| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08249187B2 |
System, method and apparatus for mobile transmit diversity using symmetric phase difference
Communication is performed for a first communication device having a set of antenna elements. A quality-indication signal is received from a second communication device (e.g., a basestation). A complex weighting is calculated based on the quality-indication signal. A pre-transmission signal is modified based on the complex transmit diversity weighting to produce a set of modified-pre-transmission signals, wherein the modifications are symmetric by making approximately half the magnitude of the transmit diversity modification to one signal in a first direction, and approximately half the magnitude of the transmit diversity modification to the other signal in a second direction, opposite the first direction. Each modified pre-transmission signal from the set of modified-pre-transmission signals is uniquely associated with an antenna element from the set of antenna elements. The set of modified-pre-transmission signals is sent from the set of antenna elements to produce a transmitted signal. |
| US08249185B2 |
Systems for processing differentiated hierarchical modulation used in radio frequency communications
The present invention employs hierarchical modulation to simultaneously transmit data over different modulation layers using a carrier RF signal. Each modulation layer may be of a higher or lower order than the other modulation layers. Certain embodiments of the present invention may transmit different information on the different modulation layers. Other embodiments of the present invention may use the different layers for processing information differently. |
| US08249184B2 |
Content differentiated hierarchical modulation used in radio frequency communications
The present invention employs hierarchical modulation to simultaneously transmit data over different modulation layers using a carrier RF signal. Each modulation layer may be of a higher or lower order than the other modulation layers. Certain embodiments of the present invention may transmit different information on the different modulation layers. Other embodiments of the present invention may use the different layers for processing different information streams. |
| US08249182B2 |
Decoding circuit, decoding method, encoding circuit, and encoding method
A decoding circuit performs, with a single circuit, decoding in association with various image encoding systems. A pattern storing unit stores scan pattern data for a scan pattern, a control unit writes scan pattern data for supplied encoded data in the pattern storing unit, a pattern readout control unit reads out the scan pattern data stored in the pattern storing unit, a variable length decoding unit restores coefficient data from the supplied encoded data, and an inverse scan processing unit rearranges the restored coefficient data according to the scan pattern data read out from the pattern storing unit. |
| US08249180B2 |
Receiving apparatus, receiving method, and program
A receiving apparatus is disclosed which includes a reception device configured to receive a signal modulated through Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing known as OFDM; and a detection device configured to detect whether or not spectrum inversion has occurred in the OFDM-modulated signal by use of a spectrum inversion presence signal obtained by inverting a subcarrier position of a known signal included in the OFDM-modulated signal. |
| US08249178B2 |
Multicarrier transmitter and multicarrier receiver
Provided are a multicarrier transmitter and a multicarrier receiver which accelerate cell search and reduce a circuit scale by reducing the operation quantity for cell search. The transmitter (100) has: a real number SCH series generation part (105) which generates a real number series consisting of only real number signals; an SCH multiplexing part (104) which maps the real number series as a P-SCH; and an IFFT part (106) which converts a frequency signal to a time signal. By doing like this, the transmitter (100) forms a time-synchronous P-SCH, and performs transmission. Thus, a correlation operation quantity about the P-SCH on a reception side is reduced. |
| US08249177B2 |
Detection of frame marker quality
For example, a method of detecting frame marker quality includes: detecting, in a bit-stream sent from a first component to a second component of a common hardware unit, a frame marker having a bit pattern different from an uncorrupted frame marker specified by a communication protocol; and assigning a quality level indicator to the frame marker based on a difference between said bit pattern and a bit pattern of said uncorrupted frame marker. |
| US08249175B2 |
Communication device, multi carrier transmission system, communication method, and recording medium
The present invention provides a communication device that may suppress unnecessary break points. A communication device 200 includes a noise measuring unit 205 that measures noise occurring on a communication line 300; a communication controlling unit 202 that adjusts an SNR value of a transmission signal based on the noise measured in the noise measuring unit 205 and carries out a communication; a virtual noise determining unit 206 that determines the amount of virtual noise applied to some noise and stores the determined amount of noise in a memory unit 204; and a virtual noise applying unit 207 that applies the amount of noise stored in the memory unit 204 to the noise, wherein the virtual noise determining unit 206 dynamically divides a frequency band and determines the amount of noise of the divided frequency band as the amount of virtual noise. |
| US08249173B2 |
Apparatus for performing loop-filtering on four successive pixels of an image
In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a decoder configured to obtain quantization information of a first block, obtain a block type of the first block, and compare the quantization information and a threshold value. Loop-filtering is performed by the decoder 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. |
| US08249171B2 |
MPEG-2 transport stream packet synchronizer
A data synchronizer that receives an input stream of asynchronous digital data in packets, and provides an output stream of synchronous data in packets. The synchronizer includes a first memory unit and a second memory unit, each having a data input, a data output, a write clock input and a read clock input. A first switch is provided for switching connection of the input in alternating manner between the first memory unit input and the second memory unit input, and a second switch is provided for switching connection of the data synchronizer output in alternating manner between the first memory unit output and the second memory unit output. A write clock is provided to write clock inputs of the first and second memory units. The average data rate of the received valid data during the reception of the packet is determined, and a read clock is generated and provided to the first and second memory units at a rate corresponding to the average data rate of the received valid data bits during the reception of the packet being read. The switching of the first and second switches is controlled such that the switches switch between adjacent packets, with the second switch switching in opposite phase to that of the first switch. |
| US08249170B2 |
Method and apparatus for packet loss detection and virtual packet generation at SVC decoders
Packetized video data with a base-layer and at least one enhancement-layer organized in a GOP structure may contain packet loss errors. A method for detecting such errors includes the steps of reading header information relating to a layer, generating a scheme or selecting a predefined scheme according to the header information. The scheme can be made up of a display order number, and/or a number of reference frames and temporal level for the frames of the respective layer. The method can then extract from received video data frames the display order number, and/or the number of reference frames and temporal level parameters, and detect that one or more frames or packets are missing. The received parameters are compared with the parameters of expected frames according to the scheme and a missing packet or frame is determined by a mismatch between received and expected parameters. |
| US08249168B2 |
Multi-instance video encoder
A system and method are disclosed for providing improved processing of video data. A multi-instance encoding module receives combined video and audio input, which is then separated into a video and audio source streams. The video source stream is pre-processed and corresponding video encoder instances are initiated. The preprocessed video source stream is split into video data components, which are assigned to a corresponding encoder instance. Encoding operations are performed by each video encoder instance to generate video output components. The video output components are then assembled in a predetermined sequence to generate an encoded video output stream. Concurrently, the audio source stream is encoded with an audio encoder to generate an encoded audio output stream. The encoded video and audio output streams are combined to generate a combined encoded output stream, which is provided as combined video and audio output. |
| US08249160B2 |
Extracting multiple classified adaptive decimation filters
A plurality of initial decimation filters are concatenated into an initial combined decimation filter. The initial decimation filters are assigned to a plurality of classes which associate the initial decimation filters with regions of an image to be predicted. An input signal is generated from the initial combined decimation filter and is weighted with a plurality of prediction filters. A correlation matrix and an observation vector are generated for the initial combined decimation filter from the input signal. An optimized combined decimation filter is extracted from the correlation matrix and observation vector. The optimized filter comprises a plurality of optimized decimation filters. The optimized combined decimation filter is de-concatenated into the plurality of optimized decimation filters. |
| US08249159B2 |
Scalable video coding with grid motion estimation and compensation
A scalable coder having a grid motion estimation and compensation module (110), a motion compensation temporal filtering module (105), a scalable coding module (115), a discrete transformation module (120), and a packetization module (135). The grid-motion estimation and compensation module (110) outputs a scalable motion vector from the source video data, supplied resolution and bit rate parameters. The motion compensation temporal filtering module (105) generates, from the source video data and the scalable motion vector, a residual image corresponding to the difference between the present and previous image frames. The scalable coding module (115) is coupled to receive and encode the scalable motion vector. The discrete transformation module (120) is configured to receive and domain transform the supplied video to a sequence of coefficients. The packetization module is coupled to the scalable coding module (115) and the discrete transformation module (120), and is operable to combine the encoded scalable motion vector and the sequence of coefficients into a packet. |
| US08249158B2 |
Interpolation of video compression frames
Coding techniques for a video image compression system involve improving an image quality of a sequence of two or more bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames, where each of the frames includes multiple pixels. One method involves determining a brightness value of at least one pixel of each bi-directionally predicted intermediate frame in the sequence as an equal average of brightness values of pixels in non-bidirectionally predicted frames bracketing the sequence of bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames. The brightness values of the pixels in at least one of the non-bidirectionally predicted frames is converted from a non-linear representation. |
| US08249157B2 |
Method of decoding a macroblock based on a macroblock level of the macroblock
In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining a reference frame picture list including multiple reference frame pictures and determining reference frame picture index of the multiple reference frame pictures in the reference frame picture list based on display order information for the multiple reference frame pictures. The method further includes obtaining motion vector information for the current field macroblock and obtaining a reference field picture index associated with the current field macroblock. A reference field picture having a same parity as the current field macroblock is selected if the reference field picture index is an even value. The current macroblock is decoded based on the motion vector information and the selected reference field picture. |
| US08249156B2 |
Method of decoding a macroblock based on a macroblock level of the macroblock
In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining a reference frame picture list including multiple reference frame pictures and determining reference frame picture index of the multiple reference frame pictures in the reference frame picture list based on display order information for the multiple reference frame pictures. Motion vector information for the current field macroblock and a reference field picture index associated with the current field marcoblock are obtained. A reference field picture having a different parity from the current field macroblock is selected if the reference field picture index is an odd value. The current macroblock is decoded based on the motion vector information and the selected reference field picture. |
| US08249155B2 |
Transcoder, recorder, and transcoding method
A transcoder for decoding a motion picture stream encoded by using a first coding scheme, which provides intraframe coding and interframe predictive coding, and encoding the decoded motion picture stream by using a second coding scheme, the transcoder including: at decoder for decoding an input motion picture stream and detecting sub-information indicating whether an intraframe coding scheme or an interframe predictive coding scheme is used; and an encoder for changing the frame to be referenced at the time of coding depending on whether the sub-information indicates the use of the intraframe coding scheme or the interframe predictive coding scheme. |
| US08249153B2 |
Distributed synchronized video viewing and editing
A single composite stream of data is streamed to a user's terminal and displayed in two separate viewers. This composite stream embeds a series of substreams that are views of the same event, taken from different point of views. A first viewer, the global viewer, displays the entire composite stream of data, thus displays the n substreams the composite stream may contain. The second viewer, the focus viewer, displays only part of the composite stream in order to display the substream currently selected by the user. While the stream is played back, the user may interact with an external application's user interface to select which of the n embedded streams he wants to be displayed in the focus viewer, thus creating a cut. The series of cuts created by the user is stored internally for playback management. The user may export the series of cuts he created in an editing file (EDL formatted, for instance, without being restricted to) that can be loaded into a professional editing application. This professional editing application will then be used to create the final version of the clip. |
| US08249149B2 |
Apparatus for filtering a pixel using a filtering coefficient
In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a decoder configured to obtain a pixel value difference between two successive pixels. The two successive pixels are on a block boundary. The decoder is configured to calculate the filtering coefficient based on the pixel value difference, and obtain four successive filtered pixel values based on the filtering coefficient. The four successive pixels include the two successive pixels used in the obtaining a pixel value difference, and two of the four successive pixels are included in a first block and two of the four successive pixels are included in a second block. |
| US08249147B2 |
Image decoding device, image decoding method, and image decoding program
The present invention is directed to an image decoding apparatus adapted for decoding information obtained by implementing inverse quantization and inverse orthogonal transform to image compressed information in which an input image signal is blocked to implement orthogonal transform thereto on the block basis so that quantization is performed with respect thereto, which comprises a reversible decoder (12) for decoding quantized and encoded transform coefficients, an inverse quantizer (13) indicating, as a flag, in inverse-quantizing transform coefficients which have been decoded by the reversible decoder (12), existence of each transform coefficient every processing block of inverse quantization, and an inverse transform element (14) for changing inverse transform processing to be implemented to inverse quantization transform coefficients within processing block by using the flag which has been indicated by the inverse-quantizer (13). |
| US08249146B2 |
Method for selecting content adaptive coding mode
A method for selecting content adaptive coding mode can apply a critical value to update by taking the advantages of a content adaptive MCTF update method and a covered pixel detection algorithm and, at the same time, improve the image quality by selecting a block having improper motion information and converting it into a coding in screen mode. The method also provides a method for selecting content adaptive coding mode that can improve the conventional MCTF algorithm by reusing JND, which is used in content adaptive MCTF, to find a block that has improper coding information and selecting a block that has improper motion information. |
| US08249144B2 |
Distributed transcoding
A method of delivering a video stream, including encoding a video stream into a first encoded stream and selecting encoding parameter values for subsequent transcoding the first encoded stream into a specific second encoded stream. Furthermore, the method includes transmitting the first encoded stream with the selected encoding parameter values to a transcoder over a standard communication network, transcoding the first encoded stream into a second encoded stream having the selected parameter values and forwarding the second encoded stream. |
| US08249143B2 |
System and method for allocating bitstream of scalable video coding
The present invention provides a system for allocating a bitstream of scalable video coding (SVC). The system includes an adapter and an extractor. The adapter is employed for receiving a bitstream produced by a video encoder and producing an extracting parameter of the bitstream according to the feature of a bitstream parameter in the bitstream content. The extractor is employed for extracting and allocating the bitstream according to the above-mentioned extracting parameter. In this way, the present invention is able to achieve the maximum usage efficiency of bandwidth and the optimum frame quality. |
| US08249141B1 |
Method and system for managing bandwidth based on intraframes
A method and system of managing QoS for a plurality of video capture devices coupled to a common communication link. A CU coupled between the video capture devices and the communication link may provide each video capture device a respective level of QoS over the communication link. The CU may then receive a video stream from a given video capture device. Thereafter, the CU may detect a predefined minimum threshold rate of intraframes in the video stream and responsively adjust QoS over the communication link to increase a respective level of QoS provided to the given video capture device. In turn, the CU may send the video stream over the communication link with the increased respective level of QoS. Subsequently, the CU may adjust QoS over the communication link to decrease a respective level of QoS provided to the given video capture device. |
| US08249138B2 |
Symbol analyzing device, symbol analyzing method, and information storage medium
To provide a symbol analyzing device capable of carrying out post hoc analysis of the meaning of a symbol used in communications. The symbol analyzing device comprises a symbol acquiring section (14) for acquiring, for each of the plurality of communications (for example, a message), one or more symbols (for example, a word) used in the communications; a first symbol position coordinates calculating section (16) for calculating position coordinates of each symbol in a first space having coordinate axes each corresponding to each of the plurality of communications; a similarity matrix calculating section (18) and an eigenvalue/eigenvector calculating section (20) for calculating one or more characteristic directions in the first space based on the position coordinates calculated by the first symbol position coordinates calculating section (16); and a second symbol position coordinates calculating section (22) for calculating position coordinates of each symbol in a second space having coordinate axes each corresponding to each of the characteristic directions, based on the characteristic directions calculated and the position coordinates calculated by the first symbol position coordinates calculating section (16). |
| US08249137B2 |
In-situ jitter tolerance testing for serial input output
According to some embodiments, a method and apparatus are provided to generate a sine wave via a jitter modulator to modulate a control voltage of a clock source. The jitter modulator is in-situ on a die. The sine wave is received at a clock and data recovery circuit comprising the clock source. The clock and data recovery circuit is in-situ on the die. |
| US08249136B2 |
Adaptive frequency selective baseband communications method using orthogonal codes
An adaptive frequency selective baseband communications method using orthogonal codes includes: a communications testing step of performing communications by using one of a plurality of codes each having a different frequency band; a proper code selecting step of selecting a proper code by using a correlation value of a plurality of codes included in test data transmitted in the communications testing step; a communications performing step of performing communications by using the proper code; and a feedback step of newly selecting a proper code by using the correlation value of the plurality of codes included in the test data transmitted in the communications performing step if a pre-set time duration has lapsed or if a reception error of more than a pre-set reference occurs, and performing the communications performing step again, wherein the test data transmitted in the communications testing step and the communications performing step includes a plurality of codes each having a different frequency band. |
| US08249129B2 |
Wideband frequency hopping spread spectrum transmitters and related methods
Systems and methods are disclosed that provide ultra-wideband frequency hopping spread spectrum (UWB-FHSS) solutions for transmit and receive architectures. These UWB-FHSS transmit and receive architectures can transmit signals over an extremely wide bandwidth while using a relatively slow analog-to-digital converter (ADC) without suffering from unacceptable performance degradation. For example, ADCs can be used having sample rates lower than standard Nyquist criteria would require for the bandwidth of the spread spectrum utilized. |
| US08249123B2 |
Surface emitting laser
The present invention provides a surface emitting laser having a novel structure which eliminates necessity to provide a low refractive index medium at an interface of a photonic crystal layer on the side of a substrate. A multilayer mirror (1300), an active layer (1200), and a refractive index periodic structure layer (1020) whose refractive index changes periodically are laminated in a direction perpendicular to a substrate (1500). The refractive index periodic structure layer is structured so as to separate a light having a wavelength λ perpendicularly incident on the refractive index periodic structure into at least a transmitted light and a diffracted light. The multilayer mirror is structured so as to have a reflectance with regard to the diffracted light higher than a reflectance with regard to the transmitted light. A resonant mode is realized within a waveguide including the refractive index periodic structure layer and the multilayer mirror. |
| US08249117B2 |
Dynamic adjustment of reordering release timer
Aspects describe dynamically adjusting a reordering release timer to mitigate latency in a MAC-hs queue. Information already available at a mobile device is utilized for current packets and for missing packets to dynamically adjust the value of the T1 timer in an effort to mitigate latency. Further, the network might provide information regarding HARQ attempts, which mobile device can utilize for computing the dynamic value of the T1 timer. The network might signal the amount of time the mobile device should subtract from timer T1 for every HARQ transmission. Further, the T1 timer might only be dynamically adjusted for a subset of radio bearers. |
| US08249116B2 |
Methods and systems for timing acquisition robust to channel fading
The embodiments provide mechanisms for synchronizing a receiver with OFDM pilots that are robust in the presence of channel fading conditions. In addition to using instantaneous channel estimate values to locate the first arriving path and last arriving path, the methods calculate time-domain averaged channel estimate values and use those averaged values to determine an average first arriving path and last arriving path. A combination of the instantaneous first arriving path and last arriving path and the average first arriving path and last arriving path may then be used to determine the delay spread and calculate a timing offset to be applied in timing synchronization. The various embodiments introduce improvements under channel fading conditions. Time-domain averaging may be embodied in a flexible DSP processor, or implemented in hardware and/or software. Using both instantaneous and time-averaged channel estimates greatly improves the robustness of time synchronization under channel fading conditions. |
| US08249115B2 |
Slave device, time synchronization method in slave device, master device, and electronic equipment system
A slave device includes: a clock unit that is configured by a counter so as to output time information; a clock generation unit that generates clocks for counting up the counter; a message receiving unit that receives messages sent from a master device; a message sending unit that sends messages to the master device; a first calculation unit that calculates a first value necessary for correcting the time on the clock unit; a first correction unit that corrects the time on the clock unit based on the first value calculated by the first calculation unit; a second calculation unit that calculates a second value necessary for correcting a frequency of the clocks generated by the clock generation unit; and a second correction unit that corrects the frequency of the clocks generated by the clock generation unit based on the second value calculated by the second calculation unit. |
| US08249113B2 |
Method and system for providing faster channel switching in a digital broadcast system
Methods, apparatuses, and systems are presented for switching between channels of encoded media data involving receiving encoded media data including reference frames and dependent frames for a plurality of channels, wherein each dependent frame refers to at least one reference frame. Frames associated with a first channel from the plurality of channels are decoded to generate a decoded signal for the first channel. While decoding frames associated with the first channel, data corresponding to at least one reference frame associated with a second channel from the plurality of channels are stored. In response to a control signal for switching from the first to the second channel, at least one dependent frame associated with the second channel is decoded by utilizing the stored data corresponding to the at least one reference frame associated with the second channel, to generate a decoded signal for the second channel. |
| US08249111B2 |
Apparatus and method for coding an information signal into a data stream, converting the data stream and decoding the data stream
More customization and adaptation of coded data streams may be achieved by processing the information signal such that the various syntax structures obtained by pre-coding the information signal are placed into logical data packets, each of which being associated with a specific data packet type of a predetermined set of data packet types, and by defining a predetermined order of data packet types within one access unit of data packets. The consecutive access units in the data stream may, for example, correspond to different time portions of the information signal. By defining the predetermined order among the data packet types it is possible, at decoder's side, to detect the borders between successive access units even when removable data packets are removed from the data stream on the way from the data stream source to the decoder without incorporation of any hints into the reminder of the data stream. Due to this, decoders surely detect the beginnings and endings of access units and therefore are not liable to a buffer overflow despite a removal of data packets from the data stream before arrival at the decoder. |
| US08249110B2 |
Apparatus and method for coding an information signal into a data stream, converting the data stream and decoding the data stream
More customization and adaptation of coded data streams may be achieved by processing the information signal such that the various syntax structures obtained by pre-coding the information signal are placed into logical data packets, each of which being associated with a specific data packet type of a predetermined set of data packet types, and by defining a predetermined order of data packet types within one access unit of data packets. The consecutive access units in the data stream may, for example, correspond to different time portions of the information signal. By defining the predetermined order among the data packet types it is possible, at decoder's side, to detect the borders between successive access units even when removable data packets are removed from the data stream on the way from the data stream source to the decoder without incorporation of any hints into the reminder of the data stream. Due to this, decoders surely detect the beginnings and endings of access units and therefore are not liable to a buffer overflow despite a removal of data packets from the data stream before arrival at the decoder. |
| US08249108B2 |
Frame generating method
A frame generating device includes an inserting portion and an accommodating portion. The inserting portion inserts a first fixed stuff byte and a second fixed stuff byte into a payload area of an OTU frame, the first fixed stuff byte being of (8+10n (“n” is zero or a given positive integer))×4 rows, the second fixed stuff byte being of a given byte×4 rows, the given byte being equal to zero or more and being equal to (24−10n) or more. The accommodating portion accommodates Ethernet signal in the payload area other than the first fixed stuff byte and the second fixed stuff byte. |
| US08249105B2 |
Method for aggregating frames in a wireless communication network
A dynamic and distributive aggregation method in which a node determines the frame size of an aggregated frame based on or according to a transmission time of one or more of the received frames. This scheme to aggregate frames is based on the average packet size and average transmission time in the neighborhood. The method enables the aggregated packet size to dynamically change based on the neighborhood conditions. Usage of link rates and fair transmission time assignment enables the high data rate nodes to send more traffic but not to an extent of over-utilizing the channel thus achieving higher throughput efficiencies while maintaining fairness within a high data rate multi-hop wireless communication network. |
| US08249103B2 |
Method for transmitting and receiving control data in mobile telecommunications system and transmitter and receiver of mobile telecommunications
A method for transmitting and receiving control data of a PDCP layer, a transmitting apparatus and a receiving apparatus in a mobile communication system are disclosed. Several control information (e.g., information regarding a status report and information about an HC feedback) are simultaneously transmitted through a single control PDU, so the size of headers can be reduced, compared with the case where each control information is transmitted through each control PDU from a transmitting side to a receiving side, thus improving transmission efficiency and efficiency of resources. |
| US08249101B2 |
Mobile ad hoc network configured as a virtual internet protocol network
According to one embodiment, a method for facilitating communication of a MANET is provided. A MANET may include a plurality of nodes configured as a virtual IP network. The virtual IP network may comprise a plurality of physical paths of the MANET. The physical paths may couple an IP network to an IP node. Each physical path may traverse a distinct set of nodes of the MANET. The physical paths may be represented to the IP network as a logical path comprising one or more virtual IP nodes. |
| US08249100B2 |
Method and arrangement for providing duplex communications between a client application and a service using an http request/reply channel
A method includes providing at a first computer an application generating service requests at a duplex channel interface, at least a first service request requesting multiple subsequent data responses from a service located on a second computer. The method also includes employing a first process to convert the first service request into a first http request and transmitting the first http request over a network. The method further includes employing the first process to generate a second http request in the form of a polling request. A context reply to the second http request containing data responsive to the first service request is received. The method alsod includes providing the data response to the first service request to the duplex channel interface. |
| US08249098B2 |
Communication device and communication method thereof with allocation processing
A first control data generation unit configured to generate first control data, a control data allocation processing unit configured to perform allocation processing for the first control data in order to reserve an area for the first control data in a frame memory, a data write control unit configured to write user data in an area in the frame memory except the area where the allocation processing is performed, and a transmission unit configured to transmit transmission data based on the data written in the frame memory are included, and the data write control unit writes the generated first control data in the area where the allocation processing is performed in the frame memory after generation of the first control data and after the allocation processing of the first control data and after writing the user data and before the transmission data is transmitted. |
| US08249095B2 |
Communication device and method for improved synchronous data transmission
Disclosed is a method and device for transmitting data between at least two transmitters and a receiver which are connected to a bus. A synchronization signal is applied to the bus and a number of data volume counters corresponding to the number of transmitters reduced by one is set to a predefined initial value. A first transmitter transmits in the form of data elements a predefined data volume allocated to the transmitter over the bus to the receiver. The data volume values of the other transmitters are selected so that only one transmitter at any given time simultaneously transmits on the bus. |
| US08249094B2 |
Wireless MAC and link-layer simulation modeling
Simulation models of media access control and physical layer characteristics facilitate the simulation/emulation of a variety of phenomena that affect transmissions via a wireless media. Such phenomena include media access contention delays, packet drops, and retransmissions that are generally dependent upon changes in transmitter/receiver locations. Each wireless environment is characterized by a model of the communication channel that characterizes transmission effects based on the number of competing transmitters in the environment, which is dynamically determined based on the location of each node in the environment. Additionally, the location of nodes is used to simulate the effects of ‘hidden nodes’, nodes that are unknown to a transmitting node but can interfere with the reception of transmissions at a receiving node. Each device/node model in the wireless environment preferably accesses the same model of the communication channel, thereby minimizing the amount of detail required at each device model. |
| US08249090B2 |
Wireless communication system and method of conducting wireless communication
A wireless communication system includes a plurality of base stations, a mobile wireless communication device which makes wireless communication with the base stations, a terminal device, and a router through which the base stations make communication with an IP network. The terminal device transmits an address thereof to the mobile wireless communication device, before the mobile wireless communication device makes link with one of the base stations. The terminal device fabricates a frame addressed to an address of the router, and transmits the frame to the router, after the mobile wireless communication device has made link with one of the base stations. The router transmits an address thereof to the base stations, before the mobile wireless communication device makes link with one of the base stations. The router fabricates a frame addressed to an address of the terminal device, and transmits the frame to the terminal device, after the mobile wireless communication device has made link with one of the base stations. |
| US08249083B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program for processing a message using a message processing node
There is disclosed a method, apparatus and computer program product for processing a message using a message processing node. A message is received at the message processing node and at least one parameter value is extracted from the message. An attempt is made to select a node from a library of pre-configured nodes by using the at least one parameter value and the message is processed using the selected node. In attempting to select a node, an attempt is made to locate a pre-configured node that is appropriate for the message received and responsive to being unable to locate such a pre-configured node, a new node is configured using any parameter values extracted from the message. |
| US08249082B2 |
System method for a communications access network
A system and method are provided for providing access communications between customer locations and a core network service edge. Access flows are handled as carrier-tagged flows through a packet switched network comprising network elements that interpret and manipulate carrier tag values associated with traffic-bearing data frames. |
| US08249081B2 |
Dynamic virtual private network (VPN) resource provisioning using a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server, a domain name system (DNS) and/or static IP assignment
A method of provisioning resources, which includes hosting at least one resource at a first site. A secure connection is established between the first site and a second site, and a listing of available resources is exported to the second site. The second site publishes the listing of available resources to at least one client and at least one resource from the first site to second site is provisioned by providing the at least one client with an IP address of the at least one resource. |
| US08249079B2 |
Method and system for caching IP network topology
In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a system for caching network traffic includes an interface configured to receive traffic from a plurality of nodes communicating in a network, a processor coupled to the interface and configured to identify each of the plurality of nodes communicating in the network, and a database. The database includes a node object dimension table that includes an entry for each identified node. Each entry in the node object dimension table includes a node identification and an address for locating the node in the network. The database also includes a communication fact table that includes an entry for each communication in the network. Each entry in the communication fact table includes a source node identification that includes the node identification for the source node, a communication identification, and a destination node identification that includes the node identification for the destination node. |
| US08249073B2 |
Method and system for forwarding and switching over protected paths
In one embodiment, a method for telecommunications includes steps of receiving a first packet through a first port, and determining whether the first packet arrived over a protected path. If the first packet arrived over a protected path, the method also includes the steps of hashing a source address of the first packet, adding a first entry into a forwarding table, and adding a second entry into the forwarding table. The protected path is coupled to at least the first port and a second port. The first entry includes the result of hashing the packet, and an identification of the first port. The second entry includes the result of hashing the packet, and an identification of the second port. |
| US08249068B2 |
Method and apparatus for establishing multicast groups
The invention includes a method and apparatus for dynamically establishing a multicast group. The method includes receiving, from a first user device, a request to establish a multicast group including a plurality of parameters adapted for establishing the multicast group, obtaining a multicast address for the multicast group, and establishing the multicast group using the assigned multicast address and the parameters. The parameters include at least one multicast group definition parameter and at least one multicast session description parameter. The multicast address and at least a portion of the parameters are adapted for being provided to a second user device to enable the second user device to dynamically join the multicast group. |
| US08249059B2 |
Method for performing gate coordination on a per-call basis
Network resources for a call between a calling party and a called party are allocated. The network resources for the call are reserved based on a reservation request. The network resources are reserved before any one network resource from the reserved network resources is committed. The reserved network resources for the call are committed when a called party indicates acceptance for the call. |
| US08249056B2 |
Converged telephone number mapping for call completion among hybrid communication services
System(s) and method(s) are provided for enabling routing and call completion among hybrid communication services. A client component receives a request to establish a call session, the request includes a service identifier tag that uniquely discloses a requested communication service. Client component validates the tag, and generates a query that is conveyed to a server, which supplies a set of Naming Authority Pointer (NAPTR) resource records (RRs) in response to query. The client component receives the set of NAPTR RRs; validates received Telephone Number Mapping (ENUM) embedded service and protocol identifiers associated with the NAPTR RRs; and associates the received tag with a matching NAPTR RR to route the call session and complete the call. Configurable logic that dictates association of the service identifier tag with a NAPTR RR also can enable routing and call completion when the tag is unavailable. A device that exploits service identifier tag is provided. |
| US08249054B2 |
Provision of packet-based services via circuit-switched access
The present invention proposes a solution for providing IMS services and in particular mid-call services to users having circuit-switched controlled terminals and being not adapted to provide IMS services to the users. In particular, it is proposed to introduce a new node type called Mobile Access Gateway Control Function (MAGCF). This new node combines the logical functionality of a cellular switching center and the logical functionality of packet-based logic. The invention discusses a concept of the MAGCF handling mid-calls, which comprises identification of the received mid-call request, generating in accordance to the identified mid-call a corresponding message, tracking the status of the performed mid-calls. |
| US08249043B2 |
Method of data transmission in a multi-carrier based transmission system and device implementing the method
The invention concerns multi-carrier based digital telecommunication systems where the channel is used to transport several data streams according to the frequency division multiple access scheme.The proposed method concerns a mapping of data on physical resource in a transmission system where data of elementary streams is distributed over several physical resource blocks, and within each resource block in order to get data from a plurality of elementary streams on at least one sub-carrier and at least a symbol time of each physical resource block. This allows to achieve a good diversity of the allocation of the different streams, leading to the advantage, among others, that poor transmission conditions affecting a particular sub-carrier or a particular time duration, will not concentrate its effects on a particular stream. |
| US08249040B2 |
Device and method for exchanging frame messages of different lengths in CDMA communication system
In a transmission device and method for a CDMA communication system, when a shorter frame message is generated during transmission of a longer frame message, the transmission of the longer frame message is interrupted, whereupon the shorter frame message is immediately transmitted in place of a portion of the longer frame message. In one embodiment, after the longer frame message is interrupted and the shorter frame message is transmitted, only the tail portion of the longer frame message is transmitted thereafter. That is, the replaced portion of the longer frame message is not transmitted following the shorter frame message transmission. In an alternative embodiment, following the shorter frame message transmission, the remainder of the longer frame message, from the point of interruption, is transmitted in its entirety. In the latter case, the longer frame message is delayed by the length of the shorter frame message. |
| US08249037B2 |
Sleep-state for mobile terminal and service initiation for mobile terminals in sleep-state
The invention relates to the initiation of a service to a mobile terminal capable of communicating via at least a first and second access network. Further, the invention relates to a reduction of power consumption of mobile terminals supporting connectivity to at least two access networks. The invention also relates to mobile communication systems and in particular to mobile communications through heterogeneous access networks. In order to prove improved method for initiating services to mobile terminals and/or to reduce power consumption of mobile terminals, the invention introduces of a sleep state that can be entered by the terminal for an access system if same is not used. Upon requesting a service from/to the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal starts service initiation through a second access system and transits back to active state for the first access system for service provision. |
| US08249034B2 |
Wireless communication terminal, air interface apparatus and method for participating in wireless network
A game device is provided with a processor and an air interface apparatus. In a wireless communication environment such as that of IEEE802.11, a CPU of the air interface apparatus selects, in a search process, an SSID that includes at least in a portion thereof a predetermined pattern. Network information including the selected SSID is retained in a memory unit as a BSS list registering wireless networks that are targets, for connection. The processor refers to the BSS list and determines a wireless network to participate in. |
| US08249030B2 |
Adapting TXOP requests for multi-radio platforms
A first radio in a wireless network may request a transmit opportunity (TXOP) of a certain duration, with the duration being based a likelihood that a TXOP of that duration would cause interference with a co-located second radio. The duration may be dynamically adjusted based on the likelihood of such interference. |
| US08249025B2 |
Methods and systems for providing improved handoffs in a wireless communication system
Methods and systems are provided for using a PDSN in a wireless communication network that includes multiple IP addresses and multiple corresponding physical interfaces. Through the use of multiple IP addresses and interfaces, the throughput of the PDSN may be substantially increased. Additionally, the multiple IP addresses and interfaces may be used to provide redundancy in order to protect against software or hardware failures. According to the methods and systems of the invention, moreover, the risk of internal hard handoffs resulting from the use of a PDSN having multiple IP addresses and interfaces is eliminated or at least substantially reduced. |
| US08249024B2 |
Soft handoff in OFDMA system
Soft handoff in an OFDMA system is disclosed. If the pilot signal strength for a base station exceeds the defined threshold, the base station is added to an active set list. Subcarriers in a plurality of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols are divided and allocated into subchannels. The OFDM symbols are divided and multiplexed. A soft handoff zone with a first dimension of the subchannels and a second dimension of the divided and multiplexed OFDM symbols is defined. The soft handoff zone has subcarriers with a subchannel definition, for example, an identical permutation. |
| US08249022B2 |
Channel allocation when using measurement gaps with H-ARQ
A user equipment (UE) receives a first dynamic resource allocation on a first channel (PDCCH), then sends data according to the first resource allocation. During a time at which an ACK/NACK for the sent data is scheduled to occur on a second channel (PHICH), the UE is engaging in an activity that takes priority over the ACK/NACK. The UE then receives a second dynamic resource allocation on the first channel and determines the ACK/NACK for the sent data from the second dynamic resource allocation. The determining can be direct, as in receiving a zero-valued resource allocation; or it may be indirect as in mapping the second dynamic resource allocation to the second channel and receiving the acknowledgement on the second channel after that mapping. Also detailed are similar mirror actions from the Node B's perspective, as well as apparatus, methods, and embodied computer programs. |
| US08249019B2 |
System and method for SR-VCC of IMS emergency sessions
Methods and apparatuses for enabling Single Radio (SR)-Voice Call Continuity (VCC) of emergency calls are provided. More specifically, the methods and apparatuses provide continuity of IMS emergency sessions established in 4G access for mobility to 3G/2G access. Generally, a Mobility Management Entity (MME) in the packet switch (PS) domain provides a handover request to a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) Server in the circuit switch (CS) domain. The handover request includes an indication that the call is an emergency call and may include an indication that a Packet Switched Network Induced Location Request (PS-NI-LR) or similar location reporting procedure is required and/or a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) address. The MSC Server facilitates the handover to the CS domain via the Mg and/or Mw interface. |
| US08249017B2 |
Cellular communication system and method of operation therefor
A cellular communication system comprises a core network, a first access network not supporting circuit switched services and a second access network supporting circuit switched services. A user equipment detects that an application using circuit switched communication is initiated and accordingly initiates a reselection from the first to the second access network. The user equipment transmits a location update message to a circuit switch mobile switching center of the core network which in response notifies a mobility management entity for the first access network that the access network reselection has been initiated. In response to the notification the mobility management entity initiates a change of a routing association from being with the first access network to being with the second access network. The invention may e.g. allow improved circuit switched fallback for a 3rd Generation Partnership Project cellular communication system comprising an access network supporting only packet switched services. |
| US08249014B2 |
Methods and systems for transmission of multiple modulated signals over wireless networks
A method and apparatus for requesting and allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system. The inventive method and apparatus includes a combination of techniques that allow a plurality of CPEs to communicate their bandwidth request messages to respective base stations. One technique includes a “polling” method whereby a base station polls CPEs individually or in groups and allocates bandwidth specifically for the purpose of allowing the CPEs to respond with bandwidth requests. The polling of the CPEs by the base station may be in response to a CPE setting a “poll-me bit” or, alternatively, it may be periodic. Another technique comprises “piggybacking” bandwidth requests on bandwidth already allocated to a CPE. In accordance with this technique, currently active CPEs request bandwidth using previously unused portions of uplink bandwidth that is already allocated to the CPE. The CPE is responsible for distributing the allocated uplink bandwidth in a manner that accommodates the services provided by the CPE. By using a combination of bandwidth allocation techniques, the present invention advantageously makes use of the efficiency benefits associated with each technique. |
| US08249010B2 |
Method and apparatus for feeding back and receiving acknowledgement information of semi-persistent scheduling data packets
The present invention relates to radio communications, and discloses a method and apparatus for feeding back and receiving acknowledgment (ACK) information of semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) data packets. The method for feeding back ACK information of SPS data packets includes: receiving an uplink downlink assignment index (UL DAI) from a base station (BS), where the value of the UL DAI indicates the number of downlink data packets (N); mapping ACKs/NAKs of k SPS data packets of the downlink data packets to positions from the (N−k+1)th ACK/NAK to the Nth ACK/NAK; and feeding back N ACKs/NAKs to the BS. This method can guarantee that N ACKs/NAKs are arranged correctly. |
| US08249007B2 |
Measurement of cell-specific reference symbols in the presence of MBMS single frequency network transmissions
A network unit of an own cell is operated in a radio communication system utilizing a radio interface that includes a radio frame made up of a number of sub-frames. The own cell serves one or more user equipments. Operation includes obtaining information about a scheduling of MBSFN data transmissions in one or more neighboring cells. The information thereby obtained is used to generate an information signal that, for a given sub-frame, enables the one or more user equipments to determine whether neighboring cell measurements can be performed using a unicast group of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple access (OFDM) symbols. The information signal is transmitted to the one or more user equipments, which can then use the information to determine how to locate cell-specific reference symbols when doing measurements of neighboring cells. |
| US08249002B2 |
Wireless communications system, wireless communications apparatus, wireless communications method and computer program for wireless communication
In performing SVD-MIMO transmission, a set-up procedure is simplified while assuring a satisfactory decoding capability with a reduced number of antennas. A transmitter estimates channel information based on reference signals sent from a receiver, determines a transmit antenna weighting coefficient matrix based on the channel information, calculates a weight to be assigned to each of components of a multiplexed signal, and sends, to the receiver, training signals for respective signal components, the training signals being weighted by the calculated weights. On the other hand, the receiver determines a receive antenna weighting coefficient matrix based on the received training signals. |
| US08248993B2 |
Distributed base station, communication system, and signal transmission method thereof
The present invention discloses a distributed base station serving mobile stations, which comprises multiple antenna-RF processing units and a central processing unit remotely connected with said multiple antenna-RF processing units. Each of the antenna-RF processing units has an antenna array formed by multiple antennas. Said central processing unit comprises: an MIMO coding unit for MIMO coding of data of each of the mobile stations so that data of each of the mobile stations generates multi-path data symbols; a beam-forming unit for multiplying each path data symbol of the multi-path data symbols of each of the mobile stations by a weighted coefficient vector corresponding to this path data symbol, to obtain beam-forming data of each path data symbol of each of the mobile stations; and an overlapping unit for, with respect to each antenna in said antenna-RF processing units, overlapping beam-forming data of the respective mobile stations for this antenna and feeding the overlapped beam-forming data to this antenna for transmission. The present invention further discloses a communication system having the above distributed base station and the corresponding signal transmission method. |
| US08248992B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing home network device service to an external device through web service
A method and apparatus provide an external device with a local service provided by a home network device in a home network. An OSGi gateway generates a WSDL document by using information about a local service provided by the home network device and distributes the WSDL document to allow the external device to call the local service by using a web service. In response to receiving a SOAP message from the external device, the local service in the home network is called in the home network. A response message to the local service calling is converted into an SOAP message, and the SOAP message is transmitted to the external device. Accordingly, the home network device can provide the home network device service to the external device through the web service without directly installing web service associated functions therein. |
| US08248990B2 |
Transmission device
A disclosed transmission device includes a frequency scheduling unit configured to allocate a resource block divided from a system bandwidth into blocks of consecutive frequency subcarriers or distributed-type resource blocks including discretely-distributed frequency subcarriers in a system bandwidth and divided from the resource block, assign locations and identification numbers of the distributed-type resource blocks divided by a predetermined division number with respect to each resource block, and determine the distributed-type resource blocks to be allocated to a user based on the assigned locations of the distributed-type resource blocks; a mapping unit configured to allocate transmission data to either the resource block or distributed-type resource blocks in accordance with the allocation; and a control information generating unit configured to generate control information with respect to a mobile station to which either the resource block or the distributed-type resource blocks are allocated based on the identification numbers. |
| US08248989B2 |
Wireless network system using cyclic frame
A wireless network system using a cyclic frame including a beacon period (BP), a mesh contention access period (MCAP), and a slot period (SP). The cyclic frame has a frame structure that shares a channel hopping sequence of a node, thereby sharing the channel hopping sequence that operates as an existing mesh node without generating an additional channel hopping sequence, and supporting mesh and star type topologies together in order to efficiently operate a network. |
| US08248988B2 |
Locating a wireless user
A plurality of antennas transmit a first spread spectrum signal having an associated code. The first spread spectrum signal is received at the wireless user. For each received first spread spectrum signal, a second spread spectrum signal is transmitted having an associated code having a same phase as that received first spread spectrum signal. The second spread spectrum signals are received at the plurality of antennas. A distance measurement is determined between each antenna and the wireless user based on in part a received timing of the second signals. The wireless user's location is determined based on in part the distance determinations. |
| US08248987B2 |
Apparatus and method for ACK channel transmission in wireless relay communication system
An apparatus and a method for transmitting ACKnowledge (ACK) channels by a Relay Station (RS) in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes, when receiving one or more ACK information from one or more lower nodes, checking ACK channel constitution information provided from an upper node, arranging one or more ACK channels to transmit corresponding ACK information according to the ACK channel constitution information by distinguishing ACK information of one or more data scheduled by the upper node and ACK information of one or more retransmission data not scheduled by the upper node, and transmitting the one or more ACK information to the upper node in the arranged ACK channels. |
| US08248985B2 |
Automatic and dynamic logon mechanism in satellite networks
In a satellite communication network, a link between a remote terminal and a traffic processor located at the hub may be used for providing services over a satellite link, such as traffic routing, protocol acceleration, data compression and data encryption. Aspects of this invention relate to methods and apparatus for automatically and dynamically associating remote terminals with traffic processors. These methods may be used for simplifying the satellite network's configuring process, especially for large scale networks, for offering load balancing between traffic processors and for offering an efficient automatic redundancy mechanism when a traffic processor malfunctions. |
| US08248984B2 |
System and method for interfacing devices
A system in one embodiment includes (i) an interface module to control and monitor the system; a plurality of power cells which act as a point of power delivery and monitor environmental variables that effect function and reliability, (ii) a radio frequency transmitter and receiver to manage nodes distributed across the plurality of power cells, (iii) a maintenance module presenting information requests to be forwarded to the plurality of power cells, and (iv) a communication bus for distribution of data throughout the system. |
| US08248979B2 |
Method for controlling base stations in wireless communication networks
A base station is controlled inactively provided that no radio signal is received from a mobile terminal in the radio range thereof while radio signals can still be receive from mobile terminals. An inactively controlled base station is once again controlled actively when a radio signal of at least one mobile terminal is received. The radio range, of the base station, is deactivated while radio signals can be received from the mobile terminal when the base station is controlled inactively. Thus, the number of actively controlled base station may be minimized and the environmental impact of radio signals caused by the base stations reduced. |
| US08248977B2 |
Routing of downlink channels in a communications satellite
For selectively routing downlink frequency channels to downlink beams of a communications satellite, the inherent routing functionality of a normal bandwidth multiport amplifier (MPA) is exploited in conjunction with the grouped channel filter characteristics of an output multiplexer (OMUX). In this arrangement the guard bands inherent in the OMUX mitigate the poor inter-port isolation inherent in the MPA so that two low performance elements in combination can be used to achieve an improved performance at system level. |
| US08248975B2 |
Wireless transmitting apparatus, wireless receiving apparatus, wireless transmission method, wireless reception method, wireless communication system, and wireless communication method
A wireless transmitting apparatus inserts a training signal into a transmission burst at fixed symbol intervals as a pilot signal, a wireless receiving apparatus performs AD conversion of a received burst signal, performs symbol timing recovery, performs frame position detection and pilot signal extraction from the received burst signal for which symbol timing was established, performs frame synchronization, and performs a carrier frequency estimation using pilot signal. A carrier frequency estimation is also performed with respect to a received burst signal for which frame synchronization was established, and channel distortion is estimated and output based on a frequency-corrected received burst signal. Channel distortion estimation is then performed with respect to a frequency-corrected received burst signal, and a data symbol sequence of the channel-compensated received burst signal is converted to a received data bit stream. |
| US08248974B2 |
All-digital timing control for multi-channel full-duplex transceiver
A multi-channel full-duplex transceiver is disclosed. The transceiver comprises: a clock generator for generating a first clock and a second clock based on a control code; a plurality of transmitters for transmitting a plurality of outgoing signals onto a plurality of channels, respectively; a plurality of receivers for receiving, sampling, and equalizing in parallel a plurality of incoming signals from said plurality of channels, respectively, to generate in parallel a plurality of equalized signals, respectively; a sampling rate converter for converting in parallel said equalized signals into a plurality of refined signals, respectively. In a first operation mode, the control code is established by detecting a timing difference between an output clock of the clock generator and a reference clock. In a second operation mode, the control code is established by detecting a timing embedded in one of said refined signals. |
| US08248973B2 |
Method for operation of synchronous HARQ in a wireless communication system
A method of operating synchronous Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) between a transmitting station and a receiving station in a Time-Division Duplex (TDD) communication system includes configuring, at the transmitting station, a plurality of HARQ processes; transmitting data packets to the receiving station using the plurality of HARQ processes, wherein the data packets do not include HARQ process identification information; receiving, from the receiving station, a plurality of HARQ feedback packets indicative of whether the data packets were correctly received at the receiving station, wherein the plurality of HARQ feedback packets do not include HARQ process identification information and wherein the plurality of HARQ feedback packets are received in a downlink slot; and mapping, by the transmitting station, the plurality of HARQ feedback packets to the plurality of HARQ processes. |
| US08248968B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing mobile inter-mesh communication points in a multi-level wireless mesh network
A mobile backhaul inter-mesh communication point forms an interface between a wireless mesh network on a first level and a wireless mesh network on a second, higher bandwidth, level. The two wireless networks are differentiated, e.g., by causing the mesh networks to be formed using different spectra, protocols or coding, or antennae. The mobile intra-mesh communication point functions as an access point in the lower level mesh network and as a relay point in the upper level mesh network. Utilizing mobile inter-mesh communication points facilitates deployment of wireless network access points while enabling the location of access points to follow the concentration of network users. Mobile inter-mesh communication points may be deployed in personal vehicles such as cars, trucks, and motorcycles, public transportation vehicles such as busses, trains, and aircraft, emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances, and many other types of vehicles. |
| US08248964B2 |
Protocol link layer
A link is a software abstraction that represents a direct connection between two CoCo nodes. The link layer detects the presence of neighboring devices and establishes links to them. A protocol abstraction layer converts data frames that arrive on network interfaces into packet objects used by the COCO Protocol Suite. |
| US08248963B2 |
Method on localization message process for supporting mobility of wireless nodes
Provided is a method for localization message process. The method includes allocating cluster resources for recognizing a location of a mobile node, setting operation of each node by deciding a cluster operation state for the mobile node, measuring distances between the mobile node to each of anchor nodes, and recognizing a location of the mobile node. |
| US08248960B2 |
Data transmission with dynamic modulation scheme and/or transfer rate
A plurality of connection frames are transmitted which differ from each other in at least either modulation scheme or transfer rate. Accordingly, a receiving-end device can properly receive a connection frame even in an environment where the connection frame is likely to be affected by noise. |
| US08248957B2 |
System and method for voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and facsimile over internet protocol (FoIP) calling over the internet
A system and method for sending long distance telephone calls over the Internet utilizes cost and quality of service data to optimize system performance and to minimize the cost of completing the calls. The system utilizes a network of gateways connected to the Internet. The gateways receive calls from various service providers and convert the analog calls into data packets which are then placed onto the Internet. Similarly, the gateways take data packets off the Internet, convert the data packets back into analog format, and provide the analog telephone calls to the same or another service provider. Then system periodically checks the quality of communications between each of the gateways, and uses this information, in combination with cost information, to determine how to route the calls over the Internet. Special addressing protocols can be used by a system embodying the invention to reduce or eliminate unnecessary signaling between gateways as call setup procedures are carried out. The system can also use information about calls that has been recorded in more than one location to determine how much to charge for completing a call. |
| US08248956B2 |
Method or apparatus for distributing routing information in networks
A method and apparatus is disclosed for distributing routing information between nodes in networks in which routing parameters from subnets are carried in the internal gateway protocol for use in routing decisions in an external gateway protocol. |
| US08248955B2 |
Serial transmission apparatus and the method thereof
Each of a plurality of serially-connected data transmission apparatuses comprises a first shift register, a fault-detecting circuit and a second shift register. The second shift register is configured to receive a second serial input signal and generate an output signal according to a clock signal. The fault-detecting circuit is configured to select one of the outputs of the second shift register and a first serial input signal based on the fault-detecting result. The first shift register is configured to receive the output of the fault-detecting circuit and generate an output according to the clock signal. The second serial input signal is equal to the first serial input signal of at least one preceding stage, and the first serial input signal is equal to the output serial signal of the preceding stage. One purpose of the present invention is to maintain continuous transmission of the serial data when a failure of the serially-connected data transmission apparatus occurs. |
| US08248951B2 |
Methods and apparatus to manage bypass paths in an internet protocol (IP) network
Methods and apparatus to manage bypass paths in an Internet protocol (IP) network are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein includes receiving IP traffic at an aggregation router and measuring a bandwidth value of the IP traffic forwarded from the aggregation router to an IP router at a starting node. The example method also includes establishing a first non-routed bypass path between a switch at the starting node and a first switch at a first destination node when a measured traffic throughput value of the IP router at the starting node exceeds a first threshold value, and sending the IP traffic from the aggregation router via the bypass path. |
| US08248949B2 |
Method and device for providing an alternative backhaul portal in a mesh network
A method and device for providing an alternative backhaul portal at a mesh access point in a mesh network as provided enables improved backhaul services. The method includes processing a registration of the mesh access point as an alternative backhaul portal in the mesh network. It is then determined that additional backhaul capacity is required in the mesh network. Next, the mesh access point is activated as an alternative backhaul portal in the mesh network in response to determining that additional backhaul capacity is required. Mesh network data are then routed through the alternative backhaul portal at the mesh access point until it is determined that additional backhaul capacity is no longer required. The mesh access point is then deactivated as an alternative backhaul portal in the mesh network. |
| US08248946B2 |
Providing a high-speed defense against distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks
Effective control of communications traffic, even under fast-changing DDoS attacks, might be performed by (a) determining parameters of a leaky bucket using nominal communications traffic, (b) applying current communications traffic to the leaky bucket, (c) observing overflows, if any, of the leaky bucket, (d) scoring the current traffic based on the observed overflows, and (e) passing or dropping traffic based on the score. Alternatively, such control might be performed by (a) determining average mean and variance of each of one or more attribute values of nominal communications traffic, (b) determining a mean of each of the one or more attribute values of current communications traffic, (c) determining a probability that for each of the one or more attributes, its current mean value deviates more from its average mean that its current attribute value, (d) scoring the current traffic based on the determined probability or probabilities, and (e) passing or dropping traffic based on the score. |
| US08248945B1 |
System and method for Ethernet per priority pause packet flow control buffering
A method is provided for managing a transmit buffer using per priority pause flow control. An Ethernet transceiver generates packet descriptors identifying packets to be transmitted that are stored in memory. A priority is assigned to each descriptor and associated packet. Each descriptor is loaded into a queue having a queue priority associated with the descriptor priority. In response to accessing a first descriptor, output from a selected first priority queue, a first packet associated with the first descriptor is fetched into a transmit buffer from the memory. If subsequent to fetching the first packet, a per priority flow control message is received pausing first priority packets, the first packet is flushed from the transmit buffer. Then, a second descriptor is accessed from a selected second priority queue, and a second packet associated with the second descriptor is fetched and transmitted from the transmit buffer. |
| US08248940B2 |
Method and apparatus for targeted content delivery based on internet video traffic analysis
A system and related method for targeted content delivery based on Internet video traffic analysis, including one or more of the following: a packet-based communication network in communication with a terminal device, the packet-based communication network 1) collecting and comparing traffic flows between the terminal device and one or more video content sources to known protocol signatures, 2) identifying match(es), 3) identifying, monitoring and analyzing a flow sequence of video content information for the match(es), 4) identifying and extracting associated metadata, and 5) harmonizing the metadata; a behavior analyzer that formulates a behavioral profile of a user of the terminal device who requests and receives the video content information; and a targeted content delivery infrastructure that establishes behavioral profile data regarding the user and delivers targeted content to the user. |
| US08248938B2 |
Preamble miss detection in transmission of multi-slot packets
A communication system (100) transmits data packets from a sender (120A) to a receiver (130A) using hybrid automatic repeat request processes. The sender redundantly encodes each packet, divides the packet into subpackets, and sends the subpackets to the receiver in a time-interlaced manner. When the receiver returns a positive acknowledgement of a subpacket using an acknowledgement channel, the sender terminates transmission of the subpackets. The sender interprets the signals on the acknowledgement channel using a metric resulting from correlation of the signals with positive and negative acknowledgement symbols. The sender interprets low correlation of the acknowledgement channel signal with both positive and negative acknowledgement symbols as a preamble miss, and terminates transmission of the subpackets. After termination, the packet may be rescheduled for transmission. Early termination of packet transmission after a preamble miss improves bandwidth utilization and decreases latency of the packet with the missed preamble. |
| US08248930B2 |
Method and apparatus for a network queuing engine and congestion management gateway
A method, apparatus, and queuing engine implement congestion management. The method may include receiving, via a first interface of the apparatus, data traffic for forwarding to a node of a network. The method may also include receiving, at a second interface of the apparatus, a notification that indicates that congestion is affecting communication with the node, and responsive to the notification, accumulating the data traffic into the queue for a given time period. The method may further include dequeuing the data traffic from the queue after the given time period; and sending the portion of the data traffic to the node via the second interface. |
| US08248923B2 |
Automatic provisioning of admission policy for femtocell
Automatic provisioning of an access point base station or femtocell. The method may include the femtocell transmitting first information (e.g., location information, signal measurement information, capability information, etc.) to a service provider (e.g., over an IP network). The femtocell may receive second information from the service provider, where the second information includes one or more operational parameters. The operational parameters may include hand-off parameters, admission policy parameters, PN or scrambling codes, power parameters, and/or other parameters. The femtocell may operate according to the received parameters to provide access for a plurality of access terminals in a local area. |
| US08248921B2 |
System and method of distributing digital content
A method is disclosed that includes receiving a data packet at a first video distribution hub via a first link. The method also includes determining whether a second link has failed, wherein the first video distribution hub communicates with a second video distribution hub via a primary network path that includes the second link. When the second link has failed, a backup network path to send the data packet, or a copy thereof, to the second video distribution hub, is determined based on data stored at the first video distribution hub. The method also includes sending the data packet, or the copy thereof, to the second video distribution hub via the backup network path, wherein the backup network path does not include the second link. |
| US08248920B2 |
Alternate spanning tree for faster indirect link failure recovery
Methods and apparatus that form the basis of an alternate spanning tree protocol that may be used, for example, to identify rings within a properly converged network configured by the spanning tree protocol (STP) or rapid spanning tree protocol (RSTP) are provided. With the knowledge of these rings, the alternate spanning tree has predetermined an alternate port that can restore connectivity without further computation in case of a link failure, thereby providing for extremely fast reconvergence. |
| US08248918B2 |
Routing failover with accurate multicast delivery
A node comprising: an ingress port configured to receive data; a plurality of egress ports configured to transmit data; a routing table configured to provide, at least part of, both a preferred routing path and a recovery routing path; a data tag engine configured to read a tag, associated with the data, that indicates the routing state of the data and, based at least in part upon the tag determine whether to use the preferred routing path or the recovery routing path for a selected path, and determine if the tag is to be modified to indicate a change in the routing status of the data; and a routing engine configured to utilize the selected path to determine the egress port from which to transmit the data. |
| US08248916B2 |
Recovery methods for restoring service in a distributed radio access network
A mobile communication network includes a plurality of access nodes that can serve different roles in support of a communication session with a mobile station. An access node can serve as a connecting node that receives access requests the mobile station, as an anchor node to anchor a radio packet connection with a core network for the communication session; or as a primary node to store session information for the communication session. One or more monitoring entities monitor the availability of the access nodes and broadcast notification messages to other access nodes when an access node failure is detected. The broadcast message includes the identity of the failed access node. Other access nodes may take action to restore connections and recover session information maintained by the failed access node. |
| US08248907B2 |
Optical disc and optical disc device
In a multilayer optical disc having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, because the type of each information layer is not recorded in the other information layers, in read and write operations by a compatible optical disc device conforming to a plurality of optical disc standards, every time the information layer being accessed changes, it has been necessary to read the type of the information layer and select a method of generating a tracking error signal adapted to the type of information layer, so access has taken time. In order to solve the above problem, in the optical multilayer disc according to the present invention, having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, in an area in one of the information layers, information about the other information layers is recorded. The time required to access the other information layers can be reduced by using this information to select a tracking error signal generating method. |
| US08248903B2 |
Decoding apparatus and method thereof
An apparatus for improving decoding accuracy of an equalized signal having a direct current (DC) level obtained from an optical disk is provided. A Viterbi decoder is configured to decode the equalized signal and output a Viterbi-decoded signal. A DC controller is configured to adjust the DC level of the equalized signal such that the equalized signal with the adjusted DC level is decoded. |
| US08248899B2 |
Preparing a multimedia stream by collating tracks
A system for preparing a first multimedia stream, for use with an environment comprising a repository for storing a plurality of tracks, wherein each track is associated with at least one second multimedia stream. A track comprises a single type of data (e.g. audio, video etc.). The system comprises means for receiving a request comprising an associated parameter (e.g. position parameter); means for determining at least two of the plurality of tracks associated with the parameter (e.g. wherein the at least two tracks have associated information that matches the position parameter); and means, responsive to the determining means, for collating the determined at least two tracks in order to generate the first multimedia stream. |
| US08248896B1 |
Method and system for providing an energy assisted magnetic recording disk drive having improved heat dissipation
An energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) transducer coupled with a laser is described. The EAMR transducer has an air-bearing surface (ABS) residing near a media during use. The laser provides energy. The transducer includes a waveguide, a near field transducer (NFT) proximate to the ABS, a write pole and at least one coil. The waveguide directs the energy from the laser toward the ABS. The NFT is optically coupled with the waveguide and focuses the energy onto a region of the media. The write pole writes to the region of the media. The write pole has a magnetic portion and a nonmagnetic liner. The magnetic portion has a plurality of sides and a pole thermal conductivity. The nonmagnetic liner is adjacent to at least the sides of the magnetic portion, and has a liner thermal conductivity greater than the pole thermal conductivity. The coil(s) are for energizing the write pole. |
| US08248895B2 |
Method for manufacturing thermally-assisted magnetic recording head comprising light source unit and slider
A method for manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head is provided, in which a light source unit including a light source and a slider including an optical system are bonded. A unit substrate is made of a material transmitting light having a predetermined wavelength, and an adhesion material layer is formed on the light source unit and/or the slider. The manufacturing method includes: aligning the light source unit and the slider in such a way that a light from the light source can enter the optical system and the adhesion material layer is sandwiched therebetween; irradiating the adhesion material layer with a light including the predetermined wavelength through the unit substrate; and bonding them. The adhesion material layer melted by the light including the predetermined wavelength and transmitted through the unit substrate can ensure high alignment accuracy as well as higher bonding strength and less change with time. |
| US08248893B2 |
Energy-assisted magnetic-recording head having a magnetic-recording assistance element disposed to lower magnetic-recording field for reversing magnetization in a magnetic-recording disk
A head-slider configured to fly in proximity to a recording surface of a magnetic-recording disk. The head-slider includes a write element including a main pole configured to generate a magnetic-recording field from a pole tip of the main pole in a first localized portion of the magnetic-recording disk. The head-slider also includes a magnetic-recording assistance element configured to provide energy to a second localized portion of the magnetic-recording disk in order to increase reversibility of a magnetization in a first localized portion of the magnetic-recording disk. A width of the pole tip of the main pole on a leading-edge side is wider than a width of the pole tip of the main pole on a trailing-edge side. |
| US08248892B2 |
Head gimbal assembly with two wiring layers comprising thermally-assisted head
Provided is a head gimbal assembly (HGA) in which the electrodes for a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head comprising a light source, a photodetector and a magnetic head element, can be reliably electrically connected to wiring members by solder ball bonding (SBB). The HGA comprises a suspension comprising: a base; a first wiring member for the light source and the photodetector, provided on a side of one surface of the base; and a second wiring member for the magnetic head element, provided on the same surface side. The first and second wiring members protrude from the base toward the head to be fixed. As a result, the end portions (connection pads) of the first and second wiring members can be located close to electrodes for light-source and photodetector and electrodes for magnetic head element, respectively. This arrangement enables the end portions of the first and second wiring members to be reliably electrically connected to the electrodes by SBB. |
| US08248891B2 |
Near-field transducers for focusing light
An apparatus includes a waveguide shaped to direct light to a focal point, and a near-field transducer positioned adjacent to the focal point, wherein the near-field transducer includes a dielectric component and a metallic component positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the dielectric component. An apparatus includes a waveguide shaped to direct light to a focal point, and a near-field transducer positioned adjacent to the focal point, wherein the near-field transducer includes a first metallic component, a first dielectric layer positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the first metallic component, and a second metallic component positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the first dielectric component. |
| US08248890B2 |
Thermally-assisted head including surface-plasmon resonant optical system
Provided is a surface plasmon resonating optical system emitting near-field light (NF-light) with a higher light density. The system comprises: a waveguide through which a light for exciting surface plasmon propagates; a plasmon generator that couples with the light in a surface plasmon mode and emits NF-light from its NF-light generating end surface; and a resonator mirror that reflects the excited surface plasmon, provided on the side of the plasmon generator opposite to the NF-light generating end surface. In the system, the excited surface plasmon can be amplified by using a resonator structure while reducing the length of the plasmon generator to reduce absorption of surface plasmon and prevent overheating of the plasmon generator. |
| US08248884B2 |
Method of controlling a memory device having multiple power modes
A memory device includes a clock receiver, a command interface, and a data interface separate from the command interface. A memory controller provides the command interface with a command that specifies a write operation. After a programmable latency period transpires from providing the command, data associated with the write operation is provided to the data interface by the memory controller. The memory controller provides power mode information that controls transitions between a plurality of power modes, where for each power mode of the plurality of power modes, less power is consumed than the amount of power consumed during the write operation. The power modes include a mode in which the clock receiver is on and the data interface is off; and a mode in which the clock receiver is off and the data interface is off. |
| US08248877B2 |
Circuit for compensating temperature detection range of semiconductor memory apparatus
A circuit for compensating a temperature measurement range of a semiconductor memory apparatus is presented. The circuit includes an oscillator, a temperature variable pulse generating unit, a counter, and an output controlling unit. The counter enable signal generating unit inputs a temperature pulse and outputs a counter enable signal corresponding to the temperature pulse in response to receiving a control signal. The counter inputs and counts an oscillator signal in response to receiving the counter enable signal and outputs a counting signal. The output controlling unit outputs a temperature information code signal proportional to the counting signal or to output the temperature information code signal at a fixed level corresponding to a maximum value of the counting signal. |
| US08248876B2 |
Semiconductor storage device
In a 4F2 memory cell designed using an SGT as a vertical transistor, a bit line has a high resistance because it is comprised of a diffusion layer underneath a pillar-shaped silicon layer, which causes a problem of slowdown in memory operation speed. The present invention provides a semiconductor storage device comprising an SGT-based 4F2 memory cell, wherein a bit line-backing cell having the same structure as that of a memory cell is inserted into a memory cell array to allow a first bit line composed of a diffusion layer to be backed with a low-resistance second bit line through the bit line backing cell, so as to provide a substantially low-resistance bit line, while suppressing an increase in area of the memory cell array. |
| US08248875B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having floating body type NMOS transistor
A semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell array and a sense amplifier circuit. The memory cell array includes a first NMOS transistor which has a gate electrode connected to a word line and has one source/drain region connected to a bit line. The sense amplifier circuit includes a second NMOS transistor which has a gate electrode connected to the bit line and has one source/drain region connected to a predetermined voltage. In the semiconductor memory device, each of the first and second MOS transistors is a floating body type NMOS transistor, and the predetermined voltage is supplied to the bit line at least in a precharge operation, thereby preventing characteristic deterioration due to accumulation of holes in the floating body. |
| US08248873B2 |
Semiconductor memory device with high-speed data transmission capability, system having the same, and method for operating the same
Semiconductor memory device with high-speed data transmission capability, system having the same includes a plurality of address input circuits and a plurality of data output circuits and a training driver configured to distribute address information input through the plurality of address input circuits together with a data loading signal for a read training, and generate data training patterns to be output through the plurality of data output circuits. |
| US08248872B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and test method thereof
A semiconductor memory device includes a repair control signal generation unit configured to compare a repair target address programmed corresponding to a repair target memory cell with an external address, and generate a repair control signal. an address decoding unit configured to control a normal memory cell or a redundancy memory cell corresponding to the external address to be accessed in response to the repair control signal and an internal active signal, and an activation interval detection unit configured to generate an interval detection signal by detecting a time interval between an activation timing of the repair control signal and an activation timing of the internal active signal in a test operation mode. |
| US08248869B1 |
Configurable memory map interface and method of implementing a configurable memory map interface
A configurable memory map interface coupled to a circuit element having input/output ports is disclosed. The configurable memory map interface comprises an input coupled to receive an address enabling reading from or writing to the circuit element; a memory storing enable signal parameters, the enable signal parameters controlling timing of enable signals for the reading from or the writing to the circuit element; and an enable signal generator generating the enable signals enabling the reading from or the writing to the circuit element based upon the enable signal parameters stored in the memory. A method of implementing a configurable memory map interface is also disclosed. |
| US08248868B2 |
Asynchronous/synchronous interface
The present disclosure includes methods, and circuits, for operating a memory device. One method embodiment for operating a memory device includes controlling data transfer through a memory interface in an asynchronous mode by writing data to the memory device at least partially in response to a write enable signal on a first interface contact, and reading data from the memory device at least partially in response to a read enable signal on a second interface contact. The method further includes controlling data transfer in a synchronous mode by transferring data at least partially in response to a clock signal on the first interface contact, and providing a bidirectional data strobe signal on an interface contact not utilized in the asynchronous mode. |
| US08248866B2 |
Semiconductor storage device and its control method
A semiconductor storage device, in which successive reading and successive writing of data having a predetermined length from and to a memory cell specified by a certain address are performed, includes a plurality of memory cells, address input terminals through which the address is input, data output terminals through which read data having the predetermined length is output, and data input terminals through which write data having the predetermine length is input. Part of the address input terminals are also used as the data output terminals. In this way, the operation of successive reading and successive writing performed in succession at the same address can be made faster without increasing the number of terminals. |
| US08248865B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, method of supplying voltage in the same, and semiconductor device
A memory cell array is configured as an arrangement of memory cells. A first voltage generating circuit is configured to, during a write operation on the memory cells, generate and supply to the memory cell array a first voltage from a constant voltage, and to, during a read operation on the memory cells, generate and supply to the memory cell array a second voltage from a power supply voltage. A second voltage generating circuit is configured to generate the constant voltage. A selector circuit is configured to, during the write operation, drive the second voltage generating circuit to supply to the first voltage generating circuit the constant voltage, and to, during the read operation, stop the second voltage generating circuit and supply to the first voltage generating circuit the power supply voltage. |
| US08248864B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
Provided is a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of memory cells that are connected to a word line and read data, a plurality of bit line pairs that are connected respectively to the plurality of memory cells, a column selector that selects one of the plurality of bit line pairs according to a column selection signal, a sense amplifier circuit that has an input terminal pair connected to the column selector and is activated according to a sense amplifier activation signal, an offset voltage adjustment circuit that is connected to the sense amplifier circuit and adjusts an offset voltage of the sense amplifier circuit according to the weight control signal, and a weight control circuit that is connected to an output terminal pair of the sense amplifier circuit and outputs a weight control signal with a value corresponding to an output of the activated sense amplifier circuit. |
| US08248860B2 |
Memory device using a variable resistive element
A memory device includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory blocks, each memory block including a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of word lines coupled to rows of the plurality of memory cells, a plurality of bit lines coupled to columns of the plurality of memory cells, and a control unit controlling an erase operation so that erase data is simultaneously written in the plurality of memory cells corresponding to an erase unit. A first erase mode may include a first erase unit and a first erase data pattern. A second erase mode may include a second erase unit and a second erase pattern. At least one of the first and second erase units and the first and second erase data patterns are different. |
| US08248856B2 |
Predictive read channel configuration
The read channel of a solid state non-volatile memory may be configured to compensate for shifts in the threshold voltages of memory cells of the memory. A log of write time information and write temperature information from one or more write operations is stored in a data unit header. The read channel configuration, which may include reference voltages used for the read operation, is determined using the write time information and the write temperature information. Memory cells of the data unit are read using the configured read channel. A historical profile spanning multiple write operations may also be developed and used to configure the read channel. |
| US08248854B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate which includes a well. A memory cell array includes memory cells each including a floating gate electrode above the well and a control gate electrode above the floating gate electrode, and is configured to write data in units of pages each including memory cells connected in series and to erase data in units of blocks each includes a plurality of the pages. A control gate line is selectively electrically connected to the control gate electrodes of at least one of the blocks. A first switching element includes a current path having ends connected to the control gate line and a ground end. The well is charged, and the first switching element is turned off before the end of the discharge of the well. |
| US08248849B2 |
Semiconductor memory device capable of realizing a chip with high operation reliability and high yield
A semiconductor memory device capable of preventing a defect caused by lowering the etching precision in an end area of the memory cell array is provided. A first block is constructed by first memory cell units each having of memory cells, a second block is constructed by second memory cell units each having a plurality of memory cells, and the memory cell array is constructed by arranging the first blocks on both end portions thereof and arranging the second blocks on other portions thereof. The structure of the first memory cell unit on the end side of the memory cell array is different from that of the second memory cell unit. Wirings for connecting the selection gate lines of the memory cell array to corresponding transistors in a row decoder are formed of wiring layers formed above wirings for connecting control gate lines of the memory cell array to the transistors in the row decoder. |
| US08248848B1 |
System and methods for multi-level nonvolatile memory read, program and erase
A memory circuit includes a memory array with multi-level cells that are each capable of storing M bits of data, where M is an integer greater than one. A module reads a state of one of the multi-level cells. The module performs at least one of a first erase operation and a first program operation on the one of the multi-level cells for the M bits of data during a first time period. |
| US08248846B2 |
Magnetic memory device, and manufacturing method thereof
To provide a magnetic memory device that can suppress the reduction of function of a magnetic memory element, and a manufacturing method thereof. A magnetic memory device includes a magnetic memory element capable of holding data based on a magnetized state thereof, and a digit line and a bit line which are capable of changing the magnetized state of the magnetic memory element by a magnetic field generated. The magnetic memory element is disposed above the digit line and the bit line at an intersection part of the digit line and the bit line. The digit line has a first width at the intersection part, and the bit line has a second width at the intersection part. The first width is larger than a third width of the magnetic memory element, and the second width is smaller than a fourth width of the magnetic memory element. |
| US08248841B2 |
Boosted gate voltage programming for spin-torque MRAM array
A gate voltage boosting circuit provides a voltage boost to a gate of a select switching MOS transistor of a spin-torque MRAM cell to prevent a programming current reduction through an MTJ device of the spin-torque MRAM cell. A spin-torque MRAM cell array is composed of spin-torque MRAM cells that include a MTJ element and a select switching device. A local word line is associated with one row of the plurality of spin-torque MRAM cells and is connected to a gate terminal of the select switching devices of the row of MRAM cells to control activation and deactivation. One gate voltage boosting circuit is placed between an associated global word line and an associated local word line. The gate voltage boosting circuits boost a voltage of a gate of the selected switching device during writing of a logical “1” to the MTJ element of a selected spin-torque MRAM cell. |
| US08248840B2 |
Magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) with integrated magnetic film enhanced circuit elements
A Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM) integrated circuit includes a substrate, a magnetic tunnel junction region, a magnetic circuit element, and an integrated magnetic material. The magnetic tunnel junction region is disposed on the substrate, and includes a first magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer separated by a tunnel barrier insulating layer. The magnetic circuit element region is disposed on the substrate, and includes a plurality of interconnected metal portions. The integrated magnetic material is disposed on the substrate adjacent to the plurality of interconnected metal portions. |
| US08248838B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a comparison unit for comparing a resistance value of a memory element selectively connected to an input terminal with a resistance value of a reference resistance, and a resistance reference unit capable of selecting one of a plurality of resistance values and capable of being selectively connected to the input terminal. |
| US08248833B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and semiconductor device
An anti-fuse memory device includes a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines, and a memory cell provided with respect to an intersecting portion of any of the plurality of word lines and any of the plurality of bit lines. Memory cell includes a PIN diode and an anti-fuse. An anode of the PIN diode is electrically connected to any of the bit lines. A cathode of the PIN diode is electrically connected to a first terminal of the anti-fuse. A second terminal of the anti-fuse is electrically connected to any of the word lines. The anti-fuse includes a silicon layer and an insulating layer which are interposed between electrodes. |
| US08248828B2 |
Medium voltage inverter system
An inverter system for driving electrical loads such as multi-phase induction motors is disclosed utilizing five single-phase inverter cells configured in a wye configuration. Inverter cells such as neutral-point-clamp inverter cells are configured to generate a voltage waveform between two output terminals and further configured with a terminal providing a neutral voltage reference point with respect to each of the two output terminals. The inverter cells may be configured with the neutral voltage reference points connected together and with one output terminal from each inverter cells connected together to provide three outputs of the inverter system at different voltage phases and with the common neutral reference point as the wye connection of the three outputs. The other three single phase inverter cells may be added to each of the three outputs to boost the output voltage of the inverter system and decrease the maximum voltage requirements on each inverter cell. |
| US08248826B2 |
Method for controlling a switching regulator and related switching regulator
An embodiment of a power-supply controller comprises a switching-control circuit, an error amplifier, and a signal generator. The switching-control circuit is operable to control a switch coupled to a primary winding of a transformer, and the error amplifier has a first input node operable to receive a feedback signal, a second input node operable to receive a comparison signal, and an output node operable to provide a control signal to the switching-control circuit. The signal generator is operable to generate either the feedback signal or the comparison signal in response to a compensation signal that is isolated from a secondary winding of the transformer and that is proportional to a load current through a conductor disposed between the secondary winding and a load. |
| US08248825B2 |
Power factor control circuit and mains power supply
The invention relates to a power factor control circuit (10) and to a universal mains power supply (100). The power factor control circuit comprises input nodes (n1, n2) which receive a rectified input voltage being a rectified mains input voltage, and a drive circuit (IC1) which drives a switch (M1). A series arrangement of the switch and an inductor (L1) is arranged between the input nodes. A series arrangement of a rectifier (D1) and an output capacitor (C2) is arranged parallel to the inductor (L1). The rectifier is non-conductive when the switch is closed. The drive circuit drives the switch for generating a substantially sinusoidal current through the switch being substantially synchronized with a sinusoidal voltage of the mains input voltage. Due to the arrangement the output capacitor in the power factor control circuit according to the invention, the output capacitor can only be charged after a first conducting cycle of the switch. An effect of this arrangement is that no inrush current can occur until after the first conducting cycle of the switch which improves the reliability of the power factor control circuit according to the invention. |
| US08248823B2 |
Chip card holder
A chip card holder for holding a chip card is disclosed including a base member, a mounting frame and a holding member. The mounting frame is made of metal materials and secured to the base member. The holding member is used to hold the chip card and is slidably mounted within the mounting frame. When the holding member is completely received in the mounting frame, the mounting frame and the base member cooperatively enclose and preventing the chip card from electromagnetic interference. |
| US08248821B2 |
Flat panel display device
A flat panel display device having improved drop characteristics, that minimize a drop shock of the flat panel display device by controlling the size of a shock-absorbing tape, the flat panel display device including: a display panel having a display part to display an image and a pad part; a supporting member configured to support the display panel; and the shock-absorbing tape disposed between the display panel and the supporting member. The shock-absorbing tape is in contact with the display part of the display panel and ⅓ to ⅚ of the pad part of the display panel. |
| US08248814B2 |
Printed circuit board and voltage/current measuring method using the same
A PCB includes an outer layer and an inner layer. An electronic component is mounted on the outer layer. The outer layer further defines a first pad, a second pad, a third pad, a fourth pad, and a number of via holes. The electrical performances of the first pad and the second pad are the same to that of the inner layer. The first pad and the second pad are conducted to the electronic component. The third pad and the fourth pad are respectively conducted to the first pad and the second pad through the electronic component. The electrical performances of the third pad and the fourth pad are different from that of the inner layer. The via holes are respectively electrically connected to the third pad and the fourth pad. |
| US08248812B2 |
Cover latching assembly for electronic device
A cover latching assembly includes a housing, a releasing assembly and a cover. The housing includes an upper board, a side board extending from the upper board and an assembling portion disposed on the upper board communicating with the side board through a hole. The cover is detachably mounted on the housing and includes an upper wall and a peripheral wall. The peripheral wall has a notch defined therethrough corresponding to the hole; the upper wall has a latching hook formed thereon adjacent to the notch. The releasing assembly is releasably assembled within the accommodating portion of the housing through the hole and partially accommodated within the hole for releasably latching with the latching hook of the cover. |
| US08248809B2 |
Inverter power module with distributed support for direct substrate cooling
Systems and/or methods are provided for an inverter power module with distributed support for direct substrate cooling. An inverter module comprises a power electronic substrate. A first support frame is adapted to house the power electronic substrate and has a first region adapted to allow direct cooling of the power electronic substrate. A gasket is interposed between the power electronic substrate and the first support frame. The gasket is configured to provide a seal between the first region and the power electronic substrate. A second support frame is adapted to house the power electronic substrate and joined to the first support frame to form the seal. |
| US08248808B2 |
Portable electronic device with clip mechanism
A portable electronic device includes a housing, a printed circuit board, a flexible printed circuit board, and a clip. The printed circuit board is attached to one side of the housing. The flexible printed circuit board is attached to another side of the housing. The clip is attached to the housing. The clip includes at least one arcuate portion, and the arcuate portion elastically presses the flexible printed circuit board to the printed circuit board. |
| US08248795B2 |
Data center and server module of the same
A data center includes a server module. The server module includes a housing, and a number of heat-generating elements arranged in the housing. The housing includes a front wall, a back wall, and left and right sidewalls. When the server module runs, cool air comes into the housing through the front wall and the back wall, for cooling the heat elements, then the heated air in the housing is vented out of the housing through the left and right sidewalls by a number of fans. |
| US08248792B2 |
Container data center and air intake apparatus
A container data center includes a movable container, two server systems having a cold aisle and two hot aisles, two fan apparatuses, an exchanger, and an air intake apparatus. The air intake apparatus includes a number of air intake elements each defining an air channel. The fan apparatuses are operable to transfer hot airflow in the hot aisles into the heat exchanger, and then the heat exchanger transforms the hot airflow into cold airflow and transfers the cold airflow into the cold aisle through the air intake apparatus. The air intake elements are connected together and cover the cold aisle. The air intake elements of the air intake apparatus are arranged in a “V” shape along an orientation toward the airflow of the cold aisle. |
| US08248786B2 |
Heat sink type module
A heat sink type module includes a mounting seat and a heat sink. The mounting seat includes a supporting plate, and two substantially parallel first side plates extending up from opposite first sides of the supporting plate. A latch protrudes from an inner surface of each first side plate. A heat sink includes a base plate and fins extending up from a top surface of the base plate. The base plate includes two substantially parallel first sides. The latches of the first side plates latch the first sides of the base plate to fix the heat sink. |
| US08248784B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus has a display panel, a circuit unit which controls the display panel, a first chamber which accommodates the display panel, a second chamber which arranged behind the first chamber, the second chamber accommodates the circuit unit, a cooling device which cools the display panel, and a ventilating part which ventilates between the first and the second chamber. The air emitted from the cooling device is led to the back side of the display panel via the front side thereof, and then ventilates the ventilating part. |
| US08248782B2 |
Storage apparatus, storage controller for storage apparatus, chassis for storage controller
A storage apparatus S comprises a disk controller 1 for controlling data I/O processing between a host H and a disk unit 2. The disk controller 1 includes a plurality of circuit board modules each having a circuit board 210 and a module case 200 storing the same, and a chassis 100 shaped like a hollow cylinder having a front side opening and a rear side opening and configured to store the circuit board modules from the front and rear side openings. A CM module 20 is configured to introduce cooling air from a cooling fan 10F through an opening provided on at least one side surface toward a circuit component mounted on the circuit board 210. A MP module 30 is configured to introduce cooling air by a cooling fan 10R through an opening provide on a front surface of the module case 200. |
| US08248780B2 |
All-in-one computer
An all-in-one computer includes a monitor, a motherboard, a power supply, and a support mechanism supporting the monitor. The support mechanism includes a base, and a support stand fixed on the base and connected to the monitor. The support stand defines a cavity to receive the motherboard and the power supply. The motherboard and the power supply are electrically connected to the monitor. |
| US08248779B2 |
Computer and fixing bracket thereof
A computer includes a motherboard, a chassis to receive the motherboard, a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) card perpendicularly connected to the motherboard, a fan, and a fixing bracket. The chassis includes a fixing portion in parallel to the motherboard. The fixing bracket includes a base board defining an opening and a fixing element connected to the base board. The fan is mounted to the base board with a first side of the fan facing the opening, the base board is parallel to the PCI card, with a second side of the fan opposite to the first side facing the PCI card. Positions of the fasteners in the corresponding first slots are adjustable, to adjust a position that the fan is located on the base board. The assembly of the fan and the fixing bracket is used to improve cooling efficiency for the PCI card. |
| US08248778B2 |
Fixing mechanism for storage device
A fixing mechanism includes a plurality of fixing members, a limiting member, two first supporting members extending from the bracket, two second supporting members formed in the bracket and opposite to the first supporting members, and a latching member adjacent to the second supporting members. The limiting member includes a resilient sheet and a latching portion extending from the resilient sheet. The limiting member is fixed to the storage device with the fixing members at opposite sides of the storage device. The fixing members of one side of the storage device engage with the first supporting member. The fixing members of the other side of the storage device engage with the second supporting member. The latching member is latched with the latching portion of the limiting member, such that the storage device is mounted between the first and second supporting members. |
| US08248775B2 |
Mounting apparatus with pivotable latch member to lock data storage device
A mounting apparatus includes a bracket for accommodating a data storage device, a first latch member, a second latch member, and a lock member. The bracket includes a pair of cutouts defined in opposite sides of the bracket. The first latch member is pivotably attached to a first end of the bracket and includes a pair of first latches movably extending in one of the pair of cutouts. The second latch member is pivotably attached to a second end of the bracket and includes a pair of second latches movably extending in the other one of the pair of cutouts. The second latch member is slidably attached to the first latch member. The lock member is slidably attached to the first latch member to releasably lock the first latch member to the bracket. |
| US08248773B2 |
Portable electronic device and unlocking method thereof
A method executes an altimeter function to unlock a portable electronic device. A user can move the portable electronic device in an up-down direction to set a predetermined changed height for unlocking the portable electronic device. In an unlock procedure, an altimeter detects a changed height of the portable electronic device and outputs detected information of the portable electronic device. If the changed height is the same as the predetermined changed height, the locked portable electronic device is unlocked. |
| US08248768B2 |
Electronic device having slidable cover
An electronic device includes a bracket, a cover, a first sliding member, a second sliding member fixed to the cover, a resilient member positioned between the first and second sliding members, and fasteners. Each fastener includes an engaging portion and a hooking portion. The fasteners extend through the bracket and the first sliding member, to limit the first sliding member and the bracket between the engaging portions and the hooking portions. |
| US08248766B2 |
Tilting portable electronic device
A tilting portable electronic device includes a housing, a cover, a swinging member and a sliding member. The swinging member includes at least one arm portion rotatably connecting to the housing and the cover. One end of the sliding member rotatably connects to the cover. The other end of the sliding member slidably connects to the housing. The arm portion rotates to support one end of the cover, the sliding member connects to and slides together with the other end of the cover, causing the cover to open slanted relative to the housing. |
| US08248763B2 |
Portable electronic device with stamp structure
A portable electronic device includes a main body and a stamp structure. The main body defines a through hole. The stamp structure includes a seat and a stamp. The seat includes a main plate and an end plate. The main plate defines a containing groove for receiving the stamp. The seat is detachably attached to the main body, and the end plate covers the through hole. |
| US08248762B2 |
Reliable asynchronous serial protocol between remote operated devices and input/output controller
An electrical distribution system is provided for selectively connecting an electrical power source to load devices, comprising a panelboard having load circuit positions. A remote operated device is mountable in the panelboard comprising a load control device, a programmed controller for operating the load control device and a communication circuit. An input/output (I/O) controller is mounted in the panelboard for controlling operation of the remote operated device, the I/O controller comprising a programmed controller, and a communication circuit for communication with the remote operated device communication circuit. The communication circuits are adapted to communicate using an asynchronous communication protocol comprising transfer of data in two directions. |
| US08248761B2 |
Motor control center and subunit therefor
A subunit is provided for a motor control center including an enclosure, a number of compartments, a plurality of power lines, and a number of covers for covering the compartments. The subunit includes a housing removably disposed within a corresponding one of the compartments, a plurality of electrical contacts movably coupled to the housing, and an actuating assembly for moving the electrical contacts into and out of electrical contact with the power lines. The subunit further includes at least one of a locking assembly, a panel assembly, and a secondary disconnect assembly. The locking assembly locks the position of the electrical contacts and restricts access to the actuating assembly. The panel assembly is pivotable and translatable with respect to the subunit housing. The secondary disconnect assembly is independent from the actuating assembly in order that movement of the electrical contacts does not move the secondary disconnect assembly. |
| US08248760B2 |
Switch arrangement for an electrical switchgear
A switch arrangement for an electrical switchgear comprising a first bus, a second bus and a load connection. The switch arrangement comprises a breaker; wherein said breaker is moveable in said switchgear between a first position and a second position, such that in use, when said breaker is in said first position and closed it electrically connects said first bus to said load connection, and when said breaker is in said second position and closed it electrically connects said second electrical bus to said load connection, with said first electrical bus disconnected from said load connection. |
| US08248758B2 |
Coin-type electrochemical element
A coin-type electrochemical element enables the external lead terminal portions to be accurately and reliably attached to a first lid portion and to a second lid portion of the coin-type electrochemical element, and a method of its production. A coin-type electric double layer capacitor includes a first lid portion and a second lid portion. External lead terminal portions, each having a nearly triangular shape, are separately connected to the outer surfaces of the lid portions. Upon providing the external lead terminal portions having the triangular shape, a welded portion is allowed to have an increased area enabling the coin-type electrochemical element of even a small size to be accurately and reliably welded and making it possible to provide the coin-type electrochemical element having excellent reliability. |
| US08248753B2 |
Dielectric ceramic and laminated ceramic capacitor
A dielectric ceramic for use in dielectric ceramic layers has a main component represented by a composition formula of (Sr1-x-ySnxBay)TiO3, wherein x is 0.005≦x≦0.24, y is 0≦y≦0.25 in the composition formula. Preferably, the dielectric ceramic includes 0.01 mol to 5 mol of M (M is at least one of Mn and V) calculated as MO and/or 0.2 mol to 5 mol of Si calculated as SiO2, with respect to 100 mols of the main component, and more preferably, further includes 0.1 mol to 25 mol of Ca calculated as CaO with respect to 100 mols of the main component. The dielectric ceramic has an increased dielectric constant permitting size reduction when used in a laminated ceramic capacitor. |
| US08248750B2 |
Electroactive polymer transducers
Dielectric elastomer or electroactive polymer film transducers configured to minimize high electrical field gradients that can lead to partial discharge and corona. |
| US08248745B2 |
Electrical over/under voltage automatic disconnect apparatus and method
A method for providing an analog or digital circuit that senses both low and high input voltage and operates to disconnect both line and neutral electrical power connections to a protected device when abnormally low or high voltages are received from a single- or multi-phase power source, and reconnects the protected device when input power has stabilized. The sensing circuit and power supply is functional with voltages up to at least 240 Vac. The nominal 120 Vac circuit is designed to withstand a 6 kilovolt surge without damage. The method does not disconnect the ground line during an out-of-tolerance voltage condition. |
| US08248744B2 |
Voltage detecting apparatus
The present invention is to provide a voltage detecting apparatus, which can downsize a circuit, reduce costs and detect a voltage with high accuracy, the voltage detecting apparatus to detect a voltage by using a flying capacitor. Furthermore, the voltage detecting apparatus does not halt whole functions. The first zener diode is connected to the first resistor R1, which divides a voltage stored with the capacitor as a flying capacitor into a detectable voltage at a microcomputer, in parallel. Furthermore, the voltage detecting apparatus prevents more than a zener voltage of the first zener diode from applying to the input of the microcomputer. |
| US08248737B2 |
Magnetic sensor including an element for generating signals related to resistance changes
A magnetic device includes first and second electrodes and a sensor stack connected to the first and second electrodes proximate a sensing surface of the magnetic sensor. A resistive element is connected to the first and second electrodes in parallel or in series with the sensor stack and adjacent the sensing surface. In some embodiments, the resistive element is configured to generate signals related to changes in its resistance. A controller to respond to the resistive element signals can also be included. |
| US08248734B2 |
Wiring connecting structure for piezoelectric actuator, piezoelectric actuator, and head suspension
A wiring connecting structure for a piezoelectric actuator includes a terminal 57-1, a through hole 67 formed through the terminal 57-1, a first liquid stopper 69-1 arranged around the through hole 67 in a gap between the terminal 57-1 and a common electrode 19 of a piezoelectric element 13 of the piezoelectric actuator, and a liquid trap 73 arranged adjacent to the first liquid stopper 69-1. The terminal 57-1 faces the common electrode 19 with an electric insulating layer 61 being on the piezoelectric element 13 side and the first liquid stopper 69-1 being in the gap between the common electrode 19 and the terminal 57-1. A liquid conductive adhesive 79 is filled in the through hole 67. If there is an excess of the liquid adhesive 79, the excess is guided into a trapping space 77 of the liquid trap 73, to prevent the excess from oozing out. |
| US08248732B2 |
Head-gimbal assembly including a transmission-line structure for high-density magnetic recording
A head-gimbal assembly. The head-gimbal assembly includes a suspension, a head-slider coupled to the suspension, a magnetic-recording assistance element on the head-slider for applying an electromagnetic wave to a magnetic-recording disk, and a transmission line on the suspension for transmitting signals to the magnetic-recording assistance element. The transmission line includes an electrically conductive line for transmitting the signals, an upper shield placed above the electrically conductive line along the electrically conductive line, a lower shield placed below the electrically conductive line along the electrically conductive line, and a plurality of columns arranged at each of a right side and a left side of the electrically conductive line along the electrically conductive line for connecting the upper shield and the lower shield. The plurality of columns arranged at the right and left sides includes, respectively, a right linear array of columns and a left linear array of columns. |
| US08248727B2 |
Magnetic head with components separated by insulative portions and electrically coupled together by connective element
A magnetic head in one embodiment comprises a plurality of components separated from each other by insulative portions; and at least one connective element coupling the components together. A magnetic tape head in another embodiment comprises a substrate; a closure separated from the substrate by an insulative portion; and at least one connective element coupling the substrate and closure together. |
| US08248726B2 |
Hard disk drive
A hard disk drive has an information recording medium that is rotationally driven for recording and/or reproducing information and a rotor hub that supports the information recording medium. The rotor hub has a flat mounting surface disposed in an outer circumferential portion thereof and on which the information recording medium is mounted so as to contact an edge portion of the mounting surface. The mounting surface is made of stainless steel containing a machineability improving additive, except for selenium and tellurium, for improving the machineability of the mounting surface. At least one of the edge portion or a portion of the mounting surface in the vicinity of the edge portion contains surface pores formed by component particles of the additive falling from the mounting surface. Each of the pores has a length less than 10 μm in a circumferential direction of the mounting surface. |
| US08248725B2 |
System and method to electrically ground fluid dynamic bearings
A spindle motor assembly that utilizes a fluid dynamic bearing electrically grounded to provide a conductive path through the spindle motor assembly. In one embodiment, the fluid dynamic bearing includes a liquid metal that is conductive and of low electrical resistance that provides the conductive path between the spindle and the spindle housing. |
| US08248722B2 |
Lens barrel and imaging apparatus
Disclosed herein is a lens barrel including a lens having a reference portion, a barrel body having a supporting portion adapted to come into contact with the reference portion of the lens, and a lens holding member for holding the lens so that the lens is sandwiched between the lens holding member and the barrel body in the condition where the reference portion of the lens is biased against the supporting portion of the barrel body. |
| US08248721B2 |
Lens driving device with piezoelectric actuator
A lens driving device includes a fixed housing, a movable lens holder movably received in the fixed housing, a base mounted to the fixed housing, a guide rod, and a piezoelectric actuator. The fixed housing has an opening defined at a corner thereof. The lens holder has a through hole formed therein, and the through hole is arranged opposite to the opening, a central axis of the through hole is parallel with an optical axis of the lens. The guide rod extends through the through hole, two ends of the guide rod coupled to the fixed housing and the base. The piezoelectric actuator is fixedly arranged in the opening of the fixed housing and in contact with an outer side surface of the lens holder. The piezoelectric actuator is deformable in itself along the optical axis thereby driving the lens holder to move along the guide rod in the first receiving space. |
| US08248720B2 |
Image photographing device
The present invention relates to an image photographing device, and is invented to absorb vibration of the plate spring when the lens holder is moved, thereby stabilizing rapidly the lens holder. According to one example, the small camera provided with a damper includes a lens holder provided with lens and driven in an optical axial direction, a fixing unit housing the lens holder, a plate spring which is arranged to the upper part or lower part of the lens holder and connects the lens holder to the fixing unit and supports it so that the lens holder is moved in an optical axial direction, a driving unit for driving the lens holder in an optical axial direction, a support unit arranged on the lower parts of the lens holder and the fixing unit, and a damper member attached to the plate spring for absorbing vibrations of the plate spring wherein the damper member is made with polymer chemical having an elastic force and the elastic force of the damper member is smaller than that of the plate spring. |
| US08248717B2 |
Camera module
An exemplary camera module includes a lens holder and a lens barrel. The lens holder includes a cylindrical receiving cavity defined therein and an inner smooth surface in the cylindrical receiving cavity. The lens barrel is received in the cylindrical receiving cavity. The lens barrel includes a hollow cylinder and a plurality of spaced protrusions arranged on the outer cylindrical surface of the hollow cylinder. The outer cylindrical surface is spaced from the inner smooth surface. The protrusions abut against the inner smooth surface. |
| US08248713B2 |
Optical photographing lens assembly
This invention provides an optical photographing lens assembly comprising, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens with negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface; a second lens with positive refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface; a third lens with positive refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface; a fourth lens with negative refractive power; and a fifth lens with positive refractive power; wherein the optical photographing lens assembly further comprises a stop disposed between the second and third lenses; and wherein the distance on the optical axis between the fourth and fifth lenses is T45, the focal length of the optical photographing lens assembly is f, the number of the lenses with refractive power is N, and they satisfy the relations: 0.10<(T45/f)*10<6.00, 5≦N≦6. |
| US08248710B2 |
Prism type lens
A prism type of lens includes a first reflection lens, at least a first lens group, a second reflection prism, at least a second lens group, a third reflection prism, and at least a third lens group sequentially arranged from an object side to an image side. Light is reflected by the reflection prisms to form a bent light axis. Therefore, the optical axis has three sections for the lens groups to move respectively. The bent light axis has a longer distance that the lens of the present invention may have a great zoom range. |
| US08248708B2 |
Zoom lens system and electronic imaging apparatus that uses the same
A zoom lens system includes a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group, and a positive third lens group, in this order from the object.Each of the negative first lens group, the positive second lens group and the positive third lens group moves along the optical axis upon zooming.The positive second lens group includes a positive first lens element, a negative second lens element, and a negative third lens element, in this order from the object.The zoom lens system satisfies the following conditions: 2 |
| US08248707B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus having the same
A zoom lens includes positive, negative, positive, and positive lens units, and the second lens unit includes negative, negative, negative and positive lenses. The first and third lens units are fixed and the second and fourth lens units are moved in zooming. 0.01<|f2/√(fw*ft)|<0.35 and 0.070 |
| US08248706B2 |
Zoom lens system having high zoom ratio and short overall length
A zoom lens system includes a first lens group with positive refractive power, a second lens group with negative refractive power, a third lens group with positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group with positive refractive power. The lens groups can move along the optical axis of the zoom lens system. The zoom lens system satisfies the formula: 0.15<|L3|/Lt<0.25. L3 is a movement vector of the third lens group during the zoom lens system moves from a wide-angle state to a telephoto state. The movement vector is a positive value when the zoom lens system moves from a subject side to an image side thereof. The movement vector is a negative value when the zoom lens system moves from the image side to the subject side. Lt is the total length of the zoom lens system along the optical axis in the telephoto state. |
| US08248705B2 |
Zoom lens system having high zoom ratio and short overall length
A zoom lens system includes, in order from the subject side to the image side thereof, a first lens group of positive refractive power, a second lends group of negative refractive power, a third lens group of positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group of positive refractive power. The zoom lens system satisfies the following formulas: −0.15 |
| US08248704B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
A small zoom lens having a high zoom ratio and high optical performance over an entire zoom range is obtained. The zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens unit having a positive refractive power; a second lens unit having a negative refractive power; a third lens unit having a positive refractive power; a fourth lens unit having a negative refractive power; and a fifth lens unit having a positive refractive power, wherein intervals between the first lens unit, the second lens unit, the third lens unit, the fourth lens unit, and the fifth lens unit are changed during zooming, in which a focal length (fw) of an entire system at a wide angle end and a focal length (fn) of an n-th lens unit are set appropriately. |
| US08248699B2 |
Reflection reducing film, optical member and optical system
A reflection reducing film is provided on a surface of an optical substrate, and is sequentially provided with a buffer layer and a reflection reducing layer. The reflection reducing layer includes first to eighth layers sequentially laminated from the side of the buffer layer. The first and sixth layers are made of a low-refractive index material having a refractive index in the range of 1.35 to 1.50 at the d-line, the third, fifth and seventh layers are made of an intermediate-refractive index material having a refractive index in the range of 1.55 to 1.85 at the d-line, and the second, fourth and eighth layers are made of a high-refractive index material having a refractive index in the range of 1.70 to 2.50 at the d-line. |
| US08248695B2 |
Illuminating device with polarization recycling in a double prism
An illuminating device is described comprising an optical source emitting an unpolarized light beam, a polarizing beam splitter comprising a grid polarizer situated between the faces of two prisms. The light beam penetrates into the first prism through a face and reaches the polarizing beam splitter that transmits the light having a first polarization direction to the face that reflects it toward an exit face. In addition, the splitter reflects the light having a second polarization direction to the face that reflects it toward an exit face. |
| US08248691B2 |
Infrared light transmission film
An infrared light transmission film includes a polymer matrix and at least one red colorant, blue colorant, and yellow colorant that are uniformly dispersed in the polymer matrix at amounts effective to allow transmission through the film of at least about 85% of light with wavelengths over about 800 nm while blocking transmission of at least about 90% of light with wavelengths less than about 750 nm. |
| US08248690B2 |
Inexpensive variable rep-rate source for high-energy, ultrafast lasers
System for converting relatively long pulses from rep-rate variable ultrafast optical sources to shorter, high-energy pulses suitable for sources in high-energy ultrafast lasers. Fibers with positive group velocity dispersion (GVD) and self phase modulation are advantageously employed with the optical sources. These systems take advantage of the need for higher pulse energies at lower repetition rates so that such sources can be cost effective. |
| US08248688B2 |
Tandem photonic amplifier
Embodiments of laser systems advantageously use pulsed optical fiber-based laser source (12) output, the temporal pulse profile of which may be programmed to assume a range of pulse shapes. Pulsed fiber lasers are subject to peak power limits to prevent an onset of undesirable nonlinear effects; therefore, the laser output power of these devices is subsequently amplified in a diode-pumped solid state photonic power amplifier (DPSS-PA) (16). The DPSS PA provides for amplification of the desirable low peak power output of a pulsed fiber master oscillator power amplifier (14) to much higher peak power levels and thereby also effectively increases the available energy per pulse at a specified pulse repetition frequency. The combination of the pulsed fiber master oscillator power amplifier and the diode-pumped solid state power amplifier is referred to as a tandem solid state photonic amplifier (10). |
| US08248685B2 |
Display particles for image display apparatus and image display apparatus loaded with the same
Display particles having metal oxide layers formed on the surfaces of base particles containing at least a resin and a colorant, wherein the metal oxide layers comprise a polycondensation product formed by using a compound A represented by the following formula (A) and a compound B indicated by the following formula (B) as materials, and an image display apparatus loaded with the display particles: M1(OR1)4 (A) (wherein M1 represents a silicon atom or a titanium atom; and R1 represent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms respectively independently): M2(R2)4-n(OR3)n (B) (wherein M2 represents a silicon atom or a titanium atom; R2 represent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, an acryloyloxy group, a methacryloyloxy group or an epoxy group, independently; R3 represent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms independently; and n represents an integer of 2 or 3). |
| US08248684B2 |
Control of adaptive optics based on post-processing metrics
Adaptive optics (AO) elements in imaging system allow dynamic and precise control over the optical wavefront to reduce uncontrolled wavefront errors in imaging systems. Traditional control of such devices is based on inverting the wavefront function to minimize the RMS wavefront error. However, this approach is not always optimal, particularly when the wavefront error is near or exceeds the limit of the AO element's correction capability. In the current approach, the AO element is instead controlled based on a performance metric that takes into account image processing, and not just RMS wavefront error. |
| US08248683B2 |
Variable light transmittance window
A variable light transmittance window includes: a substrate configured to transmit light; a thermochromic layer on the substrate; first function thin film layers on opposite surfaces of the thermochromic layer; and second function thin film layers on respective surfaces of the first function thin film layers opposite the thermochromic layer, wherein a difference between refractive indices of the first function thin film layers and the second function thin film layers is greater than a difference between refractive indices of the first function thin film layers and the thermochromic layer. |
| US08248681B2 |
Water-dispersible polyaniline films capable of undergoing stable and reversible polyelectrochromic transitions
The present disclosure relates generally to polyaniline (PANI) materials capable of undergoing stable and reversible polyelectrochromic transitions between multiple oxidation states. More specifically, the embodiments described herein include novel PANI-PAAMPSA structures that are capable of undergoing stable and reversible transitions between the ES, LB and PB oxidation states. In some embodiments, the structures described are capable of undergoing stable transitions over a broad pH range. Also described herein are methods of preparing certain electrochromic structures. |
| US08248680B2 |
Electrically activatable light blocking cover for vehicle mirrors
A cover for use in connection with a mirror of a vehicle is provided. The cover is provided with a lens having an electrically activatable material. The lens is positioned in front of the vehicle mirror. The electrically activatable material prevents the reflectivity of visible light off the mirror of the vehicle when the electrically activatable material is set to a light inhibiting state. A coupling device electrically couples the electrically activatable material to an electrical power source. An actuation device is adapted to set the electrically activatable material of the lens to the light inhibiting state in response to user operation such that the lens prevents the reflectivity of visible light off the mirror to reduce the observability of the vehicle mirror. |
| US08248678B2 |
Establishing one-dimensional transforms
One-dimensional color transforms are automatically calculated by identifying at least one device-independent color space curve, at least one device-dependent color space curve and at least one association amongst the curves. Depending on the motivation for creating the one-dimensional transform, different curves, associations and calculations can be used to generate the transforms without obtaining additional device measurements or iteratively adjusting transform values. |
| US08248677B2 |
Solid-state imaging device
To control the potential distribution generated in a well at the time of amplification and reduce a shading in a solid-state imaging device of amplification type, the amplification type solid-state imaging device of the present invention comprises a plurality of picture elements each including photoelectric conversion elements formed in a second conductivity type common well inside a first conductivity type substrate, wherein a plurality of well contacts are disposed inside a picture element array area. |
| US08248676B2 |
Optical scanning unit and color image forming apparatus using the same
A color image forming apparatus obtaining a high quality color image with little write start misregistration among optical scanning devices, includes a plurality of optical scanning devices respectively including an incident optical unit guiding a light beam from a light source unit to a deflection unit, an imaging optical system allowing the light beam deflectively scanned by the deflection unit to be focused on a scanned surface, and an optical system for synchronous detection for adjusting image start timing on the scanned surface by using a part of the light beam deflectively scanned by the deflection unit. A ratio of a focal length of the optical system for synchronous detection to a focal length of the imaging optical system is set appropriately in a main scanning section of the plurality of optical scanning devices for obtaining a black color image and color images other than the black color image. |
| US08248675B2 |
Image-reading apparatus
An image-reading apparatus that reads an image of an original includes an array sensor including photoelectric-conversion elements linearly arranged; an optical system configured to form the image of the original onto the array sensor; a signal-processing circuit configured to convert outputs of the array sensor into digital signals and sequentially output pixel values of pixels that constitute a line; a sample-rate converter configured to sequentially receive the pixel values of the pixels that constitute the line output from the signal-processing circuit, convert spatial sample intervals of the line, and output the resultant pixel values; a data table created by reflecting aberration characteristics of the optical system therein; and a controller configured to control the sample-rate converter using data in the data table. |
| US08248672B2 |
Image writing unit, image forming apparatus, image writing method and computer-readable information recording medium
A plurality of the light emitting device array units are arranged along a main scan direction in a staggered manner. In a density transformation mode, a transformation pattern is used to transform image data for each matrix of n by n pixels. A rate of writing an image in a sub-scan direction is multiplied by m, and a pixel density of image data written on a photosensitive body is multiplied by (2B+1)/2 in the main scan direction, and multiplied by m(2B+1)/2 in the sub-scan direction. A transformation pattern which is selected according to a position along the main scan direction at which an image is written with respect to a position of each of the plurality of light emitting device array units is used to transform image data. |
| US08248669B2 |
Image reading device and image forming apparatus
An image reading device includes a charge-coupled device that generates and outputs an image signal, a timing generator that outputs a frequency-modulated clock, a modulation signal detector that detects a modulation signal being a signal corresponding to a change in frequency of the clock, an amplitude controller that controls an amplitude of the modulation signal, and a signal combining unit that superimposes the modulation signal after the amplitude is controlled on the image signal. |
| US08248665B2 |
Information processing device, printing device, information processing system, method, computer-readable medium, and computer data signal
An information processing device includes: a document information receiving unit that receives document information; a placement region determining unit that selects a region from the document information and determines the region as a placement region where code information is to be placed, on the basis of the amount of information of a part of the document information; a code information generating unit that encodes additional information to be added to the document information and information for the placement region and generates code information; and a document information generating unit that generates code-information-bearing document information in which the code information is placed in the placement region of the document information. |
| US08248664B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method for achromatizing pixel based on edge region of color signal
An image processing apparatus performs a first edge determination to determine whether each pixel is an edge of a black character or a thin black line based on a pixel signal of a predetermined color in each pixel included in multi-valued image data. The image processing apparatus determines whether to achromatize a pixel signal of each pixel included in the multi-valued image data based on a result of the first edge determination, and achromatizes a pixel determined to be achromatized. The image processing apparatus performs a second edge determination for determining whether each pixel is an edge based on a pixel signal of a color different from the predetermined color in each pixel included in the multi-valued image data. The image processing apparatus corrects the multi-valued image data based on a result of the second edge determination after completing achromatization of the pixel determined to be achromatized. |
| US08248663B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method and remote-scan image processing system using the same
In the image processing device, method and system of the present invention, a destination identifier of an image file is stored, the destination identifier indicating one of a plurality of external stations as a destination station which receives the image file from the image processing device through a network. At least one of a sender identifier of the image file, a subject identifier of the image file and a scan condition of the image file is stored. The image file is transmitted, together with at least one of the sender identifier, the subject identifier and the scan condition, through the network to one of the external stations indicated by the stored destination identifier. |
| US08248651B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program therefor
Provided is an image combination apparatus, in which: a handwritten original area aspect ratio corresponding to an aspect ratio of a handwriting area in which a handwritten original is to be written and a predetermined image aspect ratio corresponding to an aspect ratio of a predetermined image are compared with each other, when the handwriting area aspect ratio and the predetermined image aspect ratio differ from each other, an area to be cut out from the predetermined image is set in accordance with the handwritten original area aspect ratio; the set cutout area is cut out from the predetermined image; the image obtained by cutting out and the handwritten original are combined with each other. |
| US08248650B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image processing program
An image processing apparatus has a capability of displaying a preview image on a display under the control of a controller even in the middle of a process of reading document pages in a binding reading mode in which a large number of document sheets are read by repeatedly performing reading on a part-by-part basis until all pages of a given set of document sheets have been read. The preview capability enables a user to easily detect if an error occurred in reading one or all of the pages. If a particular page of image data is detected to have an error, re-reading of that page is performed using a scanner unit. The page of image data having the error is discarded and the image data obtained by re-reading is inserted in place of the discarded page. After completion of re-reading, reading of the remaining pages of the document set can continue in the binding reading mode. This leads to a drastic improvement in operational efficiency. |
| US08248649B2 |
Information processing apparatus and computer-readable medium
Disclosed is an information processing apparatus comprising: a storage section to store data; and a control section to detect whether a data access to the storage section exists or not, to detect whether unnecessary data stored in the storage section exists or not, and to overwrite/delete the unnecessary data in a case where the data access does not exist and the unnecessary data exists. |
| US08248644B2 |
Communication apparatus
A communication apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus includes: a reading unit which reads original document data from a page of a transmission original document; a transmission unit which transmits original document data read by the reading unit to a designated destination; an acquisition unit which wirelessly acquires identification information capable of identifying a specific original document transmitted by the transmission unit in one communication from a wireless tag attached to each of a plurality of pages of a target original document; and an extraction unit which extracts the specific original document from the target original document based on the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit. |
| US08248641B2 |
Network printers having distributed print jobs function and utilizing withhold printing commands
A printing device is connected to a host apparatus and a lower level printing device. When the printing device receives printing target data from the host apparatus, it sends the same printing target data to the lower level printing device. A printing unit prints the printing target data on a recording medium on a page by page basis. A data-delete command issuing unit, for each printed page printed by the printing unit, issues a print data deleting command to the lower level printing device to instruct the lower level printing device to delete a portion of the printing target data corresponding to the printed page. |
| US08248634B2 |
Job processing system and image processing apparatus
A job processing system including; an operation section accepting an operation of setting of job; a generate section generating a job data based on a setting information related to the setting of the job which accepted a setting completion in the operation section; a first storage section storing the generated job data; an execution section executing the job based on the job data; a detection section detecting computer viruses within the job processing system; and, a control section deciding necessity of the detection based on the job data related to the job. |
| US08248633B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method for switching between security modes
An image forming apparatus is provided with a determination portion that, in response to operation for giving instructions to enhance a security level thereof, determines whether or not a job is kept which is not to satisfy security requirements after the enhancement, an execution portion that, if the determination portion determines that such a job is kept, performs predetermined processing for satisfying the security requirements on the job with execution of the job ensured, and a security mode switching portion that, if the determination portion determines that such a job is kept, enhances the security level after the execution portion finishes the predetermined processing, and, if the determination portion determines that such a job is not kept, enhances the security level promptly. |
| US08248632B2 |
Method and apparatus for printing and inserting dividers into multi-section documents from multiple files
A method and system for inserting dividers in a rendering job. A group of individual files can be compiled into a single document. The individual files can then be arranged in a preferred order. One or more dividers can then be inserted in-between each of the individual files in order to thereafter generate a template that includes a print layout associated therewith and render a complete document, which includes the individual files in the preferred order with the divider(s) automatically inserted therein and including text strings thereof. |
| US08248630B2 |
Multifunction machine and synchronization system
A multifunction machine according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a clock means for recognizing time; a settings information storing means that stores settings information and an updated time; a synchronization target information storing means that stores synchronization target information that specifies synchronization target multifunction machines whose settings information is to be synchronized; a sending means that sends updated settings information and the updated time of the settings information to the synchronization target multifunction machines when the settings information stored in the settings information storing means is updated by a user's operation; a receiving means that receives the settings information and the updated time sent from other multifunction machines; and a synchronization/update means that updates the settings information stored in the settings information storing means based on the received settings information. |
| US08248629B2 |
Image forming apparatus with a power mode control section for allocating a printout for a reserved low-key print setting job
A job managing section acquires an operational status of a standby print job when a determination that a job having been accepted by a job accepting section is a reserved low-key print setting job is made, as a result of a determination by a reserved setting determining section, and also allocates a printout for the reserved low-key print setting job to an available time slot based on the acquired operational status. As a result, the printout for the reserved low-key print setting job can be executed in an available time slot which is different from a time slot for the standby print job. Accordingly, mixing of printed sheets related to a plurality of print jobs can be prevented as much as possible, and a contribution to an improvement in convenience at the user-side can be made. |
| US08248626B2 |
Information processing apparatus for setting output condition to images as output targets, and information processing method and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium thereof
There are provided an image processing apparatus and its control method in which sheet size/type and options can be set every image without reducing the number of images written onto one index sheet. The options include image processes such as addition of a date, VIVID-photo, noise cancellation, automatic photograph correction, face-brightening correction, red-eye correction, etc. Only for the user who desires, a sheet SH2 is used in addition to a conventional index sheet. In the sheet SH2, there can be set every image the sheet size/type and the options of the image processes such as addition of a date, VIVID-photo, noise cancellation, automatic photograph correction, face-brightening correction, red-eye correction, etc. |
| US08248625B2 |
Preparation of aggregate jobs for production
System and method for automated scheduling and creation of gang shells specifying gangs of individual jobs for production to be created and produced in the future. Individual jobs and related production parameters and order information are retained electronically in a database of pending jobs awaiting production. Based on production capacity at the production facility and the production parameters of the individual pending jobs in the database, a plurality of gang shells having defined production parameters, but not having specific individual jobs associated therewith, are defined and used for scheduling equipment and personnel at the production facility during a work shift or other desired period of time. The specific individual jobs for a gang are selected from the database relatively shortly prior to the gang's scheduled production time. |
| US08248623B2 |
Printing apparatus
A printing apparatus, comprising: a printing unit that prints an image on a recording medium in a color mode or a monochrome mode based on a first job; a switching unit that performs a switching operation to switch between the color mode upon printing a color page and the monochrome mode upon printing a monochrome page; a first computing unit that computes, based on a switching time required for the switching operation, the maximum number of switching actions at which a printing turnaround time from a printing start time to a printing stop time is not more than a first time limit from the printing start time to a predetermined time limit; and a first limiting unit that restricts the switching operation based on a number of switching actions determined by the first computing unit. |
| US08248621B2 |
Method for optical characterisation
An optical characterization method of repeat units forming a diffraction structure, each repeat unit including a geometric pattern produced, at least in part, using a porous material, the method including: determining the geometric parameters of the patterns; performing a scatterometric acquisition using an optical measurement system of the experimental optical response of the diffraction structure placed in a chamber at a given pressure, a presence of an adsorbable gaseous substance in the chamber causing condensation of the adsorbable gaseous substance in a part of open pores of the patterns; and determining a theoretical optical response of the diffraction structure from the determined geometric parameters and by adjusting an optical index of the material of an area of each of the patterns, in which the adsorbable gaseous substance has condensed, to make a difference between the experimental response and the theoretical response less than or equal to a given threshold. |
| US08248614B2 |
Quantitative phase-imaging systems
An optical system performs imaging in a transmissive and reflective mode. The system includes an optical interferometer that generates interference phenomena between optical waves to measure multiple distances, thicknesses, and indices of refraction of a sample. Measurements are made through a galvanometer that scans a pre-programmed angular arc. An excitation-emission device allows an electromagnetic excitation and emission to pass through an objective in optical communication with the sample. An electromagnetic detector receives the output of the optical interferometer and the excitation-emission device to render a magnified three dimensional image of the sample. |
| US08248613B2 |
Capturing reflected light from a sampling surface
A mechanism is disclosed for capturing reflected rays from a surface. A first and second lens aligned along a same optical center axis are configured so that a beam of light collimated parallel to the lens center axis directed to a first side, is converged toward the lens center axis on a second side. A first light beam source between the first and second lenses directs a light beam toward the first lens parallel to the optical center axis. Second light beam source(s) on the second side of the first lens, direct a light beam toward a focal plane of the first lens at a desired angle. An image capturing component, at the second side of the second lens, has an image capture surface directed toward the second lens to capture images of the light reflected from a sample capture surface at the focal plane of the first lens. |
| US08248611B2 |
Handheld optical measuring device and method of use
Embodiments provide a handheld optical measuring device and method of measuring an optical property of a liquid sample. In some embodiments the optical measuring device includes a handheld controller module having an immersible sensor head and a sampling member including a sample cup and an attachment member that couples the sample cup to the handheld controller module. In some embodiments the attachment member is an elongated rigid member that is hingedly coupled to the controller module, thus providing a folding configuration for enclosing the sensor head with the sample cup during measurements, transportation, and/or storage. In some embodiments the attached sample cup provides a protective shell for the immersible sensor head during use and/or when not in use. |
| US08248609B2 |
Cylindrical illumination confocal spectroscopy system
A cylindrical illumination confocal spectroscopy system has a fluidic device having a fluid channel defined therein, an objective lens unit arranged proximate the fluidic device, an illumination system in optical communication with the objective lens unit to provide light to illuminate a sample through the objective lens unit, and a detection system in optical communication with the objective lens unit to receive at least a portion of light that passes through the objective lens unit from the sample. The illumination system includes a beam-shaping lens unit constructed and arranged to provide a substantially planar illumination beam that subtends across, and is longer than, a lateral dimension of the fluid channel. |
| US08248608B2 |
Imprint lithography
A method of determining the location of a lithographic substrate relative to an imprint template is disclosed. The method includes positioning the substrate adjacent to the imprint template such that an alignment grating on the substrate and an alignment grating on the imprint template form a composite diffraction grating, directing alignment radiation beam comprising radiation at a first wavelength and radiation at a second wavelength, the second wavelength being longer than the first wavelength, at the composite diffraction grating, detecting radiation diffracted from the composite grating during relative lateral movement between the imprint template and the substrate, using the detected radiation at the second wavelength to obtain information regarding a separation between the substrate alignment grating and the imprint template alignment grating, and using the detected radiation at the first wavelength to obtain information regarding the lateral position of the substrate alignment grating relative to the imprint template alignment grating. |
| US08248604B2 |
Flow cytometer and flow cell for the same
An apparatus for measuring a particle in a liquid, the apparatus having a function that, using a flow channel into which a sample liquid containing a particle is introduced, a pair of flow channels into which a sheath liquid is introduced, the pair of the flow channels being arranged on the opposite sides of the flow channel and joined, and a flow channel in which these flow channels are joined and the sample liquid and the sheath liquid on the opposite sides of the sample liquid flow, applies laser light to a particle flowing in a flow channel in the flow cell, detects scattered light or fluorescence generated from the particle and analyzes the particle. |
| US08248597B2 |
Method, system, and compositions for cell counting and analysis
The present invention provides a low cost imaged-based system for detecting, measuring and/or counting labeled features of biological samples, particularly blood specimens. In one aspect, the invention includes a system for imaging multiple features of a specimen that includes one or more light sources capable of successively generating illumination beams each having a distinct wavelength band and a plurality of differentially excitable labels capable of labeling a specimen comprising multiple features, such that each different feature is labeled with a different differentially excitable label. System of the invention may further include a controller operationally associated with the one or more light sources for successively directing illumination beams onto the specimen so that each of the different differentially excitable labels is successively caused to emit an optical signal within the same wavelength band, an optical system capable of collecting such emitted optical signals and forming successive images corresponding to the labeled features of the specimen on a light-responsive surface to form successive sets of image data thereof, and a disposable cuvette for collection and optical analysis of non-red blood cells. |
| US08248596B2 |
Cryostat
A cryostat includes: a casing having an inlet port and exit port; a cell housing provided in the casing; a temperature controller for adjusting the temperature of the cell; a first optical path tube for guiding a light beam from the inlet port of the casing to the cell housing; a second optical path tube for guiding the light beam having passed through the cell housing to the exit port of the casing; first and second optical windows disposed at openings, exposed to the outside, of the first and second optical path tubes, respectively; and sealing materials having a water vapor transmission rate of 30000 cc·cm2·mm·sec·cm Hg×1010 or lower, disposed at the peripheries of the first and second optical windows to seal the first and second optical path tubes. |
| US08248595B2 |
Laser-based maintenance apparatus for inspecting flaws based on a generated surface wave
A surface inspecting method including irradiating a laser light to a test object to generate an ultrasonic wave, irradiating a second laser light at a position apart by a known distance from a position where the laser light is irradiated and receiving a reflection light thereof, and correcting a generation surface wave of a received ultrasonic wave by using an ultrasonic wave other than the generation surface wave to thereby detect a flaw of the test object. A characterization of the generation surface wave is divided or integrated by the same characterization of the ultrasonic wave other than the generation surface wave included in an output signal to obtain a performance index value and obtain a depth of the flaw by applying the performance index value to a calibration curve in which a corresponding relation between the performance index value and the depth of the flaw is obtained preliminarily. |
| US08248592B2 |
Defect inspection system
In a defect inspection system using a plurality of detectors such as an upright detector and an oblique detector, if illumination light and wafer height are adjusted to the detection field of view of one detector, a defocused image is detected by other remaining detectors, resulting in degradation of the detection sensitivity. The present invention solves this problem.When a plurality of detectors such as an upright detector and an oblique detector are used in the defect inspection system, the reduction of the inspection sensitivity can be prevented by correcting the field positions of the other remaining detectors with respect to the field of view of the one detector. Further, the variation in optical axis for each inspection system due to the variation in parts and assembly errors can be reduced. |
| US08248589B2 |
Phase based sensing
A method of interrogating a phase based transducer by providing a pulsed input including two different wavelengths in which the different wavelength components can be used to derive a phase change experienced by a synthetic wavelength, and by arranging for the synthetic wavelength to be significantly greater that the component wavelengths, the phase so detected has a reduced sensitivity, and is less susceptible to overscaling effects. |
| US08248584B2 |
Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
An apparatus comprises a grouping unit dividing substrates into groups, and determining reference and non-reference substrates for each group, a measurement unit measuring a first number of points for the reference substrate, and measuring a second number, smaller than the first number, of points for the non-reference substrate, a correction value determining unit determining a first correction value to position the reference substrate, and a second correction value to position the non-reference substrate, and an exposure unit exposing the reference substrate by positioning it based on the first correction value, and exposing the non-reference substrate by positioning it based on the second correction value, the correction value determining unit determining the first correction value based on the measurement of the reference substrate, and determining the second correction value based on the measurement of the non-reference substrate, and the measurement of the reference substrate or the first correction value. |
| US08248580B2 |
Scanning exposure apparatus and method of manufacturing device
A scanning exposure apparatus (300) includes a first stage (325), a second stage (345), a projection optical system (330), a first measurement unit (20) arranged on the second stage (345), and a controller (350). A measurement mask (10) is arranged on the first stage (325). The first measurement unit (20) includes a light-shielding member having an opening, and measures the intensity of light having passed through the opening in a light intensity distribution formed on the light-shielding member when at least one of the first stage (325) and the second stage (345) is scanned and a measurement pattern of the measurement mask (10) is obliquely illuminated. The controller (350) calculates the defocus amount, while at least one of the first stage (325) and the second stage (345) is scanned, based on a temporal change in the light intensity measured by the first measurement unit (20). |
| US08248579B2 |
Lithographic apparatus, device manufacturing method and device for correcting overlay errors between overlapping patterns
A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam, a support for a patterning device, a substrate table for a substrate, a projection system, and a control system. The patterning device is capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam. The projection system is configured to project the patterned radiation beam as an image onto a target portion of the substrate along a scan path. The scan path is defined by a trajectory in a scanning direction of an exposure field of the lithographic apparatus. The control system is coupled to the support, the substrate table and the projection system for controlling an action of the support, the substrate table and the projection system, respectively. The control system is configured to correct a local distortion of the image in a region along the scan path by a temporal adjustment of the image in that region. |
| US08248578B2 |
Projection exposure method and projection exposure system therefor
In a projection exposure method, primary radiation having a center wavelength λ is generated and guided through an illumination system along an illumination path and through a projection system along a projection path. The center wavelength is varied within a wavelength variation range Δλ having a lower limit λMIN≦λ and an upper limit λMAX≧λ. A specific absorption coefficient k(λ) of at least one gaseous absorbent species selected from the group consisting of oxygen (O2), ozone (O3) and water vapor (H2O) present in at least one gas-filled space along at least one of the illumination path and the projection path varies between a minimum absorption coefficient kMIN and a maximum absorption coefficient kMAX within the wavelength variation range such that an absorption ratio (kMAX/kMIN) exceeds 10. A concentration of the absorbent species within the gas-filled space is controlled such that an overall absorption variation effected by the absorbent species for all rays running along differing ray paths towards the image field is maintained below a predetermined absorption variation threshold value. |
| US08248576B2 |
Double-layer liquid crystal lens apparatus
A double-layer liquid crystal lens apparatus having two liquid lens structures is provided. A driving voltage of each liquid crystal lens structure is controlled by an active device disposed thereon. When an incident light is passing through the liquid crystal lens structures, the optical path difference of the incident light is compensated by the liquid crystal lens structures, so that the double-layer liquid crystal lens apparatus performs the focusing function well without using a polarizer. Applying a suitable driving voltage on each of the active devices, the double-layer liquid crystal lens apparatus has a function of modulating focal length focusing/diverging the light, like a convex lens or a concave lens. |
| US08248570B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
One embodiment, among others, of a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal material and a plurality of spacers. The first substrate and the second substrate are joined with each other to form a cavity for receiving the liquid crystal material. The spacers are disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and have a two-stage elastic constant. |
| US08248569B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a display panel, and a semiconductor chip having plural bump electrodes and mounted on a substrate constituting the display panel. The plural bump electrodes include a first bump electrode arranged in the vicinity of a center for a longitudinal direction of the semiconductor chip, and a second bump electrode arranged in the vicinity of an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip has one or more than one conductive layer inside. Assuming that a surface of the semiconductor chip having the bump electrodes formed thereon is a lower side, the number of the conductive layers formed on the second bump electrode is greater than the number of the conductive layers formed on the first bump electrode. The conductive layer formed on the first and the second bump electrode includes a dummy conductive layer. Further, the plural bump electrodes are electrically connected to a wiring layer formed on a substrate constituting the display panel through an anisotropic conductive film. |
| US08248567B2 |
Display device with dummy signal line having a bend
A display device includes a display drain signal line which belongs to a display pixel is connected to a pixel electrode via a TFT, a first dummy drain signal line which belongs to a dummy pixel is connected to a dummy pixel electrode via a TFT, and a second dummy drain signal line is disposed outside of the dummy pixel. The second dummy drain signal line is not connected to a dummy pixel electrode. |
| US08248557B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus with a light-weight power providing unit that can be easily incorporated within an acceptable fastening-error range is disclosed. The display apparatus includes a display panel that displays an image, a backlight assembly that provides the display panel with light, a rear cover that is coupled to the backlight assembly and has a guide unit formed thereon, wherein the guide unit protrudes from a bottom surface of the rear cover by a predetermined height, and a top-receiving container that has an inner space to receive the display panel and the backlight assembly and that is combined with the rear cover. There is also a power providing unit that provides the backlight assembly with driving power. The power providing unit is coupled to the rear cover at a position guided by the guide unit. |
| US08248556B2 |
Backlight systems for liquid crystal displays
A backlight system for a liquid crystal display includes a substantially planar, refractive waveguide having a first major face and a second major face opposite the first major face. The waveguide includes a viewable region corresponding to a viewable area of the liquid crystal display. The system further includes a light source positioned proximate to the second major face and within the viewing region for producing light. An injection feature is proximate to one or more of the second major face and the first major face and within the viewing region to optically couple the light into the waveguide such that the light becomes waveguided light. A plurality of extraction features is proximate to one or more of the second major face and the first major face and within the viewing region to optically couple the waveguided light out of the waveguide. |
| US08248552B2 |
Pixel array, polymer stabilized alignment liquid crystal display panel, and electro-optical apparatus
A pixel array including first scan lines, second scan lines, data lines, sub-pixels, and common lines is provided. Each of the sub-pixels includes a first switch, a second switch, a first pixel electrode, a second pixel electrode, and a third switch. The first switch and the second switch are electrically connected to the same scan line and same data line, the first pixel electrode is electrically connected to the first switch, the second pixel electrode is electrically connected to the second switch, and the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode are disposed at opposite sides of the first scan line. Furthermore, the third switch has a capacitance coupling portion extending under the first pixel electrode in the neighboring sub-pixel such that a voltage adjusting capacitor is formed by the capacitance coupling portion and one of the common lines in the neighboring sub-pixel. |
| US08248551B2 |
Semiconductor device including capacitor line parallel to source line
A first insulating thin film having a large dielectric constant such as a silicon nitride film is formed so as to cover a source line and a metal wiring that is in the same layer as the source line. A second insulating film that is high in flatness is formed on the first insulating film. An opening is formed in the second insulating film by etching the second insulating film, to selectively expose the first insulating film. A conductive film to serve as a light-interruptive film is formed on the second insulating film and in the opening, whereby an auxiliary capacitor of the pixel is formed between the conductive film and the metal wiring with first the insulating film serving as a dielectric. The effective aperture ratio can be increased by forming the auxiliary capacitor in a selected region where the influences of alignment disorder of liquid crystal molecules, i.e., disclination, are large. |
| US08248550B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate which comprises a plurality of pixels where a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the thin film transistor are formed, the first substrate including a gate line and a data line which insulatingly intersect each other; and a gate driver which applies a gate driving signal to the gate line, the thin film transistor including a gate electrode which is connected to the gate line; a source electrode which is connected to the data line; and a drain electrode which is connected to the pixel electrode, and the pixels being decreased in a value of Cp/(Cp+Clc+Cst) as going toward the gate driver (where, Cp: a sum of parasitic capacity between the gate electrode and the source electrode and parasitic capacity between the gate electrode and the drain electrode, Clc: liquid crystal capacity, and Cst: storage capacity). |
| US08248549B2 |
Liquid crystal display device, display device and manufacturing method thereof
Image display device having an electrode forming layer which includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of drain lines, a plurality of switching elements and the a plurality of pixel electrodes, and having reference electrode layer between the electrode forming layer and a substrate where the electrode forming layer formed thereon, and the reference electrode layer and the electrode forming layer are insulated by insulating layer. |
| US08248547B2 |
Vertical electric field type liquid crystal display and driving method comprising applying a format voltage and a driving voltage to a liquid crystal without an alignment layer
The invention relates to a vertical electric field type of the liquid crystal display and a driving method. The method comprising: during displaying each picture, driving first pixel and second pixel at adjacent two rows and the same column, comprising: step 101 of applying a format voltage to the first pixel and vertically arranging liquid crystal in the first pixel to form brightness mode; step 102 of applying a driving voltage to the first pixel to display a picture; step 103 of applying a format voltage to the second pixel and vertically arranging a liquid crystal in the second pixel to form brightness mode; step 104 of applying a driving voltage to second pixel to display a picture. The driving method employs a format voltage to form a brightness mode and employs a driving voltage to display a picture, enabling to form a brightness mode without alignment film. |
| US08248546B2 |
Electronic blind and method for manufacturing electronic blind
An electronic blind and method for manufacturing an electronic blind, for whole or partial area light control management includes a pair of substrates, polymer/liquid crystal composite material sandwiched between the pair of substrates, and a pair of electrodes formed on an opposing surface of the pair of substrates. One electrode of the pair of electrodes is patterned over one substrate in line form at intervals from one side to the other side of the substrate, and an other electrode of the pair of electrodes is formed over the entire surface of another substrate. |
| US08248545B2 |
Projector
A projector includes: a light source; a polarization conversion unit that converts the light flux from the light source into polarized light having a plane of polarization parallel to a first direction; a color separation/light guiding system including a separating surface and at least one optical-path deflecting mirror; and a plurality of light modulators, wherein the separating surface is disposed in such a way that the plane of incidence of the polarized light with respect to the separating surface is perpendicular to the first direction, and the at least one optical-path deflecting mirror is disposed in such a way that the plane of incidence of the corresponding polarized light flux from the separating surface with respect to the optical-path deflecting mirror is parallel to the first direction. |
| US08248544B2 |
Camera module with liquid crystal module
An exemplary camera module, includes a lens group, an image sensor, and a liquid crystal module disposed between the lens group and the image sensor. The liquid crystal module includes a first glass substrate adjacent to the image sensor, an opposite second glass substrate, a plurality of liquid crystal molecules arranged between the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate, a first transparent electrode layer formed on the first glass substrate and facing the liquid crystal molecules, and a second transparent electrode layer formed on the second glass substrate and facing the liquid crystal molecules. The liquid crystal molecules are configured for adjusting light path of the light transmitting therethrough in response to an electric field between the first and second transparent electrode layers, thus adjusting depth of field of the camera module. |
| US08248543B2 |
Swivel overhead video display screen with driver distraction interlock
A vehicle having an overhead video display screen system includes a rear video screen that is swivelable between a rearward facing and a forward facing configuration. The vehicle further includes a second row of seats that can be swiveled to view the rear video screen when it is facing forward. The vehicle may further include a forward video screen configured to block a driver's rearview of the rear screen when in the forward facing configuration. A driver distraction interlock system is provided in communication with the rear screen and the forward screen to prevent video from being displayed on the rear screen if the rear screen is viewable by the driver in his or her rearview mirror. In a preferred method, video can be displayed on a front facing rear screen when the forward screen is deployed thereby obstructing the driver from being able to see the rear screen. |
| US08248542B2 |
Table type large-size imaging apparatus
A table type large-size imaging apparatus in which an imaging screen and a reflector are installed in front and rear end positions of a table type case with an inclination angle that extends in directions downwardly away from the upper surface. The reflector and imaging screen are arranged to then reflect an image in a direction parallel to an upper surface of the table type case to allow a viewer to watch an image formed on the screen through a transparent window provided at a top of the table type case. The viewer's watching distance and the image projection distance are overlapped within the table type case, to achieve a maximum screen size with a minimum table size. With this configuration, a viewer who is located close to the imaging apparatus in the form of a table is able to appreciate the vivid large-size image with a downward viewing angle. |
| US08248540B2 |
Broadcast signal receiving apparatus
In a broadcast signal receiving apparatus, a remote controller has, as one of a plurality of buttons thereof, a state changing button for instructing to change a source to be reproduced by a main body. The main body or the remote controller has a memory storing a first state changing table indicating an order in which the source is changed. When the state changing button is operated, if the broadcast signal is being received by the tuner portion and reproduced as the source, the main body performs state change such that the first source in the first state changing table is specified as the source to be reproduced by the main body. |
| US08248538B2 |
System and apparatus for selectively terminating a video signal based on the presence or absence of a terminating device
A system and apparatus are provided for selectively terminating an analog video signal depending on whether or not a terminating device is present. A conditional terminator receives an analog video signal from a video input and terminates the video signal in the absence of a terminating device and does not terminate the video signal when a terminating device is connected to the analog video signal. A conditional terminator may comprise a resistor and transistor connecting the video signal to ground when a ground signal from a terminating device is not present and disconnecting the signal from ground as a result of the presence of a ground signal from a connected terminating device. The conditional termination may occur in a video input device or alternatively in a video cable connector. |
| US08248532B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a content control signal via color burst phase modifications
The “color stripe” process is well known in the video field for preventing copying by analog video tape recorders of video content, and operates by altering the phase of a portion of the video signal color burst. Here, a weakened version of the color stripe process is employed in a video signal whereby the color burst phase alterations are reduced or attenuated so there is no copy prevention effect on a typical video tape recorder. However the weakened color stripe process is still sufficient to be detectable by a suitable detector located in a compliant device, so the detected presence of the color stripe serves as an encoded indication of copy control or other content control for the video signal by the compliant device. |
| US08248529B2 |
Method and associated device for displaying caption windows in television
A method for displaying caption windows in a TV system is provided. The method includes steps of receiving a first window-defining command at a first time point, receiving a second window-defining command at a second time point, and determining an output state of the window-defining commands according to a comparison result between a first global priority value corresponding to the first window-defining command and a second global priority value corresponding to the second window-defining command. The first global priority value includes a first priority value of the first window-defining command and a first age parameter. The second global priority value includes a second priority value of the second window-defining command and a second age parameter. The first and second age parameters are associated with a sequence of the first and second time points. |
| US08248527B2 |
Method and system for video overlay on film detection on progressive video input
A video processor receives an interlaced video comprising source video content and video overlay content. A progressive video of the received interlaced video is used for video overlay detection. The received interlaced video is deinterlaced and converted to a high frame-rate progressive video for display. Video overlay detection and frame based cadence detection are performed independently during frame-rate conversion. Candidate cadences are detected for each video frame. Decisions on final cadences for each video frame are made based on the detected candidate cadences and the detected video overlay content. A frame-rate upconversion is performed according to the final cadence detection decisions. Video frame differences between each video frame and associated adjacent video frames are generated for video overlay detection. Pixel values per line are integrated for each generated video frame difference. An overlay detection vector is formed for each video frame via an element-wise min-operation and refined temporally and/or spatially. |
| US08248526B2 |
Imaging module
An imaging module includes an imaging substrate mounting an imaging device thereon, a resin holder including a substrate securing portion to which the imaging substrate is secured, a lens support barrel supporting a lens at an inside thereof, and a holding portion which protrudes toward a subject from the substrate securing portion and includes a through hole configured to permit retention of the holder in an external structure, a metal securing member disposed at a side of the substrate securing portion of the holder facing a subject, and a metal holding plate including a securing region which is secured to and electrically connected to the securing member, and a holding portion adjacent region which overlaps a part around the through hole of the holding portion and includes a through hole configured to communicate with the through hole. |
| US08248519B2 |
Brightness adjusting system and method thereof and electronic device using same
A brightness adjusting system for an image of an object captured by a camera includes a plurality of light sources configured for emitting light to the object, a driving device driving the light sources to emit the light, and an adjustment device electrically connected to the camera and the driving device. The adjustment device pre-stores a plurality of standard brightness value ranges, analyzes a brightness distribution of the image, compares the brightness distribution of the image with the standard brightness value ranges, determines required adjustment of the brightness distribution of the image according to the comparison, and directs the driving device to drive the light sources to emit the light with a required intensity according to the required adjustment of the brightness distribution of the image. |
| US08248513B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, image capturing apparatus, image capturing method, and computer readable medium
Provided is an image processing apparatus comprising an image acquiring section that acquires an image captured through an optical system having an optical transfer function that depends at least on distance to an object point, the optical system holding spread of light from the object point substantially constant regardless of the distance to the object point; an image processing section that applies a correction process for correcting the spread of light to the image, based on the optical transfer function of the optical system; and an image generating section that generates a composite image by superimposing, onto each other, a plurality of corrected images generated by the image processing section applying, to the image, different correction processes corresponding to different optical transfer functions. |
| US08248511B2 |
Dual-mode extended depth-of-field imaging systems
A digital-optical imaging system can be operated in two modes, which shall be referred to as broadband mode and grayscale mode. In broadband mode, different color images are captured and then image processed together. The optics are intentionally aberrated to increase the depth of field, with the image processing compensating for the aberrations. In grayscale mode, the different color images are captured and then image processed separately. The color images are assumed to be correlated so that it is not necessary to have clear images of all color channels. Accordingly, the optics are designed so that the different color images focus at different locations, thus increasing the overall depth of field where at least one color image is in focus. |
| US08248496B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image sensor
An image processing apparatus includes a unit to obtain mosaic image data by shooting a subject with use of a color image sensor in which five or more kinds of color filters are arranged in front of an image pickup device; a first interpolator to perform interpolation to color information of a high-definition color filter, in regard to the obtained mosaic image data; and a second interpolator to perform interpolation to color information of a low-definition color filter of which a peak wavelength in spectral transmittance is adjacent to that of the high-definition color filter, by using a result of the interpolation by the first interpolator, wherein the mosaic image data is image data which has one color information for each pixel, and the five or more kinds of color filters include the plural high-definition color filters and the plural low-definition color filters, thereby performing demosaicing without deteriorating definition. |
| US08248495B2 |
Image picking-up processing device, image picking-up device, image processing method and computer program
An image processing device and an image processing method capable of generating a moving image having a high resolution and a high frame rate are provided by suppressing the reduction in the amount of incident light on each camera. The imaging and processing device includes a separation section for separating visible light into at least a first color component and a second color component; a first imaging section for taking a moving image of the first color component, wherein the first imaging section takes images of the moving image with a first spatial resolution and a first temporal resolution by exposure for a first charge accumulation time period; a second imaging section for taking a moving image of the second color component, wherein the second imaging section takes images of the moving image with a second spatial resolution higher than the first spatial resolution and a second temporal resolution lower than the first temporal resolution by exposure for a second charge accumulation time period longer than the first charge accumulation time period; a control section for controlling imaging conditions of the first and the second imaging sections; and a processing section for generating a moving image of the second component having the temporal and spatial resolutions thereof increased, based on information on the moving image of each of the first color component and the second color component. |
| US08248492B2 |
Edge preserving and tone correcting image processing apparatus and method
This present invention relates to an image processing apparatus capable of performing edge preserving smoothing processing with less operations, an image processing method, and a program. The block-histogram calculation unit 113 calculates the number of pixels, as a block histogram, included in each of luminance blocks which are obtained by dividing a luminance image in a spatial direction and a luminance direction. The block-integration value 115 calculates an integration value of luminance values of the pixels included in each of the luminance blocks as a block integration value. The weighted product-sum unit 117 calculates a general-luminance value representing average luminance of an object region to which a pixel being processed belongs using the block integration value, the block histogram, and the luminance value of the pixel being processed. This invention is applicable to digital video cameras. |
| US08248491B2 |
Moving image noise reduction processing apparatus, computer-readable recording medium on which moving image noise reduction processing program is recorded, and moving image noise reduction processing method
There is provided a moving image noise reduction processing apparatus for reducing noise in a digitalized time-series image signal, including: a spatial noise reduction unit applying spatial noise reduction processing to the image signal; a previous buffer unit storing an image signal to which at least the spatial noise reduction processing has been applied; and a temporal noise reduction unit performing temporal noise reduction processing based on an image signal to be processed to which the spatial noise reduction processing has been applied in the spatial noise reduction unit and an image signal which is stored in the previous buffer unit and is earlier than the image signal to be processed. |
| US08248482B2 |
Digital camera personalization
A method for optimizing a digital image acquired by a camera, according to the preference of the user of the camera, comprises determining the user's preferences based on user behavior in respect of one or more previously acquired images and thereafter changing one or more shooting parameter of the camera based on said behavior. |
| US08248476B2 |
Robust stereo calibration system and method for accurate digital image correlation measurements
A stereo calibration method is proposed to calibrate an interface's shape and position when the measurement system is in one media and measures deformation and strain of an object that is submerged in a different media. After the interface's shape and position are modeled by parameters, an explicit model of object points as measurement is established taking account of refraction happening at the interface. Efficiency and convergence are assured by using measurement of object points to acquire initial estimates for refraction angles at the interface. Then, an optimization method is performed to get the optimized value of interface parameters. Last, based on the resulting interface parameters, 3-dimensional positions of object points in all the subsequent measurement could be reconstructed accurately. Therefore, the distortion induced by refraction in the measurement is corrected. Numerical simulations of the proposed calibration process confirm that it is both robust and accurate for a range of experimental conditions, even in the presence of Gaussian noise in the measurement. |
| US08248475B2 |
Camera module and testing method thereof
A camera module includes an image capture unit used to capture at least one image of a subject. An image analysis unit is integrated in the camera module to analyze the quality of the image captured by the image capture unit to determine whether the camera module meets one or more preset requirements. The camera module further includes an output unit used to output one or more analysis results of the image analysis unit to determine whether the camera module meets preset capability requirements. |
| US08248468B2 |
Support stand and imaging measurement device using the same
A support stand includes a support member, and a connecting module assembled on the support member. The connecting module includes a first adjustment member, a first connection member rotatably connected to the first adjustment member, a second adjustment member assembled on the support member, a second connection member rotatably connected to the second adjustment member, and a fixing member connecting the first adjustment member and the second connection member. The connecting module further includes two first clamping members assembled on the first adjustment member to clamp the first connection member, and two second clamping members assembled on the second adjustment member to clamp the second connection member. The first and second clamping members are capable of adjusting the rotating angle of the first and second connection member around a first and second axis, respectively. An imaging measurement device utilizing the support stand is also provided. |
| US08248467B1 |
Light positioning system using digital pulse recognition
In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of detecting information transmitted by a light source in a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor by detecting a frequency of light pulses produced by the light source. In some embodiments, the method includes capturing on the CMOS image sensor with a rolling shutter an image in which different portions of the CMOS image sensor are exposed at different points in time; detecting visible distortions that include alternating stripes in the image; measuring a width of the alternating stripes present in the image; and selecting a symbol based on the width of the alternating stripes present in the image to recover information encoded in the frequency of light pulses produced by the light source captured in the image. |
| US08248465B2 |
Measuring endoscope apparatus and program
A measuring endoscope apparatus includes: an endoscope that performs photoelectric conversion of a subject image to generate an imaging signal; an imaging signal processing unit that processes the imaging signal to generate image data; a measurement unit that executes measurement based on a principle of triangulation using the image data; a display signal generating unit that generates a display signal for displaying a measurement result; a determination unit that determines the reliability of the measurement result on the basis of the image data; and a control unit that executes a control according to a determination result. |
| US08248462B2 |
Dynamic parallax barrier autosteroscopic display system and method
Embodiments of the invention provide a dynamic parallax barrier autostereoscopic system and method for one and multiple users with user tracking. One example embodiment of the invention is a dynamic parallax barrier autostereoscopic virtual reality display system includes a display including a front display plane and a rear display plane. The front display plane dynamically generates barrier strips with transparent regions therebetween. The rear display plane generates images viewable through the transparent regions to create a virtual reality effect for a user or users. |
| US08248461B2 |
Receiving system and method of processing data
A receiving system and a method of processing data are disclosed herein. The receiving system includes a receiving unit, a system information processor, a decoding unit, and a display unit. The receiving unit receives a broadcast signal including a 3D content and system information associated with the 3D content. The system information processor extracts identification information from the system information. Herein, the identification information may identify that the broadcast signal being received by the receiving unit includes the 3D content. The decoding unit decodes the received 3D content based upon transmission format information of the 3D content. Herein, the transmission format information may be included in the extracted identification information. And, the display unit displays the 3D content decoded by the decoding unit as a 3D image based upon a display method of a display device. |
| US08248454B2 |
Video display calibration system and method
A video display system includes a video display environment having a video display, a display sensor, oriented to view the display, and a display control system. The control system is controllable from outside the video display environment, and is interconnected with the video display and the display sensor. The control system is configured to receive a signal from the display sensor, and to calibrate a display parameter of the display in response to the signal. |
| US08248446B2 |
Rich media communication client device, method and computer program product
A method, computer program product, and system for initiating, routing and scheduling video conferences. A dial URL is introduced with a prefix unique for calling purposes. When a user activates such an URL in his web browser, a content handler associated with the browser will recognize the type of URL and send a request to a managing tool to determine an available calling route between the user's preferred end-point and the end-point being addressed in the URL with the required resources. The managing tool then schedules the resources and initiates the call between the end-points, thereby allowing for a one-click initiation of ad-hoc video calls and video conferences. |
| US08248442B2 |
Apparatus and method for side determination of optical disc
A side determination apparatus of an optical disc includes a light source illuminating one side of the optical disc having a data side and a non-data side obliquely; a sensor receiving a reflected light from the optical disc illuminated by the light source; and a determination unit determining that an incident light into the sensor is a reflected diffracted light from the data side of the optical disc based on a distribution of an output of the sensor onto a surface of the disc to determine the one side. |
| US08248440B2 |
Device, system and method for color display
A color Liquid Crystal display (LCD) device for displaying a color image using at least four different primary colors, the device including as array of Liquid Crystal (LC) elements, driving circuitry adapted to receive an input corresponding to the color image and to selectively activate the LC elements of the LC array to produce an attenuation pattern corresponding to a gray-level representation of the color image, and an array of color sub-pixel filter elements juxtaposed and in registry with the array of LC elements such that each color sub-pixel filter element is in registry with one of the LC elements, wherein the array of color sub-pixel filter elements comprises at least four types of color sub-pixel filter elements, which transmit light of the at least four primary colors, respectively. |
| US08248434B2 |
Image processing device, image display apparatus, and image processing method
An image processing device adapted to correct a pixel value corresponding to a sub-pixel constituting a pixel includes a displacement amount storage section adapted to store a displacement amount of a display position of a display sub-pixel corresponding to the sub-pixel constituting a display pixel in a reference position in a display image plane, and a pixel value correction section adapted to correct the pixel value of the sub-pixel corresponding to the display sub-pixel at an end of the display image plane in accordance with the displacement amount stored in the displacement amount storage section. |
| US08248432B2 |
Display apparatus and method of image enhancement thereof
A method of image enhancement includes acquiring color information from an image, determining a color distribution of the image based on the color information, and changing a brightness of the image based on the color distribution. |
| US08248431B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, program, and recording medium
An image processing apparatus is disclosed that includes an extraction unit extracting predetermined color areas from an input image, a calculation unit calculating each of representative colors of the extracted predetermined color areas, an evaluation unit evaluating whether hue values of the representative colors of the predetermined color areas are distributed in both directions from the hue value of a target color, and a color correcting unit, in which when it is determined that the hue values of the representative colors of the predetermined color areas are not distributed in both directions from the hue value of the target color, color correction is performed on the predetermined color areas. |
| US08248428B2 |
Parallel computation of computationally expensive parameter changes
One embodiment of the invention sets forth a graphics application configured to generate previews of a graphics object when a configurable parameter is modified. A computation engine computes the result of the modified parameter value and determines a set of additional parameter values based on configurable meta-data. The computation engine then computes results of each additional parameter value. Each computed result specifies a different change in the characteristic of the graphics object. The computation engine transmits the computed results to a preview generator, also included in the graphics application. For each computed result, the preview generator generates a preview of the graphics object that incorporates the change in the characteristic of the graphics object. The previews are transmitted to a preview pane for display. The user may then select one of the previews, and the parameter value of the configurable parameter is modified based on the selected preview. |
| US08248427B2 |
Screen display method, information processing apparatus, and computer program product
An image forming apparatus is connected to an information processing apparatus via a network. The image forming apparatus transmits setting information contained in a setting screen to the information processing apparatus and receives customized setting information generated by the information processing apparatus based on the setting information, whereby the setting screen is customized by the customized setting information. |
| US08248426B2 |
Image processing apparatus for displaying colors included in a color image and an image processing method, and a storage medium therefor
The present invention enables a user to easily identify individual colors included in a color image. Specifically, a color image is divided into two or more areas based on colors, and based on the feature values for the individual areas obtained by division, the order of the colors is changed. Then, the colors of the individual areas are displayed in accordance with the changed order. |
| US08248423B2 |
Strategies for processing media information using a plug-in processing module in a path-agnostic manner
A media processing framework includes multiple media processing paths. At least one of the media processing paths includes a media processing pipeline which is in-process with respect to an application which interacts with the media processing pipeline. At least one other of the media processing paths includes a media processing pipeline which is out-of-process with respect to the application. The application can specify a custom plug-in presenter module to be set in either the in-process media processing pipeline or the out-of-process media processing pipeline. The application need not be “aware” of the pipeline that is being used, whether the pipeline is in-process or out-of-process, or the security level that is applied to the media processing pipeline. Both the in-process and the out-of-process media processing pipelines can supply media information to a presentation processor, such as a compositing engine. |
| US08248413B2 |
Visual navigation system for endoscopic surgery
An endoscopic surgical navigation system comprises a data acquisition subsystem, a tracking subsystem, a registration subsystem, a data processing subsystem and a user interface subsystem. The data acquisition subsystem inputs intra-operative scan data from a medical scanning device during an endoscopic procedure. The tracking subsystem captures data representing positions and orientations of a flexible endoscope during the endoscopic procedure. The registration subsystem determines transformation parameters for coregistering the intra-operative scan data and the data indicative of positions and orientations of the endoscope. The data processing subsystem coregisters the intra-operative scan data and the data indicative of positions and orientations of the endoscope based on the transformation parameters and generates real-time image data representing 3D internal views of a body that are coregistered with live video from an endoscopic video camera. The user interface subsystem receives input from a user for controlling the system and provides output to the user. |
| US08248409B2 |
Point in polyhedron
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with determining whether a point is located in a polyhedron are described. One example method includes identifying a ray that connects a query point to a second point located outside a minimum bounding volume of a solid polyhedron without intersecting a vertex of the solid polyhedron. The method includes counting crossings of planar faces of the solid polyhedron by the ray. The crossings may be mid-face crossings, edge crossings, and/or coplanar crossings. The crossings are selectively counted based on whether the ray actually crosses a face, grazes a face without crossing it, or runs coplanar with a face without crossing another face. The method includes controlling an automated process based on whether first point is inside the solid polyhedron. |
| US08248408B2 |
Method for uniformizing surface normals of a three-dimensional model
A method for uniformizing surface normals of a three-dimensional model is provided. The method uniformizes the surface normals to surfaces in the three-dimensional model by determining intersection surfaces of each of the surfaces, and determining surfaces whose surface normals are to be reversed according to the intersection surfaces of each of the surfaces. The method may make surface normals consistent. |
| US08248400B2 |
Method and system for updating of displays showing deterministic content
A method and apparatus for displaying image data is disclosed. The method includes receiving one of a plurality of sets of stored image update data to be displayed on a display device, wherein each set corresponds to one image in a sequence of images and wherein the plurality of sets of image update data comprise information identifying pixels that change from a previous image in the sequence of images, wherein the display device comprises an array of bi-stable display elements. The method further includes updating a portion of the display device, the portion containing the pixels identified in the received set of stored image update data. |
| US08248395B2 |
Image display device
An image display device includes an image display panel (4) with an image detection function, and includes a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix and a plurality of photosensors (17) disposed in correspondence with the pixels in a display region. The pixels each have a plurality of sub-pixels (5), and a color filter in which colors of color layers are formed in correspondence with the sub-pixels (5) is provided. The photosensors (17) have an incident light wavelength characteristic in which a photoreception sensitivity to light that passes through, among the colors of color layers, the color layer whose color is most toward a short wavelength side is higher than a photoreception sensitivity to light that passes through, among the colors of color layers, the color layer whose color is most toward a long wavelength side, and the photosensors (17) are disposed such that, with respect to a thickness direction of the image display panel (4), photodetection regions (19) of the photosensors (17) overlap with, among the plurality of color layers, the color layer whose color is most toward the long wavelength side. The present invention enables reducing the reflection of a display image on sensor output caused by optical interference. |
| US08248393B2 |
Spectrum sequential display having reduced cross talk
A color display device, a drive circuit for a color display device, a method, a signal and a computer-readable medium for reducing electro-optical cross talk that occurs in a display that is operated in Spectrum Sequential mode is disclosed. The invention eliminates annoying visible artifacts, such as contouring, noise, or color deviation, which normally are introduced by this cross talk by compensating for the cross talk. According to embodiments of the invention, a drive signal (R′,G′,B′) to drive picture elements of the display is altered in video processing circuitry (MPC, XTC, SC) and/or software, in dependence on one or more properties of different spectra from a light source (23, 24) in the display. The invention is implemented with little extra effort and cost in known LCD displays. |
| US08248388B2 |
Touch screen panel
A touch screen panel is disclosed, which is capable of sensing an exact position touched by a user or instrument, or a pressured applied to the touched position, wherein the touch screen panel comprises a core including a plurality of horizontal and vertical lines provided in a grid shape, wherein the core has a first refractive index, and an upper surface of the core is exposed to the atmosphere; an intermediate clad formed between each of gaps included in the core, wherein the intermediate clad has a second refractive index which is lower than the first refractive index, and a height of the intermediate clad is identical to a height of the core; an optical source configured to apply an optical signal to an input end of each of the plurality of horizontal and vertical lines; and a plurality of receivers configured to sense an intensity of the optical signal passing through an output end of each of the plurality of horizontal and vertical lines, the optical signal applied by the optical source. |
| US08248387B1 |
Efficient buffering of data frames for multiple clients
The efficient buffering of image data for a plurality of clients is disclosed. One disclosed embodiment comprises an optical touch-sensitive device configured to receive changed portions of a frame of data from a touch data acquisition system comprising a touch-sensitive display, to store the changed portions of the frame of data in a common data frame buffer, and to receive a bitmap header from the touch data acquisition system that specifies locations of the changed portions of the frame of data and store the bitmap header in each of a plurality of client header buffers. Clients can first obtain the bitmap header from buffers corresponding to those clients, and then obtain the changed portions of the frame of data from the common data frame buffer. |
| US08248386B2 |
Hand-held device with touchscreen and digital tactile pixels
A hand-held electronic device is disclosed. The device may comprise a case case having one or more major surfaces; a touch screen disposed on one of the major surfaces, the touch screen; a processor operably coupled to the touch screen; and one or more tactile pixels disposed proximate the touch screen. Each of the tactile pixels includes an actuatable portion coupled to an actuator and a sensor. The actuator and sensor are coupled to the processor. The actuator is configured to actuate in response to instructions from the processor and the sensor is configured to generate signals as inputs to one or more programs executed by the processor when pressure is applied to the actuatable portion. The actuatable portion is actuatable by the actuator between first and second positions. A tactile feel of the actuatable portion is different in the first and second positions. |
| US08248384B2 |
Touch screen region selecting method
A touch screen region selecting method implemented by a central processing unit (CPU), wherein the touch screen senses and recognizes tracks of two line-drawing touches simultaneously performed thereon. The method comprises: receiving the two line-drawing touches and displaying two lines via the CPU, identifying start points and terminal points of the two lines via the CPU, connecting the start point and the terminal point of each line to generate a first line and a second line respectively via the CPU, connecting the start points of the two lines to generate a third line, and connecting the terminal points of the two lines to generate a fourth line via the CPU, identifying a region framed by the first line, the second line, the third line, and the fourth line, obtaining displayed contents, and performing an operation for the displayed contents via the CPU. |
| US08248381B2 |
Touch panel and display device using the same
A touch panel includes a substrate, a transparent conductive layer, and at least two electrodes. The transparent conductive layer is disposed on the substrate. The at least two electrodes is separately disposed, and electrically connected with the transparent conductive layer. At least one of the electrodes includes a carbon nanotube layer. Further a display device using the above-described touch panel is also included. |
| US08248378B2 |
Touch panel and display device using the same
An exemplary touch panel includes a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate separated from the first electrode plate. The first electrode plate includes a first substrate and a first conductive layer located on a lower surface of the first substrate. The second electrode plate includes a second substrate and a second conductive layer located on an upper surface of the second substrate. Each of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer includes a plurality of carbon nanotube string-shaped structures. A display device incorporates the touch panel and also includes a display element adjacent to the touch panel. |
| US08248377B2 |
Touch panel
A touch panel includes a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate separated from the first electrode plate. The first electrode plate includes a first substrate and a first conductive layer disposed on a lower surface of the first substrate. The second electrode plate includes a second substrate and a second conductive layer disposed on an upper surface of the second substrate. The first conductive layer and the second conductive layer include a carbon nanotube film respectively. |
| US08248374B2 |
Keyboard and method for self-defining keys on the keyboard
A keyboard includes a storage unit, a format generating unit, a character recognizing unit and an assigning unit. The storage unit is configured for storing a plurality of codes, each of the codes corresponds to a character assigned to a key on the keyboard. The format generating unit is configured for analyzing a digital picture reflecting a desired layout of keys on the keyboard and generating a location matrix of the desired layout according to the digital picture and the location matrix. The character recognizing unit is configured for recognizing the characters in the desired layout according to the digital picture and the location matrix. The assigning unit is configured for assigning the codes stored in the storage unit corresponding to the recognized characters to the corresponding keys, based upon the location matrix of the desired layout. |
| US08248373B2 |
Contextual control of dynamic input device
A computing system includes one or more input-device user-interface runtime applications to dynamically display images on a dynamic input device. The one or more input-device user-interface runtime applications are executed in a currently active desktop. The computing system further includes a dominant application configured to execute in the currently active desktop. The dominant application is configured to specify an input-device user-interface runtime application corresponding to a current context of the dominant application. The specified input-device user-interface runtime application is configured to dynamically display virtual controls on the dynamic input device. The specified input-device user-interface runtime application is also configured to report activation of the virtual controls to the dominant application. |
| US08248368B2 |
Silent mouse
A computer mouse includes a casing, a skidding pad and a cushion member. The casing has a bottom surface and a side surface adjacent to a peripheral of the bottom surface. The skidding pad is applied on the bottom surface of the casing for sliding upon a working surface. The cushion member is formed at a corner defined between the bottom surface and the side surface of the casing. Additionally, when the computer mouse is stand still on the working surface, only the skidding pad is in contact with the working surface. |
| US08248364B1 |
Seeing with your hand
The disclosure describes methods and systems for gathering and conveying information, for example, such as with a hand of a user. In one embodiment, the method may include using a detector to record a series of images of an environment and detecting a predetermined motion by comparing two or more images in the series. The method may include selecting a function based on the predetermined motion and triggering the function. In another embodiment, the method may include using a first detector to record a first series of images of an environment and using a second detector to record a second series of images of an environment. The method may include detecting a predetermined relative motion by comparing one or more images from the first series with one or more images from the second series, and selecting and/or triggering a function based on the predetermined relative motion. |
| US08248361B2 |
Display control apparatus and method, and program
The present invention relates to a display control apparatus and method, and a program which make it possible to prevent deterioration in image quality due to insufficient luminance of light from a backlight.A backlight luminance calculating section (121) finds the backlight luminance of light to be radiated by a backlight, on the basis of the image signal of a display image. A moving image determining section (122) determines whether or not the display image is a moving image on the basis of the image signal. A correction value calculating section (123) increases the last correction value by a predetermined value to obtain a new correction value when the display image is a moving image, and decreases the last correction value by a predetermined value to obtain a new correction value when the display image is a still image. An addition section (124) adds the correction value to the backlight luminance to correct the backlight luminance. The present invention can be applied to a liquid crystal display apparatus. |
| US08248360B2 |
Backlight control device and display apparatus including the same
One embodiment of the present invention discloses a backlight control device that provides PWM control inverters with PWM signals generated in accordance with a dimming level input through a light receiving section that receives infrared light, the inverters causing fluorescent lamps that emit visible light and infrared light to illuminate. The backlight control device includes a phase adjusting section that changes a phase difference between a first PWM signal for driving a first lamp group and a second PWM signal for driving a second lamp group according to the dimming level when the dimming level is at least in a predetermined range of all dimming levels, the first and second lamp groups each including at least one lamp. This provides a backlight control device that enables reduction of faulty operation in an infrared-based apparatus. |
| US08248359B2 |
Display apparatus and driving method therefor
A display apparatus includes a display section, a backlight, and a drive section. The display section is formed from a liquid crystal display apparatus of the transmission type having a display area formed from pixels arranged in a matrix. The backlight is formed from a plurality of light source units disposed individually corresponding to a plurality of display area units which form the display area and configured to illuminate the back side of the display section. The drive section is configured to drive the display section and the backlight based on input signals from the outside. The drive section includes a control section configured to control a light emitting state of the light source unit corresponding to each of the display area units based on a display area unit internal maximum input signal which indicates a maximum value from among the input signals corresponding to the display area unit. |
| US08248357B2 |
Pixel driving circuit and a display device having the same
A pixel driving circuit includes a first driver and a second driver. The first gate driver includes a plurality of stage units connected to odd-numbered gate lines. The second gate driver includes a plurality of stage units connected to even-numbered gate lines. Each of the stage units of the first and second gate drivers includes an input unit, a first signal output unit, and a second signal output unit. The input unit outputs a driving control signal according to a previous stage driving signal output from the previous stage unit and a next stage driving signal output from the next stage unit. The first signal output unit outputs a stage driving signal according to the driving control signal and a driving clock signal. The second signal output unit outputs a gate voltage signal to the corresponding gate line according to the driving control signal and a gate clock signal. |
| US08248356B2 |
Driving circuit for detecting line short defects
For detecting line short defects in a display panel, a driving circuit has a plurality of shift registers, a plurality of diode modules, and at least one power supply. Each shift register has an output port for outputting a driving signal sequentially. The diode modules are coupled to the output ports of the shift registers accordingly. The power supply is coupled to the diode modules and forward biases the diode modules to bypass the shift registers during at least a part of a period of detecting line short defects. |
| US08248355B2 |
Shift register and liquid crystal display using same
The present invention relates to a shift register and a liquid crystal display using the same. The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal panel, a data driving circuit and a scanning driving circuit. The data driving circuit and the scanning driving circuit each include a shift register. The shift register includes a plurality of shift register units. Two adjacent shift register units respectively receive two inverse clock signals and a VGL signal. Each shift register unit includes a signal output circuit, a signal input circuit, a first logic converting circuit, and a second logic converting circuit. The present shift register and a liquid crystal display have simple structure. |
| US08248354B2 |
Driving circuit and image display apparatus
A driving circuit includes a plurality of output terminals to be electrically connected to scan wirings, respectively, a scan controlling unit for selecting one or plural output terminals to output a driving signal for the scan wiring from among the plurality of output terminals, and a potential correcting unit for controlling a potential of the driving signal on the basis of a difference voltage between the potential of the selected output terminal and a reference potential. In addition, a reference potential adjusting unit adjusts the reference potential in response to a current passing through the selected output terminal in order to correct a voltage drop caused by a member connected to the selected output terminal. The reference potential adjusting unit changes adjustment of the reference potential in response to the number of the selected output terminals and turns off adjustment of the reference potential in the case that the number of the selected output terminals is more than 1. |
| US08248348B2 |
Level shifter circuit and display device provided therewith
A level shift circuit includes first and second level shifters which respectively output first and second output signals that are produced by level shifting two kinds of input clock signals whose high level periods do not overlap. The level shift circuit also includes control transistors and control lines which, together, prevent a feedthrough current from flowing into the second level shifter when the first output signal is high level, and prevent a feedthrough current from flowing into the first level shifter when the second output signal is high level, so as to suspend the level shift operation of the first and second level shifters. With the level shift circuit, power consumption during a specific time period in a non-active period of the clock signal can be eliminated, where the specific time period of one clock signal is the active period of the other clock signal. |
| US08248347B2 |
Field sequential LCD driving method
The present invention discloses a driving method for a liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display has a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form. The method includes the following steps. The first step is to write black data to the pixels using an over driving voltage. The second step is to select partial of the pixels or all pixels to write color data based on a color image signal. The third step is to turn on the corresponding backlight based on the color data. |
| US08248345B2 |
Display apparatus and method for displaying an image
A display apparatus and a method for displaying an image are provided. The display apparatus includes a pixel array, a polarity (POL) signal generator, and a drive circuit. The pixel array which includes a plurality of pixels is configured to display a plurality of frames of the image. The POL signal generator is configured to generate a plurality of POL signals. The drive circuit is configured to adjust the frames of the image according to the POL signals, and output the frames to the pixel array. |
| US08248338B2 |
Method of driving liquid crystal display device, liquid crystal display device, and portable electronic apparatus
To enable a common inversion driving even in an LCD having a large size and a high definition. A common capacitance is significantly reduced by making most of scanning lines in a floating state during the common inversion. In addition, the timing for floating the scanning lines is changed depending on the polarity of the common potential. Specifically, if a pixel switching element is an N channel type, the scanning lines are floated when the common potential is high. If the pixel switching element is a P channel type, the scanning lines are floated when the common potential is low. |
| US08248335B2 |
Light emitting apparatus, method for driving the light emitting apparatus, and display apparatus including the light emitting apparatus
A light emitting apparatus comprises a light emitting section for emitting light, a color of the light being changed with a value of a driving current, and a driving section for driving the light emitting section so that the light emitting section emits light having a desired color and a desired intensity, by generating the driving current based on a signal designating the desired color and a signal designating the desired intensity and by applying the driving current to the light emitting section. |
| US08248333B2 |
Display device
In an image display device, each pixel includes a drive transistor for driving a light emitting element, a capacitive element which is connected between a signal line and a control electrode of the drive transistor, and a reset switching element. The reset switching elements of all pixels are turned off within a light emission period, and a PWM signal is supplied to a signal line from a drive circuit. A cycle of the PWM signal in a low brightness display mode is shorter than a cycle of the PWM signal in a standard brightness display mode. Due to such a constitution, the constitution of a drive circuit can be simplified, and it is possible to control light emission brightnesses of respective pixels of red, green and blue over a wide range from high brightness to low brightness while taking a balance among the light emission brightnesses. |
| US08248332B2 |
Active matrix display apparatus having a change in lighting power source before the end of a writing period and driving method thereof
An active matrix display apparatus includes two-dimensionally arranged pixel circuits, each of which includes a display element, and a plurality of signal lines and scanning lines connected to the pixel circuits. Each of the pixel circuits include a drive transistor and a capacitor, with one terminal of the capacitor being connected to a control terminal of the drive transistor and a second terminal of the capacitor being connected to a first main conductive terminal of the drive transistor and a lighting power source. In a writing operation period, a current flowing to the signal line is conducted into the drive transistor, and in a lighting operation period, a current conducting in the drive transistor is injected into the display element. At a time during the writing operation period, a potential of the lighting power source is changed toward a potential of the signal line to depress the current conducting in the drive transistor and is kept for a period, during which the current conducting in the drive transistor partially recovers from the depression. After the writing operation period, the potential of the lighting power source is restored. |
| US08248331B2 |
Image display device and method of controlling the same
An image display device includes a driver having a gate connected to a first electrode of a first capacitor and a source connected to an anode of a luminescence element. A second capacitor is connected to a second electrode of the first capacitor. A first switch supplies a reference voltage to the first electrode of the first capacitor. A second switch supplies a signal voltage to the second electrode of the first capacitor. A third switch connects the anode of the luminescence element to the second capacitor. A method of controlling the image display device includes: supplying the signal voltage to the first capacitor by switching ON the first and second switches when the third switch is OFF; switching OFF the first and second switches to turn ON the third switch after the first capacitor holds a capacitor voltage; and causing the second capacitor to hold a source potential of the driver while the third switch is ON. |
| US08248330B2 |
Light emitting device and driving method thereof
A light emitting device which is able to suppress power consumption while a balance of white light is maintained is provided. According to the present invention, either the potential level of the Hi video signal or Lo video signal which is given to a gate electrode of a transistor, and the potential level of the power source lines are changed by the respective corresponding colors. Concretely, the potential level at the side of Lo and the potential level of the power source line are made to be changed by the respective corresponding colors when a transistor which controls current supplied to a light emitting element is a p-channel type. Conversely, the potential level at the side of the Hi and potential level of the power source line are made to be changed by the respective corresponding colors when a transistor which controls current supplied to a light emitting element is an n-channel type. |
| US08248329B2 |
Display apparatus
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus, including: a pixel array section including a plurality of pixel circuits disposed in a matrix and each including a driving transistor for producing driving current, a storage capacitor for storing information of a image signal amplitude, an electro-optical element connected to an output terminal side of the driving transistor, and a sampling transistor for writing information of the signal amplitude into the storage capacitor, the driving transistor being operable to produce driving current based on the information stored in the storage capacitor and supply the driving current to the electro-optical element to cause the electro-optical element to emit light; a driving signal fixing circuit for keeping the driving current fixed; and a light blocking layer provided on the light input side of a transistor which participates in the driving signal fixing function and for preventing appearance of leak current of the transistors arising from light irradiation. |
| US08248328B1 |
Plasma-shell PDP with artifact reduction
Visual artifact reduction methods for a display including gamma corrections, error diffusion and/or dithering. The invention is described with reference to an AC gas discharge display (PDP) comprising a multiplicity of plasma-shells, but may be practiced with other display technologies. The methods of this invention are disclosed for use with a number of PDP structures and PDP electronic addressing architectures including ADS, AWD, SAS, and ALIS. |
| US08248327B2 |
Driving device and driving method of plasma display panel, and plasma display device
A scan IC includes a switch circuit and a logic circuit. The switch circuit includes first and second transistors and a level shift circuit. First and second control signals that change between a logical “1” and a logical “0” are applied to an input terminal of the logic circuit. The logic circuit applies a third control signal to the first transistor and applies a fourth control signal to the second transistor based on the applied first and second control signals. A detection circuit is connected to the input terminal of the logic circuit. An abnormality of the scan IC is detected by the detection circuit. |
| US08248325B2 |
Drive circuit
A plurality of resistive paths are coupled in parallel to a common node. A high side driver is operable responsive to first control signals to selectively supply current to certain ones of the resistive paths. A low side driver, including a plurality of selectively actuated current sink paths, is provided to sink current from the common node. A control logic circuit actuates a current sink path within the low side driver for each resistive path that is selectively supplied current by the high side driver. A substantially constant low side voltage drop through these sink paths is provided regardless of the number of resistive paths that are supplied current by the high side driver. A switched high side and low side configuration operating in an analogous way is also disclosed. |
| US08248324B2 |
Display with replica welding helmet viewer
A display device that includes a housing that houses a display, and a control panel. Control panel and display are connected to a controller disposed inside of the housing. A control device can also be attached to display device. The control device is configured to resemble a welding gun. The control device is also connected to the controller. A viewer, such as welding mask viewer, is be mounted to the housing of display device. |
| US08248321B2 |
Broadband/multi-band horn antenna with compact integrated feed
A dual polarization multi-band antenna may include a waveguide horn, a low band feed section, a transition section, and a high band feed section coupled in series. The waveguide horn may be configured to support propagation of electromagnetic waves in a low band and a high band. The low band feed section may include horizontal and vertical feeds and may be configured to support propagation of electromagnetic waves in the low band and the high band. The high band feed section may include horizontal and vertical feeds and may be configured to support propagation of electromagnetic waves in the high band but not in the low band. The transition section may be configured to couple electromagnetic waves in the high band from the high band feed section to the low band feed section and to constructively reflect electromagnetic waves in the low band. |
| US08248314B2 |
Inductively coupled signal booster for a wireless communication device and in combination therewith
A passively re-radiating cell phone sleeve assembly capable of conforming to and nesting with a cell phone provides a partial enclosure capable of fitting over at least a portion of the cell phone. A multi-layer radio frequency (RF) coupling probe is fully embedded within the enclosure in a position that is in close proximity to an internal antenna of the cell phone when the enclosure is nested with the cell phone. A coupling probe is inductively coupled to the internal antenna for sharing RF signals and is desensitized from de-tuning the internal antenna of the cell phone. An external antenna is mounted on the enclosure; and a transmission line embedded within the enclosure joins the coupling probe and the external antenna for RF signal transfer. RF transmission signals of the cell phone are radiated from both the internal and the external antennae simultaneously and without mutual interference. |
| US08248313B2 |
Antenna module and wireless communication device using the same
An antenna module includes a radiator made of nanomaterials; the conductivity of the nanomaterials are greater than or equal to about 5.8×107 S/m. The present further discloses a wireless communication device using the antenna module. |
| US08248304B2 |
Method for measuring incoming angles of coherent sources using space smoothing on any sensor network
A method for interpolating steering vectors a(θ) of a sensor network, the sensor network receiving signals transmitted by a source, characterized in that, for the interpolation of the steering vectors a(θ), use is made of one or more omnidirectional modal functions z(θ)k where z(θ)=exp(jθ) where θ corresponds to an angle sector on which the interpolation of the steering vectors is carried out. |
| US08248302B2 |
Reflection-type phase shifter having reflection loads implemented using transmission lines and phased-array receiver/transmitter utilizing the same
A reflection-type phase shifter is provided. The reflection-type phase shifter has a coupler, a first reflection load, and a second reflection load. The coupler has an input port for receiving an input signal and an isolated port for outputting an output signal due to a first reflected signal at a through port and a second reflected signal at a coupled port. The first reflection load reflects the first fraction of the input signal to thereby generate the first reflected signal. The second reflection load reflects the second fraction of the input signal to thereby generate the second reflected signal. In addition, at least one of the first and second reflection loads is a transmission line. |
| US08248300B2 |
System and method of compensating for micro-jump events
A system comprises a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver configured to acquire and track a unique radio frequency (RF) signal for each of a plurality of channels, wherein the GNSS receiver is configured to provide one or more system state measurements based on the unique RF signals; processing functionality configured to calculate a respective code delay error for each of the plurality of channels based on the respective unique RF signal; and micro jump detection functionality configured to calculate an average code delay error across all of the plurality of channels based on the plurality of calculated code delay errors, wherein the micro jump detection functionality is further configured to compare the calculated average code delay error to an error threshold to detect a micro jump event when the calculated average code delay error exceeds the error threshold. |
| US08248295B2 |
Pre-crash safety system
A pre-crash safety system, which is not influenced by a false recognition that another vehicle is approaching and which causes the vehicle to conduct a safety measure operation when the possibility of a collision exists, is disclosed. The pre-crash safety system includes a collision prediction unit that makes the prediction of a collision between the vehicle and the another vehicle that has entered a monitoring area of the radar device; and a control unit that causes the own-vehicle to conduct the safety measure operation based on a result of the prediction of a collision by the collision prediction unit. The vehicle does not conduct the safety measure operation if, after the another vehicle has entered the monitoring area, a reflection point coordinate which represents a reflection point of a radar wave on the another vehicle is positioned within a predefined direction range when viewed from the vehicle. |
| US08248294B2 |
Method for protecting location privacy of air traffic communications
Methods of protecting location privacy of air traffic communications from unauthorized monitoring of aircraft locations in an uncontrolled airspace include designating a bounded region of uncontrolled airspace; ceasing transmission of a traffic beacon by each aircraft of a plurality of aircraft upon the aircraft entering the bounded region; and updating a unique identifier associated with each of the aircraft while the aircraft is traversing the bounded region. |
| US08248293B2 |
Method and device for the spatially resolved detection and reconstruction of objects by means of microwaves
A method and a device for the spatially resolved detection and reconstruction of objects using microwaves is described, in which at least one object to be detected is subjected to microwaves that are generated by a plurality of microwave antennas and microwave fractions reflected by the object are detected and converted into microwave signals that can be analyzed, based on which an analysis for the spatially resolved object detection is carried out. |
| US08248290B2 |
Multiplexed amplifier with reduced glitching
In many applications, which use amplifiers that operate at less than 50% duty cycle, it would be advantageous to reduce the number amplifiers to reduce power consumption. Here, an amplifier is provided which is time multiplexed to accommodate multiple data paths. Additionally, reset circuitry or a reset mechanism is provided at the output terminals of this amplifier to briefly short the output terminals to generally prevent glitching that may result from switching between data paths. |
| US08248289B2 |
Power and area efficient interleaved ADC
Pipeline analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are commonly used for high frequency applications; however, operating at high sampling rates will often result in high power consumption or tight timing constraints. Here, though, an ADC is provided that allows for relaxed timing (which enables a high sampling rate) with low power consumption. This is accomplished through the use of multiplexed, front-end track-and-hold (T/H) circuits that sample on non-overlapping portions of a clocking signal in conjunction with “re-used” or shared analog processing circuitry. |
| US08248287B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing input differential pairs for digital-to-analog converter voltage interpolation amplifier
For voltage interpolation amplifiers used in digital-to-analog converter architecture, the number of input differential pairs required by the voltage interpolation amplifier may be reduced such that an N-bit voltage interpolation amplifier comprises N+1 input differential pairs connected through a resistor attenuation network to provide a binary-weighted effective transconductance. In comparison to conventional voltage interpolation amplifier designs, the number of input differential pairs and power consumed by the circuit is significantly reduced, thereby creating a more area- and power-efficient voltage interpolation amplifier. |
| US08248285B2 |
Multi-bit sigma-delta modulator with reduced number of bits in feedback path
A sigma-delta modulator for an ADC, passes an input signal to a loop filter, then to a multi-bit quantizer of the modulator. An output of the quantizer is passed to a digital filter, and a feedback signal is passed back to the loop filter, the feedback signal having fewer bits than are produced by the multi-bit quantizer. The digital filter has an order greater than one in the passband of the sigma-delta modulator. |
| US08248284B2 |
Analog-to-digital converters, and image sensors and image processing devices having the same
An analog-digital converter (ADC) includes a correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit configured to perform CDS on each of a reset signal and an image signal output from a pixel to generate a correlated double sampled reset signal and a correlated double sampled image signal, respectively. A delta sigma (ΔΣ) ADC, also included in the ADC, is configured to output a difference between a first digital code that is generated by performing ΔΣ analog-digital conversion on the correlated double sampled reset signal and a second digital code that is generated by performing ΔΣ analog-digital conversion on the correlated double sampled image signal. |
| US08248281B2 |
High speed, high resolution, high precision voltage source/AWG system for ATE
A method for compensating a linearity error of a dual digital-to-analog converter, including the steps of receiving a digital data signal which include a plurality of bits, the digital data signal indicating a voltage signal to be generated, the plurality of bits representing a set of consecutive bits being confined within a highest bit and a lowest bit, applying a high-bit-array to a first digital-to-analog converter, the high-bit-array being composed of a consecutive sub-set of the plurality of bits of the digital data signal, the sub-set including the highest bit of the digital data signal, using at least a part of a correction data of a look-up-table for manipulating at least a part of a low-bit-array, being composed of a consecutive sub-set of the plurality of bits of the digital data signal, where the sub-set includes the lowest bit of the digital data signal. |
| US08248278B2 |
Haptic keyboard assemblies, systems and methods
Various embodiments provide keyboards that utilize electrically-deformable material as an actuating mechanism to provide haptic feedback to a user of the keyboard. In at least some embodiments, the electrically-deformable material is utilized to impart, to a depressed key or keyboard element, a multi-vectored movement that produces a perceived acceleration of the key or keyboard element thus providing a user with haptic feedback which simulates a snapover movement. |
| US08248277B2 |
Haptic keyboard systems and methods
Various embodiments provide keyboards that utilize electrically-deformable material as an actuating mechanism to provide haptic feedback to a user of the keyboard. In at least some embodiments, the electrically-deformable material is utilized to impart, to a depressed key or keyboard element, a multi-vectored movement that produces a perceived acceleration of the key or keyboard element thus providing a user with haptic feedback which simulates a snapover movement. In at least some embodiments, a key or keyboard element can be associated with comparatively little or no actuation force and/or travel distance. As a result, the amount of work necessary to actuate the key or keyboard element can be significantly decreased or eliminated. |
| US08248276B2 |
Scanning circuit and scanning method for keyboard
A scanning circuit includes n rows L1˜Ln, 2n columns P1-1˜P1-n and P2-1˜P2-n, and the n rows L1˜Ln and the n columns P1-1˜P1-n cooperatively form a switch matrix comprising n*n switches S1-1˜Sn-n, with ends of the switches in the same row electrically connected to one of n I/O ports K1˜Kn, respectively, the ends of the switches in the same column are electrically connected to ground via one resistor R1-1˜R1-n, respectively, each of resistors R2-1˜R2-n is electronically connected in one column of the columns P2-1˜P2-n, and connected between one of the I/O ports K1˜Kn and ground via one of the resistors R1-1˜R1-n, respectively. A keyboard and a scanning method are also provided. |
| US08248273B2 |
Vehicle presence alert apparatus
A vehicle presence alert apparatus for alerting a target object to a presence of the vehicle via an alert sound with a frequency in an audible range is disclosed. The vehicle presence alert apparatus includes: a sound emitter configured to (i) cause a carrier wave with a frequency in an ultrasonic range to carry the alert sound, and (ii) emit the carrier wave carrying the alert sound as a radiation wave toward the target object; a sound receiver configured to receive a reflected wave, the reflected wave being generated due to reflection of the radiation wave by the target object; and relative velocity calculation means for calculating a relative velocity of the target object with respect to the vehicle based on a frequency of the radiation wave and a frequency of the reflected wave. |
| US08248270B2 |
Tactile warning system for a vehicle
A warning system adapted to detect a plurality of input signals, identify the input signals as being associated with a vehicular speed measuring system used by law enforcement, and provide a tactile warning to a driver of the vehicle, is disclosed. The warning system includes a sensor to detect an input signal associated with a transmitter, analyze the input signal, and generate a warning signal in response to the analysis of the input signal, a controller to receive the warning signal, analyze the warning signal, and generate a control signal in response to the analysis of the warning signal, and a tactile feedback generator to generate a tactile alert through a vehicle control device in response to the control signal. |
| US08248268B2 |
Requested time adjustment for accurate data exchange
A system, method and device are provided for reducing consumption calculation errors caused due to time drift in an endpoint device. In one embodiment, the endpoint device transmits consumption data in response to a request for consumption data. The request generally includes a time period of the consumption data. The endpoint device adjusts the set of intervals based on the extent of the difference between the collection system time and the endpoint device time to obtain the most accurate intervals. The process for adjusting intervals can be implemented independently from time synchronization between the endpoint and collection systems. Further, the process for adjusting intervals does not result in updating the meter reading data that have been already logged and stored in the endpoint device. |
| US08248267B2 |
Systems and methods for improving reception of data in wireless communication environments
Generally described, the disclosed subject matter is directed to improving the reception of data in wireless communication environments. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided for improving the reception of meter data in an AMR system. In particular, the method includes obtaining a sample of data indicative of channel quality for each transmission channel in the operational frequency band of the endpoint device. Then, the data is analyzed and a determination is made as to whether the reception of data by the collection system can be improved. If the reception of data by the collection system can be improved, a command is generated for reprogramming the endpoint device. In one embodiment, the command includes channel reprogramming data for reprogramming the endpoint device. |
| US08248265B2 |
Vehicle console display buttons and vehicle consoles incorporating the same
Display buttons and vehicle consoles include etched lenses operable to diffract light provided by a light source within a vehicle console such that the light emitted from the display button diverges from the first pathway within the button housing into a secondary pathway outside of the display button. |
| US08248264B2 |
Measuring apparatus
When a major failure is detected, display of a measurement value on a display section is stopped, and instead of the measurement value, an abnormal code, which indicates the contents of the major failure, is displayed on the display section. When a minor failure is detected, an abnormal code, which indicates the contents of the minor failure, and a measurement value are alternately displayed on the display section by being switched one from the other. |
| US08248257B2 |
System and method for testing charging current of a mobile electronic device
A system and method of testing charging current of a mobile electronic device sets a charging voltage value and a battery voltage value, and sends a control command to a power supply device to generate the charging voltage and the battery voltage. The system and method further receives a charging current value from a current test device under the charging voltage and the battery voltage. Furthermore, the system and method determine if the charging current value falls in an allowable current range and displays test result on a display device. |
| US08248255B2 |
Optical fluid tester
An optical fluid tester device for testing a fluid sample in an ampoule includes an ampoule cradle, a radiation source, a radiation detector and an analyzer. The ampoule cradle supports the ampoule. The ampoule with the fluid sample serves as a lens whose focal properties are dependent on the index of refraction of the fluid sample. The radiation source irradiates the ampoule. The radiation detector is located opposite the radiation source so that the ampoule, when supported by the ampoule cradle, lies between the radiation source and the radiation detector. The detector serves to detect the intensity of the incident radiation. The analyzer verifies the composition of the fluid sample based on the detected intensity, which is dependent on the focal properties of the ampoule and is, therefore, indicative of the composition of the fluid sample. |
| US08248253B2 |
Fire detector incorporating a gas sensor
A fire detector incorporates a heatable gas sensor. The sensor is cycled through a plurality of different operating temperature ranges, and one or more outputs at each temperature range are acquired. A plurality of acquired outputs, corresponding to the plurality of temperature ranges, can be coupled in parallel to pattern recognition circuitry. The pattern recognition circuitry can process the acquired outputs and make a determination that the processed data samples are indicative of the presence of a fire condition. |
| US08248252B2 |
Remote monitoring system
A temperature monitoring service in which remote monitoring units are distributed to customers who then set up monitoring as desired at their facilities. The devices may be registered through a web site using the Internet. Monitoring information may be communicated using a publicly available, wireless network, such as a cellular telephone network. The service may be provided with a system, including a server, which can deliver high levels of monitoring functionality. The server may support streaming monitoring information to a customer for analysis or sending a command activating a device connected to a remote unit. Remote units associated with the same location may be in a pool, comprising one active unit and one or more spare units, in which the server automatically identifies the active unit. The server may support analyzing monitoring information according to an expected cycle pattern of a ventilation system at the monitored facility. |
| US08248250B2 |
Personal water safety device and method thereof
A personal water safety device includes at least three base stations, at least one water sensing device, and an alarm apparatus. The at least one water sensing device wirelessly communicates with each of the at least three base stations. The alarm apparatus wirelessly communicates with each of the at least three base stations. Each water sensing device is worn by a swimmer and is triggered to measure elapsed time when the swimmer submerges in water, and transmits the measured time to the at least three base stations. The alarm apparatus receives the measured time transmitted from each of the at least three base stations, and generates an alarm when the measured time of one of the at least water sensing device exceeds a predetermined time limit. |
| US08248247B2 |
Electronically triggered personal athletic device
A personal athletic device is worn by a runner during a race. A race course is provided with a plurality of mats along the race course. The mats have antennas and generate a magnetic field. The personal athletic device has a chip system having an RFID tag and a display. As the runner progress along the course, the RFID tag is triggered at each mat and race data is displayed on the device. |
| US08248244B2 |
Wireless power interface and device
A wireless power interface includes first coil, a plurality of coils, and a control module. Each of the plurality of coils has a different orientation with respect to at least one axis of a multi-dimensional axis system. The control module is coupled to enable at least one of the plurality of coils based on electro-magnetic coupling between the first coil and the at least one of the plurality of coils such that power is derived via the electro-magnetic coupling. |
| US08248242B2 |
Wireless tracking system and method with extreme temperature resistant tag
A wireless tracking system and method for real-time location tracking of a extreme-temperature sterilizable object is disclosed herein. The system and method utilize a tag attached to the extreme-temperature sterilizable object which includes a housing, a processor, a temperature sensor and a transceiver. If an internal temperature of the tag is detected by the temperature sensor, the tag enters a sleep mode. The temperature sensor periodically activates to determine if the internal temperature of the tag is within an acceptable operating range. |
| US08248241B2 |
Assembly work supporting method and system
Detecting whether components are combined and coupled correctly in assembly work is performed by correct and simple operations. The proposed method includes reading a first IC tag attached to a joint part of a first component and a second IC tag attached to a joint part of a second component together in a manner of preventing collision and determining whether the first component and the second component are coupled correctly, based on information representing mating relations of IC tags memorized beforehand. |
| US08248234B2 |
Methods and apparatus to detect carrying of a portable audience measurement device
Methods and apparatus to detect carrying of a portable audience measurement device are disclosed herein. An example portable audience measurement device includes a media detector carried by a housing to collect media exposure data; a distance comparator to compare a first distance to an object at a first time and a second distance to the object at a second time; and a compliance detector to validate the media exposure data based on the comparison of the distance comparator. |
| US08248232B2 |
Hermetically sealed RFID microelectronic chip connected to a biocompatible RFID antenna
An implantable radio frequency identification (RFID) tag includes a hermetically sealed biocompatible housing for an active implantable medical device (AIMD), an RFID microelectronics chip is disposed within the housing, and a biocompatible antenna extends from the RFID microelectronic chip and exteriorly of the housing. In a preferred form of the invention, the antenna is disposed within a header block of the AIMD, and the RFID chip is disposed within the AIMD housing. |
| US08248230B2 |
Smart power device
A power device may include channels coupled to conductors in lines, where each one of the channels is coupled to a different one of the lines than the other channels and where the channels deliver direct current power signals over the conductors to the load devices. Each one of the load devices may be powered by a different one of the direct current power signals. The power device may include a power communicator that communicates with the load devices over the conductors that propagate the direct current power signals. The power communicator may determine a target power level for the load devices based on the communication over the conductors. The load device may adjust an amount of power in the direct current power signals in order to match the target power level. |
| US08248223B2 |
Speed reporting for providing conditional driver treatment
A business process is disclosed whereby the driver of a motor vehicle receives conditional treatment from an external organization based on his or her driving habits as recorded by a speed detection and logging system on the driver's vehicle and then transmitted to the organization. A government organization may provide a provisional or probationary license allowing a driver to operate a vehicle while the driver's driving habits meet certain requirements. An automobile insurance company may use this process to adjust insurance rates for a driver. A rental car company may use this process to offer lower rental rates and/or lower insurance rates to good drivers. A company employing professional drivers may use this process to monitor its drivers. Logs of driving habits, which may take into account weather conditions, may be shown using a map display in order to provide feedback regarding a driver's driving behavior. |
| US08248220B2 |
Surrounding recognition support system
A surrounding recognition support system includes a distance marker display section displaying a distance marker on a monitor for a user to identify the distance marker, which indicates a distance from the user to a predetermined area and allows the user to visually sense the distance when the user looks at the monitor, and a sound output section emitting a special sound corresponding to the distance indicated by the distance marker when the distance marker is displayed on the monitor by the distance marker display section. The sound output section emits the special sound in response to a result of detection of an object detection portion detecting the object existing around the user within the predetermined area defined by the distance indicated by the distance marker. |
| US08248216B2 |
Remote monitoring
Remote monitoring and inspection of measurement devices, emergency equipment, parking spaces, and other items is accomplished by using an image sensor (e.g., a CMOS sensor) to capture an image containing information about the monitored item. A signal containing information about the image (e.g., data representing the captured image or data indicating the state of the captured image) is transmitted to a remote central station. |
| US08248214B2 |
Adjustable lighting for displaying products
A system and method for controlling a variable light source where a variation in the light source can be triggered by utilizing a product identifier, such as for example RFIDs associated with the product being displayed to tell the controller to control the variable display case lighting to vary its color/intensity to change the lighting to best showcase the product; or utilizing UPC codes, scanned using a handheld device to accomplish the same objective; or utilizing motion/infrared/ultrasonic sensors particularly when lighting is to be turned off to conserve on power consumption. For example, red meat and poultry each may require their respective different lighting to be best displayed; thus red meat products may have a different RFID than poultry items; and gold jewelry items may have a different RFID than sterling silver jewelry items. |
| US08248212B2 |
Pipelining processes in a RF reader
The present disclosure includes a method and system for pipelining processes in an RF reader. In some implementations, a method includes receiving, from a transponder, a reply to an initial command. A physical (PHY) layer and a media control access (MAC) layer are pipelined to initiate transmission of a subsequent command during demodulation of the transponder reply. |
| US08248209B2 |
Device for communicating between a mobile element and a fixed element
Device (D) for communicating between a mobile element and a fixed element, includes: an electromagnetic field-based reader (L) including a transmitter with a transmitting antenna and a receiver with a first antenna placed in a housing (1), and a beacon (B) including a receiver able to receive a signal originating from the transmitter of the reader (L) so as to provide energy to a transmitter able to dispatch a signal received by the receiver of the reader (L), the receiver of the reader (L) including at least one second antenna and signal comparison elements able to compare the signal received by the first antenna of the receiver with the signal received by the second antenna so as to determine the moment at which the reader (L) passes vertically in line with the beacon (B). |
| US08248208B2 |
RFID-based active labeling system for telecommunication systems
A radio-frequency identification-(RFID)-based active labeling system for labeling components of a telecommunication system. The active labeling system includes an electronically addressable active label device that forms and displays indicia that remains static and visible when the device is unpowered. A RFID tag is operably connected to the device and is configured to receive a RF signal that contains component information, and to harvest power from the RF signal. The RFID tag then transfers the component information and power to active label device to enable it to form and display indicia representative of the component information. A database unit is operably connected or is contained directly in the RF reader and contains the component information on a computer-readable medium. |
| US08248207B2 |
Method for using a table of data to control access to a secure container
A container has a lid and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a male wall with a switch. A female wall mounts to the inside wall of the container and, when closed, encompasses the male wall. The female wall has a magnet that activates the switch. A lever contained inside the male wall moves into and out of a slot formed in the female wall. The switch completes a circuit that generates a close signal to the lever when the lid is closed. A button extends through a hole in the lid such that the button can be depressed to indicate locking and cannot be depressed when unlocked. When unlocked, the button cannot be depressed because the lever blocks the button. To open the container when closed, the actuation mechanism moves the lever in response to an entered code that must match a stored code or calculated content-specific code. |
| US08248206B2 |
Key management box
In a key management box for centrally managing keys used to unlock the locks of a plurality of storage cabinets and comprising a key lock means for making impossible to take out the key, and electronic ID storage section performing personal authentication, and a controller for unlocking the key lock means for a key permitted for a personally authenticated user, the key is an electronic key with an IC tag, the IC tag stores the ID data of a user and data for specifying a storage cabinet permitted for the user to unlock out of a plurality of storage cabinets, and the key management box has a means for reading out the ID data of the IC tag, and a means for unlocking a lock means for a key having the ID data of the user when the electronic key ID storage section identifies a specific user. Consequently, the storage cabinets of the plurality of storage cabinets can be opened/close using one same key. |
| US08248205B2 |
External door handle, in particular for vehicles
The invention relates to an external door handle consisting of a support (10), which is fixed to a door (11) and on which a handle (20) is mounted. In an unlocked position the handle acts on a lock and is inactive in the locked position of said lock. A capacitive sensor is provided to trigger the control of the lock, said sensor comprising an external electrode that is equipped with a sensor surface (37) and is located in the outer region of the door handle. To provide a wide range of configuration options for the location of the sensor surfaces, at least two additional internal electrodes are provided in the inner region of the external door handle, in addition to the sensor surface (37), said electrodes having active surfaces in the form of a transmission surface (36) and an excitation surface (35). An electric switching matrix (50.1), which is connected in series to the field of the sensor surface (37) that is active in the outer region of the external door handle, is generated between the two internal electrodes. |
| US08248202B2 |
Metal strip resistor for mitigating effects of thermal EMF
A metal strip resistor includes a resistor body having a resistive element formed from a strip of an electrically resistive metal material and a first termination electrically connected to the resistive element to form a first junction and a second termination electrically connected to the resistive element to form a second junction, the first termination and the second termination formed from strips of electrically conductive metal material. The resistive element, the first termination, and the second termination being arranged mitigate thermally induced voltages between the first junction and the second junction. |
| US08248201B2 |
Metal oxide sintered compact for thermistor, thermistor element, thermistor temperature sensor, and manufacturing method for metal oxide sintered compact for thermistor
A metal oxide sintered compact used for a thermistor includes a composite oxide represented by the general expression La(Cr1-xMnx)O3 (with x=0.0 to 0.6). Furthermore, the thermistor element 3 includes the metal oxide sintered compact 2 for a thermistor and a pair of leads 1, one terminal of each of which is fixed to the metal oxide sintered compact 2 for a thermistor. |
| US08248200B2 |
Inductance component
In an inductance component, a stress is not locally applied even in the condition where heat is applied to entire component, such as when implementing soldering, so that high reliability is realized. For realizing this, the component includes an element, a coil formed in the element, terminals electrically connected to the coil, and magnetic layers arranged so as to be substantially parallel to a winding surface of the coil are formed in the element and the entirety of the magnetic layers is covered with a material of which thermal expansion and contraction rate is uniform. |
| US08248198B2 |
Variable inductor with non-magnetic core and method of manufacture therefor
A variable inductor is provided. The variable inductor includes a dielectric core having a helical thread on an outer surface thereof for receiving the coil, and a non-magnetic element positioned coaxially within the core. The non-magnetic element could be provided in the form of a bushing or a solid rod, and could be manufactured from any suitable, non-magnetic metal, such as copper, brass, etc. |
| US08248196B2 |
Magnet arrangement for magnetic levitation vehicles and method for the production thereof
The invention relates to a magnet arrangement for magnetic levitation vehicles. Said arrangement comprises a magnetic back box and a plurality of magnetic poles that are connected to said back box and that have magnetic pole faces bordering on a common reference surface. According to the invention, the reference surface extends along an elastic line when the magnetic pole is in the unloaded state, said elastic line being inverse to the curvature of the surface that is obtained under a nominal load of the magnetic poles when the magnetic pole faces are in the unloaded state on a plane. The invention also relates to a method for producing said type of magnet arrangement. |
| US08248194B2 |
Disconnect switch
A disconnect switch includes a case having a movable contact, a stationary contact and a plurality of magnets. The movable contact is adapted to move from a first closed position where it is in physical contact with the stationary contact to a second open position. The magnets are located at predefined locations and in predefined orientations about the axis of movement of the movable contact, whereby upon the movement of the movable contact from the first position to the second open position, a current arc created by the movable contact is extinguished. |
| US08248187B2 |
Filter
A filter includes: a container; at least one barrier, an input device and an output device. The at least one barrier divide the space of the container into at least two resonant cavities. Each resonant cavity has a harmonic oscillator disposed therein. The harmonic oscillators includes a supporter and a carbon nanotube structure disposed on a surface of the supporter. |
| US08248185B2 |
Acoustic resonator structure comprising a bridge
An acoustic resonator comprises a first electrode a second electrode and a piezoelectric layer disposed between the first and second electrodes. The acoustic resonator further comprises a reflective element disposed beneath the first electrode, the second electrode and the piezoelectric layer. An overlap of the reflective element, the first electrode, the second electrode and the piezoelectric layer comprises an active area of the acoustic resonator. The acoustic resonator also comprises a bridge adjacent to a termination of the active area of the acoustic resonator. |
| US08248183B2 |
Circuit board pad having impedance matched to a transmission line and method for providing same
The present invention provides a transmission line portion for a circuit board including a conductive strip and a pad portion including a conductive pad connected to the conductive strip, wherein an impedance discontinuity or mismatch between the transmission line portion and the pad portion is reduced or controlled. Impedance discontinuity or mismatch may be controlled by controlling the dimensions of the pad portion, for example the pad width or distance between pad and ground. A ground pad associated with the pad portion may be provided on a different layer than a ground plane of the transmission line portion. The ground pad and ground plane may be connected by vias. The ground pad may comprise a patterned conductive region, the pattern configured so as to desirably configure impedance of the pad portion. Also provided are a method, circuit board layout, and the like, related to the above. |
| US08248182B2 |
Communication system with function of preventing signal reflection and node included in the same
The communication system includes a trunk line constituted of first and second signal lines for transmitting differential signals, a plurality of branch lines each branching from the trunk line and connected with a node, and at least one reflection prevention circuit connected between the first and second signal lines. The reflection prevention circuit includes a rectifier circuit configured to inhibit a current from flowing between the first and second signal lines when a voltage between the differential signals is smaller than or equal to a predetermined voltage, and allow a current to flow between the first and second signal lines when the voltage between the differential signals is larger than the predetermined voltage, and a resistive element connected in series to the rectifier circuit between the first and second signal lines. |
| US08248178B2 |
High power waveguide polarizer with broad bandwidth and low loss, and methods of making and using same
Embodiments of the invention provide high power waveguide polarizers with broad bandwidth and low loss, and methods of making and using the same. Under one aspect of the present invention, a waveguide polarizer includes a hollow waveguide body having an interior surface; a first ridge disposed on the interior surface of the hollow waveguide body and having an inward-facing surface; and a first plurality of projections disposed on the inward-facing surface of the first ridge. The projections may have a width that is narrower than that of the ridge, and a length that is tunable. The length of the projections may be selected to induce about a 90-degree phase delay in a first mode propagating in a plane parallel to the first ridge relative to a second mode propagating in a plane perpendicular to the first ridge. |
| US08248177B2 |
Method and device for pseudo-differential transmission
The invention relates to a method and a device for pseudo-differential transmission in interconnections used for sending a plurality of electrical signals. The ends of an interconnection having 4 transmission conductors and a return conductor distinct from the reference conductor are each connected to a termination circuit. Three damping circuits are connected between the return conductor and the reference conductor. The transmitting circuits receive at their inputs the signals from the 4 channels of the two sources, and are connected to the conductors of the interconnection. The receiving circuits are connected to the conductors of the interconnection, each receiving circuit being such that the 4 channels of a source connected to a transmitting circuit in the activated state are sent to the four channels of the destinations without noticeable external crosstalk. |
| US08248176B2 |
Current source circuit and delay circuit and oscillating circuit using the same
A disclosed current source circuit includes a current mirror circuit having two enhancement-type MOS transistors, a depletion-type MOS transistor configured to be connected to a drain of one of the two enhancement-type MOS transistors and to function as a constant current source, and a resistor configured to have a negative temperature property and be connected to a source of the one of the two enhancement-type MOS transistors. |
| US08248169B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and abnormal oscillation detection method for semiconductor integrated circuit
The semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first oscillator, a second oscillator (PLL), a third oscillator (ring oscillator), a selector that switches, in turn, based on a clock of the third oscillator, and outputs a clock of the first oscillator or a clock of the second oscillator, and a determination circuit that counts up or counts down the clock output from the selector, based on the clock of the third oscillator, determines the correspondence of the clock output from the selector and the clock of the third oscillator, based on a result of the counting up or the counting down, and determines whether either of the clock output from the selector or the clock of the third oscillator occur an abnormal oscillation. |
| US08248166B2 |
Triplet transconductor
To reduce a knee voltage of a Darlington amplifier, a negative voltage is applied by a depletion mode FET between the emitter of one amplifying transistor and the base of another amplifying transistor to provide a reduced potential, which reduces the knee voltage of the Darlington amplifier. Reducing the knee voltage of the Darlington amplifier decreases the size of a saturation region thereby increasing the linearity of the Darlington amplifier. |
| US08248164B2 |
Integrated circuit single ended-to-differential amplifier
Apparatus and methods for an integrated circuit, single ended-to-differential amplifier are provided. In an example, the amplifier can include an amplifier circuit having a first input configured to receive a single-ended signal, a second input, and a differential output configured to provide an amplified representation of the single-ended signal. The amplifier can include a filter circuit configured to balance a common-mode voltage between the first and second inputs of the amplifier circuit. The filter circuit can include a common-mode input configured to receive the common-mode voltage, a first impedance network coupled between the common-mode input and the first input of the amplifier circuit, and a second impedance network coupled between the common-mode input and the second input of the amplifier circuit. The filter circuit can provide a low frequency pole below 1 hertz. |
| US08248162B2 |
Differential amplifier
A high-gain differential amplifier that is capable of high speed operation, outputs a signal representing a difference between signals respectively inputted to first and second input terminals and a phase-inverted signal thereof via first and second output terminals respectively. A first switching element making a short-circuit between the first input terminal and the second output terminal when turned on, a second switching element making a short-circuit between the second input terminal and the first output terminal when turned on, and a third switching element making a short-circuit between the first output terminal and the second output terminal when turned on are provided. The third switching element is turned on for a predetermined period while the first and second switching elements are turned off. Subsequently, the third switching element is switched off, and the first and second switching elements are switched on. |
| US08248160B2 |
Adaptive predistortion for a transmit system
Systems, methods, and devices relating to the provision of deliberate predistortion to an input signal to compensate for distortions introduced by an amplifier subsystem. An input signal is received by a signal processing system which includes a predistortion subsystem. The input signal is decomposed and the fragments are then predistorted by the predistortion subsystem by applying a deliberate predistortion to the fragments. The predistorted fragments are then separately processed and recombined to arrive at the system output signal. The predistortion subsystem adaptively adjusts based on characteristics of the system output signal. Also, the predistortion subsystem is equipped with a control system that is state based—the state of the predistortion subsystem is dependent upon the prevailing conditions and, when required, the control system switches the state of the predistortion subsystem. A feedback signal, a replica of the system output signal, is used in updating lookup table entries used to determine the predistortion. |
| US08248152B2 |
Switched capacitor voltage converters
An on-chip voltage conversion apparatus for integrated circuits includes a first capacitor; a first NFET device configured to selectively couple a first electrode of the first capacitor to a low side voltage rail of a first voltage domain; a first PFET device configured to selectively couple the first electrode of the first capacitor to a high side voltage rail of the first voltage domain; a second NFET device configured to selectively couple a second electrode of the first capacitor to a low side voltage rail of a second voltage domain, wherein the low side voltage rail of the second voltage domain corresponds to the high side voltage rail of the first voltage domain; and a second PFET device configured to selectively couple the second electrode of the first capacitor to a high side voltage rail of the second voltage domain. |
| US08248147B2 |
Power switch circuit for single power supply
A power switch circuit providing voltage to an output port is provided. The switch circuit includes a single power supply, a switch unit, a controlling unit, and a logic unit. The switch unit is connected between the single power supply and an output port and capable of being turned on and off alternatively for continuing or discontinuing power from the single power supply to the output port; the single power supply provides power to the output port. The controlling unit is configured for generating a voltage controlling signal and transmitting the voltage controlling signal to the logic unit. The logic unit receives and inverts the voltage controlling signal, and outputs the inverted voltage controlling signal to turn on or turn off the switch unit. |
| US08248144B2 |
High-frequency switch module and high-frequency switch apparatus
A high-frequency switch module includes a multi-layer substrate, and a switch circuit mounted on the multi-layer substrate. The multi-layer substrate includes a terminal through which a plurality of high-frequency signals in a plurality of frequency bands are input and output, a plurality of switch terminals, terminals to which control signals to control the switch circuit are supplied, current paths that connect the terminals to the switch circuit, and resistors that are provided on the current paths and have resistance values greater than the resistance values of the current paths. The switch circuit connects the terminal to the switch terminals corresponding to the frequency bands of high-frequency signals input and output through the terminal based on the control signals. |
| US08248142B1 |
Fast level shifter
Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method comprising providing an integrated circuit with a level shifting circuit having a pull up device that is configured to selectively pull up a voltage level of an output signal from a low voltage level to a high voltage level, and having a pull down device that is configured to selectively pull down the voltage level of the output signal from the high voltage level to the low voltage level; ascertaining a high level of an input control signal; and when the output signal is at the high voltage level, deasserting the pull up device. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08248141B2 |
Data and power system based on CMOS bridge
A signal processing circuit includes an input inverter and an output inverter. Each inverter has a signal input for receiving an input rectangular signal, a signal output for providing an inverted output rectangular signal, and a pair of voltage outputs for developing a rectified dc output voltage. A first circuit input terminal is connected to the output of the input inverter and the input of the output inverter. A second circuit input terminal is connected to the input of the input inverter and the output of the output inverter, wherein the signal input terminals receive an input signal having a data component. A pair of supply voltage output terminals is connected to the voltage output terminals of the inverters for providing a rectified dc supply voltage output. A first circuit output terminal is connected to one of the supply voltage output terminals, and a second circuit output terminal connected to the second circuit input terminal, wherein the circuit output terminals provide an output signal including the data component. |
| US08248140B2 |
Semiconductor device for detecting power supply voltage
A semiconductor device includes an internal circuit to perform a predetermined function at a plurality of different supply power voltages, a power supply voltage region detector to detect a supply power voltage to output a detection signal, a latch to store the signal output from the power supply voltage region detector and output the stored signal as a power supply voltage region signal, and a reset circuit to generate a reset signal to perform a predetermined reset operation on the internal circuit. The latch stores the output signal from the power supply voltage region detector just after the reset operation for the internal circuit is released, and the internal circuit changes an internal setting according to the power supply voltage region signal output from the latch. |
| US08248139B2 |
Simple interleaved phase shift clock synchronization for master/slave scheme
An apparatus for interleaved phase shift clock synchronization includes a master clock generator and at least one slave clock generator. The master clock generator provides a ramp signal or reset signal for each slave clock generator to generate a clock synchronized with the clock of the master clock generator, and the master and slave clock generators have different reference voltages for generating clocks. Therefore, the clocks generated will be synchronized and interleaved phase with each other. |
| US08248137B2 |
Apparatus for processing signals
An apparatus for processing signals, in particular physiological measuring signals, wherein the apparatus is provided with different channels with signal inputs (1) for receiving input signals, which input signals each comprise a specific signal component and a signal component common to all input signals, wherein each channel is provided with an impedance transforming input amplifier (3), wherein the apparatus is configured for supplying to the non-inverting input of each input amplifier (3) a respective input signal and, to the inverting input an analogue reference signal common to all channels, wherein the apparatus is provided with a digital signal processor (10) and one more or analogue-digital converters (5) for supplying the signals provided by the input amplifiers (3) to the digital signal processor (10), wherein the signal processor (10) is designed for converting the signals received from the one or more analogue digital converters (5) into one or more output signals. |
| US08248136B1 |
Low-power, glitch-less, configurable delay element
In one embodiment, a configurable delay element has three stages. The first stage has an 8-buffer first delay chain and an (8×1) first mux that selects one of the eight first-delay-chain outputs. The second stage has a 24-buffer second delay chain connected to receive the first-mux output and organized into three 8-buffer sub-chains and a (4×1) second mux that selects one of the four second-delay-chain outputs. The third stage has a 96-buffer third delay chain connected to receive the second-mux output and organized into three 32-buffer sub-chains and a (4×1) third mux that selects one of the four third-delay-chain outputs as the delay-element output signal. A delay-element controller provides glitch-less updates to the signal used to control the delay-element muxes by timing those updates to occur when all delay-element buffers have the same state. The controller bases the update timing on the delay-element output signal. |
| US08248133B2 |
Programmable delay timer and method therefor
A timer circuit, comprises a delay indication circuit, a frequency indication circuit, and a plurality of counters. The delay indication circuit is for providing a delay time indication. The frequency indication circuit is for providing a frequency indication of a frequency of a clock signal. Each counter of the plurality of counters includes a load input to receive an initial value, and an indication output to provide a count complete indication of the counter. During operation a set of the counters of the plurality of counters is coupled in series to provide an indication that a delay time has expired. At least a portion of the frequency indication is provided to the load input of one counter of the set and at least a portion of the delay time indication is provided to the load input of another counter of the set. |
| US08248127B2 |
Digital phase lock system with dithering pulse-width-modulation controller
A Digital Phase-Locked Loop (DPLL) has a digitally-controlled oscillator (DCO) that generates an output clock frequency determined by a digital input with most-significant-bits (MSB's) and a least-significant-bit (LSB). The LSB is generated by a Pulse-Width-Modulation (PWM) controller clocked by a control clock that is the output clock divided by C. A reference clock is compared to a feedback clock that is the output clock divided by M. The PWM controller generates M/C LSB's for each reference clock period and loads them in parallel to a parallel-to-serial shift register that serially delivers the LSBs. The pulse width is determined by a fine digital loop filter that filters phase comparison results using a fine time resolution. A coarse digital loop filter generates the MSB's from phase comparison results using a coarse time resolution. LSB waveforms are dithered by randomly selecting high-going or low-going pulses and randomly adjusting pulse widths. |
| US08248119B2 |
Low power frequency divider and low power phase locked loop including the same
A low power frequency divider and a low power phase locked loop, which consume the least power. The low power frequency divider generates a frequency dividing signal by dividing a frequency of an input signal in a uniform ratio, and includes a phase to voltage converter, a comparator, a phase synchronization circuit, and a reset circuit. The phase to voltage converter generates a phase voltage signal corresponding to phase change of the input signal in response to a reset signal. The comparator generates a comparator signal by comparing the phase voltage signal and a reference phase voltage signal. The phase synchronization circuit generates the frequency dividing signal by matching phases of the input signal and the comparator signal. The reset circuit generates the reset signal in response to the comparator signal or the frequency dividing signal. |
| US08248106B1 |
Lock detection using a digital phase error message
A system and method are provided for frequency lock detection using a digital phase error. A lock detection module accepts a digital phase error (pherr) message proportional to an error in phase between a reference clock and a (synthesizer clock*Nf). Also accepted is a unitless frequency error tolerance value (Δf). The lock detection module periodically supplies a lock detect signal, indicating whether the synthesizer clock frequency is within the frequency error tolerance value of the reference clock frequency. |
| US08248104B2 |
Phase comparator and phase-locked loop
A phase comparator is provided that solves the problem that a VCO cannot be controlled with high precision. A frequency divider frequency-divides a VCO signal applied as input to an input terminal (10) in steps, and supplies the VCO signals of each step as output. A latch unit latches the VCO signal that is applied to the input terminal (10) and each VCO signal that was supplied from the frequency divider based on a reference signal that is applied to an input terminal (11). An output unit supplies the latch results realized by the latch unit as phase difference signals that indicate phase differences of the reference signal and the VCO signals. |
| US08248103B2 |
Output circuit of semiconductor device
An output circuit of a semiconductor device includes a signal selector configured to receive first and second input data signals and sequentially outputting the first and second input data signals in response to a phase signal; and an output level controller configured to control a voltage level of an output signal of the signal selector based on the first and second input data signals. |
| US08248102B2 |
Configurable IC'S with large carry chains
Some embodiments provide a configurable IC that includes several configurable logic circuits, where the logic circuits include several sets of associated configurable logic circuits. For each several sets of associated configurable logic circuits, the reconfigurable IC also includes a carry circuit for performing up to N carry operations sequentially, wherein N is greater than two. |
| US08248098B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring characteristics of semiconductor device
An apparatus and method for measuring the characteristics of a semiconductor device is disclosed. The measuring apparatus may include first to M-th (wherein M is a positive integer not less than 1) starved devices each being biased in response to a bias voltage varying in accordance with a variable first supply voltage, thereby varying an amount of current flowing through a semiconductor device included in the starved device. Interconnect lines may interconnect the first to M-th starved devices. A measuring unit measures at least one of a delay time caused by the semiconductor devices of the starved devices themselves, and a compound delay time caused by the semiconductor devices of the starved devices themselves plus a delay time caused by the interconnect lines. The measured results can be analyzed under conditions more approximate to diverse situations exhibited in practical chips in accordance with development of manufacturing processes and techniques. It is also possible to provide the basis of a model which more effectively represents coupling geometry of more complex semiconductor devices and interconnect lines. The basis of the model may be applied to development of various tools, etc. |
| US08248096B2 |
Test mode signal generating device
Various embodiments of a test mode signal generating device are disclosed. The device includes first and second test mode signal generating units. The first test mode signal generating unit is configured to receive test address signals to generate a first test mode signal when a first mode conversion signal is enabled. The first test mode signal generating unit is also configured to enable a second mode conversion signal when the test address signals correspond to a first predetermined combination. The second test mode signal generating unit is configured to receive the test address signals to generate a second test mode signal when the second mode conversion signal is enabled. The second test mode signal generating unit is also configured to enable the first mode conversion signal when the test address signals correspond to a second predetermined combination. |
| US08248093B2 |
Circuit board having bypass pad
An electronic device having a printed circuit board is provided. In one embodiment, the printed circuit board includes a plurality of external pads to be coupled with an external device and a plurality of bypass pads for testing an electric circuit. The external pads are exposed and at least one of the plurality of bypass pads are not exposed from an outer surface of the PCB. A system using the electronic device and a method of testing an electronic device are also provided. |
| US08248092B2 |
Conductivity measurement device
A conductivity measurement device comprises a first body, a second body, a baseplate, a extension rod and a contact pad. The extension rod is positioned inside the first body, the baseplate is positioned on one end of the extension rod, and the contact pad is positioned on the other end of the extension rod. The contact pad contacts the surface to be tested and measures the electrical conductivity thereof with no resulting damage to the surface. |
| US08248090B2 |
ZIF connectors and semiconductor testing device and system using the same
A ZIF connector and a semiconductor testing device using the ZIF connectors are provided. The ZIF connector comprises a body portion and a clamping portion. The body portion is a print circuit board provided with circuit patterns, and further comprises a plurality of signal holes disposed on an upper part of the body portion for electrically connecting a plurality of corresponding signal cables, and a plurality of electrical terminals disposed on a lower part of the body portion and arranged on two lateral sides of the body portion for electrically connecting a plurality of corresponding electrical pads of a substrate. The circuit patterns are provided in the body portion to connect to the electrical terminals through the signal holes accordingly. The clamping portion is horizontally extended on one lateral side of the body portion for securing the ZIF connector in a connector board. |
| US08248089B2 |
Apparatus for testing a semiconductor device
An apparatus for testing an electrical property of a semiconductor device includes a substrate support unit, a tester head above the substrate support unit, the tester head including a base, a probe card connected to the base of the tester head, and a temperature control unit within the base of the tester head, the temperature control unit being configured to control temperature of the probe card by heat transfer with the probe card. |
| US08248088B2 |
Remote monitor for corrosion protection of pipelines and structures
Several remote monitoring stations along a corrosion protected pipeline or structure are served by a single long range radio transceiver link to a central data collection station. Individual monitoring stations are in cost-free, short range communication with each other, while a single central module has an additional longer range, paid subscriber transceiver. The number of paid subscription links by cellular or satellite services to remotely monitor corrosion protection voltages and currents are substantially lessened by this combination. |
| US08248086B2 |
Capacitive proximity detection system for an appliance
A proximity detection system for an appliance is disclosed. The system includes an electrically conductive sensor for a capacitive proximity detection system, the sensor forming a part of an accessory device for the appliance; and an electrically conductive member disposed substantially opposite a location of the sensor and electrically connected to a ground potential to form a ground shield for the sensor. |
| US08248078B2 |
Testing device and method for SM memory connector
A testing device for testing surface-mounted (SM) memory connectors on a circuit board is provided. The testing device includes a main control circuit storing standard pin information of the SM memory connectors. A data collecting circuit is connected to the main control circuit and to at least one SM memory connector of the circuit board. A display unit is connected to the main control unit. The main control circuit directs the at least one data collecting circuit to read pin information of the SM memory connector and transmit the pin information to the main control circuit. The main control circuit manages the collected pin information in accordance with the standard pin information and shows the results on the display unit. |
| US08248075B2 |
System, apparatus and method for dissipating standing wave in a microwave delivery system
A system, apparatus and method for dissipating standing waves in a microwave energy delivery system including a microwave energy source configured to intermittently delivery microwave energy as a periodic microwave signal an energy delivery network configured to transmit the periodic microwave signal and a circuit connected between the microwave energy source and the energy delivery network. The circuit is configured to pass the periodic microwave signal from the microwave energy source to the energy delivery network when the periodic microwave signal is present and to dissipate standing waves when the periodic microwave signal is absent. |
| US08248072B1 |
Method and apparatus for automated raw material screening
An automated screening device that performs standardized system suitability tests and evaluations and measures components of a submitted sample to assist in the quality control screening of raw materials, ingredients, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, polymers, food products, petroleum and many other materials. After determining the performance suitability of an NMR spectrometer, the system permits samples to be submitted for screening. An NMR spectrum of a sample is acquired and a qualitative analysis unit identifies at least one reference NMR spectrum corresponding a compound present in the sample and a quantitative analysis unit integrates relative signal intensity signals of the sample spectrum in regions of peak intensity in the one reference NMR spectrum and compares integration results to a number of atoms in each region in order to confirm identification of the compound. |
| US08248071B2 |
Methods of using combined forward and backward sampling of nuclear magnetic resonance time domain for measurement of secondary phase shifts, detection of absorption mode signals devoid of dispersive components, and/or optimization of nuclear magnetic resonance experiments
The present invention relates to a method of conducting an N-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiment in a phase-sensitive manner by the use of forward and backward sampling of time domain shifted by a primary phase shift under conditions effective to measure time domain amplitudes and secondary phase shifts. The present invention also relates to methods of conducting an N-dimensional NMR experiment in a phase-sensitive manner by the use of dual forward and backward sampling of time domain shifted by a primary phase shift under conditions effective to measure secondary phase shifts or at least partially cancel dispersive and quadrature image signal components arising in the frequency domain from secondary phase shifts. |
| US08248070B1 |
MRI using prep scan sequence producing phase-offset NMR signals from different NMR species
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) process generates images of patient tissue including use of at least one programmed controller in an MRI system to effect a preparatory nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sequence including a binomial radio frequency (RF) pulse having at least two independently phased RF flip angle components that are spaced in the time domain by τ to provide a respectively corresponding evolved phase difference Δθ between predetermined NMR species having different NMR frequencies, followed by a main MRI data acquisition sequence, and generation and display of an image of patient tissue based at least in part on MRI data acquired during the acquisition sequence. |
| US08248069B2 |
Detecting spin perturbations using magnetic resonance imaging
Implementations and examples of systems, apparatus and techniques for using magnetic resonance imaging to measure spin perturbations. In one implementation, a sample containing nuclear spins is magnetized using a principle magnetic field generated external to the sample. A periodic pulse sequence is applied to the sample. The pulse sequence includes multiple radio frequency (rf) pulses and multiple recovery times between the rf pulses. The pulse sequence is configured to generate, in the presence of a magnetic field perturbation, a sequence of multiple different steady states of magnetization in the sample during each period of the pulse sequence. A magnetic resonance signal acquired from the sample is processed to identify characteristics of a magnetic field perturbation in the sample. In some implementations, processing the signal to identify characteristics of a magnetic field perturbation in the sample includes processing the signal to identify characteristics of an electric current in the sample. |
| US08248068B2 |
Hyperpolarization of lithium and other nuclei
The invention concerns a method for hyperpolarizing lithium atoms in a mixture by optically pumping, in a sampling cell, atoms of a first type or alkali metal and by spin exchange between the optically pumped electron of the alkali metal and the lithium atom electron. The lithium atoms are preferably oxidized into Li+ ions and accumulated. The nuclear spin polarization of the Li+ ions can be transmitted to a nuclear spin of an anion. The invention also concerns a method for producing substances with nuclear spin polarization in general. In accordance with said method, lithium atoms are optically pumped from atoms of a first type of alkali metal in a sampling cell and hyperpolarized by spin exchange between the optical pumped electron of the alkali metal and the lithium atom electron, the lithium atoms being then oxidized into Li+ ions. Then, the nuclear spin polarization of the Li+ ions is transmitted to another nucleus of an anion. Thus it is possible to obtain hyperpolarized nuclei such as, for example, 13C, 31P or 29Si in solid or liquid phase, in large amounts and at high polarizing levels. |
| US08248066B2 |
Hall integrated circuit with adjustable hysteresis
A Hall integrated circuit with adjustable hysteresis is disclosed. The circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a magnetic field-pulse convertor, which outputs a pulse-shaped voltage difference pulse by converting a change in two voltages as a pulse and in which the change occurs in accordance with a magnitude of a magnetic field inputted by a Hall sensor, a polarity determining unit, which determines polarities of two signals outputted by the Hall sensor by using the voltage difference pulse and one of the two signals outputted by the Hall sensor, a magnetic flux density determining unit, which outputs a high signal or a low signal by comparing the voltage difference pulse with a set value, and a first flip-flop outputs a result signal having a hysteresis characteristic according to inputs by the polarity determining unit and the magnetic flux density determining unit. |
| US08248065B2 |
Method and device for detecting structural abnormalities in a spherical particle
The method for detecting at least one structural defect in a spherical particle (33) comprises at least the following steps of passing the particle (33) into at least one induction coil (15); exciting the induction coil (15) in order to induce Foucault currents in the particle (33); acquiring an output signal at the terminals of the induction coil (15); and analyzing the signal in order to establish whether or not the particle (33) comprises a structural defect. A plurality of output signals are acquired by passing the particle (33) successively into one or more induction coils (15) with different positions of the particle (33), the or each induction coil (15) being excited at least each time the particle (33) passes in order to induce Foucault currents in the particle (33). |
| US08248061B2 |
Power angle monitor
A system and method for monitoring the rotation of a generator rotor and calculating a power angle using an optical rotor displacement monitor. The monitor uses a light beam directed toward the rotor to detect a marking thereon, and generates an electrical pulse when the marking is detected. The time between the pulse and a reference point (such as a zero crossing) of the signal waveform from the terminals of the generator is used to calculate the power angle of the generator. The system is adaptive in that it can account for new markings on the rotor. The system may be connected to a network so that power angles from various generators on the electrical network may be compared. The system may further be connected to a common time source such that a time stamp may be applied to the power angles from various generators, allowing for more accurate comparison of the power angles. |
| US08248057B2 |
Method for measuring the mains frequency, and electrical appliance that implements said method
A method for measuring the mains frequency by a digital control system of an electrical appliance, in particular an electrical household appliance, in which the digital control system is prearranged for performing rigorous measurements of the value of the mains frequency and of its variations through an operation of calibration of the means for measurement of the mains frequency performed prior to marketing of the product. |
| US08248056B1 |
Buried object locator system employing automated virtual depth event detection and signaling
A human-portable utility locator system for locating and tracing a buried utility line characterized by an electromagnetic field emission. The locator may include a horizontal spaced sensor pair for detecting the horizontal field asymmetry of the emitted field in one or more independent frequency bands, which is employed to assist in determining an accurate “virtual depth” measurement for producing detection events. An event detector may be disposed to detect events corresponding to extremum in the B-field gradient with respect to time and a user interface (UI) coupled to the event detector signals the detected event to a user. In a preferred embodiment, one pair of spaced-apart 3D magnetic sensor arrays is disposed substantially orthogonal to another intermediate spaced-apart pair of sensors. |
| US08248055B2 |
Voltage reference with improved linearity addressing variable impedance characteristics at output node
A voltage reference containing a programmable resistance portion at an output node at which an output reference voltage is provided. The desired magnitude of the programmable portion which provides optimum matching of an output resistance of the voltage reference and a series resistance of an output capacitor of the voltage reference is determined and hard-programmed. As a result, the output voltage of the voltage reference is provided with improved linearity. In an embodiment, the determination of the magnitude of the programmable portion is performed by providing an input to an analog to digital converter (ADC) with the voltage reference driving the ADC. The resistance setting corresponding to the third harmonic being less than a desired threshold is then hard-programmed. In an alternative embodiment, the programmable portion is set to specific resistance dynamically during operation. |
| US08248054B2 |
On/off detection circuit having function for timely detecting current flowing in electronic device
An ON/OFF detection circuit for detecting an electronic device includes a switch circuit, a current sampling circuit, an amplifying circuit, and a control circuit. The switch circuit includes an input terminal connected to a constant voltage source, an output terminal coupled to the electronic device, and a control terminal. The current sampling circuit is connected between the input terminal and the output terminal of the switch circuit, and is configured for sampling current flowing to the electronic device and converting sampled current into sampled voltage. The amplifying circuit is configured for filtering and amplifying the sampled voltage. The control circuit controls the ON and OFF of the electronic device and compares the sampled voltages with a comparison voltage to judge the electronic device is qualify or disqualify. |
| US08248050B2 |
Multi-channel low voltage micro-electric-field generator
A biologic and medical multi-channel low voltage micro-electric-field generator including a power supply unit, at least one micro-electric-field generating unit set comprising a step-down unit, a linear regulator unit, and a pulse generating and outputting unit, and a programmable logic control unit. The micro-electric-field generating unit set is connected to an output end of the power supply unit. The step-down unit depresses the voltage of frequency power. The linear regulator unit regulates the output of the step-down unit. The pulse generating and outputting unit turns on/off the output of the linear regulator unit and connects to a network electrode group. The programmable logic control unit controls the characteristics of the output pulse from the pulse generating and outputting unit. The generator is applicable in gene, protein, drug and/or a variety of plasmids delivery to the organs, cells within the tissues of large animal or human. |
| US08248043B2 |
Control circuit for DC-DC converter, control method for DC-DC converter, and electronic device
A control circuit for a DC-DC converter includes a controller configured to control, based on a feedback voltage, a first switch provided between an inductor and a reference potential and a second switch provided between a coupling node of the first switch and the inductor and an output terminal, a third switch provided between the second switch and the output terminal and turned off when an overcurrent flows in a coupling path between the second switch and the output terminal, and a selector configured to select a voltage of a first position which is located on a side of the second switch in the coupling path as the feedback voltage when the third switch is turned off, or a voltage of a second position which is located on a side of the output terminal in the coupling path as the feedback voltage when the third switch is turned on. |
| US08248041B2 |
Frequency compression for an interleaved power factor correction (PFC) converter
A controller provides frequency compression for an interleaved power factor correction (PFC) converter that determines the ON and OFF times of each switch associated with the PFC converter to prevent operating frequencies in the audible range. The controller includes a first circuit for generating an ON time current source having a magnitude related to an amplified error signal and the monitored input voltage, and a second circuit for generating an OFF time current source having a magnitude related to the ON time current source, the monitored input voltage, and the monitored output voltage. Gate drive circuitry provides gate drives signals to the switches of the interleaved PFC converter at a frequency determined by magnitudes of the ON time current source and the OFF time current source. |
| US08248040B2 |
Time-limiting mode (TLM) for an interleaved power factor correction (PFC) converter
The present invention provides a method of controlling an interleaved power factor correction (PFC) circuit operating in a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). The controller employs a normal mode of operation in which inductor currents in each PFC sub-circuit are estimated based on the monitored input voltage and monitored output voltage, and switching devices associated with each PFC sub-circuit are controlled to ensure DCM operation. As the input voltage increases, the OFF times of each PFC sub-circuit increase such that the inductor currents no longer overlap. In response, the controller activates a time-limiting mode (TLM) in which OFF time durations for each sub-circuit are based on the monitored sum of load currents as opposed to the monitored input voltage and monitored output voltage. |
| US08248036B2 |
Battery charging circuit for improving operating stability
A battery charging circuit for charging a rechargeable battery and improving operating stability includes a plurality of resistors for generating a first voltage; a first reference voltage source for providing a first reference voltage; an error amplifier for generating a second voltage according to the voltage difference between the first reference voltage and the first voltage; a second reference voltage source for providing a second reference voltage; a modulator for generating a control voltage according to the second reference voltage and the second voltage; a voltage-to-current control unit for generating a control current according to the control voltage; and a current mirror for generating an output current which is equal to a multiple of the control current, wherein the output current and its corresponding output voltage is applied to charge the rechargeable battery. |
| US08248031B2 |
Method for prioritizing load consumption within a notebook computer
A function extending apparatus for receiving a portable computer is disclosed. The function extending apparatus includes an AC/DC adapter, a second charging system and a controller. The AC/DC adapter is capable of supplying power to the portable computer equipped with a system load and a first charging system having a first charger and a first battery. The second charging system of the function extending apparatus includes a second charger and a second battery. The controller reduces power consumption of the second charging system when the output power of the AC/DC adapter reaches a first threshold value. The controller reduces power consumption of the first charging system when the output power of the AC/DC adapter reaches a second threshold value, wherein the second threshold value is higher than the first threshold value. |
| US08248029B2 |
Multi-functional rechargeable charger and power supply with dual direct current outputs
A hand held charger for a plurality of different manufacturers electronic hand devices capable of supplying electrical capacity in devices from the 3.6 to 4.2 volt range and capable of operating on lithium or rechargeable Li-Ion batteries, the charger having a sensing means to determine which type of batteries are presently installed in the charger, the charger having both a mini-USB and 3/32 stereo-mono input and a USB and 3/32 stereo-mono output, as well as incorporating a flashlight LED and capacity indicia indicator. |
| US08248027B2 |
Non-contact power transmission apparatus
A non-contact power transmission apparatus is disclosed. The non-contact power transmission apparatus includes an AC power source, a primary coil, a primary side resonance coil, a secondary side resonance coil, a secondary coil, a voltage measuring section, and a distance calculating section. AC voltage of the AC power source is applied to the primary coil. A load is connected to the secondary coil. The voltage measuring section measures the voltage of the primary coil. The distance calculating section calculates the distance between the primary side resonance coil and the secondary side resonance coil based on the voltage measured by the voltage measuring section. |
| US08248026B2 |
Wireless charger authentication system and method thereof
A wireless charger authentication system includes an electronic device and a wireless charger. The electronic device includes an emitting module configured for producing an unauthenticated signal and a modulating module configured for modulating the unauthenticated signal into a high-frequency signal. The wireless charger includes a source signal produced by a power supply, a mixing module, an analyzing module, a comparing module and a triggering module. The mixing module is configured for mixing the high-frequency signal and the source signal to get a recognized signal. The analyzing module is configured for analyzing the parameters of the recognized signal. The comparing module predetermines a number of preset parameter values and is configured for comparing the parameters with the preset parameter values. The triggering module is configured for triggering the wireless charger to charge the electronic device if the parameters of the recognized signal are substantially equal to the preset parameter values. |
| US08248024B2 |
Advanced inductive charging pad for portable devices
Systems and methodologies for efficient inductive charging of electronic devices are provided herein. A charging device as described herein can utilize a sensor-integrated resonating circuit with automatic frequency control to provide low-cost inductive charging functionality for electronic devices. As further described herein, a device to be charged can be equipped with a power receiver operable to receive power from the charging device via electromagnetic induction. The power receiver can additionally be utilized for initiation of charging such that charging for a device commences upon its associated power receiver being brought within range of an inductive charging surface at the charging device. Further, a charging device as described herein can have an inductive charging surface as well as a non-charging surface for providing other services such as information display. A charging device can integrate with an external information source to obtain items to be displayed at a non-charging surface thereon. |
| US08248023B2 |
Method of externally charging a powertrain
A method of externally charging a powertrain includes monitoring a voltage level of a first battery, determining when the monitored voltage level is below a first voltage threshold, and when the monitored voltage level is below the first voltage threshold, charging the first battery by supplying power from an external power source and increasing voltage of the power supplied by the external power source within the powertrain. |
| US08248021B2 |
Solar energy storing system and method with changeable electrical connections between rechargeable batteries
A solar energy storing system includes a solar energy converting unit, a rechargeable battery unit, a charging unit, a switch unit, a detecting unit, and a controlling unit. The solar energy converting unit converts solar energy into electrical energy to generate a charging voltage. The rechargeable battery unit stores the electrical energy. The rechargeable battery unit includes a plurality of rechargeable batteries. The charging unit charges the rechargeable battery unit using the charging voltage. The switch unit changes electrical connections between the rechargeable batteries. The detecting unit detects the charging voltage and a voltage of each of the rechargeable batteries and determines a charging status between the charging voltage and the voltages of the rechargeable batteries. The controlling unit controls the switch unit to change the electrical connections between the rechargeable batteries according to the charging status between the charging voltage and the voltages of the rechargeable batteries. |
| US08248013B2 |
Fan device with improved speed control module and plural fan system constructed thereby
A fan device with improved speed control module includes a stator, a rotor, and a speed control module. The stator has a driving unit outputting currents for the stator to generate alternative magnetic fields and thus turn the rotor. The speed control module includes a control unit and a speed adjusting circuit, with the control unit generating a control command for the driving unit and further outputting a state signal for the speed adjusting circuit to control whether a PWM signal enters the control circuit or not. |
| US08248008B2 |
Motor control device, image forming apparatus, and motor control method
A motor control device includes a measurement unit, a speed control unit, a correction unit, a drive unit, and a disturbance suppressing unit. During a time period before a measurement value of speed of one of a motor and a driven object which is driven by the motor measured by the measurement unit becomes greater than zero the correction unit corrects a manipulated variable such that a reduced correction amount which is from zero percent to less than 100 percent of a correction amount determined by the disturbance suppressing unit, is added to the manipulated variable determined by the speed control unit corresponding to a target speed of the one of the motor and the driven object. |
| US08248006B2 |
Brushless multiphase self-commutation controller
The Brushless Multiphase Self-Commutation Controller or BMSCC is an adjustable speed drive for reliable, contact-less and stable self-commutation control of electric apparatus, including electric motors and generators. BMSCC transforms multiphase electrical excitation from one frequency to variable frequency that is automatically synchronized to the movement of the electric apparatus without traditional estimation methods of commutation and frequency synthesis using derivatives of electronic, electro-mechanical, and field-oriented-control. Instead, BMSCC comprises an analog electromagnetic computer with synchronous modulation techniques to first establish magnetic energy and then dynamically share packets of magnetic energy between phase windings of a multiphase, position dependent flux, high frequency transformer by direct AC-to-AC conversion without an intermediate DC conversion stage. |
| US08248003B2 |
Vibration frequency adjusting system and method
A vibration frequency adjusting system and method measures energy of a vibration generated by a vibrator of an electronic device, and converts the vibration energy to a level of electric charge. The system and method further compares the level of electric charge with preset electric charge thresholds, and adjusts the level of electric charge to a preset level of electric charge according to the comparison. Then, the system and method converts the adjusted preset level of electric charge to a voltage, and outputs the voltage to vibrator, so as to adjust the frequency of the vibration according to the voltage. |
| US08248002B2 |
System for controlling light in dependence of time of flight signal
A lighting system comprising a lamp arranged to transform electricity into a light beam having properties including intensity, color, color temperature, direction and beam cone angle, a light control system arranged to adjust said light beam properties, an ultrasonic transmitter arranged to transmit ultrasonic signals, an ultrasonic receiver arranged to receive reflected ultrasonic signals, and a processing system arranged to derive a time-of-flight signal representing the time differences between said transmitted and received ultrasonic signals and to send control signals to said light control system in dependence of said time-of-flight signal, wherein said processing system is further arranged to perform a sound pressure level calibration step wherein the amplitude of the received reflected ultrasonic signal of the receiver is measured and wherein the amplitude of the transmitted ultrasonic signal of the transmitter is adjusted such that the amplitude of the received reflected signal approximates a predetermined threshold value. |
| US08248001B2 |
LED control circuit and method, and insect resistive LED lamp
A LED control circuit and method generate a high frequency clock signal with a fixed duty for a LED driver, to supply a switching current to drive a LED to emit light flashing at a modulated high frequency and with a fixed duty. By controlling the flashing LED light within certain flashing frequency range, the circuit and method allow a LED light source for expelling, confusing or trapping insects but serving only an illuminative or decorative purpose to human eyes, due to the difference between human beings and insects in visual perception of flashing frequencies. |
| US08248000B2 |
Light emitting device driver circuit, light emitting device array controller and control method thereof
The present invention discloses a light emitting device array controller which controls a power stage to supply an output voltage to one end of each of a plurality of light emitting device strings. The other end of each of the light emitting device strings is coupled to a corresponding transistor having a current inflow end, a current outflow end and a control end. The present invention obtains signals from the control ends of the transistors instead of the current inflow ends, and feedback controls the output voltage according to the highest voltage of the control ends. Thus, the number of pins required for a circuit chip is reduced. |
| US08247996B2 |
Backlight driving system utilizing one PWM controller to control two backlight units separately
A backlight driving system comprises a first inverter circuit, a second inverter circuit, a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller, a frequency regulator and a switch circuit. The pulse width modulation (PWM) controller generates an illumination signal to control the first and second inverter circuits to illuminate first and second backlight units in response to a first enable signal, and generates a maintaining signal to control the first and second inverter circuits to maintain stable lighting of the first and second backlight units in response to a first feedback signal. The frequency regulator controls the PWM controller to generate the illumination signal and the maintaining signal in response to a second enable signal and a second feedback signal, respectively. The switch circuit connects the PWM controller to the second inverter circuit in response to the second enable signal. |
| US08247995B2 |
Control system for multiple light sources
An exemplary control system for multiple light sources includes a clock circuit, a frequency dividing circuit, a recombining circuit, a power control circuit, and a triggering circuit. The clock circuit is configured to output a plurality of clock signals. The frequency dividing circuit is configured to divide the frequency of the clock signals to get a number of reference clock signals. The recombining circuit is configured to recombine the reference clock signals to get a plurality of timing signals. The power control circuit is configured to output electrical power to the multiple light sources according to the timing signals. The triggering circuit is configured to power on the light sources according to a received command. |
| US08247993B2 |
Apparatus for driving multi-light emitting devices
An apparatus for driving multi-light emitting devices that drives a multi-channel light emitting unit having a plurality of light emitting channels connected in parallel with each other, each of which has a plurality of light emitting devices connected in series with each other according to an aspect of the invention may include: a DC/DC converter generating a driving voltage; a current control unit having a plurality of current sources connected between cathodes of the plurality of light emitting channels and a ground; a minimum voltage selection unit detecting a minimum detection voltage among the plurality of detected voltages at the cathodes of the plurality of light emitting channels; a first error detection unit detecting an error voltage determined by the difference between the minimum detection voltage and a predetermined first reference voltage; and a feedback coupling unit supplying the input voltage according to the error voltage and the driving voltage. |
| US08247992B2 |
LED driver circuit
A light-emitting diode (LED) driver circuit is provided, which includes a transistor, a current regulator, a release diode, and a voltage clamping device. The transistor is coupled in series with an LED string. The LED string is coupled between the transistor and a bus voltage. The current regulator is coupled to the transistor for regulating the current through the transistor and the LED string to a predetermined current. The release diode has an anode coupled between the LED string and the transistor. The voltage clamping device is coupled to the cathode of the release diode for clamping the voltage level at the cathode of the release diode to a predetermined voltage. The voltage clamping device protects the transistor from breakdown when the transistor is turned off for dimming control. |
| US08247990B1 |
Apparatus, method, and system for improved switching methods for power adjustments in light sources
An apparatus, method, and system for switch control of power to light sources, particularly high power consumption light sources that may experience lumen depreciation, such that the power level to a light source may be increased or decreased as desired. Methods of switching utilizing robust mechanical components such as solenoids, coupled with accurate and rapid electronic control components such as microprocessors, may be combined with a combinational approach to capacitance changes to comprise a flexible method of power control to a light source or plurality of light sources. Power to a light source may be adjusted such that the amount of energy consumed and the quantity of light output may be adjusted, compensation may be made for lumen depreciation and other losses that occur during operational life of the light source, to maintain constant or near-constant light output, or otherwise. |
| US08247986B2 |
Power conversion controller having an adaptive peak current reference
A power conversion controller having an adaptive peak current reference, including: a peak current reference generation means, used for generating a peak current reference signal by performing an adaptive arithmetic operation on an output voltage feedback signal and a power source signal; and a comparator means, used for generating a gating signal by performing a voltage comparison operation on the peak current reference signal and a current sensing signal. |
| US08247983B2 |
Lamp driving circuit
The present invention provides a lamp driving circuit. When it is used to drive a number of lamps arranged in a hybrid serial-parallel configuration, the lamp driving circuit eliminates the parasitic current in series branch circuits by using an inverse transformer, which makes the current passing each of the lamps in each of the series branch circuits consistent and consequently eliminates the imbalance of each of the lamps. |
| US08247980B2 |
LED driving circuit and light emitting diode array device
There is provided an LED driving circuit. The LED driving circuit according to an aspect of the invention may include: at least one ladder circuit including: (n−1) number (here, n is a positive integer satisfying n≧2) of first branches provided between first and second junction points, and connected in-line with each other by n number of first middle junction points, (n−1) number of second branches arranged in parallel with the first branches, and connected in-line with each other by n number of second middle junction points between the first and second junction points, and n number of middle branches connecting m-th first and second middle junction points to each other, wherein at least one LED device is disposed on each of the first, second, and middle branches. Here, the number of LED devices included in each of the first and second branches is greater than the number of LED devices included in each of the middle branches. |
| US08247979B2 |
Light-guide device and mounting assembly using same
A light-guide device is provided for detecting and amplify the light emitted by indicator lamps of functional modules mounted in a chassis. The light-guide device includes a plurality of light-guide columns, a circuit board, and a plurality of light-guide blocks. The circuit board includes a plurality of amplifying circuits, each including a photosensitive diode and a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). One of the LEDs is lit when the photosensitive diode detecting the light emitted by the indicator lamp of one corresponding functional modules. The light-guide blocks guide lights emitted by the corresponding LEDs to an outside of the chassis. |
| US08247973B2 |
Discharge chamber for high intensity discharge lamp
A high intensity discharge light source includes an arc tube having a longitudinal axis and discharge chamber formed therein. The light source includes first and second electrodes having inner terminal ends spaced from one another along the longitudinal axis. Each electrode extends at least partially into the discharge chamber. The discharge chamber is deformed so that its internal geometry is substantially rotationally asymmetric about its longitudinal axis, and is substantially mirror-symmetric relative to a plane spanned by the longitudinal axis and by another transverse axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and is vertical in a horizontal arc tube orientation, as well as substantially mirror-symmetric relative to a central plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. In a preferred embodiment of the disclosure the discharge lamp is of a single ended construction and the arc tube of the lamp is of double ended configuration, the discharge lamp having proximal and distal end electric lead wires to connect the arc tube to the lamp base, and the distal end electric lead wire is running below and parallel to the longitudinal discharge chamber axis in a horizontal lamp orientation, and its lateral direction coincides with the lateral direction of the central convex portion of the laterally complex concave-convex-concave deformed surface portion all along the longitudinal axis of the discharge chamber. |
| US08247966B2 |
Organic light emitting device
An organic light emitting device, which includes a first substrate, scan lines and data lines arranged on the first substrate, and at least an unit pixel comprising a R sub-pixel corresponding to a Red color, a G sub-pixel corresponding to a Green color, and a B sub-pixel corresponding to a Blue color positioned in a region on the first substrate defined by a crossing of the scan and data lines. |
| US08247964B2 |
Light-emitting material comprising orthometalated iridium complex, light-emitting device, high efficiency red light-emitting device, and novel iridium complex
A light-emitting material comprises iridium and at least one ligand represented by the following formula: wherein R11 and R12 each represents an alkyl group, an aryl group, a heteroaryl group, an alkoxy group, a cyano group or a cyclic structure obtained by connection of one of a plurality of R11s to another of said plurality of R11s, or one of a plurality of R12s to another of said plurality of R12s, or one of the R11s to one of the R12s; m1 represents an integer from 0 to 4; m2 represents an integer from 0 to 6. |
| US08247963B2 |
Organic electroluminescent display device and production method thereof
An organic electroluminescent display device has a structure which suppresses a leakage current generated in an organic electroluminescent layer and achieves a low power consumption and excellent light-emitting characteristics. The organic electroluminescent display device includes a first electrode, an organic electroluminescent layer, and a second electrode, stacked in this order on a substrate, wherein the organic electroluminescent layer includes a conductive layer and a light-emitting layer, the conductive layer has a trapezoidal cross section which widens downwardly, and the light-emitting layer covers upper and side surfaces of the conductive layer. |
| US08247959B2 |
Solid state illumination system with improved color quality
Disclosed herein are solid state illumination systems which provide improved color quality and/or color contrast. The systems provide total light having delta chroma values for each of the fifteen color samples of the color quality scale that are preselected to provide enhanced color contrast relative to an incandescent or blackbody light source, in accordance with specified values which depend on color temperature. Illumination systems provided herein may comprise one or more organic electroluminescent element, or they may comprise a plurality of inorganic light emitting diodes, wherein at least two inorganic light emitting diodes have different color emission bands. Methods for the manufacture of illumination systems having improved color quality and/or color contrast are also provided. |
| US08247953B2 |
Piezoelectric oscillator part
A piezoelectric oscillator part capable of suppressing oscillation that leaks from a piezoelectric oscillator to a substrate side is obtained. The piezoelectric oscillator part has a piezoelectric oscillator held on a substrate by first and second conductive holding members. The first conductive holding member is arranged proximal to a first end of the substrate. A terminal electrode connected to the first conductive holding member is arranged proximal to a second end of the substrate opposite the first end. The first conductive holding member and the terminal electrode are electrically connected by a wiring electrode. |
| US08247952B2 |
Wheel with piezoelectric ring and vehicle having same
A wheel includes a rim and a tire. The rim includes a ring body defining a central axis, two flanges, and two piezoelectric rings. The flanges extend from the circumference of the ring body around the central axis. A first annular groove is defined in the circumference of each flange around the central axis. The piezoelectric rings are mounted in the respective first annular grooves and configured for producing electric power under pressure. The tire encloses the rim. |
| US08247946B2 |
Electrochemical actuator
The present invention provides systems, devices, and related methods, involving electrochemical actuation. In some cases, application of a voltage or current to a system or device of the invention may generate a volumetric or dimensional change, which may produce mechanical work. For example, at least a portion of the system may be constructed and arranged to be displaced from a first orientation to a second orientation. Systems such as these may be useful in various applications, including pumps (e.g., infusion pumps) and drug delivery devices, for example. |
| US08247933B2 |
Methods and apparatus for a permanent magnet machine with a direct liquid cooled stator
A permanent magnetic machine includes a stator body having a first end, a second end, and a plurality of generally radial slots formed therein for accepting a set of windings having a first set of end-turns at the first end and a second set of end-turns at the second end. The stator body has a plurality of channels adjacent to the slots and extending from the first end of the stator body to the second end of the stator body, wherein the channels are configured to allow the flow of a cooling fluid therethrough. A plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the plurality of channels are configured to spray the cooling fluid onto the first and second set of end turns. |
| US08247929B2 |
Electrical bypass device
An electrical bypass device for a battery is provided for isolating and bypassing a defective battery module made up of secondary cells to allow the battery to continue operating under slightly degraded conditions. The bypass device comprises a first actuator and a second actuator which trigger when a module becomes defective. The actuators each comprise a first, second and third terminal. The first and second terminals are electrically connected to the output terminals of the secondary cells, and the third terminal can be switched between the first and the second terminal. Switching over of the third terminal of an actuator occurs when the actuator is triggered. Triggering (intentional or inadvertent) of one of the actuators leads automatically to triggering of the other actuator if the latter has not triggered. |
| US08247928B2 |
Mobile phone and power supply system of the same
A mobile phone includes a signal processor, an operating module, and a power supply system. The working voltage of the operating module is bigger than that of the signal processor. The power supply system includes a power source, a voltage boosting unit, and a controller. The input terminal and output terminal of the voltage boosting unit is connected to the power source and the operating module respectively. The controller is configured for connecting the signal processor to the power source or the output terminal of the voltage boosting unit corresponding to the output voltage of the power source being bigger or smaller than a preset threshold voltage. |
| US08247927B2 |
Device and network system
In a device according to one aspect of the invention, plural communication ports switch appropriately between a power receiving port and a power feeding port, thereby dealing with supply of electric power through a network in various network configurations. Plural devices are connected to a network cable to form a network system. In an initial state before power receiving, all plural communication ports of the device are put in to a power receiving enabling state. When the electric power is supplied from one of the communication ports, other communication ports are put into a power receiving disabling state. The device feeds part of the received electric power to another adjacent device by utilizing the communication port put into the power receiving disabling state. The supply of electric power can sequentially be performed from the device that receives the supply of electric power from an external power feeding installation to an adjacent device, and finally all the devices receive the supply of electric power through the network. |
| US08247919B2 |
Power station with grid frequency linked turbine and method for operating
A combined-cycle power plant (10) has at least one power train (60) including a steam turbine (24) and a second generator (8) directly driven by the steam turbine (24) and generating alternating current, the output of which generator is connected to a power grid (21) having a given grid frequency (F), and at least one power train (11) of a gas turbine (12) and a first generator (18) driven directly by the gas turbine (12) and generating alternating current with an operating frequency, the output of which generator is connected to a power grid (21) having a predetermined grid frequency. An electronic decoupling device or a variable electronic gear unit (27) decouples the operating frequency from the grid frequency and is arranged between the first generator (18) and the power grid (21). Such a plant allows both flexible steady-state operation with high overall efficiency as well as flexible transient operation. |
| US08247918B2 |
Power generation coupler
The inventive technology described herein generally relates to the field of power generation. More specifically, methods and apparatus for a power generation coupler utilizing perhaps multiple generators coupled through a power generation coupler to at least one rotational movement element such that said coupled connection is dynamically movable across the surface the rotational movement element so as to maintain an electrical output at a constant generator rotation(s) per minute (RPM) according to the varying rotational velocity along the radius of a rotational movement element. In some embodiments such coupled generators may be sequentially loaded and disengaged to such rotational movement element to maintain an electrical output at a constant generator RPM. Certain embodiments may include a static power generation coupler as well as an electrically dynamic power generation coupler such that the current applied to the stator of a generator may dynamically alter that generators resistance. |
| US08247916B2 |
Wind turbine generator
A wind turbine generator is provided with a generator which is provided with a stator and a stator casing accommodating a generator rotor and the stator; a main shaft having one end coupled to a wind turbine rotor and the other end coupled to the generator rotor; a first bearing which rotatably supports the main shaft; a second bearing which is provided on the main shaft to support the stator casing such that the main shaft and the stator casing are rotatable relative to each other; a base to which the first bearing is attached; and a torque support including a coupling member which couples the base portion and a front plate of the stator casing. The load center of force acting between the coupling member and the front plate in a case that torque acts on the stator casing in the circumferential direction of the main shaft is positioned in a range between the front and back surfaces of the front plate. |
| US08247912B2 |
Atmospheric resources explorer
The invention herein described consists of a system destined to harness wind resources, transferring wind power to the ground station group on the surface, the process being performed through the tensioning and unwinding of the cable group connecting the airborne group to a reeler in the said ground station group. Through the control group the resultant force vector of the aerodynamic forces tensioning the cable can be significantly altered. This change in aerodynamic forces can be done in order to create two different phases which define the cyclic movement performed by the system: a work phase, where the resultant force vector is of greater magnitude and tensions the cable, unwinding it at the ground station group and thus producing power; and a recovery phase (which requires power from the system) when the cable is rewound in order to bring the airborne group back to its original position. Because the work produced in the work phase is of greater magnitude than the work required during the recovery phase, the system generates positive net power, which can then be introduced in the electrical grid, or stored as any other form of energy such as chemical or mechanical. |
| US08247911B2 |
Wire bonding structure and method for forming same
Provided is a bonding structure of a bonding wire and a method for forming the same which can solve problems of conventional technologies in practical application of a multilayer copper wire, improve the formability and bonding characteristic of a ball portion, improve the bonding strength of wedge connection, and have a superior industrial productivity. A bonding wire mainly composed of copper, and a concentrated layer where the concentration of a conductive metal other than copper is high is formed at a ball bonded portion. The concentrated layer is formed in the vicinity of the ball bonded portion or at the interface thereof. An area where the concentration of the conductive metal is 0.05 to 20 mol % has a thickness greater than or equal to 0.1 μm, and it is preferable that the concentration of the conductive metal in the concentrated layer should be five times as much as the average concentration of the conductive metal at the ball bonded portion other than the concentrated layer. |
| US08247904B2 |
Interconnection between sublithographic-pitched structures and lithographic-pitched structures
An interconnection between a sublithographic-pitched structure and a lithographic pitched structure is formed. A plurality of conductive lines having a sublithographic pitch may be lithographically patterned and cut along a line at an angle less than 45 degrees from the lengthwise direction of the plurality of conductive lines. Alternately, a copolymer mixed with homopolymer may be placed into a recessed area and self-aligned to form a plurality of conductive lines having a sublithographic pitch in the constant width region and a lithographic dimension between adjacent lines at a trapezoidal region. Yet alternately, a first plurality of conductive lines with the sublithographic pitch and a second plurality of conductive lines with the lithographic pitch may be formed at the same level or at different. |
| US08247903B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes an insulating film formed on a substrate; an interconnect layer including a plurality of interconnects formed in the insulating film; and a pad formed on the insulating film. In a region containing at least a part of a section below the pad, a narrow spacing region is formed, where a spacing between the adjacent interconnects is shorter than that in a section outside the region containing at least a part of the section below the pad. |
| US08247896B2 |
Stacked semiconductor device and fabrication method for same
A stacked semiconductor device is constructed by stacking in two levels: a lower semiconductor device having a wiring board, at least one semiconductor chip mounted on a first surface of the wiring board and having electrodes electrically connected to wiring by way of a connection means, an encapsulant composed of insulating plastic that covers the semiconductor chip and the connection means, a plurality of electrodes formed overlying the wiring of a second surface of the wiring board, and a plurality of linking interconnects each having a portion connected to the wiring of the first surface of the wiring board and another portion exposed on the surface of the encapsulant; and an upper semiconductor device in which each electrode overlies and is electrically connected to the exposed portions of each of the linking interconnects of the lower semiconductor device. The linking interconnects extend from the first surface of the wiring board to the side surfaces and upper surface of the encapsulant, and moreover, electrically connect with wiring of the wiring board that projects from the encapsulant. |
| US08247894B2 |
Integrated circuit package system with step mold recess
An integrated circuit package system includes: providing a stackable integrated circuit package system having a base encapsulation and a recess therein; stacking a top integrated circuit package system, having a top encapsulation with a protruding portion, with the stackable integrated circuit package system with the protruding portion aligned and matched within the recess; and connecting the top integrated circuit package system and the stackable integrated circuit package system. |
| US08247891B2 |
Chip package structure including heat dissipation device and an insulation sheet
A chip package structure including a substrate, at least one chip, a plurality of leads, a heat dissipation device, a molding compound, and at least one insulating sheet is provided. The chip is disposed on the substrate. The leads are electrically connected to the substrate. The molding compound having a top surface encapsulates the chip, the substrate, and a portion of the leads. The heat dissipation device is disposed on the top surface of the molding compound. The insulating sheet disposed between the heat dissipation device and at least one of the leads has a bending line dividing the insulating sheet into a main body disposed on the molding compound and a bending portion extending from the main body. |
| US08247887B1 |
Method and surface morphology of non-polar gallium nitride containing substrates
An optical device, e.g., LED, laser. The device includes a non-polar gallium nitride substrate member having a slightly off-axis non-polar oriented crystalline surface plane. In a specific embodiment, the slightly off-axis non-polar oriented crystalline surface plane is up to about −0.6 degrees in a c-plane direction, but can be others. In a specific embodiment, the present invention provides a gallium nitride containing epitaxial layer formed overlying the slightly off-axis non-polar oriented crystalline surface plane. In a specific embodiment, the device includes a surface region overlying the gallium nitride epitaxial layer that is substantially free of hillocks. |
| US08247884B2 |
Semiconductor structure for fabricating a handle wafer contact in a trench insulated SOI disc
Disclosed is a semiconductor structure for producing a handle wafer contact in trench insulated SOI discs which may be used as a deep contact (7, 6, 30′) to the handle wafer (1) of a thick SOI disc as well as for a trench insulation (40). Therein, the same method steps are used for both structures which are used as deep contact to the handle wafer of the thick SOI disc as well as trench insulation. |
| US08247881B2 |
Photodiodes with surface plasmon couplers
A device that includes a signal generating unit having a surface that can receive photons, a first metal structure located on the surface of the signal generating unit, and a second metal structure located on the surface of the signal generating unit. The second metal structure being spaced apart from the first metal structure. |
| US08247877B2 |
Structure with reduced fringe capacitance
A structure includes a substrate and a gate stack disposed on the substrate. The structure also includes a nitride encapsulation layer disposed on a side wall of the gate stack and which has been exposed to a plasma source. The structure also includes at least one other element contacting the nitride encapsulation layer in a region where the nitride encapsulation layer contacts the side wall of the gate stack. |
| US08247874B2 |
Depletion MOS transistor and charging arrangement
A depletion transistor includes a source region and a drain region of a first conductivity type, a channel region of the first conductivity type arranged between the source region and the drain region and a first gate electrode arranged adjacent the channel region and dielectrically insulated from the channel region by a gate dielectric. The depletion transistor further includes a first discharge region of a second conductivity type arranged adjacent the gate dielectric and electrically coupled to a terminal for a reference potential. The depletion transistor can be included in a charging circuit. |
| US08247873B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a first MISFET and a second MISFET, wherein the first MISFET includes a semiconductor substrate 100, a first gate insulating film 101a and a first gate electrode 102a formed on the first region of the semiconductor substrate, and first side walls (103a, 120a) formed on the side surface of the first gate electrode 102a, and the second MISFET includes a second gate insulating film 101b and a second gate electrode 102b formed on the second region of the semiconductor substrate 100, and second side walls (103b, 120b) formed on the side surface of the second gate electrode 102b. The width of the first side wall is smaller than the width of the second side wall, and the second side wall includes the second spacer 103b containing a higher concentration of hydrogen than the first spacer 103a. |
| US08247872B2 |
ESD protection circuit including multi-finger transistor
Provided is an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit including a multi-finger transistor. The multi-finger transistor includes a plurality of drains and a plurality of sources alternately arranged in parallel, and a plurality of gate electrodes arranged between the drains and the sources. The drains are electrically coupled to an input/output pad through a plurality of first finger patterns which are coupled to a plurality of first contact patterns. The sources are electrically coupled to a specific voltage line through a path which comprises a plurality of second finger patterns coupled to a plurality of second contact patterns. The number of the first contact patterns corresponding to the drains is gradually reduced as the distance to the voltage line becomes shorter. |
| US08247868B2 |
Power MOSFET and fabricating method thereof
A power MOSFET is disclosed. In the power MOSFET, an epitaxial layer doped with dopants of a first conduction type is formed on a substrate. A first trench extends downward from a first region of the top surface of the epitaxial layer, and a second trench extends downward from the bottom of the first trench. The width of the second trench is smaller than that of the first trench. The first well is located adjacent to the bottom of the first trench and the bottom of the second trench, and is doped with dopants of a second conduction type. The second well extends downward from a second region of the top surface and is doped with dopants of the second conduction type. The first well and the second well are separated. A source region doped with dopants of the first conduction type is formed in the second well. |
| US08247867B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a base layer that has a first conductivity type, a source layer that is formed on the base layer and has a second conductivity type, and an insulating film that is formed on the source layer. The semiconductor device further includes a plurality of gate structures that penetrate the base layer, and a plurality of conductive parts that penetrate the insulating film and the source layer and electrically connect the source layer and the base layer to each other. The gate structures are formed in a stripe shape in plan view. Parts in which the conductive portion is connected to the base layer are formed in a stripe shape in plan view, and are formed between the gate structures. Further, a dimension of the part in which the source layer and the base layer are in contact with each other between the gate structure and the conductive portion is 0.36 μm or more. |
| US08247865B2 |
Semiconductor structure, method for operating a semiconductor structure and method for producing a semiconductor structure
A semiconductor structure has a substrate with a first main surface and a second main surface, the substrate comprising a gate electrode region, a channel region, wherein a conductive channel can be generated, and a gate electrode insulation between the gate electrode region and the channel region.Further, a field electrode region with a curved external surface is provided for increasing a breakdown voltage of the semiconductor structure, wherein the field electrode region has an extension in every direction in parallel to the first main surface, which is lower than a maximum extension in the one direction perpendicular to the second main surface. |
| US08247860B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing same
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a substrate; a stacked body with a plurality of dielectric films and electrode films alternately stacked therein, the stacked body being provided on the substrate and having a step in its end portion for each of the electrode films; an interlayer dielectric film burying the end portion of the stacked body; a plurality of semiconductor pillars extending in the stacking direction of the stacked body and penetrating through a center portion of the stacked body; a charge storage layer provided between one of the electrode films and one of the semiconductor pillars; and a plug buried in the interlayer dielectric film and connected to a portion of each of the electrode films constituting the step, a portion of each of the dielectric films in the center portion having a larger thickness than a portion of each of the dielectric films in the end portion. |
| US08247859B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes an isolation layer defining an active region formed in a semiconductor substrate. A first recessing process is performed on the isolation layer to expose edge portions of the active region. A first rounding process is performed to round the edge portions of the active region. A second recessing process is performed on the isolation layer. A second rounding process is performed to round the edge portions of the active region. |
| US08247858B2 |
Semiconductor storage device and method of manufacturing same
A semiconductor storage device and method of manufacturing same at a lower cost by without forming a photolithographic resist. Second impurity regions are arranged in such a manner that second impurity regions adjacent along the column direction are joined together. A select gate electrode is arranged into a ring shape so as to surround the second impurity regions, and is electrically connected to a word line. A first control gate electrode is arranged into a ring shape on the outer peripheral side of the select gate electrode, and a second control gate electrode is arranged into a ring shape on the inner peripheral side of the select gate electrode. A pair of first and second bit lines corresponding to every row are placed on the memory cells of the device, a first bit line is electrically connected to one of first impurity regions that are adjacent along the row direction, and a second bit line is electrically connected to the other of the first impurity regions that are adjacent along the row direction. |
| US08247857B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing same
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor member; a memory film provided on a surface of the semiconductor member and being capable of storing charge; and a plurality of control gate electrodes provided on the memory film, spaced from each other, and arranged along a direction parallel to the surface. Average dielectric constant of a material interposed between one of the control gate electrodes and a portion of the semiconductor member located immediately below the control gate electrode adjacent to the one control gate electrode is lower than average dielectric constant of a material interposed between the one control gate electrode and a portion of the semiconductor member located immediately below the one control gate electrode. |
| US08247855B2 |
Enhanced local interconnects employing ferroelectric electrodes
A ferroelectric device employs ferroelectric electrodes as local interconnect(s). One or more circuit features are formed within or on a semiconductor body. A first dielectric layer is formed over the semiconductor body. Lower contacts are formed within the first dielectric layer. A bottom electrode is formed over the first dielectric layer and on the lower contacts. A ferroelectric layer is formed on the bottom electrode. A top electrode is formed on the ferroelectric layer. A second dielectric layer is formed over the first dielectric layer. Upper contacts are formed within the second dielectric layer and in contact with the top electrode. Conductive features are formed on the upper contacts. |
| US08247852B2 |
Backside illuminated imaging sensor with reinforced pad structure
A backside illuminated imaging sensor with reinforced pad structure includes a device layer, a metal stack, an opening and a frame. The device layer has an imaging array formed in a front side of the device layer and the imaging array is adapted to receive light from a back side of the device layer. The metal stack is coupled to the front side of the device layer where the metal stack includes at least one metal interconnect layer having a metal pad. The opening extends from the back side of the device layer to the metal pad to expose the metal pad for wire bonding. The frame is disposed within the opening to structurally reinforce the metal pad. |
| US08247851B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device for providing improved isolation between contact and cell gate electrode
A manufacture method is provided for forming a semiconductor device. The method includes: forming a plurality of gate electrodes through etching a conductive film deposited on a semiconductor substrate; forming a first nitride film to cover the gate electrodes; partially exposing the semiconductor substrate in a region between adjacent two of the gate electrodes through performing an etch-back process on the first nitride film; thermally oxidizing a residual of the gate electrode film remaining in the region between the adjacent two of the gate electrodes to change the residual into an thermal oxide film; and forming a contact in the region between the adjacent two of the gate electrodes. |
| US08247837B2 |
Light-emitting diode with high lighting efficiency
The invention discloses a light-emitting diode. In an embodiment, the light-emitting diode includes a substrate, a first doping type semiconductor layer, a second doping type semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer and plural laminated structures. The first doping type semiconductor layer, the light-emitting layer and the second doping type semiconductor layer are formed on the substrate in sequence. The plural laminated structures are formed on the top surface of the second doping type semiconductor layer such that the top surface is partially exposed. Each laminated structure consists of plural transparent insulating layers which have their respective refractive indices. Additionally, each of the laminated structures is formed in a way of upwardly stacking the transparent insulating layers in sequence with the refractive indices of the transparent insulating layers decreasing gradually, so as to enhance the light-extraction efficiency and the lighting efficiency of the light-emitting diode. |
| US08247832B2 |
Light emitting diode and manufacturing method thereof
A light emitting diode includes a heat conductive substrate and a light emitting structure formed on the substrate. A transparent conductive layer is formed on the light emitting structure and an electrode pad is deposited on the transparent conductive layer. The light emitting diode further comprises a metal layer and a buffer layer set between the light emitting structure and the transparent conductive layer. The metal layer is set on the central portion of the top surface of the light emitting structure away from the substrate and forms a Schottky connection with the light emitting structure. The buffer layer surrounds the metal layer and forms an ohmic connection with the light emitting structure. |
| US08247830B2 |
Light-emitting device package structure
A light-emitting device package structure includes a leadframe, a light-emitting device disposed on the leadframe, a plurality of wires electrically connecting the leadframe and the light-emitting device, and an encapsulant covering the light-emitting device, the wires and a part of the leadframe. The encapsulant has a gas space therein, and the gas space is disposed on the light-emitting device, wherein the gas space includes at least one gas. |
| US08247824B2 |
Electronic devices comprising electrodes that connect to conductive members within a substrate and processes for forming the electronic devices
An electronic device includes a substrate. The substrate includes a first pixel driving circuit, a first conductive member, and a second conductive member. The first and second conductive members are spaced apart from each other. The first conductive member is connected to the first pixel driving circuit. The second conductive member is part of a power transmission line. The electronic device further includes a well structure overlying the substrate and defining a pixel opening, a via, and a channel. The pixel opening is connected to the via through the channel. In addition, the electronic device includes a first electronic component. The electronic component includes a first electrode that contacts the first conductive member in the pixel opening, a second electrode that contacts the second conductive member in the via, and an organic layer lying between the first and second electrodes. |
| US08247819B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light emitting diode display includes a substrate member, a plurality of pixel electrodes formed on the substrate member, an organic emission layer formed on the pixel electrodes, and a first common electrode formed on the organic emission. A transmitting layer may be formed on the first common electrode and is configured to be substantially antireflective. A second common electrode may be formed on the transmitting layer and the first common electrode is electrically connected with the second common electrode. |
| US08247818B2 |
Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus
A semiconductor layer of a TFT is continuously formed from an inside of an open hole portion overlapping with an intersection up to an outside of the open hole portion and includes a first source/drain area electrically connected to a surface portion of the data line exposed to a bottom surface of the open hole portion, a channel area disposed on a side wall of the open hole portion, and a second source/drain area formed outside the open hole portion and electrically connected to the pixel electrode. The gate electrode of the TFT is formed inside the open hole portion so as to overlap with at least the channel area and is electrically connected to a scanning line. |
| US08247816B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel
A thin film transistor array panel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a gate electrode; a semiconductor layer; a gate insulating layer disposed between the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer; a source electrode connected to the semiconductor layer; and a drain electrode connected to the semiconductor layer, spaced apart from the source electrode, and including two branches overlapping the gate electrode, wherein the two branches of the drain electrode are spaced apart from each other and lie on a straight line or on two parallel straight lines. |
| US08247815B2 |
Thin film transistor, and display apparatus having the same
A method of fabricating a thin film transistor includes forming a gate electrode on a substrate, forming a semiconductor layer on the gate electrode, forming a source electrode on the semiconductor layer, forming a drain electrode on the semiconductor layer spaced apart from the source electrode, forming a copper layer pattern on the source electrode and the drain electrode, exposing the copper layer pattern on the source electrode and the drain electrode to a fluorine-containing process gas to form a copper fluoride layer pattern thereon, and patterning the semiconductor layer. |
| US08247814B2 |
Active matrix display device including a metal oxide semiconductor film
The present invention provides a manufacturing process using a droplet-discharging method that is suitable for manufacturing a large substrate in mass production. A photosensitive material solution of a conductive film is selectively discharged by a droplet-discharging method, selectively exposed to laser light, and developed or etched, thereby allowing only the region exposed to laser light to be left and realizing a source wiring and a drain wiring having a more microscopic pattern than the pattern itself formed by discharging. One feature of the source wiring and the drain wiring is that the source wiring and the drain wiring cross an island-like semiconductor layer and overlap it. |
| US08247808B2 |
Organic light emitting lighting apparatus
An organic light emitting lighting device that includes a transparent substrate, a first electrode layer formed on the substrate, an organic emission layer formed on the first electrode layer, a second electrode line formed of a plurality of second electrode lines disposed in parallel with each other on the organic emission layer, a first fuse unit having one end connected with the first electrode layer, and a plurality of second fuses having one end respectively connected to one end of the plurality of second electrode lines. |
| US08247805B2 |
Material for organic photoelectric device including electron transporting unit and hole transporting unit, and organic photoelectric device including the same
A material for an organic photoelectric device, the material including a compound including a pyridine moiety, the compound being a bipolar organic compound including both a hole transporting unit and an electron transporting unit, the compound being represented by the following Formula 1: |
| US08247804B2 |
Light-emitting element, light-emitting device, and electronic device
Disclosed is a light-emitting element with a good carrier balance and manufacturing method thereof which does not require the formation of the heterostructure. The light-emitting element includes an organic compound film containing a first organic compound as the main component (base material) between an anode and a cathode, wherein the organic compound film is provided in contact with the anode and with the cathode. The first organic compound further includes a light-emitting region to which a light-emitting substance is added and includes a hole-transport region to which a hole-trapping substance is added and/or an electron-transport region to which an electron-trapping substance is added. The hole-transport region is located between the light-emitting region and the anode, and the electron-transport region is located between the light-emitting region and the cathode. |
| US08247803B2 |
Organic transistor including an organic semicnductor layer and method for fabricating the same
The present invention provides an organic transistor that includes an organic semiconductor layer containing a material having conductive particles and an organic semiconductor polymer chemically bonded to each other and a method of producing the same. |
| US08247802B2 |
Memory element and semiconductor device
To provide a memory element, a memory device, and a semiconductor device, which can be easily manufactured at low cost; are nonvolatile and data-rewritable; and have preferable switching properties and low operating voltage. A memory element of the invention includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer facing the first conductive layer, and an organic compound layer provided between the first and the second conductive layers. For the organic compound layer, a high molecular material having an amide group at least at one kind of side chains is used. |
| US08247800B2 |
Triarylamine containing polymers and electronic devices
A conjugated or partially conjugated polymer including a structural unit of Formula I in the backbone: (Formula I), wherein Arl, Are are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted arylene or hetero arylene group with two or more aromatic rings fused together and Ar3 is an aryl or heteroaryl group of C4 to C40 or substituted aryl or heteroaryl group of C4 to C40 and devices containing such polymer. In addition, a composition of: (Formula V), wherein Ar1, Are are arylene or heteroaryl groups and Ar3 is an aryl or heteroaryl group and wherein X is a leaving group such as halogen, boronic acid or boronate ester. |
| US08247795B2 |
Interfused nanocrystals and method of preparing the same
Interfused nanocrystals including two or more materials, further including an alloy layer formed of the two or more materials. In addition, a method of preparing the interfused nanocrystals. In the interfused nanocrystals, the alloy layer may be present at the interface between the two or more nanocrystals, thus increasing the material stability. A material having excellent quantum efficiency in the blue light range may be synthesized. |
| US08247791B2 |
Compound semiconductor light emitting element, illuminating apparatus using compound semiconductor light emitting element, and method for manufacturing compound semiconductor light emitting element
A compound semiconductor light emitting element is provided with a substrate which is provided on a side of one electrode; a plurality of columnar crystal structures of nanometer scale extending in a vertical direction on the substrate; and another electrode which interconnects top portions of the plurality of columnar crystal structures. On the substrate are provided a first region, and a second region having a step between the first region and the second region and having a substrate thickness greater than that in the first region; a porous first mask layer is formed on the surface of the first region on the substrate; and the plurality of columnar crystal structures are formed by sequentially layering an n-type semiconductor layer, a light emitting layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer, in the first and second regions on the substrate. |
| US08247789B2 |
Memory cells and methods of forming memory cells
Some embodiments include a memory cell that contains programmable material sandwiched between first and second electrodes. The memory cell can further include a heating element which is directly against one of the electrodes and directly against the programmable material. The heating element can have a thickness in a range of from about 2 nanometers to about 30 nanometers, and can be more electrically resistive than the electrodes. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory cells that include heating elements directly between electrodes and programmable materials. |
| US08247785B2 |
Particle beam device and method for use in a particle beam device
A particle beam device includes a movable carrier element with at least one receiving element for receiving a specimen and in which the receiving element is situated on the carrier element. In various embodiments, the receiving element may be situated removably on the carrier element and/or multiple receiving elements may be situated on the carrier element in such a way that a movement of the carrier element causes a movement of the multiple receiving elements in the same spatial direction or around the same axis. The carrier element may be movable in three spatial directions situated perpendicular to one another and rotatable around a first axis which is parallel to an optical axis of the particle beam device and around a second axis which is situated perpendicular to the optical axis. A method for using the particle beam device in connection with specimen study and preparation is also disclosed. |
| US08247783B2 |
Method of determining main deflection settling time for charged particle beam writing, method of writing with charged particle beam, and apparatus for writing with charged particle beam
An electron beam is moved a long distance along a straight line from a sub-deflection region 101a to a diagonally opposite sub-deflection region 123w by main deflection of the beam, and a pattern P is written in the sub-deflection region 123w. The former writing step is repeated a plurality of times each with a different main deflection settling time, thereby writing a plurality of patterns P. The amount of displacement of each pattern P from its designed position is then measured. Further, the latter writing step is also repeated a plurality of times each with a different main deflection settling time, thereby writing another plurality of patterns P. The amount of displacement of each pattern P from its designed position is then measured. |