| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08363773B2 |
Digital phase interpolation control for clock and data recovery circuit
This invention discloses a phase interpolation controller for a clock and data recovery circuit receiving an indication of a phase relationship between a first and a second signal, the phase interpolation controller comprises a plurality of serially coupled bi-directional shift-registers, wherein when the received indication indicates the first signal is ahead of the second signal in phase, the plurality of serially coupled bi-directional shift-registers shifts in one of the bi-directions, and when the received indication indicates the first signal is behind the second signal in phase, the plurality of serially coupled bi-directional shift-registers shifts in the other of the bi-directions. |
| US08363769B2 |
Sync detector and communication apparatus synthesizing correlation values
A sync detector includes a correlation computing unit configured to receive signal values corresponding to respective sample points and to compute auto-correlation of the received signal values between sample points of interest and sample points that are situated at a distance equal to a constant number of sample points from the sample points of interest, a correlation value synthesizing unit configured to receive auto-correlation values corresponding to respective sample points obtained by the correlation computing unit and to synthesize the auto-correlation values with respect to at least two sample points among sample points that are spaced apart by the constant number of sample points thereby to compute a synthesized correlation value, and a peak-point detecting unit configured to detect a position of a sample point corresponding to a largest synthesized correlation value among synthesized correlation values corresponding to respective sample points obtained by the correlation value synthesizing unit. |
| US08363765B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing received signals for synchronization in communication devices
Techniques to generate synchronization information from received signals in communication applications are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method for generating synchronization information from received signals includes providing a fixed gain to a received analog signal to generate a modified analog signal, converting the modified analog signal to a digital signal, extracting one or more sign bits from the digital signal, and generating synchronization information as a function of the one or more sign bits. Various embodiments can be applied in several wireless and wired communication applications. |
| US08363764B2 |
Method and device for reconstructing a data clock from asynchronously transmitted data packets
For reconstructing a data clock from asynchronously transmitted data packets, a control loop is provided which includes a controlled oscillator. An input signal of the control loop is generated on the basis of the received data packets. At least one high-pass type filter is provided in a signal path of the control loop. The data clock for the synchronous output of data is generated on the basis of an output signal of the controlled oscillator. |
| US08363762B2 |
Digital subscriber line noise mitigation techniques, and applications thereof
The present invention provides digital subscriber line noise mitigation techniques, and applications thereof. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a toolbox of methods and techniques for mitigating the effects of noise in xDSL systems. These methods and techniques are controllable and locatable at one or both ends of a DSL communication link (e.g., within a central office transceiver unit or a remote transceiver unit). These novel methods and techniques include: (1) per tone noise margin modification, (2) data framer constraints modification, (3) improved noise measurements; (4) more robust on-line reconfiguration processes, (5) worst case noise monitoring, (6) induced bit rate limitations, and (7) distortion noise mitigation. These methods and techniques are particularly useful for mitigating the effects of time-varying noise and impulse noise. |
| US08363758B2 |
Method and system for automatic gain control during signal acquisition
The disclosure is directed to a mobile communication device that includes automatic gain control (AGC) circuitry and operates in either a tracking mode or an acquisition mode. A received signal is sampled n times to calculate an energy estimate that is used to set the gain control values within the AGC circuitry. The value of n varies depending on whether the handset is operating in the acquisition mode or the tracking mode. Acquisition mode is typically considered to be the mode prior to coarse timing acquisition, also referred to as frame acquisition. |
| US08363757B1 |
Method and apparatus for eliminating the effects of frequency offsets in a digital communication system
The present invention aims at eliminating the effects of frequency offsets between two transceivers by adjusting frequencies used during transmission. In this invention, methods for correcting the carrier frequency and the sampling frequency during transmission are provided, including both digital and analog implementations of such methods. The receiver determines the relative frequency offset between the transmitter and the receiver, and uses this information to correct this offset when the receiver transmits its data to the original transmitter in the return path, so that the signal received by the original transmitter is in sampling and carrier frequency lock with the original transmitter's local frequency reference. |
| US08363750B2 |
Apparatus, method and computer program for error compensation
The invention is related to an apparatus which includes a first generator configured to generate transfer function values of in-phase and quadrature channels. The apparatus further includes a determiner configured to determine compensation coefficients on the basis of the generated transfer function values of in-phase and quadrature channels. The apparatus further includes a second generator configured to generate compensated frequency domain symbols for at least one frequency pair by using the compensation coefficients. |
| US08363749B2 |
Peak to average power ratio reduction
A method for transmitting data in a communication system employing an encoding scheme includes processing data in accordance with a particular processing scheme to provide a plurality of information symbols; shaping a constellation of the plurality of information symbols to obtain a plurality of shaped symbols; processing the plurality of shaped symbols in accordance with the encoding scheme to obtain a plurality of transformed signals such that the peak to average power ratio (PAR) of the plurality of transformed symbols is lower than the PAR would be if the information symbols were not shaped into shaped symbols prior to processing into transformed symbols, wherein the encoding scheme may be expressed in a form x=Gs, sεZN, GεRN×N, where x is an isomorphic vector representation of transformed signals, G is an N×N invertible generator matrix, s is a vector of a plurality of information symbols, and R represents the real domain; and transmitting the plurality of transformed signals over a communication network. |
| US08363746B2 |
Method to modify the frequency hopping scheme by extending the validity of the reference signals
The present invention increases the interference diversity in systems with the frame structure described above by using frequency hopping sequences that are selected considering characteristics of the channel relating to how the channel varies. According to a first embodiment, the channel characteristics relate to channel coherence time and according to a second embodiment, the channel characteristics relate to channel coherence bandwidth. For channels with long coherence times, the transmission hops back and forth several times during a TTI on the different available frequencies. For channels with wide coherence bandwidths, hopping may be performed between the frequency used by the reference signals and its neighbor frequencies. For channels with both long coherence times and wide coherence bandwidths, a combination may be used. |
| US08363741B2 |
Data transmission in telecommunications networks
A method of mapping a plurality of symbols from a first communication scheme (e.g. GSM) to frames of a second communication scheme (e.g. CPRI) to enable data of the symbols to be transmitted over a communication link that operates according to the second communication scheme, wherein N of the symbols are transmitted in a sequence n=0, . . . , n−1 and X of the frames are transmitted in a sequence x=o, . . . , x−1, the method including transmitting data of the symbol n during a frame x, where x is dependent upon the value n*TF*fs where TF is the duration of each of the symbols from the first communication scheme and fs is the frequency of transmission of the frames of the second communication scheme. |
| US08363740B2 |
Pilot allocation in multi-carrier systems with frequency notching
The present invention relates to a transmitting apparatus (62) for transmitting signals in a multi carrier system, in which pilot signals and data mapped on frequency carriers are transmitted in a transmission bandwidth, wherein a part of said transmission bandwidth is not used to transmit signals, comprisingpilot signal mapping means (63) for mapping pilot signals onto selected frequency carriers according to a pilot pattern which is adapted for a channel estimation in a corresponding receiving apparatus, said pilot pattern enabling a channel estimation for frequency carriers next to said part of said transmission bandwidth which is not used to transmit signals. The present invention further relates to a corresponding method as well as a pilot pattern. |
| US08363737B2 |
Wireless data transmission between a base station and a transponder via inductive coupling
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a carrier signal transmitted by a base station according to either a first data-transmission protocol or a second data-transmission protocol; detecting a first field gap in the carrier signal indicating initiation of a data transmission by the base station; and determining whether a reference duration is present in the carrier signal after the first field gap. The method includes, if the reference duration is present in the carrier signal after the first field gap then, according to the first data-transmission protocol, determining a calibration value for the data transmission based on the reference duration and decoding the data transmission by measuring durations between successive subsequent field gaps and determining whether each duration as measured is a binary 1 or binary 0 based on the calibration value. |
| US08363730B2 |
Local macroblock information buffer
According to some embodiments, an external memory unit stores rows of macroblocks representing an image. A set of macroblocks may be transferred from the external memory unit to a local buffer, the set of macroblocks including fewer macroblocks than a row. A macroblock may then be decoded based on information in the local buffer to generate an image signal. |
| US08363729B1 |
Visual data compression algorithm with parallel processing capability
Methods and systems for using a video data compression algorithm with parallel processing capability are provided. AC and DC coefficients associated with blocks of the video data, along with quantization errors, may be encoded using a variable length code. The quantization errors may be encoded using a scheme that assigns priorities to the quantization errors based on the position of their associated AC and/or DC coefficients in a block of the video data. The quantization errors may be appended to a bitstream in an order based on these priorities that enables parallel coding of the quantization errors and AC and DC coefficients in each block of video data. Data packing schemes may also be applied to the coded data to maximize the use of bandwidth resources in encoding and/or decoding. |
| US08363728B2 |
Block based codec friendly edge detection and transform selection
Low complexity edge detection and DCT type selection method to improve the visual quality of H.264/AVC encoded video sequence is described. Encoding-generated information is reused to detect an edge macroblock. Variance and Mean Absolute Difference (MAD) of one macroblock shows a certain relationship that is able to be used to differentiate the edge macroblock and the non-edge macroblock. Also, the variance difference of neighbor macroblocks provides a hint for edge existence. Then, a block-based edge detection method uses this information. To determine the DCT type for each block, the detected edges are differentiated as visual obvious edge, texture-like edge, soft edge and strong edge. 8×8 DCT is used for texture-like edges and the 4×4 DCT is used for all the other edges. The result is an efficient and accurate edge detection and transform selection method. |
| US08363727B2 |
Techniques to perform fast motion estimation
Techniques to perform fast motion estimation are described. An apparatus may comprise a motion estimator operative to receive as input a current frame and a reference frame from a digital video sequence. The motion estimator may generate and output a motion vector. The motion vector may represent a change in position between a current block of the current frame and a matching reference block of the reference frame. The motion estimator may utilize an enhanced block matching technique to perform block matching based on stationary and spatially proximate blocks. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08363726B2 |
Electronic apparatus, motion vector detecting method, and program therefor
An electronic apparatus includes an extracting unit, a retrieving unit, a detecting unit, and a controlling unit. The extracting unit extracts a first block at a first position of a first frame image from plural frame images constituting video data. The retrieving unit retrieves, from a retrieval region within a second frame image from among the plural frame images, a second block between which the first block has a smallest residual value, the second and first frame images having a first time length therebetween. The detecting unit detects a first motion vector between the first and second blocks. The controlling unit controls the detecting unit so that detection of the first motion vector is regulated when the second block is retrieved at a third position apart from the second position of the second frame image corresponding to the first position by a first threshold or more. |
| US08363718B2 |
Method for correcting a quantized data value and associated device
Where a quantized data value is produced by a first quantization of an input data value, followed by a first inverse quantization and subsequently by a second quantization and the first quantization has first quantization intervals and the second quantization has second quantization intervals, third quantization intervals are generated by displacing interval boundaries of the second quantization intervals, respectively, to the next interval boundaries of the first quantization intervals. A third reconstruction value is determined for the third quantization intervals such that the third reconstruction value lies within the associated third quantization intervals. A corrected data value is generated by a third inverse quantization of the quantized data value and the third inverse quantization is affirmed by the third quantization intervals containing the associated third reconstruction value. |
| US08363714B2 |
Video stream modifier
A compressed data stream modifier 270 is disclosed. The stream modifier modifies an input data stream that may comprise audio and video data streams conforming to any one of the well-known video compression standards, for example, MPEG or AVC. The input stream is first de-multiplexed to obtain a single video elementary stream. The video elementary stream is then decoded by means of a variable-length decoder and provided to the data stream modifier. A decoding complexity of each frame is estimated by an estimator 210 and provided to a controller 250. The controller selects a number of regions from each frame based on some psycho-visual criteria, such that a method of modification of these regions can bring the decoding complexity within an available capacity at a decoder. An efficient means of adapting a decoding complexity to an available capacity is thus obtained. |
| US08363711B2 |
Receive apparatus and method in a mobile communication system
An apparatus and method for partially updating a tap coefficient and for reducing a hardware size are provided. The apparatus includes a channel estimator, an update period setting unit, and an adaptive algorithm processor. The channel estimator estimates a channel for a received signal. The update period setting unit sets a window corresponding to a filter coefficient update period using channel estimation information of the channel estimator. The adaptive algorithm processor acquires a filter coefficient of the set window interval and performs an equalization algorithm. |
| US08363707B2 |
Mixed-mode signaling
Methods and apparatus are disclosed, such as those involving mixed-mode signaling that includes transmitting a differential signal and a common mode signals over the same pair of interconnect traces. One such apparatus includes a first transmitter configured to transmit a differential signal through a pair of electrically conductive lines in a first direction. The differential signal has a first frequency and carries electronic data. The apparatus further includes a second transmitter configured to transmit a common mode signal through the pair of electrically conductive lines in the first direction. The common mode signal is superimposed onto each of the differential signal. The common mode signal has a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency and carries a control signal. This configuration reduces the number of lines and pins on electronic circuits, thereby saving space thereon. |
| US08363705B2 |
Differential driver with common mode voltage tracking and method
In a transceiver, a transmitter circuit is provided substantially the same common-mode voltage regardless of whether the transceiver is in a transmitting or receiving mode. In one embodiment, the transmitter circuit includes a driver circuit which, in the transmission mode of the transceiver, drives an output differential signal, and which, in the receiving mode of the transceiver, provides a termination circuit for an input differential signal. A variable resistor is provided to connect between a supply voltage and the driver circuit, the resistance of the variable resistor is selected such that the common-mode voltage of the output differential signal of the transmission mode substantially equals the common-mode voltage in the input differential signal of the receiving mode. |
| US08363704B1 |
Method of transmitting information using a bandwidth limited communications channel
Information is sent through a bandwidth-constrained communications channel using overlapping signals separated using deconvolution to distinguish between the overlapping symbols. Input data representing the information are convolved with a kernel and transmitted through a communication system, then deconvolved with respect to the kernel for outputting the information resulting from the deconvolution. |
| US08363703B2 |
System and method for phase detection
A method may include performing a logical exclusive OR and a logical inverse exclusive or on an input reference signal and an output signal to generate an XOR signal and an XNOR signal, respectively. The method may also include generating a switch control signal indicative of whether a first phase of the input reference signal leads or lags a second phase of the output signal. The method may additionally include: (i) transmitting the XOR signal to an output of a switch if the first phase leads the second phase; and (ii) transmitting the XNOR signal to the output of the switch if the first phase lags the second phase. The method may further include generating a phase detector output signal indicative of a phase difference between the second phase based on a signal present on the output of the switch. |
| US08363699B2 |
Random timing offset determination
Methods, systems and instructions stored on computer-readable media for generating, at a first node, a plurality of data units. The plurality of data units are spread with a common pseudo-noise (PN) code that is used by a plurality of nodes, including the first node and a second node, that are in communication with an access point. A random timing offset is determined, and a first data unit is transmitted to the access point at a first time based upon a slot start time and the random timing offset. The first data unit is transmitted while at least a portion of a second signal is transmitted from the second node such that both the first data unit and the second signal are received by the access point. The second signal is transmitted at a second time based on the slot time and a second random timing offset. |
| US08363698B2 |
Radio communication device and constellation control method
A mobile station is provided for transmitting an acknowledgement or negative acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) signal, including a multiplying unit configured to multiply an ACK/NACK signal either by a first value for rotating a constellation of the ACK/NACK signal by 0 degrees or by a second value for rotating the constellation of the ACK/NACK signal by N degrees, which is different from 0 degrees. In a case where a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) index used by the mobile station is in a first PUCCH index group, the multiplying unit multiplies the ACK/NACK signal by the same value for both transmitting in a first slot and transmitting in a second slot, and in a case where the PUCCH index used by the mobile station is in a second PUCCH index group, the multiplying unit multiplies the ACK/NACK signal by different values for transmitting in the first slot and transmitting in the second slot, respectively. |
| US08363697B2 |
Synchronized broadcast/multicast communication
Synchronized broadcast transmits a same broadcast content using a same waveform from multiple transmitters. Transmitters each apply a same spreading code for broadcast transmissions. In a spread-spectrum communication system having a time division multiplexed forward link, a synchronized broadcast transmission is inserted into a broadcast slot. One embodiment employs an Orthogonal Frequency Divisional Multiplex (OFDM) waveform for the synchronized broadcast. An OFDM receiver is then used to process the received synchronized broadcast transmission. An alternate embodiment implements a broadcast Pseudo-random Noise (PN) code for use by multiple transmitters. An equalizer is then employed to estimate the synchronized broadcast transmission. |
| US08363689B2 |
Laser diode array, method of manufacturing same, printer, and optical communication device
A method of manufacturing a laser diode array capable of inhibiting electric cross talk is provided. The method of manufacturing a laser diode array includes a processing step of forming a peel layer containing an oxidizable material and a vertical resonator structure over a first substrate sequentially from the first substrate side by crystal growth, and then selectively etching the peel layer and the vertical resonator structure to the first substrate, thereby processing into a columnar shape, a peeling step of oxidizing the peel layer from a side face, and then peeling the vertical resonator structure of columnar shape from the first substrate, and a rearrangement step of jointing a plurality of vertical resonator structures of columnar shape obtained by the peeling step to a surface of a metal layer of a second substrate formed with the metal layer on the surface. |
| US08363688B2 |
Edge emitting semiconductor laser
An edge emitting semiconductor laser includes a semiconductor body having a wave guide area. The wave guide area comprises a lower cover layer, a lower wave guide layer, an active layer for generating laser radiation, an upper wave guide layer and an upper cover layer. The wave guide area also includes at least one structured laser radiation scattering area in which a lateral base laser radiation mode experiences less scattering losses than the radiation of higher laser modes. |
| US08363687B2 |
Vertical cavity surface emitting laser
A Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) capable of providing high output of fundamental transverse mode while preventing oscillation of high-order transverse mode is provided. The VCSEL includes a semiconductor layer including an active layer and a current confinement layer, and a transverse mode adjustment section formed on the semiconductor layer. The current confinement layer has a current injection region and a current confinement region. The transverse mode adjustment section has a high reflectance area and a low reflectance area. The high reflectance area is formed in a region including a first opposed region opposing to a center point of the current injection region. A center point of the high reflectance area is arranged in a region different from the first opposed region. The low reflectance area is formed in a region where the high reflectance area is not formed, in an opposed region opposing to the current injection region. |
| US08363686B2 |
Temperature control device for optoelectronic devices
Current may be passed through an n-doped semiconductor region, a recessed metal semiconductor alloy portion, and a p-doped semiconductor region so that the diffusion of majority charge carriers in the doped semiconductor regions transfers heat from or into the semiconductor waveguide through Peltier-Seebeck effect. Further, a temperature control device may be configured to include a metal semiconductor alloy region located in proximity to an optoelectronic device, a first semiconductor region having a p-type doping, and a second semiconductor region having an n-type doping. The temperature of the optoelectronic device may thus be controlled to stabilize the performance of the optoelectronic device. |
| US08363680B2 |
Network control architecture and protocol for a distributed control, data acquisition and data distribution system and process
A system and process for distributed control, data acquisition and data distribution. The system and process comprise a one or more chain of nodes configured to remove and add packets to a synchronous data stream without management or control of a master node. Additionally, the nodes are provided with offset parameters to affect synchronous activity. |
| US08363676B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for adding/detecting an adaptive and extendable sequence index
According to the present invention, there is proposed a method of adding/detecting an adaptive and extendable segment index for re-segmentation and an apparatus thereof. According to the present invention, the method of adding a segment index comprising steps of determining whether a re-segmentation happens; looking for in a re-segmentation header of a current block a bit indicating the end of the re-segmentation header and the start of other information if it is determined a re-segmentation happens; and inserting two bits immediately before the bit indicating the end of the re-segmentation header and the start of other information, a first bit indicating a higher level re-segmentation has happened, and a second bit indicating one part generated in this re-segmentation. |
| US08363674B2 |
Method and apparatus for scheduling in a wireless communication network
Techniques to efficiently schedule and serve stations in a wireless network are described. An access point may aggregate stations with flows carrying traffic having similar characteristics, e.g., VoIP flows. The access point may schedule these stations together in an overall service period. The access point may serve each station in a respective service period within the overall service period. The access point may send a multi poll frame at the start of the overall service period to indicate the start time and/or service period for each station. Each station may decide to power down until its start time. The service periods for the stations may overlap one another. The service period for each station may cover an initial transmission as well as additional transmission and/or retransmission. If additional transmission and/or retransmission are not needed for a given station, then the next station may be served right away. |
| US08363673B2 |
Method and device for processing network time delay characteristics
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and device for processing network time delay characteristics. The method includes: determining whether network time delay changes; if the network time delay reduces, determining whether at least one blank frame is included in received but not played media frames of a real-time media service; if at least one blank frame is included in the received but not played media frames, extracting the blank frame from the received but not played media frames, the blank frame is a media frame, information amount of which is smaller than a preset first threshold, or difference between the information amount of which and the information amount of a previous media frame is smaller than a preset second threshold; if the network time delay increases, inserting the blank frame in the received but not played media frames. According to the embodiments of the present invention, when the network time delay changes, time for playing the received media frames may be adjusted by changing number of blank frames in the received but not played media frames, so as to reduce or eliminate the effect on the real-time media service generated by the network time delay characteristics. |
| US08363672B2 |
Optimization of internet traffic based on application prioritization
A method of classifying, scheduling, prioritizing, and optimizing data to provide a final data packet ready for transmission by the modem to the head end. Additionally, a feedback loop is provided to improve scheduling, prioritizing and optimizing data by providing real-time bandwidth availability related information and maximum packet size to be sent over the physical layer. |
| US08363671B2 |
RACH preamble response with flexible UL allocation
A method for allocating resources between a mobile communication device and a network access node is described. The method includes sending a random access preamble message to the network access node. Receiving a random access response message which includes a response to the random access preamble message is also included in the method. The response includes UL resource allocation information for scheduling an UL transmission. The UL resource allocation information includes information identifying one or more individual time subframes allocated for the UL transmission. The method also includes sending the UL transmission in the identified one or more individual time subframes. Apparatus and computer readable memory are also described. |
| US08363669B2 |
Recovering data from a plurality of packets
A method includes receiving a plurality of packets at an integrated processor block of a network on a chip device. The plurality of packets includes a first packet that includes an indication of a start of data associated with a pixel shader application. The method includes recovering the data from the plurality of packets. The method also includes storing the recovered data in a dedicated packet collection memory within the network on the chip device. The method further includes retaining the data stored in the dedicated packet collection memory during an interruption event. Upon completion of the interruption event, the method includes copying packets stored in the dedicated packet collection memory prior to the interruption event to an inbox of the network on the chip device for processing. |
| US08363667B2 |
Summarization and longest-prefix match within MPLS networks
In general, techniques are described for summarizing label mappings and thereby enabling longest-prefix match within Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) networks. More specifically, a first router included within a first area of a network comprises a control unit that maintains a label space defining labels available for mapping to a plurality of addresses assigned to network devices within the network. The control unit reserves a contiguous set of the labels of the label space and maps the contiguous set of labels to first area addresses. The first area addresses include those addresses of the plurality of addresses available for assignment to network devices within the first area. The first router also includes an interface card that transmits, to a second router of a second area of the network, an advertisement that advertises a summarized version of the mapping between the contiguous set of labels and the first area addresses. |
| US08363663B2 |
Methods and apparatus for routing data to nodes
A method is described for routing data from a first node to a second node via a gateway. The second node is detected at the gateway, which determines a local identifier of the second node. A name and a global address are associated with the second node. The name and the global address are published to a name service, such that the first node can retrieve the global address based on the name. The gateway receives data from the first node that is addressed to the global address and transmits the data to the second node using the local identifier. The gateway includes software implementing a service-oriented architecture (SOA). Any number of additional services may be added to process messages passing through the gateway. |
| US08363658B1 |
Dynamic firewall and dynamic host configuration protocol configuration
A system is provided comprising a computer system, a configuration database, and a dynamic network interfaces application that receives a message from a network access component containing a request to authenticate a client device accessing a network service, determines that a policy requires the client device to be associated with a virtual local area network to access the network service, and authenticates the client device for association with the virtual local area network. The dynamic network interfaces application also searches the configuration database for configuration information to provision the virtual local area network, assigns the configuration information to the client device, the network access component, and a firewall component, and sends a reply containing the configuration information to the network access component and the firewall component in response to the request, wherein the configuration information comprises settings to provision the virtual local area network. |
| US08363654B2 |
Predictive packet forwarding for a network switch
A network switch includes a predictor using data in a packet to predict a flow for the packet. A forwarding engine forwards at least a portion of the packet on a switch fabric to an egress port in the switch determined from the predicted flow. The forwarding engine is operable to forward the packet on the switch fabric to the egress port determined from the predicted flow prior to a lookup module determining a flow from a lookup. |
| US08363653B2 |
Packet forwarding method and device
A packet forwarding mechanism using a packet map is disclosed. The method includes the packet map storing a packet forwarding information of each packet, where the packet map uses a single bit to indicate whether a packet is forwarding through a specific output port. In this way, the packet forwarding information can be stored in a very simple form such that less memory space is required for storing the packet forwarding information. |
| US08363649B2 |
Fully connected generalized multi-link multi-stage networks
A generalized multi-link multi-stage network comprising (2×logdN)−1 stages is operated in strictly nonblocking manner for unicast, also in rearrangeably nonblocking manner for arbitrary fan-out multicast when s≧2, and in strictly nonblocking manner for arbitrary fan-out multicast when s≧3, includes an input stage having N/d switches with each of them having d inlet links and s×d outgoing links connecting to second stage switches, an output stage having N/d switches with each of them having d outlet links and s×d incoming links connecting from switches in the penultimate stage. The network also has (2×logdN)−3 middle stages with each middle stage having N/d switches, and each switch in the middle stage has s×d incoming links connecting from the switches in its immediate preceding stage, and s×d outgoing links connecting to the switches in its immediate succeeding stage. Also each multicast connection is set up by use of at most two outgoing links from the input stage switch. |
| US08363646B2 |
Application server for dispatching physiological signals in a hospital, in real time
An application server is provided for dispatching physiological signals in a hospital, in real time. Suitably, the hospital includes a local area network infrastructure with a virtual local area network supporting a voice over IP telephony application. The server comprises: means for receiving packets containing samples of a physiological signal via a first terminal connected to the virtual local area network, means for de-encapsulating a received packet containing samples of the physiological signal, at the real time transport protocol level, means for creating a second packet containing samples of the physiological signal, and forwarding the second packet back at least to the first terminal. |
| US08363643B2 |
Method for delivering device and server capabilities
A method is provided for delivering the capabilities of user agents. The method includes a user agent sending a session initiation protocol (SIP) message containing a Contact Header containing a Push Resource Identifier feature tag containing at least one push resource. |
| US08363642B2 |
High data throughput wireless local area network receiver
A method for receiving a frame in a high data throughput wireless local area network begins by receiving a preamble of the frame via a channel in accordance with a default receiver filter mask. The processing continues by validating the preamble. The processing continues by, when the preamble is validated, interpreting the preamble to determine a high data throughput channel configuration. The processing continues by reconfiguring the default receiver filter mask in accordance with the high data throughput channel configuration to produce a reconfigured receiver filter mask. The processing continues by receiving a data segment of the frame in accordance with the reconfigured receiver filter mask. |
| US08363641B2 |
Methods and apparatus to control a flash crowd event in a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network
Methods and apparatus to control a flash crowd event in a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network are disclosed. An example method comprises receiving at a VoIP border element a VoIP registration response message having a field representing a priority assigned to a VoIP endpoint, receiving a message from the VoIP endpoint at the VoIP border element, detecting whether a network congestion condition exists, and placing the message received from the VoIP endpoint into one of a plurality of queues based on the priority when the congestion condition is detected. |
| US08363638B2 |
Apparatus and method for forwarding voice packet in a digital communication system
A voice packet forwarding apparatus and method is provided in a digital communication system including a switched vocoder module to directly pass a voice packet received from a packet terminal to a digital communication network or a PCM signal decoded from the voice packet to the digital communication network. The switched vocoder module is also provided to directly pass a voice packet received from the digital communication network to the packet terminal or transmit a voice packet coded from a PCM signal received from the digital communication network. In the presence of additional data to be transmitted to the packet terminal, a data inserter is provided to insert the additional data in the voice packet received from the switched vocoder module and transmit the voice packet with the additional data to the packet terminal. A controller is provided to control the switched vocoder module and the data inserter. |
| US08363637B2 |
Telephony protocol server and telephony protocol client in a distributed IP architecture telecommunications system
A telephone system architecture enabling various components of a telephone system to be distributed geographically yet operates as a seamlessly integrated system. A signaling gateway interfaces to the PSTN and through an SS7 interface. The signaling gateway includes a telephony protocol server. At least one other component of the telephone system includes a telephony protocol client. The telephony protocol client and telephony protocol server communicate over an Internet Protocol (IP) network. The telephony protocol server provides access to the PSTN to the component having the telephony protocol client. Any functions in the various components that require an SS7 interface to the PSTN are simply handled through the signaling gateway by the telephony protocol server. |
| US08363633B2 |
Method of transmitting data in multiple antenna system
A method of transmitting data in a multiple antenna system includes transmitting first data through a first pilot pattern zone in which pilots are arranged in a specific pilot pattern in a permutation zone having at least one tile comprising a plurality of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols and a plurality of subcarriers, and transmitting second data through a second pilot pattern zone in which pilots are arranged in another pilot pattern different from the pilot pattern of the first pilot pattern zone in the permutation zone. Accordingly, a plurality of pilot patterns can be simultaneously used in one permutation zone, and thus waste of radio resources caused by the use of unnecessary pilots can be reduced by adaptively assigning pilots according to various channel environments and performances of user equipments. |
| US08363632B2 |
Radio transmitting apparatus, radio receiving apparatus, and radio transmission method
The degree of multiplexing of a code division multiplexed signal transmitted by subcarriers is selected on a subcarrier-by-subcarrier basis. As a result, inter-code interference on the propagation path and degradation on the propagation path are lower for a code division multiplexed signal allocated to subcarriers with a low degree of signal multiplexing (G1) than for transmit signals allocated to subcarriers with a high degree of multiplexing. By this technique, it is possible to prevent degradation of the error rate characteristics of important information without lowering spectral efficiency significantly as compared with the case in which the degree of signal multiplexing is decided uniformly for all subcarriers, and to achieve compatibility between spectral efficiency and error rate characteristics. |
| US08363629B1 |
Point-to-point MAC protocol for high speed wireless bridging
Systems and methods for improving throughput in point-to-point wireless communication links are provided. In one particular implementation, a media access control (MAC) layer of the IEEE 802.11 standard is enhanced for use in point-to-point links to take advantage of the limited number of nodes participating in the link. In one embodiment, a master/slave type protocol provides contention free operation between two wireless nodes. Multiple priority levels and voice traffic may be accommodated with guaranteed Quality of Service. |
| US08363624B2 |
Method and apparatus for sending signaling information via channel IDS
Techniques for sending signaling information are described. Multiple signaling channels may be available to send signaling information. Different signaling information, different signaling parameter values, or different interpretations of signaling parameter values may be associated with different signaling channels and conveyed by the selection of these signaling channels, which may be used for actual transmission of remaining signaling information. A transmitter selects at least one signaling channel from among the multiple signaling channels based on first signaling information and sends second signaling information on the selected signaling channel(s) to convey the first and second signaling information. The transmitter sends at least one data stream on at least one data channel in accordance with the first and second signaling information. A receiver obtains the first signaling information based on the selected signaling channel(s) and decodes the selected signaling channel(s) to obtain the second signaling information. The receiver processes the data channel(s) in accordance with the first and second signaling information to recover the data stream(s). |
| US08363620B2 |
Connection state reporting method and mobile terminal used in the method
A technology is disclosed for providing a connection status notifying method and the like that can infer that a new connection will become usable shortly based on a predetermined action, and give notification thereof. The technology includes a step at which a mobile node 1000 receives information stating that connection will be broken from a base station that is a current connection destination, a step at which the mobile node starts a predetermined process with a base station that is a new connection destination, and a step at which the mobile node generates a predetermined notification message and transmits the generated predetermined notification message when the predetermined process is judged to be completed, the predetermined notification message being used to give notification to a predetermined component part within the mobile node or to another communication node that a connected state is established with the base station of the new connection destination at an early stage. |
| US08363619B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for establishing S1 signaling connection in an evolved network
A method, apparatus and system for establishing S1 signaling connections in an evolved network are disclosed. A source evolved NodeB (eNodeB) sends a HANDOVER REQUEST message that carries original S1 signaling connection parameter information to a target eNodeB to initiate a process that a user equipment (UE) is handed over to the target eNodeB. When the UE enters the target cell, the target eNodeB allocates a new S1 signaling connection parameter and sends a HANDOVER COMPLETE message that carries the original S1 signaling connection parameter and the new S1 signaling connection parameter of the new eNodeB to an evolved packet core (EPC). The EPC receives the HANDOVER COMPLETE message that carries the new S1 signaling connection parameter and the original S1 signaling connection parameter. With the present disclosure, the inability of the target eNodeB to establish an S1 signaling connection with the EPC in the related art is effectively solved. |
| US08363618B2 |
Content distribution platform
A system is adapted to manage the distribution of content to one or more cooperating media/substrates. The system receives data representative of environment conditions for one or more cooperating media/substrates adapted to display digital content. The media/substrates may be located in public spaces. The system compares the received data representative of environment conditions with selection criteria to identify content for distribution to the media/substrates. The selected content is distributed to the one or more cooperating media/substrates. |
| US08363617B2 |
Selecting an access point from a plurality of access points
Techniques are provided for selecting an access point (AP) to communicate with from a plurality of candidate access points (APs) when a wireless computing device (WCD) roams in a wireless local area network (WLAN). The WCD stores a pairwise master key (PMK) for each access point that the WCD has previously established a PMK with during authentication. The WCD a plurality of candidate access points and determines an AP statistic (APS) associated with each candidate AP. The WCD then determines an AP rating for each candidate AP based on the APS for the candidate AP and whether the wireless computing device has a pairwise master key stored for the candidate AP. The WCD then selects a particular one of the candidate APs having the highest AP rating as a desired AP of the wireless computing device. |
| US08363612B2 |
Concurrent transmission of multiple signals in a wireless network
A method for concurrent transmission of multiple radio-frequency signals in a wireless network. The method is executed at a node of the wireless network and makes use of the node's knowledge of local network topology, locations of certain packets in the node's neighborhood, and local state of the radio-frequency (RF) channel to identify a relatively wide range of different opportunities for zero-forcing, aligning, and/or canceling unwanted RF signals at the receiving node(s). The identified opportunities are communicated to the neighbor nodes to advantageously cause concurrent transmissions of a relatively large number of packets. |
| US08363609B2 |
Apparatus and method for establishing ad-hoc mode connection using cellular network in wireless communication system
An apparatus and a method for establishing an ad-hoc mode connection in a cellular wireless communication system are provided. In the method, a request message requesting an ad-hoc mode connection with a counterpart mobile terminal is transmitted to a base station in a cellular network. A Service Set Identifier (SSID) and Internet Protocol (IP) address information are received from the base station. The ad-hoc mode connection with the counterpart mobile terminal is established using the SSID and IP address information. |
| US08363607B2 |
VOIP group resource management
Group resource management is provided utilizing assignment of resources in a persistent manner, which involves assigning a channel and resources to a user device for a specified interval while allowing users within the group to be multiplexed dynamically. A first bitmap is created that is a function of the number of users in the group and the number of channels assigned to that group. A second bitmap is created that has a number of bits equal to a number of “on” bits contained in the first bitmap. The second bitmap can assign a rate option or a size option, which is a function of a profile of a group member that corresponds to the bit. The rate option and size option can be indicated in each x-bit position in the second bitmap Both broadcast and multicast are supported. |
| US08363606B2 |
Method and apparatus for data and control multiplexing
System(s) and method(s) are provided for transmitting data code symbols and control code symbols spanning disparate transmission time intervals in the uplink. Data and control symbols that overlap in time-domain within a transmission time interval are multiplexed and transmitted employing resources scheduled for data transmission, whereas data and control code symbols that are not multiplexed are transmitted in respective allocated resources. Multiplexing in conjunction with localized and distributed resource scheduling preserves the single-carrier characteristics of a single-carrier frequency division multiple access system. |
| US08363604B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a transmission data rate based on feedback relating to channel conditions
A network entity includes a processor configured to regulate the data rate of transmissions over a wireless channel from a base station to a subscriber station based on feedback from the subscriber station, the feedback relating to the wireless channel conditions, the processor being further configured to determine a substitute data rate for one or more transmissions over the wireless channel. |
| US08363603B2 |
User separation in space division multiple access for a multi-carrier communication system
Apparatuses and methodologies are described that increase system capacity in a multi-access wireless communication system. Spatial dimensions may be utilized to distinguish between multiple signals utilizing the same channel and thereby increase system capacity. Signals may be separated by applying beamforming weights based upon the spatial signature of the user device-base station pair. Grouping spatially orthogonal or disparate user devices on the same channel facilitates separation of signals and maximization of user device throughput performance. User devices may be reassigned to groups periodically or based upon changes in the spatial relationships between the user devices and the base station. |
| US08363600B2 |
Optimized mobile internet access
The present invention is directed to a method and a mobile node and a node arrangement for performing the method, which method is for selecting a connection (224, 314, 316) for a mobile node (310) arranged to operatively communicate with a network node arrangement (312) via a plurality of connections (224, 314, 316). |
| US08363596B2 |
Power saving via variable listen intervals in a WLAN
A wireless client device is associated with an access point in an association having a value for a listen interval parameter. The wireless client device determines, according to predefined considerations, a different value for the listen interval parameter, and declares the different value for the listen interval parameter in a wireless transmission to the access point. The listen interval parameter specifies a number of beacon intervals that can pass from a time the wireless client device listens for a beacon frame from the access point before the wireless client device listens for a next beacon frame from the access point. |
| US08363594B2 |
Address spoofing prevention
The present invention relates to a method for securing a radio communication link establishment in a radio communication network comprising a local network and a secured network. The local network comprises at least a first terminal and a second terminal and at least the first terminal is capable of communicating with the secured network. The radio communication network implements layered protocol functions, comprising at least Layers 1, 2 and 3, the terminals being identifiable by their Layer 2 and 3 addresses. The secured network comprises a database comprising address correspondence information between Layer 2 and 3 addresses of terminals. In the method the first terminal authenticates itself with the secured network and then by using the Layer 3 address of the second terminal, obtaining the address correspondence information provided by the database and thereby determining the corresponding Layer 2 address of the second terminal. Then the first terminal establishes in the local network the radio communication link with the second terminal by using the Layer 2 address. |
| US08363593B2 |
Method for carrying downlink control information for an enhanced uplink dedicated channel
A system and method for wireless communication includes multiplexing an EUDC downlink control channel so that it is transmitted like a downlink dedicated channel (DL-DPCH). The EUDC downlink control channel can be multiplexed with the DL-DPCH by code or by both code and time. The EUDC downlink control channel may be multiplexed with a downlink dedicated physical data channel (DL-DPDCH), a downlink dedicated physical control channel (DL-DPCCH), or both. In one embodiment, the EUDC downlink control channel is multiplexed by adding a multicode channel to a current DL-DPCH and treating the EUDC downlink control channel as a dedicated channel with power control functionality. |
| US08363592B2 |
Digital broadcast methods and apparatus
A transmitter apparatus at a base station transmits program information using a plurality of carriers with at least some of the carriers having different transmit power levels. The carrier associated with the highest transmit power level conveys broadcast information carrying basic program information. A carrier associated with a lower power level conveys broadcast information including enhancement information and/or additional content. The enhancement information and/or additional content may include a higher level of video and/or audio resolution, additional video and/or audio content, support for additional languages, a text stream, and/or advertisements. A wireless terminal tunes, receives and processes the broadcast information. A wireless terminal can recover different levels of resolution of a broadcast program, e.g., a digital video broadcast program, and/or different amounts of additional content, depending upon which carriers are being used. |
| US08363590B2 |
Physical layer repeater with roaming support based on multiple identifiers
An exemplary method (600, 700) and apparatus (800) are provided for generating a modified protocol message (414, 423 a, 423b, 424). In some embodiments, a physical layer repeater conducts a repeating operation including receiving a modified protocol signal on a first channel and retransmitting a modified version of the modified protocol signal on a second channel. An exemplary physical layer repeater can include a transceiver (810), a baseband modem (822), and a processor (821) configured to demodulate the modified protocol signal to obtain a first identifier and a first channel identifier and a unique identifier in a modified portion of the signal. The unique identifier and a second channel identifier are retransmitted in a modified version of the signal on the second channel. |
| US08363588B2 |
Pilot signal transmitting method, base station, mobile station and cellular system to which the method is applied
In a cell-specific pilot signal transmitting method for use in a mobile communication system that comprises a base station and a wireless mobile station in the cell of a wireless communication area formed by the base station and that can mix and then transmit unicast data and broadcast/multicast data as downstream data from the base station to the mobile station, the difference between the start phase of a cell-specific pilot signal transmitted in a subframe in which the base station transmits the unicast data and the start phase of a cell-specific pilot signal transmitted in the next subframe is equal to the difference between the start phase of a cell-specific pilot signal transmitted in a subframe in which the base station transmits the broadcast/multicast data and the start phase of a cell-specific pilot signal transmitted in the next subframe. |
| US08363581B2 |
Power saving method and apparatus using multiple channels
A power saving method and apparatus are provided for saving power by reducing the number of changes between active mode and sleep mode using multiple channels. A process for negotiating which of multiple channels will be assigned a transmission opportunity (TXOP) is performed. A TXOP MAP is configured by exchanging a packet through a common channel during a predetermined time at every monitoring time according to a negotiated channel. The TXOP is allocated to each channel according to the TXOP MAP. As a change between the active mode and the sleep mode is reduced, power can be saved, resources of the mesh network can be efficiently used, and interference between nodes can be reduced. |
| US08363577B2 |
Low complexity beamforming for multiple antenna systems
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed that utilize the discrete Fourier transform of time domain responses to generate beamforming weights for wireless communication. In addition, in some embodiments frequency subcarriers constituting less than all of the frequency subcarriers allocated for communication to a user may utilized for generating the beamforming weights. |
| US08363575B2 |
System and method for using frequency and time resources in a communication system
A method and system for using frequency resources in a communication system are provided. In the method and system, a total frequency band is divided into at least two frequency subbands and there is a guard interval between frequency subbands. A first frequency subband includes a TDD UL frequency subband and a TDD DL frequency subband. A second frequency subband includes an FDD UL frequency subband. A BS sets a frequency band between the TDD UL frequency subband and an FDD UL frequency subband as an additional UL frequency subband, and receives a signal from an MS in the additional UL frequency subband. |
| US08363569B2 |
System and method for rejoining sleeping subnets in a wireless mesh network
A system and method for joining nodes from a first and a second subnet into a network. A probability is established that a node within the first subnet will enter scout mode during its sleep interval, wherein the probability is less than 100%. If the node enters scout mode, a message is broadcasted from the node in scout mode to other nodes inviting nodes in other subnets to join with the first subnet, wherein the message includes the node's network identifier. If the message broadcasted by the node in scout mode is detected by a node in a second subnet, the node in the second subnet determines whether nodes in the second subnet have the same network identifier as the network identifier in the message broadcast by the node in scout mode. If the nodes in the second subnet have the same network identifier as the network identifier in the message broadcast by the node in scout mode, the nodes in the first and second subnets are combined into a combined network. |
| US08363568B2 |
Message filtering method
A message filtering method makes use of a database in which domain names of a network, such as the Internet, are associated with IP addresses, or with geographic locations. Electronic messages are tested for authenticity by comparing domain names and IP addresses for a message being tested with information in the database. If the sender information in the message does not have the same associations as information in the database, the message may be blocked, flagged as spam, or subjected to further filtering. |
| US08363567B2 |
Method and system for channel estimation in a single channel (SC) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system comprising two-transmit (2-Tx) and multiple-receive (M-Rx) antennas for WCDMA/HSDPA
In a wireless system, a method and system for channel estimation in a single channel MIMO system comprising two-transmit and multiple-receive antennas for WCDMA/HSDPA are provided. A first receive antenna and at least one additional receive antenna may receive a plurality of SC communication signals transmitted from a first and an additional transmit antennas. Estimates of the propagation channels between transmit and receive antennas may be performed concurrently and may be determined from a baseband combined channel estimate. The integration time may be based on channel estimation accuracy and wireless modem performance. The signals received in the additional receive antennas may be multiplied by a rotation waveform to achieve channel orthogonality. The rotation waveform's amplitude and phase components may be modified based on the channel estimates. Rotation of the received signals in the additional receive antennas may be continuous or periodic. |
| US08363564B1 |
EVDO coverage modification based on backhaul capacity
A method and system is disclosed for adjusting wireless access coverage based on backhaul capacity. A base station, such as a femtocell, will determine the capacity of its backhaul connection in the downlink direction. The base station will then adjust the power level of it forward link to help ensure that the forward-link data rate to an access terminal is approximately matched to the determined capacity of its backhaul connection. In an example embodiment, the base station will adjust the power level of its pilot until the access terminal is requesting a forward-link data rate commensurate with the downlink rate on the backhaul connection. |
| US08363563B2 |
Apparatus and method for delay time computation and delay compensation between base station and remote radio frequency unit in broadband wireless access system
An apparatus and method for delay time computation and delay compensation between a Base Station (BS) and a remote Radio Frequency (RF) unit in a broadband wireless access system are provided. In a method of operating an apparatus for determining a delay time to compensate for delay between a BS modem card and a remote RF unit in a wireless access system, the method includes determining a process delay time required when traffic data is output from the BS modem card to an antenna of the remote RF unit in a state where a reference cable having a length short enough to neglect a cable delay time is connected between the BS modem card and the remote RF unit, determining a cable delay time required when a sync pulse signal is transmitted through a cable used in actual system operation between the BS modem card and the remote RF unit, and determining a time for outputting traffic data at an earlier time from a modem included in the BS modem card by using the determined process delay time and cable delay time. |
| US08363561B2 |
Control device, terminal device, and communication system
Provided is, a wireless network that conducts wireless communications having superior latency and power-saving performance, while avoiding interference wave influences by using multiple channels. Besides conducting communications with wireless communication terminals 102 to 104 by switching a channel in each beacon period and transmitting a beacon frame, a control device 101: measures communication conditions of the channel and interference wave influences; determines availability of the channel; and stores available channel information. The control device 101 delivers the available channel information in the beacon frame to the terminal devices 102 to 104. The terminal devices 102 to 104: select an optimum channel by switching the channel in each beacon period depending on the available channel information in the received beacon frame and on transmission conditions of the channel used by oneself; and conduct the wireless communications. With this, it is possible to switch usage channels rapidly while avoiding interference wave influences. |
| US08363558B2 |
System and method of modifying communications policy settings in a wireless network
The present invention provides a system and method of modifying policy settings in a network having a plurality of subscriber devices. An embodiment includes a plurality of base stations, each capable of wirelessly transmitting across a geographic region. A cell-phone, capable of roaming between regions is operable to establish a wireless link with the base stations. The network contains a communication policy determining from which other communication devices a subscriber device can receive voice calls. A copy of this policy is stored on each subscriber device as a database and periodically updated as the devices make contact with the base stations or other subscriber devices. When receiving a voice call, the device first determines who the originator of the call is and then determines whether it is allowed to receive the call from that originator according to its policy database. The policy database can be updated either by subscriber devices or by base stations. |
| US08363554B2 |
Method and system for fault detection using round trip time
A computer readable storage medium stores a set of instructions executable by a processor. The set of instructions is operable to receive, from a user device, a query relating to a degradation of performance of the device within a network; receive, from a transceiver station, a record relating to a time to send data to the device; and identify the existence of an error in the device based on a determination that the time is greater than a predetermined threshold. |
| US08363550B1 |
Adaptive data unit transmission and acknowledgment
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for adaptive data unit transmission. A sliding window is filled with data units and designates a sliding window start position and a sliding window end position. A value for each of the data units in the sliding window is stored, the value representing a maximum number of times that each data unit is to be transmitted. The stored value is different among at least two of the data units. Data units are selected from the sliding window to be assembled into a packet. An assembled packet is transmitted to a receiving computerized device. A determination that the data unit positioned at the sliding window start position has been transmitted a maximum number of time is performed, and in response a different data unit is positioned at the sliding window start position. |
| US08363543B2 |
Management of network capacity to mitigate degradation of network services during maintenance
In accordance with a method of managing network capacity, simulation data is received from a simulation system based on at least one metric associated with a plurality of communication links interconnecting at least two endpoints. The simulation data indicates impact of a communication link to be taken offline a plurality of alternate communication links. It is determined whether the simulation data associated with at least one communication link satisfies at least one predetermined criterion. Further, at least one metric of the simulation system is periodically updated based on real-time data associated with the plurality of communication links. The simulation data from the simulation system based on the updated at least one metric is received. Thereafter, load from the communication link to be taken offline is selectively moved to an alternate communication link based on whether the simulation data associated with the alternate communication link satisfies the at least one predetermined criterion. |
| US08363542B2 |
Robust remote reset for networks
An approach provides a reset trigger signaling in a network, wherein a reset trigger is generated, which carries a device indicator for indicating a target device. To trigger a reset procedure, the reset trigger is signaled over the network by using a protocol layer lower than a network layer. At a network entity, it is checked whether the device indicator indicates this network entity; and the reset procedure is initiated in response to the result of this checking. Thereby, the reset trigger works independent of the network topology and will reach the destination device, even if a higher protocol layer is blocked due to error situations, so that a robust and flexible reset signaling procedure can be provided. |
| US08363539B2 |
OFDM receiver and OFDM receiving method
An FFT unit generates a frequency domain signal by converting an OFDM signal using Fourier transform. A delay amount calculation unit generates a delay profile of the OFDM signal. The control determination unit detects a main wave and an interference wave using the delay profile. When the time difference between the main wave and a preceding wave is larger than a guard interval of the OFDM signal, an FFT window control unit sets the start position of the FFT window at a position shifted forward from the symbol start position of the main wave by an amount corresponding to the guard interval. |
| US08363538B2 |
Orthogonal data link, and associated methods
An orthogonal data link is provided by a first digital device, a second digital device, and a bus coupling the first digital device to the second digital device. The first digital device has a first transmitter that encodes data of the first device with a first code (e.g., [1,1]), for transmission on the bus. The second device has a second transmitter that encodes data of the second device with a second code (e.g., [0,1] or [1,0]), for transmission on the bus. The first device has a first receiver that renders the second data by (a) multiplying signals of the bus with the second code and (b) integrating over a periodicity of the codes. The second device has a second receiver that renders the first data by (a) multiplying signals of the bus with the first code and (b) integrating over a periodicity of the codes. |
| US08363534B2 |
Reverse optical mastering for data storage disk replicas
A data storage master disk and method of making a data storage master disk. The data storage disk master is for use in a data storage disk replication process. The data storage disk molding processes produces replica disks having a surface relief pattern with replica lands and replica grooves. The method includes providing a master substrate. The master substrate is at least partially covered with a layer of photosensitive material. A surface relief pattern having master lands and master grooves is recorded in the data storage disk master, including the steps of exposing and developing the photosensitive material is controlled to form master grooves extending down to a substrate interface between the master substrate and the layer of photosensitive material, such that the width of the master grooves at the substrate interface corresponds to a desired width of the replica lands. |
| US08363532B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling position in which data is to be recorded
A method and apparatus to control a position in which data is to be recorded on a holographic data recording medium by using interference between a reference light and a signal light, the method including: irradiating the reference light and the signal light on the holographic data recording medium; generating a focus error signal that indicates a distance difference between a first focus corresponding to a focus of the reference light on the holographic data recording medium and a second focus corresponding to a focus of the signal light on the holographic data recording medium, based on information about a reflective signal light generated when the irradiated signal light is reflected from a reflective transmission layer of the holographic data recording medium; and moving the second focus to a position of the first focus, based on the focus error signal. |
| US08363531B2 |
Recordable optical disk, recording device, recording method, and reproduction device
The present invention is to realize a proper inner zone layout in an optical disk having at least three layers. A test area is provided in the inner zone (inner circumference side area) in each of recording layers. The test areas of each layer are so disposed as to be prevented from overlapping with each other in the layer direction. Furthermore, the number of management information recording/reproduction areas overlapping with the test area in the layer direction at a position closer to the laser-incident surface than this test area is set equal to or smaller than one in each test area of each recording layer. The management information recording/reproduction areas are each so disposed as to be prevented from overlapping with the test areas in the respective recording layers in the layer direction on the disk substrate side of the test areas. |
| US08363529B2 |
Optical disc recording device and recording signal generating device
Provided are an optical disc recording device and a recording signal generating device which enable to correct displacement between a reproducing position of a reproduction signal from a concave-convex mark preformed in an optical disc, and a recording position of second information to be recorded in synchronism with the reproduction signal, and stably and speedily record the second information. A digital signal processor (202) specifies a reproducing position in the concave-convex mark, using a reproduction signal and a channel clock. A recording signal generator (211) generates a recording signal alternately including a plurality of additionally recordable data, each of which includes second information and has a predetermined length, and a plurality of dummy data. A recording position controller (110) detects a recording position displacement amount representing a displacement amount between the reproducing position and a recording position of the additionally recordable data, using the reproducing position and the reading signal. A recording length adjustor (208) increases or decreases the recording length of dummy data in accordance with the recording position displacement amount. |
| US08363528B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device that can reduce a noise caused by a signal or data being always output. A vehicle-mounted device includes: a player that reads out and outputs data recorded in a CD or a DVD (i.e., a TBCK signal, a TSD0 signal, and a TWS signal); a controller that receives the data (i.e., the TBCK signal, the TSD0 signal, and the TWS signal) output from the player, and executes various controls based on the received data; and an interrupt unit that interrupts transmission of the data recorded in the CD or the DVD to the controller until the CD or the DVD is inserted into the player. |
| US08363526B2 |
Optical pickup apparatus
An optical pickup apparatus, which reads signals recorded on first and second signal recording layers of an optical disc, includes: a laser diode; an objective lens to condense a laser beam to the first and second signal recording layers; and a collimating lens disposed in a light path of the laser beam between the laser diode and the objective lens and configured to correct a spherical aberration by moving in a light axis direction of the laser beam, and the objective lens includes a bifocal lens and is configured such that a second focal point does not coincide in position with the second signal recording layer when a first focal point coincides in position with the first signal recording layer, and the first focal point does not coincide in position with the first signal recording layer when the second focal point coincides in position with the second signal recording layer. |
| US08363525B1 |
Disc drive testing device and test method
A testing device for testing read performance of a disc drive, includes a receiving unit, a cache and a detecting unit. The receiving unit receives images obtained by the disc drive. The cache temporarily stores the received images. The detecting unit detects the number of the images in the cache and generates a detecting signal to indicate that there is an abnormity if the number of the images in the cache is less than a preset value. A test method for testing read performance of disc drive is also provided. |
| US08363524B2 |
Information reproducing apparatus and information reproducing method
According to the present invention, even if tracking fails during reproduction of information from an optical disk and a movement is made to an adjoining track, the reliability of data to be transferred is improved and a countermeasure can be taken immediately. An unrecorded area decision unit decides based on the amplitude of a reproduction signal whether a block concerned is a recorded area or an unrecorded area. A track-off detection unit monitors a tracking servo signal, detects occurrence of a tracking failure, and registers a block, which is recognized as an area where the tracking failure has occurred. If the block is an unrecorded area and recognized as an area where a tracking failure has occurred, reproduction is ceased but data signifying that the block is an unrecorded area is not transferred to an upper-level system and retry is performed to achieve reproduction. |
| US08363522B2 |
Recording device and recording method
A recording device includes: a rotation driving unit that rotates an optical medium having a reference face and a recording layer, at a constant velocity; a light irradiating unit that irradiates the optical recording medium with first and second light through a common object lens; an infocus position adjusting unit that performs adjustment to focus; a light receiving unit that receives reflection light from the reference face; a reproducing clock generating unit that generates a reproducing clock on the basis of a light reception signal; a radial position detecting unit that detects the radial positional information on the basis of the light reception signal and the reproducing clock positional information; a frequency adjusting unit that changes a frequency of an input reference signal; and a recording unit that performs mark recording on the recording layer using the signal obtained by the frequency adjusting unit as a recording clock. |
| US08363515B1 |
Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head, head gimbals assembly, head arm assembly, and magnetic disk unit
The thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes: a magnetic pole; a waveguide propagating light in a first direction, the first direction intersecting with an air bearing surface; a plasmon generator having a base and a projection, the base having a surface, and the projection having a top, standing partially on the surface of the base and extending in the first direction. The plasmon generator has a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion and the second portion are provided in this order from the air bearing surface in a direction away from the air bearing surface. Herein, the top of the projection and the surface of the base in the first portion define a first step, and the top of the projection and the surface of the base in the second portion define a second step. The first step is larger than the second step. |
| US08363510B2 |
Detection of features in seismic images
A computer implemented method for the detection of features such as faults or channels in seismic images. First, edges are detected in a smoothed seismic image (106). To detect a fault line, an image intensity of the edges is projected in multiple spatial directions, for example by performing a Radon transform (118). The directions of maximum intensity are used to define a fault line (124c). To detect channels, smooth curves are identified within the detected edges (810). Sets of parallel smooth curves (812a) are then identified and used to define channels (812). |
| US08363501B1 |
Method and apparatus for calibrating a read/write channel in a memory arrangement
A memory arrangement including a memory block and a controller. The memory block comprises a plurality of memory cells, wherein each memory cell operable to store one of a plurality of different levels of charge. The controller is configured to write (i) a first reference signal threshold into a first memory cell and (ii) a second reference signal threshold into a second memory cell. The first reference signal threshold corresponds to a first level of charge of the plurality of different levels of charge, and the second reference signal threshold corresponds to a second level of charge of the plurality of different levels of charge. Each of the first level of charge and the second level of charge is used to calibrate a read back of any of the one of the plurality of different levels of charge stored among the plurality of memory cells in the memory block. |
| US08363498B2 |
Non-volatile memory device
A non-volatile memory device includes a plurality of mats, each of which includes a unit cell in an intersection area between each of a plurality of word lines and each of a plurality of bit lines such that a read or write operation of data is achieved in each mat, a column switching unit configured to select any one of bit lines from among the plurality of bit lines according to a column selection signal, and selectively control a connection between the selected bit line and a global bit line, and a discharge unit, in an active mode in which the read or write operation is achieved, configured to discharge the remaining bit lines other than the selected bit line from among the plurality of bit lines in response to a bit line discharge signal. |
| US08363497B2 |
Data control circuit
The data control circuit includes an input/output line and a driver. The input/output line precharging circuit precharges a global input/output line to a predetermined voltage when either a reading operation or a writing operation is inoperative. The driver includes a number of MOS transistors and drives the global input/output line in response to receiving data from a local input/output line and a complementary local input/output line during the reading operation. |
| US08363488B2 |
Reference voltage regulator for eDRAM with VSS-sensing
In a method of operating a reference voltage regulator for an embedded dynamic random access memory (eDRAM) employing VSS-sensing with a reference level, an oscillator sends requests for sampling and correction to a control block between accesses of the eDRAM. The control block sends a pulse defining a time interval during which sampling and correction occurs to a pulse generator. A reference generator provides the reference level to a comparator. The comparator compares the reference level with a sampling of a reference voltage to decide if the reference voltage requires correction. The comparator sends a correction request to a pulse generator if the reference voltage requires correction. The pulse generator generates a correction pulse for a driver according to the correction request from the comparator. The driver adjusts the reference voltage during the correction pulse. |
| US08363482B2 |
Flash memory devices with selective bit line discharge paths and methods of operating the same
Provided is a flash memory device that can include a memory cell configured to store data, a local bit line that is connected to the memory cell, a global bit line that is connected to the local bit line, a discharge transistor that is connected to the global bit line, and that is configured to selectively connect the global bit line to a reference level responsive to a discharge control signal, and a discharge control circuit, that is connected to the discharge transistor via the discharge control signal, and that is configured to selectively disable the discharge transistor during an erase interval occurring before a verify interval of an erase verification operation carried out by the flash memory device. |
| US08363478B1 |
Group based read reference voltage management in flash memory
Apparatuses, methods, and other embodiments associated with group based read reference voltage management in flash memory are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes an interval logic configured to create a finite set of timer intervals, a partition logic configured to selectively assign a Vref value to a set of flash memory cells as a function of a given timer interval during which the set of flash memory cells are programmed, and an adaptation logic configured to selectively adapt a given Vref value associated with a flash memory cell upon determining that the flash memory cell has been read. |
| US08363473B2 |
Analog read and write paths in a solid state memory device
A memory array in a memory device is coupled to an analog I/O data interface that enables analog voltage levels to be written to the memory array. The I/O interface comprises a plurality of analog data paths that each includes a capacitor for storing charge corresponding to a target voltage to which a selected memory cell, coupled to its respective data path, is to be programmed. A plurality of comparators can be included in the I/O interface, with each such comparator coupled to a respective bit line. Such a comparator can compare a threshold voltage of a selected memory cell to its target voltage and inhibits further programming when the threshold voltage equals or exceeds the target voltage. |
| US08363472B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor storage device including contact plug
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes: a cell array including a plurality of first wirings, a plurality of second wirings that intersects the plurality of first wirings, and memory cells that are formed at intersections of the first wirings and the second wirings and are connected between the first and second wirings; a first contact plug that comes into contact with a side portion of the first wiring provided at a first position and extends to the first wiring provided at a second position higher than the first position in a laminated direction; and a second contact plug that comes into contact with a side portion of the second wiring provided at a third position between the first position and the second position and extends to the second wiring provided at a fourth position higher than the second position in the laminated direction. |
| US08363471B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and method of programming the same
A nonvolatile memory device and a method of programming the device includes a memory cell array configured to have a number of memory cells, a row decoder coupled to the memory cells through word lines, page buffers coupled to the memory cells through bit lines, and a control unit configured to output correction voltages for reducing a difference in voltage between a selected one of the word lines and a channel region of a selected one of the memory cells in response to a program operation being performed. |
| US08363469B1 |
All-NMOS 4-transistor non-volatile memory cell
A non-volatile memory cell includes NMOS programming, read, erase, and control transistors having gate electrodes connected to a storage node. The erase and control transistors have interconnected source, drain, and bulk electrodes. The cell is programmed by setting source, drain, bulk, and gate electrodes of all transistors to a positive voltage. An inhibiting voltage is applied to source, drain, and bulk electrodes of the read transistor, while setting source and drain electrodes of the programming transistor to the positive voltage and the bulk electrode of the programming transistor to the positive voltage or the inhibiting voltage. Source, drain, and bulk electrodes of the control transistor are then ramped to a negative control voltage while ramping source, drain, and bulk electrodes of the erase transistor to a negative erase voltage and then back to the positive voltage. Source, drain. bulk, and gate electrodes of the programming, erase, and control transistors are then returned to the positive voltage, while setting the source, drain, and bulk electrodes of the read transistor to the inhibiting voltage. |
| US08363467B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor memory device having non-selected word lines adjacent to selected word lines being charged at different timing for program disturb control
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array of data-rewritable non-volatile memory cells or memory cell units containing the memory cells, and a plurality of word lines each commonly connected to the memory cells on the same row in the memory cell array. In write pulse applying during data writing, a high voltage for writing is applied to a selected word line, and an intermediate voltage for writing is applied to at least two of non-selected word lines. The beginning of charging a first word line located between the selected word line and a source line to a first intermediate voltage for writing is followed by the beginning of charging a second word line located between the selected word line and a bit line contact to a second intermediate voltage for writing. |
| US08363466B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method of reading data from nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
At the time of reading, an unselected word line voltage is fixed to a first predetermined voltage (0 V or 3 V), and when selecting a word line, a selected word line voltage is set to a second predetermined voltage (−3.5 V or 0 V). This configuration eliminates an application of a pulsed voltage to the word line at the time of reading, making it possible to reduce an influence of read disturbance. In addition, even when a voltage in a range from a power source voltage to a ground voltage or a voltage over the power source voltage is required at the time of reading, it becomes a voltage about 1.5 times an absolute value of the power source voltage. Therefore, a voltage step-up circuit having a large number of stages is not required, and as a result, it is possible to achieve a reduced operation time with a low power consumption. |
| US08363463B2 |
Phase change memory having one or more non-constant doping profiles
A phase change memory device with a memory element including a basis phase change material, such as a chalcogenide, and one or more additives, where the additive or additives have a non-constant concentration profile along an inter-electrode current path through a memory element. The use of “non-constant” concentration profiles for additives enables doping the different zones with different materials and concentrations, according to the different crystallographic, thermal and electrical conditions, and different phase transition conditions. |
| US08363462B2 |
Magnetoresistive element
A magnetoresistive element which records information by supplying spin-polarized electrons to a magnetic material, includes a first pinned layer which is made of a magnetic material and has a first magnetization directed in a direction perpendicular to a film surface, a free layer which is made of a magnetic material and has a second magnetization directed in the direction perpendicular to the film surface, the direction of the second magnetization reversing by the spin-polarized electrons, and a first nonmagnetic layer which is provided between the first pinned layer and the free layer. A saturation magnetization Ms of the free layer satisfies a relationship 0≦Ms<√{square root over ( )}{Jw/(6πAt)}. Jw is a write current density, t is a thickness of the free layer, A is a constant. |
| US08363458B2 |
Memory controller
A memory controller provides interfaces for one or more thin film memory circuits. The controller may include an analog interface for one or more thin film memories. Such an analog interface may accept analog signals representative of an associated thin film memory's memory state, condition and sense the signal, and encode the signal into a digital value. |
| US08363445B2 |
One-time programmable memory cell
According to one exemplary embodiment, a one-time programmable memory cell includes an access transistor coupled to a shiftable threshold voltage transistor between a bitline and a ground, where the access transistor has a gate coupled to a wordline. The shiftable threshold voltage transistor has a drain and a gate shorted together. A programming operation causes a permanent shift in a threshold voltage of the shiftable threshold voltage transistor to occur in response to a programming voltage on the bitline and the wordline. In one embodiment, the access transistor is an NFET while the shiftable threshold voltage transistor is a PFET. In another embodiment, the access transistor is an NFET and the shiftable threshold voltage transistor is also an NFET. The programming voltage can cause an absolute value of the threshold voltage to permanently increase by at least 50.0 millivolts. |
| US08363441B2 |
Power conversion apparatus with M conversion levels having an individual drive unit that does not require a dedicated power supply
To realize power supply to each gate drive circuit without using an individual dedicated power supply for each gate drive circuit. A power conversion apparatus includes an individual drive unit that does not require a dedicated power supply, and includes gate drivers connected to switches and interface circuits and a power converter gate drive configured with a common power supply for supplying power to the gate drive unit. Power is supplied from main circuits or a number of common power supplies fewer than that of the number of the switches through one or more power supply terminals included in the interface circuit. Also, the signal can be transmitted by isolation from a signal source to the gate drivers. |
| US08363436B2 |
Non-dissipative start up circuit
A start up circuit constituted of: a first alternating current lead; a second alternating current lead, said second alternating current lead exhibiting an opposing phase of said first alternating current lead; a first capacitor, a first end of said first capacitor coupled to said first alternating current lead; a second capacitor, a first end of said second capacitor coupled to said second alternating current lead; a breakdown diode coupled between a second end of said first capacitor and a second end of said second capacitor; and a third capacitor coupled in parallel with said breakdown diode. A direct current power is developed across the breakdown diode without requiring dissipative elements. |
| US08363435B2 |
Digital device with boot strap circuit stimulator
A digital device generates a fixed duty cycle signal with an internal oscillator after a Power-On-Reset (POR). This fixed duty cycle signal is output on a signal pin that normally is used for a PWM control signal. The fixed duty cycle signal is used to stimulate the voltage generation circuits so as to power up the digital device for initialization thereof. Once the digital device has powered-up and initialized, the digital device switches over to normal operation for control of the power system. |
| US08363430B2 |
Flyback DC-DC converter with feedback control
A flyback DC-DC converter is disclosed herein. The flyback DC-DC converter includes a transformer, a voltage divider and a controller. The transformer receives a DC input voltage and converts the DC input voltage to a DC output voltage. The voltage divider is coupled to a first secondary winding of the transformer, and generates a feedback signal indicative of the DC output voltage. The controller is coupled to the transformer via an input switching circuit and controls the input switching circuit to regulate the DC output voltage according to the feedback signal. A skip operation is triggered if the voltage of the feedback signal is higher than a preset reference voltage at the end of a turn-off period of the input switching circuit, and the voltage of the feedback signal is changed to zero during the skip operation. |
| US08363426B2 |
Reactive current transformer
An apparatus and method for utilizing reactive power in electric power generating facilities. The primary energy source is a reactive power provided by a source of high-frequency, high-voltage electromagnetic oscillations. As a device, the Reactive Current Transformer consists of a high-voltage, high-frequency electromagnetic generator, preferably Tesla Resonant Transformer and of inductive receiving coils, electromagnetically coupled in the absence of a ferromagnetic core, adjusted in resonance with this electromagnetic generator and mounted in any required quantity, close to it. Energy, emitted by the electromagnetic generator, is being transferred to inductive coils. Reactive current induced in the inductive coils can be collected from them and converted to a standard AC voltage for further use by any convenient way, preferably with a help of additional inductive transforming windings, mounted together and electromagnetically coupled with these inductive coils. |
| US08363424B2 |
Grounding mechanism and computer system with an multi-directional grounding component
A grounding mechanism includes a grounding end, and a clip device connected to the grounding end for electrically connecting an electronic device to the grounding end. The clip device includes a first clip for contacting against a lateral side of the electronic device in a first direction so as to ground the electronic device in the first direction, and a second clip for contacting against another side of the electronic device in a second direction different from the first direction so as to ground the electronic device in the second direction. |
| US08363422B2 |
Electronic component module and method for manufacturing the same
An electronic component module includes: an insulative substrate; a device chip mounted on a first surface of the insulative substrate in flip-chip mounting; a chip component connected to the insulative substrate; a lid provided above the insulative substrate and the device chip; a first metal pattern that is provided in edge portions on the first surface of the insulative substrate so as to surround the first surface of the insulative substrate; a second metal pattern that is provided in edge portions on a second surface of the lid opposite to the first surface so as to surround the second surface; and seal solder joining the first and second metal patterns so as to define a cavity that is formed in a region that is located between the insulative substrate and the lid and is not provided with the first and second metal patterns and is further formed between the insulative substrate and the device chip. |
| US08363416B2 |
Display device in which flexible wiring board is protected
Provided is a display device including: a display panel; a circuit board; a connector mounted on the circuit board; a flexible wiring board attached to the connector; and a housing which accommodates the display panel, the circuit board, and one part of the flexible wiring board, and includes a slit formed therein, from which another part of the flexible wiring board is pulled out. The flexible wiring board includes, in the one part of the flexible wiring board, a first region extending in directions which intersect a pull-out direction from the slit, and having a width which is larger than a width of the flexible wiring board at a position overlapping the slit. |
| US08363415B2 |
Detachable network communication device, electronic device and communication device
A detachable network communication device comprising a first antenna is disclosed. The detachable network communication device is operable to be coupled to a second electronic device comprising a second antenna, wherein the first antenna is coupled to the second antenna to form a combined antenna structure. The combined antenna structure is operable to receive and/or transmit radio signals such as, for example, digital television signals. The detachable network communication device may also comprise an additional sub-antenna that may be operable as a diversity antenna. |
| US08363406B2 |
Rotatable latch for compressing thermal interface material between a heat generating electrical component and a cooling electrical component
Apparatuses are provided for compressing a thermal interface material between a heat generating electronic component and a cooling electrical component. Embodiments include a rotatable latch fastened to the heat generating electrical component, the rotatable latch including a hook; wherein when the rotatable latch is in an engaged position, the hook of the rotatable latch engages a pin extending from the cooling electrical component such that the thermal interface material adhered to the heat generating electrical component is coupled to the cooling component; when the rotatable latch is in an unengaged position, the hook of the rotatable latch is not engaged with the pin of the cooling electrical component; a load screw; wherein when the rotatable latch is in the engaged position, threading the load screw into the rotatable latch moves the rotatable latch into a locked state; and a spring leaf that is coupled to the heat generating electrical component. |
| US08363390B2 |
Slider electronic device
An slider electronic device includes a main body, a display body, two rotary members, and a resilient member. The main body includes a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The display body is movably mounted on the main body and includes a proximal end and a distal end opposite to each other. One end of each rotary member is rotatably connected to the main body, and the other end is rotatably connected to the display body. Two ends of the resilient member are connected to the second end of the main body the proximal end of the display body, respectively. When the display body covers the main body, the proximal end of the display body is adjacent to the first end of the main body, and the distal end of the display body is adjacent to the second end of the main body. |
| US08363389B2 |
Switchboard with UPS and horizontal busbars
A switchboard including at least four conductors of horizontal configuration, the conductors secured to the switchboard to maintain the horizontal configuration, wherein at least one of the four conductors of horizontal configuration is an AC PEN (23) and at least one of the four conductors of horizontal configuration is a DC ground; at least one uninterrupted power supply and battery mounted in the switchboard and operatively connected to the DC ground (23); and at least one uninterrupted power supply and battery mounted in the switchboard and operatively connected to the AC ground (23). |
| US08363388B2 |
System and method for supplying power to electronics enclosures utilizing distributed DC power architectures
A power entry module (PEM) that is used with an electronics equipment enclosure. The PEM has a housing adapted to be coupled to a shelf of the electronics equipment enclosure. The housing has at least one pair of power cable lugs accessible from an exterior of the housing for coupling the PEM to a pair of power cables associated with a power feed. The PEM also has a backplane connector for coupling the PEM to a blackplane of the electronics enclosure. A distribution network is disposed within the PEM housing and forms at least a pair of electrically isolated power distribution buses for coupling electrical power provided from the power cables to each of the power distribution branches. Each power distribution branch independently provides electrical power to at least one blade supported within the electronics equipment enclosure. |
| US08363386B2 |
Electronic device with interface shielding cover
An electronic device includes a main body and an interface shielding cover. A recess is defined in the main body by a vertical wall and a bottom. Two openings are defined in the rear cover between the vertical wall and the bottom wall, two stop walls adjacent to the openings include a first engaging side and a second engaging side. The interface shielding cover includes a pair of elastic arms rotatably connected to the rear cover. Each elastic arm includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion distinctly oriented from the first protrusion. The interface shielding cover is rotatable relative to the rear cover between a closed position where the first protrusion abuts against the first engaging side to retain the cover in the closed position, and an open position where the second protrusion abuts against the second engaging side to retain the cover in the open position. |
| US08363383B2 |
Dielectric ceramic composition and ceramic electronic component
A dielectric ceramic composition includes BaTiO3 as a main component; as subcomponents, with respect to 100 moles of BaTiO3, 0.9 to 2.0 moles of an oxide of RA in terms of RA2O3, where RA is at least one selected from Dy, Gd and Tb; 0.3 to 2.0 moles of an oxide of RB in terms of RB2O3, where RB is at least one selected from Ho and Y; 0.75 to 2.5 moles of an oxide of Yb in terms of Yb2O3; and 0.5 to 2.0 moles of an oxide of Mg in terms of Mg. when contents of oxide of RA, oxide of RB and oxide of Yb with respect to 100 moles of BaTiO3 are defined as “α”, “β” and “γ”, respectively, “α”, “β” and “γ” satisfy relations of 0.66≦(α/β)≦3.0 and 0.85≦(α+β)/γ≦2.4. According to the present invention, a dielectric ceramic composition having good properties can be provided. |
| US08363380B2 |
MEMS varactors
MEMS varactors capable of handling large signals and/or achieving a high capacitance tuning range are described. In an exemplary design, a MEMS varactor includes (i) a first bottom plate electrically coupled to a first terminal receiving an input signal, (ii) a second bottom plate electrically coupled to a second terminal receiving a DC voltage, and (iii) a top plate formed over the first and second bottom plates and electrically coupled to a third terminal. The DC voltage causes the top plate to mechanically move and vary the capacitance observed by the input signal. In another exemplary design, a MEMS varactor includes first, second and third plates formed on over one another and electrically coupled to first, second and third terminals, respectively. First and second DC voltages may be applied to the first and third terminals, respectively. An input signal may be passed between the first and second terminals. |
| US08363378B2 |
Method for optimized removal of wafer from electrostatic chuck
Systems and methods for optimally dechucking a wafer from an electrostatic chuck are described. The force on a lift-pin mechanism is monitored and a dechuck voltage is determined based on the force. The wafer is dechucked at the determined dechuck voltage. |
| US08363375B2 |
Aircraft assembly and method for manufacturing the same
An aircraft assembly having improved durability and capable of providing good lightning protection is provided. Provided is an aircraft assembly (1) equipped with an outer panel (5) that is constructed using an outer-panel resin material reinforced with fiber as a main element; a structural member (7) that supports the outer panel (5) from the inside; and a fastener (3) that joins the outer panel (5) and the structural member (7), the aircraft assembly including an insulator layer (23) having insulating properties and disposed so as to cover at least the head (17) of the fastener (3); and a conductor layer (25) disposed so as to cover at least the insulator layer (23) and formed of a conductor-layer resin material containing copper powder having electrical conductivity. |
| US08363371B2 |
Safety switching device for setting a safety-related device to a safe state
A safety switching device, with which a safety-related device, can be set into a safe state. The safety switching device has a microprocessor or microcontroller, which can set an electric drive to be protected into a safe state both if an emergency circuit breaker, protective door switch, and/or two-hand switch is activated and also if there is faulty operation of the safety-related device or electric drive. For this purpose, the microprocessor is implemented such that it can determine from at least one analog signal to be measured whether a predetermined parameter lies outside a predetermined operating range. In addition, the microprocessor can be a component of a safety device which is constructed for multiple-channel control of a safety-related electric drive. In this way, the safety switching device can respond to several safety functions independent of each other in order to set an electric drive into a safe state. |
| US08363369B2 |
Short circuit and open circuit protection for a boost converter
A boost converter includes a load disconnect switch connected between a voltage input terminal and an inductor, a power switch connected to the inductor by a switching node, a diode connected between the switching node and a voltage output terminal, and an output capacitor connected to the voltage output terminal to provide an output voltage. A protection apparatus is connected to the load disconnect switch, switching node and power switch to monitor the voltage at the switching node and the output voltage to provide open circuit and short circuit protection for the boost converter. |
| US08363355B2 |
Microwave-assisted magnetic recording device and method of formation thereof
A magnetic head, according to one embodiment, includes a microwave generator provided with a main magnetic pole, an auxiliary magnetic pole, a coil wound around a magnetic circuit, the magnetic circuit including the main magnetic pole and the auxiliary magnetic pole, and a magnetic film, the film being provided near an ABS side of the main magnetic pole. A first distance in an element thickness direction between film surfaces of the magnetic film and the main magnetic pole at a top end in an element height direction of the microwave generator is greater than a second distance between film surfaces of the magnetic film comprising the microwave generator and the main magnetic pole at the ABS. In other approaches, the main magnetic pole may have a shape which gradually widens from a flare point away from the ABS in an element height direction. Additional systems and methods are also presented. |
| US08363351B1 |
Disk drive base having a raised thermal pedestal
A disk drive includes a printed circuit board, an integrated circuit coupled to the printed circuit board, and a disk drive base coupled to the printed circuit board. The disk drive base includes a platform, the platform having a first surface elevated towards the printed circuit board and a second surface further elevated towards the printed circuit board relative to the first surface, the platform being generally aligned with the integrated circuit along an axis normal to the first surface. |
| US08363347B2 |
Storage device and information correction method
An information correcting method includes: detecting a first pattern in a radial direction and a second pattern formed obliquely to the radial direction on a track traversing the first and second patterns; counting number of the first pattern until the count value reaches number of the first pattern in one round of the track; generating a value incremented up number of the second pattern in the one round every time an interrupt associated with detection of the second pattern is generated as number of the second pattern; calculating an ideal number from a value obtained by multiplying the number of the second pattern until the number is counted by the counted number of the detected first pattern and a number set to the second pattern with reference to the second pattern formed at a present initial position; and correcting the generated number with the ideal number. |
| US08363344B2 |
System and method for improved free fall detection
An information handling system includes a free fall sensing system having an amplifier and sampling circuit, a sampling data analyzer, a sampling clock duration controller, and a sampling clock generator. The amplifier and sampling circuit is configured to sample data signals from the free fall sensor based on an initial sampling signal and based on a variable sampling signal. The sampling data analyzer is configured to compare a magnitude of sampled data point to a predetermined magnitude, to output an alert signal when the magnitude of the sampled data point is below the predetermined magnitude. The sampling clock duration controller is configured to vary a duration and a frequency of a sampling signal control in response to the alert signal. The sampling clock generator is configured to send a variable sampling signal to the amplifier and sampling circuit in response to the variation of the duration and the frequency of the sampling signal control. |
| US08363343B2 |
Lens barrel having an eccentricity adjusting mechanism
A lens barrel having an eccentricity adjusting mechanism, the lens barrel includes a first lens frame, a second lens frame, an engaging part, a plate spring, a circumferential direction groove, a guiding groove, a screw hole, a set screw, a tool insertion hole. The first lens frame is disposed in an fixed barrel of the lens barrel, integrally holds a plurality of lenses, and has openings on front and rear end of the first lens frame in an optical axis direction. The second lens frame that holds a part of the plurality of lenses to be subjected to eccentricity adjustment and is inserted from one of the openings to be disposed and held in the first lens frame. |
| US08363342B2 |
Piezoelectric actuator, lens barrel and camera
A piezoelectric actuator with low susceptibility to friction and rubbing is provided. A piezoelectric actuator of the present invention is provided with protruding portions, first piezoelectric actuators and second piezoelectric actuators. The protruding portions protrude from a first face of a base member toward a moving member, and are capable of supporting the moving member. The first piezoelectric actuators are provided along members other than the protruding portions and are capable of expanding and contracting in an orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the first face. The second piezoelectric actuators are provided along the members other than the protruding portions and are capable of expanding and contracting in a direction other than the orthogonal direction. |
| US08363341B2 |
Fixed-focus lens module
A fixed-focus lens module includes an outer lens barrel, an inner lens, a first lens, and a second lens group. The outer lens barrel includes a first open end, a first cavity, and a second open end arranged in the order from the object side to the image side of the outer lens barrel. The inner lens barrel is received in the outer lens barrel adjacent to the first open end. The first lens is received in the inner lens barrel. The second lens group is received in the outer lens barrel adjacent to the second open end. An gap is defined between an outer wall of the inner lens barrel and an inner wall of the outer lens barrel at the first open end, and the center axis of the inner lens barrel is adjustable relative to the outer lens barrel for adjusting the alignment between the first lens and the second lens group. |
| US08363335B1 |
Optical lens system
An optical lens system comprises, in order from the object side to the image side: a first lens element with a positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface, one of the object-side surface and an image-side surface being aspheric; a stop; a second lens element with a negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface, one of the object-side surface and an image-side surface being aspheric; a third lens element with a positive refractive power having a concave image-side surface, one of an object-side surface and the image-side surface being aspheric. Focal lengths of the first, second and third lens elements are f1, f2, f3, respectively, they satisfy the relations: 0.4<|f1|/|f2|<1.0; 0.5<|f2|/|f3|<1.3. If |f1|/|f2| and |f2|/|f3| satisfy the above relations, it can provide a wide field of view and improve the resolution. Contrarily, the performance and resolution of the optical lens system will be reduced. |
| US08363334B2 |
Lens barrel
A lens barrel capable of increasing the degree of freedom of installation of a detection unit and capable of making the lens barrel compact in size. The lens barrel includes third and fourth lens groups disposed adjacent to each other and movable in a common optical axis direction. In a first movement section, the third lens group moves in unison with the fourth lens group. In a second movement section adjacent to the first movement section, only the third lens group moves. When a photointerrupter fixed to a cover of the third lens group is light-shielded by a light shield plate formed on a lens holder of the fourth lens group, it is detected that a distance between the third and fourth lens groups becomes a predetermined distance. |
| US08363331B2 |
Zoom lens
A zoom lens having less distortion and exhibiting good imaging performance is provided. A zoom lens includes a first lens unit provided at the extremity of an enlargement conjugate side and having a negative refractive power, and a final lens unit provided at the extremity of a reduction conjugate side and having a positive refractive power. The final lens unit includes a cemented lens at the extremity of the reduction conjugate side. The cemented lens has a positive refractive power. The zoom lens satisfies specific conditional expressions. |
| US08363329B2 |
Liquid lens apparatus and manufacturing method of the same
Disclosed is a liquid lens apparatus. The liquid lens apparatus includes a liquid lens element and a fixing jig. The liquid lens element includes a main body, a lens surface, and a sealing portion, the main body including a first substrate, a second substrate, and a third substrate that is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and forms a liquid chamber, the lens surface being formed of an interface between two liquids which are contained in the liquid chamber and have different refractive indexes and being capable of being electrically deformed, the sealing portion hermetically sealing the main body. The fixing jig is engaged with the first substrate and the second substrate, the first substrate and the second substrate sandwiching the third substrate. |
| US08363328B2 |
Liquid lens
A liquid lens including at least two phase liquids covered with a protection member having transparent portions allowing transmission of light includes an elastic film configured to separate the at least two phase liquids within the protection member, a connection portion configured to connect the protection member to the elastic film, and a movement unit configured to move the connection portion within the protection member. |
| US08363324B2 |
Lens positioning system
Systems and methods to position most precisely a lens system of an optical device are disclosed. Embodiments of these electrical sensors comprise capacitive sensors, inductive sensors and resistive sensors to measure the actual position of a lens system with a precision of at least 1 μm. Read-out circuits using double-correlated sampling structures are providing the position signals from the electrical sensors to a controller. The controller compares the actual position signals with a set-signal representing a target position of the lens signal and issues a signal to a motor to get the lens system moved to the target position. A variety of motors/actuators can be used to move a slider carrying the lens system to the position desired. |
| US08363323B2 |
Optically variable security device and method
A security device comprising at least first and second superposed optically variable effect generating structures (3-5, 31-51), each having a surface relief microstructure, the second optically variable effect generating structure being viewable through the first. |
| US08363321B1 |
Apparatus for introducing external aimpoint corrections into a standalone day sight
An apparatus and method are provided for adjusting an angle of a scene viewed by a viewing optical system through an optical device by adjusting an angle of a light beam passing through the optical device. The angle of the scene is adjusted relative to an optical axis of a viewing optical system, in accordance with a signal. A mounting device may be adapted to mount the optical device to a support and adjust a position of the optical device relative to the viewing optical system. |
| US08363319B2 |
Polarizing element, method of manufacturing polarizing element, and electronic apparatus
A polarizing element includes: a substrate; a plurality of reflection layers that is arranged in a band shape at a predetermined interval on the substrate; dielectric layers that are formed on the reflection layers; and absorption layers on the dielectric layers that have convex portions disposed toward a side of a first adjacent reflection layer and a side of a second adjacent reflection layer. |
| US08363318B2 |
Projecting lens and projecting apparatus using the same
A projecting lens for projecting a light of an image generating device onto a screen is provided. The image generating device has a light valve. The projecting lens includes a first lens group and a second lens group. The first lens group has an imaging optical axis and a first effective refractive power. The second lens group has a second effective refractive power, and is disposed between the first lens group and the light valve. The light projected from the light valve to the second lens group generates an intermediate image, which is focused on the screen via the first lens group to form an image. A center of the image and a center of the light valve are located on the same side of the optical axis, and a center of the intermediate image is located on the other side of the optical axis. |
| US08363315B2 |
Catadioptric projection objective with mirror group
A catadioptric projection objective for imaging an off-axis object field arranged in an object surface of the projection objective onto an off-axis image field arranged in an image surface of the projection objective has a front lens group, a mirror group comprising four mirrors and having an object side mirror group entry, an image side mirror group exit, and a mirror group plane aligned transversely to the optical axis and arranged geometrically between the mirror group entry and the mirror group exit; and a rear lens group. The mirrors of the mirror group are arranged such that at least one intermediate image is positioned inside the mirror group between mirror group entry and mirror group exit, and that radiation coming from the mirror group entry passes at least four times through the mirror group plane and is reflected at least twice on a concave mirror surface of the mirror group prior to exiting the mirror group at the mirror group exit. The mirror group entry is positioned in a region where radiation exiting the front lens group has an entry chief ray height. A second reflecting area is positioned in a region where radiation impinging on the second mirror has a second chief ray height deviating from the entry chief ray height in a first direction; and a fourth reflecting area is positioned in a region where radiation impinging on the fourth mirror has a fourth chief ray height deviating from the entry chief ray height in a second direction opposite to the first direction. |
| US08363314B2 |
Reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (R-SOA) and superluminescent diode (SLD)
Provided are a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (R-SOA) and a superluminescent diode (SLD). The R-SOA includes: a substrate; an optical waveguide including a lower clad layer, an active layer independent of the polarization of light, and an upper clad layer sequentially stacked on the substrate, the optical waveguide comprising linear, curved, and tapered waveguide areas; and a current blocking layer formed around the optical waveguide to block a flow of current out of the active layer, wherein the linear and curved waveguide areas have a single buried hetero (BH) structure, and the tapered waveguide area has a dual BH structure. |
| US08363306B2 |
Pigment particles for electrophoretic display
The present invention is directed to an electrophoretic display fluid, in particular, pigment particles dispersed in a solvent or solvent mixture, and methods for their preparation. The pigment particles generated, according to the present invention, are stable in solvent under an electric field, have desired charge and charge density on the particle surface. |
| US08363302B2 |
Electrochromic device and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed is an electrochromic device that includes a first electrode and a second electrode facing each other, an electrochromic layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an electrolyte between the first electrode and the second electrode and being in contact with the electrochromic layer. The electrochromic layer may include a plurality of oxide semiconductor particles, a metal oxide on the surface of the oxide semiconductor particles, and an electrochromic material. An energy bandgap of the oxide semiconductor particles is in a range of about 3 eV to about 5 eV and an energy bandgap of the metal oxide is in a range of about 3 eV to about 5 eV, and a difference of conduction band energy levels of the oxide semiconductor particles and the metal oxide is about 0.5 eV or less. A method of manufacturing the electrochromic device may also be provided. |
| US08363301B2 |
Transparent smart light source capable of adjusting illumination direction
A transparent smart light source capable of adjusting an illumination direction is provided. The transparent smart light source includes a reflectance/transmittance tunable device that adjusts an illumination direction by reflecting or transmitting light emitted from a transparent organic light-emitting diode (OLED) according to applied voltage, and thus can simply adjust the illumination direction according to purpose. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent optical loss in an unnecessary direction, and power consumption can be reduced. Furthermore, the transparent smart light source can serve as a curtain blocking out external light, as well as a lighting device, and also can be combined with a solar cell to generate electric power. |
| US08363299B2 |
Electro-optic displays, and processes for the production thereof
A first apparatus for displaying a color image comprises an electro-optic display (1002) having a plurality of pixels, each of which can be independently set to a light-transmissive optical state or a substantially opaque optical state, and lighting means (1006) arranged to flash separate pulses of light of at least two differing colors on to one surface of the electro-optic display (1002). A second apparatus for generating pulses of light of differing colors comprising a light source and a filter assembly comprising first (1100) and second (1106) electro-optic layers each having a light-transmissive state and a colored state, the two colored states being different, and electrodes to switch these layers between these states. |
| US08363298B2 |
Diffraction gratings with tunable efficiency
The specification and drawings present a new method, apparatus and software product for modulation of the optical intensity using electro-wetting (EW) diffraction gratings in the electronic devices with an electrical control signal. The EW diffraction gratings can be components of an element (e.g., a display) of the electronic device. Applications may include but are not limited to color displays, projection displays, front illuminating displays, field sequential displays, auto-stereoscopic displays, etc. Also, applications in areas other than displays are possible. |
| US08363294B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method of controlling the same
Disclosed is an image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. A color contact image sensor (CIS) module employing a single channel line sensor can be used to produce substantially the same performance as a color CIS module employing a three-channel line sensor and having color filters to, for example, reduce manufacturing costs. Moreover, a blurring phenomenon that can occur in a scanned image can be reduced and the quality of the scanned image can be improved. |
| US08363290B2 |
Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus that feeds a document over a reading glass and optically reads an image of the document at a reading position. A rotary brush type cleaner is located above the reading glass to face the reading position. The cleaner cleans the reading glass while rotating downstream in a document feeding direction. In accordance with a selected reading mode, the frequency of cleaning operations performed by the cleaner, and the rotation speed and the number of rotations of the cleaner are changed. |
| US08363283B2 |
Print setting apparatus and printer for adding ground pattern to image and resolving conflicting settings
A printing setting apparatus is disclosed that includes a first part to establish a connection to a printing apparatus; a second part to make a setting with respect to printing of printing data; a third part to add a first ground pattern to the printing data in response to the second part making a first setting for adding the first ground pattern; a fourth part to obtain information indicating whether a second setting for adding a second ground pattern is made in the printing apparatus; and a fifth part to disable the second part from accepting the first setting in response to the fourth part obtaining the information indicating that the second setting is made in the printing apparatus, and enable the second part to accept the first setting in response to the fourth part obtaining the information indicating that the second setting is not made in the printing apparatus. |
| US08363282B2 |
Halftone screening and bitmap based encoding of information in images
A method of processing a continuous tone image includes using a halftone screen to generate a bi-level bitmap; partitioning the contone image into an array of image blocks; halftoning the image blocks; using the bi-level bitmap to select some of the halftone image blocks; and modifying the selected halftone image blocks using code words, such that information contained in the code words is embedded in a halftone image. A method of extracting embedded information in a halftone image includes accessing a bi-level bit map; partitioning the halftone image into a plurality of image blocks; using the bitmap to select at least some of the blocks; identifying a code word sequence in the selected blocks; and extracting the information from the code word sequence. |
| US08363281B2 |
Efficient image printing with printing systems employing printheads with drop ejectors providing multiple-sized dots
A method for printing an image with a printing system including the steps of multitoning image data to produce a multitoned image having a multitone resolution; providing a look-up table, wherein each look-up table entry specifies a number of dots of a first size and a number of dots of a second size; using the look-up table to expand the multitoned image data from the multitone resolution to a print-ready image having a printing resolution; and printing the print-ready image using a first array of dot forming elements for forming dots of a first size and a second array of dot forming elements for forming dots having a second size that is greater than the first size. |
| US08363280B2 |
System and method of halftone printing of image spot colors using ranked ordered pairing of colorants and halftone screens
Systems and methods of halftoning an image for extended-colorant printing image spot colors are provided which perform a quality ranking of a plurality of periodic halftone screens to be used in halftoning the image and an objectionability ranking of the colorants used to produce the one or more image spot colors. Halftone screen-to-colorant assignments are then made using a ranked ordered pairing of the ranked screens and ranked colorants. The image is halftoned using these assignments and the results can be printed or saved for future printing. Pixel tags can be used to identify the ranked ordered halftone screen-to-colorant assignments. |
| US08363279B2 |
Method and device for setting multiple tones in halftone process to prevent mixing of adjacent ink dots
A disclosed method for setting multiple tones in a halftone process upon recording an image using ink includes the steps of: dividing the image into plural dot areas; and setting the multiple tones such that at least one dot area to which the ink is not attached is present between dot areas to which the ink is attached. |
| US08363278B2 |
Method and apparatus capable of producing FM halftone dots in high speed
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus capable of generating frequency-modulation halftone dots in high speed and belongs to the field of the digital image halftone. In the prior art, read-write operation is usually carried out many times in error rows during processing each pixel so that halftone dots are generated in low speed. In the method according to the present invention, the error generated by the current pixel is buffered in a register file and the final accumulated error values are written in the error rows only after all of the relative pixels are processed. Thus, read-write operation is carried out only once in the error rows for processing each pixel. The present invention also provides an apparatus to implement the method. The apparatus comprises an error row memory, an error buffer register file, a gray generation circuit, a threshold comparison circuit, an error generation circuit, an error buffer register file control circuit, and an error row control circuit. The method and apparatus according to the present invention decrease the steps in operation and improve the speed for generating the frequency-modulation halftone dots. |
| US08363277B2 |
Printing structure of medium surface on which dot pattern is formed by printing, printing method, and its reading method
With the aim of realizing an easy and inexpensive method of realizing a “stealth” dot pattern, whose presence on a medium surface is not visually recognizable, merely through minor improvements in the existing printing technology, the present invention provides dots which form a dot pattern by printing these dots using an ink of any color reactive in the infrared or ultraviolet wavelength range on a medium surface on which a dot pattern is to be formed, for use with a dot pattern reading system that irradiates infrared or ultraviolet light on a medium surface having a dot pattern provided thereon, recognizes the dot pattern by reading the reflections of the light with an optical reading means, converts the dot pattern into the corresponding data, and outputs the text, voice, images and so forth contained in the data. |
| US08363276B2 |
Printer and printing method on the basis of calibration of primary colors mixture
A printer performs calibration in which a reference primary color ink is mixed with at least one additional primary color ink to approximate a predetermined target primary color. The printer includes an acquisition section, a predicting section, an optimizing section and a printing unit. The acquisition section acquires spectral reflectances of the reference primary color ink printed on a base, the additional primary color ink printed on the base, and the base. The predicting section calculates predicted spectral reflectance of a mixture of the primary color inks by dividing a product of the spectral reflectances of the primary color inks by the spectral reflectance of the base raised to the power obtained by subtracting 1 from a total number of the inks. The optimizing section optimizes an ink-amount set of the mixture so that the predicted spectral reflectance is approximated to spectral reflectance of the target primary color. |
| US08363273B2 |
Printing system
Method of computing a convex hull in a predetermined color space, comprising determining a print attribute value range pertaining to a reference print attribute value, selecting base NP (Neugebauer Primary) area coverages, comprising area coverages of single NPs and combined NPs, having print attribute values in the print attribute value range, printing and measuring patches corresponding to the base NP area coverages, computing linear combinations of the base NP area coverages, and assigning one of the base NP area coverage or the linear combination of base NP area coverages to the corresponding color, depending on which is closest to the reference print attribute value. |
| US08363270B2 |
Image processing method, image processing apparatus and computer program
An image processing method displays a simulation image of an image formed on a print medium under a first light-source color on a display under a second light-source color. The method includes an acquisition step of acquiring image data to be simulated in a format according to the second light-source color, a step of calculating a reflective color obtained when the acquired image data is processed to represent an image corresponding to the image data illuminated by an achromatic light-source color, a step of converting the first light-source color into the format according to the second light-source color, and calculating a glossy color of the image data based on the converted first light-source color, and a generation step of generating an image to be displayed by adding the reflective color calculated in the reflective color calculation step and the glossy color calculated in the glossy color calculation step. |
| US08363269B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of controlling same
In an image forming apparatus, a discrimination unit discriminates the type of printing medium conveyed to an image forming unit. A comparator compares the type of a printing medium that has been designated and the type of a printing medium that has been discriminated. A setting unit sets a second image forming condition in the image forming unit if it has been determined not to add identification information to image information in accordance with the type of printing medium designated and, moreover, the type of printing medium designated and the type of printing medium discriminated by the discrimination unit do not match. The second image forming condition is different from a first image forming condition that conforms to the type of printing medium discriminated by the discrimination unit. |
| US08363265B2 |
Color printer technology
The invention provides a method of printing at a POS of register receipts and marketing information in which the required network bandwidth and quantity of ink are both reduced. SVG files are used to specify communications, associated modified image objects are stored locally to the POS, and associated modified image objects are modified version of original objects in which color values are replaced with other color values that result in the same print image, but with printing of less ink. |
| US08363261B1 |
Methods, software, circuits and apparatuses for detecting a malfunction in an imaging device
Methods, software, circuits and apparatuses for detecting a malfunction in an imaging device. The methods generally comprise orienting an image at an angle on an image detecting device; detecting the image; determining an error in the image; and correlating the error to a malfunction in the imaging device. Software instructions can be adapted to determine an orientation angle of an image; analyze the image to detect an error; and calculate a location of a malfunction in the imaging device. The circuits generally include a memory element; logic configured to calculate the orientation of an image; a processor configured to analyze the image and locate a fault; and logic configured to determine a location of the fault in the image and correlate the fault to a malfunction in an imaging device. The present invention advantageously provides a lower cost technique for detecting a malfunction in a high resolution imaging device. |
| US08363251B2 |
Image forming apparatus, print data generation method and computer program for forming an image with halftone processing that uses constraint data
An image forming apparatus that converts image data into print data is provided. The apparatus includes a conversion unit configured to generate first and second print data from the image data using an error diffusion method, each piece of second print data corresponding to one of the plurality of passes; and a printing unit configured to print the second print data. The conversion unit converts the image data into the first print data using the error diffusion method, generates constraint specifying the non-print pixels in the first print data as non-print pixels in the second print data, and converts the image data into the plurality of pieces of second print data, each piece of second print data being used in one of the plurality of passes, through an error diffusion method with the constraint. The printing unit prints the second print data in each of the plurality of passes. |
| US08363250B2 |
Appending identification information to a print job before it is transmitted to a printing device
A printing system has a host apparatus including a generating unit that generates print data and an output unit that outputs the print data generated by the generating unit, and a printing apparatus having an input unit that receives the print data output by the output unit and a printing unit that performs printing based on the print data received by the input unit. The printing system can include an appending unit, a storage unit, a selection unit, and a control unit. |
| US08363247B2 |
Printer control method
A method for controlling a printer to carry out a printing operation. The method comprises, at a controller device, receiving first input data comprising data for identifying said printer and establishing a connection between said controller device and said printer in response to said first input data. Data for use in said printing operation is assembled and said assembled data is provided to said printer via said established connection. |
| US08363245B2 |
Printing system, print processing method and program
A printing system that adopts an SBC system in which a load at a server is alleviated when executing printing to enable printing to be performed smoothly. In the printing system, a client terminal, a server, and an image forming apparatus are connected to each other through a network. The client terminal specifies data among stored data in the server and sends a print execution request to the server. The server receives the print execution request, creates print-related information relating to the specified data, and sends it to the client terminal. The client terminal judges whether or not print data generation processing with respect to the specified data is possible at the client terminal based on the print-related information, and send the judgment result to the server. The server allocates the print data generation processing to either the server or the client terminal based on the judgment result. |
| US08363244B2 |
Updating authentication server lists for users accessing shared access devices
A method, service, system, computer program, etc., provides a list of acceptable authentication servers that a user could use to log in when accessing a networked device, such as a networked printer or document processing device. The embodiments include preparing a module, such as a dynamically loadable module (DLM) for use in the networked system accessed by the users. Each of the networked devices is enabled to accept the DLM. The embodiments forward the DLM to the networked devices as a print job along a print job submission path within the network. The networked devices recognize the DLM as a special job. Further, the networked devices use the DLM to install the XML file on each of the networked devices. Thus, the authentication server lists and authentication programs are updated within each of the networked devices using the DLM. |
| US08363239B2 |
Displaying uncompleted jobs in response to print request
This invention allows a user to immediately grasp the print status of a job only by inputting a print instruction of a job stored and held in an image forming apparatus. This invention also provides a user-friendly apparatus that notifies the user of a predicted time until completion of printing. For this purpose, the image forming apparatus of this invention has a touch panel formed on the display screen of the operation unit. A list of jobs registered in a Hold job list is displayed on the display screen. When the user selects at least one job and touches a “Test print” or “Print” button, the print job is registered in the print execution queue. Simultaneously, a list of unprinted print jobs registered in the print execution queue is automatically displayed. |
| US08363234B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method, and program product with operation for editing template designating printer functions
This invention allows the user to easily make an edit operation of a template even when the functions of a printing apparatus have changed. This invention is directed to an information processing apparatus, which is connected to a printer and edits a template that designates functions to be executed by the printer upon printing, including a unit which acquires information associated with newly executable functions by a newly connected printer, and a unit which generates a template that designates the acquired functions. |
| US08363228B2 |
Method and apparatus for colour imaging a three-dimensional structure
Provided is a device for determining the surface topology and associated color of a structure, such as a teeth segment, including a scanner for providing depth data for points along a two-dimensional array substantially orthogonal to the depth direction, and an image acquisition means for providing color data for each of the points of the array, while the spatial disposition of the device with respect to the structure is maintained substantially unchanged. A processor combines the color data and depth data for each point in the array, thereby providing a three-dimensional color virtual model of the surface of the structure. A corresponding method for determining the surface topology and associated color of a structure is also provided. |
| US08363227B2 |
Measurement apparatus and method of manufacturing optical system
The present invention provides a measurement apparatus which measures a wavefront of light traveling from a member to be measured, the apparatus including a first reference surface, a second reference surface configured to function as a reference surface for the first reference surface, an optical system configured to form a first interference pattern of light traveling from the member to be measured and light traveling from the first reference surface, and a second interference pattern of light traveling from the first reference surface and light traveling from the second reference surface, a detection unit configured to detect the first interference pattern and the second interference pattern, respectively, and a calculation unit configured to calculate a wavefront of light traveling from the member to be measured based on the first interference pattern and the second interference pattern detected by the detection unit. |
| US08363225B2 |
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) apparatus, methods, and applications
A free-space Michelson Interferometer-based Dual Detection Frequency Domain-Optical Coherency Tomography (DD-FD-OCT) apparatus includes a non-polarizing beam splitter that can be used to misalign sample and reference beam paths to provide a stable π/2 phase shift between simultaneously detected interfering sample and reference beams to eliminate the mirror image created by Fourier transformation during image reconstruction. A hybrid fiber system Mach Zehnder Interferometer- and free-space Michelson Interferometer-based Dual Detection Frequency Domain-Doppler Optical Coherency Tomography (DD-FD-DOCT) apparatus provides higher power efficiency and thus better sensitivity compared to the free-space DD-FD-OCT. Both DD-FD-OCT systems enable functional imaging with the contrasts of Doppler and that of polarization, in addition to full range images simultaneously. |
| US08363214B2 |
Surface inspection apparatus
A surface inspection apparatus for observing an edge portion of an object to be inspected includes an illumination device that irradiates an illumination light to the edge portion; and an observation device that forms an image of an observation region of the edge portion illuminated with the illumination light. The illumination device emits a first irradiation beam and a second irradiation beam as the illumination light. The first irradiation beam is incident at approximately right angles to the edge portion for compensating brightness of the image and the second irradiation beam is obliquely incident laterally to the observation region of the edge portion for generating a shadow depending on a surface state of the observation region. |
| US08363201B2 |
Flexible transparent electrodes via nanowires and sacrificial conductive layer
A flexible, transparent electrode structure and a method of fabrication thereof are provided comprising a transparent electrode which may maintain electrical connectivity across a surface of a flexible substrate so that the substrate may flex without affecting the integrity of an electrical contact. The transparent electrode includes conductive nanowires that are coupled to the substrate through a conducting oxide layer. The conducting oxide layer effectively provides a template onto which the nanowires are deposited and serves to anchor the nanowires to the substrate surface. |
| US08363198B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
Liquid crystal display device for saving a cost and minimizing spatial and mechanical limitations. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel for displaying a picture, a plurality of data drive integrated circuits connected between one side of the liquid crystal display panel and a source printed circuit board, and a flexible flat cable connecting user connector formed at one side of the source printed circuit board for receiving a data signal and various control signals from a system. |
| US08363197B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and its manufacturing method
The occurrence of the poor electric connection between the outer circuit and the liquid crystal display device can be reduced in the manufacturing method of the outer circuit and liquid display device of this invention. The liquid crystal display device has the pixel region 100P and the outer connection region 107. There are the gate metal layer 15 disposed on the gate insulating film 12, the interlayer insulating film 16 covering the gate metal layer 15, the first conductive layer 19 covering the gate metal layer 15 located on the interlayer insulating film 16, the passivation film 20 with the second opening 22 exposing the part of the first conductive layer 19 that covers the gate metal layer 15, and the second conductive layer 26 covering the first conductive layer 19 exposed from the second opening 22 in the outer connection region. The metal bump 50 of the outer circuit is connected on the second conductive layer 26 through thermal pressure treatment. |
| US08363196B2 |
Display device with covering layer on end surface of organic interlayer film
A display device includes a substrate having display portion and peripheral portion, a plurality of gate signal lines and a plurality of drain signal lines formed over the substrate, a plurality of switching elements connected to the plurality of gate signal lines and the plurality of drain signal lines and formed over the substrate, and a plurality of pixel electrodes connected to the plurality of switching elements and formed in the display portion. An organic interlayer film is formed in the display portion and the peripheral portion, and a covering layer is formed on the organic interlayer film in the peripheral portion and the insulating film includes at least one of a plurality of recesses and protuberances. |
| US08363194B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel
In a liquid crystal display panel, a pixel electrode includes at least a main electrode strip and a plurality of sub electrode branches. The sub electrode branches extend outwardly from two opposite edges of the main electrode strip. The main electrode strip includes at least a node-controlling portion, the controlling width of the node-controlling portion are different from a trunk width of the main electrode strip. Otherwise, a plurality of first sub electrode branches and a plurality of second sub electrode branches are extend outwardly from two opposite edges of the main electrode strip respectively. Relating to the position of the first sub electrode branches, the second sub electrode branches has a position-shift amount along the extending direction of the main electrode strip. The position-shift amount is smaller than the branch width of the first or second sub electrode branch. |
| US08363192B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel having an active area in which pixels are arranged in a matrix including first and second signal lines and connecting lines. The second signal lines and connecting lines extend in a column direction in the active area. The first signal lines extend in a row direction so as to cross the second signal lines and the connecting lines. The first signal lines are connected to the connecting lines through contact portions provided at the cross area where the first signal lines cross with the connecting lines interposing an insulating layer. The second signal lines and the connecting lines are pulled out from the active area to a signal supply source provided at outside of the active area without detouring in a peripheral region of the display panel. |
| US08363190B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a method of fabricating the same includes a gate line arranged in one direction, a data line arranged in a perpendicular direction to the gate line, a pixel electrode arranged in a pixel region defined by the gate and data lines and having a diagonal side adjacent to a crossing portion of the gate and data lines, and a light blocking pattern arranged in a parallel direction with respect to the diagonal side of the pixel electrode and preventing light leakage. |
| US08363189B2 |
Alkali silicate glass for displays
A display assembly comprises an electronic display element, a layer of material, and an alkali silicate glass material at least partially covering at least one of the electronic display element and the layer of material. |
| US08363187B2 |
Liquid crystal panel having retardation film and liquid crystal display apparatus having the liquid crystal panel
The present invention provides a color liquid crystal panel in an o-mode of an IPS mode, which has a multi-gap structure, and in which a contrast in an oblique direction is enhanced.A first polarizer 1 is provided on a color filter 6 side of a liquid crystal cell 10 and a second polarizer 8 is provided on a liquid crystal layer 5 side of the liquid crystal cell 10. Further, a retardation film 2 is provided between the second polarizer 8 and the liquid crystal cell 10. The liquid crystal cell 10 has a configuration in which the color filter 6 is laminated on a glass substrate 3, and a liquid crystal layer 5 is interposed between the color filter 6 and a glass substrate 7. Regarding the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 5, a thickness dB of a region in contact with the blue color filter 6B is smallest, and a thickness dG of a region in contact with the green color filter 6G and a thickness dR of a region in contact with the red color filter 6R increase in this order. That is, the liquid crystal cell 10 has a multi-gap structure in which the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 5 varies depending upon the colors of the color filter 6. |
| US08363183B2 |
Polarizing plate, method for producing polarizing plate, and liquid crystal display device
The present invention is a lengthy-shaped polarizing plate comprising a linearly-polarized light separation element, a linear light polarizing film and a protection film in this order, wherein said linearly-polarized light separation element includes a layer composed of a resin A whose inherent birefringence value is negative and has a linearly-polarized light transmission axis in a crosswise direction. |
| US08363170B2 |
Dual display multi-modal vehicle infotainment system
A vehicle includes left-hand and right-hand video monitors. Each of the video monitors includes opposing top and bottom edges and opposing left-hand and right-hand lateral edges extending between the top and bottom edges. A translation mechanism couples the video monitors to a vehicle body. The video monitors are movable between a first position wherein the right-hand lateral edge of the left-hand video monitor is spaced apart from the left-hand lateral edge of the right-hand video monitor, and a second position wherein the right-hand lateral edge of the left-hand video monitor is adjacent to the left-hand lateral edge of the right-hand video monitor. |
| US08363167B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and communication system
An information processing apparatus includes: a processing system performing processing on an original image; and a gradation conversion section having a gradation conversion function of receiving image data from the processing system, converting a number of bits of the image data, and expressing pseudo grayscales before the gradation conversion in a grayscale converted image, the gradation conversion section being capable of changing the gradation conversion function and performing conversion processing on the image, wherein the gradation conversion section adds and outputs a determination flag indicating whether the gradation conversion processing has been performed at the time of outputting the image data. |
| US08363166B2 |
Image quality improving device and method
A Gaussian filter 2 having a first cutoff frequency extracts a low frequency component signal of a video signal. A subtracter 3 extracts a high frequency component signal by subtracting the low frequency component signal from the video signal. A low pass filter 5 having a second cutoff frequency higher than the first cutoff frequency extracts a lower high frequency component signal, which is a low-frequency-side signal of the high frequency component signal. A multiplier 6 generates a corrected component signal by multiplying the lower high frequency component signal by a predetermined gain G1. An adder 7 adds the corrected component signal to the video signal. |
| US08363162B2 |
Video display system for a motor vehicle
A video display system for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The video display system includes a display screen configured for single display mode and dual display mode. The display screen further includes a left image portion and a right image portion associated with a left external input port and a right external input port, respectively. |
| US08363158B2 |
Imaging device employing a buffer unit having a terminating resistor
An imaging device includes an imaging unit, a buffer unit, an image processing unit, a processing determining unit and a power control unit. The imaging unit has an imaging sensor converting a subject image into an electrical signal and generates an image data of a photographed image. The buffer unit has a terminating resistor and temporarily stores the image data. The image processing unit performs image processing on the image data. The processing determining unit determines whether or not high-speed processing requiring a high-speed data transfer is performed. The power control unit disables the terminating resistor of the buffer unit and sets a clock supplied to the buffer unit at low speed compared to a case in which the terminating resistor is enabled when the high-speed processing is not performed. As a result, it is possible to reduce power consumption in the imaging device supporting the high-speed processing. |
| US08363156B2 |
Single-lens 2D/3D digital camera
A single-lens 2D/3D camera has a light valve placed in relationship to a lens module to control the light beam received by the lens module for forming an image on an image sensor. The light valve has a light valve area positioned in a path of the light beam. The light valve has two or more clearable sections such that only one section is made clear to allow part of the light beam to pass through. By separately making clear different sections on the light valve, a number of images as viewed through slightly different angles can be captured. The clearable sections include a right section and a left section so that the captured images can be used to produce 3D pictures or displays. The clearable sections also include a middle section so that the camera can be used as a 2D camera. |
| US08363154B2 |
Focus error adjusting apparatus and method in digital image processing device
Provided are a digital image processing device and an operation method therefor, and more particularly, a focus error adjusting apparatus and a method therefor whereby a focus error can be adjusted when a digital image processing device is manufactured or used. The focus error adjusting apparatus includes a photographing unit photographing a first image whose focus is adjusted, and photographing a plurality of images by changing movement values of a focus motor by referring to the first image; and a digital signal processing unit outputting a focus motor control signal to the photographing unit for the photographing, detecting an image having the greatest evaluation value of a high frequency component from among the first image and the plurality of images, and adjusting movement of the focus motor by as little as a variation value of the focus motor with respect to the image having the greatest evaluation value of the high frequency component. |
| US08363153B2 |
Focus detection device
A focus detection device includes: a defocus information detection unit that detects phase difference information indicating a phase difference manifested by a pair of images formed with a pair of light fluxes having passed through different areas of a photographic optical system and detects defocus information based upon the phase difference information; and a correction unit that executes correction for correcting the defocus information, detected by the defocus information detection unit, in correspondence to a predetermined direction extending between a first direction that orthogonally intersects an optical axis of the photographic optical system and radially extends from the optical axis and a second direction that orthogonally intersects the first direction. |
| US08363150B2 |
Lens control apparatus
An autofocus and motion control apparatus is provided. According to one embodiment, the autofocus and motion control apparatus comprises a lens control apparatus having an imaging lens unit and a lens holder and a plurality of actuators configured to move the lens holder in predetermined directions within the lens control apparatus. Embodiments of the lens control apparatus include a casing; an imaging lens unit and lens holder movable within the casing along an optical axis, the imaging lens unit and lens holder further pivotable within the casing, an autofocus actuator is configured to move the imaging lens unit and lens holder within the casing along the optical axis; a first lateral actuator is configured to provide a force to pivot the lens holder in a first direction; and a second lateral actuator is configured to provide a force to pivot the lens holder in a second direction. |
| US08363148B2 |
Image capturing device with multiple image capturing modes and electronic device using same
An image capturing device includes a housing defining an aperture, a first lens module arranged inside the housing, a second lens module arranged inside the housing, and a light reflection assembly aligned with the aperture. The first lens module and the second lens module are positioned at opposite sides of the aperture. The light reflection assembly includes a reflecting mirror. The light reflection assembly is rotatable between a first position where the reflecting mirror reflects light from the aperture towards the first lens module and a second position where the reflecting mirror reflects light from the aperture towards the second lens module. |
| US08363145B2 |
Mobile apparatus
A mobile apparatus is provided with: a display module configured to display an image; a camera disposed on a same side as a side on which the display module is provided and configured to capture a camera image including a user's face; a motion detecting module configured to detect a motion state and a stop state of the mobile apparatus; an image controller configured to determine a face orientation of the user's face from the camera image and control a display orientation of the image to be displayed in the display module; and a camera activating module configured to activate the camera when the motion detecting module detects a change from the motion state to the stop state, and to turn off the camera when the image controller completes a determination on the face orientation. |
| US08363143B2 |
View finder device, fixture adapter for the same
A view finder device for enabling an ordinary video camera to be used for broadcast use. The view finder device includes a control signal input for receiving control signals including a video-select signal; a camera video signal input for receiving a camera video signal from a video camera; an interrupt video signal input for receiving an interrupt video signal from a video interrupt source which is different from the video camera; a video selector for displaying either the camera video signal or the interrupt video signal, according to the video-select signal; a display controller for controlling display of a video selected by the video selector; and a control signal output for outputting the control signals after the video-select signal is removed therefrom. |
| US08363141B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device, image pickup system including the same, and method for manufacturing the same
A solid-state image pickup device including a photoelectric conversion element, a floating diffusion, and an element isolation region that are disposed above a first semiconductor region has a second semiconductor region of a first conductivity type disposed on the first semiconductor region. An interface between the first semiconductor region and a portion of the second semiconductor region corresponding to the photoelectric conversion element is located at a first depth, whereas the interface between the first semiconductor region and a portion of the second semiconductor region disposed under the element isolation region and the floating diffusion is located at a second depth smaller than the first depth. |
| US08363140B2 |
Vision sensor for measuring contrasts and method for making such measure
A digital vision sensor includes a pixel array (10) for receiving a light beam representing a visual scene. The sensor includes: a reference voltage Vref generator; in each pixel, an element for generating, during an integration phase, a voltage Vp that is proportional to the received lighting and a comparator (30) for determining the moment when the voltage Vp thereof reaches the reference voltage; a logarithmic period generator for generating a clock having a period that increases proportionally to the time elapsed from the beginning of the integration; a device for counting the number of clock periods elapsed from the beginning of the integration and providing a result in the form of a binary code; a static RAM memory word (50) per pixel; and, in each pixel, an element (40) for writing the code present at the moment into the memory. |
| US08363139B2 |
Imaging device having hierarchical buses
A data transfer circuit includes at least one transfer line transferring digital data, at least one data detecting circuit connecting to the transfer line, multiple holding circuits holding a digital value corresponding to the input level and transferring the digital value to the transfer line, and a scanning circuit selecting the multiple holding circuits, wherein the multiple holding circuits are laid out in parallel, and the transfer line is placed in the direction orthogonal to the direction of the parallel layout of the holding circuit and connects to the data detecting circuit placed in the orthogonal direction. |
| US08363137B2 |
Image sensing apparatus and imaging system
An image sensing apparatus comprising on a single semiconductor substrate: a pixel array; a vertical scanning unit; a horizontal scanning unit; a counter which starts a counting operation to count the number of the clocks before a start of the first period, and stops the counting operation before a start of the second period during the first period; and a generation unit which generates a first control signal for causing the vertical scanning unit to drive a pixel, the generation unit including a signal generation unit which generates a second control signal in accordance with the counted value output from the counter, and a delay unit which delays the second control signal to generate the first control signal and output the first control signal to the vertical scanning unit. |
| US08363131B2 |
Apparatus and method for local contrast enhanced tone mapping
Methods and systems for enhancing an image. Respective local contrast values are determined for selected pixels of the image by, for each selected pixel, adjusting a respective luminance value of the pixel by an average luminance value of neighboring pixels to obtain the local contrast value. Respective tone-mapped values are determined for further selected pixels in the image based on a global luminance value representing the image. The local contrast values and the tone-mapped values are combined, respectively, for the corresponding pixels in the image to produce the enhanced image. |
| US08363130B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and capturing device
An image processing device, an image processing method, and a capturing device are disclosed to correct image distortion, such as distortion aberration or chromatic aberration, produced on a captured image by an optical pickup system, with respect to an image captured by a capturing element. The image processing device includes a process output image generation means generating one sheet of a process output image by performing a process using plural sheets of captured images sequentially output from a pickup device in consideration of one of the plural sheets of captured images as a reference image, and a correction means correcting image distortion occurring in the captured images by an optical pickup system including a pickup lens, with respect to the captured images produced in the process output image generation means, when the plural sheets of the captured images are obtained. |
| US08363125B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer program product
An image processing apparatus includes a gamma transforming unit that performs gamma transformation on an image signal based on a luminance component of the image signal and so as to maintain an RGB ratio of the image signal; a correction-target-value calculating unit that calculates a correction target value as a target value for performing tone correction on the luminance component of the image signal, based on a structure of RGB components contained in an image signal obtained by the gamma transforming unit through the gamma transformation; and a tone correcting unit that performs tone correction on a value of the image signal based on the luminance component of the image signal and the correction target value. |
| US08363122B2 |
Image taking apparatus execute shooting control depending on face location
An image taking apparatus includes an image taking system, and a display system, and has a CPU implementing a process to detect subject faces from image frames produced by the image taking system, a process to acquire coordinates of detected subject faces, a process to determine a face detected state or a face undetected state, whichever is concluded in accordance with results of face detection, a process to have, for a determination for the face detected state, a detected-face indicator displayed on the display system in accordance with the coordinates of the acquired subject faces, a process to have, for a determination for the face undetected state, a detected-face indicator having been displayed in a last face detected state till the last displayed on, and a process to execute a shooting control in accordance with a detected-face indicator displayed on the display system. |
| US08363120B2 |
Image pick-up apparatus and image pick-up method for switching a zoom range
An apparatus includes a processing portion having a first mode in which one piece of pixel information is output per m-square light receiving portion(s) among light receiving portions in a first region and a second mode in which one piece of pixel information is output per light receiving portions as many as a number calculated by multiplying a square of m by a square of n among light receiving portions in a second region which is a similar figure to the first region at a scaling factor of n times. The apparatus accepts an operation to switch between wide-angle and telephoto, switches the processing portion to the second mode when an operation to switch to wide-angle is accepted and the processing portion to the first mode when an operation to switch to telephoto is accepted, and outputs image information based on the pixel information output from the processing portion. |
| US08363117B2 |
Method and apparatus for photographing and projecting moving images
A digital cinematographic and projection process that automatically adjusts for object motion within motion pictures in order to eliminate blur while increasing perceived impact of fast motion. The process includes, capturing an image having static and moving elements at a first frame rate, analyzing the image for motion/velocity components to detect the fast moving elements, reducing the static elements to a second frame rate, the second frame rate being slower than the first frame rate and retaining the fast moving element at the first frame rate. |
| US08363116B2 |
Image processing device, focal plane distortion component calculation method, image processing program, and recording medium
An image processing device includes: a motion vector receiving unit configured to receive, from frame image data made up of frame images, motion vectors representing motion of the frame images; a modeling unit configured to model the motion vector, received from the motion vector receiving unit, to a component separation expression in which a camera motion component and a focal plane distortion component are separated, using component parameters respectively representing camera motion which is motion of a camera, and the amount in change in focal plane distortion; and a component calculation unit configured to calculate the component parameters used in the component separation expression, thereby calculating the focal plane distortion component in the motion vector. |
| US08363111B2 |
Resolution test device and method thereof
A resolution test device and a method thereof are provided. The resolution test method is adapted for testing a resolution of a camera device. The resolution test method includes providing a graph to the camera device, capturing a test image shot by the camera device, shifting an analyzing window a specific distance in a first direction from a static area to a first area on the test image, analyzing the first area to generate a first high-pass element, shifting the analyzing window back to the static area, shifting the analyzing window the specific distance in a second direction from the static area to a second area on the test image, analyzing the second area to generate a second high-pass element, generating a third high-pass element according to the first and the second high-pass element, and defining the resolution of the camera device according to the third high-pass element. |
| US08363109B2 |
Video processing system providing enhanced tracking features for moving objects outside of a viewable window and related methods
A video processing system may include a display and a video processor coupled to the display. The video processor may be configured to display a georeferenced video feed on the display defining a viewable area, determine actual geospatial location data for a selected moving object within the viewable area, and generate estimated geospatial location data along a predicted path for the moving object when the moving object is no longer within the viewable area and based upon the actual geospatial location data. The video processor may be further configured to define a successively expanding search area for the moving object when the moving object is no longer within the viewable window and based upon the estimated geospatial location data, and search within the successively expanding search area for the moving object when the successively expanding search area is within the viewable area. |
| US08363106B2 |
Video surveillance method and system based on average image variance
The present disclosure relates to a video surveillance method comprising steps of a video camera periodically capturing an image of a zone to be monitored, analyzing the image to detect a presence therein, and of the video camera transmitting the image only if a presence has been detected in the image. |
| US08363103B2 |
Drive assist display apparatus
A drive assist display apparatus displays the backward or frontward of a vehicle. It is assumed that planes are perpendicular with the front-back direction, the downward, leftward and rightward directions being perpendicular with the front-back direction. Square subjects assumed to be on the planes are displayed as squares or rectangles having equal to one another on respective regions in accordance with the direction. The regions include a forward correction image display region in the vicinity of other display regions. The vicinity area has the same display image corresponding to a straight line coincident with a vertical straight line with respect to the ground surface or being in the vehicle front-back direction. The bottom side of a leftward or rightward correction image display region and the left or right side of a downward correction image display region are straight lines coincident with respective vehicle front-back direction straight lines. |
| US08363099B2 |
Microscope system and method of operation thereof
A microscope system for obtaining an image having a wide view angle by repeatedly capturing an image with an objective lens having a high magnification while moving a stage, and by connecting captured images having a small view angle including a stage, a stage driving unit, a stage position detecting unit, an image capturing unit, a position to be reached determining unit for determining a position to be reached which is the next image capturing position of the stage on the basis of the state of the captured image and the position of the stage at which the image is captured, and a stage move guiding unit for prompting a user to move the stage to the position to be reached on the basis of the detected position of the stage and the determined position to be reached. |
| US08363098B2 |
Infrared derived user presence and associated remote control
Methods and apparatuses for reporting user presence associated with orientation and proximity of a user to a display device are disclosed. In one example, image data associated with a head mounted device and one or more infrared light sources is captured and processed to identify the presence of infrared light source objects. A detection status is output based on the presence of infrared light source objects, and the detection status is translated to an associated user presence state. |
| US08363096B1 |
Method and apparatus for displaying stereoscopic 3D images with a liquid crystal panel
A sample and hold display such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) monitor that is capable of displaying video signals at a high frame rate, usually at over 120 frames per second, is described. The goal of the monitor is to enable the end user to view stereoscopic 3D images with the use of circular polarized glasses. The display switches between a left perspective view displayed with left handed circular polarization and a right perspective view displayed with right handed circular polarization as stereoscopic 3D images that are viewed with passive analyzing glasses. A horizontally segmented impulse backlight is used to control the timing of the images displayed in synchrony with a horizontally segmented liquid crystal modulator that performs the circular polarization. The impulse backlight and LC modulator eliminate crosstalk while maintaining brightness and high image contrast. Additionally, a unique driving scheme eliminates the appearance of individual segments. |
| US08363093B2 |
Stereoscopic imaging using split complementary color filters
A system for generating a stereoscopic image pair comprising a split color filter with complementary colors located at a stop associated with a lens and configured to split an image of a scene received from the lens into two complementary images having complementary colors, a color image sensor configured to simultaneously receive the two complementary images; and a data processing system configured compute an offset value for each corresponding pixel in the complementary images and generate a stereoscopic full color image pair based upon an analysis of the complementary images and the offset values. |
| US08363092B2 |
Image taking apparatus, image reproducing apparatus, image taking method and program
To prevent information required for reproducing of a 3D/multi-viewpoint image being lost even in a case in which editing or the like of the 3D/multi-viewpoint image is performed using a device or application software that does not support 3D/multi-viewpoint images, a compound-eye digital camera can switch between a multi-viewpoint image taking mode that images a subject image viewed from a plurality of viewpoints and a single viewpoint image taking mode that takes a subject image viewed from a single viewpoint. When taking an image in the multi-viewpoint image taking mode, the compound-eye digital camera sets a protect flag for multi-viewpoint images acquired with an image pickup device and records the multi-viewpoint images. As a result, the taken multi-viewpoint images are protected, and erasure or editing of the images cannot be performed without permission. |
| US08363090B1 |
Combining stereo image layers for display
A system and method for stereoscopic pair layers includes aligning a left eye image and a right eye image of a first stereo image pair layer according to a first calibrated offset to produce an aligned first stereo image pair layer that appears at a first depth in a display environment. A left eye image and a right eye image of a second stereo image pair layer are aligned according to a second calibrated offset to produce an aligned second stereo image pair layer that appears at a second depth in the display environment that is different than the first depth. The aligned first stereo image pair layer and the aligned second stereo image pair layer combined to produce a calibrated stereoscopic image that is suitable for display. |
| US08363083B2 |
Light source device having holding member for holding light-emitting element and coupling lens for use in optical scanner
In a light source device, a light-emitting element and a coupling lens configured to condense a beam of light emitted from the light-emitting element are held by a holding member. The holding member has an adherend that is opposite to a surface of the coupling lens facing to the light-emitting element in a direction of an optical axis of the coupling lens. Part of the surface of the coupling lens facing to the light-emitting element is bonded to the adherend of the holding member. In the optical scanner which includes this light source device, a beam of light emitted from the light source device is deflected by a deflector so that a target surface is scanned with the beam of light, and the deflected beam of light is caused by an image forming optical system to focus on the target surface, to form an image thereon. |
| US08363082B2 |
Systems and methods for alignment of laser printers
Laser printers are plagued with an assortment of alignment issues. In color laser printers the issues are exacerbated. Variations in distance from the mirror to the drum can lines in different color planes to vary in size. Variations in angles in the facets of the mirror can cause alignment issues between lines. Even lack of synchronization between the dot clock and start of line indication can cause misalignment between rows. In addition, a cosine distortion occurs due to the non-constant linear velocity of the laser scan of a single line. A very high speed master clock can drive the laser scanning unit. By using a very high speed clock, the control circuitry has the resolution to compensate for many of these distortion types, by appropriately counting clock cycles and indicating such to the laser modulator. |
| US08363081B2 |
Image forming apparatus for correcting sub-scanning misalignment of beams on a photoconductor
An image forming apparatus forms a latent image on a photoconductor by irradiating light beams from a plurality of light sources onto the photoconductor. A detection unit detects a time difference between timings of start writing on the photoconductor by the light beams in a main scanning direction. A calculation unit calculates a shift of each of the light beams in a sub-scanning direction based on the time difference detected by the detection unit and a rotation speed of the photoconductor. A correction unit corrects irradiated positions on the photoconductor by the light beams in the sub-scanning direction based on the shift calculated by the calculation unit. |
| US08363079B2 |
Printer and printer system
A printer includes a printing unit that prints information upon an element to be printed upon; a projection unit that projects an optical image in a position that is different from a position of the element to be printed upon in which position the printing unit is printing the information; and a control unit that causes the projection unit to project an optical image that represents the information to be printed by the printing unit before printing by the printing unit is started. |
| US08363078B2 |
Printing apparatus and method of controlling the same
A printing apparatus which is capable of performing excellent printing without leaving a conveying roller mark on roll paper for printing of a next image even when the operation of the apparatus is stopped for cooling. A thermal head performs printing by sequentially transferring a plurality of color inks coated on an ink ribbon onto the roll paper drawn out from a cartridge, in superimposed relation. The roll paper is conveyed in a state nipped by a conveying roller pair. A thermistor detects a temperature within the apparatus. After completion of printing in one color, the roll paper is conveyed to a print start position at a first conveying speed, for execution of printing in another color. When the detected temperature is higher than a predetermined value, the roll paper is conveyed to the print start position at a second conveying speed which is slower than the first conveying speed. |
| US08363077B2 |
Transfer medium manufacturing method and transfer medium
A transfer medium manufacturing method which manufactures a transfer medium in which a color material capable of being transferred to a target is attached to a base material, includes attaching first liquid containing the color material to the base material to form a colored layer, and attaching second liquid containing resin on the first liquid attached to the base material during the step of attaching the first liquid before the first liquid is dried, thereby forming a resin layer and forming a colored resin layer where the first liquid and the second liquid are mixed with each other. |
| US08363074B2 |
Dual-sided thermal print folding
Dual-sided thermal print folding techniques are presented. A dual-sided thermal printer includes a folding mechanism to custom fold a substrate. The substrate is imaged on both sides by the dual-sided thermal printer as it passes through the dual-sided thermal printer and is custom folded by the folding mechanism of the dual-sided thermal printer. |
| US08363068B1 |
Regional map zoom tables
A method for providing map data to a client device includes receiving, at a server from the client device over a network, a request for parameters related to map data for a region of interest, where each region of interest is a separate geographic area. The method also includes providing, for use by the client device, a local zoom table indicating each zoom level for which new map data is available and usable by the client to determine whether or not to request new map data in response to a zoom command. Providing the local zoom table includes generating the local zoom table by analyzing tile data from multiple zoom levels to determine a progression order of map tile zooms to be requested by the client. |
| US08363064B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing system, image processing method, and computer-readable medium
An image processing apparatus includes a receiving unit, an image-element group determining unit and a shape changing unit. The receiving unit receives (i) a command to form a blank space and (ii) information specifying a position where the blank space is to be formed in a drawing space for displaying a drawn image. The image-element group determining unit determines, as an image-element group, image elements having a predetermined relation with each other and being drawn in the drawing space. The shape changing unit performs a shape changing process collectively for the image elements of image-element group. The shape changing process includes at least one of (i) a process of moving image elements of the image-element group so as to move the image-element group away from the specified position where the blank space is to be formed, and (ii) a process of reducing the image elements of the image-element group |
| US08363060B2 |
Drawing processing device, image output apparatus, and computer-readable medium
A drawing processing device includes a rendering section, first and second figure drawing sections, a registration section, and a control section. The rendering section performs rendering based on a drawing command. The first figure drawing section draws a figure based on a figure pattern obtained by performing the rendering. When the rendering section performs the rendering for a figure, the registration section registers the figure pattern for the figure. If a figure drawing command is received and if a figure pattern corresponding to the received figure drawing command is stored, the second figure drawing section selects the corresponding registered figure pattern and draws a figure in place of the first figure drawing section. Based on an appearance state of figures in a page to be processed, the control section controls whether or not figure drawing performed by the second figure drawing section is caused to function in the page. |
| US08363053B2 |
Method and apparatus for rendering outline of multimedia character image
Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for rendering outlines of multimedia character images for rendering the outlines. The method consists of: (a) detecting parameter values that include a screen width, a two-dimensional screen point, a three-dimensional view point, and a field of view on both ends of the screen width from a position of a user, which are associated with the character to be displayed on the screen from the driven multimedia contents; (b) calculating positional information on an x-axis direction of the character for a two-dimensional screen, on which the character is displayed, based on the parameter values; (c) calculating outline thickness factor of the character in three dimensions, based on the positional information of the x-axis direction of the character on the two-dimensional screen; and (d) performing and processing an outline rendering on the character based on the calculated outline thickness. |
| US08363052B2 |
Automatic explode based on occlusion
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products feature providing a rendering of a three-dimensional assembly of components. An explosion sequence for separating first components of the assembly is determined. The explosion sequence comprises stages in which each stage represents a different spatial relationship between two or more of the first components. A first input is received from an interactive control. A first stage in the explosion sequence is selected based on the first input. The rendering of the assembly is updated, responsive to the first input, to show the first stage of the explosion sequence. A second input is received from the interactive control. A different second stage in the explosion sequence is selected based on the second input. The rendering of the assembly is updated, responsive to the second input, to show the second stage of the explosion sequence. |
| US08363048B2 |
Methods and apparatus for visualizing data
A method for visualizing data includes the step of providing a virtual flight visualization of image data representing a non-landscape object. |
| US08363047B2 |
Active matrix display device
A display device includes a dynamic ratioless shift register which is operated in a stable manner and can expand the degree of freedom of design. In the dynamic ratioless shift register which is provided with thin film transistors having semiconductor layers made of p-Si on a substrate surface, a node which becomes the floating state is connected to a fixed potential through a capacitance element. |
| US08363043B2 |
Driving device with voltage overflow protection and display device including the driving device
A driving circuit for a liquid crystal display and the liquid crystal display are disclosed. The liquid crystal display includes a display panel for displaying an image and a driving voltage generating circuit connected to the display panel, wherein the driving circuit includes a DC-DC converter for converting an input voltage level of a power input terminal to drive the display panel and outputting it as a driving voltage, a power line for connecting the power input terminal and the DC-DC converter, a first diode connected to a first node of the power line, a driving voltage terminal connected to an output terminal of the DC-DC converter, and a second diode connected to the first diode and the driving voltage terminal, wherein the power line includes a second node connected to a ground electrode between the first diode and the second diode. |
| US08363038B2 |
Flexible pixel hardware and method
A graphical display station of arbitrary shape such as channel letters or other shaped structures is populated with pixels which are components of flexible pixel strings which can be arranged to fit the arbitrary shape(s). The flexible pixel strings provide for straightforward and cost effective fabrication of channel letter or other shaped displays. The invention also includes pixel units which comprise lighting elements together with such control circuits as are needed to roperly drive the lighting elements to form a graphical image. Addressing of the particular pixels is provided to accommodate the arbitrary arrangement of pixels of the flexible pixel strings. Methods of fabricating a channel letter display are also disclosed. |
| US08363037B2 |
Reset circuit for power-on and power-off
A circuit for resetting a display having at least one driver outputting a driving voltage through an output channel to a corresponding data line of a panel comprises a first switch and a second switch. The first switch is actuated by a control pulse to transfer a reset voltage to the data line of the panel. The second switch is actuated by the control pulse to electrically isolate the output channel of the driver from the data line of the panel, wherein the control pulse is asserted during transient periods resulting from power-on and power-off of the display. |
| US08363033B2 |
Capacitance sensing circuit
A capacitance sensing circuit for a touch panel includes an analog capacitance-detecting circuit, a PWM-to-digital circuit and a self-calibration circuit. The analog capacitance-detecting circuit detects the capacitance of the touch panel based on a charging current, and converts the detected capacitance into a PWM control signal. The PWM-to-digital circuit converts the PWM control signal into a sensing count value based on a clock signal. The self-calibration circuit adjusts the value of the charging current or the frequency of the clock signal according to the difference between the range of the sensing count value and a predetermined detecting range. The predetermined detecting range can thus be adjusted for matching the range of the sensing count value. |
| US08363030B2 |
Touch panel with mesh-shaped sensor and method for making the same
A touch panel includes a transparent base board, a mesh-shaped sensor portion formed on the base board and made of piezoelectric materials, a mesh-shaped black matrix formed on the sensor portion; and a pixel portion formed on portions of the base board exposed from the sensor portion and the black matrix for displaying images. When the base board is touched, the sensor portion transforms the pressure on the base board into piezoelectric signals for inputting operating instruction. |
| US08363026B2 |
Information processor, information processing method, and computer program product
According to one embodiment, an information processor includes a touch point sensor, a direction sensor, and a display controller. The touch point sensor detects a touch point of a finger that touches a touch panel of a display device. The direction sensor detects a direction that the finger points. The display controller provides a pop-up display on the display device at a position on at least one straight line perpendicular to a straight line passing on the touch point in parallel to the direction that the finger points. The position is separated from a cross point of the straight lines by a predetermined distance. |
| US08363024B2 |
Handwriting board with liquid crystal display for displaying handwritten content on a projector
A handwriting board with a liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a wireless Universal Serial Bus (USB) unit, a USB hub unit, a USB/Video Graphic Array (VGA) conversion unit, a LCD driver unit, a LCD unit, a touch pad controller unit and a touch pad unit. When a user writes on the touch pad unit, the content written by the user is transmitted from the touch pad controller unit and the USB hub unit 204 to the wireless USB unit, which transmits the written content to a computer for processing. The processed written content is then transmitted to a projector and the wireless USB unit. Thereby, the written content can be displayed on the LCD unit. |
| US08363022B2 |
Mobile terminal and operating method of the mobile terminal
A mobile terminal and an operating method of the mobile terminal are provided. The mobile terminal includes a transparent conductive layer configured to have a plurality of cells whose charge quantity varies in response to a touch signal, the cells being electrically isolated from one another; a plurality of pressure sensors configured to be laid over the transparent conductive layer, the pressure sensors calculating a pressure level of the touch signal and identifying a point of detection of the calculated pressure level; and a controller configured to determine whether there are two or more cells in the transparent conductive layer where a charge quantity variation is detected, wherein, if there are two or more cells in the transparent conductive layer where a charge quantity variation is detected, the controller identifies the positions of the corresponding cells and performs operations corresponding to the identified cell positions. Therefore, it is possible to effectively detect even a multi-touch input using the pressure sensors. |
| US08363021B2 |
Method to compensate for the frequency dependence of sense signal preprocessing
Compensating for the frequency dependence of sense signal preprocessing in preprocessing channel circuitry is provided. The frequency dependence of the preprocessing channels can be modified to change a frequency dependent channel into a frequency independent channel, to change a frequency independent channel into a frequency dependent channel, or to change the frequency dependency characteristics of a frequency dependent channel. Modification of frequency dependency may be accomplished, for example, by modifying certain parameters of a preprocessing channel's components, which can include components for amplifying, filtering, phase adjusting, demodulating, decrypting, for example. A pipelined process may be used to modify the frequency dependency of multiple channels. Compensating for frequency dependencies can have multiple advantages, such as reduction of memory requirements and DIE size. |
| US08363020B2 |
Methods and apparatus for pressure-based manipulation of content on a touch screen
Methods and apparatus are provided for manipulating content displayed on a touch screen utilizing a transparent pressure-sensing touch panel. A method comprises displaying content on the touch screen and obtaining one or more pressure metrics for an input gesture on the transparent pressure-sensing touch panel. Each pressure metric corresponds to pressure (or force) applied to the transparent pressure-sensing touch panel by a respective impression of the input gesture. The method further comprises adjusting the displayed content on the touch screen in response to the input gesture, wherein the displayed content is adjusted based on to the one or more pressure metrics for the input gesture. |
| US08363014B2 |
Wireless keyboard base and portable electronic device
A wireless keyboard base includes a base, a wireless keyboard and a plurality of magnets. The base has a groove to accommodate an edge of an electronic device. The wireless keyboard is disposed on the base and has a wireless communication module to exchange information data with the electronic device. The plurality of magnets are disposed within the groove to magnetically attract the edge of the electronic device. |
| US08363013B2 |
Input device with click button
A button-type input device includes an upper cover, a base, a click button, a circuit board, a tactile switch, a first lever, and a second lever. The click button has a pressing part. The tactile switch is mounted on the circuit board, and has a salient. The first lever is arranged between the pressing part of the click button and the salient of the tactile switch. An end of the first lever is served as a first fulcrum. The second lever is arranged above the first lever and between the pressing part of the click button and the salient of the tactile switch. An end of the second lever is served as a second fulcrum. The second fulcrum is opposite to the first fulcrum. A downward force of the pressing part acting on the first lever is adjustable when the second lever is moved with respect to the base. |
| US08363011B2 |
Control apparatus and method
The invention discloses a control apparatus capable of providing a user with a control over an object displayed on a display apparatus by a pointing device. The control apparatus includes an image capturing module, a separating module, a positioning module, a constructing module, and a processing module. The image capturing module is used to record an image sequence included N images. The separating module is applied to capture the pointing device image related to the pointing device from each image. The positioning module is used for calculating a specific point of the pointing device image of each image to generate a first set of specific point information. The constructing module is applied to generate a trajectory in accordance with a pre-defined criterion and the first set of specific point information. Additionally, the processing module is used to analyze the trajectory and generate a control signal to control the object. |
| US08363010B2 |
Operating input device for reducing input error
An operating input device is provided in which input errors can be prevented. A finger area image is extracted from an image captured by a camera. A fingertip area is extracted from a difference image generated between the finger area image and a shifted image. A fingertip position is detected from the fingertip area based on a center of mass. A semitransparent fingertip image is superimposed on the menu image. Manual operation buttons coinciding with fingertip positions are displayed in an emphasized manner. An actual position of a finger press is shifted to coincide with a manual operation button position and the manual operation button is considered to be pressed. |
| US08363009B1 |
Enhanced input using touch screen
Provided are methods and systems for enhanced input using a touch screen, as well as computer programs encoded on computer storage devices and configured to perform the actions of the methods. One or more applications executing on a mobile device receive a user input through the touch screen of the mobile device, without displaying information identifying a command associated with the user input on the touch screen. The one or more applications then determine the command associated with the received user input and display a result of applying the command on an external display that is connected to the mobile device. |
| US08363005B2 |
Liquid crystal panel with light sensor and liquid crystal display device using the same
An exemplary liquid crystal panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate opposite to the first substrate, a light sensor disposed at an inner side of the first substrate, and a black matrix disposed at an inner side of the second substrate. The light sensor includes a light-sensing unit, and the black matrix includes a semi-transparent film corresponding to the light-sensing unit. A liquid crystal display device employing the liquid crystal panel is also provided. |
| US08363004B2 |
Method of driving a light source, light source device for performing the same, and display device having the light source device
A method of driving light sources controls amounts of light from light-emitting diode (LED) strings based on pulse signals to operate the LED strings connected in parallel. Voltages are synchronized with the pulse signals at input terminals of control circuits to detect the voltages, the control circuits being connected to the LED strings and controlling resistance variations of the LED strings. The operation of the LED strings is stopped when the detected voltage is out of a predetermined allowable voltage range due to a short-circuited LED. Therefore, a light source device may be protected by stopping the operation of the LED strings. |
| US08363003B2 |
Method of driving liquid crystal display device
A method of driving a liquid crystal display device includes inputting source image data, each of which has one of m gray level values, wherein m is a natural number, defining T error data from the source image data, wherein the error data have top k gray level values, and T and k are a natural number, generating conversion image data having larger gray level values than the source image data using one having a largest gray level value from the source image data excluding the error data, inputting the conversion image data to a liquid crystal panel, controlling a brightness of a backlight unit in accordance with the conversion image data, forming a bitmap corresponding to the conversion image data, wherein the bitmap shows positional distribution of pixels with the error data, counting error areas by scanning the bitmap, wherein each of the error areas includes the predetermined number of the pixels having the error data, and controlling the T according to the number of the error. |
| US08362995B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A multi-domain LCD panel includes data lines, scan lines and pixels. Each pixel includes first and second sub-pixels respectively having first and second storage capacitors. A first data switch is selectively coupled to a first terminal of the first capacitor and one of the data lines. A second data switch is selectively coupled to a first terminal of the second capacitor and one of the data lines. First and second bias lines are respectively coupled to second terminals of the first and second capacitors. When a corresponding scan line is enabled, the first and second data switches turn on such that a signal on the data line is transmitted to the first and second sub-pixels. After the scan line is disabled, levels of the first and second bias lines are changed such that pixel voltages of the first and second sub-pixels differ from each other. |
| US08362992B2 |
Dual view display system using a transparent display
A dual view display system to display two different images in substantially opposite direction using a single transparent display to time-multiplex the images and shutter devices to alternately block each side from being viewed according to the image being displayed. |
| US08362990B2 |
Video signal processing circuit, display apparatus, liquid crystal display apparatus, projection type display apparatus and video signal processing method
A video signal processing circuit is disclosed. The video signal processing circuit includes a difference detection section, first calculation section, and correction amount addition section. The difference detection section detects a difference between a drive voltage for each of pixels of a matrix drive type display panel as a pixel under consideration and a drive voltage of each of pixels adjacent to the pixel under consideration from an input video signal. The first calculation section calculates a correction amount of a drive voltage for a pixel under correction that has a luminance change due to an electric field caused by a difference of the drive voltages for the two pixels detected by the difference detection section. The correction amount addition section corrects a value of the drive voltage for a pixel under correction that has the luminance change based on the correction amount calculated by the first calculation section. |
| US08362987B2 |
Method and device for manipulating color in a display
A method and device for manipulating color in a display is disclosed. In one embodiment, a display comprises interferometric display elements formed to have spectral responses that produce white light. In one embodiment, the produced white light is characterized by a standardized white point. |
| US08362977B2 |
Contact device, plasma display including the same, and driving method thereof
A method of driving a plasma display is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes dividing one screen into a plurality of areas, wherein each area corresponds to at least one of the plurality of discharge cells, and wherein the plurality of areas form a detection pattern. The method also includes displaying the detection pattern in the plasma display and receiving a detection image which has been previously detected or captured, wherein detection image corresponds to at least one of the plurality of areas. The method further includes comparing the received detection image with the detection pattern and determining a position of the detected or captured area based on the comparison. |
| US08362975B2 |
Display device, electronic appliance, optical member, display panel, controller, and control method for driving display panel
To provide a display device that is capable of achieving a sufficient confidentiality keeping performance for directions other than a specific direction without a troublesome work such as wearing special eyeglasses. The display device includes: a plurality of display units each having a main pixel for displaying a first image and a sub-pixel for displaying a second image arranged in matrix in a first direction and a second direction; and an optical member which distributes light emitted from the plurality of display units towards different directions along the first direction. The display unit has a first display area in which the main pixel and the sub-pixel are formed in the second direction, and a second display area in which only the main pixel is formed. |
| US08362972B2 |
Head-mounted display
A headphone (3) has LEDs indicating whether a head-mounted display is used for the left eye or for the right eye. In the case shown in the attached figure, the LED of L showing that the display is used for the left eye is lit. Whether the head-mounted display is used for the left eye or for the right eye is indicated by the LEDs, and depending on whether it is used for the left eye or for the right eye, audio outputted from the headphone (3) is switched over between the left and the right. Independent of whether the head-mounted display is used for the left eye or for the right eye, audio for the right ear is outputted for the right ear and audio for the left ear is outputted for the left ear. |
| US08362965B2 |
Low cost electronically scanned array antenna
An electronically scanned array (ESA) antenna includes a main line along which an electromagnetic traveling wave may propagate and a plurality of array elements distributed along the main line. Each of the plurality of array elements includes a branch line; an antenna radiator at one end of the branch line; an electronically controllable reflection phase shifter at the opposite end of the branch line; a directional coupler which couples energy between the main line and the branch line. |
| US08362963B2 |
Satellite transmission antenna and satellite-based mobile telecommunication station
A satellite antenna for transmitting and receiving an electromagnetic signal has at least one parabolic reflector, a source arm, and a high-power amplifier, in which antenna the high-power amplifier includes a traveling wave tube on the source arm and a high-voltage power supply off the source arm and adapted to supply power to the tube. A satellite mobile telecommunications station includes such a satellite antenna and a storage structure into which the antenna is folded and in which the high-voltage power supply sits. |
| US08362962B2 |
Antenna and method for steering antenna beam direction
An antenna comprising an IMD element, and one or more parasitic and active tuning elements is disclosed. The IMD element, when used in combination with the active tuning and parasitic elements, allows antenna operation at multiple resonant frequencies. In addition, the direction of antenna radiation pattern may be arbitrarily rotated in accordance with the parasitic and active tuning elements. |
| US08362954B2 |
Array antenna, tag communication device, tag communication system, and beam control method for array antenna
Provided are an array antenna capable of miniaturizing an array antenna while reducing side lobes, a tag communication device and tag communication system provided with the array antenna, and a beam control method for the array antenna. When XY coordinates and a feeding phase of each antenna element (21a to 21d) are defined as the antenna element (21a) (0, Y1)·φ1, the antenna element (21b) (−X1, 0)·φ2, the antenna element (21c) (X2, 0)·φ3, the antenna element (21d) (0, −Y2)·φ4, wavelengths of λ, and directivity directions of θ, each of the feeding phases is set so that the following conditional equations φ1=φ4, φ2=2π·X1·sin(θ)/λ+φ1, φ3=φ1−2π·X2·sin(θ)/λ are all satisfied. |
| US08362953B2 |
Sequential chip correlation array
An arrangement of M signal generators in a global navigation satellite signal baseband chip for obtaining a sequential chip correlation array is provided. The sequential chip correlation array generates M×N code bit sequences, M in-phase and M quadrature-phase carrier mixed signals. The M signal generators are arranged consecutively. A programmable parameter is created for providing a spacing of TC between each N code bit sequences. A first carrier and code generator is provided within each signal generator for generating an in-phase and a quadrature-phase component of a first carrier signal, and N code bit sequences. The first carrier and code generators within adjacently arranged signal generators are programmed with same code chip offset, different carrier signal frequency, different code frequency, and different code phase offset. M in-phase and M quadrature-phase carrier mixed signals, and N code bit sequences are generated by the M signal generators based on the programmable parameter. |
| US08362950B2 |
Method and device for predicting GNSS satellite trajectory extension data in mobile apparatus
A method and device for predicting satellite trajectory extension data in a mobile apparatus. The device in accordance with the present invention comprises an I/O interface and a microprocessor. The input/output (I/O) interface is used for obtaining at least one satellite navigation message for at least one satellite. The microprocessor is used for determining a satellite trajectory prediction model according to the satellite navigation message, and propagating at least one set of satellite trajectory extension data by using the satellite trajectory prediction model. |
| US08362949B2 |
GPS and MEMS hybrid location-detection architecture
The present application describes a computer-implemented method and system for obtaining position information for a moving mobile device with increased accuracy and reduced power consumption. The subject of the present application combines information from a GPS location sensor with information from MEMS devices such as an acceleration detector and a gyroscope using statistical analysis techniques such as a Kalman filter to estimate the location of the device with greater accuracy while using numerical methods such as the Newton-Raphson Method to minimize power consumption. Minimizing power consumption is possible because GPS signals sampled at a lower rate can conserve power, while GPS sampled at a lower rate and working together with MEMS devices can achieve the same level of location prediction accuracy as a GPS alone sampled at a higher rate. |
| US08362944B2 |
Radar system
A radar system is disclosed for forming a scanning receive beam from signals received by a phased array having a plurality of sub arrays. An exemplary radar system includes a plurality of phase units each configured to receive a signal from one or more sub arrays. Each phase unit includes a waveform generator configured to generate an analog waveform having a frequency corresponding to a time-varying phase shift. Each waveform generator is arranged to digitally generate the analog waveform, and output a comparison of the received signal with the waveform, incorporating the time-varying phase shift. The system further includes a combining unit configured to combine the outputs from the plurality of phase units to form a scanning receive beam. |
| US08362938B2 |
Analog digital converting device
Provided is an analog digital converting device which consumes a low power and guarantees fast operation characteristic. The analog digital converting device includes a sub-ADC and a successive approximation ADC. The sub-ADC converts an external analog signal into a first digital signal by using first and second reference voltages. The successive approximation ADC comprises a plurality of bit streams, and converts the external analog signal into a second digital signal according to a successive approximation operation using the first and second reference voltages. The successive approximation ADC receives the first digital signal, and converts the second digital signal in a state where one of the first and second reference voltages has been applied to the bit streams based on the first digital signal. |
| US08362934B2 |
Comparator and analog/digital converter
To provide a comparator and an A/D converter having the comparator. The comparator includes a differential amplifier circuit section and a differential latch circuit section. A first input voltage signal, a second input voltage signal and a clock signal are inputted to the differential amplifier circuit section. The differential amplifier circuit section operates base on the clock signal to output a first output voltage signal and a second output voltage signal which respectively correspond to the value the input voltage signal and the value of the reference voltage signal and are amplified. The differential latch circuit section operates based on the first and second output voltage signals to keep and output a comparison result between the first input voltage signal and the second input voltage signal. |
| US08362933B2 |
Time-to-digital converter and operating method
Provided are a TDC having a pipeline or cyclic structure and an operating method thereof. The TDC includes a first stage block and a second stage block. The first stage block detects a first bit of a digital code for a time difference between first and second input signals. The second stage block detects a second bit of the digital code for a time difference between first and second output signals of the first stage block. The first stage block amplifies a time difference between first and second delay signals for the first and second input signals to generate the first and second output signals, and transfers the first and second output signals to the second stage block. |
| US08362932B2 |
Circuit with a time to digital converter and phase measuring method
Calibration data for calibrating time to digital conversion is obtained by switching a feed circuit of a time to digital converter between a normal operating mode or a calibration mode. A delay circuit with a delay circuit input and a plurality of taps outputs. A sampling register samples data from the data inputs. The feed circuit provides for selection of transitions of the oscillator signal that control timing of a first active transition at the clock circuit after a transition at the delay circuit input. A control circuit switches the feed circuit between normal operating mode and calibration mode, and controls the feed circuit successively to select a plurality of different transitions to control timing of the first active transition in the calibration mode. The control circuit reads out resulting data from the sampling register for each selection and determines calibration data for the oscillator signal from said data. |
| US08362931B2 |
Compression and decompression of mass spectrometry data
Functionality is described for compressing and decompressing mass spectrometry data, therefore making it easier to store, retrieve, transfer, and process the mass spectrometry data. The functionality operates by mapping data values (e.g., mass-to-charge data values or intensity data values) into index values, and then mapping the index values into delta values. The functionality then uses an encoding algorithm (such as a coding tree) to represent the delta values in compressed form. In a decoding stage, the functionality can interpret each encoded delta value with reference to a chain of preceding delta values, which ultimately link to an initial data value that is expressed in non-relative form. In one implementation, the functionality can define multiple such initial data values which correspond to multiple access points in a stream of compressed mass spectrometry data. |
| US08362930B2 |
Portable electronic device and external keyboard thereof
The present invention relates to a portable electronic device and an external keyboard thereof. The portable electronic device comprises a first port comprising a circular earphone plug and a keyboard plug. The external keyboard comprises a main body, a keyboard array and a second port. The keyboard array is disposed on the main body and comprises a plurality of scan signal lines. The second port is electrically coupled to the scan signal lines of the keyboard array, and is capable of inserting into the first port of the portable electronic device so as to electrically couple to the keyboard plug. Therefore, the external keyboard can be connected to an earphone jack in a plug-and-play fashion without necessarity to add a new port such that the external keyboard is convenient to use and carry and can be freely rotated in any angle. |
| US08362929B2 |
Keypad and method of assembly of same
A keypad is described herein in which the keypad can have a base surface and a plurality of keys positioned on the base surface. The plurality of keys can be made up of a first group that that is an arrangement of number keys for initiating a voice-based communication and a second group that is an arrangement of letter keys. In addition, the number keys of the first group and the letter keys of the second group are independent of one another. As an example, the number keys of the first group can be positioned on the base surface in a number of columns, and the letter keys of the second group can be positioned in areas between the number keys. |
| US08362926B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing and using public transportation information
The present invention relates to method and apparatus for providing and using transportation information of various types of public vehicles. A public transportation information encoding method according to the present invention creates identifying information on a type of public transportation means and on stations pertaining to service line of the public transportation means, and further creates connection information for particular stations among the stations wherein citizens are able to use the same or different type of public transportation means on other stations near to the particular stations. The created information including the connection information is organized to status information which is then incorporated into a transfer message. Thusly constructed messages are transmitted wirelessly. |
| US08362925B2 |
Avionics display system and method for generating flight information pertaining to neighboring aircraft
Embodiments of a process are provided suitable for implementation by an avionics display system deployed on a host aircraft and including a monitor. In one embodiment, the process includes the step of receiving air traffic data indicative of a first flight characteristic pertaining to a neighboring aircraft. The first flight characteristic is selected from the group consisting of: (i) the wake turbulence created by the neighboring aircraft, (ii) the current flight plan of the neighboring aircraft, and (iii) the airspace in which the neighboring aircraft's current detection position should reside to ensure that the neighboring aircraft's actual position resides within the an airspace currently assigned to the neighboring aircraft. A visual representation of the first flight characteristic is generated on the monitor. |
| US08362921B2 |
Vehicle external warning sound generation system and method
A vehicle external warning sound generation system and method. A transducer generates warning sounds external to the vehicle in response to an input sound signal. A sensor senses sound external to the vehicle and has an output signal that represents both sensed ambient noise and sensed warning sounds. A processing system, responsive to the sensor output signal, generates the sound signal that is provided to the transducer. The processing system includes an adaptive filter which reduces the level of the warning sounds in the sensor output signal, so that mostly ambient noise remains. |
| US08362919B2 |
Sensor and transmitter system for communication in pipelines
A system for sensing and communicating in a pipeline that contains a fluid. An acoustic signal containing information about a property of the fluid is produced in the pipeline. The signal is transmitted through the pipeline. The signal is received with the information and used by a control. |
| US08362912B2 |
Method and apparatus for preventing hitting in a restricted zone during game play
An apparatus for preventing hitting in a restricted zone during game play includes a signal generator for signaling the location of a restricted zone in a playing area contained by a barrier. A proximity detector receives the signal generated by the signal generator. An indicator indicates when the proximity detector is within the restricted zone, the signal generator and the indicator being carried by a player. |
| US08362911B2 |
Device for vehicle seat occupancy detection
Device for vehicle seat occupancy detection, wherein a base frame which can be adjusted in the height direction of a vehicle seat and which is composed of at least two scissors arms which are connected to one another is arranged between a seat part of the vehicle seat and a vehicle body part, the device comprising a first detector which is attached to at least one of the scissors arms and which, when the vehicle seat is occupied by a minimum weight, detects a predefinable height setting of the scissors arm which is lower than a maximum possible height setting, and at least one spring which is fixed to at least one of the scissors arms and the predefinable pretensioned spring force of which corresponds at most to the downward-acting weight force due to the minimum weight and counteracts the latter. |
| US08362909B2 |
Systems, methods and apparatus for determining whether a low battery condition exists in a remote control
Various embodiments of systems, methods and apparatus are provided for adjusting a low battery detection threshold in a remote control. An embodiment of a method includes determining a type of a battery powering a remote control of an entertainment device and determining a first low battery threshold for the battery based on the type of the battery. The first low battery threshold indicates a low battery condition of the remote control. Responsive to measuring a voltage of the battery, a determination is made regarding whether the voltage of the battery is below the low battery threshold. Responsive to determining that the voltage of the battery is below the first low battery threshold, a low battery message is transmitted to an entertainment device. The entertainment device utilizes the message to present an indicator to a user regarding the low battery condition of the remote control. |
| US08362908B2 |
Systems and apparatus for battery replacement detection and reduced battery status transmission in a remote control
Various mechanisms are described for indicating to a user a low battery condition of a remote control for a controlled device. More particularly, a remote control detects a low battery condition as well as the replacement of batteries in the remote control. The remote control transmits a low battery message to a controlled device responsive to detecting a low battery condition. The remote control refrains from transmitting one or more subsequent low battery messages to the controlled device prior to detection of replacement of batteries. The remote control transmits a battery status message to the controlled device responsive to detecting the replacement of batteries in the remote control. The controlled device utilizes the low battery message and the battery status message to determine whether to present a low battery indicator to a user regarding a low battery condition of the remote control. |
| US08362907B1 |
Self-stick resonant enclosure that responds to flush toilet fill valve water inflow vibration
An electromechanical toilet leak detector comprises first and second enclosure portions. An adhesive structure disposed on the second enclosure portion, the adhesive structure in use for being removably adhered to the porcelain outer surface of a flush toilet. One of the first and second enclosure portions includes a groove that mates with a lip provided by the other of the first and second enclosure portions to provide a substantially water-resistant seal therebetween. A vibration sensing transducer disposed between the first and second enclosure portions generates a signal responsive to vibration generated by the toilet due to water inflow turbulence. |
| US08362906B1 |
Remote control device that uses color to indicate change in status
A remote control device includes a memory having a library of commands for commanding functional operations of an appliance and a user interface having activatable keys for causing a transmission of one or more commands to thereby command functional operations of the appliance. An illumination device is provided which causes an appearance of the remote control device to change as a function of at least one of a timing operation and temperature related functional operation of the appliance. |
| US08362904B2 |
Analyte monitoring system and methods
Methods and systems for providing data communication in medical systems are disclosed. |
| US08362903B2 |
System and method for providing enhanced weight alert notification during automated patient management
A system and method for providing enhanced weight alert notification during automated patient management is presented. A plurality of weight measurements in an automated patient environment from a weight monitoring device for a patient during an observation period is remotely obtained. A raw baseline weight for the patient is determined based on a function of the weight measurements. Irregularities in the weight measurements are identified. The raw baseline weight is processed into a baseline weight by application of a correction coefficient to the irregularities. Weight remotely measured in the automated patient environment for the patient on a substantially regular basis is obtained. Changes in the weight are identified by periodic comparison to the baseline weight. An alert notification is generated in response to the change in weight. |
| US08362901B2 |
Location dependent monitoring for stolen devices
A system and method for controlling the surveillance conducted by lost or stolen electronic devices dependent upon the location of such electronic devices is provided. A data repository contains data that specifies, for each of a plurality of geographic regions (e.g. legal jurisdictions), a set of surveillance methods that are permissible in the respective region. At least some of the geographic regions have different respective sets of permissible surveillance methods than others. A computer system is operable to communicate with the devices over a computer network, and programmed to use received information regarding a location of a potentially lost or stolen device, in combination with the data in the computer data repository, to cause the potentially lost or stolen device to initiate surveillance according to the set of permissible surveillance methods (and/or other actions) corresponding to the location. |
| US08362898B2 |
Key fob and system for indicating the lock status of a door lock
The present invention provides a system that records, at a remote location, the current status of a door lock. This invention provides a key fob device, which records the current status of a door look. The key fob indicates to the user the current lock status of the given door(s) in question. The key fob is a small key chain attached device, which records the state of the door locks, or other devices or appliances, as one departs from the door. The system of the present invention comprises a sensor at the door that detects the current lock status of a door and transmits this lock to the key fob. Also incorporated into the key fob is circuitry that receives and records this received lock status. A display component in the key fob displays this current lock status when prompted by the user. |
| US08362891B2 |
Method for displaying the remaining range of a motor vehicle
A method displays the remaining range of a motor vehicle. The method determines repeatedly estimated values relating to the remaining range of the motor vehicle based on a fill level of an energy storage unit and at least one additional motor-vehicle state influencing the remaining range. A first remaining-range value is determined based on the estimated values and displayed as a first display value by a first graphical element on the display device. An updated second remaining-range value is determined during the display of the first display value. If the difference, in terms of amount, between the first and the second remaining-range values exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the second remaining-range value is displayed as a second display value by a second graphical element in addition to the first display value on the display device. |
| US08362890B2 |
Object detecting apparatus
An object detecting apparatus includes a sensor, a noise determining portion, a detected result determining portion and a warning portion. The sensor transmits an ultrasonic wave and receives a reflected wave reflected by an object. The noise determining portion determines existence or nonexistence of a noise signal received by the sensor for a plurality of detecting areas by using a different threshold value for each of the plurality of detecting areas. The detected result determining portion validates or invalidates an object detected result of the sensor for each of the detecting areas based on existence or nonexistence of the noise signal determined by the noise determining portion for each of the detecting areas. The warning portion warns about the object detected result for a detecting area that is validated by the detected result determining portion. |
| US08362889B2 |
Road condition detecting system
In a road condition detecting system consisting of a transmitter provided in a sending-side object on a road and adapted to transmit information about road conditions and a receiver provided in a receiving-side object on the road and adapted to receive information about road conditions, the transmitter includes sending-side vicinity information obtaining means for obtaining information about the vicinity of the sending-side object, transmitted information determining means for determining information to be transmitted, from the obtained vicinity information, and transmitting means for transmitting the determined vicinity information, and the receiver includes receiving means for receiving the vicinity information transmitted from the transmitting means of the transmitter. |
| US08362887B2 |
Automated geo-fence boundary configuration and activation
A geo-fence is defined and established automatically based on a current location of an asset along with some range or distance, avoiding the need for a user to manually specify a location by drawing a perimeter, specifying a point location, or by any other means. Once established, the geo-fence can be activated so as to notify the owner of the asset and/or some other entity of movement of the asset beyond the boundary specified by the geo-fence. In one embodiment, the geo-fence can be automatically activated upon certain conditions, or can be manually activated, or any combination thereof. |
| US08362882B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing Haptic feedback from Haptic textile
A method and apparatus for generating haptic feedback over a surface of a haptic textile are disclosed. The flexible haptic structure includes a group of sensing circuits and a haptic textile. The sensing circuits, such as touch sensitive detector or motion detector, provide at least one activating signal in accordance with a sensed event. The haptic textile is structured with interlaced woven threads and/or yarns and capable of generating haptic feedback in response to the activating signal. |
| US08362880B2 |
Method and computer program product for loading and executing program code at micro-processor
A method and apparatus for loading and executing program code at a micro-processor are disclosed. In this method, a monitoring procedure is performed to monitor whether the micro-processor receives a loading request corresponding to a target program code. If the loading request is received, the target program code is loaded from an external memory into an internal memory of the micro-processor. The micro-processor is then rebooted to enter a first mode in which the target program code in the internal memory is to be executed. |
| US08362876B2 |
Interlock system and method
A network of interlocks and input devices and a system for tracking their use and control, in which each interlock and input device is associated with a machine which performs a process. Machines are associated with input devices by reading machine identifications from Data Storage Devices (DSDs) with input devices. To disarm an interlock prior to using a machine, the input device is used to read one or more DSDs containing information required to track the process. The input device sends the DSD data to a CPU which then sends an authorization signal to a machine interface. Upon receiving the signal, the machine interface enables the machine to be turned on. The CPU logs the process and DSD data. Once the operator turns off the machine, it cannot be restarted until the operator reads the DSDs required by the machine. |
| US08362875B2 |
Secure system for non-covert user authentication and identification
A secure system for user authentication comprised of an authentication interface having a character dial and alignment markers is provided. A passcode input module receives user commands to move the character dial with respect to the alignment markers and to record a configuration of the characters with respect to the alignment markers, thereby creating alignment configuration data. A passcode generation module receives at least one of said alignment configuration data from passcode input module and generates a plurality of passcode hypotheses. An authentication module receives the passcode hypotheses and compares the passcode hypotheses with the passcodes of registered users stored in a data store. The passcode hypotheses are updated after each new alignment configuration data entered by the user. The authentication module authenticates a user upon finding a passcode hypothesis matching a stored passcode. |
| US08362873B2 |
Control of equipment using remote display
An example display unit for facilitating operation of equipment includes a housing, an electronic display supported by the housing, and an electronic circuit located within the housing. The display unit may include one or more data receivers, such as a wireless receiver and/or an electrical interface. A biometric scanner, including a biometric sensor and proving an authorization signal when an authorized biometric input is detected by the biometric sensor, may be configured to electrically (and optionally mechanically) interconnect to the display unit. The example display unit receives an authorization status for operation of the equipment from the biometric scanner, and displays the authorization status and operational parameters relating to equipment use on the electronic display. |
| US08362872B2 |
Electronic control system
An electronic system has a controller device, at least one controller responsive device operating in response to the controller device, and at least one status indicating device arranged to provide a control status output. The response mode of operation of the controller responsive device is predetermined dependent upon the control status output of a predetermined one or more of the status indicating devices, the control status output being one of a predetermined plurality of different output modes. |
| US08362870B2 |
Impedance calibration circuit with uniform step heights
An integrated circuit includes a first connection line; a second connection line; a plurality of tuning resistors with each having a sequence number and being coupled between the first connection line and the second connection line; and a plurality of switches, with each being coupled in series with one of the plurality of tuning resistors. The sequence numbers of the plurality of tuning resistors are continuous. The resistance values of the plurality of tuning resistors are a function of the respective sequence numbers. |
| US08362868B2 |
Plane coil
A plane coil which reduces an increase of an effective resistance in a high-frequency area and is made thinner is provided. The plane coil is equipped with plural conductive wires which are parallel to each other, wherein the conductive wires are arranged in a plane and spirally wound, and coil ends of the respective conductive wires are electrically connected to each other at coil lead-out portions and thus are connected in parallel. The conductive wires are arranged in plane, so that a coil thickness does not increase, and the coil is made thinner. Moreover, the plural conductive wires are connected in parallel, an increase of an effective resistance due to an influence of a skin effect in a high-frequency area is reduced. |
| US08362858B2 |
Electromagnetic switch
An electromagnetic switch includes an electromagnetic coil, a fixed core, a movable core, and a diode. The electromagnetic coil is configured to form an electromagnet when energized. The fixed core is arranged to be magnetized by the electromagnet. The movable core is arranged to be attracted by the magnetized fixed core to move in a movement direction toward the fixed core. The diode is electrically connected in parallel with the electromagnetic coil. The diode includes a main body and has a pair of leads respectively extending from a pair of ends of the main body which are opposite to each other in a lead arrangement direction of the diode. The lead arrangement direction of the diode is parallel to the movement direction of the movable contact. |
| US08362853B2 |
Tunable MEMS resonators
Tunable MEMS resonators having adjustable resonance frequency and capable of handling large signals are described. In one exemplary design, a tunable MEMS resonator includes (i) a first part having a cavity and a post and (ii) a second part mated to the first part and including a movable plate located under the post. Each part may be covered with a metal layer on the surface facing the other part. The movable plate may be mechanically moved by a DC voltage to vary the resonance frequency of the MEMS resonator. The cavity may have a rectangular or circular shape and may be empty or filled with a dielectric material. The post may be positioned in the middle of the cavity. The movable plate may be attached to the second part (i) via an anchor and operated as a cantilever or (ii) via two anchors and operated as a bridge. |
| US08362851B2 |
High isolation power divider
A high isolation power divider is disclosed, which includes a substrate, a first split arm, a second split arm, a signal input unit, a connection unit, a ground layer, a slit. The signal input unit is coupled to the first split arm and the second split arm for receiving an input signal and dividing the input signal to the first split arm and second split arm. The connection unit is coupled to the first split arm and the second split arm, wherein the connection unit, the first split arm, and the second split arm are deposited on a first plane of the substrate, and surround a first area. The ground layer is deposited on the second plane of the substrate for providing grounding. The slit is formed in the ground layer, wherein at least a part of the slit is formed within a second area corresponding to the first area. |
| US08362849B2 |
Broadband balun
In some embodiments, the technology includes a balun. The balun includes an un-balanced line, a balanced line, a double-y transition section, a first connection section, and a second connection section. The un-balanced line includes a ground trace and a signal trace. The balanced line includes a first and second signal trace. The double-y transition section includes a first slot trace and a second slot trace. The first slot trace couples the ground trace of the un-balanced line to the first signal trace of the balanced line. The second slot trace couples the signal trace of the un-balanced line to the second signal trace of the balanced line. The first connection section couples the first slot trace to the first signal trace of the balanced line. The second connection section couples the second slot trace to the second signal trace of the balanced line. |
| US08362845B2 |
Method and apparatus to improve performance of GPSDO's and other oscillators
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method of correcting the frequency of a crystal oscillator. The method includes establishing an operating baseline for the crystal oscillator using a frequency reference, storing information in memory, and adjusting the frequency according to the information. The information corresponds to the operating baseline. Adjusting the frequency occurs in response to a power-on event and the absence of the frequency reference. |
| US08362843B2 |
Method and apparatus for multi-point calibration for synthesizing varying frequency signals
A fast settling frequency synthesizer is disclosed. The particular capacitor to frequency relationship in the band of operation is first determined. The calculation can be performed by determining the capacitor to frequency relationship at two points and calculating the slope. Once these parameters are known, then, for any change in frequency due to a channel hop, the appropriate capacitor value can be determined. |
| US08362839B2 |
Cross-differential amplifier
A cross-differential amplifier is provided. The cross-differential amplifier includes an inductor connected to a direct current power source at a first terminal. A first and second switch, such as transistors, are connected to the inductor at a second terminal. A first and second amplifier are connected at their supply terminals to the first and second switch. The first and second switches are operated to commutate the inductor between the amplifiers so as to provide an amplified signal while limiting the ripple voltage on the inductor and thus limiting the maximum voltage imposed across the amplifiers and switches. |
| US08362838B2 |
Multi-stage amplifier with multiple sets of fixed and variable voltage rails
A signal processing system and method utilizes a multi-stage amplifier to amplify an input signal. The multi-stage amplifier uses a mixed set of voltage rails to improve the operating efficiency of at least one of the amplification stages while allowing other amplification stages to operate in a predetermined operating mode. Efficiency of at least one of the stages is improved by supplying at least one variable voltage rail to an amplification stage of the multi-stage amplifier. The variable voltage rail varies in response to changes in an input signal voltage to the amplification stage. Accordingly, at least one amplification stage utilizes a variable voltage rail, and all amplification stages are supplied with a set of voltage rails that provides sufficient input signal headroom, thus, providing amplification stage efficiency and adequate voltage to allow operation of all amplification stages. |
| US08362835B2 |
Decade bandwidth planar MMIC four port transformer
A wide bandwidth planar four port MMIC transformer is provided by input diplexers which divide up the incoming signal into a high band and a low band, with the resulting signals coupled to high band and low band four port transformers implemented in one embodiment using spiral inductors and coupled lines, the outputs of which are combined using two output diplexers to provide a decade bandwidth transformer. |
| US08362833B2 |
Amplifier circuitry, integrated circuit and communication unit
Amplifier circuitry comprising a class-D amplifier for amplifying an audio input signal. The amplifier circuitry comprises sigma-delta modulation logic arranged to receive the audio input signal and to generate a modulated signal representative of the audio input signal, and an output stage arranged to generate an output signal for the amplifier circuitry. The amplifier circuitry further comprises finite impulse response, filter logic operably coupled between the modulation logic and the output stage, and having at least one zero in its transfer function arranged to substantially pass signal components within the modulated signal occurring at frequencies less than the at least one zero and to attenuate signal components within the modulated signal at frequencies greater than the at least one zero. |
| US08362831B2 |
Reference voltage buffer and method thereof
An apparatus comprises: an OTA (operational trans-conductance amplifier) with a positive input terminal coupled to a reference voltage, a negative input terminal coupled to a feedback node, and an output terminal shunt to a ground node via a shunt capacitor; a resistor coupling the output terminal of the OTA to the feedback node; and a load circuit coupled to the feedback node via a switch controlled by a logical signal, wherein: an impedance of the shunt capacitor is substantially smaller than an input impedance of the load circuit. In an embodiment, the load circuit is a switch capacitor circuit. A corresponding method using an OTA is also provided. |
| US08362830B2 |
Power semiconductor device
A power semiconductor device comprises: a high-voltage side switching element and a low-voltage side switching element which are totem-pole-connected in that order from a high-voltage side between a high-voltage side potential and a low-voltage side potential; a high-voltage side drive circuit that drives the high-voltage side switching element; a low-voltage side drive circuit that drives the low-voltage side switching element; a capacitor which has a first end connected to a connection point between the high-voltage side switching element and the low-voltage side switching element and a second end connected to a power supply terminal of the high-voltage side drive circuit and supplies a drive voltage to the high-voltage side drive circuit; and a diode which has an anode connected to a power supply and a cathode connected to the second end of the capacitor and supplies a current from the power supply to the second end of the capacitor, wherein the diode includes a P-type semiconductor substrate, an N-type cathode region on a surface of the P-type semiconductor substrate, a P-type anode region in the N-type cathode region, a P-type contact region and an N-type contact region in the P-type anode region, a cathode electrode connected to the N-type cathode region, and an anode electrode connected to the P-type contact region and the N-type contact region. |
| US08362827B2 |
Semiconductor device including transistors that exercise control to reduce standby current
A semiconductor device includes two functional circuits, PMOS transistors and NMOS transistors. The PMOS transistors control whether or not a power supply potential is to be delivered to functional circuits, and the NMOS transistors control whether or not a power supply potential GND is to be delivered to the functional circuits. An external terminal supplied with a third power supply potential and another external terminal is supplied with a fourth power supply potential higher than the third power supply potential. A power supply control circuit delivers a control signal, having the fourth power supply potential as amplitude, to transistors to control the electrically conducting state or the electrically non-conducting state of transistors. The power supply control circuit also delivers a control signal, having the third power supply potential as amplitude, to transistors to control the electrically conducting or non-conducting state of the NMOS transistors. |
| US08362823B2 |
Charge pump regulator and method of producing a regulated voltage
A charge pump regulator has a charge pump to establish a charge path and a discharge path alternately, so as to produce a regulated voltage on an output terminal. The charge pump has at least a current control element on the charge path or the discharge path to control the current flowing therethrough according to an output-dependent feedback signal. |
| US08362822B2 |
Semiconductor device having a bias resistor circuit
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device provided with an input terminal and a resistor circuit is presented. The resistor circuit is provided with first and second transistors, a first resistor, a capacitor and a capacitor. A drain of the first transistor is connected to the input terminal. One end of the first resistor is connected to a gate of the first transistor. A drain of the second transistor is connected to a source of the first transistor. A gate of the second transistor is connected to the other end of the first resistor. A source of the second transistor is connected to a power supply of a source side. The capacitor is connected between the drain and the gate of the first transistor. The voltage supply circuit is connected to the other end of the first resistor and the gate of the second transistor. |
| US08362819B1 |
Synchronizing multi-frequency pulse width modulation generators
A “quasi-master-time-base” circuit is used to periodically resynchronize the individual PWM generators to a know reference signal. This quasi-master-time-base will be at the lowest frequency relative to all of the PWM output frequencies, wherein all of the PWM output frequencies are at the same frequency or at an integer multiple frequency(ies) of the quasi-master frequency. This “quasi-master-time-base” circuit allows for minor timing errors due to user PWM configuration errors and/or update errors, and still yields stable PWM signal outputs that remain synchronized to each other. |
| US08362818B2 |
Clock adjustment circuit, shift detection circuit of duty ratio, imaging device and clock adjustment method
A clock adjustment circuit includes: first and third switching elements to be in a conductive state when in-phase and reverse-phase clock signals in a high level are applied to input terminals, respectively; second and fourth switching elements whose input terminals are connected to output terminals of the first and third switching elements, respectively, which become in the conductive state when the in-phase and reverse-phase clock signals in a low level are applied to output terminal, respectively; first and second capacitor elements whose one terminal is connected to an output terminal of the first and third switching element, respectively; and a shift detection unit detecting potential difference between the output terminals of the first and third switching elements and outputs the detection signal as a signal for adjusting a duty ratio of the clock signal. |
| US08362813B2 |
Re-driver with pre-emphasis injected through a transformer and tuned by an L-C tank
A re-driver circuit has pre-driver, intermediate, and output stages. Pre-emphasis on the output is generated by the intermediate stage and injected into an output stage. The intermediate stage is a frequency-tuned amplifier that has an inductive-capacitive L-C tank circuit that is tuned to a desired frequency of the output. The intermediate stage does not directly drive the output stage. Instead, an on-chip coupling transformer couples the L-C tank circuit to the output stage. The coupling transformer has a first inductor that is part of the L-C tank circuit in the intermediate stage, and a second inductor that is part of the output stage. Mutual inductance between the first inductor and the second inductor inductively couple a pre-emphasis voltage onto the output. The magnitude of the pre-emphasis can be changed by adjusting current in the intermediate stage. |
| US08362808B2 |
Transmission input circuit
A transmission input circuit of the present invention is provided with: a current detection resistor which receives an input of a line current flowing through a transmission line and generates a line current detection voltage; a constant current circuit which generates a predetermined reference current; a first switch which performs a switching operation at an empty timing where a transmission current is not flowing, to thereby allow the reference current to flow from the constant current circuit to the current detection resistor, and generate a reference voltage, in which a threshold voltage corresponding to the reference current is added to a load current detection voltage corresponding to the load current; a capacitor which is connected to the current detection resistor via the first switch; a second switch which performs a switching operation in synchronization with the first switch to thereby sample-hold the reference voltage generated by the current detection resistor in the capacitor; and a comparator which receives an input of the line current detection voltage generated by means of the current detection resistor, to one of input terminals, receives an input of the reference voltage held in the capacitor to an other input terminal, and outputs a voltage component of the line current detection voltage which exceeds the reference voltage, as a transmission current detection signal. |
| US08362807B2 |
Offset compensation for sense amplifiers
A sense amplifier having compensation circuitry is described. The compensation circuitry includes at least one pair of compensation transistors. When compensation is desired, one or a combination of the bulk of the at least one pair of compensation transistors is provided with one or a combination of compensation voltages. |
| US08362806B2 |
Keeper circuit
Provided is a novel keeper circuit with a pull-up device whose strength changes for different operating supply levels so that the pull-up device is weaker for smaller supply levels and stringer for higher supply levels. |
| US08362803B2 |
Mode latching buffer circuit
A voltage translator circuit includes an input stage adapted for receiving an input signal referenced to a first voltage supply, a first latch circuit adapted for connection with a second voltage supply and operative to at least temporarily store a logic state of the input signal, and a voltage clamp coupled between the input stage and the first latch circuit. The voltage clamp is operative to set a maximum voltage across the input stage to a prescribed level. The voltage translator circuit generates a first output signal at a first output formed at a junction between the first latch circuit and the voltage clamp. A second latch circuit is connected to the first output in a feedback configuration. The second latch circuit is operative to retain a logical state of the first output signal as a function of at least a first control signal supplied to the second latch circuit regardless of a state of the first voltage supply. |
| US08362802B2 |
Asynchronous digital circuits including arbitration and routing primitives for asynchronous and mixed-timing networks
Asynchronous digital circuits are described, including arbitration and routing primitives for asynchronous and mixed-timing networks. An asynchronous arbitration primitive has two data inputs and one data output. A mutual exclusion element is used to select the first-arriving data request from one of the two inputs to the output. A asynchronous routing primitive has one data input and two data outputs. The incoming data is routed to one of the two outputs based on a routing bit accompanying the data. The primitives use handshaking with request and acknowledge signals to ensure that data is passed when neighboring circuits are ready to receive or send data. |
| US08362801B1 |
Method of programming a safety component
A method for a singular programming a programmable component in an electronic circuit includes providing a plurality of programmable components connected between each other in an electronic chain arrangement; providing an interface adapted to connect the programmable components to an external controller wherein the controller is adapted to program the programmable components; isolating and programming a safety component by setting an output pin in the safety component to logical state zero at first power up of the electronic circuit and logical state zero causes input and output data lines from the interface to be connected just to the safety component; and setting the output pin in the safety component to logical state one wherein the logical state one causes input and output data lines from the interface to disconnect from the safety component and connect to the electronic chain of the plurality of programmable components excluding the safety component. |
| US08362800B2 |
3D semiconductor device including field repairable logics
A three dimensional semiconductor device is described with two transistor layers overlaid. The first transistor layer comprises a plurality of flip-flops each having an input and an output, wherein the inputs are selectively coupleable to the second transistor layer. |
| US08362799B2 |
Semiconductor device, and failure detection system and failure detection method of data hold circuit
A semiconductor device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: a first circuit that outputs a first output value having a majority of output values received from N (N is three or more odd numbers) pieces of data hold circuits receiving a same input value; and a second circuit that outputs a second output value which is less than the majority of output values received from the N pieces of the data hold circuits. |
| US08362795B2 |
Semiconductor device capable of verifying reliability
A semiconductor device includes an integrated semiconductor circuit unit, a chip guard-ring disposed along an outer portion of the semiconductor device, and a reliability verifying unit disposed between the integrated semiconductor circuit unit and the chip guard-ring. The reliability verifying unit is configured to delay a reliability verifying signal to detect a fault while in a reliability detecting mode. |
| US08362794B2 |
Method and system for assessing reliability of integrated circuit
The present invention provides a method. The method includes operating a plurality of field-effect-transistors (FETs) under a first operation condition; reversing an operation direction for at least one of the plurality of FETs for a brief period of time; measuring a second operation condition of the one of the plurality of FETs during the brief period of time; computing a difference between the second operation condition and a reference operation condition; and providing a reliability indicator based upon the difference between the second and the reference operation conditions, wherein the plurality of FETs are employed in a single integrated circuit (IC). |
| US08362791B2 |
Test apparatus additional module and test method
A test apparatus includes: test modules that communicate with the device under test to test the device under test; additional modules connected between the device under test and the test modules, each additional module performing a communication with the device under test, the communication being at least one of a communication performed at a higher speed and a communication performed with a lower latency, in comparison with a communication performed by the test modules; a test head having a plurality of connectors that connect the test modules and the additional modules, respectively, the test modules and the additional modules are mounted on the test head; a performance board placed on the test head that connects between at least a part of terminals of the plurality of connectors and the device under test. The test modules are connected to the additional modules without through the performance board. |
| US08362790B2 |
AC detection circuit for power supply
There is provided an alternating current (AC) detection circuit for a power supply, the circuit including: a rectifying part rectifying an AC voltage; a voltage division part dividing the voltage rectified by the rectifying part according to a preset division ratio; a voltage stabilization circuit part stabilizing the voltage divided by the voltage division part; a comparing part comparing the voltage stabilized by the voltage stabilization circuit part with an internal reference voltage and generating an input detection signal when the stabilized voltage is higher than the internal reference voltage; and an output part outputting an AC detection signal when the input detection signal is inputted from the comparing part. |
| US08362788B2 |
Double piston rod
A distance measuring apparatus for detecting the position of a reflection body in a line structure is provided that includes a sensor device, which has at least one antenna for feeding a transmission signal as an electromagnetic wave into the line structure and for receiving the electromagnetic wave reflected on the reflection body. The sensor device also includes evaluation electronics which are configured to determine the position of the reflection body from the phase difference between the transmitted and the received wave. |
| US08362775B2 |
Magnetic resonance whole body antenna system, elliptically polarized with major ellipse axis tilted/non-horizontal at least when unoccupied by an examination subject
A magnetic resonance system obtaining magnetic resonance exposures of an examination subject, has an examination tunnel, a whole-body antenna with two connection terminals. The whole-body antenna cylindrically extends around the examination tunnel along a longitudinal axis. The system has a radio-frequency supply device in order to respectively supply the whole-body antenna with radio-frequency signals for emission of a radio-frequency field in the examination tunnel. The radio-frequency supply device has a radio-frequency generator for generation of a radio-frequency signal, a signal splitter that divides a radio-frequency signal coming from the radio-frequency generator into two partial signals that are phase-shifted by 90° relative to one another. Two radio-frequency feed lines are connected with the two connection terminals of the whole-body antenna. Via these radio-frequency feed lines, the two partial signals are fed into the whole-body antenna. The whole-body antenna has an intrinsic transmission characteristic such that a radio-frequency field is emitted that is elliptically polarized in a defined manner in a plane lying perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (at least in the unloaded state of the examination tunnel). |
| US08362768B2 |
Magnetic sensor
A magnetic sensor for measuring a magnetic field using an optical pumping method includes a first gas in which a valence electron is composed of an odd number of atoms or ions, a probe light incidence device which causes first probe light including straight polarized light to be incident on the first gas, a second gas in which a valence electron arranged on an optical path of second probe light that is the first probe light transmitted through the first gas is composed of an odd number of atoms or ions, a pumping light incidence device which causes first pumping light including first circular polarized light to be incident on the first gas and second pumping light including second circular polarized light to be incident on the second gas, and a detector which detects a rotation angle of a polarization plane of the first probe light and a polarization plane of third probe light that is the second probe light transmitted through the second gas. |
| US08362764B2 |
Diagnosable hall sensor
A measuring device for determining the strength of magnet fields using a Hall probe and a method for evaluating the function of a Hall sensor. The measuring device comprises a sensor having a Hall probe and an electric diagnosis conductor which is galvanically isolated from the Hall probe. The measuring device being able to continually monitor the sensor. In particular, the sensor can not only be checked qualitatively in regard to function or failure, but also quantitatively in regard to correct calibration such that, if necessary, an immediate correction or re-calibration of the sensor can be performed. In particular, measuring errors for instance, due to a temperature drift or because of mechanical stress of the sensor, can easily be eliminated. |
| US08362759B2 |
Method to predict phase current
A phase current prediction method is disclosed. The phase current prediction method predicts current representative of a PWM period using a motor model which receives current measured through a single current sensor as an input, instead of the measured current, and determines the predicted current to be phase current. |
| US08362755B2 |
Current-mode control type DC-DC converter and control method therefor
A current-mode control type DC-DC converter includes a switching transistor turned on with a clock signal output in predetermined cycles, an inductor supplied with electric current when the switching transistor is turned on, an error amplifier circuit to output an error voltage that is an amplified difference between a predetermined reference voltage and a divided output voltage of the DC-DC converter, a slope voltage generation circuit to generate a slope voltage by performing slope compensation on an inductor current, a PWM comparator to compare the slope voltage with the error voltage and generate a reset pulse to turn off the switching transistor when the slope voltage reaches the error voltage, and a slope voltage maintenance mechanism to keep the slope voltage at the ground voltage from when the reset pulse is generated to when a subsequent clock signal is generated. |
| US08362753B2 |
Switching power supply circuit
A switching power supply circuit includes a power circuit, a switching circuit and a load. The switching circuit includes a first filter module, a power processing unit, a stability module, and a second filter module. The first filter module receives a voltage signal from the power circuit and sends a filtered first voltage signal to the power processing unit; the power processing unit outputs a second voltage signal, the stability module stabilizes the second voltage signal and sends a third voltage signal to the second filter module; the second filter module filters the third voltage signal and sends a drive voltage to the load. In response to the second voltage signal instantaneously changing from high to low or low to high, during the change in current, power of the second voltage signal is stored in the stability module and released through the second filter module. |
| US08362752B2 |
Power supply with a magnetically uncoupled phase and an odd number of magnetically coupled phases, and control for a power supply with magnetically coupled and magnetically uncoupled phases
An embodiment of a power supply includes an input node that receives an input voltage, an output node on which a regulated output voltage is provided, an odd number of magnetically coupled phase paths each coupled between the input and output nodes, and a first magnetically uncoupled phase path coupled between the input and output nodes. Such a power supply can improve its efficiency by activating different combinations of the coupled and uncoupled phase paths depending on the load conditions. For example, the power supply may activate only an uncoupled phase path during light-load conditions, may activate only coupled phase paths during moderate-load conditions, and may activate both coupled and uncoupled phase paths during heavy-load conditions and during a step-up load transient. |
| US08362747B2 |
Method of powering a mobile device
A method of operating a mobile device, an apparatus and a wireless device are provided. The method of operating a mobile device comprises receiving an external supply voltage, converting the external supply voltage into an operating voltage and operating a circuit with the operating voltage. The method may include disconnecting a rechargeable battery from the operating voltage. The method may include charging a rechargeable battery in a trickle charge manner or in a continuos manner depending on a battery voltage. An apparatus is configured to carry out the method. The method may be used by a wireless device. |
| US08362746B2 |
Battery control system and vehicle
A battery control system controls an external charging unit in a vehicle including a vehicle body, engine, motors, secondary battery, and the external charging unit, and includes a degradation detecting unit that detects degradation of the secondary battery, during charging of the second battery by the external charging unit. |
| US08362745B2 |
Method and apparatus for harvesting energy
An energy harvesting circuit includes one or more broadband or narrow band antennas to detect WIFI (wireless fidelity) or other RF (radio frequency) signals. The signals are rectified and voltage multiplied, and the resultant DC voltage is provided to a power management circuit. The output of the power management circuit charges a lithium battery or other storage device within the energy harvesting circuit. The energy stored in the battery or storage device is provided through a DC/DC converter circuit to a USB output connector to power or recharge the batteries of an external electronic device connected to the USB output connector of the energy harvesting circuit. |
| US08362743B2 |
Device for mechanically and electrically connecting a portable, battery-operated apparatus and portable, battery-operated apparatus
A device is provided for mechanically and electrically connecting a portable, battery-operated apparatus in order to operate the apparatus and/or to charge its battery. The device includes a receiving area for the apparatus as well as a first coil arrangement, which is disposed on, in or under the receiving area and which is designed for interaction with a second coil arrangement of the apparatus, when the apparatus is disposed in a predefined position on the receiving area. Finally, the device exhibits a first coupling element, which, in interaction with a second coupling element of the apparatus, the apparatus can be moved into the predefined position after being placed on the receiving area. The first coupling element exhibits at least a first component, which is designed for magnetic coupling with a respective second component of the apparatus. |
| US08362740B2 |
System of a plurality of parallel-connected fuel cell converter devices and method for controlling the system
A system of a plurality of parallel-connected fuel cell converter devices and a method for controlling the system are provided. The system includes a plurality of fuel cell converter devices, a parallel connection unit, a power control unit, a Mux control unit, and a master controller. The output ends of the plurality of fuel cell converter devices are connected in parallel by the parallel connection unit. The master controller reads signals from the power control unit and the Mux control unit and determines accordingly which fuel cell converter devices need to be turned on to meet the requirement of a load. The method includes the steps of estimating a load, determining the number of the fuel cell converter devices to be turned on, calculating an output power, discharging, and charging. Thus, the plurality of fuel cell converter devices is controlled to output the required power of the load. |
| US08362739B2 |
Control apparatus for photovoltaic modules
Control apparatus 1 for photovoltaic modules 3 which can be connected to one or more photovoltaic modules 3. The control apparatus is able to check for the proper working of the solar modules, and also to collect all electrical data like voltage, current, power, energy in order to calculate also the efficiency of the plant. Up to 16 modules can be used (including a master controller, temperature measurement modules, output modules, input modules) and they are interconnected by using a bus system which does not require any wire. A base level consist of one master controller module and one or more input modules. An extended system includes also additional modules, like measurement of temperatures or relay outputs. |
| US08362734B2 |
Stepping motor driver
In a drive of a stepping motor, an electromotive force is generated on the coil of a motor with a sinusoidal wave having the same period as an energization period by smoothly rotating a rotor with microstep driving, and an induced power is stably detected by detecting the electromotive force at the zero cross of driving current. The detection around the current zero cross makes it possible to shorten a detection section, form a driving waveform with few distortions, and perform driving with a driving waveform as in an ordinary micro step. Thus a circuit is provided which is aimed at reducing noise, vibrations, and loss of synchronization, and increasing current consumption efficiency in the determination of stop. |
| US08362732B2 |
Motor phase winding fault detection method and apparatus
A method of detecting a phase winding fault in a multi-phase electric machine is executable via a motor controller, and includes measuring feedback signals of the machine, including each phase current, and generating reference phase voltages for each phase. The method includes calculating a predetermined voltage value using the feedback signals and reference phase voltages, and comparing the voltage value to a corresponding threshold to determine the fault. A control action is executed when the voltage value exceeds the corresponding threshold. The voltage value is one or more of: a ratio of a normalized negative sequence voltage to a modulation index, an RMS voltage for each phase, and total harmonic distortion of each phase current. An apparatus detects the fault, and includes a motor controller and an algorithm as set forth above. The apparatus may include a voltage inverter for generating a multi-phase alternating current output for powering the machine. |
| US08362728B2 |
Rotor position detection at standstill and low speeds using a PMG to operate a wound field synchronous machine
A method of operating a WFSM in a motoring mode determines a relative position of a PMG rotor with respect to the WFSM rotor. A PMG is coupled to the WFSM via a coupling shaft. A relative difference between the WFSM rotor position and the PMG rotor position is determined based on carrier injection sensorless (“CIS”) stimulation signals. The relative difference between the PMG rotor and the WFSM main machine in conjunction with the PMG rotor position is used to determine the WFSM rotor position during motoring operation of the main machine. A stator of the WFSM main machine is energized to maintain operation of the WFSM in response to the detected main rotor position. |
| US08362724B2 |
Blower motor for HVAC systems
A blower motor assembly having a variable speed motor that is suitable for direct, drop-in replacement in a residential HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system that employs a PSC motor. The blower motor assembly includes at least a neutral input and two hot AC line connections, one for connection to the heating power source and the other to the cooling power source. A sensing circuit senses which of the inputs is energized by sensing either voltage or current on the inputs. The sensing circuit delivers a corresponding signal to a motor controller to control the speed of the variable speed motor. The blower motor assembly may also be equipped with additional hot AC inputs, more than one neutral line, and several sensing circuits for sensing current or voltage in the hot inputs and/or the neutral lines for controlling various aspects of the variable speed motor. |
| US08362722B2 |
Power converter device
A power converter device for achieving a stable braking operation, preventing excessive current to flow therein, when conducting DC braking on a permanent synchronous motor, comprises: a switching circuit for converting DC to AC; a PWM controller means, for controlling ON or OFF of said switching circuit; a means for detecting or estimating current flowing through a permanent magnet synchronous motor; and a means for executing DC braking of said permanent magnet synchronous motor, wherein there are provided a DC braking maximum current setup value, which is determined from an outside or is determined in advance within an inside, and a PWM all-phases cutoff function and a zero vector output function within said PWM controller means, within said PWM controller means, whereby the PWM all-phases cutoff and the zero vector output are repeated within said PWM controller means, if a current value, which is obtained by said means for detecting or estimating the current, exceeds said DC braking maximum current setup value, when running DC current to the permanent magnet synchronous motor, so as to execute DC braking for obtaining a braking power. |
| US08362720B2 |
Linear motor position detection system
A position detection system includes a linear motor having a rod in which magnetic poles of N pole and S pole are arranged alternately in an axial direction and a plurality of coils surrounding the rod a magnetic sensor for detecting change in the direction of the magnetic field of the rod caused by linear movement of the rod relative to the coils to output a sine wave signal and a cosine wave signal which are 90° phase shifted with respect to one another, and a position detecting circuit for detecting a position of the rod relative to the coils. As the magnetic sensor detects the change in the direction of the magnetic field of the rod, the sine wave signal and the cosine wave signal output from the magnetic sensor hardly vary even when the distance between the rod and the magnetic sensor is changed. |
| US08362717B2 |
Method of driving an injector in an internal injection betatron
A betatron magnet, the betatron magnet comprising at least one electron injector positioned approximate an inside of a radius of an betatron orbit, such that electrons are injected into the betatron orbit with the at least one electron injector positioned within an electron acceleration passageway, whereby the electron acceleration passageway is located within a vacuum chamber; and wherein the at least one electron injector is driven with an inductive means. |
| US08362713B2 |
Wireless lighting devices and grid-shifting applications
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for systems and methods that provide a method of power management of a lighting source, including providing a lighting facility, wherein the lighting facility includes the lighting source, an external control device for communicating between the lighting facility and an external control source, an internal control facility, an energy storage device, and a connection to external power; and shifting power usage between the external power and the energy storage device as controlled by the internal control facility and as a result of information received from the external control source. |
| US08362712B1 |
Apparatus and method for L.E.D. illumination
An illumination source for a camera includes one or more LEDs, and an electrical circuit that selectively applies power from the DC voltage source to the LEDs, wherein the illumination source is suitable for handheld portable operation. In some embodiments, the electrical circuit further includes a control circuit for driving the LEDs with electrical pulses at a frequency high enough that light produced has an appearance to a human user of being continuous rather than pulsed, the control circuit changing a pulse characteristic to adjust a proportion of light output having the first characteristic color spectrum output to that having the second characteristic color spectrum output. Some embodiments provide an illumination source including a housing including one or more LEDs; and a control circuit that selectively applies power from a source of electric power to the LEDs, thus controlling a light output color spectrum of the LEDs. |
| US08362711B2 |
AC LED apparatus
An alternating-current (AC) light-emitting diode (LED) apparatus is disclosed. A rectifier rectifies a power AC voltage to generate a rectified voltage, which is monitored by a controller. A number of LEDs are electrically coupled between the rectified voltage and a ground. A number of switches correspondingly control at least a portion of the LEDs respectively, wherein one terminal of each switch is electrically coupled to one electrode of the corresponding LED or LEDs. The switches are controlled by the controller according to the rectified voltage. |
| US08362709B2 |
Current balance circuit having protection function, and power supply
There are provided a current balance circuit having a protection function that prevents the current balance circuit from being damaged during a preset time period by maintaining a constant level of power being supplied to the lamp, and a power supply. The current balance circuit having the protection function includes a current balance unit maintaining current balance of lamp driving power supplied to a lamp unit including a plurality of lamps, and a protection unit detecting the lamp driving power supplied to the lamp unit from the current balance unit, cutting-off the lamp driving power after a preset time period when the lamp operates abnormally, and controlling a voltage level of the lamp driving power to a preset reference voltage level or lower during the preset time period. |
| US08362708B2 |
Circuit arrangement for operating discharge lamps and method for operating discharge lamps
A circuit arrangement for operating a discharge lamp is provided. The circuit arrangement may include a commutating device, which is configured to exhibit an input which is coupled to a direct-current source and has an output which can be coupled to a discharge lamp; the commutating device being configured in such a manner that it couples the direct-current source to the output and the polarity with which the direct-current source is coupled to the output can be commutated by a control device; the control device including a measurement input which is coupled to a measuring device which is configured to deliver a measurement value which is a measure of the magnitude of a lamp voltage; wherein the control device is configured to control the commutating device in such a manner that the polarity at which a higher lamp voltage prevails is coupled longer to the output. |
| US08362707B2 |
Light emitting diode based lighting system with time division ambient light feedback response
A lighting system includes time division light output sensing and adjustment for ambient light. In at least one embodiment, time division light output sensing involves modulating power to a light emitting diode (LED) set, and the set of LEDs includes one or more LEDs. In at least one embodiment, each LED in the LED set is included in a single lamp, and, in at least one embodiment, the set of LEDs is contained in multiple lamps. In at least one embodiment, for each lamp, a controller modulates power to the LED set by selectively reducing power to the LED set using time division algorithm to allow a light sensor to sense the brightness of ambient light with a reduced contribution from the LED set. In at least one embodiment, a lighting system also includes time division light output sensing and adjustment for different spectra LEDs. |
| US08362706B1 |
Current compensation scheme for LED current control
Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method to control a current through one or more Light Emitting Diode (LED) circuits, wherein a control command compensation unit generates a compensation function to offset errors in the LED circuit by modifying a temporal density modulation function. |
| US08362705B2 |
Analog LED controller
The present invention provides a cost effective analog apparatus to enable the user to obtain a display of varied color frequencies using a variety of LED light sources, both in the visual and non-visual ranges, acting in synchronous response to electronic input sources. The present invention provides an analog LED controller that includes a power supply terminal, an input terminal, and a plurality of color LED control circuits. The plurality of color LED control circuits include a first color LED control circuit, one or more nth color LED control circuits and a Nth color LED control circuit, wherein 1 |
| US08362702B2 |
Local dimming control method and apparatus of edge-type backlight module
A local dimming control method and apparatus of an edge-type backlight module are provided. The edge-type backlight module has a plurality of backlight units positioned at at least one side of a display area. The local dimming control apparatus includes: a configuration unit, for dividing the display area into a plurality of display blocks; and a local dimming control unit, coupled to the configuration unit, for setting respective backlight intensities of the display blocks through controlling a plurality of luminance settings of the backlight units. The local dimming control method includes: dividing the display area into a plurality of display blocks; and performing a local dimming control operation to set respective backlight intensities of the display blocks through controlling a plurality of luminance settings of the backlight units. |
| US08362700B2 |
Solar powered light assembly to produce light of varying colors
A garden light (10) having a body (11) with a post (12), the lower end of which is provided with a spike (13). The upper end of the post (12) receives a lens assembly (14). Secured to the lens assembly (14) is a cap assembly (24) that has three LEDs that are activated to produce a varying color light. |
| US08362695B2 |
Light emitting diode component
In a lighting package, a printed circuit board supports at least one light emitting die. A light transmissive cover is disposed over the at least one light emitting die. A phosphor is disposed on or inside of the light transmissive dome-shaped cover. The phosphor outputs converted light responsive to irradiation by the at least one light emitting die. An encapsulant substantially fills an interior volume defined by the light-transmissive cover and the printed circuit board. |
| US08362693B2 |
Display device and manufacturing method of display device
It is an object of the present invention to provide a reliable display device and a method for manufacturing the display device reducing the number of manufacturing steps, and with higher yield. A display device according to the invention includes a plurality of display elements each having a first electrode, a layer containing an organic compound, and a second electrode. The display device further includes a heat-resistant planarizing film over a substrate having an insulating surface, a first electrode over the heat-resistant, planarizing film, a wiring covering an end portion of the first electrode, a partition wall covering the end portion of first electrode and the wiring, a layer containing an organic compound, and a second electrode over the layer containing an organic compound. |
| US08362686B2 |
Substrate bearing an electrode, organic light-emitting device incorporating it, and its manufacture
A substrate bearing, on one main face, a composite electrode, which includes an electroconductive network which is a layer formed from strands made of an electroconductive material based on a metal and/or a metal oxide, and having a light transmission of at least 60% at 550 nm, the space between the strands of the network being filled by an electroconductive fill material. The composite electrode also includes an electroconductive coating, which may or may not be different from the fill material, covering the electroconductive network, and in electrical connection with the strands, having a thickness greater than or equal to 40 nm, of resistivity ρ1 less than 105 Ω·cm and greater than the resistivity of the network, the coating forming a smoothed outer surface of the electrode. The composite electrode additionally has a sheet resistance less than or equal to 10Ω/□. |
| US08362685B2 |
Light-emitting device
Disclosed is a light-emitting device (1) including a light-emitting element (2) emitting primary light, and a light converter (3) absorbing a part of the primary light emitted from the light-emitting element (2) and emitting secondary light having a longer wavelength than the primary light. The light converter (3) contains a green light-emitting phosphor (4) and a red light-emitting phosphor (5). The green light-emitting phosphor (4) is composed of at least one phosphor selected from a divalent europium-activated oxynitride phosphor substantially represented by the following formula: EuaSibAlcOdNe and a divalent europium-activated silicate phosphor substantially represented by the following formula: 2(Ba1-f-gMIfEug)O.SiO2, while the red light-emitting phosphor (5) is composed of at least one phosphor selected from tetravalent manganese-activated fluoro-tetravalent metalate phosphors substantially represented by the following formulae: MII2(MIII1-hMnh)F6 and/or MIV(MIII1-hMnh)F6. Consequently, the light-emitting device (1) has excellent color gamut (NTSC ratio). |
| US08362684B2 |
Quantum dot white and colored light-emitting devices
A light-emitting device comprising a population of quantum dots (QDs) embedded in a host matrix and a primary light source which causes the QDs to emit secondary light and a method of making such a device. The size distribution of the QDs is chosen to allow light of a particular color to be emitted therefrom. The light emitted from the device may be of either a pure (monochromatic) color, or a mixed (polychromatic) color, and may consist solely of light emitted from the QDs themselves, or of a mixture of light emitted from the QDs and light emitted from the primary source. The QDs desirably are composed of an undoped semiconductor such as CdSe, and may optionally be overcoated to increase photoluminescence. |
| US08362683B2 |
Organic light emitting display apparatus
An organic light emitting display apparatus includes a plurality of sub-pixels, each of the sub-pixels having a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and an intermediate layer disposed between the first and second electrodes, the intermediate layer having a plurality of layers including an organic emission layer, at least one layer of the plurality of layers in the intermediate layer being commonly shared by two sub-pixels arranged in a first direction and by at least two sub-pixels arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. |
| US08362679B2 |
Silicon light emitting device with carrier injection
A light emitting device (10) comprises a first body (12) of an indirect bandgap semiconductor material. A first junction region (18) in the body is formed between a first region (12.1) of the body of a first doping kind and a second region (12.2) of the body of a second doping kind. A second junction (20) region in the body is formed between the second region of the body and a third region of the body of the first doping kind. The first and second junction regions being spaced from one another by not further than a minority carrier diffusion length. A terminal arrangement is connected to the first, second and third regions of the body for, in use, reverse biasing the first junction region into avalanche or field emission mode and for forward biasing the second junction region to inject carriers into the first junction region. A second body (22) of an isolation material is located immediately adjacent at least one wall of the third region, thereby to reduce parasitic injection from the third region. |
| US08362677B1 |
High efficiency thermal management system for solid state lighting device
A high efficiency thermal management system for solid state lighting devices includes an LED heat sink housing formed by a flat bottom wall and a sidewall mounted about its periphery that extends radially outwardly so that the heat sink housing has a frusto-conical shape. Heat-dissipating pin-shaped fins of differing lengths depend from the exterior of the angled wall and from the bottom of the flat bottom wall. The radially inward side of the angled wall has a highly light-reflective surface for collimating light. The base of the device provides a housing for driver electronics. The heat sink housing, the pin-shaped fins, and the base are collectively contoured so that the system has the overall size and shape of a type A light bulb. |
| US08362676B2 |
Piezoelectric vibrating devices having controlled internal environment, and methods for manufacturing same
Methods are disclosed for manufacturing piezoelectric vibrating devices that do not acquire unwanted gas or water vapor inside their respective packages during manufacture and that attain such end by methods suitable for mass-production. An exemplary manufacturing method includes preparing a piezoelectric wafer having multiple piezoelectric frames; on the piezoelectric wafer defining at least one first through-hole per frame; preparing a base wafer having multiple package bases alignable with the frames; on the base wafer defining at least one second through-hole; preparing a lid wafer having multiple package lids alignable with the frames; applying a sealing material between a first main surface of each frame and an inner main surface of the base wafer, and between a second main surface of each frame and an inner main surface of the lid wafer; and thereby bonding the three wafers together to form multiple packaged piezoelectric devices. To facilitate ventilation of gas from inside each package during bonding, each package includes at least one communicating groove extending from inside the package to the first or second through-hole. After venting, the communicating groove is sealed automatically with sealing material. |
| US08362675B2 |
Mechanical resonating structures including a temperature compensation structure
Mechanical resonating structures are described, as well as related devices and methods. The mechanical resonating structures may have a compensating structure for compensating temperature variations. |
| US08362669B2 |
Coil winding methods and structures for a slotless stator in a motor
A method to form a field winding for a slotless stator including: forming the first coil group by spirally winding an insulated wire for each coil winding around a mandrel such that each turn of the wire is adjacent a next turn of the wire; after forming the first coil group, axially shifting along the mandrel the insulated wire from a trailing edge of each coil winding to position the wires at a leading edge of each of coil winding in the second coil group; forming the second coil group by spirally winding the insulated wire for each coil winding around a mandrel; removing the mandrel from the wound first and second coil groups; collapsing the wound coil groups to a layer web such that coil winding segments are interleaved; and wrapping the web into a cylinder to form the field winding. |
| US08362668B2 |
Rotor for rotating electrical machine
A rotor for a rotating electrical machine suppresses demagnetization of permanent magnets without deteriorating motor characteristics, is low-cost, and is highly reliable. The rotor has a plurality of rotor cores that are stacked together, a plurality of permanent magnets axially divided by the rotor cores and circumferentially arranged on each of the rotor cores, to circumferentially form magnetic irregularities, and a rotor blank made of nonmagnetic material arranged between those of the rotor cores that are adjacent to each other. |
| US08362666B2 |
Phase lead connection for parallel path electric machine
A stator for an electric machine includes a stator winding located at a stator core. The stator winding has one or more phases, each phase including a single unitary conductor having at least two conductor segments arranged in an electrically parallel relationship. A connection portion is formed in the single unitary conductor between a first conductor segment and a second conductor segment of the at least two conductor segments to connect the conductor to an electrical component. |
| US08362664B2 |
Rotating electrical machine
The disclosure relates to a rotating electrical machine (1), in particular an alternator or an alternator-starter for a motor vehicle. At least one bearing mount (48) is provided with at least one opening (49) opening onto the exterior of the bearing mount. A stator (16) comprising an electric coil (18) is provided. This coil includes a plurality of electric conductors, at least one of which includes an end forming an electrical neutral point of the coil. The machine further includes an electrical insulation member (70) configured to prevent any contact between the bearing mount (48) and said neutral point-forming conductor end. The insulation member extends at least partially through the opening of the bearing mount and is at least partially outside the bearing mount. The electrical insulation member being furthermore configured to rest at least partially on an outer surface (71) of the bearing mount. |
| US08362663B2 |
Terminal box for centrifugal switch of motor and motor with the same
A terminal box, including at least a box (51) having a receiving part (10), a movable control rod (7), multiple electric contacts (8), a thermostat (9) having a terminal (91), and a wiring mechanism (12). The movable control rod (7) is disposed on the box (51) and partially extends therefrom. The electric contacts (8) are disposed in the box (51). The thermostat (9) is disposed on end surface of the box (51). The receiving part (10) operates to receive the thermostat (9). One end of the electric contact (8) extends from the box (51) and forms a connecting part (81). A separating plate (11) is disposed between the connecting part (81) and the thermostat (9). One end of the wiring mechanism (12) is connected to the connecting part (81), and the other end thereof bypasses the outside of the separating plate (11) and is connected to the terminal (91). If the thermostat experiences temperature detection failure, users of the motor can easily remove the wiring mechanism, and timely switch off the power supply connected to the motor via an external protection circuit thereby preventing the motor from being burned out. |
| US08362662B2 |
Electric machine having a heat dissipating construction
An electric machine comprises an outer casing (2), a rotor and a stator (3) having at least one polar expansion (5) and at least one winding (8) having an annular shape and placed around the polar expansion (5). The casing (2) has a plurality of protrusions (13) each of which holds, by supporting, a corresponding portion (12) of a stator winding (8) to enable heat exchange between the winding (8) and the protrusion (13). Each portion (12) of the winding (8) is electrically insulated from the respective protrusion (13). |
| US08362658B2 |
Determination of the load capability of a DC voltage source which is connectable to an electric power grid via an inverter and a grid disconnect switch
A method for determining a load capability of a direct current (“DC”) voltage source connectable to an alternating current (“AC”) power grid having a predetermined frequency via an inverter and a grid disconnect switch includes controlling, while the grid disconnect switch is in an open position, the inverter so as to convert a DC input voltage to a test frequency different than the predetermined frequency of the AC power grid so as to increase a test load acting on the DC voltage source above an internal consumption of the inverter at the predetermined frequency. The DC input voltage is measured while the grid disconnect switch is in the open position. |
| US08362654B2 |
Electronic device interface switching system
Disclosed herein is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a first connector and a switching system. The first connector is configured to receive a second connector having a first contact area and a second different contact area. The switching system is connected to the first connector. The switching system is configured to alternatively connect a ground of the apparatus to the first or the second contact area. |
| US08362644B2 |
Device, system, and method for managing an application of power from photovoltaic arrays
A system, method, and apparatus for managing an application of power from photovoltaic arrays to power conversion components. The method may include arranging a first array and a second array in series, coupling a positive terminal of a first array to the power conversion component, coupling a negative terminal of a second array to the power conversion component, and modulating an amount of current flowing between a negative terminal of the first array and a positive terminal of the second array so as to ramp up a level of current flowing through the arrays as the arrays are brought online with the power conversion component. A voltage of any terminal on either of the arrays may be limited so that the voltage on any of the terminals does not reach a restricted level. |
| US08362643B2 |
Battery-based grid energy storage for balancing the load of a power grid
The present invention provides a battery-based grid energy storage for balancing the load of an power grid, wherein the energy storage comprises: a battery array; a bi-directional inverter unit; the bi-directional inverter system is configured to charge battery array using power from the power grid, or conversely, to transmit power from battery array to the power grid; a monitor system configured to detect the load, frequency and phase of the power grid, and control the bi-directional inverter system to charge battery array using power form the power grid, or conversely, transmits power from battery array to the power grid in accordance with the frequency and phase of the power grid so as to balance the load of the power grid, and meet the requirements during peak hours of electric power consumption. |
| US08362639B2 |
Light emitting diode drive device, illumination device, in-vehicle cabin illumination device, and vehicle illumination device
A light emitting diode drive device includes a drive circuit section that applies a direct-current voltage to a light source including a plurality of light emitting diodes connected in series to allow the light source to light up, a voltage detection circuit section that detects a voltage across the light source, and a malfunction determination circuit section that determines that the light emitting diode is short-circuited when the voltage detection circuit section detects a voltage drop and a potential between the voltage before being dropped and the voltage after being dropped is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value. Thus, it is possible to detect a fact that a light emitting diode, which lights up, is short-circuited or is not short-circuited, with a simple circuit configuration. |
| US08362637B2 |
Method and apparatus for wind energy system
The description relates to generating power using wind energy. The current disclosure provides an opportunity to develop a new energy generating resource. According to some aspects, the apparatus uses a passive device to capture wind, and accelerate the wind toward a turbine and other fan or turbine blades to generate power in a confined structure. The foot print of the current design is scalable to individual users or businesses such as homes, industrial facilities, small business sites, as well as small power utilities such as wind farms. The passive devices to capture wind can have active electronic or mechanical controls to control the amount of wind flowing in the structure to generate power. |
| US08362636B2 |
Portable 350 airpower module
Disclosed may be an apparatus and related methods for electric power generation for vehicles. More particularly, disclosed may be an apparatus and related methods for electric power generation using vehicle generated wind. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a device for capturing the energy of wind around a moving auto body, the apparatus including a turbine that rotates when impacted by air moving relative thereto, an electricity generator with an armature shaft that rotates with the rotation of the turbine, an electrical outlet from the generator, and a non-cubical housing. In another embodiment the apparatus may be positioned on the top of a motor vehicle so that wind produced relative to the motion of the vehicle can turn the turbine to produce electricity. |
| US08362635B2 |
Wind-driven electric power generation system adapted for mounting along the side of vertical, man-made structures such as large buildings
A updraft wind powered electrical generator system mountable to sides of a vertical, man-made structures facing prevailing winds. The updraft system includes a tubular housing that can include at least one fixed helical vane formed onto the inner surfaces of the tubular housing in a spiral and adapted to direct wind into a spiraled flow and focus fluid onto a fan blade assembly associated with an alternator system and located within the tubular housing before a system exhaust. A generator cone can be mounted near the center and front of the fan blade assembly facing wind passing through the tubular housing. As wind passes over the generator cone it experiences compression between the generator cone and housing resulting in increased pressure and velocity of the fluid, thereby increasing rotational speed of the generator blades and generator as the compressed, spiraled fluid passes through the blades and exits the tubular housing. |
| US08362631B2 |
Marine energy hybrid
A marine energy hybrid includes a support structure locatable at or near the surface of a body of water and at least two of (a) a hubless upper carriage movable along an upper track of the support structure with at least one wind vane mounted at the upper carriage to induce motion of the upper carriage relative to the support structure by reaction with the wind stream, (b) a hubless lower carriage movable along a lower track of the support structure with at least one water vane mounted at the lower carriage to induce motion of the lower carriage relative to the support structure by reaction with the water current, and (c) at least one wave energy conversion device integral with the support structure and operable to generate electrical or mechanical power in response to wave motion of the body of water. |
| US08362630B2 |
Method for controlling self-piloted alternator-starter, comprising shortened pre-flux step
A method for controlling a self-piloted alternator-starter for starting or restarting the thermal engine of an automobile. The alternator-starter includes a rotor rotating in a stator, and a belt for transmitting the torque of the alternator-starter rotor to the crankshaft of the thermal engine. The method includes a first preflux step during which the rotor winding is excited by a preflux electric current, and a second starting step during which the stator windings are excited. The preflux step lasts from 10 to 100 ms so that the transmission belt is tensioned below a degradation tension at the start of the second starting step. |
| US08362625B2 |
Contact structure in a memory device
Annular, linear, and point contact structures are described which exhibit a greatly reduced susceptibility to process deviations caused by lithographic and deposition variations than does a conventional circular contact plug. In one embodiment, a standard conductive material such as carbon or titanium nitride is used to form the contact. In an alternative embodiment, a memory material itself is used to form the contact. These contact structures may be made by various processes, including chemical mechanical planarization and facet etching. |
| US08362622B2 |
Method and apparatus for placing transistors in proximity to through-silicon vias
Roughly described, the invention involves ways to characterize, take account of, or take advantage of stresses introduced by TSV's near transistors. The physical relationship between the TSV and nearby transistors can be taken into account when characterizing a circuit. A layout derived without knowledge of the physical relationships between TSV and nearby transistors, can be modified to do so. A macrocell can include both a TSV and nearby transistors, and a simulation model for the macrocell which takes into account physical relationships between the transistors and the TSV. A macrocell can include both a TSV and nearby transistors, one of the transistors being rotated relative to others. An IC can also include a transistor in such proximity to a TSV as to change the carrier mobility in the channel by more than the limit previously thought to define an exclusion zone. |
| US08362618B2 |
Three dimensional nanoscale circuit interconnect and method of assembly by dielectrophoresis
An assembly of nanoelements forms a three-dimensional nanoscale circuit interconnect for use in microelectronic devices. A process for producing the circuit interconnect includes using dielectrophoresis by applying an electrical field across a gap between vertically displaced non-coplanar microelectrodes in the presence of a liquid suspension of nanoelements such as nanoparticles or single-walled carbon nanotubes to form a nanoelement bridge connecting the microelectrodes. The assembly process can be carried out at room temperature, is compatible with conventional semiconductor fabrication, and has a high yield. The current-voltage curves obtained from the nanoelement bridge demonstrate that the assembly is functional with a resistance of −40 ohms for gold nanoparticles. The method is suitable for making high density three-dimensional circuit interconnects, vertically integrated nanosensors, and for in-line testing of manufactured conductive nanoelements. |
| US08362615B2 |
Memory and manufacturing method thereof
A memory and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The memory includes a dielectric layer, a polysilicon layer, a first buried diffusion, a second buried diffusion, a charge storage structure and a gate. The polysilicon layer is disposed on the dielectric layer and electrically connected to at least a voltage. The first buried diffusion and the second buried diffusion are separately disposed in the surface of the polysilicon layer. The charge storage structure is disposed on the polysilicon layer and positioned between the first buried diffusion and the second buried diffusion. The gate is disposed on the charge storage structure. |
| US08362611B2 |
Semiconductor module, method for manufacturing semiconductor module, and portable device
A semiconductor module is of a structure such that a wiring layer, an insulating resin layer and a semiconductor device are stacked in this order by bonding them together with compression. In the wiring layer, bump electrodes each having a base and a tip portion are provided in positions corresponding respectively to device electrodes of the semiconductor device. The bump electrodes penetrate the insulating resin layer and are electrically coupled to the corresponding device electrodes. |
| US08362610B2 |
Mounting configuration of electronic component
An electronic component mounting configuration in which an electronic component chip having a plurality of protrusion-shaped electrodes distributed on its entire mounting surface is mounted through protrusion-shaped electrodes on a printed circuit board is provided which is capable of improving reliability of an electronic component by relieving thermal stress. The solder bumps are arranged so that intervals between solder bumps adjacent to one another become smaller from a central portion of a mounting surface of the electronic component chip toward the peripheral portion thereof. For example, an interval between the solder bump “1A” arranged in the central portion of the semiconductor chip and the solder bump “1B” arranged in an outer side thereof, adjacent to each other, is set to a pitch of P1. An interval between the solder bump “1B” and the solder bump “1C” formed arranged in an outer side thereof, adjacent to each other, is set to a pitch of P2 and an interval between the solder bump “1C” and the solder bump “1D” formed arranged in an outer side thereof, adjacent to each other, is set to a pitch of P3 (P1>P2>P3). |
| US08362608B2 |
Ultra wideband hermetically sealed surface mount technology for microwave monolithic integrated circuit package
An ultra wideband hermetically sealed surface mount package for a microwave monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC) is provided including: an integrated circuit; a package body being mounted with the integrated circuit and comprising a plurality of first dielectrics formed in a multilayer, a first line unit mounted to a circuit substrate and is electrically connected with an external circuit, a second line unit upwardly extended from the first line unit and is electrically connected with the first line unit, a third line unit extended to the right angle from the second line unit and is electrically connected with the second line unit, and a bonding unit that electrically connects the third line unit and the mounted integrated circuit; and a package cover being formed on the package body to seal the integrated circuit and comprising a plurality of second dielectrics formed in a multilayer. |
| US08362607B2 |
Integrated circuit package including a thermally and electrically conductive package lid
An integrated circuit package includes a thermally and electrically conductive package lid. The package lid may be in electrical communication with an electrically conductive pad connected to a power plane, ground plane, or signal route in the integrated circuit. The electrically conductive package lid may provide an electrical connection for electrical power or electrical signals or may serve as an electrical ground. In some embodiments, the package lid may include a thermally and electrically conductive material. In other embodiments, the package lid may include an electrically insulative substrate coated on at least one surface with a layer of metal or another conductive material. The conductive layer may be electrically connected to electrical ground, a reference voltage, or a signal pay by at least one electrically conductive via. |
| US08362604B2 |
Ferroelectric tunnel FET switch and memory
A Ferroelectric tunnel FET switch as ultra-steep (abrupt) switch with subthreshold swing better than the MOSFET limit of 60 mV/decade at room temperature combining two key principles: ferroelectric gate stack and band-to-band tunneling in gated p-i-n junction, wherein the ferroelectric material included in the gate stack creates, due to dipole polarization with increasing gate voltage, a positive feedback in the capacitive coupling that controls the band-to-band (BTB) tunneling at the source junction of a silicon p-i-n reversed bias structure, wherein the combined effect of BTB tunneling and ferroelectric negative capacitance offers more abrupt off-on and on-off transitions in the present proposed Ferroelectric tunnel FET than for any reported tunnel FET or any reported ferroelectric FET. |
| US08362603B2 |
Flexible circuit light-emitting structures
Light-emitting structures, and related components, systems, and methods associated therewith are provided. In one embodiment, a light-emitting structure includes at least one LED, a contact bond pad supported by the at least one LED, and a flexible circuit member bonded to the contact bond pad. |
| US08362600B2 |
Method and structure to reduce soft error rate susceptibility in semiconductor structures
A method is disclosed that includes providing a semiconductor substrate having one or more device levels including a number of devices, and forming a number of wiring levels on a top surface of the one or more device levels, wherein one or more of the number of wiring levels includes one or more alpha particle blocking shields situated between at least one of the number of devices and a predetermined first location where a terminal pad will be formed in one of the wiring levels, the one or more alpha particle blocking shields placed at a second location, having one or more widths, and occupying a predetermined number of the wiring levels, sufficient to prevent a predetermined percentage of alpha particles of a selected energy or less expected to be emitted from an alpha particle emitting metallization to be formed adjacent and connected to the terminal pad from reaching the one device. |
| US08362593B2 |
Method for stacking semiconductor dies
A system and method for stacking semiconductor dies is disclosed. A preferred embodiment comprises forming through-silicon vias through the wafer, protecting a rim edge of the wafer, and then removing the unprotected portions so that the rim edge has a greater thickness than the thinned wafer. This thickness helps the fragile wafer survive further transport and process steps. The rim edge is then preferably removed during singulation of the individual dies from the wafer. |
| US08362591B2 |
Integrated circuits and methods of forming the same
A three-dimensional integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate where the substrate has an opening extending through a first surface and a second surface of the substrate and where the first surface and the second surface are opposite surfaces of the substrate. A conductive material substantially fills the opening of the substrate to form a conductive through-substrate-via (TSV). An active circuit is disposed on the first surface of the substrate, an inductor is disposed on the second surface of the substrate and the TSV is electrically coupled to the active circuit and the inductor. The three-dimensional integrated circuit may include a varactor formed from a dielectric layer formed in the opening of the substrate such that the conductive material is disposed adjacent the dielectric layer and an impurity implanted region disposed surrounding the TSV such that the dielectric layer is formed between the impurity implanted region and the TSV. |
| US08362590B2 |
Power semiconductor component including a potential probe
A power semiconductor component including a semiconductor body and two load terminals is provided. Provided furthermore is a potential probe positioned to tap an electric intermediate potential of the semiconductor body at a tap location of the semiconductor body for an electric voltage applied across the two load terminals, the intermediate potential being intermediate to the electric potentials of the two load terminals, but differing from each of the two electric potentials of the two load terminals. |
| US08362585B1 |
Junction barrier Schottky diode with enforced upper contact structure and method for robust packaging
A semiconductor junction barrier Schottky (JBS-SKY) diode with enforced upper contact structure (EUCS) is disclosed. Referencing an X-Y-Z coordinate, the JBS-SKY diode has semiconductor substrate (SCST) parallel to X-Y plane. Active device zone (ACDZ) atop SCST and having a JBS-SKY diode with Z-direction current flow. Peripheral guarding zone (PRGZ) atop SCST and surrounding the ACDZ. The ACDZ has active lower semiconductor structure (ALSS) and enforced active upper contact structure (EUCS) atop ALSS. The EUC has top contact metal (TPCM) extending downwards and in electrical conduction with bottom of EUCS; and embedded bottom supporting structure (EBSS) inside TPCM and made of a hard material, the EBSS extending downwards till bottom of the EUCS. Upon encountering bonding force onto TPCM during packaging of the JBS-SKY diode, the EBSS enforces the EUCS against an otherwise potential micro cracking of the TPCM degrading the leakage current of the JBS-SKY diode. |
| US08362584B2 |
Pyroelectric detector, pyroelectric detection device, and electronic instrument
A pyroelectric detector includes a pyroelectric detection element, a support member and a support part. The pyroelectric detection element has a capacitor including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a pyroelectric body. The support member includes first and second sides with the pyroelectric detection element being mounted on the first side and the second side facing a cavity. The support part, the support member, and the pyroelectric detection element are laminated in this order in a first direction with the cavity being formed between the support part and the support member. The support member has at least a first insulation layer on the first side contacting the first electrode, with the first insulation layer having a hydrogen content rate smaller than a hydrogen content rate of a second insulation layer positioned further in a second direction than the first insulation layer, the second direction being opposite the first direction. |
| US08362582B2 |
Semiconductor nanostructures, semiconductor devices, and methods of making same
A semiconductor structure is provided, which includes multiple sections arranged along a longitudinal axis. Preferably, the semiconductor structure comprises a middle section and two terminal sections located at opposite ends of the middle section. A semiconductor core having a first dopant concentration preferably extends along the longitudinal axis through the middle section and the two terminal sections. A semiconductor shell having a second, higher dopant concentration preferably encircles a portion of the semiconductor core at the two terminal sections, but not at the middle section, of the semiconductor structure. It is particularly preferred that the semiconductor structure is a nanostructure having a cross-sectional dimension of not more than 100 nm. |
| US08362579B2 |
Semiconductor device including a magnetic sensor chip
A semiconductor device includes a housing defining a cavity, a magnetic sensor chip disposed in the cavity, and mold material covering the magnetic sensor chip and substantially filling the cavity. One of the housing or the mold material is ferromagnetic, and the other one of the housing or the mold material is non-ferromagnetic. |
| US08362578B2 |
Triple-axis MEMS accelerometer
An integrated circuit structure includes a triple-axis accelerometer, which further includes a proof-mass formed of a semiconductor material; a first spring formed of the semiconductor material and connected to the proof-mass, wherein the first spring is configured to allow the proof-mass to move in a first direction in a plane; and a second spring formed of the semiconductor material and connected to the proof-mass. The second spring is configured to allow the proof-mass to move in a second direction in the plane and perpendicular to the first direction. The triple-axis accelerometer further includes a conductive capacitor plate including a portion directly over, and spaced apart from, the proof-mass, wherein the conductive capacitor plate and the proof-mass form a capacitor; an anchor electrode contacting a semiconductor region; and a transition region connecting the anchor electrode and the conductive capacitor plate, wherein the transition region is slanted. |
| US08362573B2 |
Integrated circuits and manufacturing methods thereof
An integrated circuit includes a first diffusion area for a first type transistor. The first type transistor includes a first drain region and a first source region. A second diffusion area for a second type transistor is spaced from the first diffusion area. The second type transistor includes a second drain region and a second source region. A gate electrode continuously extends across the first diffusion area and the second diffusion area in a routing direction. The first metallic layer is electrically coupled with the first source region. The first metallic layer and the first diffusion area overlap with a first distance. A second metallic layer is electrically coupled with the first drain region and the second drain region. The second metallic layer and the first diffusion area overlap with a second distance. The first distance is larger than the second distance. |
| US08362570B2 |
Method for making complementary P and N MOSFET transistors, electronic device including such transistors, and processor including at least one such device
This method for making complementary p and n MOSFET transistors with Schottky source and drain electrodes controlled by a gate electrode, comprising: making source and drain electrodes from a single silicide for both p and n transistors; segregating first impurities from groups II and III of the periodic table at the interface between the silicide and the channel of the p transistor, the complementary n transistor being masked; and segregating second impurities from groups V and VI of the periodic table, at the interface between the silicide and the channel of the n transistor, and the complementary p transistor being masked. |
| US08362569B2 |
Semiconductor device and semiconductor device fabrication method
A semiconductor device fabrication method including: forming a gate conductor including a gate for a transistor in the first region, and a gate for a transistor in the second region, and a first film over a first stress film for covering the transistors; etching the first film from the second region by using a mask layer and etching the first film under the mask layer in the direction parallel to the surface of the semiconductor substrate by a first width from an edge of the first mask layer, and the first stress film from the second region; forming a second stress film covering the first stress film and the first film; etching the second stress film so that a portion of the second stress film overlaps a portion of the first stress film and a portion of the first film; and forming a contact hole connected with the gate conductor. |
| US08362568B2 |
Recessed contact for multi-gate FET optimizing series resistance
A transistor, which can be referred to as a multi-gate transistor or as a FinFET, includes a gate structure having a length, a width and a height. The transistor further includes at least one electrically conductive channel or fin between a source region and a drain region that passes through the width of the gate structure. The channel has a first height (h1) within the gate structure that is less than the height of the gate structure, and has a second height (h2) external to the gate structure, where h2 is less than h1. The transistor further includes a silicide layer disposed at least partially over the at least one channel external to the gate structure. Reducing the fin height external to the gate structure is shown to beneficially reduce parasitic resistance. |
| US08362562B2 |
Semiconductor device with selected transistor properties
In a semiconductor device of a silicon on insulator (SOI) structure having uniform transistor properties, a first distance between a gate electrode forming position of an N type transistor and an end of a P type semiconductor region is greater than a second distance between a gate electrode forming position of the P type transistor and an edge of the N type semiconductor region. |
| US08362559B2 |
Hybrid molecular electronic devices containing molecule-functionalized surfaces for switching, memory, and sensor applications and methods for fabricating same
This invention is generally related to a method of making a molecule-surface interface comprising at least one surface comprising at least one material and at least one organic group wherein the organic group is adjoined to the surface and the method comprises contacting at least one organic group precursor with at least one surface wherein the organic group precursor is capable of reacting with the surface in a manner sufficient to adjoin the organic group and the surface. The present invention is directed to hybrid molecular electronic devices having a molecule-surface interface. Such hybrid molecular electronic devices may advantageously have either a top or bottom gate electrode for modifying a conductivity of the devices. |
| US08362550B2 |
Trench power MOSFET with reduced on-resistance
A semiconductor device includes a drift region, a well region extending above the drift region, an active trench including sidewalls and a bottom, the active trench extending through the well region and into the drift region and having at least portions of its sidewalls and bottom lined with dielectric material. The device further includes a shield disposed within the active trench and separated from the sidewalls of the active trench by the dielectric material, a gate disposed within the active trench above the first shield and separated therefrom by inter-electrode dielectric material, and source regions formed in the well region adjacent the active trench. The gate is separated from the sidewalls of the active trench by the dielectric material. The shield and the gate are made of materials having different work functions. |
| US08362544B2 |
Switching device and testing apparatus
There is provided a switching device that electrically connects or disconnects a first terminal and a second terminal to/from each other. The switching device includes a semiconductor layer, a drain electrode that is formed in the semiconductor layer, where the drain electrode is connected to the first terminal, a source electrode that is formed in the semiconductor layer, where the source electrode is connected to the second terminal, a gate insulator that is formed on the semiconductor layer between the drain electrode and the source electrode, a floating gate that is formed on the gate insulator, where the floating gate retains a charge therein, and a tunnel gate that is formed on the floating gate, the tunnel gate supplying a tunnel current determined by a driving voltage applied thereto to charge or discharge the floating gate. |
| US08362543B2 |
Semiconductor nonvolatile memory device with inter-gate insulating film formed on the side surface of a memory cell and method for manufacturing the same
A nonvolatile semiconductor device and method having a plurality of series-connected memory cells with floating and control gate electrodes, and a first insulating layer formed between the gate electrodes. One of the memory cells has the floating gate formed to contact the control gate electrode through an aperture in the insulating layer. The insulating layer is removed to form spaces between the gate electrodes. A second insulating film is formed in the spaces between the gate electrodes. The dummy electrode supports the series of gate electrodes to maintain the spaces between the electrodes. The second insulating layer is formed to be continuous in the spaces and on side surfaces of the gate electrodes. The second insulating layer may have a stacked structure with n layers in the spaces and (n−1)/2 layers on the side surfaces. |
| US08362539B2 |
Semiconductor device and semiconductor package including the same
A semiconductor device includes a first substrate including at least one first well region and first impurity regions on portions of the substrate and a bias voltage plate on a surface of the substrate. A semiconductor device may be of a three dimensional stack structure, and in example embodiments, the semiconductor device may further include a through contact plug substantially perpendicularly penetrating at least one substrate and at least one bias voltage plate. Therefore, a design margin of a semiconductor device may be enhanced and a bias voltage may be provided reliably. |
| US08362538B2 |
Memory device, semiconductor device, and electronic device
An object is to provide a memory device which does not need a complex manufacturing process and whose power consumption can be suppressed, and a semiconductor device including the memory device. A solution is to provide a capacitor which holds data and a switching element which controls storing and releasing charge in the capacitor in a memory element. In the memory element, a phase-inversion element such as an inverter or a clocked inverter includes the phase of an input signal is inverted and the signal is output. For the switching element, a transistor including an oxide semiconductor in a channel formation region is used. In the case where application of a power supply voltage to the phase-inversion element is stopped, the data is stored in the capacitor, so that the data is held in the capacitor even when the application of the power supply voltage to the phase-inversion element is stopped. |
| US08362537B2 |
Memory devices including semiconductor pillars
One embodiment relates to an integrated circuit that includes a memory array of pillars arranged in rows and columns. The pillars are separated from one another by row trenches and column trenches. The column trenches include a pair of parallel column trenches. A first trench of the pair includes two parallel bit lines coupled to pillars adjacent to the first trench. A second trench of the pair is free of bit lines. Other methods, devices, and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08362536B2 |
Semiconductor device having vertical channel transistor and methods of fabricating the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a first pair of pillars extending from a substrate to form vertical channel regions, the first pair of pillars having a first pillar and a second pillar adjacent to each other, the first pillar and the second pillar arranged in a first direction, a first bit line disposed on a bottom surface of a first trench formed between the first pair of pillars, the first bit line extending in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction, a first contact gate disposed on a first surface of the first pillar with a first gate insulating layer therebetween, a second contact gate disposed on a first surface of the second pillar with a second gate insulating layer therebetween, the first surface of the first pillar and the first surface of the second pillar face opposite directions, and a first word line disposed on the first contact gate and a second word line disposed on the second contact gate, the word lines extending in the first direction. |
| US08362535B2 |
Layout structure of non-volatile memory device
A non-volatile memory cell includes a semiconductor substrate with isolation structures formed therein and thereby transistor region and capacitor region are defined therein. A conductor is disposed over the isolation structures, the transistor region and a first-type doped well disposed in the capacitor region. The conductor includes a capacitor portion disposed over the first-type doped well, a transistor portion disposed over the transistor region, a first edge disposed over the isolation structure at a side of the transistor region, and an opposite second edge disposed over the first-type doped well. Two first ion doped wells are disposed in the transistor region and respectively at two sides of the transistor portion, and constitutes a transistor with the transistor portion. A second ion doped region is disposed in the capacitor region excluding the conductor and constitutes a capacitor with the capacitor portion. |
| US08362530B2 |
Semiconductor device including MISFET and its manufacture method
An active region made of Si or SiGe is formed in a surface part of a substrate. A gate electrode is disposed over the active region. A gate insulating film is disposed between the gate electrode and the substrate. A source and a drain are formed in the surface part of the substrate on sides of the gate electrode. A surface of the active region under the gate electrode includes a slope surface being upward from a border of the active region toward an inner side of the active region. The slope surface has a crystal plane equivalent to (331). |
| US08362525B2 |
Field effect device having a channel of nanofabric and methods of making same
Field effect devices having channels of nanofabric and methods of making same. A nanotube field effect transistor is made to have a substrate, and a drain region and a source region in spaced relation relative to each other. A channel region is formed from a fabric of nanotubes, in which the nanotubes of the channel region are substantially all of the same semiconducting type of nanotubes. At least one gate is formed in proximity to the channel region so that the gate may be used to modulate the conductivity of the channel region so that a conductive path may be formed between the drain and source region. Forming a channel region includes forming a fabric of nanotubes in which the fabric has both semiconducting and metallic nanotubes and the fabric is processed to remove substantially all of the metallic nanotubes. |
| US08362522B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
In a semiconductor film having a heterojunction structure, for example a semiconductor film including a SiGe layer and a Si layer formed on the SiGe layer, impurity concentration is controlled in such a manner that the concentration of impurity in the lower, SiGe layer becomes higher than that in the upper, Si layer by exploiting the fact that there is a difference between the SiGe layer and the Si layer in the diffusion coefficient of the impurity. The impurity contained in the semiconductor film 11 is of the conductivity type opposite to that of the transistor (p-type in the case of an n-type MOS transistor whereas n-type in the case of a p-type MOS transistor). In this way, the mobility in a semiconductor device including a semiconductor film having a heterojunction structure with a compression strain structure is increased, thereby improving the transistor characteristics and reliability of the device. |
| US08362519B2 |
Semiconductor device
The present teachings provide a semiconductor device comprising: an IGBT element region, a diode element region and a boundary region provided between the IGBT element region and the diode element region are formed in one semiconductor substrate. The boundary region comprises a second conductivity type first diffusion region, a first conductivity type second diffusion region, and a second conductivity type third diffusion region. A first drift region of the IGBT element region contiguously contacts the first diffusion region of the boundary region, and a second drift region of the diode element region contiguously contacts the first diffusion region of the boundary region. A first body region of the IGBT element region contiguously contacts the second diffusion region of the boundary region, and a second body region of the diode element region contiguously contacts the second diffusion region of the boundary region. |
| US08362518B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A separation layer containing a halogen element is formed over a glass substrate by a plasma CVD method; a semiconductor element is formed over the separation layer; and separation is then performed inside the separation layer or at its interface, so that the large-area glass substrate and the semiconductor element are detached from each other. In order to perform detachment at the interface between the glass substrate and the separation layer, the separation layer may have concentration gradient of the halogen element, and the halogen element is contained more near the interface between the separation layer and the glass substrate than in the other areas. |
| US08362513B2 |
Surface mount LED and holder
A surface mount LED for attaching an LED to a substrate using a conventional reflow soldering technique. The surface mount LED according to this invention includes an LED and a holder. The LED includes a plurality of leads. The holder supports the LED and includes a plurality of feet arranged at approximately equal intervals around the perimeter of a base of the holder. Each lead is wrapped around a respective foot. The resulting wrapped lead forms a contact point corresponding with a solder pad layout for attaching the surface mount LED to a substrate. |
| US08362509B2 |
Solid state lighting device including heatsink formed by stamping and/or die shaping
A solid state lighting device includes a device-scale stamped heatsink with a base portion and multiple segments or sidewalls projecting outward from the base portion, and dissipates all steady state thermal load of a solid state emitter to an ambient air environment. The heatsink is in thermal communication with one or more solid state emitters, and may define a cup-like cavity containing a reflector. At least a portion of each one sidewall portion or segment extends in a direction non-parallel to the base portion. A dielectric layer and at least one electrical trace may be deposited over a metallic sheet to form a composite sheet, and the composite sheet may be processed by stamping and/or progressive die shaping to form a heatsink with integral circuitry. At least some segments of a heatsink may be arranged to structurally support a lens and/or reflector associated with a solid state lighting device. |
| US08362505B2 |
Optical device and the forming method thereof
An optical device is provided which includes a first electrode; a substrate disposed on the first electrode; a multi-layer structure disposed on the substrate, and the multi-layer structure consisted of a plurality of insulating layers with different refractive indices formed alternately; a first conductive semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate to cover the multi-layer structure; an active layer disposed on the first conductive semiconductor layer; a second conductive semiconductor layer disposed on the active layer; a transparent conductive layer disposed on the second conductive semiconductor layer; and a second electrode disposed on the transparent conductive layer, thereby, the multi-layer structure can increase the light reflective effect or anti-reflective effect within the optical device to improve the light emitting-efficiency. |
| US08362504B2 |
Light emitting diode device using nanocrystal-metal oxide composite and method for fabricating the same
A light emitting diode device includes a light emitting diode chip and a nanocrystal-metal oxide monolith having a nanocrystal-metal oxide composite disposed on a light emitting surface of the light emitting diode chip. |
| US08362501B2 |
Light-emitting device
The application illustrates a light-emitting device including a contact layer and a current spreading layer on the contact layer. A part of the contact layer is a rough structure and a part of the contact layer is a flat structure. A part of the current spreading layer is a rough structure and a part of the current spreading layer is a flat structure. The rough region of the contact layer and the rough region of the current spreading layer are substantially overlapped. |
| US08362495B2 |
Rod-shaped semiconductor device
A rod-shaped semiconductor device having a light-receiving or light-emitting function is equipped with a rod-shaped substrate made of p-type or n-type semiconductor crystal, a separate conductive layer which is formed on a part of the surface of the substrate excluding a band-shaped part parallel to the axis of the substrate and has a different conduction type from the conduction type of the substrate, a pn-junction formed with the substrate and separate conductive layer, a band-shaped first electrode which is formed on the surface of the band-shaped part on the substrate and ohmic-connected to the substrate, and a band-shaped second electrode which is formed on the opposite side of the first electrode across the shaft of said substrate and ohmic-connected to the separate conductive layer. |
| US08362493B2 |
Configurations of a semiconductor light emitting device and planar light source
A semiconductor light emitting device includes: a base portion having a concave portion formed in one of major surfaces thereof; and a light emitting element mounted on a bottom surface of the concave portion of the base portion. The base portion comprises a side wall portion that surrounds the light emitting element. The light emitting element is covered with a resin portion filled in the concave portion. At least a part of an upper surface of the resin portion is positioned closer to the bottom surface of the concave portion than an upper surface of the side wall portion. |
| US08362491B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for fabricating the same
An LCD device is disclosed, to minimize the signal distortion by decreasing the instability of voltage in a-Si:H TFT of a gate driving signal output unit, which includes a signal controller for outputting first and second control signals Q and /Q; a pull-up transistor between a clock signal terminal CLK and a gate driving signal output terminal for receiving the first control signal Q, the pull-up transistor having a first gate electrode, a first source electrode and a first drain electrode, wherein the pull-up transistor has an asymmetric structure in a first area of the first source electrode overlapped with the first gate electrode and a second area of the first drain electrode overlapped with the first gate electrode; and a pull-down transistor connected between the gate driving signal output terminal and a ground voltage terminal, wherein the pull-down transistor receives the second control signal. |
| US08362488B2 |
Flexible backplane and methods for its manufacture
The present invention is directed to a flexible backplane for direct drive display devices and methods for its manufacture. The flexible backplane has many advantages. Because there is no need for a polyimide layer and only one layer of metal foil is used, the backplanes may be manufactured at a relatively low cost. |
| US08362482B2 |
Semiconductor device and structure
A semiconductor device including a first layer including first transistors, wherein first logic circuits are constructed by the first transistors, and wherein the first logic circuits include at least one of Inverter, NAND gate, or NOR gate; and a second layer overlaying said first layer, the second layer including second transistors, wherein second logic circuits are constructed by the second transistors; wherein each logic circuit in the first logic circuits has inputs and at least one first output, the inputs are connected to the second logic circuits; wherein each logic circuit in the second logic circuits has a second output, and wherein the first transistors include first selectors adapted to selectively replace at least one of the at least one first outputs with at least one of the second outputs. |
| US08362481B2 |
Ultra high speed signal transmission/reception
There is provided, in combination, an integrated circuit chip, a device, and a multilayered structure mounted between the integrated circuit chip and the device. The multilayered structure has signal pathways that transfer signals between the integrated circuit chip and the device, and at least one signal pathway with a first wireless coupling element in the multilayered structure that is in communication with a second wireless coupling element in one of the integrated circuit chip, the device, and the multilayered structure. |
| US08362480B1 |
Reusable test chip for inline probing of three dimensionally arranged experiments
A Characterization Vehicle (CV) and a method for forming it which yields a gain in efficiency for IC yield ramp improvements by enabling faster learning cycles and diagnosis while reducing costs. A plurality of SF experiments are combined into a single full flow mask set with many inline testing points. Smaller pads are arranged in a way supporting testing of interleaved pad frames, parallel testing, and the usage of stacked test structures, or Devices Under Test (DUT's). |
| US08362479B2 |
Semiconductor material
A semiconductor device which comprises a channel layer formed from a semiconductor channel component material in the form of crystalline micro particles, micro rods, crystalline nano particles, or nano rods, and doped with a semiconductor dopant. |
| US08362476B2 |
Cubic semiconductor alloys for deep UV applications
A cubic epitaxial article and electronic devices therefrom includes a single crystal cubic oxide substrate having a substrate band gap and a top surface. An epitaxial cubic oxide alloy layer that includes at least one transition metal or group IIA metal disposed on the top surface of the substrate. The epitaxial cubic oxide alloy layer has a band gap that is different than the substrate band gap and has a lattice that is lattice matched within 5% to a lattice of the single crystal cubic oxide substrate. |
| US08362473B2 |
Organic EL device and method for manufacturing same
A manufacturing method of an organic EL device, comprising: providing a substrate on which a pixel electrode is arranged, forming a liquid repellent organic film on the substrate and the pixel electrode, radiating a light selectively to an area of the pixel electrode to be coated with an organic functional layer, to oxidize a surface of the pixel electrode, and to change the liquid repellent organic film on the area to a lyophilic organic film or to remove the liquid repellent organic film on the area, applying an ink containing an organic functional material on the area defined by the liquid repellent organic film to form the organic functional layer on the pixel electrode. |
| US08362467B2 |
Composition for an organic dielectric
A composition for an organic dielectric, includes a compound represented by Formula 1 below; and a cross-linking agent, wherein, in Formula 1, R1 is any one of hydrogen, hydroxyl group, ester group, amide group, or alkyl group or alkoxy group of a carbon number of 1 to 12, R2 is selected from electrolytic functional groups, each of a and b is a positive integer, and the ratio of b to a (b/a) is larger than 0 and smaller than 99, |
| US08362464B2 |
Organic nanofiber structure based on self-assembled organogel, organic nanofiber transistor using the same, and method of manufacturing the organic nanofiber transistor
An organic nanofiber including a gelled organic semiconductor compound. Also disclosed is an organic semiconductor transistor and a method of manufacturing an organic semiconductor transistor. |
| US08362463B2 |
Organometallic complexes
Organometallic complexes are provided having at least one charge transporting ligand, and methods for making the same, as well as devices and sub-assemblies including the same. |
| US08362461B2 |
Quantum well device
An apparatus includes a primary planar quantum well and a planar distribution of dopant atoms. The primary planar quantum well is formed by a lower barrier layer, a central well layer on the lower barrier layer, and an upper barrier layer on the central well layer. Each of the layers is a semiconductor layer. One of the barrier layers has a secondary planar quantum well and is located between the planar distribution of dopant atoms and the central well layer. The primary planar quantum well may be undoped or substantially undoped, e.g., intrinsic semiconductor. |
| US08362460B2 |
Method of fabricating semiconductor devices on a group IV substrate with controlled interface properties and diffusion tails
A multi junction solar cell having epitaxially-deposited III/V compounds on vicinal group IV substrates and method for making same. The solar cell includes an AlAs nucleating layer on a Ge substrate. The group IV substrate contains a p-n junction whose change of characteristics during epitaxial growth of As-containing layers is minimized by the AlAs nucleating layer. The AlAs nucleating layer provides improved morphology of the solar cell and a means to control the position of a p-n junction near the surface of the group IV substrate through diffusion of As and/or P and near the bottom of the III/V structure through minimized diffusion of the group IV element. |
| US08362457B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a lower electrode, a variable resistance layer disposed over the lower electrode, the variable resistance layer is included a reactive metal layer being interposed between a plurality of oxide resistive layers and an upper electrode disposed over the variable resistance layer. |
| US08362454B2 |
Resistive random access memory having metal oxide layer with oxygen vacancies and method for fabricating the same
A resistive random access memory and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The method includes providing a bottom electrode formed on a substrate. A metal oxide layer is formed on the bottom electrode. An oxygen atom gettering layer is formed on the metal oxide layer. A top electrode is formed on the oxygen atom gettering layer. The previous mentioned structure is subjected to a thermal treatment, driving the oxygen atoms of the metal oxide layer to migrate into and react with the oxygen atom gettering layer, thus leaving a plurality of oxygen vacancies of the metal oxide layer. |
| US08362446B1 |
Apparatus for determining the position of an object
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus which can provide rapid scanning of large specimens (14) to detect and determine positions of objects having specific characteristics. The apparatus may, further, be adapted to store information associated with the positions of the detected objects and to retrieve this position information so that an operator may locate a particular type of target object or objects in the specimen for detailed inspection and analysis subsequent to the scanning. The position information may be stored in a volatile or non-volatile memory device provided therefore in a preferred embodiment of the invention. The specimen may be provided on a solid support, such as a circular disc (13) which may be rotatably mounted about an axis (17) of a frame of the apparatus. The objects can be cells or microorganisms of a particular rare type, i.e. they may be present in a very low density in the specimen. |
| US08362439B1 |
Mixed cesium sodium and lithium halide scintillator compositions
The present invention relates to scintillator compositions and related devices and methods. The scintillator may include, for example, a mixed scintillator composition including at least two different CsXLa halide compounds and a dopant, wherein X is Na or Li. Related radiation detection devices and methods are further included. |
| US08362434B2 |
System and method for radiation dose reduction in molecular breast imaging
A system and method is provided for analyzing detector data acquired during molecular breast imaging (MBI) that reduces a patient's radiation does without a reduction in image quality. The method processes and combines initial images acquired by the two gamma-camera detectors of the MBI system to produce a hybrid or composite image set having reduced noise and improved contrast. The composite image provides image quality comparable to that of traditional MBI methods, but at a lower patient radiation dose. |
| US08362433B2 |
X-ray detector fabrication methods and apparatus therefrom
A method of fabricating a scintillator includes forming a green part comprised of a nanometer-sized powder, sintering the green part at a first temperature for a first time period, and sintering the green part at a second temperature for a second time period. |
| US08362432B2 |
Optical liquid sensor
The inventive optical sensor consists of an LED semiconductor material and elements (herein after the LED components) surrounded by a transparent encapsulant that allows much of the light produced by the LED components to pass while a certain small percentage of the light is internally reflected. The percentage of light internally reflected, depends upon whether at least a front face of the encapsulant is immersed in liquid or in air. The optical liquid sensor also consists of a strategically placed photo sensor that detects the intensity of light that is internally reflected by at least the front face of the encapsulant surrounding the LED. The photo sensor is able to detect the change in intensity of light being internally reflected by at least the front face of the encapsulated LED when the front face, for example, emerges from immersion in a liquid. |
| US08362427B2 |
Electron beam irradiation apparatus and electron beam drawing apparatus
According to one embodiment, an electron beam irradiation apparatus comprises an objective lens configured to irradiate a specimen surface with an electron beam, an electron detector which is provided between the objective lens and the specimen surface and which is configured to detect reflected electrons or secondary electrons emitted from the specimen surface, and an antireflection mechanism which is provided between the electron detector and the specimen surface. The antireflection mechanism has a plurality of holes following spiral trajectories of reflected electrons or secondary electrons emitted from the specimen surface and is configured to prevent the reflected electrons or secondary electrons from being re-reflected toward the specimen surface and to direct a part of the reflected electrons or secondary electrons to the electron detector. |
| US08362426B2 |
Scanning electron microscope and image signal processing method
The SEM has a dynamic range reference value setting unit for setting dynamic range reference values, a dynamic range adjustment unit for receiving an observation image signal delivered out of a secondary electron detector, adjusting the dynamic range of the observation image signal on the basis of the dynamic range reference values and outputting the thus adjusted observation image signal as an observation image signal after adjustment, a display image generation unit for determining luminous intensity levels of individual pixels of an image to be displayed based on the observation image signal after adjustment to generate a display image, a histogram generation unit for generating a histogram of luminous intensity levels of the display image and extracting, as a luminous intensity peak value, at which the frequency of luminous intensity is maximized, and a display unit for displaying the generated histogram and the extracted luminous intensity peak value. |
| US08362424B2 |
Mass spectrometer
An ion-ion reaction cell is provided comprising a plurality of electrodes forming an ion guide. A transient DC voltage wave is applied to the electrodes in order to load reagent anions into the ion guide. Analyte cations are then subsequently transmitted through the ion-ion reaction cell by a subsequent transient DC voltage wave. Ion are arranged to undergo ion-ion reactions within the reaction cell and the resulting fragment ions which are formed within the reaction cell are then subsequently translated out of the reaction cell by means of a transient DC voltage wave. |
| US08362420B2 |
Apparatus and methods for analyzing ions
An apparatus (10) for separating Ions based on ion mobility includes a conduit (12) defining a closed path. The conduit is configured such that a uniform electric field is produced about the closed path upon application of a voltage causing ions within the conduit (12) to move about the closed path and to separate the ions based upon ion mobility. A method of separating a plurality of ions is also disclosed. |
| US08362418B2 |
Non-destructive, high order harmonic ion motion image current detection
The invention herein generally relates to non-destructive, high order harmonic ion motion image current detection. In certain embodiments, ion motion corresponding to high order harmonic frequencies, instead of the secular frequencies, is detected using image current detection with a constant excitation applied to the waveform signal. |
| US08362417B2 |
Mass spectrometry assay for plasma-renin
Provided are methods for measuring renin activity in a plasma sample using mass spectrometry. The methods generally involve ionizing purified angiotensin 1 from the sample and detecting the amount of angiotensin 1 ions generated. The amount of detected angiotensin 1 ions are then related to the amount of angiotensin 1 generated in the sample, which in turn is related to renin activity in the sample. |
| US08362416B2 |
Methods for detecting catecholamines by mass spectrometry
Provided are methods for determining the amount of one or more of one or more of epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (D) in a sample using mass spectrometry. The methods generally involve ionizing one or more of E, NE, and D in a sample and detecting and quantifying the amount of the ion to determine the amount of one or more of E, NE, and D in the sample. |
| US08362415B2 |
Imaging mass spectrometer with mass tags
A method of analyzing biological material by exposing the biological material to a recognition element, that is coupled to a mass tag element, directing an ion beam of a mass spectrometer to the biological material, interrogating at least one region of interest area from the biological material and producing data, and distributing the data in plots. |
| US08362413B2 |
Contact detection device
A contact detection device includes a number of first bars and second bars. Each first bar includes a number of first sheets. Each second bar includes a number of second sheets. The first bars and the second bars intersect to form a grid with a number of nodes as a contact detection area, each node having exclusive coordinates. Each first sheet defines a light hole, and the light holes are arranged in the same column line in the grid. Opposite sides of each first sheet arranges one photosensitive member above the corresponding light hole, and position of each photosensitive member is determined according to the coordinates of the nearest node in a predetermined direction. Opposite ends of each two adjacent second bars respectively arrange one light emitter therebetween. When one point of the grid is pressed, the light emitted by the light emitter irradiates the photosensitive member. |
| US08362412B2 |
Solid-state image pickup element and driving method thereof
A solid-state image pickup element includes: (A) a light receiving/charge accumulating region formed in a semiconductor layer and formed by laminating M (where M≧2) light receiving/charge accumulating layers; (B) a charge outputting region formed in the semiconductor layer; (C) a depletion layer forming region formed of a part of the semiconductor layer, the part of the semiconductor layer being situated between the light receiving/charge accumulating region and the charge outputting region; and (D) a control electrode region for controlling a state of formation of a depletion layer in the depletion layer forming region, wherein the solid-state image pickup element further includes a light receiving/charge accumulating layer extending section extending from each light receiving/charge accumulating layer to the depletion layer forming region. |
| US08362409B2 |
System and method for continuous, asynchronous autofocus of optical instruments
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to autofocus subsystems within optical instruments that continuously monitor the focus of the optical instruments and adjust distances within the optical instrument along the optical axis in order to maintain a precise and stable optical-instrument focus at a particular point or surface on, within, or near a sample. Certain embodiments of the present invention operate asynchronously with respect to operation of other components and subsystems of the optical instrument in which they are embedded. |
| US08362405B2 |
Heater controller of exhaust gas sensor
A reference heater energization delay time is established according to an engine conditions (shift range, cooling water temperature, intake-air temperature, ambient temperature, and oil temperature) during starting period. An extension delay time is established according to an engine condition after starting period. A final heater energization delay time is established by adding the extension delay time to the reference heater energization delay time. Until an elapsed time after starting period of engine reaches the final heater energization delay time, an energization of a heater of an exhaust gas sensor is inhibited. When the elapsed time after starting period of engine reaches the final heater energization delay time, the energization of the heater is started to heat a sensor element. |
| US08362402B2 |
Fluid warmer with switch assembly
A fluid warmer is disclosed. The fluid warmer includes a support surface, a heating element configured to selectively heat the support surface, and a switch assembly extending through the support surface. The switch assembly includes a switch, a movable switch plate, and a thermocouple. The switch has at least two states, one of which indicates the presence of an item on the support surface. The movable switch plate operably links to the switch to move the switch between the states and further includes a contact surface that contacts an item placed on the support surface. One or more thermocouples are embedded in the movable switch plate below the contact surface. The movable switch plate comprises a material having a thermal conductivity that permits the thermocouple(s) embedded in the switch plate to measure a temperature of an item placed on the support surface within a predetermined period of time. |
| US08362399B2 |
Windshield heater
A windshield heater for heating the bottom section of a vehicle windshield includes a heating element located proximate the windshield selectively energized by direct current from the electrical circuit of the vehicle. The heater may be a heating element directly adhered to the windshield. Alternatively, the heater may include a sleeve enveloping the length of the heating element and a corresponding length of compressible material to lodge the heater between the windshield and the adjacent section of a dashboard to place the heating element proximate the windshield. |
| US08362396B2 |
Apparatus and method for making bag assembly
An apparatus for forming a bag assembly includes opposing die members. Each opposing die member defines a single die and has a perimeter-welding portion for forming a perimeter-weld of the bag assembly and a tube-welding portion for forming a tube-weld of the bag assembly. During operation, the perimeter-welding and tube-welding portions weld the bag assembly simultaneously, then the perimeter-welding portion of one of the opposing die members is moved relative to the tube welding portion of the die member to increase the distance between the perimeter-welding portions of the opposing die members. When the perimeter-welding portions are moved apart, welding by the perimeter-welding portions is generally suspended while welding by the tube-welding portions may continue. |
| US08362394B2 |
Neck for a robotic welding torch
A neck for a welding torch includes a rigid, non-tubular, elongated member having opposite first and second ends. The first end is connectable to a rear portion of the welding torch. The second end is connectable to a welding tip portion of the welding torch. The member locates and holds the welding tip portion in a precisely given location, and does not communicate welding power, welding wire, shielding gas, or cooling water between the first and second ends. |
| US08362390B2 |
Method for welding motor vehicle seat members
A method of laser welding of two members by their respective edges, on a first surface of a slideway section, wherein at least a first one of said members is welded by application of two parallel laser beams from a second surface of the slideway section, with a distance between the beams approximately corresponding to the thickness of the first member, to obtain a laser transmission welding in a single run. |
| US08362384B2 |
Anti-buckling housing for spring within a switch assembly
A switch assembly includes a cover connected to a base to form a switch housing and a toggle switch movably connected to the housing. The toggle switch has a lower portion disposed within the housing and a handle disposed externally of the housing such that movement of the handle moves the toggle switch between off and on positions. A spring is disposed within the housing. A first end of the spring is connected to the base and a second end of the spring is connected to the lower portion of the toggle switch. A spring housing is disposed over at least a portion of the spring to prevent buckling of the spring when the spring moves with the toggle switch. By substantially preventing spring buckling, the switch assembly is safer and has a longer life. |
| US08362379B1 |
Remote switch actuator
The invention provides a device and method for actuating electrical switches remotely. The device is removably attached to the switch and is actuated through the transfer of a user's force. The user is able to remain physically removed from the switch site obviating need for protective equipment. The device and method allow rapid, safe actuation of high-voltage or high-current carrying electrical switches or circuit breakers. |
| US08362377B2 |
Control key assembly for electronic device
A control key assembly for an electronic device includes a housing and a control key. The housing forms a receiving portion defining an opening having two spaced-apart arms. The control key is received in the receiving portion. The control key includes a first hook and a second hook. The first hook and the second hook are slidably engaged in the opening, and alternatively latch with the two arms when the control key is slid between first and second positions. |
| US08362374B2 |
Apparatus for mutual interlocking of two switches, in particular circuit breakers
An apparatus is disclosed for mutual interlocking of two switches, in particular circuit breakers. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus includes two plungers which each engage in one of the two switches and can be moved in the plunger longitudinal direction, wherein, when one switch is being switched on, the plunger which engages in this switch is moved by pivoting of a control disk from its nil-point position to its opening position. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus includes a blocking device which blocks pivoting of the other control disk by moving the plunger to its opening position. In order to achieve a maintenance-free apparatus, in at least one embodiment it is proposed that at least one blocking element of the blocking device is moved by the plunger when this plunger is being moved to its opening position, such that pivoting of the other control disk with respect to the other plunger, which is located in the nil-point position, is blocked. |
| US08362373B2 |
Keys with double-diving-board spring mechanisms
Keys may be formed for keyboards. The keyboards may be attached to electronic devices such as computers or may be formed within a portable computer or other electronic equipment. A keyboard may be provided with a planar housing member such as a top plate. The top plate may have openings through which key caps protrude. Each key cap may be attached to a respective spring mechanism. The spring mechanism for each key may have first and second diving-board structures that flex about respective parallel flex axes. A dome switch may be mounted under each spring mechanism. The dome switch is compressed when the key cap is pressed and the first diving-board structure moves towards the dome switch. The top plate may have edge portions surrounding each key opening that form upstop structures that prevent the key caps and spring mechanisms from tilting when the dome switch is compressed. |
| US08362371B2 |
Key assembly for an electronic device having one-piece keycaps and multi-touch preventing supports
According to one aspect, a keypad for an electronic device includes a plurality of switches and a plurality of keycaps. Each keycap has a plurality of external contact portions defining a full row of the keypad. Each external contact portion corresponds to one of the switches and includes at least one of a text-entry character and a functional character. Each of the external contact portions is movable to actuate the corresponding switch. The keypad further includes a plurality of keycap supports. Each keycap support is disposed between adjacent external contact portions. After one of the external contact portions has been moved to actuate the corresponding switch, at least one of the keycap supports engages the keycap having the one of the external contact portions to inhibit the keycap from actuating at least one of the other switches. |
| US08362370B2 |
Electronic circuit board and electronic circuit board shield method and construction
The present invention has the object of providing a technology that can facilitate inexpensive shields of individual electronic components with good heat exchange efficiency, the electronic circuit board according to the present invention being provided with: a plurality of conductor parts in a standing state that can extend and contract on a ground pattern that surrounds an electronic component on the electronic circuit board, a conductive plate, and securing members for holding the plate such that the plurality of conductor parts contact the plate in a state in which the conductor parts contract from their natural length. |
| US08362364B2 |
Wiring board assembly and manufacturing method thereof
A wiring board assembly includes a rectangular plate-shaped wiring board having a plurality of resin insulation layers and conduction layers alternately laminated together to define opposite first and second main surfaces and a plurality of connection terminals arranged on the first main surface for surface contact with terminals of a chip and a rectangular frame-shaped reinforcing member fixed to the first main surface of the wiring board with the connection terminals exposed through an opening of the reinforcing member. The reinforcing member has a plurality of structural pieces separated by slits extending from an inner circumferential surface to an outer circumferential surface of the reinforcing member. |
| US08362361B2 |
Method for producing parts for passive electronic components and parts produced
A part formed of a laminated strip having at least one stack formed by alternately stacking a thin and fragile metal strip and a layer of an adhesive material. The thin and fragile metal strip is made of an alloy taken from a nanocrystalline alloy or hard and fragile alloy of the type iron-cobalt, iron-platinum, iron-silicon or iron-nickel or nickel-chrome or alloy of molybdenum or tungsten. |
| US08362359B1 |
Surface modified drop cable, method of making same, and drop cable assembly
A drop cable supportable in a drop cable clamping assembly includes a conductive, non-conductive, or combination conductive and non-conductive core enclosed by an extruded cable jacket of thermoplastic material. The cable jacket has a flattened top surface and a flattened bottom surface, either or both of which is provided with a friction engaging surface consisting of indentations or projections formed by one or more rollers following extrusion of the cable jacket and operatively configured for engagement by a clamping surface of the clamping assembly. |
| US08362355B2 |
Sealed monolithic photo-electrochemical system and a method for manufacturing a sealed monolithic photo electrochemical system
A sealed monolithic photo-electrochemical system including an electrically insulating substrate, an electrically conducting pattern having carrier areas arranged to support working electrodes, contact portions connected to counter electrodes, a first set of contact paths connecting the carrier areas with a first terminal, and a second set of contact paths connecting the contact portions with a second terminal. The system further includes an array of porous structures arranged on the substrate, where each porous structure includes a working electrode, an insulating layer and a counter electrode, an electrolyte at least partially filled in the porous structures for forming a plurality of electrochemical cells and an encapsulation covering the array of porous structures, and a method for manufacturing a sealed monolithic electrochemical system. |
| US08362354B2 |
Photovoltaic apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
A photovoltaic apparatus includes a second groove so formed as to cut at least an intermediate layer, an insulating member so formed as to cover at least a cut portion of the intermediate layer in the second groove and extend along an upper surface of a second photoelectric conversion layer, and a third groove so formed as to pass through a first photoelectric conversion layer, the intermediate layer, the second photoelectric conversion layer and the insulating member on a region opposite to a first groove with respect to the second groove, wherein the insulating member is so formed as to extend up to at least a region opposite to the first groove with respect to the third groove. |
| US08362350B2 |
Wearable trigger electronic percussion music system
A Wearable Trigger Electronic Music System that can simulate any kind of music, anywhere and at any time. For example one can create all the benefits of the percussion instrument, such as a drum kit, without its cost and burden. The same also applies to string, wind, and other types of instruments of any nation, culture, motif, era, age, etc. The system includes constituent components, including sensors, transducers, electronics, music modules, pre-amps, and amplifiers, wired or wireless, with connections for intra- and inter-modules, including final enjoyment by wired or wireless headphones or speakers. Also delineated is the process of creating music for the DIY enthusiast. |
| US08362349B2 |
Touch pad disc jockey controller
The present invention pertains to the field of control and manipulation of a digital audio signal by a user manipulable touch sensitive control surface. The present invention is specifically applicable to user manipulation of digital audio signals by disc jockeys (DJs).A touch sensitive surface substantially circumferential in shape is divided into two regions: an inner or central portion and an outer or circumferential portion. The inner portion responds to linear motion imparted by the user while the outer portion responds to circumferential motion. The linear motion imparted by the user in the central portion is used manipulate a digital audio data stream in order to impart a scratch effect. |
| US08362339B1 |
Maize variety hybrid X8M130
A novel maize variety designated X8M130 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X8M130 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X8M130 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X8M130, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X8M130. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X8M130. |
| US08362329B2 |
Intergeneric hybrid plants and methods for production thereof
Methods for the production of an intergeneric hybrid plants and plants produced thereby. In certain aspects, intergeneric hybrid plants are produced by crossing a sorghum parent plant comprising a mutant sorghum iap allele with a second moncot plant. Methods for the use of such plants and products obtained therefrom are also provided. |
| US08362328B2 |
Polynucleotides encoding phenylpropanoid pathway enzymes in coffee
Polynucleotides and polypeptides involved in the biosynthetic pathway of chlorogenic acids in the coffee plant are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for using these polynucleotides and polypeptides for the manipulation of flavor, aroma, and other features of coffee beans, as well as for the protection of coffee plants against diseases or oxidative stress. |
| US08362327B2 |
Potato cultivar ‘Newton’
A potato cultivar designated ‘Newton’ is disclosed. The invention relates to the tubers of potato cultivar ‘Newton’, to the seeds of potato cultivar ‘Newton’, to the plants of potato ‘Newton’, to the plant parts of potato cultivar ‘Newton’ and to methods for producing a potato plant produced by crossing potato cultivar ‘Newton’ with itself or with another potato variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a potato plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic potato plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to potato cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from potato variety ‘Newton’, to methods for producing other potato cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from potato cultivar ‘Newton’ and to the potato plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid potato tubers, seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing potato cultivar ‘Newton’ with another potato cultivar. |
| US08362324B2 |
Nucleic acid sequences to proteins involved in tocopherol synthesis
Nucleic acid sequences and methods are provided for producing plants and seeds having altered tocopherol content and compositions. The methods find particular use in increasing the tocopherol levels in plants, and in providing desirable tocopherol compositions in a host plant cell. |
| US08362321B2 |
Methods and materials for increasing starch biosynthesis in plants
The subject invention concerns materials and methods for providing plants or plant tissue with increased starch biosynthesis. Increased starch biosynthesis provides for increased yield. One aspect of the invention concerns polynucleotides that encode a mutant plant large subunit of AGPase. In one embodiment, a polynucleotide of the invention encodes a plant AGPase large subunit having an amino acid mutation wherein the cysteine amino acid corresponding to amino acid position 424 of wild type maize AGPase large subunit is substituted with an amino acid that results in increased AGPase activity when provided in an AGPase enzyme. In a specific embodiment, the cysteine corresponding to amino acid position 424 of wild type maize AGPase large subunit is substituted with a valine amino acid. The subject invention also comprises a mutant plant large subunit of AGPase encoded by a polynucleotide of the invention. Characterization of kinetic and allosteric properties indicates increased starch yield is provided when the polynucleotides of the invention are expressed in plants such as monocot endosperms. |
| US08362319B2 |
Arabidopsis genes encoding proteins involved in sugar and lipid metabolism and methods of use
Isolated nucleic acids and polypeptides associated with lipid and sugar metabolism regulation are provided. In particular, lipid metabolism proteins (LMP) and encoding nucleic acids originating from Arabidopsis thaliana are provided. The nucleic acids and polypeptides are used in methods of producing transgenic plants and modulating levels of seed storage compounds in a plant. Preferably, the seed storage compounds are lipids, fatty acids, starches, or seed storage proteins. |
| US08362318B2 |
Enzyme directed oil biosynthesis in microalgae
The present invention is related to biosynthetic oil compositions and methods of making thereof. In some embodiments, the invention relates to the use of endogenous enzymes in plants capable of synthesizing oil. In preferred embodiments, said plants are algae. In further embodiments, said algae are from the family Chlamydomonas, Nannochloropsis, Dunaliella, Chlorella and Scenedesmus. In still further embodiments, said endogenous enzymes are diacylglycerol acyltransferases. |
| US08362314B2 |
Method for obtaining aromatic hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon mixture
Processes for obtaining aromatic hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon mixture comprising aromatic and nonaromatic hydrocarbons and high boilers comprising: (A) providing a hydrocarbon mixture a1 and an extractive solvent a2, (B) extractively distilling the mixture a1 with the extractive solvent to obtain a mixture b1 of extractive solvent, the aromatic hydrocarbons, and high boilers, (C) distilling the mixture b1 to one or more fractions c1 comprising aromatic hydrocarbons and the extractive solvent c2 comprising high boilers, (D) removing a substream d1 from the extractive solvent c2, (E) extracting the substream d1 of the extractive solvent with water to obtain an aqueous extract phase e1 essentially free of high boilers and an organic phase e2 comprising the high boilers, (F) distilling the aqueous extract phase e1 and recovering the extractive solvent a2. Step (E) is preceded by a distillation in which a fraction of very high-boiling hydrocarbons is removed from substream d1. |