最新美国发明专利
Document Document Title
US08422606B2 Method and system for pre-equalization in a single weight spatial multiplexing MIMO system
Certain aspects of the method may comprise receiving a plurality of spatially multiplexed communication signals from a plurality of transmit antennas at a base station. A plurality of vectors of baseband combined channel estimates may be generated based on phase rotation of the received plurality of spatially multiplexed communication signals. A plurality of pre-equalization weights may be generated based on the generated plurality of vectors of baseband combined channel estimates. The received plurality of spatially multiplexed communication signals may be modified based on the generated plurality of pre-equalization weights. At least a portion of the generated plurality of pre-equalization weights may be fed back to the base station for modifying subsequently transmitted spatially multiplexed communication signals which are transmitted from at least a portion of the plurality of transmit antennas at the base station.
US08422600B2 Apparatus and method for estimating phase error based on variable step size
Disclosed is a phase error estimating an apparatus and a method which provides improved convergence speed and tracking speed even in mobile channel environment by variably applying the step size for phase error estimation according to channel status. The apparatus for estimating a phase error includes: a posterior probability (APP) average calculating unit for calculating an APP average value from a soft decision result of a currently received symbol; a step size determining unit for determining a step size variably according to channel status; and a phase error estimating unit for estimating a phase error of the currently received symbol from a phase error of a previously received symbol and the APP average value by using the variably determined step size.
US08422598B2 Method for decoding a signal transmitted in a multi-antenna system, corresponding computer software product and decoding device
A method is provided for decoding a signal received by a receiver including at least one reception antenna. The method includes: selecting, among at least two techniques available in the receiver, a decoding technique representative of a space/time encoding implemented upon transmission; and decoding the signal using the selected decoding technique. The selecting step takes into account at least one selection criterion.
US08422596B2 Communication device, communication method, and program
A communication device includes: demodulating means for demodulating a transmission signal from another communication device that performs noncontact communication; calculating means for performing at least one of addition and subtraction of a predetermined voltage according to a logical value of a demodulated signal obtained by demodulation by the demodulating means; determining means for determining a communication system of the transmission signal transmitted by the other communication device by comparing a calculation result of the calculating means at predetermined timing after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of communication with a threshold voltage; and transmitting means for transmitting predetermined data to the other communication device in the communication system determined by the determining means among plural communication systems that the device itself can support.
US08422593B2 Parallel automatic frequency offset estimation method and apparatus
Disclosed is a wireless signal receiving apparatus, and more particularly, disclosed is a parallel automatic frequency offset estimation apparatus and method for tracking a frequency offset in an early stage by calculating, in parallel, frequency offsets of a received signal. The parallel automatic frequency offset estimation apparatus includes a receiving unit to receive a data frame; and a frequency offset estimation unit to calculate, in parallel, frequency and phase deviations at different bit intervals within a particular section of the received data frame, to add together the frequency and phase deviations to obtain a first sum of the frequency and phase deviations, and to add the first sum to a frequency phase deviation calculated for each bit after the particular section in the received data frame to obtain a second sum of the frequency and phase deviations. Accordingly, transmission frequency tracking can be performed at higher speed, compared to the conventional systems in which frequency offset acquisition is carried out in stages. Also, accurate tracking of a transmission frequency is possible in an initial frame.
US08422586B2 Extended non-return-to-zero serial channel signaling
Methods and apparatus for serial channel operation are disclosed. An N+1-level signaling scheme is used to transmit N staggered but overlapping NRZ sub-sequences concurrently on a serial channel. Each sequence has a bit rate R and an essential bandwidth of R Hz. The combined bit rate of the channel is N×R, but due to a lack of correlation between the sub-sequences, the essential bandwidth remains approximately R Hz. The signaling scheme also contains redundancy that allows some errors to be detected and/or corrected. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08422585B2 Space-time block coding systems and methods
Although orthonormal space-time coding matrices provide for optimal communication system performance in that associated correlation matrices include no non-zero off-diagonal elements, unity code rate orthonormal coding matrices are difficult to identify for arbitrary communication network equipment. According to embodiments of the present invention, non-orthonormal space-time coding matrices, for which associated correlation matrices include non-zero off-diagonal elements, are used to encode data symbols. The non-orthonormal space-time coding matrices are more easily determined, and undesirable effects of the non-zero off-diagonal components are reduced by selecting a coding matrix from among a number of such matrices. For example, a particular space-time coding matrix may be selected from a number of generated space-time coding matrices based on a number of non-zero off-diagonal elements or a power of a trace of the associated correlation matrices.
US08422584B2 Transmission device, imaging device, transmission system, receiving device, and transmission method
A transmission method including the steps of: dividing an input video signal into a plurality of packets which comply with a predetermined transmission standard and preferentially selecting, as a transmission path for each of the plurality of packets, a transmission channel, to which a lower frequency band is allocated, from among the plurality of transmission channels which are allocated along a frequency axis; and modulating, by using a multicarrier modulation method, the plurality of packets and transmitting the modulated packets to a receiving device along a cable through the selected transmission channel, the cable having a transmission characteristic such that attenuation of a signal to be transmitted increases with the frequency of the signal.
US08422580B2 Method of and apparatus for space-time-frequency coding
A space-time-frequency encoding scheme, for use in wireless communication systems, transforms a plurality of input element pairs into a plurality orthogonal element pairs, each of the plurality of input element pairs and corresponding orthogonal element pairs forming an orthogonal matrix. A first element, second element and a duplicate of the second element in each of the plurality of input element pairs and corresponding orthogonal element pairs are mapped as channel elements to three predetermined time-frequency cells in respective first and second two-dimension time-frequency matrixes for transmission via different antennas. As the input element pairs and corresponding orthogonal element pairs, transmitted via different antennas, are orthogonal in both the space-time domain and the space-frequency domain at the same time, two-dimension space-time transmit diversity gain and space-frequency transmit diversity gain can be achieved at the same time.
US08422576B2 Apparatus and method for receiving signals in multi-carrier multiple access systems
A method for receiving signals in a multi-carrier multiple access system is provided. The method includes receiving signals from at least one base station wherein each signal has a base station identifier, processing the signals to identify each base station by using the base station identifier, performing a channel estimation using the processed signals, combining the processed signals using information obtained from the channel estimation and decoding the combined signals. Also, an apparatus for receiving signals in a multi-carrier multiple access system includes a serial-to-parallel converter for converting a serial signal including a base station identifier from at least one base station to parallel signals, a Fast Fourier transformer for transforming the parallel signals, a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the parallel signals to a serial signal, a despreading processor for despreading frequency domain signals using the base station identifier from at least one base station, a channel estimator for compensating a channel variation between the at least one base station and a mobile station, a signal combiner for combining signals from base stations and a decoder for decoding the combined signal.
US08422573B2 Transmitting device
The invention discloses a transmitting apparatus. The transmitting apparatus uses the same transmission medium to transmit two signals that are within different frequency ranges at the same time. The transmitting apparatus increases the transmitting paths of the transmission medium so as to enhance the use of the transmission medium and save the production costs.
US08422568B2 Communication channel calibration for drift conditions
A method and system provides for execution of calibration cycles from time to time during normal operation of the communication channel. A calibration cycle includes de-coupling the normal data source from the transmitter and supplying a calibration pattern in its place. The calibration pattern is received from the communication link using the receiver on the second component. A calibrated value of a parameter of the communication channel is determined in response to the received calibration pattern. The steps involved in calibration cycles can be reordered to account for utilization patterns of the communication channel. For bidirectional links, calibration cycles are executed which include the step of storing received calibration patterns on the second component, and retransmitting such calibration patterns back to the first component for use in adjusting parameters of the channel at first component.
US08422567B2 Signal transmission apparatus and method
According to an aspect of the embodiment, a signal transmission apparatus includes a sine wave output unit that outputs a sine wave to a transmission path, network analyzers and that analyze signals on the transmission path, an S parameter measurement unit that measures S parameters based on the analysis, a selection unit that selects a plurality of combinations of an amplitude, an emphasis characteristic, and an equalization characteristic based on the S parameters, measurement units that measure a BER or an eye opening of the transmission path for the plurality of combinations, and a setting unit that extracts single combination based on the measurement and that sets the amplitude, the emphasis characteristic, and the equalization characteristic to a transmission unit and a reception unit.
US08422560B2 Method and apparatus for encoding/decoding media signal
A method and apparatus for encoding/decoding a media signal. The method of decoding a media signal includes extracting first table index information from a header. The first table index information indicates M (M
US08422559B2 Matching-pixel sub-sampling motion estimation method for video compression
Sub-sampling pattern design for motion estimation in video compression. A motion estimation method divides a first frame into a plurality of macroblocks, performs block matching for a current macroblock pair on a candidate macroblock pair of a second frame. The current macroblock pair and the candidate macroblock pair are sampled according to a sub-sampling pattern, and an error measure between the current and candidate macroblock pairs is calculated. The sub-sampling pattern is constructed by a plurality of repeating units, and each repeating unit is composed of a first and a second pattern unit.
US08422554B2 Mobile communication system using adaptive transmission
A method for decoding a wireless transmission in a communication system, particularly for mobile communications, comprising a plurality of receiver stations communicatively coupled to a common decoder station, wherein the receiver stations transmit digital representations of received user signals to the common decoding entity. These digital representations are initially transmitted to the common decoder station in coarse granularity, and in case the decoder station cannot decode the transmitted digital representations of one or multiple user signals, the decoder requests a refined digital representation of the received signals from at least one receiver station.
US08422553B2 Information processing device and method
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method which make it possible to transmit image data with high quality and low delay in more versatile situations. A control unit 111 obtains negotiation information including a transmission-allowed bit rate of a transmission line 103, which is defined in a standard, information regarding a receiving apparatus, or a measured value of the transmission-allowed bit rate, controls whether or not to encode image data and transmit the encoded image data, and performs settings in encoding, such as a resolution, a bit rate, and a delay time. Also, an encoding unit 113 controls a decomposition number of a chrominance component in accordance with the format of image data to be encoded. The present invention is applicable to, for example, a communication apparatus.
US08422552B2 Entropy coding for video processing applications
An entropy coding apparatus. In a specific embodiment, the entropy coding apparatus includes a renormalization process and an encode-decision process that communicates with the renormalization process. The encode-decision process is adapted to run in parallel with the renormalization process without the renormalization process being nested therein. In a more specific embodiment, the entropy coding apparatus includes an entropy encoder that is H.264 compliant. The encode-decision process includes a first mechanism for pre-computing certain parameters to eliminate the need to nest the renormalization process within the encode-decision process. The renormalization process and the encode-decision process are components of a Context Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding (CABAC) module.
US08422549B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving uncompressed audio/video data and transmission frame structure
An apparatus for efficiently transmitting and receiving uncompressed AV data by using UEP during high-frequency wireless communication, as well as a transmission frame structure to which the UEP is applied are provided. A method of transmitting uncompressed AV data includes determining whether a transmission efficiency of uncompressed AV data drops below a threshold while the uncompressed AV data is transmitted; deciding whether to use a UEP mode if it is determined that the transmission efficiency has dropped below the threshold, the UEP mode indicating a manner of dividing bits, the bits constituting the uncompressed AV data, into significant bits and non-significant bits; and retransmitting the uncompressed AV data by using the UEP mode based on decision regarding use of the UEP mode.
US08422544B2 Communication receiver with an adaptive equalizer
In a wireless communication system, a method for estimating a transmitted signal is disclosed. A wireless signal is received that includes a pilot channel and at least one other channel. A transmitted signal is estimated using an equalizer and the received wireless signal. The equalizer includes a filter with a plurality of taps that are adapted through use of an adaptive algorithm that uses an estimated pilot estimated from the received wireless signal. The pilot channel is transmitted in the wireless signal that included the at least one other channel. The estimated pilot is extracted and provided to the adaptive algorithm.
US08422543B2 Apparatus, systems and methods of signal compensation for different signals communicated over a coaxial cable system
Communication signal compensation systems and methods are operable to compensate communication signals communicated to media devices using an agile equalizer over a coaxial cable communication system. An exemplary embodiment receives a first compensation control signal from a first media device, compensates a received first communication signal based upon the first compensation control signal, communicates the first compensated communication signal to the first media device over the first coaxial cable; receives a second compensation control signal from a second media device, compensates a received second communication signal based upon the second compensation control signal, and communicates the second compensated communication signal to the second media device over the second coaxial cable. The first compensation control signal defines compensation for communication signals communicated over a first coaxial cable. The second compensation control signal defines compensation for communication signals communicated to the second media device over a second coaxial cable.
US08422542B2 Reconfigurable signal processing scheme
A method of ameliorating channel effects present in a signal received through a channel, wherein the signal conveys at least first and second information streams and the method comprises the steps of determining from the first stream activation of the second stream and processing the signal to ameliorate channel effects, when the second stream is present, in a first manner comprising filtering the signal through filter means to ameliorate channel dispersion and then processing the signal through Rake receiver means or, when the second stream is absent, in a second manner comprising processing the signal through the Rake receiver means without prior amelioration of channel dispersion by the filter means.
US08422541B2 Channel estimation in a multi-channel communication system using pilot signals having quasi-orthogonal subpilots
An access node of a communication system comprises a plurality of transmitters adapted for communication with at least one receiver. The access node is operative to transmit pilot signals from respective associated ones of the transmitters, to estimate channel coefficients between the transmitters and the receiver, and to utilize the estimated channel coefficients to control at least one data signal sent by at least one of the transmitters. The pilot signals are partitioned into a plurality of sets of pilot signals such that pilot signals from the same set have respective subpilots that are orthogonal to one another and pilot signals from different sets have respective subpilots that are not orthogonal to one another but are instead quasi-orthogonal to one another. The pilot signals are associated with the respective transmitters based on the partitioning of the pilot signals into sets.
US08422540B1 Intelligent backhaul radio with zero division duplexing
A intelligent backhaul radio is disclosed, which can operate by zero division duplexing for use in PTP or PMP topologies, providing for significant spectrum usage benefits among other benefits. Specific system architectures and structures to enable active cancellation of multiple transmit signals at multiple receivers within a MIMO radio are disclosed. Further disclosed aspects include the adaptive optimization of cancellation parameters or coefficients.
US08422538B2 Channel estimation method for OFDM relaying system
A channel estimation method for an OFDM relaying system, which is based on an EM algorithm and applied to an AF OFDM relaying system, wherein channels from a source node to a relaying system and from the relaying system to the destination node in a wireless communication system are respectively estimated at the destination node. The channel estimation method of the present invention comprises steps of: constructing a system model; setting an expectation function; performing maximization processing; and performing iteration. The method of the present invention respectively estimates the channels from the source node to the relaying system and from the relaying system to the destination node, whereby are optimally combined the signals of the direct path (source-to-destination) and the signals of the relay path (source-to-relay and relay-to-destination) at the destination node.
US08422534B2 System and method for transmitting data of a data stream
In a subscriber of a communication system for transmitting data of a data stream in time slots of recurring communication cycles, the communication system includes a communication medium, the subscriber, and at least one additional subscriber. The subscribers are connected to the communication medium for data transmission purposes. To allow better utilization of the available frequency range for data transmission, the subscribers have device(s) for spectral spreading of the data of the data stream before transmission via a certain code sequence and have device(s) for transmitting the spread data in the time slots of the recurring communication cycles. The communication system is preferably designed as a FlexRay communication system, the spread data being transmittable in chronological synchronization in a time slot of the communication cycle by various subscribers of the system. The communication medium is preferably designed as a powerline structure via which the subscribers are supplied with electrical power.
US08422528B2 Ceramic slab, free-space and waveguide lasers
A laser may comprise a ceramic body including a first wall and a second wall opposite the first wall, a first mirror positioned at first ends of the first and second walls, a second mirror positioned at second ends of the first and second walls opposite the first ends, the first and second walls and the first and second mirrors defining a slab laser cavity within the ceramic body. The laser may further comprise a first electrode positioned outside the laser cavity and adjacent to the first wall of the ceramic body and a second electrode positioned outside the laser cavity and adjacent to the second wall of the ceramic body, wherein a laser gas disposed in the laser cavity is excited when an excitation signal is applied to the first and second electrodes. In some embodiments, the first and second mirrors may form a free-space multi-folded resonator in the slab laser cavity. In other embodiments, the first and second mirrors may form a free-space unstable resonator in the slab laser cavity. In still other embodiments, the first and second mirrors may form a waveguide unstable resonator in the slab laser cavity.
US08422527B2 Nitride based semiconductor device and fabrication method for the same
A nitride based semiconductor device includes: an n-type cladding layer; an n-type GaN based guide layer placed on the n-type cladding layer; an active layer placed on the n-type GaN based guide layer; a p-type GaN based guide layer placed on the active layer; an electron block layer placed on the p-type GaN based guide layer; a stress relaxation layer placed on the electron block layer; and a p-type cladding layer placed on the stress relaxation layer, and the nitride based semiconductor device alleviates the stress occurred under the influence of the electron block layer, does not affect light distribution by the electron block layer, reduces threshold current, can suppress the degradation of reliability, can suppress degradation of the emitting end surface of the laser beam, can improve the far field pattern, and is long lasting, and fabrication method of the device is also provided.
US08422523B2 Laser light-source apparatus and projector apparatus
A laser light-source apparatus according to the present invention is equipped with: a laser-driving circuit board, thermal insulators that are placed on the laser-driving circuit board; a heat receiving plate that is placed on the thermal insulators and thermally insulated from the laser-driving circuit board, a laser light-source module that is installed on the heat receiving plate so as to be thermally connected to the heat receiving plate and is also electrically connected to the laser-driving circuit board so as to be driven thereby, and a heat sink that is thermally connected to the heat receiving plate via a heat pipe.
US08422522B2 Semiconductor laser device
In a semiconductor laser device, a first lead has a mounting portion for mounting a semiconductor laser element on its top surface via a submount member, and a lead portion extending from the mounting portion. Given that a direction in which a primary beam is emitted from the laser element is defined as a forward direction, and that a direction vertical to the forward direction and parallel to the top surface of the mounting portion is defined as a lateral direction, the first lead has, in one region of a side face of the mounting portion, a lateral reference surface which is parallel to a side face of the semiconductor laser element and flat. In the one region of the side face of the mounting portion, a recess portion is formed adjacent to the lateral reference surface.
US08422519B2 Broad spectrum optical supercontinuum source
An optical supercontinuum radiation source for generating a broad optical supercontinuum from pump radiation having a wavelength in the range 900 nm to 1200 nm includes a microstructured optical fiber and a pump laser adapted to generate pump radiation for pumping the microstructured optical fiber. The fiber can have a Δ (“delta”) value of greater than 0.3, the core region of the fiber can support a plurality of modes at the pump wavelength, and the cladding region can comprise at least two air holes extending along the length of fiber wherein the ratio of the diameter (d) of the air holes to their pitch (Λ) is greater than 0.6. The fiber can comprise a zero dispersion wavelength (ZDW) within ±200 nm of said pump wavelength.
US08422514B1 Dynamic configuration of cross-domain pseudowires
In general, techniques are described for dynamically configuring cross-domain pseudowires (PWs). A network device positioned between a first domain and a second domain of a computer network may implement the techniques. The intermediate network device comprises at least one interface and an LDP module, a transformation module and a routing protocol module. The interface receives a label distribution protocol (LDP) message that includes data for configuring a cross-domain PW from a first provider edge (PE) device of the first domain. The LDP module parses the received LDP message to extract the cross-domain PW configuration data. The translation module transforms the extracted data to conform to routing protocol extensions for advertising the cross-domain PW configuration data. The routing protocol module forms a routing protocol message that includes the transformed data. The interface outputs the routing protocol message to the second intermediate device of the second domain to establish the cross-domain PW.
US08422511B2 Systems and methods for multi-pair ATM over DSL
At a transmitter, an ATM cell stream is received from the ATM layer and is distributed on a cell-by-cell bases across multiple DSL PHY's. At the receiver, the cells from each DSL PHY are re-combined in the appropriate order to recreate the original ATM cell stream, which is then passed to the ATM layer.
US08422509B2 Method for processing a web service in an NRT service and a broadcast receiver
A method of processing a web service in a Non-Real Time (NRT) service and the broadcast receiver are disclosed herein. A method of providing an NRT service in a broadcasting receiver may include receiving first signaling information, identifying whether a service type of an NRT service is a web service based upon the first signaling information, identifying a web page type and a web page version of the NRT service and browsing the NRT service. The method may further include connecting a service signaling channel, parsing the received first signaling information, determining whether the NRT service is supported in the broadcasting receiver and consuming the web contents of the NRT service. The NRT service may include at least one of a fixed NRT service and a mobile NRT service. The first signaling information may be a data casting description table (DDT) if the NRT service is the fixed NRT service. The first signaling information may be a service map table (SMT) if the NRT service is the mobile NRT service. The DDT may include a first field identifying the NRT service and a second field identifying a type of the NRT service. The type of the web service may include at least one of a web document of text HTML and a web document of CE-HTML. The third field and the fourth field may be valid if the type of the received service is the web service based upon the second field.
US08422507B2 Intercepting voice over IP communications and other data communications
Methods and apparatus for intercepting communications in an Internet Protocol (IP) network involve maintaining dialing profiles for respective subscribers to the IP network, each dialing profile including a username associated with the corresponding subscriber, and associating intercept information with the dialing profile of a subscriber whose communications are to be monitored. Intercept information will include determination information for determining whether to intercept a communication involving the subscriber, and destination information identifying a device to which intercepted communications involving the subscriber are to be sent. When the determination information meets intercept criteria communications are established with a media relay through which communications involving the subscriber will be conducted or are being conducted to cause the media relay to send a copy of the communications involving the subscriber to a mediation device specified by the destination information.
US08422506B2 Apparatuses, systems, and methods for load balancing management
A mobile communication device for load balancing management is provided. In the mobile communication device, a wireless module receives data communication services via a first service node and receives a plurality of system information messages from the first service node and a plurality of second service nodes, wherein each of the system information messages has a forward-link quality threshold corresponding to a respective service node. Also, a controller determines a traffic type of the data communication services and a signal indicator of the first service node, and determines whether the signal indicator is less than the forward-link quality threshold corresponding to the first service node. In response to that the signal indicator is less than the forward-link quality threshold corresponding to the first service node, the controller switches the data communication services from the first service node to one of the second service nodes according to the traffic type.
US08422505B2 Method for processing MAC protocol data unit in a wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for processing a MAC PDU in a wireless communication system are disclosed. The method includes segmenting a MAC PDU into a first MAC PDU segment and a second MAC PDU segment, transmitting the first MAC PDU segment to a receiver, and discarding the second MAC PDU segment not to be transmitted to the receiver, if the transmission of the first MAC PDU segment is failed.
US08422497B2 Method for configuring and managing multicast data delivery path in mobile ad-hoc network and multicast data delivery system using the same
A method for configuring and managing a multicast data delivery path in a wireless ad-hoc network and a multicast data delivery system using the same are disclosed. The method includes transmitting, by a parent node, first messages to respective child nodes, transmitting, by each of the child nodes, a second message to the parent node in response to the first message relayed by at least some of non-member nodes other than the parent node, performing an operation as a branch node by a non-member node receiving second messages belonging to the same multicast session and transmitted from different originators, and establishing, by the parent node receiving at least one second message, an Internet protocol (IP) tunnel with the originator of the received at least one second message. The performing of the operation as the branch node includes regarding the originators of the received second messages as child nodes, establishing IP tunnels connected to the respective child nodes, generating a new second message including an identifier (ID) of the branch node and IDs of the child nodes in an originator field and a child list field, respectively, and transmitting the generated second message to the parent node.
US08422488B2 Registration of private user identities and contact addresses in an IMS network
A method and a HSS server allow the implicit registration of more than one IMS Private User Identity (IMPI), or the implicit registration of more than one contact address, or both, upon explicit registration of a subscriber with a given IMPI/IMPU (IMS Public User identity) pair and a given contact address. In particular, the method includes configuring subscriber data for the subscriber at the HSS with at least one implicit registration set selected from: a set of IMPIs associated with a given IMPI or with a given IMPU, and a set of contact addresses per IMPI basis; downloading from the HSS towards the S-CSCF the implicit registration set; and building up a corresponding data model therein.
US08422483B2 Method and system for channel estimation in burst mode
The present invention is directed to a system and method for channel estimation for a communication channel such as, for example, that found in a wireless communication network. One or more channel estimates or channel observables can be combined to compute a refined channel estimate, for example, when the channel estimates or channel observables are from the same channel.
US08422479B2 Method, system, base station and terminal for processing the reference symbol
A method, system, base station and User Equipment for processing reference symbols is provided to support the transmission of both common reference symbols and user-specific reference symbols. In the present invention, a transmitting end configures the reference symbol structure for a downlink subframe according to the number of the used antenna; the transmitting end inserts the common reference symbols and the user-specific reference symbols to be transmitted into the downlink subframe according to the reference symbol structure and transmits them. With the user of the present invention, both the common reference symbols and the user-specific reference symbols can be transmitted.
US08422477B2 Methods and apparatus for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network
Methods and apparatus for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network. In an aspect, a method includes identifying a local area operations infrastructure (LOI) in the multi-frequency network, generating a channel description message that associates at least one descrambling sequence identifier with each RF channel associated with the LOI, respectively, and distributing the CDM over the LOI. In another aspect, a method includes receiving a CDM that associates at least one descrambling sequence identifier with each RF channel available in a LOI, detecting an RF channel switch event that identifies a selected RF channel, determining a selected descrambling sequence identifier from the CDM based on the selected RF channel, switching to the selected RF channel wherein the selected descrambling sequence identifier identifies a selected descrambling sequence to descramble desired content carried on the selected RF channel, and acquiring the desired content on the selected RF channel.
US08422473B2 Mechanism for automatic network formation and medium access coordination
The invention provides a set of mechanisms by which a wireless mobile mesh node equipped with a directional antenna may self form and self adapt its steady-state communications schedule. A link establishment handshake is carried out over an ongoing subtemplate-based discovery scan. During time not reserved for steady-state communications with previously discovered neighbors, nodes continue to search for an establish links with new neighbors. Initial and subsequent bandwidth allocation protocols may be utilized to allow peer nodes to coordinate communication opportunities between the peer nodes without impacting or having knowledge about reservations for communications with other peers. The link establishment and initial bandwidth allocation protocols may be piggy-backed for readily establishing an initial steady-state schedule with a peer upon link establishment without impact on previous steady state reservations by other nodes or on ongoing link establishment attempts elsewhere.
US08422472B2 Method and system for operating cells in an overlay network including macro cells and home cells
A method and system for operating cells in a network where macro cells and home cells coexist are provided. The method includes determining a first set of neighbor macro Base Stations (BSs) located within a predefined reference distance from a new macro BS to be newly installed, determining a second set of neighbor macro BSs having a cell region overlapping a region of a serving cell served by the new macro BS, detecting at least one sector including a contact with the cell region of the new macro BS within a cell region of each of the neighbor macro BSs in the second set, determining a neighbor cell set including the detected at least one sector, generating an initial Neighbor Relation Table (NRT) by mapping information about each of neighbor cells included in the neighbor cell set, IDentifiers (IDs) of neighbor macro BSs serving the neighbor cells, and a Physical Resource Cell IDentifier (PCID) allocated to each of the neighbor macro BSs, and providing the initial NRT to the new macro BS as neighbor BS information.
US08422471B2 Information processing apparatus, and connection establishment method therefor
According to an embodiment, a information processing apparatus includes a wireless communication unit, a first search unit, and a connection unit. The wireless communication unit performs wireless communication with another apparatus which is utilizable as a wireless base station. The first search unit is configured to: use the wireless communication unit to sequentially transmit, in a second transmission period different from a first transmission period, plural of first identification signals having different center frequencies within a frequency band usable by the wireless communication unit, as an activation request signal for requesting activation of a wireless communication unit included in the another apparatus; repeatedly transmit, in a first repetition period, the first signals in the frequency band; and search for the another apparatus. The connection unit uses the communication unit to establish connection with the another apparatus which is searched for.
US08422470B2 Communication system and main communication device and auxiliary communication device of communication system
A communication system comprises a main communication device including a first communication unit executing wireless communication by a first method (mainly for voice data communication) and a second communication unit executing wireless communication by a second method (for communication of data other than voice data at a higher transfer rate) and an auxiliary communication device (operating on a secondary battery) including first and second auxiliary communication units executing wireless communication with the first and second communication units by the first and second methods, respectively. Whether communication of data (except voice data) should be executed by the first method or by the second method is determined based on the amount of the data. When the first method is selected, the data is segmented in prescribed data units and the communication of the segmented data is executed by the first communication unit and the first auxiliary communication unit by the first method.
US08422465B2 Transmitter and receiver for high throughput wireless communication system using multiple antenna, method thereof, and digital intermediate frequency transmission signal processing method for the same
Provided are a transmitter and receiver for a high throughput wireless communication system using a multiple antenna, a method thereof, and a digital intermediate frequency (DIF) transmission signal processing method for the same. The transmitter, includes: a baseband transmitting unit for processing a transmission signal by performing a Media Access Control (MAC) protocol process on transmission data and dividing the transmission data into n band signals where n is a predetermined natural number in a physical layer process; a DIF transmitting unit for integrating transmission signals of each band transmitted from the baseband transmitting unit and outputting m channels where m is a predetermined natural number; and a Radio Frequency (RF) transmitting unit for modulating each channel signal transmitted from the DIF transmitting unit into an RF signal and emitting the signal through the multiple antenna.
US08422461B2 Self-configurable wireless network with cooperative interference measurements by base stations
Self-configurable wireless network with cooperative interference measurements by base stations. A mini-cell system comprises a plurality of mini-cells. Each mini-cell comprises a communications system for establishing communications with and among remote devices and a signal collection system that provides connectivity to a signal collection network. The signal collection system comprises a scanner and a signal analyzer. The communications system and the signal collection system communicate with a local network controller via the signal collection network to report information about the mini-cell and signals that are received at the mini-cell location. The local network controller may process information received from the mini-cell about its configuration and its own signal and information received from the signal collection system to determine whether to reconfigure the network to mitigate interference and to optimize the mini-cell system.
US08422460B2 Method for performing proactive wireless communication handoffs using a mobile client's route information
A method of handing off radio resources from a first base station to a second base station includes transmitting route information and speed information associated with a client device from the client device to the first base station or to an application server. A time is selected at which the radio resources are to be handed off from the first base station to the second base station. The selection is performed by the first base station or the application server. The selection is performed dependent upon the route information and speed information.
US08422459B2 Route optimization method and system
In the field of communication technologies, a route optimization method and system are provided, so as to improve the data transfer efficiency between a Mobile Node (MN) and a Corresponding Node (CN). The method includes: acquiring location information of a current access device of the CN, by a current anchor device of the MN (S201); and establishing a transmission tunnel between a current access device of the MN and the current access device of the CN (S202).
US08422457B2 Voice service in evolved packet system
Methods and apparatus to manage voice service in evolved packet systems are disclosed. An example in a UE with a first indicator related to voice services in an Evolved Packet System (EPS) includes receiving a first Non Access Stratum (NAS) protocol response message with a second indicator and responsive to at least one of the first indicator or the second indicator, cause the UE to select to another radio access technology (RAT).
US08422454B2 Method of transmitting and receiving uplink data using transmission of profile indexes
A device and method for exchanging a signal via a channel quality indicator channel (CQICH) between a base station and mobile station. The method includes: configuring periodic transmission times for the CQICH; receiving, from the mobile station, information indicating a time set, the time set including a subset of the periodic transmission times; and receiving an index among plural indexes via the CQICH. If the index is received at a time within the time set, the index is interpreted as being band width request information. If the index is received at a time not within the time set, the index is interpreted as being channel quality information.
US08422452B2 Communication system and communication controlling method
A communication method in LIPA/SIPTO architecture is provided which, when a user equipment (UE) is to connect from a serving area to an external network, allows re-selection of an optimal gateway. The communication method allows selecting a gateway apparatus physically or topologically close to a site, where the user equipment is attached.
US08422449B2 MU-MIMO method in WLAN system, and access point and station for MU-MIMO
A MU-MIMO method of an access point in a WLAN using multi-channels and having at least one station includes: receiving index information indicating a precoding vector for a beam selected by the station and channel quality information thereof for each one of the multi-channels; generating first channel capacity information of channel combination groups using the channel quality information wherein the channel combination groups are grouped according to a predetermined channel bandwidth of the multi-channels; and allocating resources to the station from a channel combination selected from the channel combination groups according to the first channel capacity information using the index information and the channel quality information, wherein the access point and the station previously store precoding vector information for a plurality of beams for the MU-MIMO.
US08422448B2 Group call control in a wireless broadband communication network
A method and system for group call control in a broadband wireless network. A group call (push-to-talk) server initiates and regulates group call communication sessions. A wireless base station communicates with one or more group call participants. When a request to participate in a group call is received, it is examined to see if it contains a group call ID or other group call indicator. If not, regular call resources are allocated, if available. If so, it is determined whether another group member is attached to the base station. Group call resources are then reserved, if available, based on this determination. The resources allocated for the group call may also depend on whether the system supports multicast on the downlink to group members, or whether losing audio is supported. In some embodiments, network resources may be reallocated to support the group call.
US08422445B2 Method for transmitting pilot allocation information to user equipment in a multi-user multiple input multiple output system
A method for transmitting pilot allocation information from a base station for reception by at least one of a plurality of mobile stations participating in a Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) communication, the method including the steps of generating pilot allocation information for the one mobile station, and transmitting the pilot allocation information for reception by the one mobile station, wherein the pilot allocation information includes at least one of a total number K of pilot streams allocated to the plurality of mobile stations, an index k representing a first pilot stream of one or more pilot streams allocated to the one mobile station among a plurality of pilot streams defined for a pilot pattern selected for the MU-MIMO communication, a number M of the pilot streams allocated to the one mobile station, and bitmap information indicating the pilot streams allocated to the one mobile station among the plurality of pilot streams defined for the pilot pattern.
US08422444B2 Dynamic channel and transmission rate selection
Dynamic channel and transmission rate selection is described. In an example, a communication resource for transmitting data to a receiver is selected from several channels, each having several associated rates. The selection comprises storing a weighting factor for each channel/rate combination, monitoring transmission performance on a selected channel and rate, and inferring performance for other rates on the selected channel from the monitored performance. Each weighting factor is then updated using the monitored and inferred performances, and used to select a channel/rate combination for subsequent transmission. In another example, a communication device comprises a transmitter, a processor, and a memory arranged to store a weighting factor associated with each receiver, channel and rate combination. The transmitter sends data to a receiver using one channel and rate, and the processor monitors the performance, updates the weighting factors accordingly, and selects a receiver, channel and rate combination for subsequent transmission.
US08422441B2 Mobile communication device and mobile communication system
A base station includes a unit that, in response to a request from a terminal to activate an application, calculates the data communication speed based on a communication quality index received from the terminal; a unit that performs the statistical calculation of traffic sent to terminals; a unit that calculates the statistical value of the number of free resource blocks; a unit that calculates the estimated continuation time of the data communication speed, calculated by the data communication speed calculation unit, from the statistical value of free resource blocks calculated by the free resource blocks conversion unit; and a unit that sends the data communication speed and the continuation time to the terminal, and each terminal displays the data communication speed and the continuation time, sent from the mobile communication device, on a display unit and, based on the selection result of a user, controls the connection of the application.
US08422439B2 Apparatus and method for communicating control information over a data channel in the absence of user data
An apparatus and method for communicating control information (e.g., CQI, rank, and/or ACK/NACK) over a data channel (e.g., PUSCH) in the absence of user data includes storing a reference block size for transmission of control information of a first type (e.g., CQI) in memory of a wireless communication device. The reference block size is based on a predetermined quantity of information bits for the first type of control information. Responsive to a scheduling message containing an allocation of data channel transmission resources, the wireless device determines a quantity of the allocated resources to be encoded with control information of a second type (e.g., rank or ACK/NACK). The wireless device may further determine a quantity of the allocated resources to be encoded with control information of the first type and multiplex the encoded control information of the first and second types into a subframe for transmission over the data channel.
US08422435B2 Enhancing coverage for high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) channel
A method of operating a base station node (21) comprises obtaining an indication of degradation of a radio link connection between the base station node and the user equipment unit (UE) which is carried by the a high speed packet channel (HSDPA). In accordance with the distance indication, the transmission priority for the radio link connection is modified. Preferably the indication of degradation is a distance indication of distance of a user equipment unit (23) involved in the radio link connection from the base station node (21). The transmission priority can be modified for one or both of downlink and uplink transmissions for the user equipment unit (UE). Preferably the transmission priority is modified for the radio link connection, e.g., for the user equipment unit (UE), as a function of the indication.
US08422432B2 System and method for facilitating co-channel and co-existence via enhanced frame preambles
Enhanced frame preambles facilitate co-channel co-existence in a wireless communication environment by having at least one preamble characteristic that connotes channel-sharing information regarding the wireless communication environment. In an exemplary embodiment, a downlink subframe is received in one or more wireless communication signals in a wireless communication environment. A preamble is detected in the downlink subframe, and at least one characteristic of the preamble is ascertained. Channel-sharing information for the wireless communication environment is determined based upon the at least one characteristic of the preamble. In another exemplary embodiment, a channel is scanned to detect secondary preambles being transmitted on the channel. A current preamble configuration, including a permutation of preamble location and preamble content corresponding to the secondary preambles, is determined, which connote channel-sharing information. A next available preamble location may be adopted based on the current preamble configuration.
US08422425B2 Terminal device and base station device
A base station measures a signal to interference power ratio using a control signal received from a terminal device through wireless communication, and decides an MCS value indicating a combination of a modulation scheme and a channel code rate. The base station includes the decided MCS value in uplink-channel transmission information and transmits the MCS value to the terminal device by using a control channel including downlink scheduling information. The terminal device decides a transmission format of an uplink data channel based on the MCS in the uplink-channel transmission information. The terminal device, when having received a downlink data channel from the base station, decides a response content (ACK/NACK/DTX) to the base station, based on the result of decoding the downlink data channel. Thereafter, the terminal device transmits the decided response content to the base station through the uplink data channel using the decided transmission format.
US08422422B2 Multiplexed communication system and multiplexed communication method
A transmission processing apparatus selects, based on flow control information, user packets to be multiplexed, stores the user packets in the payload of a multiplexed packet based on the position order of multiplex flags corresponding to destination users, stores a multiplex flag group in which only the multiplex flags of the user packets are set in the header of the multiplexed packet, and transmits the multiplexed packet. A reception processing apparatus extracts the multiplex flag group from the header of the received multiplexed packet, transmits flow control information according to the storage state of a reception buffer to the transmission processing apparatus, demultiplexes the user packets from the payload of the multiplexed packet, extracts destination user information corresponding to the set multiplex flags from user management information, and outputs the user packets to the destination users corresponding to the user management information.
US08422416B2 Updating method and apparatus of sleep mode operation
Disclosed herein relates to a sleep mode operation method, and the method of updating a sleep mode operation according to the present invention may include receiving a service flow configuration request (DSx-REQ) message comprising a service flow parameter for service flow configuration and a sleep cycle ID (SCID) for sleep mode change according to the service flow configuration from a base station during a sleep mode listening window; transmitting a service flow configuration response (DSx-RSP) message comprising the SCID; and configuring the service flow according to the service flow identifier, and changing a SCID to the SCID to update the sleep mode operation.
US08422415B1 Maintaining path optimization during foreign agent handoff
A method, system, and computer-readable media are provided for maintaining optimized communication after a mobile device transitions to a new foreign agent during a communication session. When a mobile device moves to and registers with a new foreign agent within a communication session, the mobile device's home agent multicasts a message to all foreign agents within an optimization cluster informing them of the updated registration. Accordingly, the foreign agents within the optimization cluster can proceed to transmit data packets directly to the new foreign agent servicing the mobile device within the communication session.
US08422413B2 Process and device for the wireless transmission of dental process data
A dental apparatus and process for the transmission of dental data by means of a transmitter and a receiver in a wireless manner.
US08422411B2 Flexible frame structure in wireless communication system
A wireless communication system frame structure configurable to serve to half-duplex user terminals or a mixture of half-duplex and full-duplex user terminals based on a grouping of the user terminals according to one or more criteria. In one embodiment, user terminals are switched from one group to another. A user terminal signaling mechanism is also provided.
US08422410B2 Data transmission method and user equipment for the same
A mobile communication technology, and, more particularly, a method for efficiently transmitting data stored in a message 3 (Msg3) buffer and a user equipment for the same is disclosed. The method of transmitting data by a user equipment in uplink includes receiving an uplink (UP) Grant signal from a base station on a specific message, determining whether there is data stored in a message 3 (Msg3) buffer when receiving the UL Grant signal on the specific message, determining whether the specific message is a random access response message, and transmitting the data stored in the Msg3 buffer to the base station using the UL Grant signal received on the specific message, if there is data stored in the Msg3 buffer when receiving the UL Grant signal on the specific message and the specific message is the random access response message.
US08422409B2 System and method of duplex wireless audio link over broadcast channels
A device and method of duplex audio communication over a broadcast channel are disclosed. Low-power transmission over a broadcast channel is permissible for personal use as long as the transmitted power level is below a level allowed by respective regulatory. For example, low-power FM transmitter can be used to provide a wireless audio link between two audio devices. One such application scenario is a wireless speakerphone used as an audio extension from a cellphone for group conference purposes. Such applications face issues of potential interference from other users of the same channel and the need of manually selecting and tuning a pair of channels. The device and method disclosed in the present invention use the clear channel technique to automatically select an un-occupied channel for the transmit side and utilizes an identification embedded in a sub-channel to allow the receiver to automatically tune to the channel used by the transmitter. The clear channels may be determined by respective transceivers or determined by a master transceiver.
US08422408B2 Remote connection to a telephone line via internet
A device receives a request from an Internet Protocol (IP)-based device to create a virtual extension of a plain old telephone service (POTS)-based telephone line, authenticates the IP-based device for association with the POTS-based telephone line, and creates the virtual extension of the POTS-based telephone line to the IP-based device when the IP-based device is authenticated.
US08422405B2 Mobile switching center platform having interfaces with functionalities defined by an architecture that provides packet-switched multimedia subscriber services
A mobile switching center platform includes a circuit-switched switch to establish circuit-switched communications sessions on behalf of at least one wireless terminal. The mobile switching platform further includes interfaces having functionalities defined by an architecture that provides packet-switched multimedia subscriber services, wherein at least one of the interfaces is to enable the mobile switching center platform to communicate with a packet-switched subscriber access network through which the mobile switching center platform establishes packet-switched communications sessions with at least one terminal device.
US08422404B2 Method and device for transmitting packets
A method for transmitting a packet including a packet data fragment and packet information with a transmission device, the method includes determining a concatenated quantity of packets based on size of the packet data fragment, generating a concatenated packet including packet data fragments corresponding to a plurality of first packets, wherein a number of the packet data fragments is determined based on the concatenated quantity, and packet information corresponding to the first packets, and transmitting the concatenated packet in any one of a plurality of communication cycles.
US08422403B2 System and method for multi-participant video conference without multipoint conferencing unit
The method for multi-participant video conference without a multipoint conferencing unit includes the following steps: generating a multicast forest; adjusting the video resolution to lower the streaming rate; and limiting the audio multicast numbers of the members. The multicast forest includes a plurality of multicast trees and the ways of connections of the nodes in trees are all different from each other.
US08422395B2 Resilient 1:N first-hop gateway selection mechanism
Exemplary methods, systems, and computer program products describe selecting a gateway based on health and performance information of a plurality of gateways. The techniques describe gateways advertising health and performance information, computing devices creating a table of this health and performance information, and selecting a gateway using the table. In response to changes in the health and performance information, the computing device may select a different gateway. The process allows network traffic load to be distributed across a plurality of gateways. This process further provides resilience by allowing a plurality of active gateways to substitute for a non-functioning gateway.
US08422394B2 Broadcast messaging in wireless communication networks
A wireless communication device includes a receiver configured to receive an emergency alert configuration message identifying which sub-message of an emergency broadcast message comprising a collection of sub-messages to be received by the wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device is configured to receive only the sub-message of the emergency broadcast message identified by the emergency alert configuration message.
US08422391B2 Method, media gateway and media gateway controller for maintaining NAT address mapping table
A method for maintaining a Network Address Translation (NAT) address mapping table, a Media Gateway (MG) and a Media Gateway Controller (MGC) are disclosed herein. The method for maintaining the NAT address mapping table includes: the MG creates a NAT address mapping table context as instructed by a MGC, where the NAT address mapping table context stores at least one NAT address mapping entry; and the MG operates the NAT address mapping table context to maintain the NAT address mapping entry stored in the NAT address mapping table context. Through the embodiments of the present invention, the NAT address mapping table can be maintained on the MG by operating the created NAT address mapping table context.
US08422389B2 Method and device for the allocation of released bandwidth in a communications network, corresponding storage means
One embodiment of the invention pertains to a method for allocating bandwidth in a communications network, characterized in that it comprises steps for: a) determining a subset of elementary networks from a set of possible elementary networks in a communications network, the elementary networks of the subset each being capable of simultaneously implementing a elementary network encoding scheme; b) determining at least one critical destination node in the communications network; c) allocating at least one bandwidth portion released by an application of the elementary network encoding scheme in at least one elementary network of the subset, for a transmission of at least one additional data unit to the at least one critical destination node.
US08422388B2 Graceful degradation for communication services over wired and wireless networks
A method for gracefully extending the range and/or capacity of voice communication systems is disclosed. The method involves the persistent storage of voice media on a communication device. When the usable bit rate on the network is poor and below that necessary for conducting a live conversation, voice media is transmitted and received by the communication device at the available usable bit rate on the network. Although latency may be introduced, the persistent storage of both transmitted and received media of a conversation provides the ability to extend the useful range of wireless networks beyond what is required for live conversations. In addition, the capacity and robustness in not being affected by external interferences for both wired and wireless communications is improved.
US08422386B2 Abnormal traffic detection apparatus, abnormal traffic detection method and abnormal traffic detection program
An abnormal traffic detection apparatus for detecting an abnormal traffic toward a communication apparatus by using information on traffics passing through a switch, comprising destination IP address counting units (C1 to C4) configured to store amount information on amount of traffics as an amount information table corresponding to each communication apparatus, a traffic separating unit (21) for registering amount information on a new destination IP address in the amount information table corresponding to the destination IP address, each time a traffics having the new destination IP address passes through the switch, and storing the amount information in the amount information table corresponding to each communication apparatus, and abnormal traffic judging units (J1 to J4) for detecting an abnormality of the traffic amount flowing through the switch on the basis of the amount information stored in the amount information table.
US08422383B2 Base station apparatus and communication control method
A base station apparatus for communicating to a mobile station over an uplink shared channel includes a transmit instruction unit configured to assign an uplink shared channel to the mobile station and instruct the mobile station to conduct transmissions over the assigned uplink shared channel; a measurement unit configured to measure a radio quality of the assigned uplink shared channel; and a determination unit configured to determine based on the radio quality whether the mobile station has transmitted data over the assigned uplink shared channel. In addition, a communication control method at a base station apparatus for communicating to a mobile station over an uplink shared channel includes assigning an uplink shared channel to the mobile station and instructing the mobile station to conduct transmissions over the assigned uplink shared channel; measuring a radio quality of the uplink shared channel assigned to the mobile station; and determining based on the radio quality whether the mobile station has transmitted data over the assigned uplink shared channel.
US08422377B2 Remote monitoring and diagnostics system with automated problem notification
A technique is disclosed for servicing complex systems. Upon detection of a serviceable condition, a system snapshot is made and stored. The snapshot may include a range of data then available on the system, particularly hardware configuration data, such as components then installed, peripherals installed, their states, and so forth. The snapshot may include data available prior to the detection of an indicator, at the time of detection and following detection, facilitating evaluation of the condition and potential responses to it.
US08422374B2 Combophone with QoS on cable access
A method of providing QoS to a session from a client to a first network includes providing data packets from the client to be conveyed in a session from the client to a first network, inserting each of the data packets into an encapsulating packet, and transmitting the encapsulating packets through the second network to the first network, forming a tunnel through the second network. The method includes receiving the encapsulating packets at a terminating device in the first network. The terminating device removes the encapsulating headers to recover the data packets. The method includes determining an association between the packet headers of the data packets and the encapsulating headers, identifying data packets requiring QoS, and using the association to identify encapsulating packets corresponding data packets requiring Quality of Service. The method includes applying QoS to the encapsulating packets, corresponding to the session of data packets requiring the QoS, being conveyed through the tunnel.
US08422370B2 Reducing retransmission of out of order packets
A mechanism is provided to determine an average rate of duplicate packets per connection for packets received by a node over an interface. The mechanism selects a connection from the connections established over the interface, determines that a rate of duplicate packets for the selected connection exceeds the average rate of duplicate packets by a threshold percentage, and sends a message to a transmitter of the duplicate packets over the connection to increase a timeout interval to retransmit packets.
US08422367B2 Method of estimating congestion
Provided is a method of controlling traffic transmitted over a network path from a transmitter to a receiver via a router, the traffic comprising a plurality of packets, and the method comprising: at one of said transmitter and receiver, estimating a maximum queue length at a buffer of the router based on a maximum observed delay for traffic to travel from the transmitter to the receiver, and estimating a current queue length at the buffer of the router based on an observed delay for one or more specified packets to travel from the transmitter to the receiver; and based on said estimates of current queue length and maximum queue length, controlling traffic between the transmitter and receiver over said network path.
US08422354B2 Channel estimation method and apparatus using data channel
A channel estimation method and apparatus that use a data channel are provided for improving channel estimation accuracy in a wireless communication system. The channel estimation apparatus includes a channel value extraction unit that extracts a first estimation value from a potential pilot signal received through a pilot channel and extracts a second estimation value from a potential data signal received through the data channel. The apparatus also includes a weight calculator that calculates a weight for determining a utilization ratio of the potential data signal in channel estimation from an error rate of the potential data signal. The apparatus further includes a channel estimator that estimates a final estimation value using the first estimation value and the second estimation value weighted by the weight calculated by the weight calculator.
US08422351B2 Optical disk apparatus and driving method thereof
An optical disc apparatus records information onto plural disc shaped mediums of different standards or reproduces information from the plural disc shaped mediums. The optical disc apparatus includes an optical pickup equipped with a spherical aberration correcting unit using a movable lens, and a disc insertion unit for inserting and ejecting the disc shaped mediums. The spherical aberration correcting unit starts the movement of the movable lens to an initial position while the disc insertion unit inserts or ejects the disc shaped medium. As such, the present invention discloses the optical disc apparatus with a reduced disc recognition time for improving user convenience and a driving method thereof.
US08422347B2 Method for determining phase difference of tracking error signal in optical disc drive
A method for determining a phase difference of a tracking error signal is provided. The method includes: predetermining a plurality of phase differences, measuring MPP and SPP signals, establishing a phase difference curve by use of an amplitude ratio between (MPP+SPP) and (MPP−SPP), measuring MPP and SPP signals for a tracking error signal under test, calculating the amplitude ratio (MPP+SPP)/(MPP−SPP), and comparing with the phase difference curve to promptly determine the phase difference.
US08422341B2 Device and method for recording and/or reproducing data onto/from information recording medium by using near-field light and information recording medium
An apparatus 100 according to the present invention is designed to read and/or write data from/on an information recording medium 1 using near-field light. The apparatus 100 includes: a light source 3 for emitting laser light; a condensing section 7 for producing the near-field light based on the laser light; a detecting section 22, 23 for detecting the relative positions of the condensing section 7 and the information recording medium 1; and a control section 14 for controlling the position of the condensing section 7. In starting a gap servo operation, the control section 14 controls the position of the condensing section 7 so that the gap servo operation is started at a different location on the information recording medium 1 from any other location where the gap servo operation has ever been started.
US08422339B2 Low friction lubrication assembly
[Summary][Object] A low friction assembly is desired.[Solving Means] The present invention relates to a new low-friction lubrication assembly comprising a first member relatively slidable against a second member, the first member having chemical affinity with an OH-group on its sliding surface; and one or more oxygen containing compounds, provided on the sliding surface of the first member and being able to produce a tribofilm attached to the sliding surface of the first member through hydrogen bond interactions. Preferably the second member comprises a similar OH-terminated sliding surface wherein an oxygen containing compound (lubricant)-supported interface between the first and second sliding surfaces results in a H- and/or OH-terminated interface developing repulsive forces thereinbetween.
US08422338B2 System for variably refracting ultrasound and/or light
The disclosure is directed to a system for variably refracting, and is transparent for, ultrasound as well as for light. By choosing liquids with the right optical and acoustical properties, it is possible to variably refract (including focusing and deflecting or steering) ultrasound while not affecting the refraction of light, or vice versa. Two lenses in series, or preferably one lens, allow for variably refracting ultrasound and light.
US08422336B2 Operating method for an ultra-sound sensor
An operating method adapted in an ultra-sound sensor is provided. The method includes the steps of emitting an ultra-sound wave, receiving a crosstalk signal within a crosstalk measuring window, determining whether the crosstalk signal is larger than a crosstalk threshold and triggering a crosstalk application if the crosstalk signal is smaller than the crosstalk threshold.
US08422334B2 System, method and computer program product for detection of seismic events from a network
Disclosed is a system for detecting seismic events, the system including a plurality of seismic receivers, at least one of the receivers in the plurality adapted for: monitoring seismic activity, providing an alert to at least another of the receivers in the plurality upon detection of a seismic event, and triggering the monitoring in the at least another of the receivers in the plurality. A method and computer program product for monitoring seismic events is also disclosed.
US08422326B2 Semiconductor device having sense amplifier
For example, four driver transistors are arranged in wells so as to adjoin both sides of each of two element isolation regions. Two pairs of cross-coupled sense transistors are arranged in the wells at positions farther from the element isolation regions than the driver transistors are. Such an arrangement provides more than a certain distance between the sense transistors and the respective corresponding element isolation regions. This reduces the effect of a phenomenon that threshold of a transistor varies according to a distance from an element isolation region. As a result, it is possible to exactly match the characteristics of each pair of cross-coupled transistors.
US08422319B2 System and method for gate training in a memory system
A system and method for gate training in a memory system is disclosed. In one embodiment, in a method for calibrating read data strobe gating, a first read command is issued to a memory module. A first DQS gate signal is issued before the beginning of the preamble of a first DQS signal received from the memory module that corresponds to the first read command. A second read command is issued to the memory module such that the preamble of a second DQS signal received from the memory module that corresponds to the second read command is adjacent to the postamble of the first DQS signal. Then, a second DQS gate signal is issued at a preset time after the first DQS gate signal. The second DQS signal is sampled repeatedly to locate the preamble of the second DQS signal.
US08422318B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device, including a plurality of control signal generation units each generating a control signal that is enabled when a column enable signal and a row enable signal are enabled, and a plurality of local sense amplifiers each sensing and amplifying data transmitted via a pair of local input/output (I/O) lines and then outputting the amplified data via a pair of global I/O lines, in response to a read or write signal and a corresponding control signal.
US08422317B2 Self-powered detection device with a non-volatile memory
The self-powered detection device comprises a Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) unit formed by at least a NVM cell and a sensor activated by a physical or chemical action or phenomenon, the NVM unit arranged for storing in the NVM cell, by using electrical power of the electrical stimulus pulse, a bit of information relative to detection by the sensor, during a detection mode of the self-powered detection device, of at least one physical or chemical action or phenomenon applied to it with at least a given strength or intensity and resulting in a voltage stimulus signal provided between a set control terminal and a base terminal of the NVM unit with at least a given set voltage.
US08422314B2 Device and method for achieving SRAM output characteristics from DRAMS
A method is provided for achieving SRAM output characteristics from DRAMs, in which a plurality of DRAMs are arranged connected in parallel to a controller in such a way as to be able to obtain SRAM output characteristics using the DRAMs, comprising a process in which data is output to an external device when a control signal for data reading has been input from the external device, by sequentially repeating a step in which the controller sends a data output state control signal to one DRAM and sends a refresh standby state control signal to the other DRAMs, the data is read and sent to the external device from the DRAM in the output state, and a refresh standby state control signal is sent to the DRAM which was in the output state while an output state control signal is sent to another DRAM and data is read out from the DRAM in the output state, and a step in which the controller sends a control signal for changing the output state to the refresh standby state.
US08422313B2 Reduced power consumption memory circuitry
In a circuit that reduces power consumption in an array system of memory cells accessible in parallel, a local evaluation circuit is connected to a memory cell and a global bit line of the array system of memory cells. A selection circuitry splits the global bit line into an upper part and a lower part of the global bit line. The selection circuitry is adapted to receive an early set prediction signal and to connect the upper part of the global bit line to the lower part of the global bit line based on the early set prediction signal. The early set prediction signal indicates whether a set of memory cells, which include the memory cell, is being read. The circuit also includes a N:1 multiplexer connected to the lower part of the global bit line to receive the lower part of the global bit line as input.
US08422312B2 Systems and methods for erasing a memory
Methods of erasing a memory, methods of operating a memory, memory devices, and systems. In one such method, an erase block is erased to an intermediate erase voltage before it is erased to a final erase voltage, such as to tighten an erase distribution. Faster erasing cells have their erasing throttled using a positive bias on their access line once a particular number of cells coupled to the access line are erased to the intermediate erase voltage.
US08422306B2 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device
A control circuit applies a write pulse voltage to a selected word line to perform a write operation to 1-page memory cells along the selected word line. The circuit then performs a verify read operation to confirm whether the data write to the 1-page memory cells is completed. According to the result of the verify read operation, a step-up operation is performed out to raise the write pulse voltage by a step-up voltage. The control circuit changes the amount of the step-up voltage according to a distribution width of a first threshold voltage distribution generated in process of the write operation to the memory cells.
US08422302B2 Programming non-volatile memory with variable initial programming pulse
Multiple programming processes are performed for a plurality of non-volatile storage elements. Each of the programming process operates to program at least a subset of the non-volatile storage elements to a set of target conditions using programming pulses. For at least a subset of the programming processes, a programming pulse associated with achieving an intermediate result for a respective programming process is identified, a pulse increment between programming pulses is decreased for the respective programming process while continuing the respective programming process to program non-volatile storage elements to the respective one or more targets and the identified programming pulse is used to adjust a starting programming voltage for a subsequent programming process.
US08422298B2 Memory device and semiconductor device
One of objects is to provide a nonvolatile memory device in which the occurrence of a defect in data writing is suppressed and whose area can be suppressed, or a semiconductor device including the nonvolatile memory device. A first memory portion including a nonvolatile memory element and a second memory portion (data buffer) for temporarily storing data in verifying operation in which whether the data is correctly written into the first memory portion is verified are provided. Further, the second memory portion includes a memory element and an insulated gate field effect transistor for controlling the holding of charge in the memory element; the off-state current or the leakage current of the transistor is extremely low.
US08422297B2 Multi level inhibit scheme
Memory devices and methods are disclosed to facilitate utilization of a multi level inhibit programming scheme. In one such embodiment, isolated channel regions having boosted channel bias levels are formed across multiple memory cells and are created in part and maintained through capacitive coupling with word lines coupled to the memory cells and biased to predetermined bias levels. Methods of manipulation of isolated channel region bias levels through applied word line bias voltages affecting a program inhibit effect, for example, are also disclosed.
US08422296B2 Early detection of degradation in NAND flash memory
Techniques for early detection of degradation in NAND Flash memories by measuring the dispersion of the threshold voltages (VT's), of a set (e.g. page) of NAND Flash memory cells during read operations are described. In an embodiment of the invention the time-to-completion (TTC) values for the read operation for the memory cells are used as a proxy for dispersion of the threshold voltages (VT's). A Dispersion Analyzer determines the dispersion of the set of TTC values. In one embodiment the delta between the maximum and minimum TTC values is used as the dispersion measurement. If the measured TTC dispersion differs by more than a selected amount from a reference dispersion value, a warning signal is provided to indicate that the page of memory has degraded. The warning signal can be used to take appropriate action such as moving the data to a new page.
US08422294B2 Symmetric, differential nonvolatile memory cell
Some embodiments relate to a differential memory cell. The memory cell includes a first transistor having a source, a drain, a gate, and a body. A first capacitor has a first plate and a second plate, wherein the first plate is coupled to the gate of the first transistor and extends over the body region. The memory cell also includes a second transistor having a source, a drain, a gate, and a body, wherein the source and body of the second transistor is coupled to the second plate of the first capacitor. A second capacitor has a third plate and a fourth plate, wherein the third plate is coupled to the gate of the second transistor and the fourth plate is coupled to the source and the body of the first transistor.
US08422290B2 Methods of reading data in a NAND flash memory device with a fringe voltage applied to a conductive layer
Methods of programming data in a non-volatile memory cell are provided. A memory cell according to some embodiments may include a gate structure that includes a tunnel oxide layer pattern, a floating gate, a dielectric layer and a control gate sequentially stacked on a substrate, impurity regions that are formed in the substrate at both sides of the gate structure, and a conductive layer pattern that is arranged spaced apart from and facing the floating gate. Embodiments of such methods may include applying a programming voltage to the control gate, grounding the impurity regions and applying a fringe voltage to the conductive layer pattern to generate a fringe field in the floating gate.
US08422286B2 Low-crystallization temperature MTJ for spin-transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STTMRAM)
A spin-torque transfer memory random access memory (STTMRAM) element is disclosed and has a fixed layer, a barrier layer formed upon the fixed layer, and a free layer comprised of a low-crystallization temperature alloy of CoFeB—Z where Z is below 25 atomic percent of one or more of titanium, (Ti), yittrium (Y), zirconium (Zr), and vanadium (V), wherein during a write operation, a bidirectional electric current is applied across the STTMRAM element to switch the magnetization of the free layer between parallel and anti-parallel states relative to the magnetization of the fixed layer.
US08422277B2 Field assisted switching of a magnetic memory element
Method and apparatus for writing data to a magnetic memory element, such as a spin-torque transfer random access memory (STRAM) memory cell. In accordance with various embodiments, a write current is applied through a magnetic memory element to initiate magnetic precession of the element to a desired magnetic state. A flow of a field assist current is subsequently initiated adjacent the magnetic memory element during continued application of the write current to induce a magnetic field upon the element. The field assist current persists after the write current is terminated to provide field assisted precession to the desired magnetic state.
US08422272B2 Semiconductor device and driving method thereof
A semiconductor device including a nonvolatile memory cell in which a writing transistor which includes an oxide semiconductor, a reading transistor which includes a semiconductor material different from that of the writing transistor, and a capacitor are included is provided. Data is written to the memory cell by turning on the writing transistor and applying a potential to a node where a source electrode (or a drain electrode) of the writing transistor, one electrode of the capacitor, and a gate electrode of the reading transistor are electrically connected, and then turning off the writing transistor, so that the predetermined amount of charge is held in the node. Further, when a p-channel transistor is used as the reading transistor, a reading potential is a positive potential.
US08422265B2 Programmable memory cell with shiftable threshold voltage transistor
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.
US08422264B2 Distributed flash memory storage manager systems
A flash memory storage system may include several modules of flash memory storage manager circuitry, each having some associated flash memory. The modules may be interconnected via the flash memory storage manager circuitry of the modules. The system may be able to write data to and/or read data from the flash memory associated with various ones of the modules by routing the data through the flash memory storage circuitry of the modules. The system may also be able to relocate data for various reasons using such read and write operations. The flash memory storage circuitry of the modules keeps track of where data actually is in the flash memory.
US08422263B2 Load reduced memory module and memory system including the same
A memory module includes a plurality of memory chips, a plurality of data register buffers, and a command/address/control register buffer mounted on a module PCB. The data register buffers perform data transfers with the memory chips. The command/address/control register buffer performs buffering of a command/address/control signal and generates a control signal. The buffered command/address/control signal is supplied to the memory chips, and the control signal is supplied to the data register buffers. According to the present invention, because line lengths between the data register buffers and the memory chips are shortened, it is possible to realize a considerably high data transfer rate.
US08422259B2 Switch-mode power supply and apparatus for compensating inductor current peak
A switch-mode power supply (SMPS) is provided. When the switch power of the SMPS turns on, the inductor current of the SMPS may flow through an inductor current sensing circuit which then provides a sensing voltage. An apparatus for compensating the inductor current peak receives a reference voltage and the sensing voltage as inputs and outputs a compensation voltage. The compensation voltage is combined with the reference voltage and/or the sensing voltage and is provided to a first comparator. The result keep 7t as 7s is provided to the logic control circuit coupled to the gate of the power switch after being driven by a driver circuit. The actual inductor current peak is kept identical with the reference current, which effectively controls the inductor current peak, thereby protecting the SMPS.
US08422250B2 Control of a resonant converter by setting up criteria for state parameters of the resonant converter
The invention deals with the control of a resonant LLC converter by setting up criteria for state parameters of the resonant converter, so that the converter may be operated in a near capacitive mode. The current flowing in the resonant tank and optionally the voltage at the a predetermined point in the resonant tank are monitored, and wherein a switch (a high side switch or a low side switch) is turned off when a first criterion is fulfilled together with a second criterion or optionally a third criterion, the first criterion ensuring a minimum time has lapsed after the switch is turned on, the second criterion being that the absolute value of the current is reaching a predetermined current level, the third criterion being that the voltage at the predetermined point reaches a predetermined voltage level.
US08422248B2 Electromagnetic bandgap structure and printed circuit board
An electromagnetic bandgap structure, including: a first metal layer; a first dielectric layer, stacked in the first metal layer; a metal plate, stacked in the first dielectric layer; a via, having one end part which is connected to the first metal layer; a second dielectric layer, stacked in the metal plate and the first dielectric layer; and a second metal layer, stacked in the second dielectric layer, whereas the other end part of the via is connected to a via land which is placed in a hole formed in the metal plate, and the via land is connected to the metal plate through a metal line.
US08422247B2 Electric apparatus module
An electric apparatus module 1 includes an upper casing 6, a lower casing 7 to which the upper casing 6 is attached and which is attached to a rear panel 2, an electronic device unit 8 accommodated in the upper casing 6 and the lower casing 7, a conductive shield shell 9 covering the electronic device unit 8, and a conductive ground shell 10 which is attached to the lower casing 7 at a side of the rear panel 2. The ground shell 10 includes a flat plate portion 83 piled on the rear panel 2, a contact piece 84 erected from an outer edge 83c of the flat plate portion 83 toward the lower case 7, and a contact member 85 protruded from a rear surface 83b of the flat plate portion 83 at the side of the rear panel 2. The contact piece 84 is inserted through a through hole 56 formed on the lower casing 7 to contact with the shield shell 9. The contact member 85 is inserted through a through hole 11 formed on the rear panel 2 to contact a cylindrical shield member 22 of an external device.
US08422246B2 Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes a front case, a rear case whose peripheral portion is brought into engagement with a peripheral portion of the front case and an electrostatic capacity type sensor portion which is encompassed by the front case and the rear case. A primary conductive portion, which is brought into engagement with the sensor portion for electrical connection, is formed on part of an inner surface of the peripheral portion of one of the cases which extends to the engagement portion. By adopting this configuration, the electronic apparatus can be fabricated easily and the operation of a touch switch provided in the electronic apparatus can be stabilized.
US08422245B2 Motherboard
A motherboard includes a main circuit board, a CPU socket, and an interface. The main circuit board includes a holding surface and a side wall connected to the holding surface. The CPU socket is positioned on the holding surface. The interface is positioned on the side wall. The interface is electrically connected to the CPU socket. The interface provides a connection between the main circuit board and a sub-circuit board.
US08422244B2 Power converter
A power converter structure in which the structure of a connecting portion is highly resistant against vibration and has a low inductance. The power converter structure includes a plurality of capacitors and a laminate made up of a first wide conductor and a second wide conductor joined in a layered form with an insulation sheet interposed between the first and second wide conductors. The laminate comprises a first flat portion including the plurality of capacitors which are supported thereon and electrically connected thereto, a second flat portion continuously extending from the first flat portion while being bent, and connecting portions formed at ends of the first flat portion and the second flat portion and electrically connected to the exterior.
US08422242B2 Structure for fixing circuit board
A structure for fixing circuit board, adapted for fixing a circuitboard at the rear of a cage, is disclosed, which comprises: a circuitboard; and a clamp, configured with a clipping part, a fixing part and an elastic part; wherein, the clipping part is coupled to the fixing part while the fixing part is coupled to the elastic part; the clipping part has a first hook formed at a surface facing toward the fixing part; the elastic part has a second hook formed extruding out form a surface facing away from the fixing part; the clipping part and the fixing part are arranged straddling across the top edge of the circuitboard while enabling the first hook to couple to a fastener of the circuitboard; and the elastic part is arranged facing toward the cage while enabling the second hook to secure to the bottom of the cage.
US08422240B2 Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes a flexible printed circuit having a first surface on which a switch is mounted, a reinforcement plate having a first surface arranged to face a second surface of the flexible printed circuit opposite to the first surface of the flexible printed circuit on which the switch is mounted, and a spacer arranged to face a second surface of the reinforcement plate opposite to the first surface of the reinforcement plate that faces the second surface of the flexible printed circuit.
US08422236B2 Pin module and chip on board type use device
Provided are a pin module and a universal serial bus (USB) device. The USB device includes: a substrate including a first side and a second side, the second side opposite to the first side; at least one memory chip mounted on the first side of the substrate; at least one controller chip mounted on the first side of the substrate; a plurality of first planar electrodes formed on the second side of the substrate; a plurality of second planar electrodes formed on the second side of the substrate; and a sealing material housing the memory chip, the controller chip, the first planar electrodes, and the second planar electrodes, wherein the sealing material exposes one sides of the first planar electrodes and the second planar electrodes.
US08422230B2 Power converter
A power converter including a switching element, a switching power module containing a driving circuit for driving the switching element, a smoothing capacitor module for smoothing an input to the switching power module, and a heat sink for cooling the switching power module, wherein the switching power module is mounted on the heat sink, and the smoothing capacitor module is provided on a side surface of the heat sink.
US08422229B2 Molded heat sink and method of making same
A heat sink for use with a heat generating component includes a molded cooling block including a molded cooling passage for receiving a cooling medium. The cooling block is configured to be positioned in sufficient heat transfer relationship with respect to the heat generating component so that the cooling medium receives heat from the heat generating component.
US08422228B2 Cooling jacket, cooling unit, and electronic apparatus
A cooling jacket includes: a flow channel member through which a cooling medium flows, at least a part of which is in contact with an object to be cooled, and which includes a region having a channel cross-sectional area larger than that of any other region; and a projection portion which is provided at a downstream side of the region where the channel cross-sectional area is large.
US08422227B2 Electronic device and heat dissipation device thereof
An electronic device includes a housing, a printed circuit board received in the housing, a plurality of heat-generating elements mounted on the printed circuit board and a heat dissipation device secured to an end of the housing. The heat dissipation device includes a fan module and a bracket securing the fan module onto the housing. The housing includes a first side wall and a second side wall with a passage defined therebetween. The heat-generating elements are positioned in the passage. The fan module includes first and second fans arranged side by side. The bracket defines first and second openings corresponding to the first and second fans respectively for air flow generated by the fans. An air baffle is pivotally connected to the bracket and capable of turning to close a corresponding opening corresponding to a failing fan upon failure of either the first or second fan.
US08422223B2 Multi-modular data center
A multi-modular data center includes at least one modular computing module and at least one modular power supply module. The modular computing module includes a transportable container, a plurality of computing systems, a cooling system, a surveillance system, and a network interface. The modular power supply module includes a transportable container and a plurality of power supply systems. The transportable containers are configured for transport via a transport infrastructure. The plurality of computing systems is mounted within the transportable container. The cooling system is disposed in the transportable container. The surveillance system is configured to monitor the transportable container. The network interface is configured to interface between an Internet access connection and the computing systems. The plurality of power supply systems is mounted within the transportable container.
US08422222B2 Power conversion apparatus
A power conversion apparatus is provided, which accommodates electronic components configuring at least part of a power conversion circuit, and a terminal block collecting wires running from the electronic components, in a case. The terminal block includes a plurality of terminal connecting parts at which a plurality of high-voltage cables, through which electric power is received from and provided to the outside of the case, and the wires are connected to each other, and insulating parts provided between the terminal connecting parts and ensuring insulation between the high-voltage cables and between the wires. A plurality of insertion holes, into which the high-voltage cables are inserted, are formed in one side wall of the case. An opening part for performing an operation for fixing the high-voltage cables to the terminal connecting parts is formed in a wall of the case opposed to the terminal connecting parts and the insulating parts. An extending part is formed around the opening part so as to extend from a circumference of the opening part toward the terminal block side.
US08422216B2 Memory holding apparatus
A memory holding apparatus includes a main pole and an inserting pole. The main pole includes a main portion and a first holding portion perpendicularly extending from a first end of the main portion. A second end of the main portion defines a receiving hole extending to the first holding portion. A sidewall of the main portion defines an opening. An elastic blocking piece extends from a side bounding the opening. A hook extends from an inside wall of the blocking piece. The inserting pole includes an inserting portion and a second holding portion perpendicularly extending from a first end of the inserting portion. The inserting portion defines a groove from a second end of the inserting portion extending to the second holding portion. A number of blocks extend from a bottom of the groove. The hook is selectively engaged with one of the blocks.
US08422209B2 Electronic device including battery and locking mechanism for locking the battery to the electronic device
An electronic device includes a base, a locking mechanism, and a battery. The base includes a receiving bay and a battery bay. The receiving bay includes a through slot defined thereon. The battery is selectively restrained in the battery bay by the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a locking member and an elastic element received in the receiving bay. The locking member is movable and includes a clutching end extending into the battery bay. The elastic element is joined to the receiving bay and the locking member. The locking member further includes an operation portion defined thereon for a user to operate the locking mechanism. The operation portion is located within the receiving bay and is exposed to outside of the receiving bay through slot. The battery includes a connecting end defined thereon for engaging with the clutching end so as to be restrained in the battery bay.
US08422206B2 Consumer electronic product assembly with bracket
A consumer electronic product assembly includes a consumer electronic product and a bracket holding the consumer electronic product. The bracket includes a supporting seat, a holding member and a connecting bar. The holding member holds the consumer electronic product. Opposite ends of the connecting bar hinge on the holding member and the supporting seat, respectively. The connecting bar is rotatable with respect to the supporting seat, and the holding member is rotatable with respect to the connecting bar, whereby the consumer electronic product held by the holding member can be adjusted to various positions with respect to the supporting seat.
US08422205B2 Housing for electronic devices and method for making the same
An electronic device includes a housing and an electronic module. The housing includes a transparent main body, a masking layer partially adhered to the transparent main body, and a cover. A bare area is exposed forming the masking layer to define a transparent window. The housing defines a receiving chamber and an open end communicating with the receiving chamber. The electronic module includes a touch display screen. The electronic module is received in the receiving chamber, the touch display screen aligns to the transparent window, and the cover seals the open end. The present disclosure further discloses a housing for the electronic device and a method for making the housing.
US08422200B2 Conductive structure having an embedded electrode, and solid capacitor having an embedded electrode and method of making the same
A solid capacitor having an embedded electrode includes a substrate unit, a first conductive unit, a second conductive unit, a first insulative unit, a third conductive unit, a second insulative unit, and an end electrode unit. The substrate unit includes a substrate body and a conductive body embedded into the substrate body. The substrate body has a lateral opening and a plurality of top openings, and the conductive body has a lateral conductive area exposed from the lateral opening and a plurality of top conductive areas respectively exposed from the top openings. The first conductive unit includes a plurality of first conductive layers respectively covering the top conductive areas. The second conductive unit includes a second conductive layer covering the first conductive layers. The porosity rate of the second conductive layer is larger than that of each first conductive layer.
US08422185B2 Method and device for delaying activation timing of output device
A delay method for determining an activation time of an output device in a circuit system is disclosed. The delay method includes determining resistance of an over-current flag pull-high resistor of the circuit system, generating a current according to the resistance of the over-current flag pull-high resistor and a voltage drop across the resistor, duplicating the current to generate a division current, drawing the division current from a charging current to determine an activation current of the output device, and determining the activation time point of the output device according to the activation current.
US08422175B1 Disk drive aperture channel
Embodiments described herein relate to a disk drive coupler for reducing particulates in a disk drive. In some embodiments, the disk drive includes a first component having a top surface and a bottom surface, the first component defining an aperture with an interior surface between the top surface and the bottom surface, and a channel on at least one of the top surface, the bottom surface, and the interior surface. In some embodiments, the disk drive coupler includes a fastener configured to be received within the aperture and is configured to secure the first component to a second component. The channel is configured to permit the drawing of air from at least one of the aperture, the top surface, and the bottom surface of the first component before and after the fastener secures the first component to the second component.
US08422174B2 Head stack assembly and hard disk drive with the same
An HSA comprises at least an HGA, a controlling circuit for controlling the HGA, and an actuator coil assembly comprising at least one top surface for mounting the HGA and a side surface for mounting the controlling circuit. The HGA has a first connection region parallel to the top surface, the first connection region has multiple first terminal pads formed thereon; the controlling circuit has a second connection region with multiple second terminal pads formed thereon, the second terminal pads are arranged in at least one row which is parallel to the top surface and the side surface, the first terminal pads are bonding to the corresponding second terminal pads to implement an electrical connection. The HSA has a compact structure as so to save space, and the connection way of the HGA and the controlling circuit is simple and solid.
US08422171B1 Disk drive head stack assembly having a laminar flexible printed circuit with a conductive bump extending to a second conductive layer
A disk drive head stack assembly includes a laminar flexible printed circuit (FPC) having first and second conductive layers, with a dielectric layer between. An integrated circuit (IC) chip is mounted to the laminar FPC. The IC chip may have a first plurality of terminals closer to the first conductive layer than to the second conductive layer, and second plurality of terminals that is offset towards the second conductive layer relative to the first plurality of terminals. First and second pluralities of conductive bumps contact and connect conductive traces of the first and second conductive layers to the first and second plurality of terminals, respectively. An average height of the second plurality of conductive bumps may be greater than that of the first plurality of conductive bumps. The second plurality of conductive bumps is aligned with and passes through a plurality of openings through the dielectric layer.
US08422168B2 Magnetic write head having a self-aligned side wrap-around shield with multi-angle slanted bump
A method for forming a magnetic write head having a trailing shield with a tapered and stepped, self aligned trailing magnetic shield. The shield has a tapered portion that tapers away from the write pole as it extends away from the ABS. This tapered portion helps to channel flux to the pole tip portion of the shield, while preventing the loss of write field to the shield. The stepped portion of the shield further helps to prevent the loss of write field and also defines a secondary throat height of the shield that can be accurately located relative to the air bearing surface.
US08422155B2 Sliding member structure and manufacturing method of the same
A sliding member structure is stably operated by preventing rattling and achieves a decrease in cost. A male helicoid is provided in a fixed barrel, and a female helicoid is provided in a focus barrel. The focus barrel is made of a light-transmissive resin. The fixed barrel is made of a sliding material to which a curable material is not fixed. The fixed barrel and the focus barrel are set by a fixture to dispose the male helicoid and the female helicoid with a predetermined clearance, and the curable material is filled into the clearance between the male helicoid and the female helicoid. The curable material is cured by irradiating UV rays. A cured material layer is formed on a surface of the male helicoid.
US08422152B2 Lens barrel
A lens barrel is provided that includes a zoom optical system, a zooming unit, and a light adjusting mechanism. The zoom optical system includes a first, a second, and a third lens group. The second lens group is movable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis and configured to move the optical image in the same direction. The zooming unit causes the zoom optical system to perform a zooming operation. The lens barrel is configured to change between an imaging state and a retracted state. In the imaging state, the zooming operation is performed and all the lens groups are aligned with one another. During the zooming operation, the first and third lens groups move independently of each other, and the light adjusting mechanism moves integrally with the second lens group. In the retracted state, the third lens group is disposed off center from the optical axis.
US08422151B2 Wide-angle imaging lens module
The wide-angle imaging lens module includes four lenses arranged from an object side to an image side in a sequence of: the first lens, having a positive refractive power, a convex surface on the object side and at least one aspheric surface; a diaphragm; the second lens, having a positive refractive power, a concave surface on the object side and at least one aspheric surface; the third lens, having a positive refractive power, a concave surface on the object side and at least one aspheric surface; the fourth lens, having a negative refractive power, a convex surface on the object side and at least one aspheric surface. The first and the second lenses perform a symmetry concave, providing the wider field of view angle and the larger aperture. A structural design that allows lenses to restrain better aberrations performances of aspheric surfaces further provides high-definition and high imaging qualities.
US08422148B2 Apparatus for shaping of laser radiation
A device for shaping laser radiation, in particular for laser radiation emitted by a laser diode bar, has at least one substrate with a plurality of refractive boundary surfaces through which the laser radiation to be produced can pass in such a way that at least two partial beams of the laser radiation, which, prior to their passage, are adjacently arranged in a first direction, are adjacently arranged after their passage through the refractive boundary surfaces in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction. The refractive boundary surfaces are formed at a substrate or at substrates that are connected to one another.
US08422147B2 Image pickup lens and image pickup module
The present invention provides an image pickup lens including first and second lenses each of which has an Abbe number of greater than 45, which image pickup lens is configured to satisfy the following inequalities (1) and (2): −0.62
US08422146B1 Imaging lens assembly
An imaging lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface, a second lens element with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, a third lens element with positive refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, and a fourth lens element with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a concave image-side surface. The third lens element and the fourth lens element are aspheric. The fourth lens element has at least one inflection point. By adjusting the distance between the second lens element and the first lens element as well as the thickness of the second lens element, the imaging lens assembly can be easy to be manufactured and assembled without decreasing its imaging quality.
US08422145B2 Image pickup lens for solid-state image pickup element
Disclosed is a low-cost, compact image pickup lens for a solid-state image pickup element. The image pickup lens includes, in the order from an object side, a first lens L1, which has a convex surface facing the object side on an optical axis and has a positive refractive power; a second lens L2, which has a concave surface facing an image side on the optical axis and has a negative refractive power; a third lens L3, which has a convex surface facing the object side on the optical axis and has a meniscus shape; a fourth lens L4, which has a convex surface facing the image side on the optical axis, has a positive refractive power, and has a meniscus shape; and a fifth lens L5, which has a concave surface facing the image side on the optical axis, has a negative refractive power, and has a meniscus shape.
US08422142B2 Membrane device the membrane of which can be deformed by actuation with a fast response time
Device including a membrane and a support defining a cavity containing a fluid, where the membrane includes an anchoring area to the support, a central area able to be deformed following a displacement of fluid and an actuation area between the anchoring and central areas, and means of actuation to apply stress to the membrane in the actuation area and cause a displacement of the fluid to the central area following an actuation. The cavity includes a main chamber in the central area and a peripheral chamber in the actuation area communicating with the main chamber. The peripheral chamber includes at least one forced flow structure favoring the flow of at least a part of the fluid from the peripheral chamber to the main chamber or vice versa following the actuation. A given forced flow structure has no attachment both to the support and to the membrane.
US08422139B2 Imaging lens and imaging module
In order to attain an imaging lens whose resolution performance is totally excellent, the imaging lens is in a shape of rotation symmetry in an optical effective aperture, and an image height-MTF property of the imaging lens is designed such that a maximum MTF value of a peripheral region where the image height is greater than zero is greater than an MTF value of a center region where the image height is zero in at least one of a sagittal direction and a tangential direction. This makes it possible to totally maintain an excellent resolution performance of a product even in a case where the performance of the product becomes unstable due to a tolerance that occurs at the time of manufacturing the product.
US08422134B2 Dual pulsed light generation apparatus and method for dual pulsed lights generation thereof
A dual pulsed light generation apparatus including a polarization beam splitter (PBS), a first polarization reflector, and a second polarization reflector is provided. The PBS has a first plane, a second plane, and a dividing interface located between the first plane and the second plane. The PBS is located in the transmission path of an incident pulsed light and used for dividing the incident pulsed light into a first polarization pulsed light reflected by the dividing interface and a second polarization pulsed light passing through the dividing interface. The first polarization reflector is disposed opposite to the first plane and transforms the first polarization pulsed light into a third polarization pulsed light passing through the dividing interface. The first polarization reflector is disposed opposite to the second plane.
US08422133B2 Optical layered body, polarizer, and image display device
An optical layered body wherein the additive amount of the antistatic agent can be reduced leading to a cost reduction while achieving high antistatic property simply and at a low cost. An optical layered body including an optical layered body comprising a light-transmitting substrate and at least a hard coat layer and a low refractive index layer, firmed on the light-transmitting substrate, wherein 1) the low refractive index layer is formed on the outermost surface, and 2) the low refractive index layer contains an antistatic agent.
US08422131B2 Liquid elastic membrane prism and 3 dimension display device having the same
A stereoscopic display is provided. The stereoscopic display is able to control a viewing position and make a viewing angel wide. On top of a display panel, an image is provided through a plurality of pixels and is separated to a left-eye image and a right-eye image by a lenticular lens. An elastic membrane prism array controls an angle of emitted light. An elastic membrane prism array is disposed on the lenticular lens or on and under the lenticular lens. The elastic membrane prism array includes a prism body having a first chamber and a second chamber, a wall disposed between the first and second chamber, a prism plate connected to the wall, a piston adapted for moving back-and-forth and a transporting tube disposed between the piston and the prism body.
US08422129B2 Apparatus for moving optical elements via plurality of balls
An observation apparatus includes a first member 9 supporting first optical elements L1L and L1R, a second member 7 supporting second optical elements L4L and L4R and the first member via balls so as to be movable in an optical axis direction, and a biasing device 11 generating a biasing force for clamping the balls. The first and second members include guide portions 7a, 7b, 9a, and 9b engaging with first balls so as to permit a rolling motion of the two first balls 10a and 10b in the optical axis direction and prevent the first member from displacing with respect to the second member in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction, and ball holding portions 7c, 7d, 9c, and 9d holding second balls 10c and 10d so as to permit a rolling motion of the second balls in the optical axis direction.
US08422127B2 Microscopic image capturing device
The present invention relates to a microscopic image capturing apparatus having a structure that, in scanning an imageable area of an imaging unit in a predetermined direction in an imaging object area, in which a sample is present, can reliably set a focal point of the imaging unit on each imaging position set inside the imaging object area regardless of the type of focusing actuator. The microscopic image capturing apparatus has a sample setting stage having a sample setting surface that is inclined with respect to a scan plane orthogonal to an optical axis of an objective lens. By moving the sample setting stage along the scan plane such that the distance in the optical axis direction between the imaging unit and the sample setting surface varies monotonously, the focal point position of the imaging unit is adjusted in only one direction along the optical axis of the objective lens.
US08422125B2 Self-collimator concave spectral shaping device for chirped-pulse-amplification
A self-collimator concave spectral shaping device for chirped-pulse-amplification (CPA): uses a spectrum decomposing system with CTSI construction, a spectrum synthesizing system with CTSI structure that is symmetrical to the decomposing structure, and a spectrum shaping system including an aperture and a planar reflector for spectrum shaping function design. The device accomplishes the following functions: firstly decomposing the spectrum of a chirped temporal pulse laser to a spectral domain; then shaping the spectrum in the spectral domain; finally synthesizing un-shiftily this shaped spectrum in the spectral domain into a temporal chirped pulse with a designed shape. The device has the feature of requiring less optical components, compacting the structure, requiring less space, cheap in cost, and running stability, for its small size of concave reflector, and its self-collimation and its symmetrical distribution, which it can be not only utilized in a general laser spectrum shaping and spectrum modulation, but also can be utilized for a high energy and ultra-high peak-power laser system in chirped pulse amplification with a large caliber and with a chirped pulse bandwidth of a few nanometers.
US08422118B2 PLC-type delay demodulation circuit
A PLC-type delay demodulation circuit includes a planar lightwave circuit that is provided on one PLC chip and demodulates a DQPSK signal. The planar lightwave circuit includes a Y-branch waveguide that branches a DQPSK-modulated optical signal into two optical signals and first and second MZIs that delay the branched optical signals by one bit. The length of a short arm waveguide of the first MZI is different from the length of a short arm waveguide of the second MZI, and the length of an optical path from the Y-branch waveguide to output ports of the first MZI through the short arm waveguide of the first MZI is equal to that of an optical path from the Y-branch waveguide to output ports of the second MZI through the short arm waveguide of the second MZI.
US08422117B2 Electrophoretic display and electronics device
An electrophoretic display includes a first substrate and a second substrate; base portions which are provided in a display area on the first substrate such that any two mutually adjacent ones of the base portions are disposed so as to have an interspace therebetween; reflection plates which are provided on upper surfaces of the base portions, respectively; first electrodes which are overlapped with the reflection plates, respectively; second electrodes which are provided in the interspaces on the first substrate so as to correspond to the first electrodes, respectively; a sealing member which is provided between the first and second substrates so as to enclose the display area; and dispersion liquid which is provided between the first and second substrates, and which includes a dispersion medium, and electrophoretic particles dispersed in the dispersion medium, the electrophoretic particles having a color different from the reflection plate.
US08422116B2 Color display devices
The present invention is directed to color display devices which are capable of displaying multiple color states. The display device comprises a plurality of display cells, wherein each of said display cells is (a) sandwiched between a first layer comprising a common electrode and a second layer comprising a plurality of driving electrodes, wherein at least one of the driving electrodes is a designated electrode, (b) filled with an electrophoretic fluid comprising at least two types of pigment particles dispersed in a solvent or solvent mixture, and (c) capable of displaying at least four color states. The display device may also comprise hiding layers or a brightness enhancement structure on the viewing side.
US08422115B2 Display device
A display device is provided. The display device includes: a substrate including a unit display area, a fixing member that is formed on the substrate and that is electrically isolated, an insulating layer that is formed on the fixing member, a fixing electrode that is formed on the insulating layer and that is electrically connected to a power source, and a plurality of moving members with one end fixed to the insulating layer and positioned apart by a distance from the fixing electrode. The plurality of moving members and the fixing electrode are positioned within the unit display area.
US08422113B2 Panel including thermochromic layer
A panel including a thermochromic layer. A panel includes a transparent substrate, a plurality of thermochromic layers on the transparent substrate, and a plurality of dielectric layers stacked with the thermochromic layers. The thermochromic layers may include vanadium oxide, in which a chemical stoichiometric ratio of vanadium to oxygen may be about 1:2 or about 2:5.
US08422112B2 Display system
A display system 1 is composed of a ghost image reducing device 100 and an image device 10. The ghost image reducing device 100 comprises an image reflecting element 110 and a polarizing element 120. The image reflecting element 110 includes a substrate 112 and a phase modulating element 114 which is adjacent to the substrate 112 and has a reflecting surface 114a. The image device 10 generates a polarized image light P1 which is received by the reflecting surface 114a. Then, a portion of the polarized image light P1 is reflected by the reflecting surface 114a for producing a first reflecting polarized image light P2, another portion of the polarized light P1 is projected into the phase modulating element 114 and reflected by the substrate 112 for producing a second reflecting polarized image light S2 whose polarizing direction is different from that of the first reflecting polarized image light P2.
US08422105B2 Image forming apparatus including a display apparatus having a memory configured to retain settings concerning components forming a display component, a display control method, and a computer-readable recording medium thereof
A display apparatus for displaying an information screen and an operation screen concerning an apparatus to which the display apparatus is connected, is disclosed, including: a screen display request receiving part, a display component creating part, and a display component drawing part. The screen display request receiving part receives a screen display request from the apparatus. The display component creating part creates a display component to display at a screen, in response to the screen display request received by the screen display request receiving part. The display component drawing part draws the display component created by the display component creating part.
US08422102B2 Preferred hue selection method for optimizing color image reproduction
A method implemented in a color image reproduction system that includes a data processing apparatus having a non-transitory memory for storing a computer software program and a processor for executing the software program, wherein the program includes a program code configured to cause the data processing apparatus to execute a process for optimizing color image reproduction, which process includes the steps of finding preferred hue angles for a memory color, for each preferred hue angle determining a maximum chroma value of its hue slice, selecting two chroma points at a pre-determined percentage of the maximum chroma value, integrating a lightness function of chroma over a range between the two chroma points to calculate an area under a curve of the function, and selecting a preferred hue angle to be used as a gamut mapping target for the memory color based on the result of the area calculation.
US08422099B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body; an image carrier unit that includes: a support member; and an image carrier that is rotatably supported by the support member and directly or indirectly carries images; a positioning part that is provided at the apparatus body and positions the image carrier unit by being abutted against the support member; a plurality of rotating bodies which are provided in the apparatus body; and a control unit that controls driving states of the plurality of rotating bodies, wherein the control unit controls the rotating bodies so that a resultant force of forces applied to the image carrier unit from the plurality of rotating bodies is always applied in a normal direction where the support member is abutted against the positioning part, in a period where the plurality of rotating bodies moves to a normal rotation state from a stopped state.
US08422098B2 Document data capturing device
A document data capturing device includes a sheet supply tray for carrying documents, a sheet discharge tray located below the sheet supply tray, and a document conveying mechanism including a conveying path along which documents are guided from the sheet supply tray to the sheet discharge tray. The document data capturing device includes a first data-capturing unit and a second data-capturing unit which scan respective sides of a document conveyed by the document conveying mechanism. The first data-capturing unit and the second data-capturing unit are each configured with a reduction-optics scanning mechanism. The conveying path along which a document to be scanned by the first and second scanning mechanisms is conveyed is formed to surround the second reduction-optics data-capturing unit. Thus, the device can be made compact.
US08422094B2 Illumination device
An illumination device comprising: an optical guide for receiving light emitted from a light source and guiding the light by repetitive transmission and reflection; a reflective member for reflecting light transmitting in the optical guide to an outside of the optical guide within the optical guide; a supplemental reflective member for reflecting light transmitting the reflective member and light leaked from the optical guide while evading the optical guide to an inside of the optical guide, transmitting the reflective member and light leak.
US08422093B2 Light projection unit, image reading device including same, and image forming apparatus including the image reading device
A light projection unit includes a substrate, a plurality of light emitting elements arrayed on the substrate in a main scanning direction and including light emitting surfaces, a light guide facing the light emitting surfaces to direct light projected from the light emitting elements onto an illumination target and including a first positioning portion, and a holder including a second positioning portion that engages the first positioning portion of the light guide to position the light guide on the holder. The first positioning portion of the light guide is positioned between centers of light emission of adjacent light emitting elements in the main scanning direction of the substrate when the first positioning portion engages the second positioning portion of the holder.
US08422092B2 Illuminating device, image-reading apparatus, and image-forming equipment
An embodiment of the present invention provides an illuminating device that is disposed in an image-reading apparatus and image-forming equipment, including a light-source portion on one side; a light-source portion on the other side; and a long translucent light-guiding member having a light-discharging face long in a longitudinal direction thereof, and guiding light derived from the one light-source portion from one end face in the longitudinal direction, and light derived from the other light-source portion from the other end face in the longitudinal direction so that the guided light is irradiated to an object through the long light-discharging face; wherein the one and the other light-source portions are arranged such that positions of optical axes thereof differ from each other in a direction that is parallel to a light-irradiated face of the object and in a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the light-guiding member.
US08422091B2 Image reading apparatus, image data output processing apparatus, and image reading method
Carried out are (i) an infrared light scanning process in which light is directed to a document in a state in which a visible light cut filter is provided in an optical path, in which the light is directed from a light source to the document, reflected from the document, and then received by a light receiving element, so that the light receiving element receives the reflected light from the document and prepares image data S1; (ii) a visible light scanning process in which the light is directed to the document in a state in which no visible light cut filter is provided in the optical path, so that the light receiving element receives the reflected light from the document and prepares image data S2; and (iii) a color correction process in which a color of an image in the image data S2 is corrected in accordance with the image data S1 so that an influence of light having a infrared wavelength is removed or reduced from the image data S2. According to this, regardless of document paper types, document image data whose color tone is closer to a document color tone sensed by human eyes.
US08422090B2 Image capture of subject region and control region
A device includes a processing system having a processor and a memory and an image capture component coupled to the processing system. The image capture component is configured to receive an image of a subject region within a field of view and an image of a control region within the field of view. The processing system is configured to process the image of the control region as a user input for processing the image of the subject region.
US08422085B2 Image reader and image forming apparatus
There are provided an image reader with high resolution capability for images in a high density range and an image forming apparatus. An image reader 2 comprises a reflected light reading unit (11, 12, 13, 14, 10) for irradiating a surface to be read of an original sheet with a light and reading the amount of the reflected light and a transmitted light reading unit (15, 12, 13, 14, 10) for irradiating the original sheet with a light and reading the amount of the transmitted light, and calculates the density of an image of the original sheet based on the amount of the reflected light read by the reflected light reading unit and the amount of the transmitted light read by the transmitted light reading unit.
US08422072B2 Image forming system and a sheet processing apparatus thereof that communicates configuration information to an image forming apparatus thereof
An image forming system capable of shortening the time required to process configuration information on an image forming system and shortening communication time. When any of sheet processing apparatuses is activated before activation of an image forming apparatus, a controller of a sheet processing apparatus acting as a sub-manager configures a sub-system consisting of sheet processing apparatuses connected to a communication network and creates configuration data on the sub-system. When recognizing that the image forming apparatus is newly connected to the network, the sub-manager apparatus notifies the image forming apparatus of the already created configuration data based on which a controller of the image forming apparatus creates configuration data on the system and stores it into a RAM.
US08422071B2 Information conversion method, information conversion apparatus, and information conversion program
Reproduction can be adjusted according to the degree of achromatopsia and the color distribution of an image, and color reproduction approximate to the vision of normal persons is provided to achromates. Different textures are added to respective regions (similar and hardly indistinguishable regions) which have different colors but conduce to similar result of light-reception by a light receiving device according to the differences of the original colors. The textures include a pattern of angle, hatching, or contrast each different according to the difference of the original color.
US08422069B2 Image forming device creating a preview image
An image forming device may be provided with a setting data storage device, a preview image creation device, and an output device. The setting data storage device may be capable of storing a plurality of patterns of setting data. The preview image creation device may create, for each pattern of setting data stored in the setting data storage device, a preview image to which the pattern of setting data is reflected. The output device may output the plurality of preview images created by the preview image creation device.
US08422065B2 Print data output apparatus and method
An external storage unit managing system that specifies an external storage unit related to use from a plurality of the external storage units. The external storage unit managing system includes: an external storage unit retrieval unit that recognizes the external storage units connected to a print data output apparatus; and an external storage unit deciding unit that decides the desired external storage unit in a case where a plurality of the external storage units are retrieved by the external storage unit retrieval unit.
US08422064B2 Image-reading method and apparatus
An image-reading apparatus and method for controlling the image-reading apparatus including a document plate where an original document is placed, a line image sensor that reads an image on the document plate by scanning to obtain image data, a reference-setting image that is placed outside a region of the document plate at a position where the line image sensor is able to read the reference-setting image, and a control unit configured to set a reference position when the image sensor reads the image, wherein the control unit detects the reference-setting image from the image data and, depending on a power-on state of the image-reading apparatus, selects the manner in which the reference position is set based on the reference-setting image.
US08422060B2 Document path mapping mechanism
A method disclosed. The method includes receiving a Job Definition Format (JDF) job ticket indicating a document file to be printed is located in a JDF file path, mapping the JDF file path to a file path recognized at a print server, retrieving the document file and processing the document file for printing.
US08422058B2 Mutualistic engine controller
A printing device has a printing engine that is at least partially made up of a customer replaceable unit or units. An engine controller is operatively connected to the printing engine. The engine controller uses software to control the operations of the printing engine. A non-volatile memory is operatively connected to the engine controller. The non-volatile memory stores values used by the engine controller to control operations of the printing engine. An adapter card is operatively connected to the non-volatile memory and to the customer replaceable units. The customer replaceable unit has a memory unit and the adapter card reads data from the memory unit. The adapter card uses the data to directly alter values within the non-volatile memory by bypassing the engine controller when communicating with the non-volatile memory. Further, the adapter card alters the non-volatile memory without altering the software used by the engine controller.
US08422057B2 Apparatus and method for manufacturing the same
An apparatus is provided which includes a storage unit configured to store original data; a determining unit configured to determine whether or not a user who gives an instruction to transmit the original data to another apparatus is the creator of the original data when the original data is transmitted to the other apparatus; and a transmitting unit configured, as a result of the determination by the determining unit, if the user is the creator of the original data, to transmit the original data in a data format that allows editing by the other apparatus; and if the user is not the creator of the original data, to transmit the original data in a data format that disables editing by the other apparatus.
US08422048B2 Image forming apparatus and method
An image forming apparatus associates a plurality of pieces of user information with a single user identifier, and furthermore, stores keys corresponding to keys that are used for signing in association with the respective pieces of user information. Furthermore, when a user uses the image forming apparatus, jobs for which user information attached to the jobs matches user information that is identified when the user uses the image forming apparatus are extracted, signature verification is performed on respective pieces of signature data attached to the extracted jobs, using the keys held in a user information table, and jobs that are successfully verified are further extracted and listed.
US08422044B2 Print control method capable of managing functions incorporated in printing device
When a printer driver of a user's PC connected to a printing device is activated, it transmits user information, division information and the like to the printing device, and inquires about any restriction on its functions. The printer driver acquires, from the printing device, information regarding a restriction set on a user or on a division, a restriction due to a configuration and a restriction set for a period, as well as a message input by an administrator. It displays the functions of the printing device on a screen presented upon activation of the driver, in such a manner that the function of which the use is restricted is grayed out to indicate that the function is unusable, and also displays the type of the restriction and the corresponding message input by the administrator.
US08422042B2 Terminal device
A communication device has a process unit, a network interface, a communication interface, an interface control unit, a device control unit, and a relay unit. The network interface communicates with a terminal device connected to a network. The communication interface communicates with a locally connected peripheral device. The interface control unit controls the communication interface and transmits control data to the peripheral device, the control data being for controlling the peripheral device. The device control unit generates the control data for the peripheral device in accordance with an instruction entered from the processing unit, and transmits the control data to the interface control unit. The relay unit extracts the control data for the peripheral device from a packet received by the network interface, and transmits the control data to the interface control unit.
US08422034B2 Method and apparatus for using gestures to control a laser tracker
A method for optically communicating, from a user to a laser tracker, a command to control operation of the laser tracker includes steps of providing a rule of correspondence between each of a plurality of commands and each of a plurality of spatial patterns, and selecting by the user a first command from among the plurality of commands. The method further includes the steps of moving by the user, between a first time and a second time, a retroreflector in a first spatial pattern from among the plurality of spatial patterns, wherein the first spatial pattern corresponds to the first command, and projecting a first light from the laser tracker to the retroreflector. The method also includes the steps of reflecting a second light from the retroreflector, the second light being a portion of the first light, and obtaining first sensed data by sensing a third light, the third light being a portion of the second light, wherein the first sensed data is obtained by the laser tracker between the first time and the second time. The method includes also the steps of determining the first command based at least in part on processing the first sensed data according to the rule of correspondence, and executing the first command with the laser tracker.
US08422029B2 Test method for surface figure of large convex mirrors
A method of testing a convex mirror surface figure in which an optical quality substrate material is used having a convex front surface and a rear surface polished to a precise optical figure to create a lens. The lens is then tested by a standard interferometric or wavefront lens-testing method and the convex surface coated once a desired curvature is obtained. Null testing may be attained by passing a collimated interferometer beam through a focusing lens shaped to counter the predicted spherical aberration introduced by a perfect convex mirror/lens.
US08422027B2 Imaging optical system for producing control information regarding lateral movement of an image plane or an object plane
A new and useful concept is provided by which control information for an imaging optical system such as a lithographic imaging optical system can be generated. A system and method are disclosed that are designed to detect changes in the lateral position of an image plane or object plane in an imaging optical system, particularly a lithographic imaging optical system.
US08422025B2 Optical encoder for obtaining displacement information of object
An optical encoder includes a light source 10, a scale 20 disposed so as to face the light source, a light receiving element 31 configured to receive luminous flux from the light source through the scale, and a signal processing circuit 39 configured to process an output signal of the light receiving element. A light emitting window 11 of the light source is constituted of a collection of a plurality of point light sources and has a shape which meets a predetermined expression.
US08422024B2 High performance hollow-core optical-fiber filter for optical rotation sensing
A hollow-core optical-fiber filter is provided. The hollow-core optical-fiber filter includes a hollow-core optical fiber having a first end-face and an opposing second end-face. The first end-face and the second end-face set a fiber length. The hollow-core optical-fiber filter also includes a first reflective end-cap positioned at the first end-face and a second reflective end-cap positioned at the second end-face. When an optical beam from a laser is coupled into one of the first end-face or the second end-face, an optical output from the opposing end-face has a narrow linewidth and low frequency noise fluctuations.
US08422023B2 Compact high resolution imaging apparatus
An optical coherence tomography (OCT) apparatus includes an optical source, an interferometer generating an object beam and a reference beam, a transverse scanner for scanning an object with said object beam, and a processor for generating an OCT image from an OCT signal returned by said interferometer. At least the optical source, the interferometer, and the scanner are mounted on a common translation stage displaceable towards and away from said object. A dynamic focus solution is provided when the scanner and a folded object path are placed on the translation stage.
US08422019B2 Light measuring apparatus and light measuring method
A light with a known spectrum is emitted from a light source toward a road surface, a first reflected light that is a reflected light of the known light reflected from the road surface is received by a first light receiver, and a reflectance spectrum of the light of the road surface is calculated from a spectrum of the first reflected light received by the first light receiver and the spectrum of the known light stored in the storage unit. A second reflected light that is reflected light of an environmental light reflected from the road surface is received by a second light receiver, and a spectrum of the environmental light is calculated from a spectrum of the second reflected light received by the second light receiver and the calculated reflectance spectrum of the light of the road surface.
US08422016B2 Non-contact and contact color sensor device
An apparatus for color sensing is disclosed. The apparatus includes a set of color sensor tolerances for a Non-Contact color sensor device; and a Contact color sensor device, conforming to the set of color sensor tolerances.
US08422015B2 Movable body apparatus, pattern formation apparatus and exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
On the +X and −X sides of a projection unit, a plurality of Z heads are arranged in parallel to the X-axis, by a distance half or less than half the effective width of the Y scale so that two Z heads each constantly form a pair and face a pair of Y scales. Of the pair of heads consisting of two Z heads which simultaneously face the scale, measurement values of a priority head is used, and when abnormality occurs in the measurement values of the priority head due to dust and the like adhering on the scale surface, measurement values of the other head is used, and the positional information of the stage in at least the Z-axis direction is measured in a stable manner and with high precision.
US08422014B2 Method for inspecting defect of article to be inspected
A method of inspecting defects in an inspection target includes (1) a step of supplying a particle-containing gas to one end face of the inspection target under pressure, applying in parallel a first laser beam to the vicinity of the other end face of the inspection target, and photographing such end face from a position vertical to such end face, (2) a step of supplying a particle-containing gas to the one end face of the inspection target under pressure, applying in parallel a second laser beam to the vicinity of the other end face of the inspection target, and photographing such end face from a position vertical to such end face, and (3) a step of specifying defects in the inspection target from photographic results obtained by the steps (1) and (2).
US08422013B2 Optical multiplexer/demultiplexer
An apparatus for optical spectrometry utilizes a simplified construction, reducing the number of independent optical elements needed while providing a sizeable dispersed spectrum. The apparatus provides a spectral intensity distribution of an input source wherein individual spectral components in the source can be measured and, in some embodiments, can be manipulated or filtered.
US08422011B2 Two material achromatic prism
A spectrometer comprises a detector array and a prism. The prism comprises a first prism element comprising a substantially crystalline crown material, and a second prism element contacting the first prism element, the second prism element comprising a substantially crystalline flint material. The spectrometer further includes optics configured to direct light at least twice through the prism. The prism is configured to disperse light received from the optics at an incident angle therethrough into constituent spectra in visible and infrared wavelength bands that are dispersed from the prism at angles offset from the incident angle. The constituent spectra are directed onto the detector array with approximately equal dispersion across the visible and infrared wavelength bands. Among other things, desirable material selections for the first and second prism elements are also disclosed.
US08422005B2 Method and apparatus for multiple field-angle optical alignment testing
Various embodiments provide an optical alignment apparatus that includes a mirror structure having a plurality of mirrors, the mirror structure being configured for mounting a lens. The plurality of mirrors are arranged so as to redirect a collimated beam of radiation into the lens at different angles so as to measure one or more alignment parameter of the lens.
US08422004B1 Automotive headlamp aiming insensitive to intensity variations
A headlamp aiming system is provided for aiming a headlamp of a vehicle. An aimer includes a CCD camera for receiving illumination produced by the headlamp to produce a beam pattern image. A controller receives the beam pattern image from the aimer to determine an aiming correction to move the detected beam pattern to a predetermined position. An adjuster is operatively coupled to the vehicle for executing adjustments of the headlamp in response to the aiming correction. The CCD camera captures an initial image using an initial exposure time, measures a light accumulation value corresponding to the initial image, determines a final exposure time in response to the measured light accumulation value and a predetermined light accumulation value, and captures the beam pattern image using the final exposure time.
US08422001B2 Method of measuring the velocity of an aircraft by laser doppler anemometry
Method of measuring the velocity of an aircraft at a given instant, by laser Doppler anemometry, by performing the steps of acquiring a backscattered signal on at least three oriented line-of-sight axes, and calculating the spectrum of the backscattered signal on each of the line-of-sight axes. Further, acquiring an additional backscattered signal on at least one additional line-of-sight axis (X4) not coincident with one of the three first line-of-sight axes (X1, X2, X3), and calculating the spectrum of the backscattered signal on the additional line-of-sight axis (X4). Several candidate velocity vectors ({right arrow over (V)}c) and of the projections of the candidate vectors on at least one line-of-sight axis (X1, X2, X3, X4) are calculated. The consistency of the candidate vectors ({right arrow over (V)}c) is calculated as a function of their projections and as a function of each spectrum of the corresponding backscattered signal on the respective calculation axis (X1, X2, X3, X4). The measured velocity vector ({right arrow over (V)}c) is chosen from among the candidate velocity vectors ({right arrow over (V)}c).
US08421999B2 Projection exposure apparatus and projection exposure method
Exposure areas are wholly overlapped by moving a gradient refractive index lens array in a direction perpendicular to a scanning direction, or by providing a plurality of gradient refractive index lens arrays, an optical filter having a density distribution of lightness and darkness to compensate light transmission nonuniformity of the gradient refractive index lens array is arranged, or an opening control plate for limitedly using only of a uniform portion is provided. Two or more means may be simultaneously provided among the aforementioned mean. Moreover, any one of a microscopic transmission shutter array, a microscopic reflection shutter array, and a microscopic light emitter array is used instead of a mask, or an illuminating device and the mask.
US08421995B2 Anti-reflective coating for optical elements
An optical element including an anti-reflective coating is provided. The optical element includes a silicon substrate and a reflective layer disposed onto a first portion of the surface of the silicon substrate. An anti-reflective layer is disposed onto a second portion of the surface of the silicon substrate such that destructive interference at the anti-reflective layer substantially reduces any reflection of radiation incident on the anti-reflective layer.
US08421991B2 Conversion of cinema theatre to a super cinema theatre
Methods of and equipment for converting existing standard motion picture theatres to one having highly immersive, large fields of view are addressed. Aspects of the methods including moving motion picture screens closer to the audience and employing different projection equipment to avoid or minimize appearance of unrealistic or non-natural image artifacts. Alternative sound systems too are detailed.
US08421990B2 Liquid crystal lens
A liquid crystal lens includes a first light-pervious plate, a second light-pervious plate, a first electrode layer arranged on the first light-pervious plate, a second electrode layer arranged on the second light-pervious plate, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first light-pervious plate and the second light-pervious plate, where the first electrode layer comprises a plurality of concentric electrodes, and a gap between two adjacent outer concentric electrodes is different from a gap between two adjacent inner concentric electrodes.
US08421989B2 Liquid crystal lens
A liquid crystal lens including a plurality of electrodes and a substrate is provided. A plurality of parallel electric fields is formed by controlling the potentials of the electrodes, so as to speed up the mechanism for toppling the liquid crystal molecules. In other words, the liquid crystal lens has a high respond time. In addition, a plurality of active devices is disposed at the sides of the electrodes in the liquid crystal lens, in which the active devices are electrically connected to the electrodes. When the active devices are driven, a current is formed on the electrodes, so as to raise the temperature of the liquid crystal lens. Accordingly, the liquid crystal lens can be operated in a low temperature environment.
US08421988B2 Liquid crystal panel, manufacturing method of liquid crystal panel, and applicator
A liquid crystal panel 10 includes a pair of substantially rectangular substrates 17, 18 attached to each other, a liquid crystal layer 19 provided between the substrates 17, 18, and a sealant portion 20 having a substantially frame-like shape surrounding and sealing the liquid crystal layer 19. The sealant portion 20 includes an oblique portion 34 arranged oblique to the sides of the substrate 17, 18, at each of the four corners thereof. The liquid crystal panel 10 further includes a reinforcing portion 35 fixed to both substrates 17, 18. The reinforcing portion 35 is arranged along a planar direction of the substrate 17, 18 so as to be located between the oblique portion 34 and a corner point of the substrate 17, 18.
US08421986B2 Substrate with multi-domain vertical alignment pixel structure and fabricating method thereof, liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display
A substrate with a multi-domain vertical alignment pixel structure is provided. The substrate is opposite to a counter substrate with a common electrode, and a liquid crystal layer is disposed between the substrate and the counter substrate. The substrate includes a scan line and a data line, an active device, first and second patterned pixel electrodes and a voltage drop layer. Wherein, the first patterned pixel electrode provides a first electrical field to the liquid crystal layer, and the second patterned pixel electrode provides a second electrical field to the liquid crystal layer. The voltage drop layer makes the first electrical field smaller than the second electrical field.
US08421983B2 Liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display panel comprises an upper substrate including a plurality of color filters, a lower substrate comprising a plurality of circuit lines, and a sealant for adhering the upper substrate and the lower substrate to each other. A seal area black matrix transmitting ultraviolet (UV) light rays for curing the sealant is formed in the upper substrate. The seal area black matrix is formed by stacking the plurality of color filters in a seal area.
US08421981B2 Display panel and pixel array substrate with connecting wires having through-opening
A display panel having a display region and a sealant region is provided. The display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a sealant and a display medium. The sealant is disposed between the first and second substrates and within the sealant region. The display medium is disposed between the first and second substrates and within the display region. The second substrate includes pixel units and wires electrically connected to the pixel units. The pixel units are disposed within the display region, the wires extend to the sealant region from the display region, and at least a portion of the wires in the sealant region has slots. In particular, each of the slots has a side edge adjacent to the edge of the wire which the slot is disposed therein, and the distances from the side edge to the edge of the wire are not equal.
US08421979B2 Display panel and display device including the same
A drive IC chip (21) including a circuit for driving a display region (41) is mounted on a panel substrate (11). An anisotropic conductive film (31) is interposed between the panel substrate (11) and the drive IC chip (21) and electrically connects the bump electrodes (22) of the drive IC chip (21) and the electrode pads (27) of the panel substrate (11). The anisotropic conductive film (31) is arranged to extend beyond all side surfaces (21b to 21d) other than one specific side surface (21a) of the drive IC chip (21).
US08421975B2 Liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which can suppress generation of an afterimage. The present invention is a liquid crystal display device, includes: a first substrate and a second substrate which are disposed to face each other; and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the first substrate has a comb type first electrode including a first branch portion and a comb type second electrode including a second branch portion, the first electrode and the second electrode are planarly disposed to face each other in a pixel, the liquid crystal layer includes p-type nematic liquid crystals and is driven by an electric field generated between the first electrode and the second electrode, the p-type nematic liquid crystals are aligned perpendicularly to the first substrate and second substrate surfaces when no voltage is applied, the first branch portion and the second branch portion extend diagonally with respect to a boundary line between adjacent pixels, and a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode is substantially uniform in an area surrounding an end of the first branch portion.
US08421973B2 Liquid crystal display device
A sealant contains a plurality of conductive members, and is formed in a closed pattern, when viewed from a direction normal to a surface of a first substrate or a second substrate. A second electrode is formed on a surface located on the first substrate side of the second substrate, and a first electrode, which is provided so as to face a part of the second electrode, and is electrically connected to the second electrode through the conductive members contained in the sealant, is formed over the first substrate. The first electrode is provided so as to at least partially overlap a crossing portion of the sealant.
US08421968B2 Liquid crystal display apparatus and electronic apparatus
Disclosed herein is a liquid crystal display apparatus in which a transmission region and a reflection region disposed in parallel. The apparatus includes first and second substrates and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates. The second substrate has at least a counter electrode, an interlayer insulating film and a pixel electrode for forming a fringe field for driving molecules of the liquid crystal. At least one parameter relating to the interlayer insulating film formed on the second substrate is set different between the transmission region side interlayer insulating film and the reflection region side interlayer insulating film so that driving voltages for the transmission and reflection regions are substantially equal to each other.
US08421965B2 Liquid crystal panel having a multi-gap structure and liquid crystal display apparatus
The present invention provides a color liquid crystal panel in an e-mode of an IPS mode, which has a multi-gap structure, and in which a contrast in an oblique direction is enhanced.
US08421964B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a TFT substrate having a display area in which pixels each wutg a pixel electrode and a TFT are arranged in a matrix form, a counter substrate disposed opposite to the TFT substrate, a sealing material formed in the periphery to bond the TFT substrate and the counter substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between an orientation film formed on the TFT substrate and an orientation film formed on the counter substrate. A first, second or third color filter is formed corresponding to each of the pixels in the display area of the TFT substrate, and an orientation film stopper is formed by an overlapping portion of the first, second or third color filter, outside of the display area. A profile of the orientation film formed on the TFT substrate is defined by the orientation film stopper.
US08421963B2 Liquid crystal display device with a transparent material layer and a light-shielding layer of same height and method for fabricating the same
An LCD device and a method for fabricating the same is described, in which each of light-shielding patterns has the uniform thickness to prevent the step coverage from being generated in color filter patterns by the light-shielding patterns. The LCD device includes a substrate with pixel and light shielding regions defined, a transparent material layer formed on the substrate corresponding to the pixel regions, a light-shielding layer formed on the substrate corresponding to the light shielding regions, and a color filter layer on the transparent material layer.
US08421962B2 Color filter and method for manufacturing color filter
There is provided a color filter which can be manufactured by a simplified process and which will not short-circuit an electrode of a TFT substrate. The color filter includes a substrate, and a red layer, a green layer and a blue layer, formed on the substrate. When forming the green layer and the blue layer, these layers are not only formed on the substrate, but also laminated on the red layer to form a spacer comprised of the green layer and the blue layer, laminated on the red layer. The color filter further includes a transparent electrode layer which covers the substrate, the red layer, the green layer, the blue layer and the spacer, and an insulating black matrix layer formed on predetermined areas of the transparent electrode layer.
US08421961B2 Active device array substrate and fabrication method thereof
An active device array substrate including a substrate, a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of active devices, a first passivation layer, a transparent pad layer, a plurality of color filter patterns, a second passivation layer, a plurality of pixel electrodes, and a black matrix layer is provided. Each of the active devices is electrically connected to one of the scan lines and one of the data lines, respectively. The transparent pad layer having a plurality of openings for accommodating the color filter patterns is disposed on the first passivation layer located above the scan lines and the data lines. The first passivation layer, the color filter patterns and the second passivation layer have a plurality of contact windows therein. The black matrix layer is disposed above the transparent pad layer to cover a portion of the pixel electrodes.
US08421958B2 Backlight module and liquid crystal display device
A backlight module is disclosed in the present disclosure. The backlight module comprises a reflective sheet, a printed circuit board (PCB), a diffuser plate and a supporting structure. The reflective sheet is attached onto the PCB, and the supporting structure is located between the diffuser plate and the reflective sheet. The supporting structure comprises a body portion and a supporting portion, and the PCB comprises an adapter member. By using the adapter member and the supporting structure in the backlight module of the present disclosure, the supporting structure can make contact with the PCB in a large area and support the diffuser plate stably. Further, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device using the backlight module described above is also disclosed in the present disclosure.
US08421957B2 Illuminating device and liquid-crystal display device using the same
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel and an illuminating device having a plurality of LED packages which include LED's and a lens. Each LED package includes a high refractive index member containing a substance having a larger refractive index than that of a material forming the lens and which seals the LED. The lens is shaped to have a recess near its center, and is shaped so that a moving radius increases as a polar angle increases within a range of 0 to 80 degrees. The moving radius is defined as a distance starting from the lens center and ending in the lens surface, and the polar angle is defined as an angle that is made by the moving radius to the center axis that is vertical to a plane on which said LED package is located and passing through the center of the lens.
US08421956B2 Composite color separation system
A composite color separation system, comprises: a light control module, a light guide module and a light splitting module. The light control module has a lighting unit and a lens unit, in which the lighting unit includes an array of lighting elements whereas there are at least two types of lighting elements in the array for emitting at least two beams of different wavelengths. The light from the lighting unit is directed to enter the lens unit before being discharged out of the light control module. The light guide module comprises: a first light incident surface, for receiving the beams from the light control module; a first light emergence surface; and a light guide structure, for guiding the beams to the first light emergence surface where they are discharged out of the light guide module to the light splitting module. The light splitting module is used for splitting the beams.
US08421955B2 Liquid crystal display device
An LCD device using LEDs as light sources provided herein is capable of reducing the manufacturing cost and the power consumption by a reduction in the number of LEDs used. A backlight according to the present invention includes LEDs mounted on a wiring board and a light guide plate having a matrix array of light guide plate blocks assigned the LEDs. The number of LEDs assigned to the block located in a peripheral area is smaller than the number assigned to the block located around the center to reduce the number of LEDs used in the backlight. If a ratio of the brightness in a peripheral area of the screen to the brightness in a central area is 60% or higher, the human eye does not perceive non-uniform luminance. Thus, the manufacturing cost and the power consumption of the LCD device can be reduced.
US08421954B1 Reflective liquid crystal display device having an auxiliary light source device with a uniform light distribution
An auxiliary light source device for a reflective liquid crystal display device includes a light source; a light directing member for directing incident light from the light source toward the reflective liquid crystal display device, the directing member having upper and lower surfaces, the lower surface having a plurality of convex portions protruding from the lower surface of the display device, each of the convex portions having a substantially planar surface at its end, the planar surface of the convex portion being substantially parallel to the lower surface; and a light reflecting member which guides light from the light source into the light directing member.
US08421953B2 Backlight unit and liquid crystal display device having the same
A backlight unit with advantages of being thin and of reducing manufacturing time is disclosed.The backlight unit includes: a plurality of LEDs driven to be divided into at least two channels; a metal PCB loaded with the plurality of LEDs and configured to include a single layer structure; and a plurality of pad portions formed on the metal PCB and defined into the channels. The plurality of pad portions is separated by different distances from top/bottom edge lines of the metal PCB according to the channels.
US08421948B2 Backlight unit
A device and a backlight unit includes a bottom cover; a module substrate on the bottom cover; at least one light emitting diode on the module substrate; and a fastening unit fastening the module substrate to the bottom cover.
US08421947B2 Liquid crystal display module, display device set including the same, and method of assembling liquid crystal display module
A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) module includes a liquid crystal panel, a mold frame provided below the liquid crystal panel and supporting the liquid crystal panel, a light guide plate provided below the mold frame, and a light source assembly coupled to an outside of the mold frame to accommodate the light guide plate therein, the light source assembly partially inserted into the mold frame, and supplying light to the light guide plate.
US08421944B2 Display device substrate, display device, and wiring substrate
The present invention provides a display device substrate, a display device, and a wiring substrate, each permitting more flexible wiring design and a reduction in area of wirings with suppressing wiring defects.The present invention is a display device substrate including, on a main surface of a substrate, a structure of alternating layers of: a plurality of interlayer insulating films; and three or more wiring layers, wherein the display device substrate includes a data wiring, and the data wiring is positioned in a third or higher wiring layer from a side of the substrate.
US08421943B2 Liquid crystal display device having a third electrode formed over a second insulating film and overlapped with a pair of gate lines
A display device including a thin film transistor having a semiconductor layer comprising an i-type semiconductor and an impurity doped semiconductor laminated over a first insulating film, a first electrode formed over the semiconductor layer, and a second electrode formed by a part of a data line. A second insulating film is formed over the data line and the transistor and a third electrode is formed over the second insulating film and overlapped with a gate line. In a cross section of an end portion of the first electrode in a direction of a length of a channel, the impurity doped semiconductor extends a minimum distance of 0.2 μm beyond the first electrode in the direction of a length of a channel of the transistor and the i-type semiconductor extends beyond the impurity doped semiconductor in the direction of a length of a channel.
US08421942B2 Active matrix substrate, liquid crystal panel, liquid crystal display device, liquid crystal display unit, and television receiver
Provided are an active matrix substrate including plural pixel electrodes in a pixel region and a liquid crystal display device (pixel division mode) using the same. Proposed is a configuration of the liquid crystal display device of the capacitor-coupled pixel division mode which hardly causes reduction in display quality due to image-sticking of sub-pixels. The active matrix substrate includes: a data signal line (15x); scanning signal lines (16a and 16b); a transistor (12a) connected to the data signal line (15x) and scanning signal line (16a); a transistor (12b) connected to the data signal line (15x) and scanning signal line (16b); and pixel electrodes (17a and 17b) provided in a pixel region (101), the pixel electrode (17a) being connected to the data signal line (15x) via the transistor (12a), the pixel electrode (17b) being connected to the pixel electrode (17a) via a capacitor and the data signal line (15x) via the transistor (12b), and the transistors (12a and (12b) have identical W/L ratios of channels (each ratio of width W to length L of channel). The present invention can be configured with identical channel sizes without adjusting W/L ratios of channels of the transistors unlike a conventional configuration. Accordingly, deterioration of display quality due to variation in characteristics of transistors can be suppressed.
US08421932B2 Apparatus and method for speech recognition, and television equipped with apparatus for speech recognition
An embodiment of an apparatus for speech recognition includes a speech input unit configured to acquire acoustic signal, a first recognition unit configured to recognize the acoustic signal, a communication unit configured to communicate with an external server, a second recognition unit configured to recognize the acoustic signal by utilizing the external server via the communication unit, and a remote signal input unit configured to acquire a control signal from a remote controller. The switching unit is configured to switch between the first recognition unit and the second recognition unit for recognizing the acoustic signal in response to a start trigger. The switching unit selects the second recognition unit when the start trigger is detected from the control signal, and the switching unit selects the first recognition unit when the start trigger is detected from the acoustic signal.
US08421920B2 Automatic quantization clock phase adjustable display apparatus
The method adjusts the phase of a quantization clock signal for a video signal automatically based on a received analogue video signal. The method includes a step of determining a horizontal start position and a horizontal end position of a pixel-level transition within the analogue video signal, a step of determining a stable-period start position and a stable-period end position at each transition by sequentially changing an adjustable phase of the quantization clock signal, a step of calculating an appropriate phase of the quantization clock signal based on the determined timings of the beginning and end of the stable periods within the analogue signal, and a step of setting the phase of the quantization clock signal to the calculated appropriate phase.
US08421919B2 Method for displaying captions and associated embedded system
A method for displaying captions and associated embedded system is provided. The method includes receiving a first caption image file and a first color index table with a first color quantity; receiving a second caption image file and a second color index table, offset-processing the second caption image file according to the first color quantity as an offset-processed second caption image file, and then storing the offset-processed second caption image file; address-shifting the second color index table according to the first color quantity, and storing the second color index table having been address-shift-processed; and displaying the first caption image file and the offset-processed second caption image file according to the first color index table and the second color index table, respectively.
US08421915B2 HD signal transmitting device, HD signal transmitting method, HD signal receiving device, and signal receiving method using a conventional interface
For example, samples included in a frame constituted by a 3840×2160/24P,25P,30P/4:4:4,4:2:2,4:2:0/10,12-bit signal are mapped into first to fourth sub-images specified in the HD-SDI format, in units of two adjoining samples. Thus, it is possible to transmit through a transmission constitution for the HD-SDI format. The signal can be converted into serial digital data permitting a bit rate of 10.692 Gbps or the like and transmitted, and the receiving side can accurately reproduce original data.
US08421912B2 Imaging device
An imaging device of the present invention, which is an imaging device for shooting images or video of a photographic subject, includes: an imaging element for taking an optical image of the photographic subject and generating image data therefrom; a main circuit board for conducting signal processing on the image data generated by the imaging element; an imaging element flexible cable that is connected to the main circuit board and on which the imaging element is mounted; a mount for fixing the imaging element and that includes a metallic component; a metal plate disposed between the imaging element and the main circuit board. The imaging element flexible cable includes an imaging element flexible cable GND which has a ground potential, and the imaging element flexible cable GND is connected to the metal plate.
US08421907B2 Imager that photographs an image using a rolling shutter
An imager is provided having an imaging sensor and a focusing detector. The imaging sensor outputs image signals that have charges stored in one line of pixels. The focusing detector detects whether a subject image is in focus on said imaging sensor based on contrast values of frame image data for one image frame formed by the image signals. The imaging sensor changes a charge-storing period that is a time period for storing charges in a pixel, and lengthens the charge-storing period in the case of taking pictures under photographing conditions in which movement of a subject is expected.
US08421906B2 Method and digital imaging appliance adapted for selecting a focus setting
A method for selecting a focus setting for a digital image acquisition appliance, the method comprising: acquiring a first image (350) with a first focus setting (100), acquiring a second image with a second focus setting (102), the second image being acquired sequentially with the first image, dividing the first image (350) into a first grid (104) of macroblocks (352), dividing the second image (106) into a second grid of macroblocks, determining a first zone (354) in the first grid of macroblocks and a second zone in the second grid of macroblocks (108) using a first predetermined selection criteria, calculating a macroblock shift (110) of the first zone with respect to the second zone to a sub-macroblock precision, calculating a first value of a figure-of-merit for the first image and a second value of the figure-of-merit for the second image (112), the first value being calculated using focus metric data obtained from macroblocks belonging to the first grid of macroblocks, the second value being calculated using focus metric data obtained from macroblocks belonging to the second grid of macroblocks, wherein the calculated first and second values have been corrected for the macroblock shift, selecting the focus setting (114) using a second predetermined selection criteria based on the first and second values of the figure-of-merit.
US08421899B2 Image pickup device, automatic focusing method, automatic exposure method, electronic flash control method and computer program
An image pickup device provided with an automatic focusing function includes an image pickup unit, a face detection unit, a receive unit, and an automatic focusing control unit. The image pickup unit is configured to input image data corresponding to a subject. The face detection unit is configured to separately detect eyes, a nose, and a mouth of a human face from the image data input from the image pickup unit. The receive unit is configured to receive from a user a selection of any one of the eyes, the nose, or the mouth as a ranging area. The automatic focusing control unit is configured to perform automatic focusing control based on the ranging area selected by the user.
US08421897B2 Image capturing apparatus and control method therefor
Edge components in a predetermined direction of a captured image are extracted to generate a waveform image representing the levels of the extracted edge components and the extracted positions. The waveform image is displayed with the captured image. For example, the operability and visibility for focusing in manual focusing can be improved.
US08421896B2 Electronic camera with plurality of imaging mode including a self imaging mode
An electronic camera includes an imager. An imager repeatedly outputs image data representing a forward scene of a camera housing. A first requester requests a monitor having a screen directed to backward of the camera housing to display a moving image based on the image data outputted from the imager. A selector selects any one of a plurality of imaging modes including a self imaging mode in response to a mode selection operation. An adjuster adjusts an imaging condition in a manner to be adapted to the imaging mode selected by the selector. A restrictor restricts the display operation of the monitor after a first time period has elapsed since the timing of the mode selection operation, when the imaging mode selected by the selector is the self imaging mode.
US08421892B2 Solid-state imaging device and imaging apparatus
A solid-state imaging device includes: an image area including pixels arranged in a matrix; two row memories each of which alternatively (i) stores at a time pixel signals for each of rows, and (ii) sequentially provides each of the stored pixel signals; a reading control unit, during a horizontal period, sequentially reading the stored pixel signals one by one from a first line memory to cause the first line memory, the first line memory representing one of the two row memories; a holding control unit causing, during the horizontal period, a second line memory to hold pixel signals provided from one of the rows in the image area, the second line memory representing another one of the two row memories; and a reading suspending unit causing the reading control unit to suspend reading out the pixel signals from the first line memory during a noise occurrence predicted period.
US08421887B2 Image sensing apparatus
A clipping processing portion is provided with: a main subject detection portion which detects the location of a main subject from an input image; a clip region setting portion which sets the clip region that is a region including the main subject; and a clipping portion which clips an image of the clip region from the input image to produce a clipped image. There is further provided a zoom control portion which controls the optical zoom magnification of the image sensing portion based on the clip region set by a clip region setting portion, and the optical zoom magnification is controlled such that the input image has an appropriate angle of view.
US08421886B2 Digital camera
A digital camera includes: an imaging unit that obtains image data by capturing an image of a subject; a recording control unit that records the image data obtained by capturing the image of the subject into a plurality of recording media; a speed detection unit that detects access speeds at each of the plurality of recording media; and a selection unit that selects the recording media, into which image data are to be recorded by the recording control unit, based upon each of the access speeds having been detected, wherein: at least one of the plurality of recording media is an exchangeable recording medium.
US08421881B2 Apparatus and method for acquiring image based on expertise
Provided are an apparatus and method for acquiring an image based on expertise, whereby laymen can also acquire a high-definition image like experts. The apparatus includes a storage unit storing representative images representing a plurality of image acquisition environments and storing parameters corresponding to the representative images, an image classification unit classifying an input image and selecting a representative image from the storing unit based on a result of the classification, a parameter extraction unit extracting parameters corresponding to the selected representative image from the storage unit, and a control unit controlling the apparatus according to the extracted parameters.
US08421880B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image capturing apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes: a difference calculation unit that calculates a difference value of a feature amount of image data of a predetermined region between a present frame and a past frame; a first counting unit that counts number of times when an absolute value of the difference value exceeds a threshold during a predetermined period of time; a second counting unit that counts number of times when the difference value of the image data have different plus-minus signs between a present frame and a past frame during a predetermined period of time; and an identification unit that identifies a light source frequency by comparing the output of the second counting unit with a predetermined value when the output of the first counting unit exceeds a predetermined value.
US08421879B2 White balance adjustment device, image capture device, white balance adjustment method, storage medium, and integrated circuit
A natural white balance is achieved in images that are captured while emitting a flash. The white balance of an image is adjusted using a WB adjustment portion and a mixture ratio calculation portion estimating a mixture ratio of an external light component and a flashed light component that are present in an image captured with emitting a flash, from the image obtained that is captured while emitting a flash and an image signal that is obtained without emitting a flash. Further, an external light WB coefficient determination portion determines an WB coefficient for the external light, a flashed light WB coefficient setting portion sets a WB coefficient for the flashed light, and a WB processing portion that continuously performs WB processing on the image captured while emitting a flash by using the mixture ratio as an interpolation ratio.
US08421870B2 Method and apparatus for automatic control of multiple cameras
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for automatic control of multiple cameras capable of supporting an effective camera view angle in a broadcast, a movie, etc. The automatic control apparatus of multiple cameras includes: a first main camera; a first camera driver controlling an operation of the first main camera; a second main camera; a second camera driver controlling an operation of the second main camera; at least one auxiliary camera; at least one third camera driver controlling an operation of the at least one auxiliary camera; and an interoperation processor changing a view angle of the at least one auxiliary camera by controlling the at least one third camera driver in accordance with a view angle changing reference changed by changing the view angle of the first main camera, the second main camera, or the first and second main cameras.
US08421868B2 Difference degree evaluation device, difference degree evaluation method and program product
A difference degree evaluation device includes a signal acquisition unit which acquires at least two signals which are objects of matching, a memory unit which stores one of the two signals, which are acquired by the signal acquisition unit, as a reference signal, and stores the other of the two signals as an object signal, a sample extraction unit which extracts sample points in a predetermined block from the reference signal that is stored in the memory unit, and extracts sample points corresponding to the sample points of the reference signal from the object signal, and an arithmetic process unit which finds absolute difference values between the sample points of the reference signal and the sample points of the object signal, which are extracted by the sample extraction unit, and calculates a maximum value of the absolute difference values as an evaluation value.
US08421863B2 In-vehicle image display device
Provided is an in-vehicle image display device capable of providing, from among images of the peripheral area of a vehicle that can change in accordance with the driving state, an image of a part needed by the driver at an appropriate timing so that the driver can recognize the positional relationship between the vehicle and the peripheral area of the vehicle. Images captured with in-vehicle cameras are acquired, and a vehicle periphery image is generated from such images. Then, a collision-warned part of the vehicle that has a possibility of hitting a nearby object is selected based on the vehicle driving state, and the acquired image is processed to generate an enlarged image of the peripheral area of the collision-warned part of the vehicle selected by the collision-warned part selection part. Then, a composite display image, in which the positions of the enlarged image and the vehicle periphery image are displayed in a correlated manner, is generated and displayed.
US08421862B2 Drive recorder
A drive recorder for recording video information received from an image capturing unit on a recording medium includes an acceleration sensor which outputs acceleration information representing an acceleration applied to a vehicle, and a control unit which, determines that a recording condition holds and records video information captured for a first predetermined period of time before the occurrence of the recording condition and video information captured for a second predetermined period of time after the occurrence of the recording condition on the recording medium when the acceleration information equals or exceeds a threshold, wherein after the recording condition holds, the control unit does not record newly captured video information on the recording medium when the acceleration information again becomes equal to or exceeds the threshold in less than a third predetermined period of time which is shorter than the second predetermined period of time.
US08421861B2 Wildlife surveillance camera
A wildlife surveillance camera has a housing and first and second battery compartments located in the housing, which battery compartments are sized to receive at least two batteries in end-to-end fashion. The battery compartments are separated from each other by a gap which contains the electronics for the camera. The camera unit has an inner door that closes the access openings into the battery compartments. An outer door is provided to provide access to the inner door. The camera image sensor, the triggering device and the display are all mounted to the rear portion of the housing.
US08421860B2 Inspection method of honeycomb structure
An inspection method of a honeycomb structure comprising the steps of illuminating one end face of a honeycomb structure as an inspection target by a light source; condensing, by a condensing lens as a lens having an angle of view, light which is emitted from the light source to the one end face, passed through cells of the honeycomb structure and radiated from the other end face; receiving the light condensed on the condensing lens by a camera; subjecting the light received by the camera to image processing by an image processor, thereby specifying the radiated position of the light on the other end face; and calculating the tilt of the cells of the honeycomb structure from the radiated position of the light on the other end face, and the direction of the tilt.
US08421859B2 Clear path detection using a hierachical approach
A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle using an image generated by a camera includes monitoring the image, and utilizing a first patch-based analysis of the image including dividing the image into a plurality of patches, and analyzing each patch to determine a first clear path confidence likelihood for each of the patches of the first patch-based analysis. Each of the patches with the first clear path confidence likelihood greater than a first threshold confidence likelihood is defined as a clear path patch. A second analysis is utilized upon a portion of the patches with the first clear path confidence not greater than the first threshold confidence likelihood to determine a second clear path confidence likelihood for each of the patches of the second analysis. Each of the patches of the second analysis with the second clear path confidence likelihood greater than a second threshold confidence likelihood is defined as a clear path patch. The clear path of travel for the vehicle is identified based upon the clear path patches.
US08421858B2 Inspection machine, inspecting method and inspecting system
An inspection machine capable of inspecting optical property and electrical property of a light emitting device is provided. The inspection machine includes a substrate table, a probe mechanism, a heating apparatus, a cooling apparatus, an image-sensing apparatus, a temperature-sensing apparatus and a moving mechanism. The probe mechanism is capable of moving toward the light emitting device to contact therewith. The heating apparatus is capable of heating the light emitting device within a first temperature range. The cooling apparatus is capable of cooling the light emitting device within a second temperature range. The image-sensing apparatus senses a light emitting image provided from the light emitting device. The temperature-sensing apparatus senses the present temperature of the light emitting device. The image-sensing apparatus is disposed on the moving mechanism. The moving mechanism is capable of moving the image-sensing apparatus. An inspecting method and an inspecting system for the inspection machine are also provided.
US08421857B2 Inspection device of plugged honeycomb structure and inspection method of plugged honeycomb structure
There is disclosed an inspection device of a plugged honeycomb structure in which a plugged honeycomb structure is an inspection target, and the inspection device comprises a light source which illuminates one end face of the plugged honeycomb structure as the inspection target; a camera-side lens which condenses light emitted from the light source to the one end face, transmitted through plugged portions of the plugged honeycomb structure and radiated from the other end face; a camera which receives the light condensed by the camera-side lens; and an image processor which processes an image of the light received by the camera to display the contrast of the light transmitted through the plugged portions of the plugged honeycomb structure.
US08421854B2 System and method for motion capture
A motion capture device provided for capturing motion of a limb having two sections, connected by a flexing joint. A sensor array is mounted to a first section of a limb, having at least one gyroscopic sensor element and at least one accelerometer. A sensor for attachment across the flexible joint is coupled to the sensor array and extends away from the sensor array across the flexing joint to a second section of the limb, where the location and motion of the limb is captured by a combination of data obtained from the at least one gyroscopic sensor element and at least one accelerometer of the sensor array and the sensor for said flexible joint.
US08421853B2 Capsule endoscope system
To provide a capsule endoscope system capable of easily detecting or correcting a communication error, without increasing power consumption of the capsule endoscope. The capsule endoscope system includes a receiving apparatus that has a pixel defect corrector. The receiving apparatus receives a radio signal that includes image data imaged by a capsule endoscope inserted into an internal portion of a subject, and acquires the image data based on the received radio signal. The pixel defect corrector detects a pixel defect of the image data based on a pixel value of each pixel that configures the acquired image data, and corrects the detected pixel defect.
US08421852B2 Method for manufacturing stereoscopic image display apparatus and stereoscopic image display apparatus
A method for manufacturing a stereoscopic image display apparatus includes a bonding step of bonding an image display panel and a phase difference element by disposing an adhesive layer between the entire surfaces thereof, the image display panel displaying a right-eye image and a left-eye image by regularly mixing them in a plane, the phase difference element including a right-eye image display section corresponding to the right-eye image and a left-eye image display section corresponding to the left-eye image, the phase difference element achieving different polarizations between the right-eye image display section and the left-eye image display section, the adhesive layer being composed of a transparent gel acrylic adhesive with a thickness of 25 to 100 μm, hardness of the adhesive being more than 0 and 350000 μN or less, holding strength of the adhesive at 40° C. after bonding being 8 to 20 N/20 mm.
US08421851B2 Vision correction for high frame rate TVs with shutter glasses
A television consistent with certain implementations has a display system having a display frame refresh rate R. A frame synchronizer transmitter transmits a signal used to synchronize frame refreshes for a left and right eye images of shutter glasses, where a sequence of left and right eye images to the shutter glasses defines one image cycle. A video processor that alters at least one image per image cycle so that at least one of the images to at least one eye of at least one of the shutter glasses is synchronized to a display frame that has been altered by the video processor. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08421850B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method and image display apparatus
Disclosed herein is an image processing apparatus including, a motion-vector detection section configured to find a motion vector corresponding to an image disparity existing between left and right eyes to appear as a disparity in images, and a format determination section configured to determine whether the input image signal is a signal of the 3-dimensional image format or a signal of the 2-dimensional image format.
US08421846B2 System and apparatus for 3D image capture and processing
A jig supports an array of cameras on a platform using a plurality of brackets among which one is immovably secured to the platform at a center of the array while the remainder is pivotally connected to the platform. A computer-implemented system creates an interlaced image. The system includes a trigger mechanism operatively coupled to the cameras to effect nearly simultaneous image capture. A focal target and a sizing reference are provided at a focal position of the lenses. A computer having a processor and a memory executes code that interlaces bands of images captured from each of the cameras, at nearly a single point in time, into an interlaced image and processes the sizing reference and adjusts a size of one or more of the captured images for inclusion in the interlaced image.
US08421845B2 Method, apparatus, and program for generating a stereoscopic layout image from a plurality of layout images
A stereoscopic image generating apparatus is constituted by: an image obtaining section, for obtaining a plurality of image groups, each constituted by a plurality of images for generating stereoscopic images and obtained by photography of subjects from different viewpoints; and an image layout section, for generating a stereoscopic layout image, in which a single image group selected from among the plurality of image groups as an image of interest is arranged at a predetermined position on a display screen in a stereoscopically viewable manner, and selected images from among the image groups other than the single image group are arranged such that they appear to be inclined and facing toward the predetermined position on the display screen at at least one of the right and left sides of the predetermined position.
US08421844B2 Apparatus for correcting gaze, a method of videoconferencing and a system therefor
An apparatus, a method of videoconferencing and a videoconferencing system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: (1) a monitor configured to switch between a display mode and a reflecting mode and (2) a camera located in front of the monitor, the camera positioned to face the monitor and synchronized with the monitor to capture a local image reflected therefrom during the reflecting mode.
US08421841B2 Multi-media controlling system, device and method for controlling data transmission and processing
A multi-media equipment controlling system, a device and method for controlling data transmission and processing are disclosed. Controlling data corresponding to multiple media type streams is sent to a controlled terminal equipment, the controlled terminal equipment controls multi-media equipments generating corresponding media type stream respectively, according to the controlling data corresponding to the media type streams. Thus the invention can perform corresponding controlling to the multi-media equipments corresponding to the multiple media type streams.
US08421837B2 Surface-emitting laser element, surface-emitting laser array, optical scanning device, and image forming apparatus
A surface-emitting laser element for emitting light in a direction perpendicular to a substrate, including a substrate with a normal direction of a principal plane inclining toward one direction of <1 1 1> with respect to one direction of <1 0 0> and a mesa structure formed on the substrate and having a narrowed structure with an oxide produced by oxidizing a part of a layer to be oxidized selectively, containing aluminum and surrounding an electric current passage area, wherein a cross-section of mesa structure being parallel to the substrate is parallel to a substrate surface and orthogonal to both one direction of <1 0 0> and one direction of <1 1 1> and a length in a first direction passing through a center of the electric current passage area is more than a length in a second direction parallel to a substrate surface and orthogonal to the first direction.
US08421830B2 Method of forming image using heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet having a lenticular lens
A method of forming an image, having the steps of: superposing a heat-sensitive transfer sheet on a heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet; and applying thermal energy, in which the heat-sensitive transfer sheet has a dye transfer barrier layer between a support and a dye layer, the image-receiving sheet has a lenticular lens on a transparent support and at least one receptor layer at the back side of the transparent support, and the image-receiving sheet contains at least one kind of a latex polymer in said at least one receptor layer and has a subbing layer which contains at least one kind of a resin that is identical with at least one kind of a resin constituting the lenticular lens, at the side of the transparent support, opposite to the side on which the lenticular lens is provided.
US08421827B2 Method for maintaining the white colour point in a field-sequential LCD over time
A field sequential liquid crystal display maintains its white color point through compensation values to at least one color light emitting diode that illuminates the display. The compensation values may be impedances to control the current or pulsing of the current source according to a pulse width modulation technique. A degradation curve may be used to calculate extrapolate the theoretical forward voltage of the light emitting diode. Additional complexity arises from the need for calculating uptime for multiple light emitting diodes of different colors. Brightness levels may also be factored in. Additional processing of a display element may be provided when a grey scale image is being generated.
US08421824B2 Hand image feedback
An image generation method and system. The method includes receiving by a computing apparatus from a video recording device attached to a backside of a video monitor connected to the computing apparatus, a video data stream comprising a first video image of an input device connected to the computing apparatus and a second video image of a users hands enabling switches on the input device. An input device image associated with the input device is displayed. The computing apparatus super-imposes and displays a hand image associated with the user's hands over the input device image. The computing apparatus adjusts a brightness of the hand image such that the input device image is visible through the hand image.
US08421821B2 Differential encoding using a 3D graphics processor
A 3D graphics rendering pipeline is used to carry out data comparisons for motion estimation in video data encoding. Video data for the pixel block of the video frame currently being encoded is loaded into the output buffers of the rendering pipeline. The video data for the comparison pixel blocks from the reference video frame is stored as texture map values in the texture cache of the rendering pipeline. Once the sets of pixel data for comparison have been stored, the rendering pipeline is controlled to render a primitive having fragment positions and texture coordinates corresponding to the data values that it is desired to compare. As each fragment is rendered, the stored and rendered fragment data is compared by fragment compare unit and the determined differences in the data values are accumulated in an error term register.
US08421820B2 Methods and systems for sub-pixel rendering with adaptive filtering
Processing data for a display including pixels, each pixel having color sub-pixels, comprises receiving pixel data. Once the pixel data is received, processing data for a display includes converting the pixel data to sub-pixel rendered data, the conversion generating the sub-pixel rendered data for a sub-pixel arrangement including alternating red and green sub-pixels on at least one of a horizontal and vertical axis. Next processing data for a display includes correcting the sub-pixel rendered data if a condition exists and outputting the sub-pixel rendered data.
US08421818B2 Signal processing device and projection-type image display device
A signal processing device (200) included in a display which has a color reproduction range larger than that of the input device. The signal processing device (200) comprises color coordinate adjusting unit (210) for performing a color coordinate adjustment for reducing the color coordinates of a video input signal inputted from the input device so as to reduce the variation of the color coordinates caused by the difference between the color reproduction ranges, a luminance adjusting unit (220) for performing a luminance adjustment for reducing the luminance component of the video input signal, a display element control unit (240) for generating a video output signal according to the output of the color coordinate adjusting unit (210) and the output of the luminance adjusting unit (220), and a rate control unit (230) for increasing the color coordinate adjustment contribution rate (β) given to the video output signal by the color coordinate adjustment and decreasing the luminance component contribution rate (α) given to the video output signal by the luminance adjustment if the color saturation of the video input signal with a specific hue is higher than a predetermined threshold.
US08421815B2 Imaging bit plane sequencing using pixel value repetition
A system and method for displaying an image are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a data stream representing a frame of an image. The data stream may indicate a first color pixel cluster corresponding to a first color and a second color pixel cluster corresponding to a second color. The first color pixel cluster and the second color pixel cluster may be displayed. The first color pixel cluster may be different from the second color pixel cluster.
US08421812B2 Apparatus method and program for image processing and display device
An image processing apparatus sequentially provides a display device with a plurality of image output including a first image, a second image set to become at least a part of an image that is not correlated with the first image when luminance values of pixels of the first image are added to it, and a third image set to become an image, which is obtained by adding luminance values of pixels of all pluralities of images, higher spatial-frequency components than those of the first image. The image processing apparatus has an optical shutter control unit for controlling an optical shutter provided between the display device and a viewer to make the shutter be in a light transmission state while a part of or all the first image is displayed, and in a light interception state while other images are displayed.
US08421811B2 Customized vehicle body
This invention relates to a system and method for customizing the appearance of a vehicle. Users can display customized designs, colors or promotional information on the vehicle for free or on a fee basis. The system also allows users to use a detection device to detect the colors or patterns of other objects and then display substantially the same color or pattern on the vehicle.
US08421810B2 Look-up table on film
A color look-up table includes a plurality of images recorded on a film. Each of the images being recorded on a separate picture of the film and containing at least a first level and a second level. The first and second levels having different pixel color values and are arranged to form a detectable geometric pattern on each of the pictures. The first field and a second field having detectable boundaries assigned to characterize distortions on the film.
US08421808B2 Display controller, display control method, display control program, and memory medium
A display controller which prevents the duplication of functional parts and processes and which displays dynamic content on a plurality of displays is provided. A terminal used as the controller has a shared dynamic image decoder which decodes the dynamic content. A first frame buffer used by the terminal stores the decoded dynamic content. A buffer transfer unit sends the dynamic content stored in the first frame buffer to a second frame buffer used by an external monitor. A terminal display displays the dynamic content stored in the first frame buffer on a display of the terminal. An external monitor interface displays the dynamic content stored in the second frame buffer on an external monitor.
US08421806B2 Method of optimizing rendering of a multimedia scene, and the corresponding program, signal, data carrier, terminal and reception method
A method is provided for describing a multimedia scene comprising a set of objects that can be animated. This method provides at least one item of information of optimization, provided for permitting, in a terminal, a selection of a scene rendering algorithm among a set of at least two available algorithms according to at least one criterion of optimization of an allocation of resources used for carrying out the scene rendering algorithm.
US08421803B2 Information display system and information display method for quality control of component-mounted substrate
This invention facilitates monitoring operation for checking whether or not quality of a substrate deteriorates as well as operation for identifying a cause of deterioration in quality. Identification information of constituent elements related to measurement target sections (pads) on a component-mounted substrate is arranged into hierarchal structure data. A first axis is arranged with the measurement target sections associated with this arrangement. A second axis is arranged with information (identification information of lots and squeegees) representing production conditions of the substrates according to an order of the substrates being processed. A two-dimensional area defined by the first axis and the second axis is set. A color map is generated, in which measured data of the measurement target sections on the substrates are arranged in colors at corresponding positions within the two-dimensional area. Specifically, in the respective measured data, values in a preferable range is displayed in white, values larger than the preferable range is displayed in red-like color, and values smaller than the preferable range is displayed in blue-like color.
US08421793B2 Pixel array substrate
This present invention discloses a pixel array substrate including a substrate, a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of active elements, a plurality of pixel electrodes, a plurality of first patterned floating lines, and a plurality of first patterned connecting wires. A plurality of pixel fields are formed by the cross scan lines and data lines, and each active element is electrically connected with the corresponding scan line, data line and pixel electrode. Each first patterned floating line is overlapped with some data lines. Each first patterned connecting wire is disposed across some scan lines, and disposed overlapped the first patterned floating lines disposed on the two sides of the scan line.
US08421791B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of pixels arranged on a substrate in a matrix, a source driver circuit to supply source signals to source lines connected to each pixel arranged in a column direction and a gate driver circuit to supply gate signals to respective gate lines connected to pixels arranged in a row direction. A control circuit outputs an array control signal for a partial display to a receiver circuit that receives a partial display start address to specify a gate line for starting a partial display and a partial display end address to specify a gate line for ending the partial display. A decoder circuit outputs a control signal to control a range of the gate lines driven by the gate driver circuit.
US08421788B2 Power supply circuit and image display apparatus using the same
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image display apparatus which enables cost reduction while being free from electromagnetic interference problems.A power supply circuit comprises, on a single circuit board, an AC inlet to which a power cord is connected from an external AC power supply, a filter circuit to which an inductance element is connected to suppress leakage of electromagnetic waves to the outside of the image display apparatus, and a switch which switches on/off an AC output supplied from the filter circuit. The circuit board of the power supply circuit is entirely covered by electromagnetic shielding means to shield electromagnetic waves. The electromagnetic shielding means is composed of, for example, a first shielding section which surrounds the lateral side of the circuit board and a second shielding section which covers the upper side of the circuit board. The second shielding section is formed of a part of the flat section of a rear cover of the image display apparatus.
US08421787B2 Circuit and method for driving line repair amplifier
A circuit and method for driving a line repair amplifier includes a line repair amplifier which can be driven by using a single side input which can use an amplifier which drives a gray high side only and an amplifier which drives a gray low side only separately in a liquid crystal display device which uses a line repair amplifier.
US08421786B2 Display device and method for using the same
A display device includes an image display region displaying images, an automatic light sensor sensing ambient lighting conditions of a location of the display device, and a control system controlling an amount of light produced within the image display region by the displayed images based upon the sensed ambient lighting conditions, wherein the control system includes a single user interface displayed within the image display region and allows simultaneous enabling/disabling of the automatic light sensor and adjusting of image display characteristic values of the displayed images by a user.
US08421785B2 Electrical device capable of adjusting display image based on a rotation of a web camera and method thereof
An electrical device having a display screen to adjust displaying image based on a rotation of a web camera. The web camera is rotatably installed on one side of the frame surrounding the display screen. The web camera captures an image data in a first direction or a second direction. An image sensor generates a plurality of brightness signals based on the image data. A processing unit is used for determining the display to show the image data in a first mode or a second mode based on the plurality of brightness signals.
US08421782B2 Information displaying apparatus and information displaying method
The present invention provides an information displaying apparatus which efficiently arouses an interest of the audience member to content to be displayed.An information displaying apparatus (10) includes: a displaying unit (14) which displays first content on a display; an audience state detecting unit (11) which detects an audience state representing a physical state of an audience member positioned in front of the display; an interest degree estimating unit (12) which estimates an interest degree based on the audience state detected by the audience state detecting unit (11), the interest degree indicating a degree of interest of the audience member in the first content displayed on the display by the displaying unit (14); and a display control unit (13) which causes the displaying unit (14) to display second content with a clarity degree or an exposure degree of at least a part of the second content reduced below a predetermined clarity degree or a predetermined exposure degree when magnitude of a change rate of the interest degree estimated by the interest degree estimating unit (12) is smaller than a first threshold.
US08421778B2 Modification device and method for selectively modifying transmission performance of image frame data
A device and method is provided to selectively modify the transmission performance of a frame data. Through a parallel transmission interface, the frame data is transmitted under a corresponding interface protocol and transmitted toward an image display. The method first detects a data size of the frame data and then provides a transmission control signal based on the detection of the data size. Next, selectively divide the frame data by a factor M based on the transmission control signal. Furthermore, transmit the divided frame data at a raised clock rate based on the factor M. Afterwards, temporarily store the divided frame data about to be transmitted toward the image display until the whole frame data is transmitted.
US08421777B2 Stylus
A stylus comprises a housing, a stylus body and a retaining structure. The housing has a receptacle defined therethrough. The retaining structure is configured to provide a mechanism for the stylus body to latch in the receptacle of the housing. The retaining structure includes a set of retaining members and a set of retaining slots that engage the retaining members.
US08421774B2 Sensing circuit for use with capacitive touch panel
A sensing circuit of a capacitive touch panel includes a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, a feedback capacitor, a fourth switch and an operation amplifier. The first switch and the second switch have respective first ends connected with a receiving electrode. The third switch has a first end connected with a second end of the first switch. The feedback capacitor has a first end connected with the second end of the first switch. The fourth switch has a first end connected with a second end of the feedback capacitor. The operation amplifier has a positive input terminal connected with a ground terminal, a negative input terminal connected with the fourth switch, and an output terminal connected with the second, third and fourth switches. These switches are controlled during a driving cycle of the driving signal, so that an output voltage is outputted from the operation amplifier.
US08421771B2 Input system including position-detecting device
A position-detecting device detects a position pointed to by a position-pointing instrument and includes an operation panel detecting the position pointed to by the position-pointing instrument; and a manipulation-detecting unit located at at least one of the interior and the exterior of the operation panel, and detecting a manipulation by a second instrument other than the position-pointing instrument, or detecting a manipulation by both the position-pointing instrument and the second instrument.
US08421770B2 Physical feedback to indicate object directional slide
A device, medium, and method are provided for enabling a user to control a mobile communications device that includes a vibration component. One embodiment of the method includes presenting an object on a touchscreen display of the mobile communications device; enabling the object to be moveable on the touchscreen by way of a touch interaction; in real time, continuously varying an output of the vibration component to cause a vibrational response of the mobile communications device, such that movement of the object in a first direction causes a first continuous vibrational output, and movement of the object in a second direction causes a second continuous vibrational output.
US08421767B2 Input device of electronic device, input operation processing method, and input control program
It is made possible to cancel the effect of the already executed command without performing burdensome operation if an unobjective command is executed for input operation of the user.An input signal analysis section 200 gives a command of execution of a first command corresponding to detection of input operation to a first operation button based on an input position of a touch panel 10 detected by an input signal control section 300 and if input operation to a second operation button is detected, gives a command of a second command corresponding to detection. If continuous input operation to the second operation button is detected after the first command corresponding to the first operation button is executed, and command change notification from the input signal analysis section 200 is received, an application 100 cancels the effect of the immediately preceding executed first command and executes the second command.
US08421762B2 Device, method, and graphical user interface for manipulation of user interface objects with activation regions
A computing device with a display simultaneously displays a plurality of user-repositionable user interface objects with one or more activation regions. The device receives a first input from the user. Based at least in part on the first input, the device determines a first plurality of candidate actions for manipulating a user interface object. The device performs a first candidate action of the first plurality of candidate actions as determined in accordance with the first ordering. After performing the first candidate action, the device undoes the first candidate action, receives a third input that is a repetition of the first input, and determines a second plurality of candidate. The second plurality of candidate actions is ordered such that second candidate action in the second plurality of candidate actions has a higher position than the first candidate action in the second ordering. The device performs the second candidate action.
US08421753B2 Computer mouse
A computer mouse includes a head and a tail. The head is configured to detect movement relative to a reference surface. The head is selectively switchable between an on state and an off state. The tail is connected to the head and is moveable between a curved configuration and a flat configuration. The tail is configured to switch the head to the on state when in the curved configuration and to switch the head to the off state when in the flat configuration.
US08421745B2 Method of driving electro-optical device, electro-optical device, and controller
A method of driving an electro-optical device including a plurality of pixels, one of which having a first electrode, a second electrode, and an electro-optical material layer, includes: when an image is rewritten, selecting a first display state of the one pixel by applying a first voltage to the first electrode and applying a second voltage to the second electrode, or selecting a second display state of the one pixel by applying a third voltage to the second electrode; and when a part of the image is rewritten, selecting any of the first display state and the second display state of the one pixel by applying a fourth voltage which is different from the first voltage to the first electrode and applying a fifth voltage which has a different polarity from that of the fourth voltage with respect to the first voltage to the second electrode.
US08421744B2 Information display having separate and detachable units
An information display has an information carrier including a storable display panel separate from a processing unit including a battery, and where there is a need to perform a process such as updating or manipulating information displayed on the display panel, it is possible to perform a desired process by connecting the processing unit to the information carrier.
US08421741B2 Method, system and apparatus for power saving backlight
A method and system for displaying an image on a liquid crystal display (LCD) that may reduce power consumption. The method and system can include calculating a luminance for pixels in an image in a LCD based upon a light spread function and brightness values of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The method and system can also include changing a brightness of an LED based upon a consideration of the gray value of the pixels and the distance of the pixels from a dominant LED. The method and system can further set the brightness of the LED units to a brightness substantially greater than or equal to a gray value of each pixel of the image.
US08421739B2 Apparatus and method of driving discharge tube lamp and liquid crystal display using the same
A burst mode inverter that drives a discharge tube lamp in a manner that produces more emissions. A DC power supplier produces DC power. An inverter converts that DC power to AC power having a Pulse Width Modulated frequency that is between 2 and 3 times the system's frame frequency. A duty cycle controller controls the duty-on-time of the Pulse Width Modulation frequency so as to be with the range of about 40% to 100%.
US08421736B2 Bi-directional driving circuit of liquid crystal display panel
A bi-directional driving circuit of a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel is disclosed, in which forward scanning and backward scanning are available. In a bi-directional driving circuit of an LCD panel having a plurality of blocks, each block includes a first start pulse input terminal to which a start pulse or an output signal of a previous block is input and a second start pulse input terminal to which the start pulse or an output signal of a next block is input. Also, each block includes a first switching portion switching a start pulse signal applied to an input terminal of a first block among the blocks and switching an output signal of a previous block, which is applied to input terminals of the other blocks and a second switching portion switching a start pulse signal applied to an input terminal of the last block and switching an output signal of a previous block, which is applied to input terminals of the other blocks.
US08421725B2 Display device and manufacture method thereof
The present invention discloses a flat display device and a manufacture method thereof. The flat display device includes a flat display module, a front cover, an auxiliary support, a back cover set, and a circuit board. The back cover set includes a sub-cover and a main back cover, wherein the circuit board is disposed on the inner surface of the sub-cover. The front cover has a display opening for an active area of the flat display module to be exposed outside the display opening and present images through the display opening. The main back cover includes a opening for part of the sub-cover to pass through and be exposed outside the opening.
US08421724B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes: scanning wires, provided so as to correspond to a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix manner, to which scanning signals are applied; and signal wires to which data signals are applied, wherein the scanning wires and the signal wires cross each other. TFTs, electrically connected to the scanning wires and the signal wires, each of which is provided in the vicinity of an intersection of the scanning wire and the signal wire, and the TFTs are connected to pixel electrodes. A dummy pixel driven by a dummy signal wire is provided externally adjacent to an endmost pixel column. This brings about a matrix type liquid crystal display device that equalizes capacitive conditions of all the signal wires to each other and can prevent deterioration of display quality that is brought about by a specific portion differently displayed.
US08421722B2 Method of transmitting data from timing controller to source driving device in LCD
A method of transmitting data from a timing controller to a source driving device in a liquid crystal display is disclosed. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of: (a) providing a setup/hold time; (b) transmitting a test pattern from the timing controller to the source driving device using the setup/hold time; (c) returning an acknowledge signal from the source driving device to the timing controller when the test pattern is successfully received by the source driving device; (d) providing a new setup/hold time and repeating Steps (b) and (c) using the new setup/hold time when the test pattern is not successfully received by the source driving device; and (e) transmitting the image data from the timing controller to the source driving device using the new setup/hold time upon receipt of the acknowledge signal. Therefore, the use of the setup/hold time adjustment pins is eliminated.
US08421717B2 Active matrix type display apparatus
An active matrix type display apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of pixels (50) disposed in a matrix arrangement. Each of the pixels (50) includes a light-emitting element (9) which emits light in response to a supplied current, a signal line (13) connected to a signal line drive circuit (23) which supplies a luminance signal corresponding to a luminance of light emission of the light-emitting element (9), the luminance signal being a current signal, a driver element (6) which controls a current value of the luminance signal supplied to the light-emitting element (9), a luminance signal retention capacitor (8) which retains, as a luminance signal voltage, a potential difference generated between a drain electrode and a source electrode of the driver element (6) when the luminance signal is supplied to the driver element (6) via the signal line (13), and a threshold voltage detection and addition unit (20) which detects a threshold voltage of the driver element (6) and causes a voltage obtained by adding the luminance signal voltage being retained in the luminance signal retention capacitor (8) to the detected threshold voltage to be applied at a gate electrode of the driver element (6).
US08421709B2 Image display device for displaying two-dimensional plane image and three-dimensional steroscopic image
An image display device comprises an image display panel that displays a 2D or 3D image; a driving circuit that applies a data voltage of a 2D data format for the 2D image or a data voltage of a 3D data format for the 3D image to the image display panel; and a controller that controls the driving circuit according to a 2D mode for displaying the 2D image or a 3D mode for displaying the 3D image, wherein R, G, and B subpixels of the image display panel each comprises first and second fine subpixels divided by one data line and two adjacent gate lines. In the 2D mode, the same data voltage of the 2D data format is applied to the first and second fine subpixels. In the 3D mode, the data voltage of the 3D data format is applied to the first fine subpixel and a black gray voltage is applied to the second fine subpixel.
US08421702B2 Multi-layer reactively loaded isolated magnetic dipole antenna
A multi-layer reactively loaded isolated magnetic (IMD) dipole with improved bandwidth and efficiency characteristics to be used in wireless communications and other applicable systems. The multi-layer IMD antenna comprises a first element positioned above a ground plane, a second element positioned above a ground plane and coupled to the first portion. Reactive components are integrated into one or both elements to optimize the frequency response of the antenna. The range of frequencies covered to be determined by the shape, size, and number of elements in the physical configuration of the components. Portions of or the entire ground plane can be removed beneath the elements.
US08421700B2 Antenna system and method
A device comprising a metallic conical portion, said conical portion substantially hollow having a vertex end and a base end, a first cylindrical portion disposed annularly about the base end of the conical portion, a metallic second cylindrical portion coupled to the vertex of the conical portion, said cylindrical portion having a threaded aperture, and an antenna feed coupled to the threaded aperture. The device may have a patch disposed on an insulator portion connected to the second cylindrical portion, said patch and insulator portion each having an aperture, and a metallic ground portion connected to the insulator portion, said ground portion having an ground aperture, and a threaded screw disposed through the ground aperture, the patch, the insulator aperture and into the threaded aperture. An RF feed may be created by coupling the threaded aperture to a conductive material disposed on the insulator portion.
US08421699B2 Antenna apparatus, radar and waveguide
An antenna apparatus can reduce gaps between laminated plates with a simple structure, and can be produced at low cost and in a small size, while ensuring reliability over a long period of time. The apparatus includes a base having a base transmission line portion, a laminated body that is composed of laminated plates placed on the base and has laminated body transmission line portions in communication with the base transmission line portion, and an antenna main body placed on the laminated body for emitting or receiving electromagnetic waves, wherein the base, the laminated plates and the antenna element plate are coupled with one another through surface to surface contact. The antenna main body has a curved plate formed of an arc-shaped elastic member protruding toward the base in a state before assembly, and the curved plate has an elastic force contributing to the coupling through surface to surface contact.
US08421698B2 Leaky wave antenna using waves propagating between parallel surfaces
A leaky wave antenna has electrically conductive surfaces in parallel to each other. At one place a two-dimensional array of slots is provided in one of the surfaces. Elsewhere a feed structure is realized comprising one or more electrically conductive elements coupled between the first and second electrically conductive surface and configured to direct an electromagnetic wave pattern travelling between surfaces towards the array. In an embodiment the feed structure comprises a waveguide formed between walls connecting the surfaces. One of the walls is made to leak in order to feed the array of slots. In an embodiment the feed structure comprises a reflector comprising connections between the surfaces, to direct waves between the surfaces to the array of slots.
US08421693B2 Antenna apparatus
Good electric characteristics are obtained even after an antenna being further incorporated into an antenna apparatus including an antenna case having a limited space. An antenna device 31 is formed on an antenna substrate 30 installed upright in an antenna base 20. A flat antenna unit 35 is fastened to the antenna base 20 so that the flat antenna unit 35 is immediately below the antenna device 31. If the wavelength of a center frequency in an operating frequency band of the flat antenna unit 35 is λ, an interval between an upper surface of the flat antenna unit 35 and a lower end of the antenna device 31 is set to about 0.25 λ or more. Accordingly, it becomes possible to make directional characteristics of radiation in a horizontal plane of the flat antenna unit 35 non-directive without being affected by the antenna device 31 and also to achieve good gain characteristics.
US08421687B2 Wireless mouse
A wireless mouse includes a mouse housing, a printed circuit board assembly assembled in the mouse housing, and an antenna mounted on a front end of the printed circuit board assembly. The front end of the printed circuit board assembly defines two fastening holes spaced from each other along a direction perpendicular to a front-to-rear direction. The antenna has a substantial long-strip radiating portion. Two opposite ends of the radiating portion are bent rearward and then downward to form a hook portion and a feed portion which are respectively hooked in the corresponding fastening holes to make the radiating portion transversely mounted over the front end of the printed circuit board assembly. The feed portion is electrically connected with a feed circuit of the printed circuit board assembly.
US08421681B2 Multi-band antenna
An antenna includes a grounding element, a connecting element, and first and second radiator elements. The connecting element includes an elongated first connecting section, and a second connecting section connecting the first connecting section to the grounding element. The first radiator element includes a first radiator section extending substantially perpendicular from one side of the first connecting section, and second and third radiator sections extending substantially perpendicular from one side of the first radiator section. The second radiator element includes a first radiator portion extending substantially perpendicular from the one side of the first connecting section, and second and third radiator portions extending substantially perpendicular from one side of the first radiator portion and extending in an opposite direction relative to the second and third radiator sections.
US08421679B2 Antenna device and antenna element used therefor
An antenna device includes an antenna element and a printed circuit board on which the antenna element is mounted. The antenna element includes a base, a radiation conductor formed on an upper surface of the substrate and one end of the radiation conductor being an open end, a plurality of terminal electrodes formed on a bottom surface of the substrate, and a loop conductor of a substantially U-shape. The loop conductor is arranged to face one of the terminal electrodes via a gap having a predetermined width. An antenna mounting region is provided on a upper surface of the printed circuit board to be adjacent to an edge of a long side of the printed circuit board. A feed line is led in the antenna mounting region along the edge. One and the other end of the loop conductor are connected to the feed line and a ground pattern, respectively.
US08421678B2 Antenna apparatus provided with radiation conductor with notched portion
An antenna apparatus includes a dielectric substrate including a ground conductor formed on a back surface thereof, and a radiation conductor formed on a front surface of the dielectric substrate. Upon directly transmitting and receiving a wireless digital signal via a feed point of the radiation conductor, formation of notched portions at sides of the radiation conductor, which intersect an electric field plane defined by an electric field when the antenna apparatus is excited, leads to reduction in the waveform distortion of waveform of the transmitted wireless digital signal.
US08421677B2 Tuneable antenna for electromagnetic compatibility tests
An antenna for electromagnetic compatibility testing, that includes an upper plate and a lower plate having parallel longitudinal axes, maintained at a distance from each other, and mechanically connected to each other at each of their longitudinal ends by longitudinal plates. The upper and lower plates and longitudinal plates define a space. The upper and lower plates and the longitudinal plates are mounted so as to be capable of movement relative to each other to define a space having dimensions that can be modified, wherein the distance between the lower and upper plates can be modified and/or the length of the lower and upper plates can be modified.
US08421675B2 Systems and methods for locating a mobile device within a cellular system
A system for determining location and timing information in a cellular network includes a space-time calibration unit (SCU) and a plurality of nodes in communication with the SCU. Each node includes a node ping driver that receives frame synchronization information from a respective subset of cell sites, and associates the frame synchronization information with respective receive count stamps generated using a local node clock. The system also includes a user handset that includes a handset ping driver that receives the frame synchronization information from a serving cell site and one or more neighbor cell sites, and associates the frame synchronization information with respective receive count stamps generated using a local handset clock. The SCU uses the information from the node and handset ping drivers to determine a handset location.
US08421673B2 Method and software for spatial pattern analysis
A method and software implementation for spatial pattern analysis. A user-guided test procedure is implemented to measure features of an antenna under test to determine the antenna's far-field patterns. The antenna features include RF amplitude or phase, and position and orientation relative to a receiving object.
US08421672B2 Apparatus and method for pseudo range verification of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver
Provided is a method and apparatus for a pseudo range verification of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver, more particularly, a method and apparatus for the pseudo range verification of the GNSS receiver by comparing the pseudo range for a measurement calculated in the GNSS receiver and the pseudo range for a verification generated depending on a position of the GNSS receiver.
US08421669B2 Synthetic aperture processing system and synthetic aperture processing method
A synthetic aperture processing system that includes a signal transmission unit for generating and radiating a plurality of chirp waves to an irradiation region from measuring sites, a signal reception unit for receiving a plurality of reflected waves caused by the plurality of chirp waves, a range compression unit for range-compressing each of the reflected waves and generating reception data consisting of sinc functions, a cross-correlation computation unit for, based on a plurality of model data segments, calculating correlation values representing a degree of correlation between each of the model data segments and the reception data, and image output unit for outputting the correlation values calculated by cross-correlation computation unit.
US08421667B2 Mobile electronic detection device with user selectable alerts
A detection device for detecting the presence of a speed detection system, red light camera, or other electronic surveillance means. The device includes a display means whereby the graphical and audible presentation changes from the non alert condition to the alert condition in accordance to a user selectable choice of options, thereby increasing awareness to the surveillance threat.
US08421666B2 Analog to digital converter with adjustable conversion window
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first capacitor system and a second capacitor system. Each capacitor system comprises one or more engaged capacitors from respective pluralities of selectively engagable capacitors. The first capacitor system and second capacitor system are respectively selectively coupled to a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage. The apparatus further includes a switch configured to transfer charge between the first capacitor system and the second capacitor system when the switch is closed such that the first capacitor system and the second capacitor system each store the same first voltage. The apparatus further includes a node coupled to the first capacitor system, the second capacitor system, and a first input of a differential amplifier of an analog to digital converter. The node is configured to bias the differential amplifier to the first voltage.
US08421662B2 DA converter
A low power consumption DA converter includes a segment type DA converter and an R-2R resistance ladder DA converter. The segment type DA converter is coupled to a power source voltage VDD and outputs a current signal changing in a stepwise manner according to inputted upper bits D[7 to 5]. The R-2R resistance ladder DA converter is coupled to the segment type DA converter in series between the power source voltage VDD and a ground voltage GND, and outputs an output voltage Vout changing in a stepwise manner. The R-2R resistance ladder DA converter changes the output voltage Vout by raising or lowering a reference voltage Vref according to the lower bits D[4 to 0] and the current signal from the segment type DA converter.
US08421657B2 AD conversion circuit and error correcting method
In a microcomputer 10 which converts an analog signal Vin into digital data and corrects an error of the digital data, a voltage variation ΔVcc is calculated on the basis of a first conversion value obtained by AD-converting a reference voltage Vref by an AD converter 15 in a state that a standard power source voltage including no voltage variation is supplied to the AD converter 15 and a second conversion value obtained by AD-converting the reference voltage Vref by the AD converting section in a state that a power source voltage for the ordinary operation is supplied to the AD converter 15. The digital data produced by the AD converter 15 by AD-converting the analog signal Vin is corrected using the calculated voltage variation ΔVcc.
US08421654B2 Method of decoding a signal implementing a progressive construction of a decoding tree, corresponding computer program and decoding device
A method of decoding a data signal includes progressively constructing a decoding tree, implementing at least two iterations of the following steps: selecting at least one child node of a current node belonging to a selection interval; storing the child nodes in a first stack; deleting the current node from the first stack; selecting a new current node from the first stack; and if the new current node is a leaf node, storing the path between the root node and the leaf node, in the second stack, and deleting the leaf node from the first stack; otherwise, return to the step of selecting a child node for the new current node. Moreover, the method assigns a probability of likelihood to the bits of at least one symbol of the data signal, taking account of the paths stored in the second stack, and determines a probabilistic estimation of the signal.
US08421653B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus for converting fixed-length codes into variable-length codes comprises: an input unit configured to obtain each of the fixed-length codes as an input code; a determination unit configured to determine a fixed length encoding method of the input code; a conversion unit configured to perform variable length encoding, by using a first variable length encoding method, on the input code encoded by a first fixed length encoding method, and perform variable length encoding, by using a second variable length encoding method, on the input code encoded by a second fixed length encoding method; and an output unit configured to output a variable-length code obtained by the conversion unit.
US08421646B2 Method and apparatus for providing a notification appliance with a light emitting diode
A method and apparatus for providing a strobe alarm unit employing at least one light emitting diode.
US08421645B2 Electrostatic protector of portable electronic devices
An electrostatic protector used in a portable electronic device includes an electrostatic conducting unit and an electrostatic protecting unit connected to the electrostatic conducting unit. The electrostatic protecting unit includes at least one protecting circuit, each protecting circuit includes a diode, and the diode has a cathode connected to the electrostatic conducting unit and an anode grounded. Electrostatic charges on the portable electronic device are transmitted to the electrostatic conducting unit and generate a voltage on the cathode of the diode to break down the diode, such that the electrostatic charges are transmitted to the ground via the broken down diode and the voltage on the cathode of the diode is reduced.
US08421644B2 Light-emitting diode control system and method
A light-emitting diode (LED) control system and method sets a number of virtual LEDs according to a number of error events of a computing device. The system and method further assigns a priority level to each error event and a unique indication status of the error event. If more than one error event occurs to the computing device, each error event is indicated by a virtual LED by a unique indication status, however, only the error event having the highest priority level is synchronously indicated by a virtual LED and the physical LED.
US08421641B2 Object detection system and method using sub-sampling
An object detection system, controller, and method using sub-sampling for detecting a presence of an object at the location. An electrode arranged near the location radiates an electric field that corresponds to an electrode signal that arises in response to an excitation signal. When the excitation signal is coupled to the electrode and the electric field is radiated, the electrode exhibits an electrode impedance indicative of the presence of an object. The presence of an object is detected by analyzing the electrode signal using sub-sampling. Traditionally, such electrode signals have frequencies, high enough to warrant the use of expensive high-frequency signal processing devices. Sub-sampling is a way of sampling and processing the electrode signal such that the signal processing to detect the object can be performed by a lower cost general purpose microprocessor.
US08421640B1 Tractor lift detection system for gantry cranes
An automatic signaling system to prevent a tractor from being accidently lifted with the cargo by a ship to shore gantry crane. The embodiment includes multiple sensors to detect a lifted condition and radio output upon a lifted condition. The radio output channel is determined by an automatic identification system that identifies the crane the tractor is under. Upon receiving a lifted signal the cranes hoist will be stopped and disabled but will still allow lowering until the lifted signal stops.
US08421639B2 Branch current monitor with an alarm
A power meter for monitoring current in a power cable annunciates an alarm if the current transgresses one or more alarm current limits. False alarms are avoided by delaying the activation of the alarm for a delay interval following determination that current is flowing in the monitored conductor.
US08421637B2 Multipurpose indicator lights
A method of utilizing device indicator lights includes providing a device that includes a plurality of device indicator lights and a user control. A first set and a second set of device states are monitored. The plurality of device indicator lights are individually utilized to communicate each of the first set of device states. It is determined if the user control has been activated. The plurality of device indicator lights are used in concert to communicate one of the second set of device states upon a determination that the user control has been activated.
US08421634B2 Sensing mechanical energy to appropriate the body for data input
Described is using the human body as an input mechanism to a computing device. A sensor set is coupled to part of a human body. The sensor set detects mechanical (e.g., bio-acoustic) energy transmitted through the body as a result of an action/performed by the body, such as a user finger tap or flick. The sensor output data (e.g., signals) are processed to determine what action was taken. For example, the gesture may be a finger tap, and the output data may indicate which finger was tapped, what surface the finger was tapped on, or where on the body the finger was tapped.
US08421633B2 Clasping anti-theft device with alarm features
An anti-theft device monitors objects having a shaft, strap, or similar element. The anti-theft device is comprised of a two components hingably connected together. The two components can move from an open position to a closed position to enclose the shaft or similar element. One component has a first latch element and contains electronics including an arming switch. When the two components are moved to the closed position, the other component changes the status of the arming switch. The other component has a second latch element which combines with the first latch element to hold the two components in the closed position. The anti-theft device may be armed or disarmed by a remote device. The latching elements may be releasably lockable and may be released by a magnet. The anti-theft device may have passcode protection capabilities.
US08421628B2 Asset protection system
An asset protection system maintains a radio frequency field or signal in a monitored area. Assets have tags attached to them and are placed in the monitored area. The tags have a mechanism to attach them to the objects and have electronic components on board including a microprocessor, motion detector, radio frequency circuitry, audible alarm generator and in some cases, a passive EAS element. The tags are normally idle in the monitored area, but when the motion detector indicates that a tag is being moved, the RF circuitry checks for a signal or field at an expected frequency. If the tag does not detect a signal, the tag electronics determine that the tag has left the monitored area and generate an audible alarm. If a signal is detected, the tag returns to an idle state once it stops moving. The tags may also alarm if tampered with.
US08421626B2 Radio frequency identification transponder for communicating condition of a component
There is provided a passive RFID transponder assembly that includes a condition responsive device adapted to read a condition relating to the component that is associated with the RFID transponder assembly. The condition that is read by the condition responsive device relates to physical contact with a field technician or a mating component, relates to electrical connection between an integrated circuit chip and an antenna, relates to one or more environmental conditions, or the like. The components with which the RFID transponder assemblies are associated include components of telecommunications equipment, such as fiber optic connectors, fiber optic adapters, fiber optic patch panels, copper connectors, and copper adapters to list some non-limiting examples.
US08421624B2 Home security system
A home security system includes a plurality of monitoring assemblies each comprising a data communication device, a light, a video camera, a transmitter, a sensor, a loudspeaker, a warning device, an identification device, a projector, an adjustment device for adjusting angles of the light, the video camera, and the projector, and a power supply; a fixed controller comprising a data communicating device and a data storage device; and a hand-held portable controller comprising a wireless communication module and an equipment set module. The fixed controller is adapted to activate the monitoring assemblies. The hand-held, portable controller is adapted to remotely activate the monitoring assemblies.
US08421620B2 Electronically triggered personal athletic device
An athletic device is worn by a participant during an athletic event (e.g., a race). In one example, a race course is provided with a plurality of mats or signal devices along the race course. The mats may have antennas and generate a magnetic field. The athletic device may include a chip system having an RFID tag and a display. As the participant progress along the course, the tag is triggered at each mat and race data may be displayed on the device. Data relating to a location of the participant may also be provided to the participant during the athletic event.
US08421619B2 Apparatus and method for determining location and tracking coordinates of a tracking device
A device and method to monitor location coordinates of an electronic tracking device are disclosed here. The device includes transceiver circuitry to receive at least one portion of a receive communication signal comprising location coordinates information; accelerometer circuitry to measure displacements of the portable electronic tracking device; a battery power monitor configured to activate and deactivate at least one portion of signaling circuitry; and processor circuitry configured to process the displacements. The method includes receiving at least one portion of a receive communication signal comprising location coordinates information; measuring displacements of a portable electronic tracking device; activating and deactivating at least one portion of signaling circuitry; and processing the at least one portion of the receive communication signal.
US08421617B2 Tracking system with separated tracking device
A separated tracking device includes a first portion including a location determining device operative to receive signals from a positioning system, a wireless communication device operative to communicate the location data from the first portion to a second portion of the tracking device, the second portion including a wireless data transceiver operable to transmit the location data to a remote server. In a particular embodiment, the first portion of the tracking device is attached to a first shoe and the second portion of the tracking device is incorporated in a second shoe. In another embodiment, the second portion of the tracking device is incorporated in a hand-held device. A method for manufacturing a separated tracking device and a method of operating a separated tracking device are also disclosed.
US08421614B2 Reliable redundant data communication through alternating current power distribution system
A mechanism is provided for providing reliable redundant data communications. The mechanism issues a request for data to a set of powered elements using a set of secondary communication channels in response to a reduction in a level of communications being detected. The set of secondary communication channels comprises one or more alternating current power lines and the request is sent as data injected onto the alternating current power lines to the set of powered elements. The mechanism receives the data using the set of secondary communication channels from the set of powered elements, analyzes the data to determine a set of recovery actions to restore the level of communications, and issues the set of recovery actions to the set of powered elements using the set of secondary communication channels.
US08421613B2 Auto fluid condition alert
A method and device for determining the appropriate time to recharge hydraulic fluid in a work vehicle. The method preferably includes making a real time determination of the at least a quality parameter of hydraulic fluid in a work vehicle. The system includes comparing in real time, the quality parameter to a predetermined value for the hydraulic fluid. The method of the present invention also includes a system for comparing the determined values and communicating same to an operator. The method of the present invention also includes the capacity to control the output level of the work vehicle according to the level of contamination in the hydraulic fluid. The present invention also provides a device for real time monitoring and control of the hydraulic fluid.
US08421601B2 Active/passive RFID transponder control function
Devices, systems, processes, and articles of manufacture are provided herein. These may include an RFID transponder having a microprocessor, nonvolatile memory, a battery, and an antenna, wherein the microprocessor is configured to operate in a passive mode and a battery operated mode, and wherein, when in the passive mode only a portion of the microprocessor may be powered by energy received from an RFID reader interrogating the RFID transponder. The RFID transponder may further include MEMS sensors coupled to the microprocessor and the microprocessor may be further configured to add physical data, instructions, or a unique identifier of the RFID transponder to the nonvolatile memory.
US08421599B2 Apparatus and method for providing URL, mobile station, and method for accessing internet by using the provided URL
The present invention relates to a URL providing apparatus and a method thereof, and a mobile station that accesses the Internet by using the provided URL, and an Internet access method thereof. The mobile station attaches an RF-ID tag that stores an RF-ID tag value corresponding to identification information of the mobile station thereto, and thus when a user brings the mobile station into an interrogation range of an RF-ID reader included in the URL providing apparatus, the URL providing apparatus receives the corresponding RF-ID tag value from the RF-ID reader. When the URL providing apparatus acquires an IP address of the mobile station by using the received RF-ID tag value and provides a URL to the mobile station by using the acquired IP address, the mobile station automatically accesses the Internet by using the URL. Such an Internet access method can minimize additional cost of the mobile station and simplify an Internet access process to a specific URL.
US08421596B2 Door lock device
Provided is a door lock device which is installed on a door, to enable people to facilitate to find out location of the door at dark or night and enable the door to be illuminated with a certain brightness so as to be easily viewed at indoor and outdoor sides when indoor and/or outdoor illumination is low, that is, at dark. As a result, the door lock device enables people to easily find out an entrance gate under the fire and other emergency situations. As well, people do not need to find out a particular position or particular article gropingly even in a dark indoor or outdoor. Accordingly, people may not be easily hurt. In addition, since indoor and outdoor places can be illuminated at a certain brightness, the door lock device can indicate that people exist in a warehouse or on a roof of a building even in the case that a warehouse door lock device or a roof entrance door lock device has been automatically locked.
US08421588B1 Combination wireless electrical apparatus controller and energy monitoring device and method of use
A device for controlling and monitoring the operation and energy consumption of one or more electrical apparatuses comprising a processor/transceiver control unit connected to each electrical apparatus and having at least one microprocessor wired to a transceiver, the microprocessor storing an operating protocol, the processor/transceiver control unit further having one or more relays defining channels wired to the microprocessor and on which respective ones of the electrical apparatuses are connected to the processor/transceiver control unit, each relay having an associated current transformer for monitoring the circuit amperage, and a means for measuring and totalizing energy consumption on each channel, whereby the processor/transceiver control unit monitors the energy consumption of each electrical apparatus and controls power thereto according to at least one of the energy consumption and the operating protocol associated with the respective electrical apparatus.
US08421587B2 Diagnosis for mixed signal device for use in a distributed system
A mixed signal device for use in a distributed system of independent and interoperating devices, comprising at least one analog module, characterized in that the mixed signal device further comprises a diagnosis controller coupled to the at least one analog module, said diagnosis controller being operable to determine an operational status of the mixed signal device.
US08421584B2 Over-current protection device and method for manufacturing the same
An over-current protection device includes a conductive composite having a first crystalline fluorinated polymer, a plurality of particulates, a conductive filler, and a non-conductive filler, wherein the plurality of particulates include a second crystalline fluorinated polymer. The first crystalline fluorinated polymer has a crystalline melting temperature of between 150 and 190 degrees Celsius. The plurality of particulates including the second crystalline fluorinated polymer are disposed in the conductive composite, having a crystalline melting temperature of between 320 and 390 degrees Celsius and having a particulate diameter of from 1 to 50 micrometers. The conductive filler and the non-conductive filler are dispersed in the conductive composite.
US08421582B2 ESD protection device and manufacturing method therefor
An ESD protection device includes opposed electrodes in a ceramic base material and a discharge auxiliary electrode in contact with each of the opposed electrodes which is arranged so as to provide a bridge from the opposed electrode on one side to the opposed electrode on the other side, the discharge auxiliary electrode includes metallic particles, semiconductor particles, and a vitreous material, and bonding is provided through the vitreous material between the metallic particles, between the semiconductor particles, and between the metallic particles and the semiconductor particles. The metallic particles have an average particle diameter X of about 1.0 μm or more, and the relationship between the thickness Y of the discharge auxiliary electrode and the average particle diameter X of the metallic particles satisfies about 0.5≦Y/X≦ about 3.
US08421577B2 Planar inductive unit and an electronic device comprising a planar inductive unit
A planar inductive unit having at least one operating frequency is provided. The inductive unit comprises at least one inductor winding (120) having a first width (121) and a centre (122) and being arranged in a first plane. The inductive unit furthermore comprises at least one ground path (200) having a first section (205) extending in the first plane and at least a second section (210) with a second width (211) extending in at least a second plane.
US08421573B2 Inductor combining primary and secondary coils with phase shifting
An inductor including a primary coil coaxially arranged and operated in parallel with isolated secondary coils each including at least one loop winding with two open-circuited ports. At least one phase shifting device is arranged between open-circuited ports of at least one secondary coil. A method to operate an inductor by combining primary and secondary coils with phase shifting devices to get a wide tuning range is also provided. The method includes the step of phase shifting open-circuited ports of at least one secondary coil.
US08421571B2 Transformer
A transformer includes the first iron core having a plurality of legs arranged spaced apart from each other; a plurality of high-voltage side coils wound around the plurality of legs, respectively, and receiving a common single-phase AC power; and a plurality of low-voltage side coils provided corresponding to the high-voltage side coils, magnetically coupled to the corresponding high-voltage side coils, and wound around the plurality of legs, respectively. The high-voltage side coils and the corresponding low-voltage side coils constitute a plurality of coil groups. The transformer further includes the second iron core provided between the coil groups adjacent to each other.
US08421570B2 Rotating transformer
The transformer ensures the transmission of electrical power by electromagnetic induction between the first (11) and second (12) coils concentrically arranged on the first (7) and second (8) tubular parts respectively, which are made of a ferromagnetic material, and coaxially mounted in such a way that an outer surface (13a, 13b, 13c) of one part can rotate in relation to an inner surface (14a, 14b, 14c) of the other. These surfaces each consist of two straight cylindrical rotation surfaces (13a, 13c; 14a, 14c) of different diameters, each extending from one of the axial ends of the part (7; 8) to an intermediate radial shoulder (13b, 14b) for connecting these surfaces. The parts (7; 8) are arranged head-to-foot one inside the other so as to delimit, between the shoulders (13b; 14b), an annular space receiving the coils (11, 12), between two annular gaps each delimited by two (13a, 14a; 13b, 14b) of the facing cylindrical surfaces of the first (7) and second (8) parts. Each coil comprises at least one layer of a plurality of strip-like windings.
US08421568B2 Solenoid arrangement with segmented armature member for reducing radial force
A solenoid arrangement having an armature member that is segmented to help minimize the radial force due to eccentricity of the armature member. The solenoid arrangement has a magnetic coil that when energized will create magnetic flux in the flux path. A pole piece is partly circumscribed by the armature member. Inner and outer air gaps are located about the armature member. Eccentricity of the armature member results in a decrease in one of the air gaps and a corresponding increase in the other. Radial gaps segment the armature member to interrupt the circumferential flux path about the armature member to inhibit magnetic flux from swirling to the side nearest the pole piece and to distribute magnetic flux substantially evenly. The radial force acting on the armature member is reduced resulting in reduced friction between solenoid components while substantially preserving the desirable level of axial force.
US08421566B2 Linear solenoid
A linear solenoid includes a coil assembly having a coil, and a cup-shaped yoke arranged at an outer peripheral side of the coil. The yoke is provided with a recess portion that is opened at least at a position in a circumferential direction of the yoke and extends in an axial direction of the yoke. The coil assembly includes a connector portion that has a terminal connected to an exterior and is exposed from the recess portion to an exterior of the yoke, and a secondary molding portion made of a secondary molding resin in which the coil is insert-molded. Furthermore, the secondary molding portion includes a cover portion that is arranged to cover the recess portion of the yoke from an outer peripheral side of the recess portion. Thus, the cover portion can restrict foreign-material mixed oil from being introduced into the yoke.
US08421564B2 Electromagnetic actuator
The electromagnetic actuator is a linear electromagnetic actuator in which the relative position between a slide table that supports permanent magnets thereon and a guide rail that supports a coil, which is arranged in confronting relation to the permanent magnets, is displaced by means of a thrust force generated by a current flowing through the coil. The coil is disposed on the guide rail through a low coercive force magnetizable material body, the coercive force of which is lower than a predetermined value. Consequently, generation of residual magnetization can be suppressed, and an influence on the thrust force caused by such residual magnetization can also be suppressed.
US08421562B2 Starting device for engines
An electromagnetic switch unit comprises a solenoid device that pushes out a pinion gear to a ring gear side of an engine, and an electromagnetic switch that opens and closes a main point of contact of a motor circuit. The solenoid device and the electromagnetic switch are arranged in series in an axial direction, while a magnetic plate that forms a part of magnetic circuit between a first coil used for the solenoid device and a second coil used for the electromagnetic switch is shared by the solenoid device and the electromagnetic switch.
US08421561B2 High frequency relay and its connection structure
A high frequency relay has at least two drive terminal units arranged at an outer peripheral brim portion of at least two regions of three regions divided from a plane region of a base with a signal line. The base may be a plane triangle, plane square, plane hexagon, or a plane circle.
US08421556B2 Switched capacitor array having reduced parasitics
A switched capacitor includes a capacitor and a switch. The capacitor is coupled between a p-node and an n-node and includes interleaved p-fingers and n-fingers. A number of the p-fingers is greater than a number of the n-fingers. The switch is coupled between the n-node and ground.
US08421555B2 Receiving side filter of duplexer and duplexer
To provide a receiving side filter of a duplexer and a duplexer capable of preventing a leakage of an electric field and a magnetic field to the outside. In a receiving side filter having a longitudinal mode resonator type filter including cross finger electrodes and reflectors respectively formed on a piezoelectric substrate and an unbalanced input signal path and balanced output ports respectively provided on an input side and on an output side of the longitudinal mode resonator type filter, and used on a receiving side of a duplexer, a shield electrode connected to a ground electrode side of the cross finger electrode is disposed to surround a periphery of the receiving side filter so that an electric field and a magnetic field leaked to the outside from the receiving side filter are short-circuited by the shield electrode.
US08421554B2 Filtering device for filtering RF signals and method for filtering RF signals
A filtering device comprises an analogue quadrature splitter together with a first filtering element and a second filtering element. The filtering device is adapted to transform filtering characteristics of the first filtering element and filtering characteristics of the second filtering element into an effective filtering characteristic present in an output signal at an output terminal of the analogue quadrature splitter. The first filtering element and the second filtering element comprise filtering elements of high accuracy, with a steep roll-off but poor power handling capabilities. Using a high power quadrature splitter it is possible to transform the filtering characteristics of the first filtering element and/or the second filtering characteristic of the second filtering element into the effective filtering characteristics. The present disclosure further provides a method for filtering RF signals and a computer program implementing the manufacture of the filtering device and an execution of the method of filtering.
US08421546B2 Piezoelectric vibrator, oscillator, electronic equipment and radio-controlled timepiece, and method of manufacturing piezoelectric vibrator
A piezoelectric vibrator according to the invention includes a base substrate and a lid substrate which are connected to each other and have a cavity formed therebetween; a piezoelectric vibrating reed that is mounted on the base substrate in the cavity; an external electrode that is formed on a lower surface of the base substrate; and a through electrode which is formed so as to pass through the base substrate, maintain the airtightness in the cavity, and electrically connect the piezoelectric vibrating reed with the external electrode. The through electrode is formed by a press molding by a forming mold having a pin, and includes a through hole of a taper-shaped section, in which a taper angle is in the range of 15° or more and 20° or less, and a conductive paste that is hardened after being filled in the through hole.
US08421544B2 Chaotic wide band frequency modulator for noise reduction
The embodiments of the invention relate to apparatus and method for reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) in computer systems via a chaotic wide band frequency modulation. The chaotic noise modulator, in one embodiment, comprises: a master cell to generate a control voltage corresponding to an un-modulated reference signal; and a slave cell having a chaotic signal generator to generate a random noise signal, the slave cell coupled with the master cell and operable to generate a modulated output signal in response to the control voltage.
US08421541B2 RF single-ended to differential converter
Techniques for designing a highly differential single-ended-to-differential converter for use in, e.g., communications receivers. In an exemplary embodiment, an auxiliary current path including cascomp transistors is coupled to a main current path including input transistors and cascode transistors. The transistors are biased such that inter-modulation products generated by the auxiliary current path cancel out inter-modulation products generated by the main current path. In another exemplary embodiment, current source transistors for the main current path are adaptively biased depending on the level of the input signal received. In an exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be applied to designing a converter for interfacing a single-ended low-noise amplifier (LNA) output voltage with a differential mixer input in a communications receiver.
US08421537B2 Electronic circuit
An electronic circuit includes: a first transistor having a control terminal, a first terminal, and a second terminal; a second transistor having a control terminal connected to the second terminal of the first transistor, a first terminal, and a second terminal connected to a DC power supply; a plurality of DC paths that are mutually independent of each other and supply DC currents from the first terminal of the second transistor to the second terminal of the first transistor; and distributed constant lines connected in series with the plurality of DC paths.
US08421534B2 Predistorter for compensating for nonlinear distortion and method thereof
The predistorter may include: a predistortion filter predistorting an input signal to provide an output signal; a predistortion output estimation unit estimating the characteristics of a nonlinear device based on a signal processed by the nonlinear device and the output signal, and calculating a desired output signal of the predistortion filter by using the estimated characteristics of the nonlinear device; and an adaptive algorithm driving unit comparing the output signal with the desired output signal to output an error as a comparison result, calculating a filter coefficient according to which the calculated error is minimized, and providing the calculated filter coefficient to the predistortion filter in order to update a filter coefficient of the predistortion filter.
US08421533B2 Adaptive digital predistortion device and method
An adaptive digital predistortion device and method, the adaptive digital predistortion device including a predistortion unit for predistorting an input signal according to a predistortion parameter stored in a look-up table; a cost function generation unit for generating a cost function; a fixed segment point determination unit for determining a fixed segment point; and an update unit for updating parameters (u1, u2, ka) according to the cost function to update the look-up table based on the updated parameters (u1, u2, ka), wherein ka is an updated adaptive segment point, u1 and u2 are slopes on two sides of the adaptive segment point ka; and for subsequently updating parameters (v1, v2) according to the cost function to update the look-up table based on the updated parameters (v1, v2) and the fixed segment point, wherein v1 and v2 are slopes on two sides of the fixed segment point. Therefore, the adaptive digital predistortion device according to the present invention can obtain a good performance within an acceptable convergence time by combining the adaptive segment with the fixed segment.
US08421531B2 Low dissipation amplifier
A low dissipation, low distortion amplifier includes a driver amplifier stage and a main output stage, with a plurality of impedance networks providing, among other things, feedback paths from outputs of the driver and main output stages to the input of the driver stage. The impedance networks also provide coupling paths from the outputs of the driver and main output stages to the load. The impedance networks can all be formed of resistors, capacitors, or network combinations thereof. An additional feedback path can be added from the load to the driver stage to flatten out the frequency response at low frequencies. The driver and main output stages may be operated in Class AB and B modes respectively, and/or in Class G or H modes. An intermediate amplifier driver stage may be added between the driver and main output stages.
US08421528B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first voltage line to which a first ground voltage is applied, a second voltage line to which a second ground voltage is applied, a third voltage line to which a first power supply voltage is applied, and a coupling unit including a MOS transistor having a source coupled to the first voltage line, a drain coupled to the second voltage line, and a gate coupled to the third voltage line.
US08421527B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit device
The present invention is directed to perform fine low-voltage control without largely increasing the circuit layout area in a low-power consumption structure. In the case of shifting a region to a low-speed mode, a system controller outputs a request signal and an enable signal to a power switch controller and a low-power drive circuit, respectively, to turn off a power switch and to perform a control so that the voltage level of a virtual reference potential becomes about 0.2 V to about 0.3V. The region operates on voltages between a power supply voltage and a virtual reference potential, so that it is controlled in the low-speed mode.
US08421525B2 Semiconductor circuit device
The semiconductor circuit device includes a power line receiving first voltage; each of internal circuits being provided with different operating voltages by the operation mode; a power supply circuit connected with one of internal circuits and the power line to provide second voltage lower than the first voltage to the one of internal circuits; and a control circuit controlling the power supply circuit in accordance with each of the operation modes, wherein when a change of a operation mode is performed, if a operating voltage after the change of a operation mode is higher than a operating voltage before the change of a operation mode, firstly the control circuit controls the power supply circuit to supply a second voltage higher than the operating voltage and secondly the control circuit controls the power supply circuit to supply the operation voltage after the change of a operation mode to the internal circuit.
US08421518B2 High speed level shifters and method of operation
A circuit comprising an inverter coupled to an input and receiving an input signal. A first pull-down transistor coupled to the inverter, pulling down an output when the input signal is low. A second pull-down transistor coupled to the input, pulling down a complementary output when the input signal is high. A first pull-up transistor coupled to the complementary output, pulling up the output when the input signal is high. A second pull-up transistor coupled to the output, pulling up the complementary output when the input signal is low. A first switch receiving a first control signal, coupled to the complementary output. A first strong pull-up transistor coupled to the first switch, assisting the pull up of the output. A second switch coupled to the output, receiving a second control signal. A second strong pull-up transistor coupled to the second switch, assisting the pull up of the complementary output.
US08421515B2 Seamless coarse and fine delay structure for high performance DLL
A clock synchronization system and method avoids output clock jitter at high frequencies and also achieves a smooth phase transition at the boundary of the coarse and fine delays. The system may use a delay line configured to generate two intermediate clocks from the input reference clock and having a fixed phase difference therebetween. A phase mixer receives these two intermediate clocks and generates the final output clock having a phase between the phases of the intermediate clocks. The shifting in the delay line at high clock frequencies does not affect the phase relationship between the intermediate clocks fed into the phase mixer. The output clock from the phase mixer is time synchronized with the input reference clock and does not exhibit any jitter or noise even at high clock frequency inputs.
US08421513B2 Master-slave flip-flop circuit
A master-slave flip-flop circuit comprises a master stage for retaining a master signal, a slave stage for retaining a slave signal and a retention stage. During a normal mode of operation, the retention stage captures a retention signal having a value dependent upon the slave signal. During a retention mode of operation, the retention stage isolates the retention signal from changes in the stage signal and retains the retention signal. During the retention mode the retention stage also provides a master restore signal to the master stage and provides a slave restore signal to the slave stage. The master restore signal and the slave restore signal have values dependent on the retention signal for configuring the master stage and slave stage such that the master and slave signals have values corresponding to the retention signal.
US08421509B1 Charge pump circuit with low clock feed-through
A charge pump circuit includes a first comparator, a PMOS tuner, a first current mirror, a first NMOS transistor, a first PMOS switch, an NMOS tuner, a second current mirror, a first PMOS transistor and a first NMOS switch. The first PMOS switch is coupled between the PMOS tuner and a first output PMOS transistor of the first current mirror, thus the parasitic capacitor formed between the gate and the drain of the first PMOS switch, the parasitic capacitor formed between the gate and the source of the first output PMOS transistor, and the parasitic capacitor formed between the gate and the drain of the first output PMOS transistor are equivalently coupled in series, lowering the capacitance between the PMOS tuner and the charge pump output, and reducing the clock feed through and the charge injection effect in the charge pump circuit.
US08421508B2 Spread spectrum clock generator
A spread spectrum clock generator includes a phase comparator to detect a phase difference between a reference input clock signal and a feedback signal and output a control voltage, a voltage controlled oscillator to generate an output clock signal with a frequency in line with the control voltage, a phase selector to select any of equally divided phases of one cycle of the output clock signal, generate and transmit a phase shift clock signal to the phase comparator as the feedback signal, and a phase controller to decide a phase of the rising edge of the phase shift clock signal and control the phase selector to select the decided phase, and generate a second phase shift amount, decide the rising edge of the phase shift clock signal to and subject the output clock signal to spread spectrum modulation by the second phase shift amount.
US08421504B2 Microcomputer, hysteresis comparator circuit, and voltage monitoring apparatus
A microcomputer includes a first comparator which compares a voltage to be monitored, with a first reference voltage, a second comparator which compares the voltage to be compared, with a second reference voltage, and an interrupt control circuit which monitors the voltage to be monitored by the first and second comparators in parallel and, when a preset condition is satisfied, generates an interrupt signal.
US08421502B2 Power reducing logic and non-destructive latch circuits and applications
In some embodiments, a logic circuit is provided that has a plurality of gates with gate inputs. Also provided is one or more latch circuits coupled to the logic circuit to provide operational data when in an operational mode and to cause at least some of the gate inputs to be at values resulting in reduced leakage during a sleep mode. Additionally provided are embodiments of non-destructive latch circuits, which may be used to implement the latch circuits just discussed. Other embodiments are disclosed and/or claimed herein.
US08421501B1 Digital data handling in a circuit powered in a high voltage domain and formed from devices designed for operation in a lower voltage domain
Circuitry, operating in a high voltage domain, including a high and low voltage inputs, and including a plurality of devices designed to operate optimally powered in a native voltage domain that is lower voltage than said high voltage domain and some devices arranged in two sets. The circuitry including a further input for receiving the high native voltage level. Each set having at least one device, a first set being arranged to receive an intermediate low reference voltage level as a low voltage level signal and the high voltage level as a high voltage level signal and the second set being arranged to receive the high native voltage level as a high voltage level signal and the low voltage level as a low voltage level signal. The intermediate low reference voltage level includes a voltage level generated by subtracting the high native voltage level from the high voltage level.
US08421500B2 Integrated circuit with stacked computational units and configurable through vias
A technique for manufacturing a three-dimensional integrated circuit includes stacking a memory unit on a first die that includes a first computational unit. In this case, the memory unit is included in a second die. A second computational unit that is included in a third die is stacked on the second die. Sets of vertical vias that extend through the first, second, and third dies are connected to connect components of the first and second computational units and the memory unit. Multiplexers of the first and second computational units are configured to selectively couple the components to different ones of the sets of vertical vias responsive to respective control words for each of the first and third dies.
US08421497B2 Semiconductor chip and semiconductor module including the semiconductor chip
A semiconductor chip including a termination resistance and a semiconductor module including the semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip comprising a plurality of memory cells, the semiconductor chip including: at least one first center pads disposed on a center region of the semiconductor chip and connected to the plurality of memory cells; at least one first edge pads disposed on an edge region of the semiconductor chip and connected to a first transmission line of a semiconductor module; at least one second edge pads disposed on the edge region of the semiconductor chip and connected to a chipset voltage application unit of the semiconductor module; at least one first redistribution patterns connected between the at least one first center pads and the at least one first edge pads; and at least one second redistribution patterns connected between the at least one first edge pads and the at least one second edge pads, wherein an impedance of the at least one second redistribution patterns is impedance matched to an impedance of the first transmission line.
US08421494B2 Systems and methods for test time outlier detection and correction in integrated circuit testing
Methods and systems for semiconductor testing are disclosed. In one embodiment, devices which are testing too slowly are prevented from completing testing, thereby allowing untested devices to begin testing sooner.
US08421488B1 Adherable holder and locater tool
A locater tool for positioning a support device for supporting a test probe head or a test probe tip, the locater tool including a template, means for indicating a support device position associated with the template, and means for indicating an achievable probing zone on a surface having connection points when the support device is in the support device position. The locater tool may be a device-attachable locater tool or a pre-positioning locater tool.
US08421487B2 Method for extending the diagnostic capability of current regulators
A method and a device for monitoring at least one output stage for an inductive load using a current regulator and an analysis device are described. A short circuit to a power supply or to ground is detected by comparing at least one current value in a switching phase of the at least one output stage with at least one current value in a free-wheeling phase of the at least one output stage.
US08421484B2 Dielectric spectroscopy assays for screening of ion channel ligands
A method for measuring membrane potential using dielectric spectroscopy is described. A new theoretical model allows for the determination of membrane potential from low-frequency impedance measurements to provide a non-evasive method which is both rapid and inexpensive.
US08421482B2 Anti-pinching device
An anti-pinching device (18) for a pivotable actuating element (6) of a motor vehicle (2) is specified. Said device comprises a capacitive sensor (8) which is intended to contactlessly detect an obstacle in the path of the actuating element (6) and has an electrode (14) for generating an external electric field opposite a counterelectrode (16), wherein the electrode (14) extends in a radial direction (R) of the pivoting movement of the actuating element (6), and a control unit (10) which is set up to interpret a change in a measurement capacitance (CM), which is formed between the electrode (14) and the counterelectrode (16), as pinching when the changed measurement capacitance (CM) exceeds a triggering threshold (A) which is predefined on the basis of an opening angle (φ) of the pivotable actuating element (6) and to track the triggering threshold (A). In order to achieve greater detection reliability of the anti-pinching device (18), the electrode (14) is subdivided into a plurality of segments (12) along the radial direction (R), wherein the control unit (10) is set up to track the triggering threshold (A) in a manner assigned to segments.
US08421481B2 Detection and mitigation of particle contaminants in MEMS devices
Detecting and/or mitigating the presence of particle contaminants in a MEMS device involves including MEMS structures that in normal operation are robust against the presence of particles but which can be made sensitive to that presence during a test mode prior to use, e.g., by switching the impedance of sensitive structures between an exceptionally sensitive condition during test and a normal sensitivity during operation; surrounding sensitive nodes with guard elements that are at the same potential as those nodes during operation, thereby offering protection against bridging particles, but are at a very different potential during test and reveal the particles by their resulting leakage currents; extending the sensitive nodes to interdigitate with or otherwise extend adjacent to the guard structures, which neither contribute to nor detract from the device operation but cover otherwise open areas with detection means during test; and/or converting benign areas in which particles might become trapped undetectably by electric fields during test to field-free regions by extending otherwise non-functional conductive layers so that the particles can then be moved into detection locations by providing some mechanical disturbance.
US08421480B2 Multidirectional switch member and electronic device having same
A multidirectional switch member and an electronic device includes an operation plate in which a pressing operation may be performed in a plurality of directions including four standard directions and a median direction extending between the four standard directions, a PCB that is located at the back side of the operation plate, a plurality of conductive bodies that are provided on the back side of the operation plate, a group of standard direction contact electrodes that each have a first electrode and a first ground potential electrode along each of the standard directions, and a group of median direction contact electrodes that have two of a second electrode and a second ground potential electrode along the median direction, wherein the two second electrodes and the first electrodes, which are located along both sides of the median direction, are located next to each other and are electrically connected to each other.
US08421477B2 Resistance variation detection circuit, semiconductor device and resistance variation detection method
A circuit for detecting variation of a resistance value of a resistor with respect to a reference value includes a first resistor; a second resistor; a first current source circuit for supplying current to the first resistor; a second current source circuit for supplying current to the second resistor; a voltage comparator circuit for comparing a voltage across the first resistor and a voltage across the second resistor; and a control circuit for digitally adjusting the supply current of at least one of the first or second current source circuit. A ratio of resistance values of the first and second resistors can be obtained from an adjustment value from the control circuit and result of comparison from the voltage comparator circuit.
US08421470B2 Discharge ionization current detector
A low-frequency high AC voltage from an excitation voltage power source (14) is applied between one electrode (8) and two other electrodes (9A and 9B) to generate a low-frequency AC-excited dielectric barrier discharge within a gas passage (3), thereby creating atmospheric pressure non-equilibrium micro-plasma. A sample gas is mixed with hydrogen inside the passage of a nozzle (51), and further mixed with air outside an exit port (53) to burn, forming a hydrogen flame (57). Then, the sample gas reaches an ionization area (56), where the sample components are ionized due to the effect of light emitted from the plasma. Meanwhile, water molecules generated in the hydrogen flame (57) are supplied into the ionization area (56), whereby some of the sample-molecule ions are hydrated while the others undergo a reaction to form a hydroxonium ion. These kinds of hydrated ions have long lifetimes and barely become extinct halfway, so that they can efficiently reach a detection electrode (13) and be detected as ion current. As a result, the detection sensitivity is improved and the dynamic range is enhanced.
US08421466B2 Apparatus and method for sensing leakage current of battery
An apparatus for sensing a leakage current of a battery comprises a floating capacitor charged with voltage detected from a cathode or anode terminal of a battery, a cathode terminal selection switching unit for selecting a voltage detection path for the cathode terminal and charging the floating capacitor with a detection voltage of the cathode terminal, an anode terminal selection switching unit for selecting a voltage detection path for the anode terminal and charging the floating capacitor with a detection voltage of the anode terminal, a DC voltage applying unit for applying DC voltage through the voltage detection path for the anode terminal, a voltage measuring unit for measuring the charged detection voltage of the cathode or anode terminal, and a leakage current determining unit for determining the occurrence of leakage current based on the measured detection voltages of the cathode and anode terminals.
US08421464B2 Deep look electromagnetic detection and imaging transceiver (EDIT) system for detecting underground passageways
An underground tunnel detection system does not employ radar. Instead, an automatic frequency control is used to keep a continuous wave (CW) transmission tuned to the resonant frequency of a resonant microwave patch antenna (RMPA). Changes in loading and the bulk dielectric constant of the mixed media in front of the RMPA will affect its resonant frequency and input impedance. A significant shift in the measured input impedance is interpreted as a possible tunnel, and the phase angle of the measured input impedance tends to indicate a slightly forward or aft position relative to the detection system rolling over it on the ground surface.
US08421463B2 Magnets for use in magnetic resonance imaging
A magnetic resonance system uses a shielded superconducting magnet to produce a dsv useful for specialist imaging in an overall short magnet system at field strengths 1.5 Tesla and above. The magnet includes at least a first central coil C1, which has a length of at least 25% of the overall length of the magnet, and is used in concert with a series of symmetric primary coils, at least one set of which carry current in a direction opposite to that of the central coil. Force balancing is advantageously used in the design of the coils. The primary coils are shielded by at least one shielding coil, which carries current in a direction opposite to the majority of the primary coils. The magnet resonance system can be used for orthopedic imaging.
US08421462B2 Sinusoidally resonant radio frequency volume coils for high field magnetic resonance applications
A radio frequency coil assembly includes an annular conductor (20, 22, 120) configured to support a sinusoidal electrical current distribution at a magnetic resonance frequency, and a radio frequency shield (30, 32, 34, 52, 60, 61, 130) shielding the annular conductor in at least one direction, the radio frequency shield including at least one of (i) a cylindrical shield portion (30, 60, 61, 130) surrounding a perimeter of the annular conductor, and (ii) a planar shield portion (32, 34, 52) arranged generally parallel with the annular conductor. In a magnetic resonance scanner embodiment, a magnet (10) generates a static magnetic field (B0), a magnetic field gradient system (14) is configured to superimpose selected magnetic field gradients on the static magnetic field, and said radio frequency coil assembly is arranged with the annular conductor generally transverse to the static magnetic field (B0).
US08421461B2 Upconverter
A magnetic resonance imaging system upconverter stage has a number of local coils and a number of upconverters to receive a signal from an output of each coil. Each upconverter has a number of two port upconverter cores, each core having a first port to receive a signal from a local coil and a second port to output an upconverted signal at upper and lower sideband frequencies through an antenna coupled to the second port. The inputs of the plurality of upconverter cores are connected in parallel, and at least one antenna is associated with the second port of each core.
US08421459B2 System and method for reducing blurring artifacts in multi-spectral MR imaging near metal
A system and method for reducing blurring artifacts in multi-spectral MR imaging near metal include an MRI system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet and an RF transceiver system and an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly to acquire MR images. A computer is also included and programmed to acquire a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) MR data sets, each 3D MR data set acquired using a central transmit frequency and a central receive frequency set to an offset frequency value that is distinct for each 3D MR data set. The computer is also programmed to reconstruct a subimage for each of the plurality of 3D data sets, apply a de-blurring correction to each of the subimages, and generate a composite image based on the plurality of 3D MR data sets.
US08421453B2 Magnetic field sensor array for measuring spatial components of a magnetic field
A magnetic field array for measuring spatial components of a magnetic field is proposed, in which with at least one magnetic field sensor utilizing the XMR effect in a magnetoresistive film structure, a further component, perpendicular or nonparallel to the film structure of the magnetic field to be detected, is detectable in that at least one flux concentrator is disposed above the film structure in such a way that the magnetic field lines in the peripheral regions of the flux concentrator are deflectable in such a way that there, the field lines embody a horizontal component of the magnetic field.
US08421452B2 Current sensor and battery with current sensor
A current sensor includes a magnetic detection element having a resistance value changed by applying inductive magnetic field from measurement target current, a magnetic core provided in the vicinity of the magnetic detection element, and a coil generating magnetic field attenuating the inductive magnetic field. A constant level current in a predetermined range of output voltage of the magnetic detection element flows in the coil, and the measurement target current is detected on the basis of the output voltage of the magnetic detection element.
US08421446B2 Position encoder and a method for detecting the position of a movable part of a machine
A rotation angle detection sensor system for a rotational body is provided, which has a reduced sensitivity against an interfering magnetic field and an interfering electric field. The rotation angle detection sensor system comprises an encoder structure that is attached to the rotational body of a machine and is movable along with this rotational body. A stationary sensor assembly is positioned opposite to this encoder structure and supplies at least one sensor signal for determining the angle position. The sensor assembly includes a first inductive element, the inductance of which is dependent on the angle position of the encoder structure.
US08421441B2 Current-controlled semiconductor device and control unit using the same
A current-controlled semiconductor device is provided which corrects fluctuations of both gain and offset of a current detection circuit to thereby enable high-accuracy current detection within a single-chip IC. The current-controlled semiconductor device is provided on the same semiconductor chip with a MOSFET, two constant current sources, and a current detection circuit which detects a current of the MOSFET and currents of the constant current sources. Further, the constant current sources are equipped with an external connecting terminal for measuring their current values. A correction measured-value holding register holds therein the current values of the constant current sources, which have been measured from outside.
US08421439B2 Current detecting and indicating device
A current detecting and indicating device includes a detection unit and a display unit. The detection unit has a power module, a current detecting module, a multiplexer module and a transmission module. The power module includes positive and negative electrodes. The current detecting module includes a plurality of upper-limit switching units and a lower-limit switching unit. Each upper-limit switching unit has two ends coupled to the positive and negative electrodes, and the lower-limit switching unit has two ends coupled to the positive and negative electrodes. The multiplexer module includes a first input port and a first output port. The transmission module includes a micro-controller unit and a transmission device. The micro-controller unit includes a low-level end, a high-level end and a second input port. The second input port is coupled to the first output port. The display unit is coupled to the transmission device for receiving signals therefrom.
US08421438B2 Apparatus and method for diffusion sensing
Apparatuses and methods for diffusion sensing are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) switch and a switch sense block. The switch includes a gate, a drain, a source, and a well. The source and drain are formed in the well. The gate is formed adjacent the well between the source and drain, and the source is configured to receive a bias voltage from a power amplifier. The switch sense block is configured to measure a signal indicative of the voltage of at least one of the source or drain voltage of the switch and to generate an output signal based on the measurement.
US08421434B2 Bandgap circuit with temperature correction
A temperature corrected voltage bandgap circuit is provided. The circuit includes first and second diode connected transistors. A first switched current source is coupled to the one transistor to inject or remove a first current into or from the emitter of that transistor. The first current is selected to correct for curvature in the output voltage of the bandgap circuit at one of hotter or colder temperatures.
US08421428B2 Current trigger circuit and switching power converter using the same
A bias voltage is compared with a voltage difference in a detecting element according to the present invention. A bias voltage unit is coupled to the detecting element, so that they have a common voltage level to avoid noises when the circuit is operating. Accordingly, the erroneous detection caused by the noise interference can be avoided. Hence, a detecting element with a low resistance, such as an MOEFET, can be used in the present invention to decrease power consumption arisen from current detection and to further increase conversion efficiency.
US08421427B2 Reference voltage generation circuit, drive circuit, light emitting diode head, and image forming apparatus
A reference voltage generation circuit for outputting a reference voltage from an input voltage includes a specific voltage output unit for outputting a specific voltage from the input voltage; a first circuit section for outputting the reference voltage with a positive temperature property from the specific voltage output from the specific voltage output unit; and a second circuit section for setting a level of the reference voltage output from the first circuit section. The specific voltage output unit is formed of a regulator circuit having a first terminal connected to a power source. The first circuit section is formed of a bi-polar transistor element connected to a second terminal of the regulator circuit. The second circuit section is formed of a resistor connected to the second terminal of the regulator circuit, a collector terminal of the bi-polar transistor element, and an emitter terminal of the bi-polar transistor element.
US08421425B1 Non-positive inductor current detector for step down switching regulators
A current detector for an output load includes a high side power transistor; a low side power transistor coupled to the high side power transistor; and a controller coupled to the high and low side power transistors to provide cycle by cycle control of the conduction of the high and low side power transistors, wherein if the controller detects zero or negative current in the output inductor, using a dead time between when the low side power transistor turns off and before the high side power transistor turns on, the low side power transistor is held off during the entirety of the next switching cycle.
US08421424B2 Current driver circuit
In order to provide a current driver circuit capable of achieving a stable operation without feeding a load current back, a current driver circuit of the present invention includes: a converter part (2a) having a switching element (21) and converting an input voltage (Vi) into an output voltage; a current detector (4) which generates a detection signal (Vfb) indicative of the current of the switching element; an input voltage compensating circuit (5) which generates a compensation signal (Vr) corresponding to the input voltage; a comparator (6) which compares the detection signal and the compensation signal against each other; and a switch driver circuit (7) which generates a drive signal (Vg). The drive signal (Vg) turns the switching element off in accordance with an output (Vc) of the comparator, and turns the switching element on again after a lapse of a prescribed time from the switching element being turned off.
US08421423B2 Output control apparatus of generator
A generator (100) includes a generator winding (103) and an excitation winding (104), and a field winding (102). To converge an output voltage of the generator winding (103) to a target, a field current is varied by increasing/decreasing an energization duty ratio of a switching device (110) connected to the field winding (102). In a duty ratio zero determination unit (2) and a duty ratio zero continuation determination unit (3), when an output duty ratio continues for a predetermined time with duty ratio zero, a duty ratio increase amount restriction unit (4) restricts an upper limit of the duty ratio to a predetermined upper limit when the field current increases. A duty ratio restriction unit (21a) for restricting the duty ratio by a maximum value determined based on a voltage of a smoothing capacitor (113) in place of the determination of the duty ratio being zero may be provided.
US08421419B2 Antiferroelectric capacitor-enabled power converter
A power converter utilizes one or more nonlinear composite film capacitors constructed solely of polymer anti-ferroelectric (AFE) particle composites and configured as DC-link bus capacitors providing an energy buffer to reduce DC-link voltage ripple.
US08421418B2 Charging/discharging control unit for lithium secondary battery
In a charging/discharging unit provided with: a lithium secondary battery, a voltage detecting sensor for detecting a voltage and a current detecting sensor; the charging/discharging control unit is further provided with a controller, and a discharging element for performing a constant voltage discharging operation of 3 V. A voltage, V0, of the battery when a discharging operation is terminated (t=0) is measured by the voltage detecting sensor. If V0≦3.6 V, within a rest time during which the battery is not charged/discharged until a next charging operation, a voltage, V1, of the battery when a time, t1, has elapsed is measured by the voltage detecting sensor. If this voltage charge is in a range of V1-V0≧0.2 V, then the constant voltage discharging operation of 3 V is carried out for a time duration longer than or equal to 1 hour.
US08421415B2 Hybrid working machine having battery protecting function
Provided is a hybrid working machine capable of performing battery charging control both for a working period and a standby period. The hybrid working machine includes a hydraulic actuator, an engine, a hydraulic pump driven by the engine to supply hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuator, a battery, a generator motor connected to the engine to serve as a generator by an output power of the engine to charge the battery and serve as a motor for assisting the engine by supply of an electric power from the battery, a battery monitor detecting a battery SOC, a controller which controls a charging power of the battery depending on the battery SOC, and a working state detector detecting a working state as information for discriminating between a working period during which the hydraulic actuator is actuated and a standby period during which the hydraulic actuator is not actuated. The controller limits the charging power in the standby period in comparison with in the working period.
US08421410B2 Resonance type non-contact charging device
A resonance type non-contact charging device includes a high frequency power source, a primary side resonant coil, a secondary side resonant coil, a charger, a secondary battery, and a stop control unit. The primary side resonant coil receives supply of high frequency electric power from the high frequency power source. The secondary side resonant coil is arranged apart from the primary side resonant coil in a non-contact manner. The secondary side resonant coil receives electric power from the primary side resonant coil through magnetic field resonance between the primary side resonant coil and the secondary side resonant coil. The charger receives supply of high frequency electric power from the secondary side resonant coil. The secondary battery is connected to the charger. The stop control unit stops the high frequency power source before stopping the charger when charging is to be stopped.
US08421403B2 Thermoelectric power generating exhaust system
An exhaust system for generating power includes a conduit in communication with a first atmosphere having a first temperature and through which said first atmosphere can flow, the conduit having an inner surface exposed to said first atmosphere and an exterior surface exposed to a second atmosphere having a second temperature external to the conduit; a thermoelectric power generating assembly mounted to the exterior surface of the conduit, said power generating assembly responsive to a temperature difference between the first and second atmospheres for providing electrical power.
US08421402B2 Method and apparatus for providing charging information regarding portable terminal with solar cell
A method and apparatus provides charging information regarding devices such as a portable terminal with a solar cell. The solar cell charges the battery of the portable terminal with the highest charging efficiency at an optimal charging angle. The optimal charging angle is determined according to the location information regarding the portable terminal and time information. When the solar cell performs a charging process with the highest charging efficiency, the portable terminal provides a user with an average charging efficiency and the help containing a user's manual of the solar cell. The average charging efficiency is determined according to environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, weather conditions, etc.
US08421400B1 Solar-powered battery charger and related system and method
A solar-powered charger includes a solar panel configured to generate electrical energy at a first voltage level. The charger also includes a converter configured to receive the electrical energy from the solar panel, perform temperature compensation, and output the electrical energy to a load at a second voltage level. The second voltage level could be between 13.2V and 14.4V, inclusive. The converter could be configured to output the electrical energy at the second voltage level with a substantially constant current over temperatures between 0° C. and 100° C., inclusive. The converter could be configured to be coupled to and recharge a lead acid battery, a lithium ion battery, or a nickel metal hydride battery.
US08421388B2 Multi-phase rotary machine control apparatus and electric power steering system using the same
A failure identification part identifies a switching element pair having off-failure, in which a FET of the switching element pair in a first inverter part is disabled to turn on. A failure-time control part controls other switching element pairs and of the first inverter part based on failure-time phase current command values calculated as a function of a rotation position and a q-axis current command value. The failure-time control part controls a second inverter part normally. A motor is persistently driven with the minimum reduction in motor torque, even when the FET fails.
US08421386B2 Control apparatus for multi-phase rotary machine
A control apparatus controls an inverter (electric power converter circuit) which is connected for selectively applying a plurality of voltage levels to each phase of a polyphase rotary machine. In each of successive control periods, the apparatus determines the inverter operation state (combination of respective voltage levels applied to the phases) to be set for the succeeding control period, by performing prediction calculations based on a model of the rotary machine, for each of a plurality of candidates for the next operation state, to select an optimum candidate. The candidates are restricted to those operation states whereby the voltage level of no more than one of the phases will be changed, at changeover to the operation state of the next control period.
US08421382B2 Apparatus motor control method
A method for controlling a motor can suppress an influence of speed variation due to cogging of the motor. The method includes performing a preliminary drive process to output a first driving signal to the motor to move the mechanism, performing the preliminary drive process to output a second driving signal corresponding to a cogging period of the motor to the motor as well as output the first driving signal, to move the mechanism, determining parameters which include an output waveform and output timing of the second driving signal based on a speed of the mechanism in the preliminary drive process, and outputting the second driving signal according to the determined parameters to the motor as well as outputting the first driving signal to the motor in an actual drive process to perform predetermined processing by moving the mechanism.
US08421380B2 Electric motor
A direct current motor includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor has a shaft; a rotor core fixed to the shaft; a commutator fixed to the shaft; and rotor windings wound about poles of the rotor core and terminated on the commutator. The motor also has a common brush and at least two selectable brushes in sliding contact with the commutator; at least two direct current power sources; and a switching device configured to connect the common brush and a selected one of the selectable brushes with predetermined combinations of the power sources to operate the motor in different speed modes.
US08421374B2 Apparatus for driving load
An apparatus for driving loads is disclosed. The apparatus mentioned above for driving a plurality of loads includes a protection module and a current generating module. The protection module has a plurality of detection terminals and generates a plurality of detection results according to a plurality of driving voltages on the detection terminals. The current generating module provides a plurality driving currents according to the detection results for flowing through each of the loads, separately.
US08421372B2 Frequency converted dimming signal generation
There is provided a lighting control circuit comprising a duty cycle detection circuit, an averaging circuit, a waveform generator and a comparator circuit. The duty cycle detection circuit generates a first periodic waveform having a duty cycle and frequency corresponding to an input waveform duty cycle and frequency. The averaging circuit generates a first signal having a voltage level corresponding to the duty cycle of the first periodic waveform. The waveform generator outputs a second periodic waveform having a frequency different from the input waveform frequency. The comparator circuit compares the second periodic waveform with the first signal to generate an output waveform having a duty cycle corresponding to the input waveform duty cycle and a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the second periodic waveform. Also, there are provided methods.
US08421371B2 LED drive circuit, LED illumination fixture, LED illumination device, and LED illumination system
An LED drive circuit in which an alternating voltage is input and an LED is driven, and which can be connected to a phase control dimmer The LED drive circuit is provided with an edge detector for detecting an edge of the output voltage of the phase control dimmer; and a current extractor for extracting a current from a current feed line for feeding an LED drive current to the LED; wherein the value of the current extracted from the current feed line by the current extractor is varied in accordance with the detection results of the edge detector.
US08421369B2 Light emitting diode having protection function
The present invention relates to a light emitting diode driver having a protection function that activates hiccup mode for a predetermined period of time when a light emitting diode performs an abnormal operation to thereby protect the light emitting diode. A light emitting diode driver having a protection function according to an aspect of the invention may include: a light emitting unit emitting light; a reference signal generating unit generating a reference signal having pulses with a predetermined period when the light emitting unit performs an abnormal operation; a control unit controlling operating time in hiccup mode according to the reference signal from the reference signal generating unit, the hiccup mode where output is switched on and off at a predetermined period; and a driving unit driving the light emitting unit in the hiccup mode for the operating time determined by the control unit.
US08421368B2 Control of light intensity using pulses of a fixed duration and frequency
A method and circuit to control the intensity of lights, illumination fixtures, and displays using pulses of a fixed duration and a fixed frequency (FD/FF) is provided. In particular, the method may be used to control one more light sources. By varying the number of pulses in a control burst, the total current flowing through the light source may be precisely controlled providing greater accuracy than other methods, such as, for example, PWM or variable pulse frequency. The FD/FF technique may be used in conjunction with any number of light sources, and finds particular application in LED displays and for any type of LED illumination fixture.
US08421366B2 Illumination device including LEDs and a switching power control system
Disclosed herein is an illumination device including light-emitting diodes, an alternating current input, a full-wave rectifier coupled to the alternating current input and configured to produce a rectified voltage output and a power converter, the power converter having a switching element electrically coupled to the rectified voltage output of the full-wave rectifier. An improvement of the illumination device includes a feedback circuit configured to determine an average current across the light-emitting diodes and to invert a signal representing the average current to provide a switching signal to the switching element such that, for a range of operating points, increasing a current drawn into the power converter will decrease LED power and decreasing the current drawn into the power converter will increase LED power.
US08421365B2 Apparatus for driving light emitting device using pulse-width modulation
An apparatus for driving a light emitting device (LED) is provided. The apparatus for driving the LED includes a first driving control element, a first current detection unit, a first effective value detection unit, a first reference signal generation unit, and a first comparison unit. The first driving control element controls a current flowing through a first LED channel, in response to a first pulse-width modulated control signal. The first current detection unit detects the current flowing through the first LED channel. The first effective value detection unit detects an effective value of the current detected by the first current detection unit. The first reference signal generation unit generates a preset reference signal having a sawtooth waveform. The first comparison unit compares the reference signal from the first reference signal generation unit with the effective value from the first effective value detection unit.
US08421364B2 Transient suppression for boost regulator
A circuit for generating an output voltage to a top node of a plurality of LED strings. The circuit includes an inductor having a load current flowing therethrough and a switching transistor responsive to a switching control signal. An integrator generates a compensation voltage responsive to a voltage at a bottom node of the LED string and a reference voltage. Circuitry for combining an offset with the compensation voltage is responsive to the compensation voltage and the load current through the inductor. The offset is generated only during a step load change of the load current and substantially reduces voltage transients from the compensation voltage and the output voltage. A summation circuit sums the compensation voltage including the offset with at least the voltage at the bottom node of the LED string to generate a first control signal. A latch generates the switching control signal responsive to the first control signal and a leading edge blanking signal.
US08421360B2 Load determination device and illumination apparatus using same
An illumination load determination device includes an illumination load; a voltage applying unit for applying a voltage to the illumination load; a connection unit for connecting the illumination load and the voltage applying unit; a detection unit for detecting at least one of a current flowing through the illumination load and a voltage across the illumination load when the voltage is applied to the illumination load from the voltage applying unit via the connection unit; and a determination unit for determining a type of the illumination load based on an output from the detection unit. The determination unit has a comparator for comparing a detection value detected by the detection unit to a predetermined threshold, and determines that the illumination load has a capacitance based on an output of the comparator. The voltage applying unit lights on the determined illumination load with a rated driving voltage.
US08421355B2 Plasma tube array-type display device
In a plasma tube array-type display device, a first surface of the intermediate member, which is a flexible and bumpy intermediate member 4 interposed between a plasma tube array and a frame substrate, is attached with the rear surface of the plasma tube array at a top face of a plurality of convex portions provided on the first surface, and a second surface opposite to the first surface is attached with the frame substrate so as to define a screen shape, thereby the plasma tube array can be separated easily from the frame substrate.
US08421353B2 Organic light emitting diode display with specific sealing member
Embodiments may include an OLED display including a substrate, a display unit over the substrate and including a plurality of pixels, a conductive contact layer outside the display unit at a distance from the display unit, and a sealing member facing the display unit and fixed to the substrate by the conductive contact layer. The sealing member may include a plurality of metal layers laminated with an insulating adhesive layer, the insulating adhesive layer being between the metal layers, and a supporting layer neighboring the metal layers with the insulating adhesive layer being between the supporting layer and the metal layers. The plurality of metal layers may be electrically connected to the display unit through the conductive contact layer.
US08421349B2 Display device with improved moisture prevention
In a display device including, a display area having a plurality of organic EL devices on a substrate; a peripheral area having a driving circuit for the organic EL devices and surrounding the display area on the substrate; and an organic insulating film covering at least the driving circuit, the organic insulating film has a separating groove which divides itself into the inner part and outer part at the periphery of the display area.
US08421347B2 Integrated organic light-emitting device, method for producing organic light-emitting device and organic light-emitting device produced by the method
In a device according to the present invention, a first conductive electrode layer being patterned and light transmissive is formed on a light-transmissive substrate and a laminated layer containing a plurality of organic-compound layers is formed so as to cover at least a part of the first electrode layer. The laminated layer is partly removed so that the first electrode layer is partly exposed. At least one layer containing a second conductive electrode layer is formed on the laminated layer and the exposed part of the first electrode layer. A part of the laminated layer and a part of the second electrode layer are simultaneously removed by application of a laser beam from a side of the substrate, so that a plurality of light-emitting sections are electrically connected in series on the substrate.
US08421344B2 Organic light emitting element and manufacturing method of the same, organic display panel, and organic display device
An organic light emitting element and method for manufacturing an organic light emitting element. A first electrode is formed from a metal alloy that includes a first metal material that exhibits a carrier-injection property upon oxidation, and a second metal material that is light-reflective and electrically conductive, a precipitate of the first metal material forming on at least part of a surface of the first electrode, and a metal oxide layer being formed in the precipitate. A functional layer contacts the surface of the first electrode and includes at least a light-emitting layer configured to accept a carrier injected by the first electrode. A second electrode is disposed opposite the first electrode with the functional layer therebetween and has a polarity different from a polarity of the first electrode.
US08421338B2 Organic luminescence display panel
The present invention relates to an organic luminescence display panel and a method for fabricating the same which can improve a lifetime and luminous efficiency of an organic luminescence display device.The organic luminescence display panel includes a first electrode connected to a thin film transistor formed on a substrate, an organic layer having a light emission layer formed on the first electrode, a second electrode formed opposite to the first electrode with the organic layer disposed therebetween, a buffer layer formed between the first electrode and the light emission layer of a mixture of an inorganic material of an inorganic halide compound having fluorine and an organic material for interface stabilization between the first electrode and the organic layer, and an electron acceptor layer of an organic material having a strong electron accepting action group selected from cyanide group —CN, —NC, hydroxy group —OH, or halide group —I, Br, —F for making hole injection and transportation between the buffer layer and the light emission layer easy.
US08421336B2 Light emitting diode device
A manufacturing method of an LED device includes the following steps. First, a substrate and at least one LED disposed on the substrate are provided. Next, a porous material layer having a plurality of pores is formed on a surface of the LED. Finally, a plurality of nanocrystals are formed in the pores to construct a phosphor layer on the surface of the LED.
US08421334B2 Surface light-emitting device
A surface light-emitting element radiates light emitted to a side of a surface light-emitting device. The surface light-emitting device includes: a polygonal transparent substrate, and a light-emitting element disposed on one face of the transparent substrate. The light-emitting element is a laminated body including a transparent electrode which is positively charged and functions as an anode, a negative electrode which becomes negatively charged and functions as a cathode opposite the transparent electrode, and a light-emitting layer between the transparent electrode and a negative electrode. Lengths of respective sides and a thickness of the transparent substrate have a relationship that if b denotes the thickness of transparent substrate, dividing the lengths of the respective sides by 4b results in values ranging from 0.5 (inclusive) to 10 (inclusive).
US08421333B2 Energy saving gas discharge lamp including a xenon-based gaseous mixture
An energy saving gas discharge lamp, and method of making same, is provided. The gas discharge lamp includes a light-transmissive envelope, and an electrode within the light-transmissive envelope to provide a discharge. A light scattering reflective layer is disposed on an inner surface of the light-transmissive envelope. A phosphor layer is coated on the light scattering reflective layer. A discharge-sustaining gaseous mixture is retained inside the light-transmissive envelope. The discharge-sustaining gaseous mixture includes more than 80% xenon, by volume, at a low pressure.
US08421331B2 Electron emitting element and method for producing the same
The present invention provides an electron emitting element, comprising: a first electrode; an insulating fine particle layer formed on the first electrode and composed of insulating fine particles; and a second electrode formed on the insulating fine particle layer, wherein the insulating fine particles are monodisperse fine particles, and when voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, electrons are discharged from the first electrode into the insulating fine particle layer and accelerated through the insulating fine particle layer to be emitted from the second electrode.
US08421330B2 Carbon film having shape suitable for field emission
A carbon film of the present invention has an elongated needle shape whose radius decreases toward a tip. The shape is, preferably, a shape in which a field concentration coefficient β in the Fowler-Nordheim equation is expressed by h/r where r denotes the radius in an arbitrary position and h denotes height from the arbitrary position to the tip.
US08421327B2 Emitter having carbon nanotubes
An emitter includes an electrode, and a number of carbon nanotubes fixed on the electrode. The carbon nanotubes each have a first end and a second end. The first end is electrically connected to the substrate and the second end has a needle-shaped tip. Two second ends of carbon nanotubes have a larger distance therebetween than that of the first ends thereof, which is advantageous for a better screening affection. Moreover, the needle-shaped tip of the second ends of the carbon nanotube has a lower size and higher aspect ratio than the conventional carbon nanotube, which, therefore, is attributed to bear a larger emission current.
US08421323B2 Light blocking layer, display filter having the light blocking layer, and display apparatus having the display filter
An external light-shielding layer, a display filter including the external light-shielding layer and a display apparatus including the display filter to enhance brightness, a viewing angle, and a contrast ratio. The external light-shielding layer including: a base substrate including a transparent resin; and wedge-shaped light-shielding patterns spaced apart from each other in a surface of the base substrate at predetermined intervals, and made of a resin including a coloring agent having a concentration of about 0.5% to about 1.5% by weight.
US08421322B2 LED-based light bulb device
An LED light bulb device including a bulb body, a cap and an LED assembly. The bulb body defines an exterior surface and an interior. The cap is mounted to the bulb body, combining to define a light bulb-like structure. The LED assembly includes a substrate, LEDs, transformer circuitry and connective circuitry. The LEDs and the connective circuitry are maintained by the substrate, with the connective circuitry electrically connecting the LEDs and the transformer circuitry. The transformer circuitry is adapted to modify incoming power for powering the LEDs. The LED assembly is mounted to the light bulb-like structure such that the LEDs are disposed along the exterior surface of the bulb body, with light from the LEDs being directed inwardly into the interior and then outwardly from the interior. The LED assembly can further include a heat sink body encompassing the LEDs.
US08421320B2 LED light bulb equipped with light transparent shell fastening structure
An LED light bulb includes a power conversion board, at least one light source baseboard electrically connected to the power conversion board, a heat sink and a light transparent shell to hold the light source baseboard. The heat sink has a wedged groove with a first holding portion formed thereon. The light transparent shell includes a sphere and a neck wedged in the wedged groove. The sphere and neck have an inner wall surrounded to hold the power conversion board and an outer wall opposite to the inner wall. The neck has a longitudinal shell retaining portion on the outer wall corresponding and fastening to the first holding portion and at least one transverse shell retaining portion. The wedged groove has at least one second holding portion corresponding and fastening to the transverse shell retaining portion to restrict relative turning of the light transparent shell and heat sink.
US08421319B2 Bearing holder mounting structure and motor
A bearing holder mounting structure which allows a motor to be manufactured with a small number of parts without needing complex processing, and such motor are provided. A rotor 1 having a pair of bearings 5A and 5B and a washer 28 mounted thereon is inserted into an opening portion 23a of a motor housing 7 such that a rotor member 11 of the rotor 1 is received in a receiving concave portion 23. A bearing holder 9 is disposed on a bottom wall portion 29a of a fitting recessed portion 29 such that a flange portion 37 of the bearing holder 9 abuts on the bottom wall portion 29a of the fitting recessed portion 29. A retaining fitting 33 is then pressed into the fitting recessed portion 29 such that six engaging pieces 41 are located at positions slightly deviated from positions of six lead-out groove portions 31. With this arrangement, leading ends 41a of the six engaging pieces 41 are bitten in an inner peripheral wall portion 29b of the fitting recessed portion 29 due to resilient force by which the six engaging pieces 41 return to an original state from a warped state.
US08421316B2 Transducer comprising a composite material and method of making such a composite material
The invention provides a transducer for converting between mechanical and electrical energies. The transducer comprises an EAP laminate with a layer of an elastomer material arranged between two electrode layers, each electrode layer comprising a second layer of a plastically deformable material, e.g. metal or a thermoplastic material, and a third layer of an electrically conductive material. Due to the layer of plastically deformable material, the electrode layers can be shaped into various shapes which can provide anisotropic characteristics of the transducer.
US08421315B2 Electrostrictive structure incorporating carbon nanotubes and electrostrictive actuator using the same
An electrostrictive structure includes a flexible polymer matrix and a carbon nanotube film structure at least partly embedded into the flexible polymer matrix. The carbon nanotube film structure includes a number of carbon nanotubes combined by van der Waals attractive force therebetween. The carbon nanotube film structure extends in a curve in the flexible polymer matrix.
US08421311B2 Flexible piezoelectric tactile sensor
A flexible piezoelectric tactile sensor having a piezoelectric thin film, a first flexible substrate, a second flexible substrate, and at least one elastic body is revealed. The piezoelectric thin film includes an upper surface and a lower surface while the first flexible substrate is disposed on the upper surface of the piezoelectric thin film. The first flexible substrate consists of a first surface facing the upper surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface and a plurality of first electrodes formed on the first surface. The second flexible substrate, including a third surface facing the lower surface and a plurality of second electrodes formed on the third surface, is arranged on the lower surface of the piezoelectric thin film. Both the first electrodes and the second electrode are electrically connected with the piezoelectric thin film. The elastic body is set on the second surface, corresponding to the first electrodes.
US08421303B2 System for securing permanent magnets
The present invention relates to an alternating-current-synchronous-servomotor having a disk-shaped rotor (55, 56) which is located between two stator halves. The rotor comprises an even number of flat permanent magnets pieces (56) having magnet field lines extending parallel to the shaft of the rotor. The permanent magnet pieces (56) form an annular like series including interstices extending around a hub (55) supported on the shaft. The magnet pieces are made of a magnetically non-conductive material and have flat sides acting as magnetic pole surfaces (N, S) which extend in parallel planes to which the axis of the shaft extend perpendicularly. The permanent magnet pieces (56) have limiting surfaces located radially inwards, which are supported each on one of peripheral planes of the hub (55). Said peripheral planes and said limiting surfaces comprise cooperating means (57, 58, 59, 60) for fixing said magnet pieces (54) on said hub (55).
US08421302B2 Rotating electrical machine and coil
According to one embodiment, there is provided a rotating electrical machine including a core, a coil extending from the core, and an electromagnetic shield which is provided outside the core, and has a plurality of shoulders projecting toward the coil. The coil includes an insulator covering outside of a conductor, a resistance layer formed on a surface of the insulator and contacting the core, and at least one potential grading layer formed on a surface of the insulator adjacent to the resistance layer. A boundary between the resistance layer and potential grading layer is provided at a position farther from the core than a point on a surface of the coil, where a distance between the coil and a shoulder of the electromagnetic shield closest to the core is the shortest.
US08421294B2 Rotary electric machine including auxiliary slot with center opposed to specified rotor portion
A rotor includes permanent magnets arranged such that magnetic poles of N poles and S poles are arranged alternately in a rotation circumferential direction. The permanent magnets form a plurality of rows in a rotation axis direction. The rotor includes a change section in which arrangements of the magnetic poles change with respect to the rotation axis direction due to the permanent magnets being arranged such that arrangements of the magnetic poles change, in the rotation circumferential direction, between the permanent magnets in the plurality of rows. A stator includes tooth sections opposed to the rotor to surround the rotor, and auxiliary slots each of which is selectively formed at one portion of a front end portion of each tooth section in the rotation axis direction such that substantially a center of the auxiliary slot in the rotation axis direction is opposed to the change section.
US08421292B2 Permanent magnet motor having composite magnets and manufacturing method thereof
A permanent magnet motor includes: a rotor and a stator; and a plurality of permanent magnets placed on either the rotor or the stator. Each permanent magnet is an R—Fe—B based rare-earth sintered magnet including a light rare-earth element RL (at least one of Nd and Pr) as a major rare-earth element R, and partially includes a high coercivity portion in which a heavy rare-earth element RH (at least one element selected from the group consisting of Dy, Ho and Tb) is diffused in a relatively higher concentration than in the other portion.
US08421288B2 Motor having a serial port disposed on a control board received in a screw hole at the bottom of a control box
A motor with a body, including: a housing, a stator, and a rotor; and a controller, including a control box, and a control circuit board. The body is disposed at the top of the motor. The controller is disposed at the bottom of the motor. The control circuit board is disposed in the control box. The control box extends from a side of the housing and forms a platform. A control cable and a power line enter the control box via the platform, and are connected to the control circuit board. The control cable and the power line are sealed via a sealing screw joint and a nut.
US08421282B2 Power tool
It is an object of the invention to provide a technique for easily controlling the output characteristic of a brushless motor in a power tool by adjusting the number of turns of a coil that forms a stator winding. A power tool has a brushless motor which includes a rotor 133 having a permanent magnet, a cylindrical stator, and three-phase stator windings which are installed on an inner circumferential side of the stator and rotationally drive the rotor. A plurality of slots are formed in an inside surface of the stator at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction. Each of the three stator windings is formed by a plurality of coils wound through the slots of the stator and connected to each other. The total number of turns of the coils wound through the slots in each phase is the same in the three phases and not a multiple of the number of the slots in each phase.
US08421281B2 Linear drive for a machine tool and method for moving a tool carriage
The invention relates to a linear drive for a machine tool having a housing, having a carriage, which is mounted so it is axially movable in the housing via two bearings, and has a central axis and a length, and having at least one first motor, having a first motor element and a second motor element, wherein said first motor element is disposed on said carriage and said second motor element is disposed on said housing, wherein said first motor element is implemented on said carriage as a primary part and said second motor element is implemented on said housing as a secondary part. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for moving a carriage for a lathe tool of a highly-dynamic machine tool employing a crossed roller bearing for mounting the carriage, wherein all roller bodies of said crossed roller bearing are always operationally linked to a carriage-side bearing surface, and said carriage is driven at an oscillation frequency of at least 50 Hz, in particular between 60 Hz and 200 Hz.
US08421280B2 Electromagnetic moving system
An electromagnetic moving system comprises a stator, at least one moving body and at least one controller. The stator comprised of electrically connected flat coil windings spaced apart in a series way and forming a three phase stator. Each of the coil windings has a magnetic axis substantially perpendicular to the coil winding. The moving body comprises 4 permanent magnets placed in pairs. Each pair of magnets includes two alternatively pointed and spaced apart magnets. The magnetic axes of the permanent magnets substantially parallel to the magnetic axes of the coil windings such as to cause interaction with the stator when it is powered, thus creating a force tending to propel the body along the line connected the center points of the coil windings.
US08421276B2 Battery backup protection circuit
An exemplary control system has an input connector operable to connect to a power source and at least one output connector operable to connect to either a load or a power source. A first solid state switch is also provided, operable to control a flow of current between the input connector and the output connector. A second solid state switch communicates with the first solid state switch and is operable to command the first solid state switch to prevent the flow of current between the output connector and input connector in response to the power source being connected to the output connector.
US08421275B2 Apparatus for providing zero standby power control in an appliance
An apparatus is provided that includes first and second switches in line between an appliance and terminals of the appliance that are connectable to a power source. The first switched is configured to open and close based on closing and opening of a door of the appliance, and the second switch is configured to open and close based on the mode of the appliance. Thus, the appliance may be connected to the power source when the first switch or the second switch is closed, and disconnected from the power source when both the first switch and the second switch are open. The apparatus further includes a third switch connected to the second switch and configured to control the second switch to close upon actuation of the third switch by a user, where actuation of the third switch may cause the appliance to enter an operational mode.
US08421274B2 Wireless energy transfer system
A wireless energy transfer system includes a first energy transfer unit having at least one resonant frequency, a second energy transfer unit having the at least one resonant frequency, and a load. The first wireless energy transfer unit includes a first coil magnetically coupled to a first wireless energy transfer cell, and the second wireless energy transfer unit includes a second coil magnetically coupled to a second wireless energy transfer cell. The first coil receives first energy and through the magnetic coupling between the first coil and the first wireless energy transfer cell, the first wireless energy transfer cell is caused to generate second energy, wherein the second wireless energy transfer cell receives the second energy and through the magnetic coupling between the second wireless energy transfer cell and the second coil, the second coil is caused to provide third electromagnetic wave energy to the load.
US08421271B2 Apparatus for transferring energy using onboard power electronics and method of manufacturing same
An apparatus includes an energy storage device, a bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter coupled to the energy storage device, and an input device. A voltage bus is coupled to the bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter and to the input device. The apparatus also includes a controller configured to control the bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter to convert a charging energy on the voltage bus into a charging energy suitable for charging the energy storage device during a charging operation and to monitor a voltage of the energy storage device during the charging operation. The controller is also configured to control the bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter to convert the charging energy into a charging energy configured to maintain the voltage of the energy storage device at a pre-determined value.
US08421266B2 Power distribution systems for powered rail vehicles
A power distribution system for a rail vehicle includes a propulsion alternator, a first bus, a Head End Power (HEP) alternator, and a second bus. The propulsion alternator is joined to an engine of the rail vehicle. The first bus is joined with the propulsion alternator and is configured to electrically couple the propulsion alternator with a propulsion electric load that propels the rail vehicle. The HEP alternator is joined to the engine. The second bus is joined with the HEP alternator and is adapted to electrically couple the HEP alternator with a non-propulsion electric load of the rail vehicle. The propulsion alternator generates a first electric current to power the propulsion electric load and the HEP alternator separately generates second electric current to power the non-propulsion electric load. The HEP alternator and the second bus are electrically separate from the propulsion alternator and the first bus.
US08421261B2 Water wheel comprising a built-in generator
In a water wheel with an integrated electrical generator, a ring element for forming a rotor is rigidly concentrically connected with the water wheel. The ring element is assembled of modular individual segments with inserted permanent magnets. At least one corresponding partial ring as a stator is allocated to the rotor, whereby each partial ring carries electrical coils in correlation to the permanent magnets of the ring element of the rotor. The partial rings of the stator are stationarily mounted by holding elements on support struts of the water wheel.
US08421258B2 Power recovery machine
A machine for recovering power from a flow of compressed gas, for example, natural gas includes a turbo-expander having a turbo-expander wheel, and a generator having a rotor able to be driven by the turbo-expander wheel and a stator about the rotor. The turbo-expander and the generator are housed in a length of pipe. The turbo-expander wheel has an obverse side facing the generator. There is a flow passage for the flow of expanded gas that places the obverse side of the wheel in gas flow communication with an outer surface of the stator. This outer surface typically carries fins to facilitate cooling of the stator by expanded gas from the turbo-expander.
US08421254B2 Stream flow hydroelectric generator system, and method of handling same
The hydroelectric generator system can include a structure supporting a plurality of watermill units and having an enclosed internal volume and a plurality of lower openings, a stabilizer reservoir having an internal volume and positionable above a center of gravity of the system and an aperture, and connection tubes providing internal fluid flow communication between the stabilizer reservoir and the internal volume of the structure; wherein air can be extracted from the internal volume of the structure via the stabilizer reservoir, and blown into the internal volume of the structure via the stabilizer reservoir, to lower or raise the hydroelectric generator system in water, respectively.
US08421252B1 Solar wind chime
A solar wind chime includes a chime and a striker suspended from a body. A solar energy system is carried by the body and includes a solar energy collection system configured to recharge a rechargeable electrical power source. An electrical subsystem conductively couples to the rechargeable electrical power source.
US08421251B2 Enhancing the effectiveness of energy harvesting from flowing fluid
An apparatus and method to enhance the efficiency of an energy harvesting device is disclosed. A modulator module creates fluctuations in the flow at a predetermined frequency or group of frequencies and these fluctuations increase mechanical vibrations which are then harvested by an energy harvesting module.
US08421249B2 Epoxy resin composition for semiconductor encapsulation and semiconductor device using the same
The present invention relates to an epoxy resin composition for semiconductor encapsulation, including the following ingredients A to E: A: an epoxy resin; B: a silicone mixture containing the following ingredients b1 and b2, with a weight ratio of the ingredients b1 and b2 being from 5/95 to 25/75 in terms of b1/b2: b1: a silicone compound having an amino group in both ends thereof and having a weight average molecular weight of from 600 to 900, and b2: a silicone compound having an amino group in both ends thereof and having a weight average molecular weight of from 10,000 to 20,000; C: a phenol resin; D: a curing accelerator; and E: an inorganic filler containing the following ingredients e1 and e2: e1: a crystalline silica, and e2: a fused silica.
US08421247B2 Connecting material having metallic particles of an oxygen state ratio and size and semiconductor device having the connecting material
A connecting material that includes metallic particles with an oxygen state ratio of less than 15% as measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and a mean particle size between 0.1 μm and 50 μm; and especially a connecting material that includes metallic particles that have been subjected to treatment for removal of a surface oxide film and subjected to surface treatment with a surface protective material, so as to provide a connecting material having a high coefficient of thermal conductivity even when joined at a curing temperature of up to 200° C. without application of a load, and that has sufficient bonding strength even when the cured product has been heated at 260° C.; as well as a semiconductor device employing the connecting material to bond a semiconductor element to a support member.
US08421245B2 Substrate with embedded stacked through-silicon via die
A substrate with an embedded stacked through-silicon via die is described. For example, an apparatus includes a first die and a second die. The second die has one or more through-silicon vias disposed therein (TSV die). The first die is electrically coupled to the TSV die through the one or more through-silicon vias. The apparatus also includes a coreless substrate. Both the first die and the TSV die are embedded in the coreless substrate.
US08421244B2 Semiconductor package and method of forming the same
A semiconductor package includes a first package substrate, a first semiconductor chip disposed on the first package substrate, the semiconductor chip including first through hole vias, and a chip package disposed on the first semiconductor chip, the chip package including a second package substrate and a second semiconductor chip disposed on the second package substrate, wherein a first conductive terminal is disposed on a first surface of the semiconductor chip and a second conductive terminal is disposed on a first surface of the second package substrate, the first conductive terminal disposed on the second conductive terminal.
US08421239B2 Crenulated wiring structure and method for integrated circuit interconnects
A method for forming crenulated conductors and a device having crenulated conductors includes forming a hardmask layer on a dielectric layer, and patterning the hardmask layer. Trenches are etched in the dielectric layer using the hardmask layer such that the trenches have shallower portions and deeper portions alternating along a length of the trench. A conductor is deposited in the trenches such that crenulated conductive lines are formed having different depths periodically disposed along the length of the conductive line.
US08421238B2 Stacked semiconductor device with through via
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a through-via penetrating the semiconductor substrate. The through-via has a stacked structure of a first conductive film formed in a portion of the semiconductor substrate closer to the first surface, and a second conductive film formed in a portion of the semiconductor substrate closer to the second surface. An insulating layer is buried inside the semiconductor substrate. The first conductive film is electrically connected to the second conductive film in the insulating layer.
US08421237B2 Stacked memory layers having multiple orientations and through-layer interconnects
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first memory layer oriented in a first planar orientation, a second memory layer oriented in a second planar orientation, a third memory layer oriented in the first planar orientation; and a connector that is connected to the first memory layer at an electrical contact of the first memory layer and to the third memory layer at an electrical contact of the third memory layer, where the connector is unconnected to the second memory layer. At least one of the electrical contact of the first memory layer and the electrical contact of the third memory layer comprises a through-layer via. The second planar orientation is angularly offset a predetermined number of degrees from the first planar orientation.
US08421235B2 Semiconductor device with heat spreaders
The semiconductor device has a unit stack body including a plurality of units stacked on one another. Each unit includes a power terminal constituted of a lead part and a connection part. The connection part is formed with a projection and a recess. When the units are stacked on one another, the projection of one unit is fitted to the recess of the adjacent unit, so that the power terminals of the respective unit are connected to one another.
US08421233B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a lower-layer wire, an upper-layer wire including a wire portion and a first wide portion whose wire width is greater than the wire portion, and a contact formation portion in which a contact portion for connecting the lower-layer wire and the first wide portion with each other is provided. The contact formation portion has a planar shape of which a length L1 in a direction parallel to a wire width direction of the first wide portion is greater than a length L2 in a direction parallel to a wire length direction of the first wide portion.
US08421229B2 Semiconductor device having metal lines with slits
A semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate, an integrated circuit on the semiconductor substrate, an insulation layer covering the integrated circuit, and a plurality of metal line patterns on the insulation layer. First and second adjacent metal line patterns of the plurality of metal line patterns are spaced apart from each other by a space, and each of the first and second adjacent metal line patterns has at least one slit.
US08421228B2 Structure and methods of forming contact structures
A contact structure and a method of forming the contact structure. The structure includes: a silicide layer on and in direct physical contact with a top substrate surface of a substrate; an electrically insulating layer on the substrate; and an aluminum plug within the insulating layer. The aluminum plug has a thickness not exceeding 25 nanometers in a direction perpendicular to the top substrate surface. The aluminum plug extends from a top surface of the silicide layer to a top surface of the insulating layer. The aluminum plug is in direct physical contact with the top surface of the silicide layer and is in direct physical contact with the silicide layer. The method includes: forming the silicide layer on and in direct physical contact with the top substrate surface of the substrate; forming the electrically insulating layer on the substrate; and forming the aluminum plug within the insulating layer.
US08421227B2 Semiconductor chip structure
A semiconductor chip structure includes a semiconductor substrate, an circuit structure, a passivation layer, a first adhesion/barrier layer, a metal cap and a metal layer. The semiconductor substrate has multiple electric devices located on a surface layer of a surface of the substrate. The circuit structure had multiple circuit layers electrically connecting with each other and electrically connecting with the electric devices. One of the circuit layers has multiple pads. The passivation layer is located on the circuit structure and has multiple openings penetrating through the passivation layer. The openings expose the pads. The first adhesion/barrier layer is over the pads and the passivation layer. The metal cap is located on the first adhesion/barrier layer and the passivation layer. The metal layer is on the metal layer.
US08421226B2 Device including an encapsulated semiconductor chip and manufacturing method thereof
A device includes a semiconductor chip having contact pads arranged on a first main face of the semiconductor chip. A first material has an elongation to break of greater than 35% covering the first main face of the semiconductor chip. An encapsulation body covers the semiconductor chip. A metal layer is electrically coupled to the contact pads of the semiconductor chip and extends over the encapsulation body.
US08421223B2 Conductive structure for a semiconductor integrated circuit
A conductive structure for a semiconductor integrated circuit is provided. The semiconductor integrated circuit comprises a pad, and a passivation layer partially overlapping the pad, which jointly define an opening portion. The conductive structure is adapted to be electrically connected to the pad through the opening portion. The conductive structure comprises an under bump metal (UBM). A first conductor layer formed on the under bump metal is electrically connected to the under bump metal. A second conductor layer formed on the first conductor layer and electrically connected to the first conductor layer and a cover conductor layer. Furthermore, the under bump metal, the first conductor layer, and the second conductor jointly define a basic bump structure. The cover conductor layer is adapted to cover the basic bump structure.
US08421220B2 Silicon based microchannel cooling and electrical package
A chip package includes: a substrate; a plurality of conductive connections in contact with the silicon carrier; a silicon carrier in a prefabricated shape disposed above the substrate, the silicon carrier including: a plurality of through silicon vias for providing interconnections through the silicon carrier to the chip; liquid microchannels for cooling; a liquid coolant flowing through the microchannels; and an interconnect to one or more chips or chip stacks.
US08421219B2 Semiconductor component having adhesive squeeze-out prevention configuration and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor component includes a semiconductor element that has a plurality of signals, a wiring board that is disposed below the semiconductor element and that draws the plurality of signals of the semiconductor element, a heat conduction member that dissipates heat generated by the semiconductor element, a joining member that is disposed between the semiconductor element and the heat conduction member and that joins the heat conduction member to the semiconductor element, a support member formed with an opening so as to surround the semiconductor element that supports the heat conduction member, a first adhesive member that is disposed between the support member and the wiring board to bond the support member with the wiring board and a second adhesive member that is disposed between the support member and the heat conduction member to bond the support member with the heat conduction member.
US08421216B2 Vacuum hermetic organic packaging carrier
A vacuum hermetic organic packaging carrier is provided. The organic packaging carrier includes an organic substrate, a conductive circuit layer, and an inorganic hermetic insulation film. The organic substrate has a first surface. The conductive circuit layer is located on the first surface and exposes a portion of the first surface. The inorganic hermetic insulation film at least covers the exposed first surface to achieve an effect of completely hermetically sealing the organic packaging carrier.
US08421214B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing a semiconductor device
A semiconductor device mountable to a substrate is provided. The device includes a semiconductor package having at least one semiconductor die, an electrically conductive attachment region, and a packaging material in which is embedded the semiconductor die and a first portion of the electrically conductive attachment region contacting the die. A metallic shell encloses the embedded semiconductor die and the first portion of the electrically conductive attachment region.
US08421213B2 Package structure
A package structure includes a first carrier board provided with a through hole, at least a filling hole in communication with the through hole, a semiconductor chip received in the through hole, and a fastening member disposed in the filling hole and abutting against the semiconductor chip so as to secure the semiconductor chip in position, thereby preventing the semiconductor chip in the through hole from displacement under an external force.
US08421212B2 Integrated circuit packaging system with active surface heat removal and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing an interconnect structure having a structure bottom side, a structure top side, and a cavity, the structure bottom side electrically connected to the structure top side; mounting an integrated circuit entirely within the cavity, the integrated circuit having an active side coplanar with the structure top side; forming an encapsulation partially covering the interconnect structure and the integrated circuit, the encapsulation having an encapsulation top side coplanar with the structure top side and the active side; forming a top re-passivation layer over the structure top side and the encapsulation; and mounting a heat sink over the top re-passivation layer for removing heat from the active side.
US08421208B2 Electrode pad having a recessed portion
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor integrated circuit device (1). In the semiconductor integrated circuit device (1), a semiconductor integrated circuit (5) is formed on a center of the surface of a semiconductor substrate (3), and a plurality of electrode terminals (71, 73, . . . ) are provided on the surface of the semiconductor substrate (3). A protection film (9) is provided on the surface of the semiconductor substrate (3) such that the surfaces of the electrode terminals (71, 73) are exposed. The electrode terminals (71, 73, . . . ) include an electrode terminal (73) having a thin portion (74). The surface of the thin portion (74) is located below the surfaces of the electrode terminals except for the electrode terminal (73) having the thin portion (74) among the electrode terminals (71, 73, . . . ).
US08421207B2 Semiconductor device, electronic apparatus, and manufacturing methods thereof
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface at an opposite side thereof. The first surface has an active layer with a light-receiving part. The semiconductor device also includes an adhesive layer provided to surround the light-receiving part on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate; a light-transmissive protective member disposed above the light-receiving part of the semiconductor substrate with a predetermined gap and adhered via the adhesive layer; and plural external connection terminals arranged in a predetermined array on the second surface of the semiconductor substrate are included. Each center point of the external connection terminals forming two facing edges is positioned inside of an area of the adhesive layer projected on the second surface among the outermost external connection terminals.
US08421201B2 Integrated circuit packaging system with underfill and methods of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a device having a conductor with ends exposed on opposite sides of the device; forming a first surface depression on the device around the conductor; connecting a first component over the conductor and surrounded by the first surface depression; and applying a first underfill between the first component and the device, the first underfill substantially filled within a perimeter of the first surface depression.
US08421199B2 Semiconductor package structure
A semiconductor package structure includes: a dielectric layer; a metal layer disposed on the dielectric layer and having a die pad and traces, the traces each including a trace body, a bond pad extending to the periphery of the die pad, and an opposite trace end; metal pillars penetrating the dielectric layer with one ends thereof connecting to the die pad and the trace ends while the other ends thereof protruding from the dielectric layer; a semiconductor chip mounted on the die pad and electrically connected to the bond pads through bonding wires; and an encapsulant covering the semiconductor chip, the bonding wires, the metal layer, and the dielectric layer. The invention is characterized by disposing traces with bond pads close to the die pad to shorten bonding wires and forming metal pillars protruding from the dielectric layer to avoid solder bridging encountered in prior techniques.
US08421198B2 Integrated circuit package system with external interconnects at high density
An integrated circuit package system includes: connecting an integrated circuit die and external interconnects; forming an encapsulation over the integrated circuit die and a portion of the external interconnects; and forming an isolation hole between the external interconnects and into a side of the encapsulation exposing the external interconnects.
US08421193B2 Integrated circuit device having through via and method for preparing the same
An integrated circuit device includes a bottom wafer, at least one stacking wafer positioned on the bottom wafer, and at least one conductive via penetrating through the stacking wafer and into the bottom wafer in a substantially linear manner, wherein the bottom wafer and the stacking wafer are bonded by an intervening adhesive layer, and no bump pad is positioned between the bottom wafer and the stacking wafer. A method for preparing an integrated circuit device includes the steps of forming a bottom wafer, forming at least one stacking wafer, bonding the at least one stacking wafer to the bottom wafer by an intervening adhesive layer, and forming at least one conductive via penetrating through the stacking wafer and into the bottom wafer in a substantially linear manner, wherein no bump pad is positioned between the bottom wafer and the stacking wafer.
US08421189B2 Apparatus for electrostatic discharge protection
An apparatus includes an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device. In one embodiment, the protection device electrically coupled between a first node and a second node of an internal circuit to be protected from transient electrical events. The protection device includes a bipolar device or a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR). The bipolar device or SCR can have a modified structure or additional circuitry to have a selected holding voltage and/or trigger voltage to provide protection over the internal circuit. The additional circuitry can include one or more resistors, one or more diodes, and/or a timer circuit to adjust the trigger and/or holding voltages of the bipolar device or SCR to a desired level. The protection device can provide protection over a transient voltage that ranges, for example, from about 100 V to 330V.
US08421188B2 Semiconductor device including a guard ring surrounding an inductor
A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a diffusion region, a device isolation region, an inductor region, and a guard ring region, a guard ring formed on the substrate to be connected to the diffusion region in the guard ring region, an insulating film formed on the substrate, in which the insulating film includes an interconnect, and an inductor formed in the inductor region, in which the guard ring region surrounds the inductor region and the device isolation region.
US08421186B2 Electrically programmable metal fuse
A metal electrically programmable fuse (“eFuse”) includes a metal strip, having a strip width, of a metal line adjoined to wide metal line portions, having widths greater than the metal strip width, at both ends of the metal strip. The strip width can be a lithographic minimum dimension, and the ratio of the length of the metal strip to the strip width is greater than 5 to localize heating around the center of the metal strip during programming. Localization of heating reduces required power for programming the metal eFuse. Further, a gradual temperature gradient is formed during the programming within a portion of the metal strip that is longer than the Blech length so that electromigration of metal gradually occurs reliably at the center portion of the metal strip. Metal line portions are provides at the same level as the metal eFuse to physically block debris generated during programming.
US08421185B2 Parasitic vertical PNP bipolar transistor in BiCMOS process
A parasitic vertical PNP device in one type of BiCMOS process with shallow trench isolation (STI) comprises a collector formed by a p type impurity ion implantation layer inside active area, the bottom of collector connects to a p type buried layer, the p type pseudo buried layer is formed in bottom of shallow trench at both sides of collector active region through ion implantation, deep contacts through field oxide to connect pseudo buried layers and to pick up the collector; a base, formed by n type impurity ion implantation layer which sits on top of above stated collector; an emitter, a p type epitaxy layer lies above base and is connected out directly by a metal contact. Part of the p type epitaxy layer is converted into n type, which serves as connection path of base. Present invented PNP can be used as output device of BiCMOS high frequency circuit. It has a small device area and conduction resistance.
US08421183B2 Structure of very high insertion loss of the substrate noise decoupling
A structure includes a substrate comprising a region having a circuit or device which is sensitive to electrical noise. Additionally, the structure includes a first isolation structure extending through an entire thickness of the substrate and surrounding the region and a second isolation structure extending through the entire thickness of the substrate and surrounding the region.
US08421182B2 Field effect transistor having MOS structure made of nitride compound semiconductor
A semiconductor layer of a second conductive type is formed on a RESURF layer of a first conductive type that is formed on a buffer layer. A contact layer of the first conductive type is formed in or on the semiconductor layer. A source electrode is formed on the contact layer. A drain electrode is formed on the RESURF layer. A gate insulating film is formed on the semiconductor layer to overlap with an end of the semiconductor layer. A gate electrode is formed on the gate insulating film to overlap with the end of the semiconductor layer. A channel formed near the end of the semiconductor layer is electrically connected to the RESURF layer.
US08421179B2 Schottky diode with high antistatic capability
A Schottky diode with high antistatic capability has an N− type doped drift layer formed on an N+ type doped layer. The N− type doped drift layer has a surface formed with a protection ring. Inside the protection ring is a P-type doped area. The N− type doped drift layer surface is further formed with an oxide layer and a metal layer. The contact region between the metal layer and the N− type doped drift layer and the P-type doped area forms a Schottky contact. The P-type doped area has a low-concentration lower layer and a high-concentration upper layer, so that the surface ion concentration is high in the P-type doped area. The Schottky diode thus has such advantages of lowered forward voltage drop and high antistatic capability.
US08421177B2 Vertical silicon photomultiplier with superior quantum efficiency at optical wavelengths
The vertical silicon photomultiplier according to the present invention includes a trench electrode and a PN-junction layer perpendicular to the trench electrode forms and can maximize the quantum efficiency at optical wavelengths, 200˜900 nm in such a way that: it generates electric fields horizontal thereto, by applying a reverse bias voltage to between the trench electrode and the PN-junction layer, so that, although ultraviolet light does not reach the PN-junction layer but is incident on the surface, electron-hole pairs can be produced by the horizontally generated electric fields although and an avalanche breakdown can be thus generated, and it allows ultraviolet light, capable of being transmitted to a relatively deep depth, to react with the PN-junction layer.
US08421175B2 Wafer level packaged integrated circuit
A wafer level packaged integrated circuit includes an array of contacts, a silicon layer and a glass layer. The silicon and glass layers are bonded together to form a bonding material layer therebetween. The bonding material layer includes gaps between the silicon layer and the glass layer at areas where no bonding material is present. An array of contacts is adjacent the semiconductor layer on a side thereof opposite the bonding layer. The wafer level packaged integrated circuit is provided with additional bonding material layer portions within the gaps and aligned with at least some of the contacts. When the wafer level packaged integrated circuit is configured as an image sensor or display having a pixel array, the additional bonding material layer portions are not used in an area of the pixel array.
US08421173B2 Chip package structure and chip packaging process
A chip package structure includes a silicon substrate, a sensing component, a metal circuit layer, a first insulating layer and a conductive metal layer. The silicon substrate has opposite first and second surfaces. The sensing component is disposed on the first surface. The metal circuit layer is disposed on the first surface and electrically connected to the sensing component. The first insulating layer covers the second surface and has a first through hole to expose a portion of the second surface. The conductive metal layer is disposed on the first insulating layer and includes first leads and a second lead. The first leads are electrically connected to the metal circuit layer. The second lead is filled in the first through hole to electrically connect to the silicon substrate and one of the first leads. A chip packaging process for fabricating the chip package structure is also provided.
US08421169B2 Gap control for die or layer bonding using intermediate layers
A structure having a gap provided between a portion of two layers that are joined together is disclosed. The structure includes a first layer having an element formed within a first surface and a second layer having a second surface, adjacent to and in direct contact with at least a portion of the first surface on all sides of the element such that the element is completely enclosed. A recess of predetermined depth is arranged to provide the gap between the element and the second surface, and a groove formed in one of the first surface or second surface, the groove defining a boundary around the element. Sealing material is deformedly retained completely within the groove to form a seal around the element, such that the recess defines the gap.
US08421166B2 Semiconductor device and fabrication thereof
A method for forming a semiconductor device is disclosed. A substrate including a gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode layer sequentially formed thereon is provided. An offset spacer is formed on sidewalls of the gate dielectric layer and the gate electrode layer. A carbon spacer is formed on a sidewall of the offset spacer, and the carbon spacer is then removed. The substrate is implanted to form a lightly doped region using the gate electrode layer and the offset spacer as a mask. The method may also include providing a substrate having a gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode layer sequentially formed thereon. A liner layer is formed on sidewalls of the gate electrode layer and on the substrate. A carbon spacer is formed on a portion of the liner layer adjacent the sidewall of the gate electrode layer. A main spacer is formed on a sidewall of the carbon spacer. The carbon spacer is removed to form an opening between the liner layer and the main spacer. The opening is sealed by a sealing layer to form an air gap.
US08421164B2 Memory cell array with semiconductor selection device for multiple memory cells
A memory array that includes access devices that are each electrically coupled to more than one memory cell. The memory cells are coupled to the access devices via diode devices. The access devices include vertical semiconductor material mesas upstanding from a semiconductor base that form a conductive channel between first and second doped regions, and also planar access devices.
US08421163B2 Power module
A power module comprises: first and second terminals; first and second switching elements having a first electrode and a second electrode which is connected to the second terminal; first and second wirings respectively connecting the first electrodes of the first and second switching elements to the first terminal; and a third wiring directly connecting the first electrode of the first switching element to the first electrode of the second switching element, wherein parasitic inductances of the first and second wiring are different or switching characteristics of the first and second switching elements are different.
US08421156B2 FET with self-aligned back gate
A back-gated field effect transistor (FET) includes a substrate, the substrate comprising top semiconductor layer on top of a buried dielectric layer on top of a bottom semiconductor layer; a front gate located on the top semiconductor layer; a channel region located in the top semiconductor layer under the front gate; a source region located in the top semiconductor layer on a side of the channel region, and a drain region located in the top semiconductor layer on the side of the channel region opposite the source regions; and a back gate located in the bottom semiconductor layer, the back gate configured such that the back gate abuts the buried dielectric layer underneath the channel region, and is separated from the buried dielectric layer by a separation distance underneath the source region and the drain region.
US08421155B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first device isolation insulating film formed in a semiconductor substrate, a first well having a first conductivity type, defined by the first device isolation insulating film, and shallower than the first device isolation insulating film, a second device isolation insulating film formed in the first well, shallower than the first well, and defining a first part of the first well and a second part of the first well, a gate insulating film formed above the first part, a gate electrode formed above the gate insulating film, and an interconnection electrically connected to the second part of the first well and the gate electrode, wherein an electric resistance of the first well in a first region below the second device isolation insulating film is lower than an electric resistance of the first well in a second region other than the first region on the same depth level.
US08421154B2 Semiconductor device having super junction structure and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device having a super junction structure includes: multiple first columns extending in a current flowing direction; and multiple second columns extending in the current flowing direction. The first and second columns are alternately arranged in an alternating direction. Each first column provides a drift layer. The first and second columns have a boundary therebetween, from which a depletion layer expands in case of an off-state. At least one of the first columns and the second columns have an impurity dose, which is inhomogeneous by location with respect to the alternating direction.
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