated circuit includes applying at least one first programming pulse to a plurality of non-volatile memory cells to adjust a level of a storage parameter of each of the non-volatile memory cells, the at least one first programming pulse defined by a plurality of pulse parameters each having a fixed valued, and determining a fail count by measuring the number of non-volatile memory cells of the plurality of non-volatile memory cells having a storage parameter level exceeding a verify level. The method further includes determining a change in an programming behavior of the plurality of non-volatile memory cells based on the fail count, adjusting a value of at least one pulse parameter of at least one second programming pulse defined by the plurality of pulse parameters to a desired value based on the change in programming behavior, and applying the at least one second programming pulse to the plurality non-volatile memory cells.
US08243517B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory, method for reading out thereof, and memory card
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes: a memory cell unit including a plurality of memory cells having an electric charge accumulation layer and a control electrode, said memory cells being electrically connected in series; a plurality of word lines, each of which is electrically connected to said control electrode of said plurality of memory cells; a source line electrically connected to said memory cells at one end of said memory cell unit; a bit line electrically connected to said memory cells at the other end of said memory cell unit; and a control signal generation circuit, which during a data readout operation staggers a timing for selecting the word line connected to said memory cells of said memory cell unit from a timing for selecting a non-selected word line connected to a non-selected memory.
US08243513B2 Non-volatile multilevel memory cells with data read of reference cells
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, devices, modules, and systems for non-volatile multilevel memory cell data retrieval with data read of reference cells. One method includes programming at least one data cell of a number of data cells coupled to a selected word line to a target data threshold voltage (Vt) level corresponding to a target state; programming at least one reference cell of a number of reference cells coupled to the selected word line to a target reference Vt level, the number of reference cells interleaved with the number of data cells; determining a reference state based on a data read of the at least one reference cell; and changing a state read from the at least one data cell based on a change of the at least one reference cell.
US08243512B2 Semiconductor memory write method
A semiconductor memory write method which, when writing data at a threshold voltage level in a memory cell, is configured to perform two write operations including a preliminary data write operation of writing temporary data at a threshold voltage level lower than that of the data at the threshold voltage level, and a final data write operation of additionally writing final data at the threshold voltage level, includes making at least one of a write time of the preliminary data write operation, a word-line waiting time of verify read, and a bit-line waiting time of verify read, shorter than that of the final data write operation.
US08243511B2 Reuse of information from memory read operations
A nominal reference read operation compares analog voltages of the memory cells to at least one nominal reference voltage. A shifted reference read operation compares the analog voltages of the memory cells to at least one shifted reference voltage that is shifted from the nominal reference voltage to compensate for an expected change in the analog voltages of the memory cells. Data stored in the memory cells is decoded by a first decoding process that uses the information from either the nominal reference read operation or the shifted reference read operation. The data stored in the memory cells is decoded by a second decoding process that uses the information from both the nominal reference read operation and the shifted reference read operation.
US08243510B2 Non-volatile memory cell with metal capacitor
According to one exemplary embodiment, a memory cell in a semiconductor chip includes a non-volatile memory transistor, a control gate, and a floating gate. The control gate is capacitively coupled to the floating gate of the non-volatile memory transistor by a metal capacitor. The metal capacitor can be formed in one or more metal levels and in one embodiment is in a shape of a comb with multiple fingers. In one embodiment, the non-volatile memory transistor is an NMOS non-volatile memory transistor.
US08243509B2 Nonvolatile memory cell operating by increasing order in polycrystalline semiconductor material
A nonvolatile memory cell is described, the memory cell comprising a semiconductor diode. The semiconductor material making up the diode is formed with significant defect density, and allows very low current flow at a typical read voltage. Application of a programming voltage permanently changes the nature of the semiconductor material, resulting in an improved diode. The programmed diode allows much higher current flow, in some embodiments one, two or three orders of magnitude higher, at the same read voltage. The difference in current allows a programmed memory cell to be distinguished from an unprogrammed memory cell. Fabrication techniques to generate an advantageous unprogrammed defect density are described. The memory cell of the present invention can be formed in a monolithic three dimensional memory array, having multiple stacked memory levels formed above a single substrate.
US08243507B2 Programmable via devices in back end of line level
Programmable via devices and methods for the fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a programmable via device is provided. The programmable via device comprises a first dielectric layer; at least one isolation layer over the first dielectric layer; a heater within the isolation layer; a capping layer over a side of the isolation layer opposite the first dielectric layer; at least one programmable via extending through the capping layer and at least a portion of the isolation layer and in contact with the heater, the programmable via comprising at least one phase change material; a conductive cap over the programmable via; a second dielectric layer over a side of the capping layer opposite the isolation layer; a first conductive via and a second conductive via, each extending through the second dielectric layer, the capping layer and at least a portion of the isolation layer and in contact with the heater; and a third conductive via extending through the second dielectric layer and in contact with the conductive cap.
US08243502B2 Nonvolatile latch circuit and logic circuit using the same
A nonvolatile latch circuit includes: a latch circuit; a first magnetoresistance element and a second magnetoresistance element; and a current supply portion. The latch circuit temporarily holds data. Each of the first magnetoresistance element and the second magnetoresistance element includes a first magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer that are stacked with an insulating film sandwiched therebetween. The current supply portion complementarily changes magnetization states of the first magnetoresistance element and the second magnetoresistance element based on a state of the latch circuit. The first magnetic layer of the first magnetoresistance element and the first magnetic layer of the second magnetoresistance element are series-connected to each other in. The latch circuit has a function that brings data corresponding to the magnetization states to data held by the latch circuit.
US08243492B2 One time programmable memory device and manufacturing method of one time programmable memory device
Embodiments relate to a manufacturing method of a one time programmable (OTP) memory device including: forming a common source in a linear configuration on a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate at both sides of the source; forming a gate over the gate dielectric layer; forming a spacer between the gates and at both side walls of the gate; and forming a drain on the semiconductor substrate at both sides of the spacer. With embodiments, the OTP memory device can be formed together with the logic part using the logic process and can increase the storage capacity of the OTP memory device by improving density of memory arrays.
US08243489B2 Memory device no common source region and method of fabricating the same
A memory array including a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of word lines, a dummy word line, at least a first conductive region and at least a first plug is provided. Each word line is coupled to corresponding memory cells. A dummy word line is directly adjacent to an outmost word line of the plurality of word lines. The first conductive region is disposed only between the dummy word line and the outmost word line. The first plug is located between the dummy word line and the outmost word line.
US08243488B2 Memory module and layout method therefor
The present invention provides a novel wiring method for LR-DIMM of VLP type that conforms to LR-DIMM technology. The LR-DIMM comprises a plurality of DRAMs mounted on a board, two connectors mounted on the board for receiving data, and a buffer device mounted on the board for redriving data applied to the two connectors to supply the data to the plurality of DRAMs. The buffer device is located near the center of the board on which the two connectors are arranged at both ends thereof, and supplies data from each connector to DRAMs arranged on the opposite side to the connector.
US08243484B2 Adjustable width strobe interface
A memory system comprises a circuit board 40 including N data signal lines 60, 65 and at least two strobe signal lines 70, 75, and first and second memory devices 50, 55 secured to opposing surfaces 40a, 40b of the circuit board. Each memory device is coupled to a portion of the N data signal lines and to a portion of the at least two strobe signal lines such that the devices do not share any of the N data signal lines and such that the devices do not share any of the strobe signal lines. The memory system further includes a controller 45 to communicate in parallel with the first and second memory devices through the N data signal lines and the at least two strobe signal lines.
US08243482B2 Control device for matrix converter
A control device for a matrix converter includes an input voltage detector, an output current detector, a pulse width modulator, and an input voltage command calculator. The input voltage detector is configured to detect an input voltage of the matrix converter. The output current detector is configured to detect an output current of the matrix converter. The pulse width modulator is configured to generate a PWM pulse command signal by using the input voltage, the output current, and an output line voltage command. The input voltage command calculator is configured to calculate an input voltage command of the matrix converter.
US08243479B2 On-die anti-resonance structure for integrated circuit
A structure and method for reducing the effects of chip-package resonance in an integrated circuit assembly is described. A series RLC circuit is employed to reduce the output impedance of the power delivery system at the resonance frequency.
US08243473B2 Switching power supply device and switching power supply control circuit
The invention provides a switching power supply device which can detect a light load state on a pulse-by-pulse basis without worsening power efficiency. In a synchronous control circuit, for each timing of the turning-on of main switching elements, the delay time Tdif of the conduction timing of internal diodes Ds determined according to the magnitude of the load LD is detected by a comparator, a reference time pulse Tsrs having a prescribed time width is generated by a load judgment circuit, and the logical product of the two is generated by an AND circuit. By this means, the load is regarded as being a light load when the delay time Tdif is longer than the reference time pulse Tsrs, and the synchronous rectification MOSFETs Qs are not turned on.
US08243472B2 Power supply having a two-way DC to DC converter
A power supply having a two-way DC to DC converter has an AC to DC converter and a two-way DC to DC converter. When an AC power is input to the AC to DC converter, the AC to DC converter transforms the AC power to a middle level DC power and the two-way DC to DC converter transforms the middle level DC power to a low level DC power. When the AC power is unavailable and the two-way DC to DC converter obtains an external DC power, the two-way DC to DC converter transforms the external DC power to the middle level DC power. Therefore, if the power supply obtains the external DC power, the power supply can still output the middle level DC power even the AC power is unavailable.
US08243470B2 Ferrite inductors integrated within top-mounted input/output cable port assembly of an electronics rack
An input/output cable port assembly and electromagnetic interference attenuation method are provided. The cable port assembly includes a cable port structure mounted to an electronics rack with an opening for input/output cables to pass therethrough, and multiple bottom ferrite inductor portions and multiple top ferrite inductor portions. The bottom and top ferrite inductor portions include first and second surfaces, respectively. The inductor portions are configured to be stacked within the cable port structure with their first and second surfaces in opposing relation to define at least one ferrite inductor with a central opening defined by the first and second surfaces for input/output cable(s) of the electronics rack to pass. The ferrite inductor attenuates electromagnetic interference resulting from transient or steady state current on the cable(s) passing therethrough.
US08243467B2 Semiconductor device
A main chip has a signal processing circuit for executing signal processing; a plurality of signal transmitting circuits for transmitting signals between the signal processing circuit and a signal transmitting circuit; and a control circuit for controlling operation/non-operation of the signal transmitting circuits in accordance with signal processing content of the signal processing circuit. Functional chips each have a signal processing circuit for executing auxiliary signal processing different from that of the signal processing circuit; and one or a plurality of signal transmitting circuits for transmitting signals between the signal processing circuit and the signal transmitting circuits. The main chip and the functional chips are stacked. The signal transmitting circuits and the signal transmitting circuit are non-contact-type signal transmitting circuits utilizing inductive coupling and are arranged so as to overlap when viewed from the stacking direction.
US08243466B2 Printed circuit board
A printed circuit board includes first and second layers, a control chip, bonding pads, and several electronic elements. The bonding pads can be selectively applied to interconnect the first and second layers, and the control chip with any of the electronic elements in a simple layout.
US08243463B2 Capacitor module
A capacitor module in which the structure of a connecting portion is highly resistant against vibration and has a low inductance. The capacitor module includes a plurality of capacitors and a laminate made up of a first wide conductor and a second wide conductor joined in a layered form with an insulation sheet interposed between the first and second wide conductors. The laminate comprises a first flat portion including the plurality of capacitors which are supported thereon and electrically connected thereto, a second flat portion continuously extending from the first flat portion while being bent, and connecting portions formed at ends of the first flat portion and the second flat portion and electrically connected to the exterior.
US08243458B2 Waterproof structure for portable electronic device
A waterproof structure for a portable electronic device includes a housing, an interface member, a waterproof circuit board, a chamber, and a main circuit board. The housing has a bottom wall and a peripheral wall around the bottom wall, the bottom wall has an enclosure formed thereon, the peripheral wall defines a connecting hole through to the enclosure. The interface member has an interconnect inlet, the interface member is placed into a chamber, the interconnect inlet aligns with the connecting hole, the waterproof circuit board engages in the enclosure to prevent vapors or dust enter into the main circuit board, the waterproof circuit board also electronically connect the main circuit board.
US08243456B2 Component joining structure, IC card, and connector
An ultrasonic weld is provided in a cover component, is formed protruding from the cover component, and is provided so that it can join the cover component and the body component together by being fixed to the body component with ultrasonic welding. A locking mechanism is provided so that it can join the cover component and the body component together via engaging portions that engage with each other. The locking mechanism includes a first engaging portion provided in the cover component, and a second engaging portion that is provided in another component fixed to the body component, and that can engage with the first engaging portion. Thus, it is possible to decrease the number of components, and also reduce equipment costs and production control costs.
US08243451B2 Cooling member for heat containing device
A cooling member for withdrawing heat from a heat containing device is disclosed. The cooling member can have a housing with a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a plurality of irregular-shaped fins located at least partially therewithin. In addition, a plurality of irregular-shaped and hierarchical branched fluid pathways can be located between the plurality of fins and the housing and/or the plurality of fins can be in physical contact with the heat containing device.
US08243447B2 Power conversion apparatus
A power conversion apparatus includes a casing and an inverter unit housed in the casing. The inverter unit includes a unit case, a capacitor block removably provided at a position on an inner side of a detachable side plate of the unit case, and a fan block placed in the unit case in such a manner as to be removable from a front side. The capacitor block includes a capacitor case having a plurality of capacitor insertion holes, a plurality of electrolytic capacitors placed in the capacitor insertion holes, respectively, and a laminated bus bar connected to the electrolytic capacitors. The fan block includes a fan case and a cooling fan provided in the fan case.
US08243446B2 Photovoltaic inverter
A DC to AC inverter used in a solar cell power system can include an improved control scheme for cooling itself and optimizing power output.
US08243443B2 Filter mountable on display device and electronic equipment provided with display device
A filter 101 of the present application has flexibility. The filter 101 includes a left protruding portion 102, a right protruding portion 103, a lower protruding portion 104a, a lower protruding portion 104b, and an upper protruding portion 105. The electronic equipment of the present application includes a main portion 2 and a display portion 3. The display portion 3 includes a left groove 11a, a right groove 11b, a lower groove 12a, and a lower groove 12b. The left protruding portion 102 can be inserted in the left groove 11a. The right protruding portion 103 can be inserted in the right groove 11b. The lower protruding portion 104a can be inserted in the lower groove 12a. The lower protruding portion 104b can be inserted in the lower groove 12b. When the filter 101 is mounted on the display portion 3, the upper protruding portion 105 is positioned on the display frame 9. When the filter 101 is attached/detached with respect to the display portion 3, the upper protruding portion 105 is held, and hence, fingerprints can be prevented from adhering to the display surface of the filter 101.
US08243439B2 Slider mechanism for opening and closing a portable terminal
The present invention relates to a sliding opening and closing device for a portable terminal. The sliding opening and closing device for a portable terminal according to the present invention includes: a first plate; a second plate slidably joined to the first plate; a cam profile formed at the first plate along a sliding direction of the second plate; and an elastic module mounted on the second plate, wherein one end of the elastic module is in contact with the cam profile to slide therealong. A guide part is formed at the first plate and the cam profile is formed along an edge portion of the guide part.
US08243434B2 Electronic device enclosure
An electronic device enclosure includes a chassis, a drive bracket, and an air duct. The drive bracket is secured to the chassis and defines a subspace for receiving a disk drive. The air duct is rotatably secured to the drive bracket, and rotatable between a first position, where the subspace is exposed, and a second position, where the subspace is covered by the air duct.
US08243431B2 Electronic device
According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a first body, a second body, a hinge mechanism, and a contact portion. The hinge mechanism connects the first body and the second body such that the first body and the second body can relatively rotate about a rotation axis and relatively move in a direction along the rotation axis. In the contact portion, the housing of the first body and the housing of the second body are in contact with each other while the first body and the second body are relatively rotating about the rotation axis to guide one of the first body and the second body to move spirally about the rotation axis relative to another one of the first body and the second body.
US08243426B2 Reducing optical effects in a display
One embodiment may take the form of a system for reducing the appearance of optical effects in a display. The system may include an enclosure with a first surface and a second surface. Furthermore, the system may include spacers that may be deposited on the bottom face of the first surface and/or the top face of the second surface, where the first surface may be a touch panel and/or cover lens and the second surface may be a display module. The spacers may be deposited in one layer with an anti-reflection coating. The thickness of the coating may be less than the diameter of the spacers.
US08243425B2 Key assembly and portable electronic device using the same
A key assembly comprises a base plate, two resisting mechanisms and a key body. The resisting mechanisms and the key body are mounted the base plate, and the resisting mechanisms are respectively located at two opposite ends of the key body. When the key body slides toward and compresses one of the resisting mechanisms, said another one of the resisting mechanisms is stretched.
US08243423B2 Expandable meter center employing digital electronic meter assemblies
An improved gangable meter center for distributing electric power to and measuring electric power consumption by a plurality of individually measured units in a complex comprises: a plurality of meters for measuring the electric power consumption by the plurality of individually measured units in the complex; and a plurality of feeder buses electrically coupled between at least one utility line supplying power to the plurality of individually measured units in the complex, wherein the plurality of meters are included within the meter center without use of a meter socket. Ganged meter centers comprise at least two such gangable meter centers.
US08243421B2 Electrolytic capacitor and method of manufacturing the same
An electrolytic capacitor in which positions of an anode terminal and a cathode terminal in a wound-type capacitor element can be fixed and consequently increase in leakage current can be suppressed and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The electrolytic capacitor including a wound-type capacitor element having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, a bottomed case accommodating the wound-type capacitor element, and a sealing member sealing the winding structure portion in the bottomed case, through which the anode terminal and the cathode terminal penetrate, includes a fixing member arranged between the winding structure portion and the sealing member and having openings in number not smaller than the sum of the number of anode terminals and the number of cathode terminals, the anode terminal and the cathode terminal passing through the openings, and the anode terminal and the cathode terminal being fixed by the fixing member.
US08243420B2 Conductive electrode using conducting metal oxide film with network structure of nanograins and nanoparticles, preparation method thereof and supercapacitor using the same
A porous conducting metal oxide electrode prepared by depositing a porous conducting metal oxide film containing a conducting metal oxide film layer having a network structure of nanofibers, containing nanograins or nanoparticles, on at least one surface of a current collector, and a conducting metal oxide coating layer on the network layer of the porous conducting metal oxide through a constant current method or a cyclic voltammetric method; and a high-speed charge/discharge and ultrahigh-capacity supercapacitor using the porous conducting metal oxide electrode are provided.
US08243419B2 Capacitor structure
A capacitor structure includes: a first electrode configured to include a plurality of openings; a second electrode formed in each center of the openings; and a dielectric layer formed to surround the second electrode and fill the openings of the first electrode.
US08243417B2 Variable capacitor and electronic device
Disclosed is a variable capacitor that includes signal electrodes configured to sandwich a dielectric layer so as to generate a signal electric field, and control electrodes configured to sandwich the dielectric layer so as to generate a control electric field in a direction intersecting with the signal electric field generated between the signal electrodes.
US08243416B2 High efficiency gas lighting device for an electric household appliance
A gas lighting device including: a body formed by an electrically insulating material carrying a plurality of high-voltage outputs for the connection of spark generating means; a transformer accommodated in the body and including a primary winding wound around and carried by a ferromagnetic material core, a carrying element formed by an electrically insulating material and designed to contain the primary winding therein, and a secondary winding consisting of a plurality of coils externally carried by the carrying element, electrically insulated from the primary winding and essentially coaxial with the latter; the core is ring-shaped on a plane parallel to an axis (A) of the windings and consists of two half rings reciprocally coupled and arranged facing and closely adjacent to each other in the direction of the axis of the windings; a first circumferential portion of the ring-shaped core, formed by one or both of the half rings, is accommodated inside the carrying element so as to be surrounded by the windings, while a second circumferential portion of the core is formed parallel to the first and radially on the outside of the windings so as not to be surrounded by the same.
US08243413B2 Polymer surge arrester
A polymer surge arrester has: internal elements including a plurality of disc-shaped nonlinear resistors disposed in a stacked manner, electrodes disposed at both ends of the nonlinear resistors, and a plurality of insulating rods coupling the electrodes; an insulating outer skin formed outside the internal elements by casting an insulating resin; and disc-shaped porous metal plates interposed between at least parts of the nonlinear resistors.
US08243412B2 Surge protection systems and methods for outside plant ethernet
The present disclosure generally pertains to surge protection systems that protect outside plant equipment from high-energy surges. In one exemplary embodiment, a protection system is used for protecting Ethernet equipment that is coupled to an outside Ethernet cable. The protection system provides protection and remains capable of coupling signal energy between an Ethernet cable and Ethernet equipment without significantly degrading Ethernet performance. However, the protection system, while allowing the desirable Ethernet signals to pass between the cable and the equipment, prevents the electrical voltages and currents of high-energy surges, such as surges from lightning or AC power faults, from damaging the Ethernet equipment.
US08243406B2 ESD protection device and composite electronic component of the same
The present invention provides an ESD protection device and the like having improved durability against repeated use. An ESD protection device includes a base having an insulating surface, electrodes disposed on the insulating surface and facing but spaced apart from each other, and a functional layer disposed on at least between the electrodes. The electrodes have a multistage structure in which a gap between the electrodes is narrower toward the base.
US08243404B2 ESD protection circuit with merged triggering mechanism
An ESD protection circuit has a merged triggering mechanism. The ESD protection circuit comprises: an ESD detection circuit, for detecting an ESD voltage to generate a control signal; a first type ESD protection device, for outputting a first trigger current; a second type ESD protection device, for receiving a second trigger current; and a trigger circuit, for constituting a conductive path according to the control signal, such that the trigger circuit can receive the first trigger current from the first type ESD protection device and outputs the second trigger current to the second type ESD protection device.
US08243397B2 Micromachined electrothermal rotary actuator
The present disclosure is directed to a micromachined rotary actuator constructed of a central portion and an outer portion at least partially surrounding the central portion and separated from the central portion by an in-plane gap. A plurality of arms are each connected at one end to the central portion and at another end to the outer portion so as to span the in-plane gap. The arms are constructed of a plurality of horizontally stacked materials positioned to enable the arms to bend in-plane when heated. Conductors are positioned within the actuator for heating the arms. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.
US08243395B2 Method of utilizing a solder reflow channel in the formation of a hard disk drive
A method of utilizing a solder reflow channel in the formation of a hard disk drive is disclosed. The method provides a first hard disk drive component having at least one solder reflow channel, the at least one solder reflow channel for retaining a predeposited solder material. The solder reflow channel is utilized to provide a solder location for coupling the first hard disk drive component and a second hard disk drive component to the predeposited solder material.
US08243394B2 Disk drive suspension having flexure and load beam with insulating space between load beam and conductor of flexure
A slit is formed between two opposite side portions of a metal base made of an electrically conductive material. The slit penetrates the metal base thicknesswise and extends longitudinally relative to the metal base. An insulating layer is formed on the metal base. A first conductor is formed within the slit. The first conductor extends longitudinally relative to the metal base along the slit. A second conductor is formed on the insulating layer. The second conductor faces the first conductor across the insulating layer. The second conductor extends longitudinally relative to the metal base along the first conductor. The metal base and the first conductor consist of a common base material, such as a stainless-steel plate. The first conductor is formed by etching the base material.
US08243392B2 Magnetic head slider locking apparatus
A magnetic head slider locking apparatus includes a fixed portion having a distal-side engage portion engaged with a slider's distal end and fixed to a flexure part, an endless spring portion surrounding the fixed portion in a plan view, a connection portion connecting the fixed portion to the spring portion, and a proximal-side engage portion provided to the spring portion so as to be engaged with a slider's proximal end. The spring portion takes an initial posture where no external operational force is applied thereto so that the proximal-side engage portion is located closer to a distal end side in the suspension longitudinal direction than the slider's proximal end, and also takes an elastically deformed posture where an external operational force is applied thereto so that the proximal-side engage portion is located closer to a proximal end side in the suspension longitudinal direction than the slider's proximal end.
US08243390B2 Reading multi-layer continuous magnetic recording media
A method and system for reading readback pulse shapes representing a magnetization state transition between such written magnetization states of a two-layer continuous magnetic recording medium. A readback pulse shape representing a written magnetization state transition is read. The written magnetization state transition is uniquely identified from the readback pulse shape of the transition or from both the readback pulse shape of the transition and the readback pulse shape of one or more next magnetization state transitions.
US08243389B2 Write fringing reduction for recording media
A recording media design having discrete track recording structure where the trenches between tracks are filled with a soft magnetic material is provided. The soft magnetic material provides a low magnetic impedance path to the soft underlayer such that fringe fields from the write head are conducted to the soft underlayer without having a negative effect such as adjacent track erasure. A method of manufacturing the media includes a nano-imprint step and ion milling out the data layer to create the trenches. A B2O3 material allows the data layer to be ion milled out without redeposition bridging the B2O3 layer thus preventing lift off of the mask. The trenches are then filled by ion deposition with the layers of ferromagnetic material separated by an anti-ferromagnetic coupling that causes the flux to be conducted to the soft underlayer and remnant flux to rotate within the island and not into adjacent tracks.
US08243379B2 Camera module
A camera module includes a barrel, a holder, a focus ring and an elastic element. The barrel includes a bottom surface opposing the holder. The holder includes an end surface facing the bottom surface of the barrel. At least one of the bottom surface and the end surface defines a first curved cutout and a second curved cutout. The depth of the first curved cutout is different from that of the second curved cutout. The focus ring is positioned between the bottom surface and the end surface. The focus ring includes a bump. An end of the elastic element is fixed to the barrel and the other end is fixed to the holder. The elastic element pulls the barrel to position the focus ring between the barrel and the holder. When rotating the focus ring, the bump can be received in the first curved cutout or the second curved cutout.
US08243378B2 Holding apparatus, telescope, and optical apparatus
A holding apparatus for holding an optical element includes: a barrel; a first member having one end connected to the barrel, and an opposite end located apart from the one end in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the barrel and outside the barrel; a second member passing through the hole and having one end connected to the opposite end of the first member and the other end located apart from the opposite end of the first member in the direction and inside the barrel. Their linear expansion coefficients and dimensions are configured so that the opposite end of the second member is in contact with a side of the optical element, and the amounts of displacement of the side of the optical element and the opposite end of the second member due to a change in temperature correspond to each other.
US08243376B2 Lens module
A lens module includes a base, and first and second lens units. The base defines a receiving space, and has two spaced-apart through holes for fluid communication of the receiving space with an area external to the base. The first lens unit is disposed within the receiving space, and defines a first light communicating path that corresponds in position to one of the through holes. The second lens unit is disposed within the receiving space in a side-by-side manner with the first lens unit, and defines a second light communicating path that corresponds in position to the other one of the through holes.
US08243375B2 Sub-micron adjustable mount for supporting a component and method
An optical assembly includes a light path and at least one optic to be positioned in the path. A support arrangement supports the optic having a foot arrangement including at least one foot that receives a direct manipulation with the foot slidingly engaged against a support surface to move the optic relative to the light path. Movement of the foot may move the optic along a predetermined path. The foot defines a footprint for engaging the support surface and receives the direct manipulation in a way which changes the footprint on the support surface to move the optic responsive to changes in the footprint. A movement arrangement may selectively bias the foot against the support surface during a movement mode, intended to permit movement of the foot against the support surface, and in a locked mode, intended to lock the foot against the support surface.
US08243370B2 Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus
The zoom lens which is compact and has high optical performance over the entire zoom range includes in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a negative refractive power, a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, and a third lens unit having a positive refractive power. Distances between the first to third lens units are varied during zooming. The second lens unit includes a lens element whose image side surface has a concave shape, a most object side positive lens element and a most image side positive lens element. Conditions of 0.4
US08243369B2 Wavelength monitored and stabilized source
Methods and apparatus for sampling techniques can constantly monitor a spectral output from a broadband source in order to control a central wavelength of interrogation light supplied by the source for input to a sensor. A first portion of light output from the broadband source passes through a controller module for spectral analysis and referencing to provide measurements that can be used as feedback to actively modify a second portion of the light from the source. This modified second portion thereby controls the central wavelength to ensure accurate determination of sensor response signals received at a receiver.
US08243368B2 Optical element and optical apparatus
An optical element including a first layer (011) made of a medium having optical anisotropy, wherein a difference between refractive indexes nh and nl (nh>nl) at a central wavelength λ for first and second polarized lights which enter the optical element and whose polarization directions are different from each other is at least 0.1, and wherein conditions (nt1−nl)·(nl−nt2)≦0 and nt1
US08243367B2 Manufacturing method of three-dimensional image display apparatus
A manufacturing method of a three-dimensional image display apparatus including an image display section and a retarder is provided. The manufacturing method includes attaching an adhesion sheet containing a curable resin to at least one of an exit surface of the image display section and an entrance surface of the retarder, layering the retarder on the image display section such that the entrance surface of the retarder faces the exit surface of the image display section, applying a resin onto a periphery portion of the image display section and onto a periphery portion of the retarder, adhering together the periphery portions by curing the resin applied to the periphery portions, and adhering together the image display section and the retarder by curing the resin between the image display section and the retarder, after adhering together the periphery portions.
US08243363B2 Optical signal processing apparatus, optical receiving apparatus, and optical relay apparatus
An optical signal processing apparatus includes an input unit to which signal light is input; a wave coupling unit that couples the signal light from the input unit and pump light having a waveform different from that of the signal light; a first nonlinear optical medium that transmits light coupled by the wave coupling unit, the light being the signal light and the pump light; a dispersion medium that transmits the light that has been transmitted through the first nonlinear optical medium; and a second nonlinear optical medium that transmits the light that has been transmitted through the dispersion medium.
US08243358B2 Constructing planar and three-dimensional microstructures with PDMS-based conducting composite
We present an invention on the synthesis of elastic, bio-compatible functional microstructures wherein the designed electrical functionalities are achieved by mixing conducting nano to micro-particles with PDMS gels. The methodology for constructing planar and three-dimensional microstructures by soft-lithographic technique is presented. Applications such as electrodes, conducting strips, two and three-dimensional microstructures for electrical wiring connections, micro heaters, micro heater arrays, flexible thermochromic displays, and applications for microfluidic devices are demonstrated, all with demonstrated elastic flexibility and fall-proof characteristics while maintaining their functionalities. Results obtained are very promising for the utilization of such composites in future micro-fabrications, especially for the bio-chips and microfluidic devices.
US08243356B2 Security document circuit
The authenticity of a security document, such as a bank note, is verified by use of a security feature arranged in or on the document, which security feature comprises an antenna arranged to receive EM-radiation from an external energy source; a rectifier arranged to receive electric energy from the antenna and convert it into a rectified current; and an electrochromic display arranged to alter its electrochromic state in response to said rectified current. Hence, a security feature able alter its appearance in response to EM-radiation is provided, which comprises a display that can be given a large variety of two dimensional shapes.
US08243355B2 Dynamic wavefront shaping unit
An optical unit for dynamically shaping a wavefront is disclosed, having light modulation cells disposed regularly in cell fields, and locally influencing partial light waves in a propagating light wavefront. Each cell field is connected to a cell controller separately adjusting the optical behavior of the light modulator cells. Serially-disposed fields, each having modulator cells, are located in the light path of the light wavefront. Cell control means adjust the modulator cells in a first cell field such that the modulator cells discretely implement a phase shift having a continuous phase value, and in a second cell field such that the modulator cells implement a prism function having a continuous directional value for the partial light waves. A focusing means for the emitted wavefront is also located in the light path of the optical unit, guiding the partial light waves at an output pupil of the optical unit.
US08243348B2 Image processing apparatus and method and computer program product for controlling the same
A scanner-characteristic correcting unit converts read image data into normalized image data. A first image processing unit applies a first image processing on the normalized image data. A color determining unit performs a color determination of the normalized image data. A controller image processing unit that applies a second image processing on the normalized image data is provided in a removable manner. When a B&W plotter unit is connected to an image processing apparatus without the controller image processing unit, the first image processing unit generates binary image data of the image data before a result of the color determination is output.
US08243343B2 Recording material detecting apparatus
A recording material detecting apparatus includes a detecting device and a reference member. The detecting device irradiates a recording material with light and detects the light from the recording material. The reference member has a reference portion detectable by the detecting device in order to correct the output from the detecting device. The reference member is capable of moving from a position where the reference portion is detected by the detecting device. The reference member is moved by the recording material. Since a driving unit such as a motor is not necessary, the cost of the apparatus body can be dramatically reduced, and the apparatus structure can be dramatically simplified.
US08243331B2 Print control apparatus, print control method and printer
A print control apparatus comprising: a first receiving unit that receives, from a printer, support language information indicating whether a particular kind of language is supported by the printer; a judging unit that judges, by referring to the support language information received by the first receiving unit, whether the particular kind of language which is supported by the print control apparatus is supported by the printer; a transmitting unit that transmits, to the printer, a specification information acquisition command for acquiring specification information relating to a specification supported by the printer if the judging unit judges that the particular kind of language is supported by the printer; a second receiving unit that receives the specification information which is transmitted from the printer in response to the specification information acquisition command; and a controller that performs processing according to the specification information received by the second receiving unit.
US08243326B2 Methods and apparatus for color profile editing
Apparatus and methods are provided for editing color profiles. In particular, input data (such as reference image data) are received, and then are converted to first output data using a first color profile and to second output data using a second color profile, wherein the second color profile is an edited version of the first color profile. Soft proof data corresponding to the input data, first output data and second output data are calculated and then displayed on a display device. The soft proof data corresponding to the input data, first output data and second output data may be simultaneously or selectively displayed on the display device.
US08243322B2 Image data processor and image data processing program storage medium for variable printing
The image data processor generates storage layout information and output joint information, and then generates a page raster for storage based on the storage layout information and a page raster for output based on the output joint information. The storage layout information is based on layout information describing object layouts and includes a page formed by the same objects and reusable objects of the same arrangements and a page formed by each variable object. The output joint information combines a page for reusable objects and a page for the variable object.
US08243320B2 Document management apparatus, control method therefor, computer program, and storage medium
A document management apparatus includes an electronic document editing unit which performs processing associated with creation and edit of an electronic document, a processing information obtaining unit which obtains processing information in the electronic document editing unit, a restriction information acceptance unit which accepts input of restriction information that restricts processing for the electronic document, and a uniformed electronic document creation unit which-creates a uniformed electronic document by attaching generation information containing the processing information and the restriction information to the electronic document.
US08243319B2 Image processing apparatus and computer program product generates and displayed processed image in a stack
A finished-image generating unit generates a finished image showing a result of a process performed on a target image according to various function setting items. A finished-image display unit, when the target image extends to a plurality of pages, forms the finished image in a stack, and displays the stacked finished image on a display unit with a page structure image that shows an overall page structure of the stacked finished image. A page moving unit, when one of the pages constituting the page structure image is specified via an operating unit, executes a page moving from a page currently displayed on the display unit to the specified page.
US08243315B2 Printing system and print control method
A printing system comprises a printer and an information processor, which includes a control unit. The control unit generates a print data file, which includes a resource saving flag and mode information. This information represents either a printing mode or a document filing mode, in which the printer operates. The control unit determines whether one or more specified resource saving functions of the printer are selected for the print data file in a main setting window. If so, the control unit turns on the flag and outputs the print data file as a first print data file to the printer. If not, the control unit turns off the flag and outputs the print data file as a second print data file to the printer. If a user is specified for the second print data file, the control unit outputs the file to the printer, with the mode information representing the document filing mode.
US08243314B2 Systems and methods for enhanced facsimile communication network and preference selection
A system and a method including allowing a transmitting facsimile device and a receiving facsimile device to select a preferable communications network by enabling the receiving facsimile device to advertise both communication network capability data associated with the receiving facsimile device and addressing identifiers associated with the communication network capability data and the receiving facsimile device, enabling the transmitting facsimile device to read the advertised communication network capability data and the advertised addressing identifiers associated with the communication network capability data and the receiving facsimile device, and enabling a selection logic to preferentially select a communication network chosen from the advertised communication network capability data that is also compatible with the transmitting facsimile device's capabilities.
US08243312B2 Network synchronizing system and information processing apparatus
A network synchronizing system includes plural apparatuses. A first apparatus includes a first recording unit to record personal data of one or more users who can use the first apparatus to share the personal data with other apparatuses. A second apparatus includes a first setting unit to record personal data of one or more users who can use the second apparatus; and a first control unit to compare the personal data recorded in the first setting unit and the first recording unit and update the personal data recorded in the first setting unit of the second apparatus with the latest personal data for each user. The first control unit determines that users are the same user when data uniquely provided for the users in the personal data recorded in the first setting unit and the first recording unit are the same.
US08243311B2 Image output apparatus for controlling order of print jobs and display jobs in queue
An image output apparatus including: an image processing section for processing an image; a printing section that prints the image; a display section that displays the image; an instruction section that allows a user to instruct execution of a print job, and execution of a display job; and a job control section that controls the jobs to start the execution of the print job or the display job in response to the instruction, wherein when the job control section receives instructions to start print jobs and/or display jobs, the job control section controls the jobs to register the print jobs and/or the display jobs in a queue and start these jobs in the order, and when an instruction for a display job in the queue is again received from the instruction section, the job control section controls the jobs to move the display job to the forefront of the queue.
US08243310B2 Image forming device configured to receive and process print data from a client via network
An image forming device, which is configured to receive print data from a client via a network and process the print data, includes a print request receiving unit configured to receive a print request transmitted by the client with a protocol through a port of the image forming device, a protocol specifying unit configured to specify a kind of the protocol used in the transmission of the print request, a destination information creating unit configured to create destination information representing a destination to which the print data are to be sent, based on the protocol of the kind specified by the protocol specifying unit, and a destination information sending unit configured to send the destination information to the client with the protocol of the specified kind.
US08243307B2 HTTP server and program for transmitting reports with chunked data
An HTTP server including a communication section which communicates with a client, and a control section which, as a response to an HTTP request for requesting a report pertaining to a monitoring object received from the client via the communication section, transmits the report via the communication section to the client by making the report with chunked data in chunked transfer coding, upon a change of the monitoring object occurs.
US08243299B2 Printing apparatus with recovery from interruption factor, controlling method, and storage medium
A printing system which enables to improve its flexibility, convenience, and/or productivity by utilizing a post-processing by a post-processor connected to a printer without printing by a printer. An execution request is received for a specific type of job executing a post-processing by a post-processor connected to a printer without printing by the printer. The post-processor is caused to execute the post-processing for a first printed matter previously generated for the specific type of job without printing by the printer when receiving the execution request. Print data is received which is utilized for generating the first printed matter. The printer is caused to generate a second printed matter corresponding to the first printed matter, by using the print data.
US08243298B2 Low-paper sensor using rollers
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable program code are provided for detecting a printer condition. A set of signals is received from a sensor in a printer. A current state of a paper roll within the printer is detected within the set of signals. Responsive to the current state indicating that the paper roll moved from a desired position between a set of devices, a response signal is sent to the user of the printer. Alternatively, in response to the current state indicating that the paper roll moved from the desired position, a number of paper line feed commands that are issued are counted. A determination is made as to whether the number of paper line feed commands that are issued exceeds a predetermined value. Responsive to the number of paper line feed commands exceeding the predetermined value, the response signal is sent.
US08243296B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus includes an information storage section, an operation section, an image condition information storage section, a comparison section and an operation control section. The information storage section stores image information and attribute information corresponding to the image information. The operation section has an instruction section through which a user inputs instructions for execution of a process on the image information. The image condition information storage section stores image condition information corresponding to the process. The comparison section compares the attribute information with the stored image condition information. The operation control section changes a state of the instruction section based on results of a comparison of the attribute information and the stored image condition information by the comparison section.
US08243295B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming method that converts a transfer speed of the image data signal according to a transfer speed of a destination processor
An image processing application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is capable of receiving a plurality of image data signals having different formats. The image processing ASIC includes a data-format selecting unit that determines a format of each of the image data signals and selects, based on the signal format, one image data signal from among the image data signals.
US08243294B2 Simplified walk-up print driver installation
An apparatus and method for loading and configuring a print driver onto a PC/workstation such that upon completion the PC/workstation is fully enabled to send print jobs to a printer connected on a network includes a unique methodology which eliminates virtually all of the steps, data entry, and decision points that a user would typically encounter. This printer-resident system includes the ability to have the target printer, upon a simple printer front panel pushbutton request, synthesize a complete installer program that is then written to a removable storage device, e.g., USB flash drive. Once written, the storage device is removed from the printer and installed on the user's PC/workstation. The user then accesses the flash drive contents and runs the installer program executable. The installer program, owing to the fact that it was created on the target printer, has all the information needed for a one-click, fully automated installation process.
US08243293B2 Image forming device for printing in a selected region, and method and computer readable medium therefor
An image forming device includes a rotational body carrying a sheet thereon, the rotational body including first regions defined thereon that begin with respective different phases on the rotational body, a forming unit forming an image on one of the rotational body and the sheet carried on the rotational body, a storage unit storing thereon information regarding positional deviations of images formed within each of the first regions, a region specifying unit that determines a variation of the positional deviations of the images within each of the first regions based upon the information stored and specifies one of the first regions based upon the determined variation, and a control unit controlling the forming unit to form an intended image of which an image forming position is corrected based upon the information stored, in the first region specified on the rotational body.
US08243291B2 Image forming apparatus with correction device for defect correction
The image forming apparatus includes: a recording head which has a plurality of recording elements; an intermediate transfer medium on which an image is recorded temporarily by the recording head while the intermediate transfer medium implements relative movement with respect to the recording head; an image defect determination device which is disposed on a downstream side of the recording head in terms of a direction of the relative movement of the intermediate transfer medium and which determines whether the image recorded on the intermediate transfer medium includes an image defect or not; a transfer device which is disposed on a downstream side of the image defect determination device in terms of the direction of the relative movement of the intermediate transfer medium and which transfers the image recorded on the intermediate transfer medium, to a recording medium; and an image correction device which creates correction data according to information about the image defect if the image defect determination device determines that the image recorded on the intermediate transfer medium includes the image defect, wherein, if the image defect determination device determines that the image recorded on the intermediate transfer medium includes the image defect, an image based on the correction data is recorded on the intermediate transfer medium by the recording head.
US08243284B2 Method for measuring the roundness of round profiles
A method for measuring the roundness profiles moved forward in longitudinal direction inside a rolling mill, using two laser scanners, respectively provided with a light-sensitive sensor and a laser. At least three shadow edges that fit against the round profile to be measured and enclose the round profile to form a polygon are generated and measured and the corresponding tangents are computed. The method includes: a) determining a center (Z0) in the measuring field prior to the measuring operation; b) determining perpendicular lines from the center (Z0) to the tangents and measuring the distance from the center (Z0) to the tangents; c) determining a contour by computing the corner points of the polygon enclosing the round profile; d) positioning a reference circle relative to the contour so that: i) the square shape deviation of the contour relative to this reference circle reaches a minimum; ii) the reference circle represents the smallest possible circle that can fit around the contour, iii) the reference circle represents the largest possible circle that can fit inside the contour; or iv) the reference circle together with a different circle, arranged concentric to the reference circle, encloses the contour with a minimum radial difference; e) computing the diameter (Dref) of the reference circle and determining from the position in space of the reference center (Zp), which represents the center point of the reference circle, and f) computing at least two vectors extending from the reference center (Zp) to the contour and determining the out-of-roundness from the obtained data.
US08243280B2 Laser ultrasonic measurement system with movable beam delivery
A laser ultrasonic measurement system includes a first and a second laser source configured to generate a first and a second laser beam, respectively. A movable mechanical link is arranged to transmit the first laser beam. The movable mechanical link is formed by a plurality of rigid sections interconnected by rotating joints. A robot is configured to support and control the movement of at least a section of the mechanical link to transmit the first laser beam to an object. An optical scanner is positioned proximate to the mechanical link. The optical scanner is configured to direct the first and second laser beams onto the object. An interferometer is optically coupled to the optical scanner. The interferometer is configured to receive reflected light from the object and in response generate an electrical signal. The first laser source is kinematically mounted in a housing assembly.
US08243279B2 Displacement measurement apparatus
A displacement measurement apparatus includes a first diffraction grating transmitting light from a light source and producing diffracted beams including first to third diffracted beams output in different directions; a second diffraction grating movable together with an object to be measured, provided in a plane parallel to the first diffraction grating, and reflecting the first to third diffracted beams transmitted through the first diffraction grating; a first photodetector receiving the first and second diffracted beams diffracted by the second diffraction grating; a second photodetector receiving at least the third diffracted beam transmitted through the first diffraction grating; and a calculation unit calculating displacement of the object in a first direction in accordance with the beams received by the first photodetector, and displacement of the object in a second direction, different from the first direction, in accordance with the beam received by the second photodetector.
US08243278B2 Non-contact selection and control of lighting devices
The present disclosure presents systems and methods for providing for detecting a presence of an object or a user via a non-contact selection switch. An LED may emit a signal, comprising high components and low components within a plurality of pulses. A detector may determine that an average intensity of a received portion of the electromagnetic signal is below a predetermined threshold. The average intensity may be responsive to a ratio of high components duration over a period of time to low components duration over the period of time. An object located in proximity of the non-contact switch may reflect the portion of the signal. The detector may detect presence of the object by determining that a sum of average intensities of the received portion of the electromagnetic signal and the reflected portion of the electromagnetic signal exceeds the predetermined threshold responsive to the ratio of a duration of high components to a duration of low components within or over the period of time.
US08243273B2 Enhanced OVL dummy field enabling “on-the-fly” OVL measurement methods
A semiconductor wafer may include a dummy field configured to enable overlay measurements. The enhanced dummy field may include a plurality of encoding blocs that enable OVL measurements to be made throughout the enhanced dummy field.
US08243270B2 Vibrating tip surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy
A vibrating tip surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) apparatus, system and method employ a nano-needle configured to vibrate. The apparatus includes the nano-needle with a substantially sharp tip at a free end opposite an end attached to a substrate. The tip is configured to adsorb an analyte. The apparatus further includes a vibration source configured to provide an alternating current (AC) electric field that induces a vibration of the free end and the tip of the nano-needle. Vibration of the nano-needle under the influence of the AC electric field facilitates detection of a Raman scattering signal from the analyte adsorbed on the nano-needle tip. The system further includes a synchronous detector configured to be gated cooperatively with the vibration of the nano-needle. The method includes inducing the vibration, illuminating the vibrating tip to produce a Raman signal, and detecting the Raman signal using the detector.
US08243267B2 Method and apparatus for detection of biological organisms using raman scattering
A system for the detection of compounds, including a target biological organism or component from a sample, using one or more reactant that will bind to the biological organism or compound forming a Raman active product, concentrating the Raman active product, and detecting the Raman active product using Raman light scattering.
US08243266B2 Sample observation system and sample observation process
A sample observation system and a sample observation process are provided which do not need any special manipulation or treatment to limit the motion of the sample or adjust the orientation of the sample when observing the sample, and enable observation of samples simply from wider direction than ever. A sample observation system of a sample whose vertical direction is defined by gravity, wherein the system at least includes a sample holder having at least one penetrating hole for retaining a liquid containing the sample; an observation unit for observing the sample; and an angle adjusting unit for varying the angle of the observation unit to the direction of the gravity which acts on the sample in a condition in which the sample holder and the observation unit have a fixed relative angle therebetween.
US08243265B2 Method and apparatus for detecting foreign materials and storage medium
A foreign material detecting method for detecting a foreign material attached to a substrate surface includes a spraying step of spraying an organic solvent or an oil-phase material containing a halogen element to the substrate surface, a condensing step of emphasizing the foreign material by condensing the sprayed organic solvent or oil-phase material around the foreign material attached to the substrate surface by controlling a temperature of the substrate surface, and a surface inspecting step of detecting the foreign material emphasized by the condensation of the organic solvent or the oil-phase material by a surface inspecting device.
US08243262B2 Method and system for supporting a moving optical component on a sloped portion
A device and a method for supporting an optical component (240) of an optical evaluation system, the device includes: (a) a supporting element (220) that includes a sloped portion (222); (b) at least one movement control component (210) that is coupled to the sloped portion; and (c) a movable element (230), adapted to move along the at least one movement control component; wherein the movable element is adapted to support the optical component; wherein when the movable element supports the optical component a center Of gravity of a combination of the movable element and the optical component is positioned above, the sloped portion or in proximity to the sloped portion.
US08243260B2 Lithography apparatus
A lithography apparatus includes: a light source comprising a first light beam and a second light beam, a photomask, a polarization controlling system positioned between the light source and the photomask, a wafer state for holding a wafer, and a lens positioned between the photomask and the wafer stage. The polarization controlling system diverts the first light beam into a first polarization direction and diverts the second light beam into a second polarization direction, wherein the first polarization direction and the second polarization direction are different from each other.
US08243252B2 Movie copy protection
A method for frustrating piracy of a movie, the movie including a plurality of filmed frames, each of the filmed frames including an image, the method including editing the movie prior to projection such that different regions of the image of one of the filmed frames are in different frames so that the different regions will be projected at different times, and repeating the editing for other ones of the filmed frames. Related apparatus and methods are also described.
US08243251B2 Liquid crystal fresnel lens
The present invention is directed to the provision of a liquid crystal Fresnel lens that achieves high focusing performance. The liquid crystal Fresnel lens according to the present invention includes a concentrically segmented ring-shaped electrode group, a common electrode disposed opposite the ring-shaped electrode group, a liquid crystal layer provided between the ring-shaped electrode group and the common electrode, a first lens segment region which includes a first plurality of ring-shaped electrodes from the ring-shaped electrode group, and which forms a first retardation distribution by utilizing the first plurality of ring-shaped electrodes, and a second lens segment region which includes a second plurality of ring-shaped electrodes from the ring-shaped electrode group, the second plurality of ring-shaped electrodes being located outwardly of the first plurality of ring-shaped electrodes, and which forms a second retardation distribution by utilizing the second plurality of ring-shaped electrodes, wherein a Fresnel lens-like retardation distribution is formed across the first and second lens segment regions, and the number of the second plurality of ring-shaped electrodes is made smaller than the number of the first plurality of ring-shaped electrodes.
US08243246B2 Liquid crystal display having particular conductive element
A liquid crystal display includes a color filter substrate, an array substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and at least one conductive element. The color filter substrate has at least one color filter, at least one first electrode, and at least one second electrode opposite the first electrode. The second electrode is comb-shaped and disposed between the first electrode and the liquid crystal layer, and one of the first and the second electrodes is electrically connected to a common voltage of the liquid crystal display. At least one conductive element electrically connects the source/drain region of a thin film transistor with the other one of the first and the second electrodes which is not connected to the common voltage.
US08243244B2 Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid crystal display device for preventing a vertical line defect includes sub-pixels arranged repeatedly in order of red, green, and blue along an N-th (where N is a natural number) horizontal line, and sub-pixels formed in a staggered structure with the N-th horizontal line and arranged repeatedly in order of green, blue, and red along an (N+1)-th horizontal line. Gate lines are formed along the horizontal lines. Data lines are formed to cross the gate lines with a gate insulating layer disposed therebetween and formed to be bent along the sub-pixels of the staggered structure. Thin film transistors are connected to the gate lines and to the data lines and pixel electrodes are connected to the thin film transistors. Storage electrodes overlap the pixel electrodes with the gate insulating layer and a passivation layer disposed therebetween to form storage capacitors. The capacitance of a red storage capacitor of the (N+1)-th horizontal line is greater than the capacitance of a red storage capacitor of the N-th horizontal line.
US08243243B2 Display device
An embodiment of the invention provides a display device having a common electrode and pixel electrodes disposed in an insulating state on one of a pair of substrates between which a liquid crystal layer is held, in which each of the pixel electrodes includes a plurality of electrode portions disposed in parallel with one another, each of the electrode portions has a flat surface shape in which each of the electrode portions is bent approximately at a central portion in an extension direction, and each of the pixel electrodes also includes a bridge portion through which corresponding ones of the electrode portions are connected to one another in the bending portion.
US08243239B2 In-plane switching mode liquid crystal display
The present invention relates to an in-plane switching (IPS) mode liquid crystal display. More particularly, the IPS mode liquid crystal display according to the present invention comprises 1) a first polarizing plate; 2) a liquid crystal cell; 3) a retardation film comprising a positive biaxial acryl-based film and a negative C plate; and 4) a second polarizing plate. Accordingly, a contrast property can be improved at a front side of the IPS mode liquid crystal display and at an inclining angle.
US08243237B2 Transmissive and transflective device display
A device includes a display that includes a transmissive portion, a transflective portion, and a lens array associated with the transflective portion.
US08243236B2 Liquid crystal display and method for manufacturing liquid crystal display
A transflective-type and a reflection-type liquid crystal display device having a high reflection efficiency and a high image quality are provided. A liquid crystal display device of the present invention is a liquid crystal display device including a reflection region for reflecting incident light toward a display surface, wherein the reflection region includes a metal layer, an insulating layer formed on the metal layer, a semiconductor layer formed on the insulating layer, and a reflective layer formed on the semiconductor layer; a plurality of recesses are formed in at least one of the metal layer, the insulating layer and the semiconductor layer; a plurality of dents are formed in the reflective layer in the reflection region according to the plurality of recesses; and a shortest distance a between edge portions of at least two of the plurality of recesses is 4 μm or less.
US08243230B2 Image display apparatus, and disguising device
An image display apparatus including a display device for displaying an image by emission of display light in a first direction; a scattering layer disposed in front of the display device, for scattering at least a portion of ambient light; a transparent plate-shaped light source, arranged parallel to the scattering layer and being optically coupled to the scattering layer. The plate-shaped light source may be a passive light source, in which case at least one light source is arranged along an edge of the plate-shaped light source. When the display device is ON, the scattering layer and the plate-shaped light source are transparent. When the display device is OFF, the scattering layer is scattering and the plate-shaped light source is ON.
US08243228B2 Lighting device, display device and television receiver
The backlight unit 12 includes cold cathode tubes 18, a chassis 14, inverter boards 20, relay connectors 21, and covers 22. The chassis 14 houses the cold cathode tubes 18. The inverter boards 20 are arranged on a side of the chassis 14 opposite from the cold cathode tubes 19. The inverter boards 20 are configured to supply drive power to the cold cathode tubes 18. The relay connectors 21 are mounted to the chassis 14 such that the inverter boards 20 are connected thereto so as to be removal therefrom in one of the directions along a board surface of the inverter board 20. The relay connectors 21 are configured to relay power from the inverter boards 20 to the cold cathode tubes 18. The covers 22 are made of material having a lower strength than the chassis 14 and arranged between the chassis 14 and the inverter boards 20. The chassis 14 has receiving portions 35 that project toward the inverter boards 20 and receive the inverter boards 20. The covers 22 have spacer portions 38 between the receiving portions 35 and the inverter boards 20.
US08243226B2 Backlight unit and display device having the same
A tiled display device includes a combination of multiple display devices to form a larger tiled display device. The larger tiled display device minimizes the boundaries between in the multiple display devices to improve the active area of the display. A partition wall between display devices may be configured to reduce the distance between the combined display devices.
US08243225B2 Electronic device having protection panel
An electronic device having a protection panel includes: a display device (3) having a display part (3A); a housing (2) for mounting the display device (3) therein which has a display window (2A) including an opening for allowing the display part (3A) to face externally and a supporting portion (2b) in a shape of a frame; a protection panel (4) fitted into the display window (2A), whose back side rim portion is supported by the supporting portion (2b); and a pressure-sensitive conductive print layer (30) which is disposed between the protection panel (4) and the supporting portion (2b) and configured to detect a pressing operation on the protection panel (4), and includes a resin having a glass-transition temperature (Tg) in a temperature range higher than room temperature as binder, and a conductive material dispersed therein.
US08243224B2 Flat panel display device having a plurality of first bosses disposed on the rear face of a front panel and a bezel fixedly coupled to an outer peripheral portion
A flat panel display device includes a front cabinet, a rear cabinet, and a flat panel display component. The front cabinet includes a front panel, an edge portion, a plurality of contact ribs, a plurality of first bosses, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs. The contact ribs are disposed on the rear face of the front panel along side parts of the edge portion, respectively. The contact ribs have a main rib that extends parallel to a respective one of the side parts of the edge portion, and a sub rib that extends between the main rib and the respective one of the side parts of the edge portion in a direction perpendicular to the main rib. The reinforcing ribs are disposed on the rear face of the front panel. The reinforcing ribs extend between the first bosses and the main ribs of the contact ribs, respectively.
US08243222B2 Array substrate for liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing an array substrate for a liquid crystal display device includes forming a gate electrode and a gate line on a substrate through a first mask process, forming a first insulating layer, an active layer, an ohmic contact layer, a buffer metallic layer, and a data line on the substrate including the gate electrode and the gate line through a second mask process, and forming a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a pixel electrode through a third mask process, the pixel electrode extending from the drain electrode, wherein the active layer is disposed over and within the gate electrode.
US08243214B2 Screen apparatus for vehicle
A screen apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The screen apparatus of the present invention includes a screen (5) for displaying an image thereon, a support frame (10), which supports the screen such that the screen is rotatable between an operation position, at which the screen is perpendicular to a ceiling surface of the vehicle, and a storage position, at which the screen is parallel with the ceiling surface of the vehicle, and a vibration absorbing unit (61), which is provided between the support frame and the ceiling surface of the vehicle and has a plurality of elastic wires (67) for absorbing vibrations transmitted to the support frame in multiple directions. Therefore, the present invention can prevent the screen from undesirably moving, thus making it possible for a user to comfortably watch images.
US08243208B2 Selectable audio output configuration
An audio/video apparatus such as a television apparatus includes two or more auxiliary audio inputs (AUX1, AUX2, and AUX3) for receiving respective audio signals, an audio output, and a switch arrangement for selecting one of a broadcast audio signal and the auxiliary audio input signals. The audio/video apparatus operates in two modes. In the first mode where the audio/video apparatus is turned on, the switch arrangement selects one of the auxiliary audio input signals and a broadcast audio signal in response to a user command, and in the second mode where the audio/video apparatus is turned off, the switch arrangement selects a pre-determined one of the auxiliary audio input signals.
US08243203B2 Apparatus for automatically generating video highlights and method thereof
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for automatically generating moving picture highlights for video stored in a digital video recorder that detects scene change of stored video, extracts information amount with respect to the relevant video interval on the basis of the scene change detection information, automatically generates moving picture highlights according to moving picture highlight length information set by a user or default value in the system, on the basis of results of the scene change detection and the interval information amount.
US08243198B2 Apparatus for providing multiple screens and method of dynamically configuring multiple screens
An apparatus for providing multiple screens and a method of dynamically configuring the multiple screens are provided. The apparatus for providing multiple screens uses flags included transferred packets in order to dynamically configure multiple screens that provide a plurality of contents on a physical display device and a method of dynamically configuring multiple screens. The apparatus for providing multiple screens includes a digital signal processing module which determines whether an application included in data information can be executed on a screen on the basis of received data information, and an operational module which operates the application on the screen on the basis of the determination result.
US08243196B2 Motion adaptive image processing
A method of image processing for converting interlaced images to progressive scan images comprises the steps of generating a motion dependent mixing value for determining the extent to which a preceding image field should be mixed with a current intra-field interpolated image field at a given pixel position, comparing the generated mixing value with a preceding historical mixing value, and if the comparison indicates an increase in motion, using the generated mixing value; otherwise, if the comparison indicates a decrease in motion, temporally filtering the generated mixing value prior to use.
US08243194B2 Method and apparatus for frame interpolation
The invention provides a method of frame interpolation, the method comprising: receiving first and second frames from an input video stream; generating an interpolated frame for arranging between the first and second frames in a processed video stream so that the second video stream has a different higher frame rate than the input video stream, wherein generating the interpolated frame comprises: identifying one or more moving objects within the first frame; segmenting the or each of the identified moving objects; and, determining motion parameters for each of the segments of the segmented objects.
US08243186B2 Solid-state image pickup apparatus and electronic apparatus
Disclosed is a solid-state image pickup apparatus including a plurality of pixels. The plurality of pixels each including a lens, a photoelectric converter to convert incident light that passes through the lens into an electrical signal, and a waveguide provided between the lens and the photoelectric converter. The waveguide is disposed so that a center of at least a part of the waveguide on a light exit side is shifted from a main light beam that passes a center of the lens in a direction in which an area where an end portion of the waveguide on the light exit side is overlapped with the photoelectric converter is increased.
US08243182B2 Method of making a digital camera image of a scene including the camera user
A method of making an image in a digital camera comprises capturing a digital image of a scene into which the camera user is to be inserted, and superimposing a symbol (subject locator) onto the scene image representing at least a part of a human subject. The subject locator is scaled to a desired size and moved to a desired position relative to the scene image. Next a digital image of the user is captured, and at least the part of the user image represented by the subject locator is extracted. The part of the user image represented by the subject locator is scaled (before or after extraction) to substantially the same size as the subject locator and inserted into the first image at the position of the subject locator.
US08243180B2 Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus has an optical system that forms an optical image of a subject field and can vary a magnification of the optical image; an imaging section that converts the optical image formed by the optical system, into an electrical image signal; a display section that displays an image taken by the imaging section; a subject detecting section that detects a main subject in the image taken by the imaging section; a framing controlling section that controls framing based on information about a position of the main subject detected in the subject detecting section; a controlling section that selectively executes one of a first framing support mode that presents on the display section a display that supports the framing based on the information about the position of the main subject detected in the subject detecting section, and a second framing support mode that operates the framing controlling section based on the information about the position of the main subject detected in the subject detecting section; and a switching section that switches between the first framing support mode and the second framing support mode.
US08243179B2 Solid-state image capturing apparatus, driving method of a solid-state image capturing apparatus, and electronic information device
A solid-state image capturing apparatus according to the present invention includes a pixel area in which pixels for generating a signal charge by a photoelectric conversion on an incident light are arranged in a two dimensional matrix; a row selection section for selecting each pixel row of the pixel area; a plurality of column signal lines, to which an analog pixel signal from each pixel of a pixel row selected by the row selection section is readout; and a signal processing circuit for generating a digital pixel value from the analog pixel signal of each pixel that is read out to each of the column signal lines, where the signal processing circuit includes at least two or more AD conversion circuits for simultaneously converting the analog pixel signal of each pixel of the selected pixel row into a digital pixel value.
US08243178B2 Physical quantity distribution detecting apparatus and imaging apparatus
A physical quantity distribution detecting apparatus includes a sensor array in which a plurality of unit sensors for sensing physical quantity are two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix; and an analog-to-digital conversion unit that includes a plurality of comparators for comparing an analog signal read from the unit sensor with a reference signal, the analog-to-digital conversion unit converting a digital signal by measuring a period of time or measuring a signal corresponding to the period of time of each comparison output of the plurality of comparators. Each of the plurality of comparators includes at least one capacitor element connected between a signal line and a constant-voltage line.
US08243172B2 Image pickup system
An SSG circuit section is composed of: a memory storing correction information for correcting a transmission characteristic of an image pickup signal in a transmission path; a readout circuit for reading out the correction information stored in the memory; and an SSG for generating a drive signal to be outputted from a driving circuit and a sampling pulse to be used in a CDS circuit, and for specifying an amplification factor of an amplifier circuit.
US08243171B2 High resolution zoom: a novel digital zoom for digital video camera
A camera system and a method for zooming the camera system is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating an electronic image by sensing an optical image received by the camera, the sensing including electronic cropping to a window size to establish an initial resolution for the electronic image, (B) generating a final image by decimating the electronic image by a decimation factor to a final resolution smaller than the initial resolution and (C) changing a zoom factor for the final image by adjusting both of the decimation factor and the window size.
US08243164B2 Method, apparatus, and system for selecting pixels for automatic white balance processing
A method, apparatus, and system that use a white balance operation. A selecting process is applied to each pixel selected and considered for automatic white balance statistics to determine the distance from the selected pixel to a white curve defined in a white area corresponding to an image sensor.
US08243163B2 Adjusting auto white balance
Techniques, systems and apparatus are described for adjusting auto white balance (AWB). An AWB adjusting device includes a map setting unit to perform map-setting on a number of light-source boxes that is at least M times greater than a number of registers by performing map-switching. M is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The AWB adjusting device includes a pixel counting unit for counting a number of white pixels of a standard image contained in each light-source box with map-setting. The AWB adjusting device includes a light-source selection unit to select a light source based on a maximum light-source box selected from the number of light-source boxes having a greatest number of the white pixels. The AWB adjusting device includes a balance gain applying unit to calculate a red gain and a blue gain based on a mapping value of the maximum light-source box to adjust AWB.
US08243162B2 Automatic white balancing using meter sensors
An image sensor system includes an image sensor that can be exposed with light from an illuminated scene to produce a secondary image, a meter sensor that can be exposed with light from the illuminated scene to produce a meter secondary image, and an image processor. The image processor can be configured to determine an average pixel color in the secondary image. The image processor can also be configured to determine a white balancing point in response to the secondary image average pixel color, the meter secondary image, meter calibration information for the meter sensor, and the image calibration information for the image sensor.
US08243159B2 Image capturing device, image processing device, image analysis method for the image capturing device and the image processing device, and program for facial attribute detection
An image capturing device includes: an image capturing unit that captures a subject and generates a captured image; a resolution converting unit that converts the captured image into a plurality of images with different resolutions; an image storing unit that stores the converted plurality of images with different resolutions as a set of images; a first image analysis processing unit that performs a first image analysis process of analyzing the captured image by using a combination of a plurality of images among the images included in the set of images; and a second image analysis processing unit that performs a second image analysis process that is different from the first image analysis process and is a process of analyzing the captured image by using, among the images included in the set of images, a combination of a plurality of images different from the combination of a plurality of images.
US08243153B2 Photographing apparatus including at least one shake correction lens and method on photographing apparatus
Provided is a photographing apparatus including at least one shake correction lens through which image light is transmitted; a first driving unit moving the shake correction lens; an imaging device converting the image light transmitted through the shake correction lens to an electronic signal; a rotating unit rotating the imaging device about an optical axis of the image light; and a controller controlling the first driving unit and the rotating unit. A method on a photographing apparatus. The method including sensing shaking of the photographing apparatus; compensating for the shaking of the photographing apparatus by rotating an imaging device, the imaging device generating electrical signals from light incident to a subject image; and compensating for the shaking of the photographing apparatus by moving a shake correction lens in two directions, wherein light incident to the subject image passes through the shake correction lens and strikes the imaging device.
US08243152B2 Photographic apparatus with inclination correction
A photographic apparatus comprises a movable platform and a controller. The movable platform has an imager that captures an optical image through a taking lens, and is movable and rotatable on an xy plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the taking lens. The controller calculates an inclination angle of the photographic apparatus, which is formed by rotation of the photographic apparatus around the optical axis, as measured with respect to a level plane perpendicular to the direction of gravitational force, and performs a controlled movement of the movable platform for an inclination correction based on the inclination angle. The controller calculates an elevation/depression angle that represents an angle at which the optical axis intersects said level plane, and calculates the inclination angle in consideration of the elevation/depression angle.
US08243151B2 Vibration prevention control circuit of imaging device
A vibration prevention control circuit is provided, comprising at least one analog-to-digital converter circuit that converts an output signal of a vibration detection element which detects vibration of an imaging device, and an output signal of a position detection element which detects a position of an optical component, into digital signals, and a logic circuit that generates a control signal which drives the optical component, based on the output signal of the vibration detection element which is digitized by the analog-to-digital converter circuit and the output signal of the position detection element which is digitized by the analog-to-digital converter circuit, wherein a phase delay circuit (all-pass filter) is provided that delays a phase of the output signal of the vibration detection element without changing an intensity in a predetermined frequency band and outputs the processed signal.
US08243149B2 Camera module with anti-shake mechanism
An exemplary camera module includes a fixture, a lens module, a movable frame, an image sensor, a position sensor, a first and a second magnet, and a first and a second magnetic field generator. The position sensor is used to detect displacements of the lens module caused by shake. The magnetic field generators are used to apply a magnetic field to the corresponding magnets, each of the magnetic field generators is electrifiable in response to detection by the position sensor of displacement of the lens module caused by shake. Accordingly, at least one of the magnets and the corresponding magnetic field generator cooperatively drive the lens module to move and compensate the displacement of the image sensor.
US08243148B2 Image processing device
An image processing device that produces a restored image that gives people natural feeling when a shot image with longer exposure time on the way to image blurring due to hand jiggling or an end portion is restored. The image processing device comprises an image processing unit that produces a restored image approximated to an original image from an object image to be processed, which is fluctuated against the original image due to movement of an image shooting device during exposure. The image processing unit produces the restored image while making the restored image correspond to a position having the longest exposure time for an object image to be processed.
US08243146B2 Solid-state imaging device and electronic apparatus
Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging device including a plurality of pixel units configured to be disposed in an imaging area in such a way that a plurality of pixels corresponding to different colors are treated as one unit, wherein the amount of shift of a position of each of the pixels in the pixel unit is so set as to differ depending on distance from a center of the imaging area to the pixel unit and a color.
US08243143B2 Method and apparatus for generation of a video quality parameter
This invention provides a parameter for use in assessing video quality based on temporal frame freezing for use in an apparatus and method for perceptual video quality measurement. The invention provides a method of generating a freeze frame parameter relating to the perceptual impact of frozen frames in a video signal comprising the steps of: identifying frozen frames; identifying a freeze event comprising a plurality of consecutive frozen frames, the freeze event having a duration in dependence upon the number of frozen frames in said sequence; defining a set of duration ranges; and generating a freeze frame parameter in dependence upon the number of freeze events having a duration falling within each duration range. Methods and apparatus for perceptual video quality measurement using the method are also provided.
US08243140B1 Deployable checkpoint system
A system and method for conducting traffic surveillance at a deployable checkpoint lane. At least one license plate reader is positioned adjacent to the checkpoint lane, in a predetermined location relative to a license plate reading zone, for acquiring and interpreting images of a license plate on a vehicle transiting through the license plate reading zone. At least one video camera is positioned adjacent to the checkpoint lane for capturing images of the vehicle transiting through the license plate reading zone. A trigger device is positioned adjacent to the checkpoint lane for initiating the capture of video images of the vehicle. A field control unit including a processor and a data store, and cooperative with each digital and video camera, compares images of the license plate on the vehicle and determines which license plate characters and vehicle images to store in a vehicle record to be transmitted to an external database for processing and analysis.
US08243130B2 Capsule medical device guidance system
A capsule medical device guidance system including a magnetic field generator that generates either a trapping magnetic field that attracts a magnetic field response unit at any position on a horizontal plane and traps a capsule medical device or a gradient magnetic field that has a substantially uniform magnetic field gradient and forces the magnetic field response unit. When the control unit switches the magnetic field from the trapping magnetic field to the gradient magnetic field, a control unit causes a storage unit to store a generation position on the horizontal plane, and when the control unit switches a magnetic field from the gradient magnetic field to the trapping magnetic field, the control unit causes the magnetic field generator to generate the trapping magnetic field at the position stored in the storage unit.
US08243127B2 Switchable optical imaging system and related 3D/2D image switchable apparatus
The present invention is directed a switchable optical imaging system and a 3D/2D image switchable apparatus having high functional flexibility in a number of aspects and adaptability to various applications. The present invention is based on generating directional optical beams, transforming these optical beams and projecting transformed optical beams in a field of view to thereby divide the field of view into one or more adjustable viewing zones and to form 2-dimensional (2D) images or perspective views of a 3-dimensional (3D) image of an object or scene therein. The present invention is embodied in the switchable optical imaging system and the 3D/2D image switchable apparatus using the same system.
US08243124B2 Face detection apparatus and distance measurement method using the same
Provided are a face detection apparatus and a distance measurement method using the same. The face detection apparatus detects a face using left and right images which are acquired from a stereo camera. The face detection apparatus measures distance from the stereo camera to the face using an image frame which is provided from the stereo camera without a stereo matching process. Accordingly, the face detection apparatus simultaneously performs face detection and distance measurement even in a low-performance system.
US08243120B2 Method and device for realizing private session in multipoint conference
A method for realizing a private session in a multipoint conference is provided. The method includes: establishing, by a multipoint control unit (MCU), a private session according to a private session establishment request carrying private session participant identifiers (IDs) sent by a private session initiator, and sending audio code streams of private session participants corresponding to the private session participant IDs. A device for realizing a private session in a multipoint conference is further provided. Thus, a part of participants can discuss privately while normally listening to the content of the multipoint conference.
US08243119B2 Recording and videomail for video conferencing call systems
In one aspect, a request to initiate a video conference is received from a caller. The request identifies one or more called parties for the video conference. A request for the video conference is sent to one of the called parties. The called party does not accept the request. In response to a lack of acceptance of the request by the called party, a videomail service is provided. A videomail message from the caller is recorded. The caller is the sender of the videomail message and the called party is the recipient of the videomail message. The called party is notified that he has a videomail message.
US08243117B2 Processing aspects of a video scene
Embodiments are configured to provide video conferencing functionality including using pre-processing and/or post-processing features to provide a video signal, but the embodiments are not so limited. In an embodiment, components of a video conferencing system can operate to provide a video signal based in part on the use of features of a pre-processing component and/or post-processing component. In one embodiment, a video conference device can include a pre-processing component and/or post-processing component to that can be used to compensate for bandwidth constraints associated with a video conferencing environment.
US08243115B2 Method for adjusting a spatial light modulator
A method for adjusting a spatial light modulator comprising an array of channels, the method includes selecting a plurality of channel sets, wherein all the channels in each set are contiguously arranged; determining a first intensity value for first output radiation in the channel sets; performing a first adjustment based on the first intensity value, including adjusting a control level of a first channel in the first channel set without adjusting a control level of a second channel in the first one of the channel sets; determining a second intensity value for second output radiation, which includes output radiation by some of the channels in the first channel set, and excludes output radiation provided by at least one channel in the first channel set; and performing a second adjustment based at least on the second intensity value.
US08243112B2 Recording head and recording apparatus provided with the recording head
The present invention provides a recording head for a photographic printing device. The recording head of the present invention includes on a substrate two heating elements arranged adjacently and parallel to each other on a substrate. Each of the heating elements has connected to its ends a connection section, the connection sections and the heating element lying in a straight line. First and second connection sections are connected to the first heating element and third and fourth connection sections are connected to the second heating element. The heat capacities of the first and fourth connection sections are different from that of the second and of the third connection sections. The heat capacities of the first and fourth connection sections are substantially the same, as are the heat capacities of the second and third connection sections.
US08243107B2 Display panel device, display device, and control method thereof
A display panel device includes: a luminescence element; a capacitor; a driver that passes a drain current through the luminescence element; a data line that supplies a signal voltage to the capacitor; a switch that switchably interconnects the data line and the capacitor; and a controller. The controller is configured to: apply a predetermined bias voltage to a second capacitor electrode to prevent a flow of the drain current; turn ON the switch to supply the signal voltage to a first capacitor electrode; apply a reverse bias voltage to the second capacitor electrode to flow a discharge current between a source of the driver and the second capacitor electrode; and turn OFF the switch, after a lapse of a predetermined period of time since the discharge current is caused to flow, to stop the supply of the signal voltage to the first capacitor electrode.
US08243104B2 Image display apparatus and method
An image display device and an image display method are provided so as to suppress consumption power and provide a more brightly colored display image. The image display device is provided with a light modulating means wherein image data is inputted and an image is formed by modulating light from a light source based on the image data. The image display device is also provided with a color information detecting means for detecting a quantity of a chromatic color component of an image expressed by the image data; a light source control data generating means for generating light source control data for controlling brightness of the light source; and a light source control means for controlling the brightness of the light source based on the light source control data.
US08243102B1 Derivative-based selection of zones for banded map display
A graphics or image rendering system, such as a map image rendering system, determines a viewing window of a map surface to be displayed, wherein the viewing plane is at an angle of incidence with respect to the map surface. The method generally determines a depth boundary along the map surface where a height projection of a depth increment of a first unit of area is lower than a threshold height increment at a non-zero angle of incidence and at a single zoom level magnification. The method renders the first unit of area within the depth boundary and a second unit of area outside the depth boundary. The first unit of area is rendered at a first density of map data and the second unit of area is rendered at a second density of map data that is lower than the first density of map data.
US08243100B2 System and method to perform fast rotation operations
Systems and methods to perform fast rotation operations are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method includes executing a single instruction. The method includes receiving first data indicating a first coordinate and a second coordinate, receiving a first control value that indicates a first rotation value selected from a set of ninety degree multiples, and writing output data corresponding to the first data rotated by the first rotation value.
US08243094B2 Gray scale data bit allocation processing method within a light-emitting diode driving integrated circuit device
The present invention is related to a gray-scale data bit processing method applied in a driving integrated circuit device of light-emitting diode (LED), and more particularly to a separating and recombining method applied to reduce the bit numbers of data to be processed to indicate the brightness of light-emitting diode, and thus a set of weight values and more updating rates are generated to obtain an identical sum of gray-scale weight values compared to the original one processed at a higher bit numbers of data operation.
US08243093B2 Systems and methods for dither structure creation and application for reducing the visibility of contouring artifacts in still and video images
Aspects of the present invention relate to creation, modification and implementation of dither pattern structures applied to an image to diminish contouring artifacts. Some aspects relate to dither pattern structures with pixel values in a first color channel pattern that are spatially dispersed from pixel values in a corresponding pattern in a second color channel. Some aspects relate to application. Some aspects relate to systems and apparatus for creation and application of these dither pattern structures comprising pixel values dispersed across color channels.
US08243092B1 System, method, and computer program product for approximating a pixel color based on an average color value and a number of fragments
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for approximating a pixel color. In operation, an average color value and a number of fragments are identified for each of a plurality of pixels. Additionally, a color of each pixel is approximated, based on such average color value and number of fragments.
US08243091B2 Image processor capable of converting values in a color gamut for suitable color matching
An image processor includes a first data acquiring unit, a second data acquiring unit, a third data acquiring unit, a convergence point setting unit, and a converting unit. The first data acquiring unit acquires first color data that is included in a first color gamut. The second data acquiring unit acquires second color data having a highest chroma of a second color gamut. The second color gamut has a middle point on an achromatic axis. The third data acquiring unit acquires third color data that is located on the achromatic axis and that is closer to the middle point than a point on the achromatic axis having the same lightness of the second color data. The convergence point setting unit sets a convergence point for the first color data on a first line segment defined between the second color data and the third color data. The converting unit converts the first data into fourth data that is included in the second color gamut by moving the first data in a direction toward the convergence point.
US08243085B2 Boosting graphics performance based on executing workload
A novel graphics system including workload detection software is disclosed. The novel graphics system increases the voltage and frequency of the graphics hardware in an integrated graphics chipset, depending on operations performed by the hardware, for either a performance advantage or a power savings advantage.
US08243083B1 System, method, and computer program product for converting a scan algorithm to a segmented scan algorithm in an operator-independent manner
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for converting a scan algorithm to a segmented scan algorithm in an operator independent manner. In operation, a scan algorithm and a limit index data structure are identified. Utilizing the limit index data structure, the scan algorithm is converted to a segmented scan algorithm in an operator-independent manner. Additionally, the segmented scan algorithm is performed to produce an output.
US08243081B2 Methods and systems for partitioning a spatial index
Embodiments of the invention provide devices and techniques for partitioning a spatial index. In one embodiment of the invention, an image processing system may partition a spatial index into a plurality of portions such that different processing elements may be responsible for traversing a ray through different portions of the spatial index. The determination of where to partition the spatial index may be made based on any number of factors. For example, according to some embodiments of the invention, the spatial index may be partitioned to evenly distribute workload (e.g., determined by real-time performance metrics) amongst multiple processing elements. Partitioning of the spatial index to distribute workload may be based on the total number of nodes, the number of leaf nodes or the number of primitives which will be included in each resulting partition.
US08243080B2 Method and system for receiving an indexed look-up table and viewing a vector animation sequence
A method for interactively viewing a vector animation sequence, including receiving an indexed look-up table that stores a plurality of local vector objects associated with tile regions of a first vector image, indicating a request for a desired portion of a second vector image, for display at a specified resolution, determining tile regions of a pre-processed vector image, wherein the pre-processed vector image includes a plurality of tile regions and a plurality of local vector objects, each local vector object being associated with one of the tile regions, requesting at least one tile region of the pre-processed vector image from a server computer, receiving local vector objects and local vector object indices, extracting local vector objects from the indexed look-up table according to the local vector object indices, and generating the desired portion of the second vector image using the received local vector objects and the extracted local vector objects.
US08243076B2 System and method for comic creation and editing
A system and method for comic creation and editing utilizes pre-drawn comic objects arranged in comic panels. Comic panels include pre-drawn comic objects with articulatable parts which may be manipulated by a user of a networked user computer such as by use of a web browser. Comic panels created or edited by a user can be stored and retrieved from a central comic server. A system and method for translating text in comic panels is also provided. Additionally a system and method for linking comic objects in a comic panel to other web resources is disclosed.
US08243073B2 Tree insertion depth adjustment based on view frustum and distance culling
A method, program product and system for conducting a ray tracing operation where the rendering compute requirement is reduced by varying the size of bounding volumes into which image data is divided and/or by varying a number of primitives included within nodes of an acceleration data structure that correspond to the bounding volumes.
US08243070B1 Triangulation for accelerated rendering of polygons
A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for generating a triangulation of a polygon comprising a plurality of vertices. In one embodiment, the plurality of vertices of the polygon are pushed onto a stack. It may be determined that the depth of the stack is divisible by 2. In response to determining that the depth of the stack is divisible by 2, at least one triangle in the triangulation may be generated. The at least one triangle may comprise a subset of the plurality of vertices pushed onto the stack.
US08243069B1 Late Z testing for multiple render targets
The current invention involves new systems and methods for computing per-sample post-z test coverage when the memory is organized in multiple partitions that may not match the number of shaders. Shaded pixels output by the shaders can be processed by one of several z raster operations units. The shading processing capability can be configured independent of the number of memory partitions and number of z raster operations units. The current invention also involves new systems and method for using different z test modes with multiple render targets with a single or multiple memory partitions. Rendering performance may be improved by using an early z testing mode is used to eliminate non-visible samples prior to shading.
US08243067B2 PMI data visualization
Technology creates a better visual perception of PMI data in a three dimensional representation of an object by adjusting the opacity of elements not normal to the view of the user.
US08243054B2 LCD and display property adjusting method thereof
A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a graphic processor, a number of sensors, an optical signal collecting unit, a property saving unit, a property comparing unit, and a property setting unit. The optical signal collecting unit receives optical analog signals generated by the number of sensors, and converts the received optical analog signals into optical digital signals. The property saving unit saves a number of predetermined display properties and a number of predetermined optical signal ranges. The property comparing unit receives the optical digital signals and compares the optical digital signals with the plurality of predetermined optical signal ranges, and correspondingly selects corresponding predetermined display properties. The property setting unit receives the selected display properties and outputs the selected display properties to the graphic processor to adjust display properties of the LCD.
US08243052B2 Display apparatus and information update method therefor
A display apparatus includes: a display part; a storing part which stores first driving data for driving the display part; a data interface which receives second driving data from an external apparatus; and a controller which updates the first driving data with the second driving data after receiving an instruction to update the first driving data.
US08243043B2 Driven shield for capacitive touchpads
A conductive shield that is disposed near the sensor, wherein a signal is driven on the shield that is similar to the signal induced on the sensor, thereby reducing stray capacitances and protecting the sensor from external noise sources, and resulting in a stronger signal reaching the sensor.
US08243034B2 Organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting display device includes: a substrate; an organic light emitting unit on the substrate; a sealing substrate sealing the organic light emitting unit; and a touch panel on the sealing substrate, and configured for polarizing light, wherein the touch panel includes a first film on the sealing substrate and a second film spaced from the first film and on the first resistive layer.
US08243033B2 Position sensor
A low-cost x-y digitizing system for use in consumer electronic devices, such as portable digital assistants, mobile telephones, web browsers and the like. The digitizer includes a resonant stylus, an excitation winding for energizing the resonant stylus and a set of sensor windings for sensing the signal generated by the stylus, from which the x-y position of the stylus is determined. A novel stylus design is described together with novel digitizer windings and novel excitation and processing circuitry.
US08243029B2 Touch panel and display device using the same
An exemplary touch panel includes a substrate, transparent conductive layers, a capacitive sensing circuit, and conductive wires. The transparent conductive layers are disposed on a surface of the substrate and spaced apart from each other. Each transparent conductive layer includes a carbon nanotube layer. The carbon nanotube layer includes carbon nanotubes. The conductive wires respectively electrically connect the transparent conductive layers to the capacitive sensing circuit. A display device using the touch panel is also provided.
US08243028B2 Eraser assemblies and methods of manufacturing same
An eraser assembly for erasing a display surface of an electronic display system, where the display surface can implement a dot pattern. The eraser assembly can comprise a body assembly, which can be in communication with an eraser pad and a sensing device, such as a camera. The camera can be adapted to view the display surface when the eraser pad is in use.
US08243022B2 Federated virtual graffiti
Technologies for creating and viewing virtual graffiti using federated devices. The technologies allow users to associate virtual graffiti with geographic locations and restrict access to the graffiti to particular users, groups, federations, or the like. Users with appropriate access rights may be able to discover and view graffiti associated with a particular geographic location via a federated device when they are present at the location. Users may also access such graffiti from lists via federated devices.
US08243019B2 Ergonomic computer mouse
A computer mouse for use with a computing device is provided. The computer mouse may include a mouse body with an ulnar side digit support structure having a front concave region and a rear convex region formed proximate and behind the front concave region. The front concave region may include an overhang portion on a top side and an outwardly flared region on a bottom side. The front concave region may be sized to receive a distal end of a digit of a user, and the rear convex region may be sized to support a proximate end of a digit of a user. The mouse body may additionally include a radial side digit support structure that has a concave region with an outwardly flared region on a bottom side of the concavity.
US08243018B2 Multi-button mouse
A mouse with multi button functionality is disclosed. The mouse includes a housing that surrounds the internal components of the mouse. The housing includes at least a first member and a second member, each of which forms a substantial portion of the housing. The first member moves relative to the second member so as to implement at least one of the multiple button functions of the mouse.
US08243012B2 Color cholesteric liquid crystal display devices and driving methods thereof
Color cholesteric liquid crystal display devices and driving methods thereof are provided. A color cholesteric liquid crystal display device includes a color cholesteric liquid crystal display panel with a plurality of sub-pixels. A driving module exerts a first voltage on a portion of sub-pixels of the color cholesteric liquid crystal display panel to hold displaying states of the biased sub-pixels. An input element exerts pressure on the color cholesteric liquid crystal display panel to change displaying states of the unbiased sub-pixels.
US08243010B2 Liquid crystal display device and driving method thereof for improving a contrast ratio
An LCD device with an improved contrast ratio and a reduced electric power consumption and a driving method thereof are disclosed. The LCD device and the driving method thereof generate a data modulation control signal using single frame image data to be displayed on a liquid crystal panel, and then generating a plurality of modulated local dimming control signals for a plurality of divisional regions of the divided single frame image data. A modulated data, in which the single frame image data is compensated with the data modulation control signal is generated and applied to the liquid crystal panel. A plurality of driver signals each corresponding to the modulated local dimming control signals are applied to the blocks of a backlight unit. The divisional regions are opposite to the blocks, respectively.
US08243007B2 Image display device and method
An image display device is presented to solve problems of high power consumption, insufficient contrast, image flicker, and distortion of image display devices. The image display device includes an image display management module which includes a backlight control unit. The backlight control unit includes an image brightness analyzer, generating a brightness value according to an input image data; a weight generator, generating a weight according to the brightness value; an image variation analyzer, analyzing the input image data to generate an image variance; and a backlight factor generator, coupled to the weight generator and the image variation analyzer to generate a backlight adjusting signal according to the weight and the image variance. By the backlight adjusting signal, the image display device achieves the power-saving and contrast enhancement effects.
US08243003B2 Level shift circuit, and driver and display system using the same
Disclosed is a level shift circuit including a first level shift circuit that is connected between a first power supply terminal and first and second output terminals and receives first and second input signals from the first and second input terminals, respectively, and sets one of the first and second output terminals to a first voltage level, based on the first and second input signals; a second level shift circuit that is connected between a second power supply terminal and the first and second output terminals, and sets the other of the first and second terminals to a second voltage level; and a circuit that performs control to disconnect a current path in the second level shifter between the second power supply terminal and one of the first and second output terminals that is driven to the second voltage level at a time point when the first and second input signals are supplied to the first and second input terminals for a predetermined period including the time point when the first and second input signals are supplied to the first and second input terminals, and to cancel the disconnection of the current path in the second level shifter between the one output terminal and the second power supply terminal after the predetermined period. Output amplitudes at the first and second output terminals are set to be larger than amplitudes of the first and second input signals.
US08243002B2 Apparatus and method for controlling display of images
In a display device, a first frame of input image signals is received by a signal controller, stored in a memory, and applied to rows of pixels while a gate driver scans a gate-on voltage to a gate line in a first mode to select a row of pixels, one row at a time. When a gate driver controller detects that a second frame of image signals is being received by the signal controller, the gate driver controller halts the operation of the gate driver until the second frame of input image signals has all been received by the signal controller and until a scan start signal is detected by the gate driver controller.
US08242999B2 Driving method and device for generating activating signals that serve to activate scan lines of a display panel, and method for adjusting pulse durations of the activating signals
A driving method for generating activating signals that serve to activate scan lines of a display panel includes generating the activating signals based on a plurality of recorded pulse duration information to thereby permit a time point at which a pulse duration of a preceding one of the activating signals in a consecutive pair ends occurs prior to a time point at which a pulse duration of a succeeding one of the activating signals in the consecutive pair starts. A driving device that performs the driving method is also disclosed. A method for adjusting pulse durations of the activating signals is further disclosed.
US08242997B2 Liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display device having the same
A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel includes a plurality of data and gate lines, a plurality of main switching elements, and a plurality of liquid crystal capacitors. Each main switching element is electrically connected to a main data and gate line. Each liquid crystal capacitor is electrically connected to a main switching element. The LCD panel further includes a plurality of partial gate lines to transmit a plurality of partial driving signals, a plurality of partial data lines to transmit a plurality of data signals, and a plurality of partial switching elements. Each partial switching element is turned on based on a partial driving signal to provide a memory with a data signal via a partial data line when a main switching element is enabled, and to provide a liquid crystal capacitor with a data signal stored in the memory when the main switching element is turned off.
US08242996B2 Display device with storage electrode driver to supply a boosting and sustaining voltage
A display device includes a plurality of gate lines transmitting gate signals wherein each gate signal has a gate-on voltage and a gate-off voltage, a plurality of data lines intersecting the gate lines and transmitting data voltages, a plurality of storage electrode lines extending in parallel to the gate lines and transmitting storage signals, a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix wherein each pixel includes a switching element connected to a gate line and a data line, a liquid crystal capacitor connected to the switching element and a common voltage, a storage capacitor connected to the switching element and a storage electrode line, and a plurality of storage signal generators generating the storage signals based on the gate signals. The storage signal applied to each pixel has a changed voltage level immediately after the charging the data voltage into the liquid crystal capacitor and the storage capacitor is completed.
US08242994B2 Display device, controller driver and driving method for display panel
A display device includes a display panel, an environmental sensor, a correction circuit and a driving circuit. The correction circuit is configured to generate a corrected gray-scale data on the basis of input gray-scale data. The driving circuit is configured to drive the display panel in response to the corrected gray-scale data. The correction circuit generates the corrected gray-scale data by executing a correction using a polynomial in which the input gray-scale data are used as variables. Coefficients of the polynomial are changed in response to an output signal of the environmental sensor.
US08242991B2 Liquid crystal display apparatus
A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix shape and a drive circuit for actively driving the plurality of pixels. Each of the pixels has a laminated structure including a pixel electrode, a first alignment film, a liquid crystal layer, a second alignment film, and a counter electrode. The liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal molecule having a vertical alignment property. The first alignment film and the second alignment film are inorganic alignment films formed by obliquely depositing an inorganic material. The drive circuit has a first calculation section for extracting a first positional information, a second calculation section for extracting a second positional information, a third calculation for calculating a third positional information, and a fourth calculation section for calculating a third video signal.
US08242990B2 Liquid crystal display having function of suppressing stain and method of driving the same
A liquid crystal display and a method of driving the same are disclosed. The liquid crystal display includes a timing signal multiplying circuit generating a first timing signal and a second timing signal whose frequency is higher than a frequency of the first timing signal, a frame counter detecting a multiplied frame period to be driven at the frequency of the second timing signal, a data processing circuit allowing a frequency of digital data output during the multiplied frame period to be higher than a frequency of the digital data output during a frame period except the multiplied frame period, a timing control signal generating circuit generating a polarity control signal for controlling polarities of the digital data, and a polarity control signal inverting circuit that increases a frequency of the polarity control signal during the multiplied frame period to generate an inverse polarity control signal.
US08242986B2 Display device and method for driving the same
A semiconductor device having a configuration hardly generating variations in the current value due to a deteriorated EL element is to be provided. A capacitance element is disposed between the gate and the source of a driving TFT, video signals are inputted to the gate electrode, and then it is in the floating state. At this time, when the gate-source voltage of the driving TFT exceeds the threshold, the driving TFT is turned on. Suppose an EL element is deteriorated and the anode potential rises, that is, the source potential of the driving TFT rises, the potential of the gate electrode of the driving TFT, being in the floating state by coupling of the capacitance element, is to rise by the same amount. Accordingly, even when the anode potential rises due to the deteriorated EL element, the rise is added to the gate electrode potential as it is, and the gate-source voltage of the driving TFT is allowed to be constant.
US08242985B2 Display device and method for manufacturing the same
A pixel circuit (Aij) has a capacitor (Cs) having one of ends connected with a gate terminal of a DTFT (driving TFT) and the other end connected with a capacitance feedback line (CSi), a current-voltage conversion circuit (14) having an input terminal to which a feedback current flowing to a DDTFT (dummy driving circuit) is input when a predetermined potential is supplied to a gate terminal of the DDTFT having TFT characteristics substantially same as those of the DTFT in the pixel circuit (Aij) during a selected period for converting the feedback current into voltage and outputting a potential according to the voltage from an output terminal, and a changeover switch (CSW) for connecting the capacitance feedback line (CSi) corresponding to the pixel circuit (Aij) with the current-voltage conversion circuit (14) during the selected period and connecting the capacitance feedback line (CSi) corresponding to the pixel circuit (Aij) during a non-selected period with a constant potential supply line for supplying a constant potential (Vref). Thus, degradation in display quality due to a variation in DTFT characteristics of the pixel circuit can be inhibited while preventing enlargement of a circuit scale in a current-control-type display device.
US08242984B2 Organic light emitting display
An organic light emitting display includes pixels positioned at crossing regions of scan lines, emission control lines, and data lines. Each of the pixels positioned on an ith horizontal line includes an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a first transistor coupled between a corresponding one of power source lines and an anode electrode of the OLED for controlling current supplied to the OLED, a second transistor turned on when a scan signal is supplied to an ith scan line for supplying the data signal from a corresponding one of the data lines to a gate electrode of the first transistor, a third transistor coupled between the first transistor and the corresponding one of the power source lines and having a gate electrode coupled to an ith emission control line, and a storage capacitor coupled between the gate electrode of the first transistor and the anode electrode of the OLED.
US08242982B2 Feedback control of lighting-emitting blocks in a display apparatus
To drive light-emitting blocks, currents are sensed through the light-emitting blocks arranged in an M×N matrix (wherein M and N are natural numbers), wherein M rows are connected to a row switching part and N columns are connected to a column switching part. The light-emitting blocks are driven by a local dimming method with feedback control responsive to the sensed currents.
US08242980B2 Pixel circuit configured to provide feedback to a drive transistor, display including the same, and driving method thereof
A pixel circuit includes first, second, and third transistors, and first and second capacitors, wherein the first transistor is controlled by a scan line and is configured to controllably couple a data line to the first capacitor and a gate electrode of the second transistor, the second transistor is controlled by a voltage provided by the first and second capacitors, the third transistor is controlled by the scan line and is configured to controllably couple a first power supply to the second capacitor, and the first power supply is controllably coupled to a light source by the second transistor.
US08242975B2 Image processing method, image processing apparatus, and system
One of a plurality of color components which form pixels in an image that is influenced by chromatic aberrations caused by an optical system is selected as a reference color, and coordinates after conversion are calculated by applying conversion for correcting a distortion of the optical system with respect to the image to coordinates of pixels in association with the reference color. Correction values indicating amounts of color misregistration are calculated using the proportional relationship of difference values between the calculated coordinates and coordinates obtained by applying the conversion to coordinates of the image in association with remaining colors except for the reference color of the plurality of color components. Based on the calculated correction values, coordinates obtained by applying the conversion to coordinates of the image in association with the remaining colors are calculated.
US08242972B2 System state driven display for medical procedures
A method of performing a multi-step medical procedure requiring the operation of a plurality of separate computer systems, each accepting inputs and providing a visual display, the method including displaying the displays from the separate computer controlled systems on a composite display; and based in part from information from one of the separate computer systems, automatically selecting the next step from a plurality of possible next steps, and displaying a prompt for the automatically selected next step, and automatically reconfiguring the composite display for the automatically selected next step.
US08242968B2 Mobile television antenna with integrated UHF digital booster
A mobile television antenna having an antenna element outwardly extending from opposing ends of a housing. An UHF digital booster extends perpendicularly from one side of the housing between the opposing ends carrying the antenna element. At least one UHF parasitic antenna element is connected on a boom which is integrally connected to the mobile television antenna housing. The ultra high frequency parasitic antenna element is held in a plane near the plane in which the antenna element is held by the housing.
US08242966B2 Antenna array
An antenna array is provided. The antenna comprises a first antenna unit, a second antenna unit, a third antenna unit and a fourth antenna unit. The first antenna unit, the second antenna unit, the third antenna unit and the fourth antenna unit have L-shaped cross-sections. The second antenna unit is close to the first antenna unit. The third antenna unit is close to the second antenna unit. The fourth antenna unit is close to the third antenna unit and the first antenna unit. The fourth antenna unit is opposite to the second antenna unit. The third antenna unit is opposite to the first antenna unit.
US08242965B2 Dielectric antenna
A dielectric antenna having an at least partially dielectric body and an electrically conductive sheath, wherein the dielectric body can be struck on a supply section with electromagnetic radiation and the electromagnetic radiation can be at least partially emitted from the dielectric body via a lens-shaped radiation section. The conductive sheath essentially surrounds the dielectric body from the supply section to the radiation section and a supply opening is provided in the conductive sheath in the area of the supply section and a radiation opening is provided in the conductive sheath in the area of the radiation section. The dielectric antenna that is easy to produce, has little interference and has a short construction as a result of the dielectric antenna having essentially the cross section of the radiation opening in the area of the supply section.
US08242963B2 Antenna device
To provide an antenna device capable of diminishing gain changes caused by a human body. An antenna device has a magnetic current antenna 401 that takes a magnetic current as a source of emission; an electric current antenna 402 that takes an electric current as a source of emission; and an electric current/magnetic current distribution control circuit 403 that feeds signals to the magnetic current antenna 401 and the electric current antenna 402, wherein the magnetic current antenna 401 and the electric current antenna 402 are arranged in such a way that a polarized wave emitted from the magnetic current antenna 401 and a polarized wave emitted from the electric current antenna 402 cross each other at right angles. The electric current/magnetic current distribution control circuit 403 controls distribution of a radio wave emitted from the magnetic current antenna 401 and a radio wave emitted from the electric current antenna 402.
US08242960B2 Systems and methods for using a satellite positioning system to detect moved WLAN access points
The disclosed subject matter generally relates to hybrid positioning systems and methods and, more specifically, systems and methods of detecting moved WLAN assess points using a wireless local area network based positioning system (WLAN-PS) and a satellite-based positioning system (SPS) with at least two satellites measurement.
US08242958B2 System and method for positioning using signal transmit power and signal receive packet error ratio
A system and method for positioning using signal transmit power, SNR of the signal receiving unit, signal receive PER or PLR, and distance relationship between the signal source and receiving unit. The system includes a ranging signal transmitting unit and receiving unit. The transmitting unit continuously transmits a fixed number of ranging signal packets using different transmit powers, and the receiving unit receives the ranging signal packets, collect statistics for the PLR at each transmit power, and calculates the distance between the transmitting unit and itself using the distance relationship. The present invention uses the reference signal source and the method for calculating relative distance to reduce the impact from the noise and environment changes on the positioning, and introduces the critical transmit power to further enhance positioning precision. With the method provided in the present invention, using a common active RFID tag achieves high precision and effective positioning.
US08242956B2 Distributed orbit modeling and propagation method for a predicted and real-time assisted GPS system
A mobile device includes a processor for generating a predicted orbital state vector using an initial satellite position and velocity and force model parameters received from a server, the predicted orbital state vector being used to generate satellite navigation data; and a GNSS receiver in communication with the processor for receiving the satellite navigation data; wherein the satellite navigation data is valid for a time period.
US08242951B2 System and method for generating a reference signal for phase calibration of a system
A two-element array antenna system includes a first antenna element and a second antenna element. The first and second antenna elements respectively include first and second frequency multipliers. A transmitting, receiving, and processing (TRP) system is coupled to the first and second antenna elements via, respectively, a single first transmission element and a single second transmission element. The TRP system is configured to transmit to the first antenna element a first input signal at a sub-multiple of a first frequency, receive from the first frequency multiplier a first calibration signal based on the first input signal, transmit to the second antenna element a second input signal at a sub-multiple of the first frequency, receive from the second frequency multiplier a second calibration signal based on the second input signal, and determine, based on the calibration signals, a relative phase difference between the first and second transmission elements.
US08242950B2 Systems and methods for enhancing situational awareness of an aircraft on the ground
A delineated collision avoidance system may comprise a processor for executing one or more instructions that implement one or more functions of the collision avoidance system, a transceiver for transmitting information from and receiving information for the host aircraft, and memory for storing the one or more instructions for execution by the processor to implement the one or more functions of the collision avoidance system to: receive from the transceiver information from another aircraft, generate from the received information a track for the other aircraft, and determine whether the track will intersect within a predefined period of time a region of interest around the host aircraft. In a variation, the system may include a display and the memory may include instructions to: determine whether a predefined condition is satisfied and change an appearance of a symbol shown on the display to indicate that the predefined condition is satisfied.
US08242947B2 Remote control apparatus using electrostatic sensor
A remote controller has at least one input switch, and transmits a signal based on a state of the input switch to a target object. A main electrode pair is arranged as the input device and is configured such that inter-electrode distance varies in accordance with a pressing force. Plural sub electrode pairs are each arranged at positions different from the main electrode pair and are configured such that inter-electrode distance varies in accordance with a pressing force. The signal processor monitors a capacitance value of the main electrode pair and the plural sub electrode pairs, and performs predetermined signal processing in accordance with the capacitance value that has been detected. A transmitter transmits a control signal in accordance with the capacitance value of the main electrode pair to the target object.
US08242945B2 Successive approximation type AD converter and test method thereof
A successive approximation type analog-to-digital (AD) converter includes: a converting and comparing section configured to compare an input analog signal and an analog signal as an analog conversion result of a digital data; and a successive approximation section configured to change the digital data based on the comparison result by the converting and comparing section. The converting and comparing section includes: a DA (digital-to-analog) section configured to perform an analog conversion on the digital data of a predetermined number of bits in an ordinary mode, and on the digital data of bits smaller than the predetermined number of bits in a test mode.
US08242943B2 Digital-to-analog converter
The present invention relates to a digital-to-analog converter comprising a differentiation circuit, a conversion circuit, and an integration circuit. The differentiation circuit receives and differentiates a digital signal for producing a differentiation signal. The conversion circuit is coupled to the differentiation circuit. It receives the differentiation signal and produces a conversion signal according to a clock signal and the differentiation signal. The integration circuit is coupled to the conversion circuit. It receives and integrates the conversion signal for producing an analog signal. Thereby, the purpose of reducing distortion noises can be achieved.
US08242942B2 System and method to modify a metadata parameter
A method includes receiving digital audio data at an audio adjustment system. The method includes converting a portion of the digital audio data to an analog audio signal with a digital-to-analog converter of the audio adjustment system to form a sample analog audio signal. The method includes determining a dynamic range of the sample analog audio signal with the audio adjustment system. The method also includes modifying a metadata parameter of the digital audio data with the audio adjustment system when the dynamic range of the sample analog audio signal is below a threshold. The metadata parameter is a dialog normalization parameter.
US08242941B2 Pulse modulation A/D-converter with feedback
The invention relates to an A/D converter comprising an input and an output, a D/A converting feedback and a pulse width modulating forward path, the D/A converting feedback comprising at least one feed-back path, the feed-back path establishing a D/A conversion based on at least two D/A conversions subject to uncorrelated errors.The invention further relates to a jitter consequence reducing D/A-converter comprising a jitter-robust intermediate signal established on the basis of a digital input signal.The invention further relates to a method for jitter consequence reduction in a pulse width modulated A/D-converter feedback, comprising establishing at least two D/A-conversions subject to uncorrelated errors, and combining, preferably by summing, said at least two D/A-conversions.
US08242940B2 Transitioning digital data processors between power savings and non-power savings modes
A sink may be to used to process multimedia digital data. The sink may include a plurality of input ports, an output port, a switchably-enabled selector to select an input port from a plurality of HDMI input ports to couple to an output port, a control circuit to detect encrypted data in a channel of the input ports; and a plurality of decryption engines. Each of the decryption engines may be coupled to respective input ports to synchronize with a corresponding encryption engine of a data source after the control circuit detects encrypted data in the channel of the respective input port. Additional circuitry may be included to operate the sink in a power saving mode. Also, methods for processing the data in both power saving and non-power saving modes.
US08242939B2 Method, apparatus and terminal device of symbol interleaving
A method and an apparatus of symbol interleaving are provided. A sequence S(i) is transformed to generate a symbol interleaving sequence. A numerical value of the sequence S(i) is corresponding to a serial number of a channel element (CE). The symbol interleaving sequence may also be obtained based on a Costas sequence. Therefore, the number of symbol groups in one CE that are mapped to the same physical resource position by different cells is effectively reduced, so that the effect of interference randomization between the cells is improved, the influence of the interference between the cells on the system performance is lowered, and the generation of the symbol interleaving sequence is simplified.
US08242936B2 Control panel and control method thereof
A control method of a control panel is disclosed. First, a first display plate having at least one first pattern is provided, and the first display plate is in an on-state, so that the first pattern is shown. Then, a touch region of a touch panel disposed on the first display plate is touched, and a second display plate having at least one second pattern and disposed under the first display plate is turned on, so that the second pattern is displayed. Accordingly, changes of different patterns respectively in different layers can be displayed.
US08242930B2 Intelligent vehicle dashboard
A two-way vehicle communication system has been developed that includes at least one vehicle, at least one vehicle data collection point, at least one operations data supply system, and at least one data communication system, wherein the data communication system is operatively coupled to the at least one vehicle, the at least one vehicle data collection point, the at least one operations data supply system or a combination thereof. A method of monitoring a vehicle using a two-way vehicle communication system has been developed that includes: providing at least one vehicle, providing at least one vehicle data collection point, providing at least one operations data supply system, and providing at least one data communication system, wherein the data communication system is operatively coupled to and communicates with the at least one vehicle, the at least one vehicle data collection point, the at least one operations data supply system or a combination thereof.
US08242927B2 Extended life LED fixture with central controller and LED lamps
An LED fixture includes multiple LED drivers and multiple LED lamps so that the lifetime of the fixture is a multiple of the lifetime of a conventional fixture that uses only a single LED driver. A central controller activates and deactivates the LED drivers so that the different LED lamps are driven sequentially. An optional multi-lamp LED driver concurrently drives multiple LED lamps that have been previously driven by the LED drivers.
US08242925B2 Arrangement and method for positioning of apparatuses
In an arrangement and associated method for positioning of apparatuses (in particular of a C-arm), the position and orientation of a C-arm and of a pointer instrument are determined by a navigation system, and an alignment of the C-arm is conducted based on the orientation of the pointer apparatus.
US08242921B2 Multifunctional portable electronic device and method for using the same
A portable electronic device includes an image capturing unit, a processor unit connected to the image capturing unit, and an alarm unit connected to the processor unit. The image capturing unit captures outside images, the processor unit detects if there is any smoke near the portable electronic device according to the images and measuring relative parameters of detected smoke, and the alarm unit alarms when at least one parameter of detected smoke is out of predetermined acceptable ranges.
US08242919B2 Moisture detection label, moisture detection device, moisture detection method, power shutoff method, and electronics device
Provided is a moisture detection device including: a moisture detection label that has at least a pair of detection terminals and a pattern, the detection terminals being provided on a base material with an insulated front surface, the pattern being provided on the surface of the base material and formed between the detection terminals with water-dispersible and conductive paint; and detection circuit which detects an electrical connection state between the detection terminals.
US08242913B2 RFID tag communication apparatus
This disclosure discloses an RFID tag communication apparatus comprising: a housing including a bottom surface; an antenna provided at a distance h from the bottom surface; and a radio frequency circuit including a carrier wave transmitting device that generates a carrier wave of a frequency fc; wherein the correlation as fo
US08242911B2 Composite multiple RFID tag facility
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a composite RFID tag, where the composite RFID tag may include a plurality of individual tags that are arranged to respond to a reader as one tag.
US08242909B2 Method of configuring RFID reader
A method of configuring an RFID reader includes (1) collecting information related to an operation environment of an RFID reader, and (2) configuring the RFID reader to operate in a mode that is selected for the operation environment of the RFID reader.
US08242907B2 Multiple radio frequency network node RFID tag
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a Radio Frequency ID (RFID) tag that contains multiple Radio Frequency (RF) network nodes that provide enhanced memory capabilities, redundant functionality, and multiple frequency capabilities to the RFID tag using an inter-RF network node communication connection. The inter-RF network node communication may allow the coordination of RFID tag memory and functionality.
US08242906B2 Merchandise display stand defining an angled exit path
A merchandise display stand for displaying an item of merchandise defines an angled exit path for a security cable attached to the merchandise. The display stand includes a base configured for attachment to a support surface and an upright extending from the base. The security cable extends from the base through an internal passageway defined by the upright to the merchandise. The upright has an arcuate or an angled shape relative to the support surface and the angled exit path forms an acute angle with a central axis between about fifteen and about seventy-five degrees. A sensor housing may be disposed between an upper end of the security cable and the merchandise and configured for attachment to the merchandise. A first displacement sensor may be provided for indicating whether the base is separated from the support surface and a second displacement sensor may be provided for indicating whether the merchandise is separated from the sensor housing. Electronic circuitry may also be provided for monitoring and detecting an unsecured state of the first and second displacement sensors and for activating an alarm when the first or second displacement sensor is in the unsecured state.
US08242903B2 Wireless sensor device
A wireless sensor device capable of constant operation without replacement of batteries. The wireless sensor device is equipped with a rechargeable battery and the battery is recharged wirelessly. Radio waves received at an antenna circuit are converted into electrical energy and stored in the battery. A sensor circuit operates with the electrical energy stored in the battery, and acquires information. Then, a signal containing the information acquired is converted into radio waves at the antenna circuit, whereby the information can be read out wirelessly.
US08242901B2 ASI network for explosion-hazard areas
At least one embodiment of the invention relates to a fieldbus system, in particular for use in an explosion-hazard area. The fieldbus system, in at least one embodiment, has a plurality of bus line sections with bus lines; an isolating element, by which in each case two of the plurality of bus line sections are coupled to one another and which galvanically isolates the bus lines of the two bus line sections from one another such that this prevents any direct current flowing between the bus lines of the two bus line sections and communication signals are transmitted between the two bus line sections; and a supply source for each of the bus line sections, in order to provide an electrical power supply for field devices which can be connected to the respective bus line section.
US08242900B2 System and method for home automation and security
A home automation and security system is provided in which a home automation and security controller in a customer premises is coupled with a remotely located central control facility using a continuous connectivity access line providing a data channel separate from a voice channel. The controller at the customer premises is responsible for monitoring and applying control signals to devices in the home and for supporting a human interface. The remotely located central control facility is responsible for providing the computational and database resources to the controller. By redistributing functionality, the network-based structure of this home automation and security system can overcome the disadvantages of conventional home automation and security systems.
US08242898B2 Turn signal illumination controller
A turn signal illumination controller monitors the lateral movement distance of a vehicle from when a turn switch lever is operated so as to illuminate a turn signal indicator. When the lateral movement distance is greater than or equal to a threshold value indicating completion of lane changing, the turn signal illumination controller cancels the turn signal indicator.
US08242892B2 System, method and program product for communicating a privacy policy associated with a radio frequency identification tag and associated object
A system, method and program product for communicating a privacy policy associated with a RFID tag. The method includes defining in an tag a first identifier for uniquely identifying the object and a second identifier for uniquely identifying a privacy policy that indicates a proper and intended use and level of protection to be afforded data/information transmitted by the identification tag coupled to the object, associating the second identifier with the first identifier, each of the first identifier and the second identifier being coupled to the identification tag, and responsive to detection of a communication signal received from a receptor, transmitting the first identifier and the second identifier, which includes an accept-reject provision for controlling dissemination and usage of the data/information transmitted by the identification tag, where based on a response received to the accept-reject provision, the data/information is either transmitted or not transmitted to the recipient.
US08242889B2 RFID tag
A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag includes a battery that stores therein electricity and supplies the electricity to the RFID tag, an antenna that receives radio waves transmitted from a reader/writer, an electricity generating unit that generates electricity based on the radio waves received by the antenna, and supplies the electricity to the RFID tag, an electricity storage determining unit that determines whether electricity is stored in the battery, an electricity supply switching control unit that, when the electricity storage determining unit determines that electricity is stored, selects a connection of a circuit to operate the RFID tag with the electricity supplied from the battery, and an electricity generating unit switching control unit that, when the electricity storage determining unit determines that electricity is stored, selects a connection of a circuit not to input the radio waves received by the antenna to the electricity generating unit.
US08242886B2 Door lock control device
A door lock control device that performs locking and/or unlocking of a door of a vehicle subject to a condition that a result of communication with a portable device has authenticated the portable device. The door lock control device has: an operation reception unit that is provided in the vehicle and receives an input for instructing the locking and/or unlocking of the door; a vehicle power source determination unit that determines whether a power source of the vehicle is ON; an occupant determination unit that determines whether an occupant is present in a cabin of the vehicle; and a power supply control unit that stops power supply to the operation reception unit when determination is made that the power source of the vehicle is ON and an occupant is present inside the vehicle cabin.
US08242881B2 Method of adjusting reference information for biometric authentication and apparatus
According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method of adjusting reference information for biometric authentication, comprises storing the reference information including reference biometric data and threshold values corresponding to a plurality of users, respectively, obtaining biometric data of a user by inputting biometric information of the user, calculating a matching ratio of the biometric data with the reference biometric data of each of the users, respectively, comparing the matching ratio of each of the users with the threshold value of each of the users, respectively, determining which of the matching ratios exceed the corresponding threshold values and adjusting the threshold values which are exceeded by the corresponding matching ratios so that all the matching ratios but the highest matching ratio become lower than the adjusted threshold values, respectively.
US08242878B2 Resistor and method for making same
A metal strip resistor is provided. The metal strip resistor includes a metal strip forming a resistive element and providing support for the metal strip resistor without use of a separate substrate. There are first and second opposite terminations overlaying the metal strip. There is plating on each of the first and second opposite terminations. There is also an insulating material overlaying the metal strip between the first and second opposite terminations. A method for forming a metal strip resistor wherein a metal strip provides support for the metal strip resistor without use of a separate substrate is provided. The method includes coating an insulative material to the metal strip, applying a lithographic process to form a conductive pattern overlaying the resistive material wherein the conductive pattern includes first and second opposite terminations, electroplating the conductive pattern, and adjusting resistance of the metal strip.
US08242877B2 Touch panel with discontinuous chain of resistances
The disclosure is related to a touch panel with discontinuous chain of resistances. It is formed by an internal series of electrodes of the conducting layer formed by a chain of discontinuous resistances. The design of the chain of discontinuous resistances can compensate for the voltage compensation by the voltage drop generated by the distance of chain of electrodes wherein the chain of discontinuous resistances is located at the interface of the series electrodes, and the length chain of discontinuous resistances is calculated by the specific equation.
US08242874B2 Electrical connector housing
A fuse holder for an electrical fuse includes a first housing portion which has first and second electrical terminals disposed therein. A second housing portion is pivotally attached to the first housing portion, and is configured to carry the electrical fuse. Pivoting the first and second housing portions together automatically and sequentially connects the fuse carried by the second housing portion to the terminals disposed within the first housing portion. This provides a convenient mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the fuse, and facilitates the use of a fuse without its own insulating material.
US08242869B2 Transformer
A transformer having a coil which is wound with conductor material and which contains cooling channels through which a cooling fluid flows is provided. The cooling channels are formed by corrugated components, the corrugation shape of which matches the outer surface, including the outer contour in corner regions of the coil.
US08242867B2 High security balanced magnetic switch
An embodiment is a magnetic switch assembly generally comprising a switch base coupled to a switch housing. The switch base and switch housing may be coupled to, for example, a door frame or other substantially fixed location. Adjacent the switch base and switch housing may be an actuating magnet base including a plurality of actuating magnets. The proximity to or distance from the actuating magnets in the actuating magnet base may actuate magnets within the switch housing to open and/or close a circuit and/or otherwise generate a signal that may be communicated by an interface cable to, for example, a security system. The magnetic switch assembly of an embodiment may include one or more features that impede and/or substantially prevent tampering to defeat the magnetic switch assembly.
US08242863B2 Active inductance for very high frequencies based on CMOS inverters
The present disclosure relates to techniques for simulating electrical inductance.
US08242862B2 Tunable bandpass filter
Tunable bandpass filters are provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a tunable bandpass filter including a dielectric substrate having a first surface opposite to a second surface, a conductive ground plane disposed on the first surface, a microstrip conductive trace pattern disposed on the second surface, the trace pattern defining a phase velocity compensation transmission line section including a series of spaced alternating T-shaped conductor portions, at least one varactor diode coupled to a first T-shaped conductor portion of the series of T-shaped conductor portions and to the conductive ground plane, and bias control circuitry coupled to the first T-shaped conductor portion, wherein the bias control circuitry is configured to control the at least one varactor diode.
US08242860B2 Sequential rotated feeding circuit
A sequential rotated feeding circuit for sequential rotated feeding of a signal with a wavelength λg is provided. The sequential rotated feeding circuit comprises a feed transformer, a resistance transforming unit, a first antenna transformer, a second antenna transformer, a third antenna transformer and a fourth antenna transformer. The feed transformer has a feed line width resistance Zin. The resistance transforming unit is connected to the feed transformer, the first antenna transformer, the second antenna transformer, the third antenna transformer and the fourth antenna transformer. The resistance transforming unit has a transforming line width resistance Zl. The first antenna transformer, the second antenna transformer, the third antenna transformer and the fourth antenna transformer have an antenna line width resistance Za, and the feed line width resistance Zin, the transforming line width resistance Zl, and the antenna line width resistance Za satisfy the following formula: Zl=√{square root over (ZaZin)}.
US08242856B2 Piezoelectric oscillator
There is provided a temperature compensated piezoelectric oscillator which excels in frequency stability and has a good electronic noise characteristic, and with which a circuit can be structured simply. An auxiliary oscillator unit 21 sharing a crystal substrate 2 with a main oscillator unit 11 outputting a set frequency f0 to an outside is used as a temperature detecting unit 32 detecting a temperature T for obtaining a compensation voltage ΔV in a temperature compensated piezoelectric oscillator (TCXO), and electrodes 13, 23 of the main oscillator unit 11 and the auxiliary oscillator unit 21 are provided separately on the crystal substrate 2. For example, a fundamental wave and an overtone are used or a thickness shear vibration and a contour shear vibration are used in the main oscillator unit 11 and the auxiliary oscillator unit 21, respectively.
US08242853B2 Low headroom oscillator
A low headroom oscillator operates at low supply voltages without the use of monostable circuits or flip flops. The oscillator operates in multiple states which allow for the charging and discharging of the capacitors alternately to enable the proper operating of the oscillator at low supply voltages without locking up.
US08242849B1 Compensation for crystal offset in PLL-based crystal oscillators
A crystal offset value is stored in non-volatile memory in an oscillator device. The crystal offset value corresponds to a ratio between a rated frequency of an output of a crystal oscillator and a measured frequency of the output of the crystal oscillator. A rated divide value that corresponds to a selected frequency for an output of the oscillator device assumes the crystal oscillator operates at its rated or ideal frequency. Thus, the rated divide value corresponds to the rated frequency. The rated divide value is adjusted by the crystal offset value to generate an adjusted divide value and the adjusted divide value is used to generate an output signal of the oscillator device with the selected frequency.
US08242843B2 Push-pull amplifier circuit and operational amplifier circuit using the same
A push-pull amplifier including first to third current paths. The first current path includes first transistor allowing first current to flow through the first current path according to input signal. The second current path includes second transistor allowing second current having opposite phase to the first current to flow through the second current path according to the first current; first resistor; and third transistor connected to one end of the first resistor and having control terminal connected to the other end of the first resistor. The third current path includes output terminal; fourth transistor allowing current having the same phase as the first current to flow through the third current path according to the input signal; and fifth transistor allowing current having the same phase as the second current to flow through the third current path according to voltage of first node between the first resistor and the third transistor.
US08242841B2 Receiver having multi-stage low noise amplifier
A receiver having multi-stage low noise amplifier are provided. In this regard, a representative receiver, among others, includes at least one antenna and a filter that receives and filters signals from the at least one antenna. The filtered signals include a first frequency band signal and a second frequency band signal. The receiver further includes a multi-stage low noise amplifier that receives the filtered signals from the filter. The multi-stage low noise amplifier includes a first stage low noise amplifier that receives and performs impedance matching for the first frequency band signal and second frequency band signal. The multi-stage low noise amplifier further includes a second stage low noise amplifier that receives the first frequency band signal and second frequency band signal. The second stage low noise amplifier includes load resistors that switch off for the first frequency band signal and switch on for the second frequency band signal based on receiving either the first frequency band signal or second frequency band signal.
US08242838B2 Amplifier with wide gain range
An amplifier with wide gain range includes a signal converting unit, a channel unit, and multiple amplifiers. The signal converting unit receives a gain modulation signal and accordingly outputs multiple modulation signals and multiple selection signals. Based on a level of the gain modulation signal, one of the selection signals is set at a first logic state and the other selection signals are at a second logic state. The channel unit has multiple channels, respectively controlled by the selection signals, so as to conduct the channel with at the first logic state. The amplifiers are connected in series. Output terminals of the amplifiers are also respectively output to the channels of the channel unit. The amplifiers are also controlled by the modulation signals of the signal converting unit.
US08242836B2 Acoustic characteristic control apparatus
An acoustic characteristic control apparatus supplies music signal, for example, to input terminal connected to a band-pass filter and a peaking filter. In a zero-cross detection circuit, a pulse signal corresponding to a period while a signal is positive is formed. A pulse-width measuring circuit output a signal corresponding to a pulse width. Next, the output of the pulse-width measuring circuit is inputted to one comparator and another comparator. The one comparator discriminates a time when the pulse width is equal to or larger than a first setting value, and the another comparator discriminates a time when the pulse width is equal to or smaller than a second setting value. The comparator is connected to the up terminal and the down terminal of an up/down counter. The output of the up/down counter is connected to the peaking filter through the subtractor, and acoustic characteristics of the peaking filter is controlled according to the count value of the up/down counter.
US08242829B1 Multichannel interpolator
Methods, systems, and apparatus can provide a multichannel interpolator while optimizing circuitry reuse.
US08242826B2 Retention flip-flop
A master-slave retention flip-flop includes a master latch adapted to latch an input data signal and to output a latched master latch data signal based on an input clock signal, a slave latch coupled to an output of the master latch and adapted to output a latched slave latch data signal based on the input clock signal, and a retention latch embedded within one of the master and slave latches adapted to preserve data in a power down mode based on a power down control signal.
US08242823B2 Delay chain initialization
A delay chain initialization circuit that converts a singled-sided signal to a dual sided-signal. The dual-sided delay chain including a data rail and a complement rail. Each of the data rail and data complement rail include inverter chains that are interconnected through cross-coupled inverter pairs. The delay chain initialization circuit being adapted to produce, at an output, a data signal and a data complement signal that are substantially simultaneous.
US08242815B2 Microcontroller unit and method therefor
A microcontroller unit comprises a reset controller operably coupled to a plurality of logic elements of the microcontroller unit. Low voltage detection logic is operably coupled to the reset controller and arranged to provide a plurality of low voltage interrupt signals to a number of respective logic elements of the microcontroller unit via the reset controller. A method of operating a microcontroller unit is also described.
US08242810B2 Fast settling, bit slicing comparator circuit
An improved fast settling bit slicing comparator circuit includes a comparator having a non-inverting and inverting input; the non-inverting input receiving an input signal; a filter circuit for receiving the input signal and being connected with the inverting input of the comparator; a positive feedback circuit interconnected between the output of the comparator and the non-inverting input of the comparator for introducing a predetermined hysteresis offset; the filter circuit including a filter resistance and filter capacitance having a reduced time constant sufficient to compensate for at least a portion of the hysteresis offset. Additionally, the positive feedback circuit may be interconnected with the inverting input of the comparator through the filter circuit for gradually reducing the effect of the hysteresis offset by reducing the differential voltage between the inverting and non-inverting inputs.
US08242806B1 Methods and systems for managing a write operation
Systems and methods for managing a write operation are described. The systems include a logic element (LE) including an N-input look-up table (LUT) having a configurable random access memory (CRAM) including 2N memory cells. The systems further include a write address decoder coupled to the LE and a write address hard logic register that stores an address of one of the memory cells. N is an integer. The hard logic register removes a dependency of a timing relationship between a write address launch and a write to the CRAM on a design of an integrated circuit.
US08242805B1 Method and apparatus for restricting the use of integrated circuits
In one embodiment, a method for restricting use of an integrated circuit (IC) is provided. A write-once memory of a programmable IC contains a first die-specific performance grade indicator. In response to receiving an input code having a second die-specific performance grade indicator with a value indicating a level of performance greater than or equal to a level of performance indicated by the first die-specific performance grade indicator, enabling operation of the IC. In response to receiving a configuration bitstream having the second die-specific performance grade indicator with a value indicating a level of performance less than a level of performance indicated by the first die-specific performance grade indicator, preventing operation of the IC.
US08242800B2 Apparatus and method for override access to a secured programmable fuse array
An apparatus in an integrated circuit for re-enabling the use of precluded extended JTAG operations. The apparatus includes a JTAG control chain, a feature fuse, a machine specific register, and an access controller. The JTAG control chain is configured to enable/disable the extended JTAG operations. The feature fuse is configured to indicate whether the extended JTAG features are to be disabled. The machine specific register is configured to store a value therein. The access controller is coupled to the feature fuse, the machine specific register, and the JTAG control chain, and is configured to determine that the feature fuse is blown, and is configured to direct the JTAG control chain to enable the precluded extended JTAG operations if the value matches an override value within the access controller during a period that the value is stored within the machine specific register.
US08242794B2 Socket, and test apparatus and method using the socket
An apparatus for testing electric characteristics of a test object including first connection terminals on a bottom surface and second connection terminals on a top surface, the apparatus comprises a test board comprising first pads on a predetermined surface; a socket configured to electrically connect the test object to the test board; and a handler configured to transport the test object to the socket. The socket comprises a first connection unit configured to be electrically connected to the first connection terminals of the test object and a second connection unit configured to be electrically connected to the second connection terminals of the test object.
US08242792B2 Impedance measurement system and method
The impedance of ionic solutions may be determined using a bridge circuit where the ionic solution forms one leg of the bridge circuit and a reference impedance characterized by a reference time constant forms a second leg of the bridge circuit. The bridge is driven by a switched DC voltage waveform. Measurement of the ionic solution is delayed after switching to allow the reference impedance to reach its asymptotic value. The reference impedance may be varied to reduce the reference time constant.
US08242783B2 Ionization vacuum gauge
An ionization vacuum gauge includes a cathode electrode, a gate electrode, and an ion collector. The cathode electrode includes a base and a field emission film disposed thereon. The gate electrode is disposed adjacent to the cathode electrode with a distance therebetween. The ion collector is disposed adjacent to the gate electrode with a distance therebetween. The field emission film of the cathode electrode includes carbon nanotubes, a low-melting-point glass, and conductive particles.
US08242782B2 Microwave ablation generator control system
A microwave energy delivery and measurement system, including a microwave energy source configured to delivery microwave energy to a microwave energy delivery device, a measurement system configured to measure at least one parameter of the microwave energy delivery device and a switching network configured to electrically isolate the microwave energy source and the measurement system. The measurement system is configured to actively measure in real time at least one parameter related to the microwave energy delivery device.
US08242781B2 System and method for determining sub surface geological features at an existing oil well site
An array of electromagnetic receiver antennae is arranged and operated in conjunction with the operation of an array of far field electromagnetic transmitter antennae for mapping subsurface features of an existing well site reservoir. Mapping is performed according to the relative intensities, frequencies, phase shifts, and/or other reflected signal parameters of the reflections received by the receiver antennae (relative to the transmit signals) associated with a given location or target area within a reservoir so as to aid in determining the geological features about an oil deposit for an existing oil well.
US08242779B2 Nuclear magnetic resonance method for detecting hydrogen peroxide and apparatus for performing said method
A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method for detecting hydrogen peroxide includes stimulating a spin signal in a liquid sample in a static magnetic field by exciting the sample with a first electromagnetic pulse having a frequency corresponding to a hydrogen NMR frequency; after a first time period, refocusing the spin signal by a series of second electromagnetic pulses also having the NMR-corresponding frequency and separated by a first echo time, while sampling a first train of spin signals; and refocusing the spin signal by a series of third electromagnetic pulses having the NMR-corresponding frequency and separated by a second echo time while sampling a second train of spin signals, the second echo time different from the first echo time. First and second spin-spin relaxation times are derived from the trains of spin signals, and a quotient of the spin-spin relaxation times indicates the presence of hydrogen peroxide.
US08242776B2 Magnetic sensor design for suppression of barkhausen noise
A semiconductor process and apparatus provide a high-performance magnetic field sensor from two differential sensor configurations (201, 211) which require only two distinct pinning axes (206, 216), where each differential sensor (e.g., 201) is formed from a Wheatstone bridge structure with four unshielded MTJ sensors (202-205), each of which includes a magnetic field pulse generator (e.g., 414) for selectively applying a field pulse to stabilize or restore the easy axis magnetization of the sense layers (e.g., 411) to eliminate micromagnetic domain switches during measurements of small magnetic fields.
US08242774B2 Incremental displacement transducer and method for determining a displacement of a first object relative to a second object
An incremental displacement transducer and method for determining a displacement of a first object relative to a second object having a scanning unit linked or to be linked with the first object for scanning a spacing or division track linked or to be linked with the second object having first areas and second areas arranged in alternating manner with a period length, the first areas having a first physical property and the second areas a second physical property differing therefrom, and where the scanning unit has a plurality of sensors for scanning the first areas and the second areas on the basis of the first and/or second physical property, and having an evaluation unit linked with the scanning unit for determining the displacement on the basis of measuring signals of the sensors.
US08242772B2 Device for measuring a current flowing in a cable
An exemplary embodiment relates to a measuring device for measuring a current flowing in a first cable. The measuring device includes a measuring shunt in the form of a plate connected in series with the first cable and associated with a measuring electronic card connected to a data transmission cable. The measuring shunt further includes a measuring portion of resistive alloy coupled to connection portions on either side of the measuring portion. The connection portions are integrally formed with the measuring portion, and the first cable is secured to at least one of the connection portions of the measuring shunt.
US08242764B2 DC-DC converter having VFM mode in which inductor current increases and switching frequency decreases
A non-isolated DC-DC converter that converts a voltage input to an input terminal to output a constant output voltage to a load terminal while switching control mode between a PWM mode and a VFM mode depending on a current output to the load terminal. The DC-DC converter includes an inductor, a switching circuit, and a control circuit. The inductor stores electric energy for supply to the load terminal. The switching circuit switches on and off current flow at a switching frequency to alternately charge and discharge the inductor. The control circuit increases an electric current flowing to the load terminal through the inductor per one operational cycle as the switching frequency decreases during VFM control mode operation.
US08242761B2 Low-dropout linear regulator and corresponding method
A low-dropout linear regulator includes an error amplifier comprising a cascaded arrangement of a differential amplifier and a gain stage having interposed therebetween a frequency compensation network for a loading current to flow therethrough. The regulator includes a current limiter inserted the flow-path of the loading current for the compensation network to increase the slew rate of the output of the differential amplifier by dispensing with the capacitive load in the frequency compensation network during load transients in the regulator.
US08242759B2 Power supply circuit and multi-phase control based on peak and average current
According to one configuration, a multi-phase power supply adjusts a number of active phases based at least in part on a peak current supplied to a dynamic load. For example, a controller associated with the multi-phase power supply can monitor or receive a value indicative of a peak magnitude of current delivered by the multi-phase power supply to a dynamic load. The controller initiates comparison of the value to threshold information. Based at least in part on the comparison, the controller adjusts how many phases of the multi-phase power supply are activated to deliver the current delivered to the dynamic load. Thus, one embodiment herein is directed to controlling a multi-phase power supply based at least in part on a measured parameter such as peak current magnitude.
US08242753B2 Current limitation for a double-fed asynchronous machine
In a method and an apparatus for controlling the output or drawn active and reactive power of a double-fed asynchronous machine (5), the maintenance of a maximum permissible current (16) of the machine—without the use of a subordinate current controller—is ensured by virtue of the fact that, during the operation of the double-fed asynchronous machine, a maximum permissible desired value for the active power (10a) to be output or to be drawn and a maximum permissible desired value for the reactive power (10b) to be output or to be drawn are calculated with the aid of a model of the asynchronous machine from the maximum permissible current (16), preferably corrected at least using the actual value of the current to be limited of the machine, in such a way that the maximum permissible current (16) is not exceeded. The predetermined active and reactive power desired values are then limited to the calculated maximum permissible values.
US08242752B2 Method and arrangement for controlling an electrical device
The invention relates to a method and arrangement for detecting a situation in which an electrical device is connected to another electrical device. The electrical device comprises a first, second, and third electrical contact terminal (101, 102, 103). Non-zero voltage is arranged between the second and third electrical contact terminal. The other electrical device comprises counterparts (104, 105, 106) for the first, second, and third electrical contact terminal. There is a galvanic coupling (107) between the counterparts for the first and second electrical contact terminal. The arrangement comprises a resistor (108) between the first and second electrical contact terminal and a detector (112) for detecting the situation in which the electrical device is connected to the other electrical device on the basis of a change of an electrical quantity associated with the resistor. The first electrical contact terminal can be e.g. a metal shield on a USB-connector.
US08242739B2 Leakage current reduction in combined motor drive and energy storage recharge system
A charging system and method that accommodates and reduces potential residual or leakage current when electrical grounds of a charger and an energy storage system are equalized at the moment of initiating charging. The charging system using an alternating current (AC) line voltage for conductive charging of an energy storage system (ESS) coupled to a polyphase motor drive circuit communicated to a polyphase motor, and converting the line voltage to a charging voltage communicated to the energy storage system using a set of the plurality of driver stages.
US08242733B2 Asynchronous AC induction electrical machines in cross-interlockingly parallel connection
At least two asynchronous AC induction electrical machines in parallel connection with the power source respectively include a main winding and control winding for operating the electrical machines, wherein the individually load driving operations of the two electrical machines in cross-interlocked parallel connection with the power source respond to changes in individual electrical machine loading statuses to provide variable impedance operation so as to change the end voltage ratio between the individual electrical machines.
US08242732B2 Apparatus, system and method for stepper motor stall detection
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for stepper motor 102 stall detection. A conversion module 106 receives 1206 a back electromotive force (“EMF”) waveform 1002 produced in a non-driven coil of the stepper motor 102 by a magnetic field of a rotor of the stepper motor 102 during a full step operation 308, and samples 1208 the waveform 1002 at intervals starting at a predetermined time for a predetermined period of time within the full step operation 308 to yield a plurality of sampled data points. A rectification module 202 rectifies 1210 the waveform 1002 about a predetermined quiescent level 306. A comparison module 204 accumulates 1216 the rectified sampled data points into a statistically representative sampled value, compares the representative sampled value to a predetermined threshold level, and indicates 1224 a stall of the rotor if the representative sampled value is less than the predetermined threshold level.
US08242730B2 Automated robot teach tool and method of use
A robot teach tool is provided that enables automatic teaching of pick and place positions for a robot. The automated robot teach tool obviates the need for manual operation of the robot during the teaching. The result is an automated process that is much faster, more accurate, more repeatable and less taxing on a robot operator.
US08242724B2 Driving device for synchronous motors
A driving device for three-phase alternating current synchronous motors controls state of charge of a capacitor, and a three-phase alternating current synchronous motor is started prior to the operation of the synchronous motor. Prior to control by a normal operation control unit, the state of charge of the capacitor is controlled by an initial state control unit and a synchronization control unit. Passage of large current through the capacitor immediately after the start of the execution of control by the normal operation control unit is suppressed. As a result, the operating state of the three-phase alternating current synchronous motor does not become unstable and the execution of control by the normal operation control unit can be started with the output voltage of the capacitor stable.
US08242721B2 Position-sensorless control system and method of operation for a synchronous motor
This invention provides an advanced position and velocity estimation scheme used in a position-sensorless control system for synchronous operation of an electric motor. The system includes an electric motor having a stator and a rotor; an inverter for powering the electric motor; and a controller for controlling the inverter. The controller utilizes a control system comprising a rotor angle and angular velocity estimation block; an estimated angle error detector block; a field-weakening block; and a torque-to-current converter block, all of which operate to generate control commands for operation of the motor.
US08242714B2 Two-wire dimmer circuit for a screw-in compact fluorescent lamp
A dimmer switch for controlling the intensity of a dimmable screw-in compact fluorescent lamp provides smooth dimming of the fluorescent lamp and prevents flickering of the lamp due to multiple re-strikes. The dimmer switch prevents multiple re-strikes by avoiding multiple firings of a controllably conductive switching device of the dimmer circuit by limiting the high-end light intensity of the fluorescent lamp. Specifically, the dimmer switch limits the length of a conduction interval of the controllably conductive switching device to less than approximately 75% of each half-cycle. The dimmer switch may include a user-accessible adjustment actuator for changing the dimmer switch between an incandescent operating mode and a screw-in compact fluorescent mode. The dimmer switch may also be operable to automatically change the dimmer switch between the incandescent operating mode and the screw-in compact fluorescent mode by detecting the occurrence of the multiple firings of the controllably conductive switching device.
US08242710B2 Driver device for a load and method of driving a load with such a driver device
The invention relates to a driver device for a load (11), particularly an LED/OLED unit (12; 20, 22), comprising a shunting switch (30) parallel to the load, a control unit (14, 26) for controlling the shunting switch (30), an energy storage element (40) adapted to supply energy to at least the control unit (14, 26), and a recharge control circuitry (46) arranged in series with the energy storage element (40), the series connection of energy storage element (40) and recharge control circuitry (46) being provided parallel to the shunting switch (30), wherein said control unit (14, 26) is adapted to activate said recharge control circuitry (46) and to switch said shunting switch (30) off, when said energy storage element (40) is to be recharged. The invention also relates to a method of driving a load (11).
US08242704B2 Apparatus, method and system for providing power to solid state lighting
An apparatus, method and system are disclosed for supplying power to a load such as a plurality of light emitting diodes. A representative apparatus comprises a primary module, a first secondary module couplable to a first load, and a second secondary module couplable to a second load. The primary module comprises a transformer having a transformer primary. The first secondary module comprises a first transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, and the second secondary module comprises a second transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, with the second secondary module couplable in series through the first or second load to the first secondary module.
US08242701B1 LED light source adapter
An LED assembly adapted to mount in a bayonet type socket of the type having a slotted casing comprising the negative terminal and a central pin comprising the positive terminal in which a plurality of LED's are mounted on a circuit board and the LED assembly has an electrically conductive screw comprising the positive connection for engaging the central pin of the socket and an electrically conductive tube with a pin member extending outwardly therefrom for insertion in the slots of the casing of the socket for comprising the negative connection.
US08242698B2 Organic electroluminescent display device
The present invention overcomes image defects such as the brightness inclination or smears by reducing the line resistance of a power source bus line which supplies electricity to organic EL elements. A plurality of pixels which are arranged in a matrix array is connected to power source lines, and the plurality of power source lines are connected to a power source bus line. Both ends of the power source bus line are connected to a power source part via a FPC. By supplying electricity to both ends of the power source bus line from the power source part, the line resistance of the power source bus line can be reduced.
US08242696B1 Vacuum electronic device
Various apparatuses and methods for a vacuum electronic device are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a vacuum electronic device includes a vacuum housing, an array of slow wave structures inside the vacuum housing sharing a common electron beam tunnel, an electron beam input port at a first end of the common electron beam tunnel, and an electron beam output port at a second end of the common electron beam tunnel.
US08242695B2 Laser driven light source
An laser driven light source comprises a bulb that encloses a discharge medium, a laser beam unit for emitting a laser beam, wherein the laser beam is focused in the bulb for generating a discharge, and a beam shield element that is provided in the bulb to shield peripheral devices from the laser beam, which passes through the discharge generated in the bulb.
US08242694B2 Photomultiplier and its manufacturing method
The present invention relates to a photomultiplier having a structure for making it possible to easily realize high detection accuracy and fine processing, and a method of manufacturing the same. The photomultiplier comprises an enclosure having an inside kept in a vacuum state, whereas a photocathode emitting electrons in response to incident light, an electron multiplier section multiplying in a cascading manner the electron emitted from the photocathode, and an anode for taking out a secondary electron generated in the electron multiplier section are arranged in the enclosure. A part of the enclosure is constructed by a glass substrate having a flat part, whereas each of the electron multiplier section and anode is two-dimensionally arranged on the flat part in the glass substrate.
US08242693B2 Package structure of light emitting device
A package structure of a light emitting device includes a device substrate, at least a light emitting device, and a cover structure. The cover structure includes a cover substrate, a blocking dam, a sealant and an encapsulation glue. The blocking dam, disposed in a peripheral region of the cover substrate, faces the device substrate and substantially surrounds an active region of the cover substrate. The sealant, disposed in the peripheral region, faces the device substrate and substantially surrounds the blocking dam. The cover substrate and the device substrate are bonded together by virtue of the sealant. The encapsulation glue, blocked by the blocking dam, is substantially disposed in the active region of the cover substrate, and covers at least a part of the light emitting device.
US08242692B2 Organic light emitting diode display and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention relates to an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display and a manufacturing method thereof. The OLED display includes a substrate member that includes a plurality of pixel areas. A thin film transistor (TFT) is formed on the substrate member and includes a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode. A planarization layer is formed on the TFT and includes a contact hole through which the drain electrode is partially exposed. A pixel electrode is formed on the planarization layer and is connected to the drain electrode of the TFT through the contact hole. A pixel defining layer is formed on the planarization layer and has a through opening. Light scattering spacers are formed on the pixel defining layer to scatter reflected light and may have various shapes and dimensions.
US08242690B2 Light-emitting diode die packages and illumination apparatuses using same
The present invention relates to an LED die package, which has a light-emitting diode die having a sapphire layer, a first doped layer doped with a p- or n-type dopant, and a second doped layer doped with a different dopant from that doped in the first doped layer. A surface of the sapphire layer opposite to the surface on which the first doped layer is disposed is formed with generally inverted-pyramidal-shaped recesses and overlaid with a phosphor powder layer. Each of the first and the second doped layers has an electrode-forming surface formed with an electrode, on which an insulation layer is disposed and formed with exposure holes for exposing the electrodes. The exposure holes are each filled with an electrically conductive linker.
US08242685B2 Organic electroluminescence device capable of preventing light from being not emitted
An organic electroluminescence device includes an organic electroluminescence element having a function layer interposed between a first electrode and a second electrode. The function layer includes at least an organic light emission layer. The electroluminescence device includes: partition walls which define concave portions and each of formation areas of the organic electroluminescence element within each of the concave portions to arrange the function layer within the concave portion; and auxiliary electrodes which are each arranged continuously on the partition wall and within the concave portion. The second electrode is formed in an area where both the formation area of the organic electroluminescence element and a non-formation area of the organic electroluminescence element overlap with each other, so as to be electrically connected to the function layer and the auxiliary electrode and is formed continuously between the function layer arranged within the concave portion and the auxiliary electrode in a state where the second electrode contacts with the function layer arranged within the concave portion and the auxiliary electrode. The auxiliary electrode is formed to be thicker than the second electrode.
US08242679B2 Display device using quantum dot
A display device using quantum dots includes a first substrate and a second substrate disposed to face each other, a partition wall formed between the first and second substrates and defining a unit pixel, a first electrode formed on the first substrate, a second electrode formed to correspond to the first electrode, a backlight unit formed under the first substrate and having a UV light source, a UV blocking film formed above the second substrate, and a red light emitting layer where red quantum dots are formed, a blue light emitting layer where blue quantum dots are formed, and a green light emitting layer where green quantum dots are formed, which are disposed in the unit pixel.
US08242678B2 Automotive discharge lamp
An automotive discharge lamp, having an inner tube including a light emitting unit having a first space therein and seal portions formed on the light emitting unit, a discharge medium containing a first gas enclosed in the first space, a metal foil sealed in the seal portions, electrodes with one end connected to the metal foil and other end extended into the first space, and an outer tube connected to the inner tube to form a second space between the outer tube and the inner tube, wherein the second space has a second gas enclosed therein and the oxygen concentration in the second space is 1.0 volume % or less.
US08242676B2 Field emission device, field emission display device and methods for manufacturing the same
A field emission device, a field emission display device, and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The field emission device includes: i) a substrate; ii) an electrode positioned on the substrate; iii) a mask layer positioned on the electrode and including one or more openings; and iv) a plurality of nanostructures positioned on the electrode via the openings and formed to extend radially. The plurality of nanostructures may be applied to emit an electron upon receiving a voltage from the electrode.
US08242675B2 Display device
The present invention discloses a peripheral line scheme of a display device. The routing of the peripheral lines is designed with a grating configuration to electrically connect to a driver IC or an integrated circuit. When the repair line is employed, a part of the peripheral lines could be separated by a laser optionally, and it subsequently could be welded to the repair line by the laser to improve the ability of the repair line. The display device of the present invention includes a display panel with a plurality of signal lines including the data lines and the scan lines. At least one integrated circuit is electrically connected to the plurality of signal lines to drive the display panel for displaying, and at least one repair line is electrically connected to the integrated circuit. At least one peripheral line is electrically connected to the integrated circuit in the grating configuration and in parallel to the repair lines.
US08242674B2 Device for the field emission of particles and production method
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for production of a device for thermally induced field emission of particles for particle optical devices such as in particular electron or ion microscopes, having at least one particle emitter (3) arranged in or pointing into a vacuum space (2) with at least one field emitter tip (4) for the emission of the particles, and having a magnetic field generator (6) attributed to the particle emitter (3) for focussing of the emitted particle beam (5), with the particle emitter (3) with its field emitter tip (4) is built by emitter structures (9) positioned on the surface (7) of a substrate (8) which is turned away from the magnetic field generator (6), and the substrate (8) formed as separating wall between vacuum space (2) and the atmospheric space (10) situated outside the vacuum space (2) at the side (14) of the substrate (8) which is turned away from the emitter structures (9).
US08242672B2 Spark plug having a fixation assisting member for the insulator
The present invention provides a technique of suppressing the generation of radio noise in a spark plug, wherein a high dielectric constant fixation-assisting member, formed of a high dielectric constant material which is higher in dielectric constant than alumina, is provided between a metallic shell and a second conductive portion CP2 which includes a metallic terminal of the spark plug 100.
US08242666B2 Contour resonator and method for adjusting contour resonator
A contour resonator is provided with a vibrating body formed from a flat plate in a square shape, excitation electrodes formed on both front and back surfaces of the vibrating body and regulating a resonance frequency, and temperature characteristic adjustment films formed on surfaces of the excitation electrodes and adjusting a temperature characteristic.
US08242664B2 Elastic wave device and electronic component
To provide an elastic wave device that is small sized and in which a frequency fluctuation due to a change with time hardly occurs, and an electronic component using the above elastic wave device. A trapping energy mode portion 2 provided in an elastic wave waveguide 10 made of an elastic body material excites a second elastic wave being an elastic wave in an energy trapping mode by a specific frequency component included in a first elastic wave being an elastic wave in a zero-order propagation mode propagated from a first propagation mode portion 4, and a cutoff portion 3 provided in a peripheral region of the trapping energy mode portion 2 has a cutoff frequency being a frequency higher than that of the second elastic wave. A second propagation mode portion mode-converts the second elastic wave leaked through the cutoff portion to a third elastic wave being the elastic wave in the zero-order propagation mode to propagate the third elastic wave.
US08242663B2 Oscillator having micro-electromechanical resonators and driver circuits therein that support in-phase and out-of-phase signals
A micro-electromechanical resonator self-compensates for process-induced dimensional variations by using a resonator body having a plurality of perforations therein. These perforations may be spaced along a longitudinal axis of the resonator body, which extends orthogonal to a nodal line of the resonator body. These perforations, which may be square or similarly-shaped polygonal slots, may extend partially or entirely though the resonator body and may be defined by the same processes that are used to define the outer dimensions (e.g., length, width) of the resonator body.
US08242661B2 Axial gap rotary electric machine and rotary driving device
An axial gap rotary electric machine includes a rotor, an armature and a stator. The rotor is a magnetic body, which is capable of rotating in a circumferential direction about a rotation axis. The armature includes an armature coil opposed to the rotor from one side in a rotation axis direction parallel to the rotation axis. The stator causes the armature coil to interlink with a magnetic field flux from the other side in the rotation axis direction via the rotor.
US08242658B2 Transverse and/or commutated flux system rotor concepts
Disclosed are transverse and/or commutated flux machines and components thereof, and methods of making and using the same. Certain rotors for use in transverse and commutated flux machines may be formed to facilitate a “many to many” flux switch configuration between flux concentrating stator portions having opposite polarities. Other rotors may be formed from a first material, and contain flux switches formed from a second material. Yet other rotors may be machined, pressed, stamped, folded, and/or otherwise mechanically formed. Via use of such rotors, transverse and/or commutated flux machines can achieve improved performance, efficiency, and/or be sized or otherwise configured for various applications.
US08242656B1 Motor
The present invention discloses a motor. A rotor and bearings are installed first and then copper wires are wrapped by a machine. Therefore, the copper wires wrapped are denser and thinner that a space filling factor is improved and an entire size of the motor is reduced. In addition to saving of electricity consumption and improvement of motor performance, the bearings are directly enclosed in two insulation plates to isolate from ambient environment, so that dust contamination can be reduced and noise from operation can be decreased, thereby extending a service life of the motor. Furthermore, packing and transportation costs can be even saved. Additionally, the insulation plates include plural insertion slots for insertion with copper plates which are electrically connected with a motor power cord. Thus, an inner stator can be connected with the power cord by plugging, so as to save labor work and time.
US08242651B2 Self-contained bearing lubrication system operating on oil ring lubricated by nozzle
A lubrication system for an electrodynamic machine including therein an internal oil sump and at least one oil ring hydrodynamic bearing, wherein the oil ring is in fluid communication with oil, in the sump and replenishes oil in the bearing. The lubrication system includes an electrically powered oil sump pump that is oriented within the sump. An of intake is coupled to the pump and is in fluid communication with oil in the internal sump. An oil discharge line is coupled to the pump discharge. The distal end of the discharge line is oriented proximal the motor bearing, so that oil discharged therefrom replenishes oil in the bearing and shaft journal interface. The lubrication system oil discharge parameters are independent, of the motor speed, load or physical orientation, and may be varied by a controller coupled to the oil sump pump.
US08242648B2 Control circuit member and motor
A control circuit member provided in a motor is disclosed. The motor includes a motor main body having a rotary shaft and a gear housing integrated with the motor main body. The control circuit member includes a circuit substrate on which a rotation detecting element is mounted and a substrate support member. The circuit substrate is accommodated in a circuit accommodating portion in the gear housing. The substrate support member supports the circuit substrate inside the circuit accommodating portion. The control circuit member is configured to be insertable into the circuit accommodating portion along the axial direction of the rotary shaft. The circuit substrate is configured to be arrangeable inside the circuit accommodating portion while being inclined with respect to the axial direction of the rotary shaft, so as to cause the rotation detecting element to approach the detector magnet.
US08242644B2 Arrangement for cooling of an electrical machine
In one aspect, an arrangement for cooling of an electrical machine is provided. The arrangement includes a rotor and a stator of the electrical machine, while an air-gap is between the rotor and the stator. The electrical machine includes an air-cooling-arrangement, which circulates air inside the electrical machine. The electrical machine includes a liquid-cooling-arrangement, which circulates cooling-liquid inside the electrical machine. The air-cooling arrangement and the liquid-cooling-arrangement are connected by an air-to-liquid heat-exchanger, which is applied to transport heat out from the electrical machine by the cooling-liquid.
US08242637B2 Power source switching circuit
A power source switching circuit includes a main source input terminal, an auxiliary source input terminal, a control circuit, a first switch, a second switch, and an output terminal. The control circuit is connected to the main source input terminal and the auxiliary source input terminal. The first switch is connected to the main source input terminal and the control circuit. The second switch is connected to the auxiliary source input terminal and the control circuit. The output terminal is connected to the first switch and the second switch. When the main source input terminal is at high level, the auxiliary source input terminal remains high level, the first switch is turned on, and the second switch is turned off by the control circuit.
US08242634B2 High efficiency remotely controllable solar energy system
A solar energy system (55) has aspects that can allow individualized control and analysis for overall field power control that can be used while harvesting maximum power from a solar energy source (1) and a string of solar panels (11) for a power grid (10). The invention provides control of power at high efficiency with aspects that can exist independently including: 1) power management with switch disconnect control (64), 2) sequenced start of a solar power system, 3) providing a safety output system that can be handled by installers and maintenance and advantageously controlled, 4) providing programmable power functionality controller (86) either on site or remotely from an administrative facility by radio transmission individual solar panel disconnect control (85), 5) a system with pattern analyzer (87) for operational, installation, and maintenance indications, and 6) systems with individual solar panel string power simulator (89) for disparate components.
US08242633B2 Power-failure protection circuit for non-volatile semiconductor storage devices and method for preventing unexpected power-failure using the same
A power failure protection circuit (10) for a non-volatile semiconductor storage device includes at least an energy storage unit (C1) that serves as a backup power supply for providing backup electrical energy when a power failure occurs. During normal operation of the device, a main control unit (12) is responsible for controlling an external power input to charge the energy storage unit, for dynamically detecting the status of the energy storage unit and for using information about the status to ensure sufficient backup electrical energy for the energy storage unit. During an abnormal operation of the power supply, the main control unit (12) is responsible for discharging the energy storage unit.
US08242623B2 Structural ring interconnect printed circuit board assembly for a ducted fan unmanned aerial vehicle
A structural ring interconnect printed circuit board assembly for a ducted fan unmanned aerial vehicle that comprises a printed circuit board attached to a core vehicle body, wherein the printed circuit board conforms to the shape of the core vehicle body's airframe skirt, and wherein the printed circuit board provides structural integrity to the core vehicle body.
US08242621B1 Energy-harvesting, self-propelled buoy
An energy-harvesting, self-propelled buoy includes a housing, an inertial power pump for converting wave motion to electrical energy, an electrical energy storage pod operably associated with the inertial power pump, and a propulsion unit for propelling the buoy. The inertial power pump is extensible from the housing.
US08242619B2 Coordinated control of power converter and pitch angle for wind turbine generation system
Provided is a wind power generation system intending to suppress an increase of torque when a voltage in a utility grid is restored, and to reduce a load to devices due to the torque. The blade control unit controls the pitch angle of the wind turbine blades such that a rotation speed of the power generator becomes equal to or greater than a synchronous rotation speed when the power control unit de-actuates the operations of the converter and the inverter, and controls the pitch angle of the wind turbine blades such that the pitch angle matches a target pitch angle that is determined based on one of a wind speed, a rotation speed of the power generator, and a requested output power when the power control unit re-actuates the operations of the converter and the inverter.
US08242614B2 Thermally improved semiconductor QFN/SON package
A semiconductor device without cantilevered leads uses conductive wires (120) to connect the chip terminals to the leads (110), and a package compound (140) to encapsulate the chip surface (101a) with the terminals, the wires, and the lead surfaces with the attached wires. The chip surface (101b) opposite the terminals together with portions (103) of the chip sidewalls protrude from the package, allowing an unimpeded thermal contact of the protruding chip surface to a substrate (201) to optimize the thermal flux from the chip to the substrate. Solder bodies (250) attached to the compound-free lead surfaces (113b) can be connected to the substrate so that the solder bodies are as elongated as the protruding chip height, facilitating the void-free distribution of an underfill compound into the space between chip and substrate, and improving the absorption of thermomechanical stresses during device operation.
US08242607B2 Integrated circuit package system with offset stacked die and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit package system comprises: providing a first integrated circuit die; attaching a second integrated circuit die over the first integrated circuit die and offset from the first integrated circuit die in substantially one dimension; forming an interdie layer over the second integrated circuit die; attaching a third integrated circuit die over the interdie layer and substantially aligned to the second integrated circuit die; and attaching a fourth integrated circuit die over the third integrated circuit die and offset from the third integrated circuit die in substantially the same magnitude and substantially the opposite direction as the second integrated circuit die to the first integrated circuit die.
US08242602B2 Composite solder TIM for electronic package
A method includes providing a mixture of molten indium and molten aluminum, and agitating the mixture while reducing its temperature until the aluminum changes from liquid phase to solid phase, forming particles distributed within the molten indium. Agitation of the mixture sufficiently to maintain the aluminum substantially suspended in the molten aluminum continues while further reducing the temperature of the mixture until the indium changes from a liquid phase to a solid phase. A metallic composition is formed, including indium and particles of aluminum suspended within the indium, the aluminum particles being substantially free from oxidation.The metallic (solder) composition can be used to form an assembly, including an integrated circuit (IC) device, at least a first thermal component disposed adjacent to the IC device, and a solder TIM interposed between and thermally coupled with each of the IC device and the first thermal component.
US08242600B2 Redundant metal barrier structure for interconnect applications
A redundant metal diffusion barrier is provided for an interconnect structure which improves the reliability and extendibility of the interconnect structure. The redundant metal diffusion barrier layer is located within an opening that is located within a dielectric material and it is between a diffusion barrier layer and a conductive material which are also present within the opening. The redundant diffusion barrier includes a single layered or multilayered structure comprising Ru and a Co-containing material including pure Co or a Co alloy including at least one of N, B and P.
US08242596B2 Method for efficiently producing removable peripheral cards
Improved techniques to produce integrated circuit products are disclosed. The improved techniques permit smaller and less costly production of integrated circuit products. One aspect of the invention is that the integrated circuit products are produced a batch at a time, and that singulation of the batch into individualized integrated circuit products uses a non-linear (e.g., non-rectangular or curvilinear) sawing or cutting action so that the resulting individualized integrated circuit packages no longer need to be completely rectangular. Another aspect of the invention is that the integrated circuit products can be produced with semiconductor assembly processing such that the need to provide an external package or container becomes optional.
US08242591B2 Electrostatic chucking of an insulator handle substrate
A back of a dielectric transparent handle substrate is coated with a blanket conductive film or a mesh of conductive wires. A semiconductor substrate is attached to the transparent handle substrate employing an adhesive layer. The semiconductor substrate is thinned in the bonded structure to form a stack of the transparent handle substrate and the semiconductor interposer. The thinned bonded structure may be loaded into a processing chamber and electrostatically chucked employing the blanket conductive film or the mesh of conductive wires. The semiconductor interposer may be bonded to a semiconductor chip or a packaging substrate employing C4 bonding or intermetallic alloy bonding. Illumination of ultraviolet radiation to the adhesive layer is enabled, for example, by removal of the blanket conductive film or through the mesh so that the transparent handle substrate may be detached. The semiconductor interposer may then be bonded to a packaging substrate or a semiconductor chip.
US08242588B2 Lead frame based ceramic air cavity package
A ceramic semiconductor package provides for being surface mounted on a printed circuit board or other mounting surface. A ceramic frame is directly attached to a lead frame to define a cavity in which the base of a semiconductor device is mounted to the portion of the lead frame exposed at the bottom of the cavity. Interface terminals of the semiconductor device are attached to electrical contacts on the ceramic frame inside the cavity. The ceramic package provides a hermetic insulated path through which the signals can be routed from the device to the external leads. Additionally, because the semiconductor device is directly attached to the lead frame, power dissipation, i.e., heat dissipation, is more effectively provided by this direct connection without intervening layers of ceramic or conductor.
US08242587B2 Electronic device and pressure sensor
An electronic device requires an electronic component to be mounted for the purpose of static shielding. The mounting of such an electronic component raises a problem of avoiding thermal stresses and cracks generated due to the difference between the coefficients of linear expansion of component materials. A positioning recess, a joining-substance thickness ensuring recess, a joining-substance thickness ensuring projection, etc. are formed in a combined manner in an electronic component mount portion of each of leads, whereby spreading of cracks generated in the joining substance can be suppressed and reliability can be improved. Filling a sealing material so as to seal and restrain the electronic component mounted in the electronic component mount portion without leaving voids contributes to further suppressing spreading of cracks generated in the joining substance and ensuring more improved reliability of the joining substance.
US08242585B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a semiconductor device formed over an insulating substrate, typically a semiconductor device having a structure in which mounting strength to a wiring board can be increased in an optical sensor, a solar battery, or a circuit using a TFT, and which can make it mount on a wiring board with high density, and further a method for manufacturing the same. According to the present invention, in a semiconductor device, a semiconductor element is formed on an insulating substrate, a concave portion is formed on a side face of the semiconductor device, and a conductive film electrically connected to the semiconductor element is formed in the concave portion.
US08242582B2 Semiconductor package and stacked semiconductor package having the same
A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip possessing a shape with corners and has a circuit section. The semiconductor chip has one or more chamfered portions which are formed in a first corner group that includes one or more of the corners. Data bonding pads are disposed on the semiconductor chip and are electrically connected to the circuit section. A chip selection pad is disposed adjacent to a second corner group that includes at least one of the corners which is not formed with a chamfered portion. The chip selection pad is electrically connected to the circuit section. A plurality of the semiconductor packages may be stacked so that the chip selection pad of one of the semiconductor packages is left exposed when another semiconductor package is stacked thereover due to the chamfered portion of the other semiconductor package.
US08242578B2 Anti-fuse device structure and electroplating circuit structure and method
Disclosed are embodiments of a circuit and method for electroplating a feature (e.g., a BEOL anti-fuse device) onto a wafer. The embodiments eliminate the use of a seed layer and, thereby, minimize subsequent processing steps (e.g., etching or chemical mechanical polishing (CMP)). Specifically, the embodiments allow for selective electroplating metal or alloy materials onto an exposed portion of a metal layer in a trench on the front side of a substrate. This is accomplished by providing a unique wafer structure that allows a current path to be established from a power supply through a back side contact and in-substrate electrical connector to the metal layer. During electrodeposition, current flow through the current path can be selectively controlled. Additionally, if the electroplated feature is an anti-fuse device, current flow through this current path can also be selectively controlled in order to program the anti-fuse device.
US08242577B2 Fuse of semiconductor device and method for forming the same
A fuse of a semiconductor device comprises: a first insulating film formed over a semiconductor substrate; a conductive pattern formed over the first insulating film; a fuse metal formed over the conductive pattern; a contact plug electrically coupling the conductive pattern and the fuse metal; and an energy absorbent pattern formed in the first insulating film and located below an area where the contact plug and the conductive pattern are interconnected. The fuse of the semiconductor device includes a void and a step difference in the lower portion of the contact connected to the fuse pattern. As a result, an energy of a laser applied in the blowing process is absorbed in the void or the step difference, which does not affect peripheral patterns, thereby preventing defects.
US08242576B2 Protection layer for preventing laser damage on semiconductor devices
A semiconductor structure prevents energy that is used to blow a fuse from causing damage. The semiconductor structure includes a device, guard ring, and at least one protection layer. The device is constructed on the semiconductor substrate underneath the fuse. The seal ring, which surrounds the fuse, is constructed on at least one metal layer between the device and the fuse for confining the energy therein. The protection layer is formed within the seal ring, on at least one metal layer between the device and the fuse for shielding the device from being directly exposed to the energy.
US08242574B2 Method for forming isolation layer of semiconductor device
A method for forming an isolation layer of a semiconductor device includes forming a trench in a substrate, forming a high-density plasma (HDP) oxide layer filling a portion of the trench, forming a spin-on-dielectric (SOD) oxide layer having a certain height over the HDP oxide layer, performing a thermal treatment, and forming an enhanced high-aspect-ratio process (eHARP) oxide layer filling another portion of the trench over the SOD oxide layer.
US08242573B2 Semiconductor device with isolation formed between digital circuit and analog circuit
There are provided a semiconductor device and a method of forming the same. The semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate including a digital circuit region and an analog circuit region, a device isolation layer on the boundary between the digital circuit region and the analog circuit region, a conductive region adjacent to the side surface and the bottom surface of the isolation layer, and a ground pad which is electrically connected to the conductive region and to which a ground voltage is applied.
US08242572B2 Semiconductor apparatus
A semiconductor apparatus includes, below a high-voltage wiring, a p− diffusion layer in contact with an n drain buffer layer and a p+ diffusion layer in contact with a p− diffusion layer for reducing the electric field strength in an insulator film, which the high-voltage wiring crosses over. Reducing electric field strength in the insulator film prevents lowering of breakdown voltage of a high-voltage NMOSFET, break down of an interlayer insulator film, and impairment of isolation breakdown voltage of a device isolation trench. The semiconductor apparatus according to the invention facilitates bridging a high-voltage wiring from a high-voltage NMOSFET and such a level-shifting device to a high-voltage floating region crossing over a device isolation trench without impairing the breakdown voltage of the high-voltage NMOSFET, without breaking down the interlayer insulator film and without impairing the isolation breakdown voltage of the device isolation trench.
US08242571B2 Waveguide photo-detector
Provided is a waveguide photodetector that may improve an operation speed and increase or maximize productivity. The waveguide photodetector includes a waveguide layer extending in a first direction, an absorption layer disposed on the waveguide layer, a first electrode disposed on the absorption layer, a second electrode disposed on the waveguide layer, the second electrode being spaced from the first electrode and the absorption layer in a second direction crossing the first direction, and at least one bridge electrically connecting the absorption layer to the second electrode.
US08242568B2 Semiconductor device and fabrication method thereof
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device having a Ge- or SiGe-fin structure includes a convex-shaped active area formed along one direction on the surface region of a Si substrate, a buffer layer of Si1-xGex (0
US08242564B2 Semiconductor device with photonics
A semiconductor structure having a transistor region and an optical device region includes a transistor in a first semiconductor layer of the semiconductor structure, wherein the first semiconductor layer is over a first insulating layer, the first insulating layer is over a second semiconductor layer, and the second semiconductor layer is over a second insulating layer. A gate dielectric of the transistor is in physical contact with a top surface of the first semiconductor layer, and the transistor is formed in the transistor region of the semiconductor structure. A waveguide device in the optical device region and a third semiconductor layer over a portion of the second semiconductor layer.
US08242563B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer overlapping with a gate electrode and having an impurity region outside a region which overlaps with the gate electrode; a first conductive layer which is provided on a side provided with the gate electrode of the semiconductor layer and partially in contact with the impurity region; an insulating layer provided over the gate electrode and the first conductive layer; and a second conductive layer which is formed in the insulating layer and in contact with the first conductive layer through an opening at least part of which overlaps with the first conductive layer.
US08242562B2 Film deposition apparatus
An object is to provide a film deposition apparatus in which the amount of leakage from the outside of the chamber to the inside of the chamber is reduced. Even if leakage occurs from the outside of the chamber to the inside of the chamber, oxygen and nitrogen included in an atmosphere that surrounds the outer wall of the chamber are reduced as much as possible and the atmosphere is filled with a noble gas or hydrogen, whereby the inside of the chamber is kept cleaner at 1/100 or less, preferably, 1/1000 or less of oxygen concentration and nitrogen concentration than those in the air. Since the space with high airtightness is provided adjacent to the outside of the chamber, the chamber is covered with a bag and a high-purity argon gas is supplied to the bag.
US08242561B2 Semiconductor devices with improved self-aligned contact areas
A field effect device includes a channel region disposed on a silicon on insulator (SOI) layer, a gate portion disposed on the channel region, a source region disposed on the SOI layer and connected to the channel region having a horizontal surface and a vertical surface, the vertical surface arranged perpendicular to a linear axis of the device, a silicide portion that includes the horizontal surface and vertical surface of the source region, a contact including a metallic material in contact with the horizontal surface and vertical surface of the source region, and a drain region connected to the channel region disposed on the SOI layer.
US08242555B2 FIN field effect transistor
Methods, devices and systems for a FinFET are provided. One method embodiment includes forming a FinFET by forming a relaxed silicon germanium (Si1-XGeX) body region for a fully depleted Fin field effect transistor (FinFET) having a body thickness of at least 10 nanometers (nm) for a process design rule of less than 25 nm. The method also includes forming a source and a drain on opposing ends of the body region, wherein the source and the drain are formed with halo ion implantation and forming a gate opposing the body region and separated therefrom by a gate dielectric.
US08242554B2 Integrated two device non-volatile memory
The non-volatile memory cell is comprised of the series integration of a fixed threshold element and a bistable element. The fixed threshold element is formed over a substrate with a gate insulator layer and an access gate having a nitride layer. The bistable element is formed adjacent to the fixed threshold element by a tunnel insulator over the substrate, a charge trapping layer over the tunnel insulator, a charge blocking layer over the trapping layer, and a control gate, having a nitride layer, over the charge blocking layer. In one embodiment, the gate insulator, tunnel insulator and charge trapping layers are all SiON with thicknesses that depend on the designed programming voltage. The control gate can be formed overlapping the access gate or the access gate can be formed overlapping the control gate.
US08242553B2 Thin film transistor substrate and thin film transistor used for the same
A thin film transistor (TFT) substrate includes first and second TFTs on the same substrate. The first TFT has a feature that a lower conductive layer or a bottom gate electrode layer is provided between the substrate and a first insulating layer while an upper conductive layer or a top gate electrode layer is disposed on a second insulating layer formed on a semiconductor layer which is formed on the first insulating layer. The first conductive layer has first and second areas such that the first area overlaps with the first conductive layer without overlapping with the semiconductor layer while the second area overlaps with the semiconductor layer, and the first area is larger than the second area while the second insulating layer is thinner than the first insulating layer. The second TFT has the same configuration as the first TFT except that the gate electrode layer is eliminated.
US08242549B2 Dynamic random access memory cell including an asymmetric transistor and a columnar capacitor
A semiconductor fin having a doping of the first conductivity type and a semiconductor column are formed on a substrate. The semiconductor column and an adjoined end portion of the semiconductor fin are doped with dopants of a second conductivity type, which is the opposite of the first conductivity type. The doped semiconductor column constitutes an inner electrode of a capacitor. A dielectric layer and a conductive material layer are formed on the semiconductor fin and the semiconductor column. The conductive material layer is patterned to form an outer electrode for the capacitor and a gate electrode. A single-sided halo implantation may be performed. Source and drain regions are formed in the semiconductor fin to form an access transistor. The source region is electrically connected to the inner electrode of the capacitor. The access transistor and the capacitor collectively constitute a DRAM cell.
US08242548B2 Solid-state imaging device, manufacturing method for the same, and imaging apparatus
A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel section including, in a semiconductor substrate, plural photoelectric conversion sections that photoelectrically convert incident light to generate signal charges; metal wirings formed, on a first insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate, above regions among the photoelectric conversion sections and above the periphery of the pixel section; a second insulating film formed on the first insulating film to cover the metal wirings; a first light shielding film formed on the second insulating film and having an opening above the pixel section; and a second light shielding film formed above the metal wirings above the pixel section and having thickness smaller than that of the first light shielding film.
US08242545B2 Device for detection of a gas or gas mixture and method for manufacturing such a device
A device for detecting a gas or gas mixture has a first and a second gas sensor. The first gas sensor is a MOSFET, which comprises a first source, a first drain, a first channel zone disposed between the latter elements, and a first gas sensitive layer capacitively coupled to the first channel zone that contains palladium and reacts to a change in the concentration of the gas to be detected with a change in its work function. The second gas sensor has, in a semiconductor substrate, a second source, a second drain, and a second channel zone between the latter elements, which is capacitively coupled via an air gap to a suspended gate. The latter comprises a second gas sensitive layer that reacts to a change in the concentration of the gas to be detected with a change in its work function. The second gas sensitive layer is arranged on a support layer and faces the air gap. The support layer is formed by another semiconductor substrate, and the first gas sensor is integrated in the front side of the second semiconductor substrate facing away from the air gap.
US08242544B2 Semiconductor structure having reduced amine-based contaminants
A method for reducing resist poisoning is provided. The method includes forming a first structure in a dielectric on a substrate and reducing amine related contaminants from the dielectric and the substrate created after the formation of the first structure. The method further includes forming a second structure in the dielectric. A first organic film may be formed on the substrate which is then heated and removed from the substrate to reduce the contaminant. Alternatively, a plasma treatment or cap may be provided. A second organic film is formed on the substrate and patterned to define a second structure in the dielectric.
US08242541B2 Semiconductor device
A technique which reduces the influence of external noise such as crosstalk noise in a semiconductor device to prevent a circuit from malfunctioning. A true signal wire and a bar signal wire which are susceptible to noise and part of an input signal line to a level shifter circuit, and shield wires for shielding these signal wires are laid on an I/O cell. Such I/O cells are placed side by side to complete a true signal wire connection and a bar signal wire connection. These wires are arranged in a way to pass over a plurality of I/O cells and are parallel to each other or multilayered.
US08242540B2 Epitaxial growth of III-V compound semiconductors on silicon surfaces
A device includes a silicon substrate, and a III-V compound semiconductor region over and contacting the silicon substrate. The III-V compound semiconductor region has a U shaped interface with the silicon substrate, with radii of the U shaped interface being smaller than about 1,000 nm.
US08242538B1 Method and device for growing pseudomorphic A1InAsSb on InAs
A semiconductor device and method are being disclosed. The semiconductor device discloses an InAs layer, a plurality of group III-V ternary layers supported by the InAs layer, and a plurality of group III-V quarternary layers supported by the InAs layer, wherein the group III-V ternary layers are separated from each other by a single group III-V quarternary layer. The method discloses providing an InAs layer, growing a plurality of group III-V ternary layers, and growing a plurality of group III-V quarternary layers, wherein the group III-V ternary layers are separated from each other by a single group III-V quarternary layer and are supported by the InAs layer.
US08242537B2 IGBT with fast reverse recovery time rectifier and manufacturing method thereof
An IGBT with a fast reverse recovery time rectifier includes an N-type drift epitaxial layer, a gate, a gate insulating layer, a P-type doped base region, an N-type doped source region, a P-type doped contact region, and a P-type lightly doped region. The P-type doped base region is disposed in the N-type drift epitaxial layer, and the P-type doped contact region is disposed in the N-type drift epitaxial layer. The P-type lightly doped region is disposed between the P-type contact doped region and the N-type drift epitaxial layer, and is in contact with the N-type drift epitaxial layer.
US08242536B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface. A main region and a sensing region are formed on the first surface side of the semiconductor substrate. A RC-IGBT is formed in the main region and a sensing element for passing electric currents proportional to electric currents flowing through the RC-IGBT is formed in the sensing region. A collector region and a cathode region of the sensing element are formed on the second surface side of the semiconductor substrate. The collector region is located directly below the sensing region in a thickness direction of the semiconductor substrate. The cathode region is not located directly below the sensing region in the thickness direction.
US08242533B2 Lateral Schottky diode
High- and low-side surface voltage sustaining regions are produced utilizing optimum surface variation lateral doping. Schottky junctions are formed by depositing metal (M) on an n-type region having the lowest potential, taking M as the anode AL or AH of the Schottky diode, and ohmic contact is formed at the portion having the highest potential, taken as the cathode KL or KH of the Schottky diode. The potentials refer to a reverse bias applied to the Schottky diode. Each voltage-sustaining region is isolated and can be divided into several sections with isolation region inserted between them. A Schottky diode is formed in each section and connected to each other in series. A lateral Schottky diode and an n-MOST can be formed within a single voltage-sustaining region. The source region and drain region are connected directly to the anode and cathode of the Schottky junction, respectively.
US08242532B2 Semiconductor light-emitting device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light-emitting device having high light extraction efficiency is provided. The semiconductor light-emitting device includes a light transmissive substrate; a nitride semiconductor layer of a first conduction type formed on or above a top face side of the light transmissive substrate; an active layer made of nitride semiconductor formed on a top face of the nitride semiconductor layer of the first conduction type; a nitride semiconductor layer of a second conduction type formed on a top face of the active layer; a dielectric layer formed on a bottom face of the light transmissive substrate and having a refractive index lower than that of the light transmissive substrate; and a metal layer formed on a bottom face of the dielectric layer. And an interface between the light transmissive substrate and the dielectric layer is a uneven face, and an interface between the dielectric layer and the metal layer is a flat face.
US08242526B2 Light-emitting semiconductor device and package thereof
The present application discloses a light-emitting semiconductor device including a semiconductor light-emitting element, a transparent paste layer and a wavelength conversion structure. A first light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting element enters the wavelength conversion structure to generate a second light which has a wavelength different from that of the first light. In addition, the present application also provides a light-emitting semiconductor device package.
US08242523B2 III-Nitride light-emitting diode and method of producing the same
Embodiments of the present invention provides III-nitride light-emitting diodes, which primarily include a first electrode, a n-type gallium nitride (GaN) nanorod array consisted of one or more n-type GaN nanorods ohmic contacting with the first electrode, one or more indium gallium nitride (InGaN) nanodisks disposed on each of the n-type GaN nanorods, a p-type GaN nanorod array consisted of one or more p-type GaN nanorods, where one p-type GaN nanorod is disposed on top of the one ore more InGaN nanodisks disposed on each of the n-type GaN nanorods, and a second electrode ohmic contacts with the p-type GaN nanorod array.
US08242522B1 Optical device structure using non-polar GaN substrates and growth structures for laser applications in 481 nm
An optical device. The optical device comprises a GaN substrate having a non-polar surface region, an n-type GaN cladding layer, an n-type SCH layer comprised of InGaN, a multiple quantum-well active region comprised of five InGaN quantum well layers separated by four InGaN barrier layers, a p-type guide layer comprised of GaN, an electron blocking layer comprised of AlGaN, a p-type GaN cladding layer, and a p-type GaN contact layer.
US08242521B2 Semiconductor light emitting device with light extraction structures
Structures are incorporated into a semiconductor light emitting device which may increase the extraction of light emitted at glancing incidence angles. In some embodiments, the device includes a low index material that directs light away from the metal contacts by total internal reflection. In some embodiments, the device includes extraction features such as cavities in the semiconductor structure which may extract glancing angle light directly, or direct the glancing angle light into smaller incidence angles which are more easily extracted from the device.
US08242519B2 Package structure of light emitting diode for backlight
A package structure of a light emitting diode for a backlight comprises a long-wavelength LED die and a short-wavelength LED die. The lights emitted from the two LED dies are mixed with the light emitted from excited fluorescent powders for serving as the backlight of a liquid crystal display. A partition plate is disposed between the two LED dies for separating them from each other. The effective light output of the package structure is increased because each of the two LED dies cannot absorb the light from the other.
US08242516B2 Organic EL display panel and method of manufacturing the same
An organic EL display panel is provided which includes: a substrate which includes a plurality of luminescent regions which are arranged side by side in a specific direction and run in parallel to one another; a bank formed over the substrate, the bank defining a plurality of coating regions in each of the luminescent regions, the coating regions being aligned in a row along the long axis of the luminescent region; and a pixel electrode provided in each of the coating regions, the pixel electrode having a long axis which is in parallel with the long axis of the luminescent region, wherein, in each of the luminescent regions, the coating region positioned at a lengthwise end of the luminescent region is larger in size than the coating region positioned at a lengthwise center of the luminescent region.
US08242515B2 Device containing non-blinking quantum dots
An optoelectronic device including two spaced apart electrodes; and at least one layer containing ternary core/shell nanocrystals disposed between the spaced electrodes and having ternary semiconductor cores containing a gradient in alloy composition and wherein the ternary core/shell nanocrystals exhibit single molecule non-blinking behavior characterized by on times greater than one minute or radiative lifetimes less than 10 ns.
US08242513B2 Method for growing semiconductor layer, method for producing semiconductor light-emitting element, semiconductor light-emitting element, and electronic device
Disclosed herein is a method for growing a semiconductor layer which includes the step of growing a semiconductor layer of hexagonal crystal structure having the (11-22) or (10-13) plane direction on the (1-100) plane of a substrate of hexagonal crystal structure.
US08242510B2 Monolithic integration of gallium nitride and silicon devices and circuits, structure and method
A structure and method for a semiconductor device includes a silicon device layer and a gallium nitride (GaN) device layer. In an embodiment, the silicon device layer and the GaN device layer have upper surfaces which are coplanar with each other. In another embodiment, the GaN device layer does not directly underlie the silicon device layer, and the silicon device layer does not directly underlie the GaN device layer. The semiconductor device can further include a silicon-based semiconductor device formed on and/or within the silicon device layer, and a nitride-based semiconductor device formed on and/or within the GaN device layer. The GaN device layer can include a plurality of layers which can be formed as conformal blanket layers and then planarized, or which can be selectively formed then planarized.
US08242504B2 Oxide semiconductor and thin film transistor including the same
An oxide semiconductor and a thin film transistor (TFT) including the same. The oxide semiconductor may be obtained by adding hafnium (Hf) to gallium-indium-zinc oxide (GIZO) and may be used as a channel material of the TFT.
US08242502B2 TFT array substrate having conductive layers containing molybdenum nitride and copper alloy
A TFT array substrate includes a substrate, at least one gate line and gate electrode, a gate insulating layer, and at least one channel component, source electrode, drain electrode and data line. The gate line and gate electrode are disposed on the substrate, wherein both of the gate line and gate electrode have first and second conductive layers, the first conductive layer is formed on the substrate, the first conductive layer contains molybdenum nitride, the second conductive layer is formed on the first conductive layer, and the second conductive layer contains copper. The gate insulating layer is disposed on the gate line, gate electrode and the substrate. The channel component is disposed on the gate insulating layer. The source electrode and drain electrode are disposed on the channel component, and data line is disposed on the gate insulating layer.
US08242497B2 Metal transistor device
The present invention is related to a depletion or enhancement mode metal transistor in which the channel regions of a transistor device comprises a thin film metal or metal composite layer formed over an insulating substrate.
US08242493B2 Organic photosensitive devices using subphthalocyanine compounds
An organic photosensitive optoelectronic device includes an anode, a cathode, and a donor-acceptor heterojunction between the anode and the cathode, the heterojunction including a donor-like material and an acceptor-like material, wherein at least one of the donor-like material and the acceptor-like material includes a subphthalocyanine, a subporphyrin, and/or a subporphyrazine compound, wherein the subporphyrin or subporphyrazine compound includes boron.