| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08731316B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method, image providing system and image providing method, and program for reducing quality deterioration of an image
An information processing apparatus includes a two-dimensional orthogonal transform coding data acquisition unit for sequentially acquiring two-dimensional orthogonal transform coding data acquired by transforming three-dimensional orthogonal transform coding data generated from a plurality of images, a two-dimensional orthogonal transform coefficient data generation unit for generating a plurality of pieces of two-dimensional orthogonal transform coefficient data using the plurality of pieces of acquired two-dimensional orthogonal transform coding data, and a three-dimensional transformation unit for encoding three-dimensional orthogonal transform coefficient data acquired by transforming the plurality of pieces of generated two-dimensional orthogonal transform coefficient data. |
| US08731312B2 |
Image coding apparatus
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image coding technique for suppressing degradation in image quality, in which the time and space where intra macroblocks appear are dispersed. A numerical value (Ftk) is generated from the lower-order six bits of the frame number (Ft) of a coding object frame. A numerical value (Fs) is generated by shifting the numerical value (Ftk) leftward by two bits. An exclusive OR of the numerical value (Ftk) and the numerical value (Fs) is calculated, to thereby generate a numerical value (A). A numerical value (Ytk) is generated from the lower-order six bits of the Y coordinate (Yt) of a coding object macroblock. The upper-order bits of the numerical value (Ytk) and the lower-order bits thereof are inverted, to thereby generate a numerical value (Yr). Further, an exclusive OR of the numerical value (Yr) and the numerical value (A) is calculated, to thereby generate a numerical value (B). A numerical value (Xtk) is generated from the lower-order six bits of the X coordinate (Xt) of the coding object macroblock. When the numerical value (Xtk) and the numerical value (B) are identical to each other, the coding object macroblock is intra-coded. |
| US08731311B2 |
Decoding device, decoding method, decoding program, and integrated circuit
A decoding device improves a cache hit rate in a decoding process of compressed encoded image data. The decoding device, before the decoding process, generates a sort table for each reference picture for a plurality of MPEG data streams included in a GOP and having a frame type of P- or B-picture. The decoding device, by using the generated sort table, selects a group of pictures composed of a plurality of decoding target macro blocks that refer to the same reference macro block. The decoding device obtains, from the reference picture, four macro blocks including the same reference macro block referred to by the selected picture group, and stores the four macro blocks into the cache memory. The decoding device sequentially decodes each decoding target macro block included in the selected picture group, by using the four macro blocks stored in the cache memory. |
| US08731304B2 |
Computer-readable storage medium storing image processing program, image processing method, and image processing device
A computer-readable storage medium storing an image processing program that causes a computer to execute a process includes acquiring the same object identification information included in a plurality of image data items by referring to a storage unit that stores each of the image data items, object identification information that identifies an object included in the image data item, and a location information item that identifies a location of the object in the image data item in association with one another; acquiring the location of the object identified by the acquired object identification information in each of the image data items by referring to the storage unit; computing a difference between the acquired location information items; comparing the difference between the location information items with a predetermined location threshold value; and determining whether the image data items are to be in the same group. |
| US08731303B2 |
Vanishing point estimation system and methods
Systems and methods are disclosed for estimating a vanishing point within an image, including: programming executable on a processor for computing line segment estimation of one or more lines in an image, wherein one or more of the lines is made up of multiple line segments as a single least-mean-square-error (LMSE) fitted line. Additionally, the one or more lines having multiple line segments are represented as a single least-mean-square-error (LMSE) fitted line, and the one or more lines are intersected to locate a vanishing point in a density space. |
| US08731302B2 |
Moving image extracting apparatus, program and moving image extracting method
There is provided a moving image extracting apparatus including a movement detecting unit which detects movement of an imaging apparatus at the time when imaging a moving image based on the moving image imaged by the imaging apparatus, an object detecting unit which detects an object from the moving image, a salient object selecting unit which selects an object detected by the object detecting unit over a period of predetermined length or longer as a salient object within a segment in which movement of the imaging apparatus is detected by the movement detecting unit, and an extracting unit which extracts a segment including the salient object selected by the salient object selecting unit from the moving image. |
| US08731299B2 |
Techniques to manage a whiteboard for multimedia conference events
Techniques to manage a whiteboard for multimedia conference events are described. An apparatus may comprise a whiteboard manager component operative to manage whiteboard recording, image processing and reproduction operations for a multimedia conference event. The whiteboard manager component may comprise an image quantizer module operative to receive an image of a writing surface with pen strokes, and quantize each pixel of the image into a predetermined number of colors, an attribute extractor module communicatively coupled to the image quantizer module, the image quantizer module operative to extract stroke attribute information for the pen strokes from the quantized pixels, and a whiteboard interface module communicatively coupled to the attribute extractor module, the whiteboard interface module operative to send the stroke attribute information to a meeting console for rendering as digital pen strokes on a digital writing surface. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08731298B2 |
Character recognition apparatus, character recognition method, and computer readable medium storing program
A character recognition apparatus includes an acquisition unit, a specification unit, a movement unit, and a recognition unit. The acquisition unit acquires data representing a character string. The specification unit specifies an element of a compound character satisfying a predetermined condition for determining the compound character from the character string. The movement unit moves the element of the compound character close to an adjacent character. The recognition unit recognizes a changed character string in which the movement unit has moved the element of the compound character, based on a shape of characters and relevance between adjacent characters. |
| US08731295B2 |
Visual segmentation of lawn grass
Disclosed is a method for identifying lawn grass which includes capturing an image of the terrain in front of a mower, segmenting the image into neighborhoods, calculating at least two image statistics for each of the neighborhoods, generating a binary representation of each image statistic. The binary representation of each image statistic is generated by comparing the calculated image statistic values to predetermined image statistic values for grass. The method further includes weighting each of the binary representations of each image statistic, and summing corresponding neighborhoods for all image statistics. A binary threshold is applied to each of the summed neighborhoods to generate a binary map representing grass containing areas and non-grass containing areas. |
| US08731294B2 |
Identifying multiple rectangular areas in a multi projector system
Determination of locations of multiple rectangular areas within a composite projection area formed on a projection surface by a projector array of multiple projectors. A location of a maximum rectangular area is determined within the composite projection area. Available regions comprise regions unoccupied by previously-located rectangular areas. The maximum rectangular area is removed from the available regions. The following are iteratively repeated: determining a location of a next maximum rectangular area and removing the next maximum rectangular area from the available regions, until a stopping condition is met. A list of determined locations for rectangular areas within the composite projection area is provided after the stopping condition has been met. |
| US08731293B2 |
Representing signals for classification
The subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a method that includes partitioning a received signal into a sequence of two or more segments. For a given segment in the sequence, the method includes calculating a set of frequency domain coefficients corresponding to the given segment, and identifying local peaks in the set of frequency domain coefficients by applying a threshold. The method also includes providing a multi-dimensional histogram from a plurality of peaks identified from multiple segments, wherein the multi-dimensional histogram jointly represents frequencies and coefficient values corresponding to each of the plurality of identified peaks. |
| US08731291B2 |
Estimating the clutter of digital images
A method for determining an estimated clutter level of an input digital image based on an inequality index. The inequality index is determined by partitioning the input digital image into small sub-images and analyzing the sub-images to determine a set of image features. The image features are associated with a set of designated reference features, and the inequality index is determined based on the statistical variation of the reference features. The inequality index is compared to a predefined threshold to classify the input digital image as a rich-content image or a low-content image. For rich-content images, the estimated clutter level is determined responsive to a set of scene content features relating to spatial structures or semantic content of the input digital image is determined by analyzing the input digital image. For low-content images, the estimated clutter level is determined responsive to an overall luminance level. |
| US08731282B1 |
Systems and methods for region of interest background smoothing and compression enhancement
Systems and methods for region of interest background smoothing & compression enhancement in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, preprocessing video with a smoothing filter includes identifying a region of interest in a frame of video, determining an importance value for the region of interest, when the importance value satisfies a criterion, applying an intra frame smoothing filter to pixels within the region of interest, which includes dividing the specified region of interest into pairs of pixel groupings, where the pixel groupings in each pair are the same size and are adjacent to each other, calculating the difference between the average luminance of the pixels within each pixel grouping, when the calculated difference is less than a predetermined amount: calculating the average luminance for all pixels in the pixel groupings, and assigning the calculated average luminance to all pixels within the pixel groupings. |
| US08731274B2 |
Method and system for wafer registration
A method for wafer registration, the method may include: moving a wafer by an X-Y stage and acquiring wafer edge area images; and processing the wafer edge area images to locate an edge of the wafer. A system that includes a camera, an X-Y stage for moving a wafer; wherein the camera is arranged to acquire wafer edge area images; and a processor that is arranged to process the wafer edge area images to locate an edge of the wafer. |
| US08731270B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and imaging slice determination method
In order to provide a technique for accurately realizing an examination, which is for acquiring a plurality of images of the same examination section, without a complicated operation and an extension of an examination time, body movement information of a subject is acquired immediately before each imaging in an examination, and it is determined whether or not there is a change in the position of the subject by comparing it with body movement information immediately before reference imaging. Only when there is a change in the position of the subject, an imaging slice setting image is acquired again. Then, a recommended imaging slice is calculated using the newest imaging slice setting image. |
| US08731268B2 |
CT device and method based on motion compensation
A CT device and method based on motion compensation are proposed. The present invention obtains motion parameters of a target object by using a stereo-vision-based motion measurement system, and then implements motion compensation through the technology based on reconstructed image matrix transformation, thereby obtaining a clear 2D/3D CT image while eliminating motion artifacts. The present invention can effectively eliminate motion artifacts caused by the scanned object's own motions in the CT scanning, and can be easily embedded into the existing CT scanning equipments. The present invention can improve quality of the CT images, and is especially important for CT imaging of some special groups of people that can not control their own motions, such as Parkinson's patients, infants, living mouse and so on. It can also improve ultra-high-resolution imaging of human body. |
| US08731263B2 |
Diagnostic imaging support equipment
The present invention comprises: a data storage unit for storing series image data obtained by medical image acquisition equipment and object data containing image acquisition conditions for the series image data and the specific information for specifying other series image data related to the series image data; an information management unit for generating a thumbnail image that represents combination information of the presently obtained series image data and the past related series image data by referring to the object data; and a display unit for displaying the thumbnail image. |
| US08731262B2 |
Medical image and vessel characteristic data processing system
An image data processing system automatically indicates an image of a digitally subtracted Angiography (DSA) image sequence is associated with at least one of, arterial, venous, or capillary phases of blood flow. The system includes an interface for acquiring data representing a DSA sequence of digitally subtracted images enhancing vessel structure. An image data processor automatically indicates an image of the DSA sequence is associated with at least one of, arterial, venous, or capillary phases of blood flow by determining individual minimum luminance intensity level values of individual images of the DSA sequence and using the determined individual minimum luminance intensity level values in identifying images of the DSA sequence are associated with at least one of, arterial, venous, or capillary phases of blood flow. An output processor automatically assigns an attribute to image data to identify vessel phase in response to the identifying images of the DSA sequence. |
| US08731261B2 |
Method of analyzing a medical image
A method of analyzing a medical image, where the medical image comprises one or more than one region of interest, and where the method comprises a) providing the medical image comprising a set of actual image values; b) rescaling the actual image values to produce corresponding rescaled image values and to produce a rescaled image from the rescaled image values; c) deriving a histogram of the rescaled image values; d) using the histogram to derive an adaptive segmentation threshold; e) using the adaptive segmentation threshold to recursively split the rescaled image; f) terminating the recursive splitting of the sub(sub) images using one or more than one predetermined criteria; and g) identifying one sub(sub) image in the terminated Hierarchical Region Splitting Tree which comprises the region of interest. |
| US08731255B2 |
Computer aided diagnostic system incorporating lung segmentation and registration
A computer aided diagnostic system and automated method diagnose lung cancer through tracking of the growth rate of detected pulmonary nodules over time. The growth rate between first and second chest scans taken at first and second times is determined by segmenting out a nodule from its surrounding lung tissue and calculating the volume of the nodule only after the image data for lung tissue (which also includes image data for a nodule) has been segmented from the chest scans and the segmented lung tissue from the chest scans has been globally and locally aligned to compensate for positional variations in the chest scans as well as variations due to heartbeat and respiration during scanning. Segmentation may be performed using a segmentation technique that utilizes both intensity (color or grayscale) and spatial information, while registration may be performed using a registration technique that registers lung tissue represented in first and second data sets using both a global registration and a local registration to account for changes in a patient's orientation due in part to positional variances and variances due to heartbeat and/or respiration. |
| US08731254B2 |
Biological signal drawing apparatus and biological signal drawing method
A biological signal drawing apparatus draws biological signals as drawing points in time series. The biological signal drawing apparatus includes: a thinner performing a thinning process to thin a first number of the drawing points corresponding to the biological signals sampled in each pixel zone, to obtain a second number of the drawing points for each pixel zone, the second number being smaller than the first number; a calculator, after the thinning process is performed, calculating a parameter based on at least one difference of values of adjacent two of the drawing points included in a group that includes: a first drawing point being a center in time series in the group and having a first value; and at least one second drawing point preceding or succeeding the first drawing point in time series and having a second value; and a processor performing a process of: performing a weighted moving average calculation using the first value, the second value and the calculated parameter, to obtain a third value; and replacing the first value with the third value. |
| US08731253B2 |
Help system for implanting a hip prosthesis on an individual
A system and method are provided for helping implant a hip prosthesis in an individual, which includes an acetabulum intended to be placed in the hip bone of the patient and a femoral part intended to be integrally connected to the femur of the individual. The method includes: obtaining, before the operation, images issued by a device that images a human body and locates a position of images in space. The images are taken in at least three reference positions: standing; recumbent; and sitting. Before the operation, the method determines a pelvis version of the individual in different positions by analyzing the images. During the operation, the method measures a position of the acetabulum with relation to the pelvis of the individual, and simultaneously restores information representative of prosthetic mobility of the hip with relation to each of the reference positions, for a current position of the acetabulum. |
| US08731250B2 |
Multiplexed biometric imaging
Some embodiments of the present invention disclose systems and methods for a multiplexed multispectral imaging, object discrimination, background discrimination, and/or object identification. In some embodiments, a multispectral sensor is provided that includes at least two illumination sources and an imager with a color filter array. The two illumination sources can illuminate a platen with light having distinct illumination angles as well as distinct characteristics, such as distinct wavelengths or wavelength bands and/or distinct polarization conditions. The color filter array, which may be integral with the imager or separate therefrom, can filter light based on the specific distinctions between the two illumination sources. A single image of an object at the platen can be acquired. Individual pixels of the image will then be highly associated with one or the other illumination source. Because of the filtering by the color filter array, this image will include information about the illumination angle. |
| US08731242B2 |
Image analysis for disposal of explosive ordinance and safety inspections
Hazardous objects in the field of explosives ordnance disposal or safety controls are identified using a sensor and image data generating arrangement and a comparison unit. The sensor and image data generating arrangement examines the object and produces an image thereof, which is compared by the comparison unit to known stored reference images. These reference images are digital images of reference objects. In this manner safety controls and explosives ordnance disposals can be organized safely and efficiently. |
| US08731240B1 |
System and method for optics detection
An optics detection system is disclosed. The optics detection system includes a sensor module and a processor. The sensor module is configured to illuminate a field of regard with a plurality of light pulses and to capture reflections of the plurality of light pulses in a plurality of frames, respectively. The processor is configured to process the plurality of frames to locate and identify optics within the field of regard using a plurality of discriminators. |
| US08731238B2 |
Multiple view face tracking
A system and method track a face moving through multiple frames of a video sequence. A predicted position of a face in a video frame is obtained. A search is performed to determine appearance model similarity values of a detected face. Motion and appearance probabilities of the detected face are obtained, and the detected face in the video frame is associated with a track as a function of a joint probabilistic data association filter. |
| US08731233B2 |
System of automated document processing
A system is proposed for automated document processing, comprising a document, consisting of two sections—a main section, containing data in printed character form, and a supplementary section in a machine-readable form; a document forming means; a document inputting means; a character recognition means; a main and supplementary data comparison means. Said system uses the supplementary section data to confirm the main section data. The supplementary section data can fully or partly duplicate the main section data, supplement it and also comprise other additional data. The supplementary machine-readable section can be realized in a form of coded consecutive characters, printed graphic image (bar-code), magnetic, optical, microprocessor or other kind of data storage means. For enhancing security of documents all or a part of data can be coded prior to introduction into the supplementary section. |
| US08731232B2 |
Speaker frame and speaker having the same
A speaker frame, including: a vibration support portion supporting a vibrating body of a speaker; a magnet support portion arranged inside of said vibration support portion and supporting a magnetic circuit portion of said speaker; and a plurality of connection beams connecting said vibration support portion and said magnet support portion, wherein in a cross-section passing through a central axis of said speaker, an inclination angle of one connection beam of said connection beams to said central axis is different from an inclination angle of other connection beam to said central axis. |
| US08731231B2 |
Dynamic sound transducer and receiver
There is provided a dynamic sound transducer having a diaphragm system (10) which has at least a first and second metallized surface (11) which are separated from each other by an insulating surface (12). The dynamic sound transducer further has a moving coil (20) with a coil wire (25). An end of the coil wire is electrically conductingly connected to the first metallized surface (11) and the other end of the coil wire is electrically conductingly connected to the second metallized surface (11). |
| US08731229B2 |
Speaker unit and active speaker device
A speaker unit performing sound output in proportion to electric current by current driving includes: a frame having an opening; a magnet arranged inside the frame and formed in an annular shape; a yoke including a shaft-shaped insertion arrangement portion which is inserted into a center of the magnet; a coil bobbin formed in a cylindrical shape; a coil wound around an outer peripheral surface of the coil bobbin; a damper having elasticity and connected between the frame and the coil bobbin; a cone connected to the coil bobbin at an inner peripheral portion and fixed to an opening edge of the opening of the frame at an outer peripheral portion, which vibrates with movement of the coil bobbin; and a sound absorbing material arranged inside the coil bobbin. |
| US08731225B2 |
Wireless communication headset with wired and wireless modes
A wireless communication headset having both wired and wireless modes is provided. The wireless headset can include a headset connector assembly that can be coupled to a cable connector of a cable, which can in turn be connected to a telephone. When the wireless headset is coupled to the telephone, it can advantageously be operable to exchange audio information with the telephone through the cable, receive electrical power from the telephone through the cable, or both. In addition, the cable connector can advantageously be coupled to the wireless headset without obstructing airflow to a microphone that is located in the headset connector assembly, through use of apparatus of the invention located on the cable connector, such as an acoustic tunnel, a microphone-speaker pair, or a microphone that is coupled to control circuitry operable to disable the microphone of the headset. |
| US08731220B2 |
MEMS microphone
A MEMS microphone includes a silicon substrate, a diaphragm connected to the silicon substrate, a backplate opposed from the diaphragm for forming an air gap. The backplate defines a plurality of first through holes and a plurality of second through holes surrounded by the first through holes, each of the first through holes being formed by a straight boundary and an arc boundary, the radius of the second boundary being greater than half the width of the first boundary. |
| US08731215B2 |
Loudness modification of multichannel audio signals
Scaling, by a desired amount sm, the overall perceived loudness Lm of a multichannel audio signal, wherein perceived loudness is a nonlinear function of signal power P, by scaling the perceived loudness of each individual channel Lc by an amount substantially equal to the desired amount of scaling of the overall perceived loudness of all channels sm subject to accuracy in calculations and the desired accuracy of the overall perceived loudness scaling sm. The perceived loudness of each individual channel may be scaled by changing the gain of each individual channel, wherein gain is a scaling of a channel's power. Optionally, in addition, the loudness scaling applied to each channel may be modified so as to reduce the difference between the actual overall loudness scaling and the desired amount of overall loudness scaling. |
| US08731212B2 |
Sound collecting device, acoustic communication system, and computer-readable storage medium
There is provided a sound collecting device, including: an orientation direction forming section that forms an orientation direction of a microphone array; and a control section that, when a characteristic in a frequency band of a synthesized signal obtained by synthesizing the acoustic signals corresponds to a characteristic of an acoustic signal corresponding to a sound other than a target sound, controls the orientation direction forming section such that an orientation direction that is a direction that is different than an orientation direction of the microphone array at a present point in time is formed, and, when the characteristic in the frequency band of the synthesized signal does not correspond to a characteristic of an acoustic signal corresponding to a sound other than the target sound, controls the orientation direction forming section such that the orientation direction of the microphone array is maintained. |
| US08731203B2 |
Securing a secret of a user
Methods, systems and apparatuses for securing a secret are disclosed. One method includes receiving a secret from the user and generating encrypted shares based on the secret, a policy, and a plurality of public keys. The encrypted shares are provided to a custodian, wherein the custodian verifies that the encrypted shares can be used to reconstitute the secret upon receiving the encrypted shares. |
| US08731199B2 |
Zero knowledge proofs for arbitrary predicates over data
A first computing device transfers first and second commitments to a second computing device. The first commitment is for private data and a first random number and the second commitment is for second and third random numbers. The method includes producing a result by evaluating a predicate and a first support function of a garbled circuit. The result includes a first part and a second part, referred to as the predicate result. The method includes transferring the result to the second computing device; receiving a second challenge from the second computing device; and producing a second response from a second support function using the second challenge. The method includes transferring the second response to the second computing device. The predicate result over the private data is true if a result of a check function is equal to a third commitment of the first part and the second response. |
| US08731197B2 |
Secure randomized input
A user inserts a received random sequence into the user's password or PIN. The user enters and transmits this randomized password to a service provider. The service provider extracts the password to determine whether to authenticate the user. |
| US08731196B2 |
Decrypting apparatus, encrypting apparatus, decrypting method, encrypting method, and communication system
A decrypting apparatus for decrypting cryptography data included in a packet includes a receiver, a key generator, and a decrypting section. The receiver receives a packet transmitted from an encrypting apparatus that executes an encrypting process. The key generator generates a key used for the encrypting process. The decrypting section decrypts cryptography data included in the packet received by the receiver with using the key generated by the key generator. In the decrypting apparatus, the packet received by the receiver includes packet information used for generating the key. The key generator generates the key with using the packet information. |
| US08731195B2 |
Method and system for initiating secure transactions within a defined geographic region
An approach for enabling contextual categories to be associated and scored in connection with a defined geographic region is described. A transient services platform establishes, based on biometric authentication of a user, a limited session for completing a transaction. The transient services platform then determines, based on a defined geographic region, a context to associate with the transaction. Credentials associated with the user are transferred to the transaction agent based on the authentication and the determined context. |
| US08731190B2 |
Segment deduplication system with encryption and compression of segments
A system for storing encrypted compressed data comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to determine whether an encrypted compressed segment has been previously stored. The encrypted compressed segment was determined by breaking a data stream, a data block, or a data file into one or more segments and compressing and then encrypting each of the one or more segments. The processor is further configured to store the encrypted compressed segment in the event that the encrypted compressed segment has not been previously stored. The memory is coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions. |
| US08731181B2 |
Computer telephony integration device and resource management method and incoming call control method
A Computer Telecommunication Integration (CTI) device in a call center is disclosed. This device comprises a CTI management module, one or more CTI units and an agent caching pool shared by said CTI units. Said CTI management module is configured to configure and register CTI units, and monitor states of said CTI units. The CTI unit is configured to manage agents which are subordinate to this CTI unit, and select an idle agent which is able to provide services, and return the selection result to said CTI management module. The agent caching pool is configured to cache an identifier of said agent, a state of said agent, and the information of the CTI unit to which said agent is subordinate. The technical scheme also provides a method for managing resources and a method for controlling an incoming call applied to a call center. |
| US08731180B2 |
Video collaboration call center queuing
Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods for providing improved customer service and sales experiences through collaborative face-to-face interaction between a customer and an expert in another location. Some embodiments of the invention comprise apparatuses and methods for video collaboration between an associate of the business located on-site at the point of inquiry, the customer who requires customer service, and an expert located off-site, typically at a call center. Other embodiments of the invention comprise apparatuses and methods for queuing video collaboration and non-video collaboration calls within a call center. The embodiments of the invention relate to apparatuses and methods that can be used for any business that has on-site point of inquiry centers, but the apparatuses and methods are particularly useful for banking customers who enter banking centers to interact on a face-to-face basis with an expert in the area of the customer's needs. |
| US08731179B1 |
System for geographic agent routing
A call center system in which agents are geographically dispersed based on agent skill-set, agent location and caller location that results in a call being delivered to the best available agent. The system chooses the best available agent to service a customer call based on the agent rankings. In the case where the customer has a preference for proximity of the agent to the customer, the system adjusts the agent rankings according to the agent's distance from the customer prior to making a selection. |
| US08731166B2 |
Automated electronic telecommunications order translation and processing
Systems and method for processing orders for telecommunications services are disclosed. Generally a telecommunications transaction set of an electronic data interchange standard is received, the telecommunications transaction set corresponding to a telecommunications product or service for a customer. An order for the telecommunications product or service is then generated based on processing of the telecommunications transaction set. |
| US08731164B1 |
Method and apparatus for promoting enhanced service options in communication networks
A method and apparatus for enabling packet network service providers, e.g., a VoIP network service providers, to collect information on the feature usage of their subscribers and spontaneously offer them the opportunity to subscribe to enhanced service features based on their existing feature usage patterns is disclosed. For example, users who accumulate a lot of voice mail can be offered a locate me feature, those who frequently use Do-Not-Disturb features can be offered an instant messaging application, and those who engage in three way conference calls can be offered a personal conferencing service that provides up to 10 conference legs. |
| US08731159B2 |
Financial card activation method and system
A sponsor purchases a prepaid card that can be transmitted to an intended user with increased security. Using a prepaid card dispenser, the sponsor elects an amount for the prepaid card and is prompted for at least one telephone number at which a server platform should contact the sponsor when the intended user wants to authenticate the card. The sponsor may enter additional phone numbers that will be called if the sponsor does not answer the first number when called by the server platform. When an intended user has received the prepaid card, the intended user calls a telephone number associated with the server platform and is connected to the sponsor via a telephone bridge so that the sponsor may authenticate the intended user. The sponsor may then inform the server platform (e.g., via DTMF tones) that the card has been authenticated. |
| US08731158B2 |
Methods for providing prepaid telephony service via an internet protocol network system
Methods are disclosed for providing prepaid telephony service via an Internet protocol (IP) network system. A first method provides controlling at least one media agent or call routing station/switch of an IP network system for allowing and/or blocking call media streams from traversing through the media agent. A second method provides directing all signaling messages transmitted by a signaling agent or station and all media packets transmitting voice and data communications through at least one common device within the IP network system. The methods further provide for continuously monitoring a subscriber's account balance and terminating the prepaid telephony service if the account balance is less than a predetermined amount. |
| US08731155B2 |
Method for remotely controlling vehicle features
A method and system that enables users to remotely control or manage certain vehicle features, such as emergency flashers or a remote engine start, through the use of a trigger device other than a conventional vehicle key fob. For example, a trigger device like a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a computer can be used to remotely control or activate select vehicle features. In one embodiment, short message service (SMS) messages are used to send feature commands either directly from the trigger device to the vehicle or via a call center or other message processing entity. |
| US08731151B2 |
Methods and apparatus for partially updating a web page using an embedded iFrame
Methods and systems are provided for managing customer service calls using a localhost service operating within a desktop environment. The system includes a web-based application configured to display browser windows including an overlayed or embedded softphone component, and a desk top application which serves a telephony application configured to receive call status information from a CTI adapter. The softphone is supported by an iFrame which exchanges call status information with the desk top application. |
| US08731143B2 |
Method and apparatus for routing emergency calls using information obtained from multiple systems
In an emergency response system, a first set of information is used to determine (i) a first set of operator positions to whom an emergency call can be sent and (ii) an identify of a first operator identifier for each operator position in the first set of operator positions based on a set of rules. The first operator identifier for each operator position in the first set of operator positions is mapped with a second operator identifier known to a second system. A subset of the first set of operator positions is determined based on the set of rules using real-time operator information obtained from the second system associated with each of the second operator identifiers. The real-time operator information is different from the first set of information. The emergency call is routed to at least one operator position in the second set of operator positions. |
| US08731142B2 |
X-ray collimator
An X-ray collimator for controlling an X-ray radiation field, having a lower base member, a pair of regulating members, a pair of surrounding members having substantially U-shaped forms in planar view, N columnar members surrounded by the pair of surrounding members (where N is 4, 6, or 8), a guiding member, a pair of moving members moving parallel to the opposed surfaces of the regulating members, an upper base member, a first motor for horizontally moving the pair of moving members, and a second motor for moving the columnar members. The first motor is driven to horizontally move the pair of moving members over the same distance in opposite directions. The second motor is configured to move one of the columnar members along an internal surface of the surrounding member surrounding the columnar member, thereby moving the other N−1 columnar members sequentially. |
| US08731141B2 |
Radiographic image acquiring apparatus, radiographic image capturing system, and radiographic image capturing method
In a radiographic image acquiring apparatus, in the event that one radiation detection device is selected from among a plurality of radiation detection devices, each of which are capable of converting radiation into a radiographic image, the radiographic image acquiring apparatus includes an acquisition unit for acquiring all of the radiographic images from the plurality of radiation detection devices, including the radiographic image from the one radiation detection device, at a time when application of radiation with respect to a subject is carried out. |
| US08731139B2 |
Evaporative thermal management of grazing incidence collectors for EUV lithography
Evaporate thermal management systems for and methods of grazing incidence collectors (GICs) for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography include a GIC shell interfaced with a jacket to form a structure having a leading end and that defines a chamber. The chamber operably supports at least one wicking layer. A conduit connects the wicking layer to a condenser system that support cooling fluid in a reservoir. When heat is applied to the leading end, the cooling fluid is drawn into the chamber from the condenser unit via capillary action in the wicking layer and an optional gravity assist, while vapor is drawn in the opposite direction from the chamber to the condenser unit. Heat is removed from the condensed vapor at the condenser unit, thereby cooling the GIC mirror shell. |
| US08731138B2 |
High-resolution X-ray diffraction measurement with enhanced sensitivity
A method for analysis includes directing a converging beam of X-rays toward a surface of a sample having an epitaxial layer formed thereon, and sensing the X-rays that are diffracted from the sample while resolving the sensed X-rays as a function of angle so as to generate a diffraction spectrum including a diffraction peak and fringes due to the epitaxial layer. A characteristic of the fringes is analyzed in order to measure a relaxation of the epitaxial layer. |
| US08731137B2 |
Integrated portable checkpoint system
The present specification discloses a portable system for inspecting objects. The system includes a housing adapted to be carried by a vehicle, which houses a metal detector and an X-ray scanner and further includes a deployable boom positioned on a top surface of the housing. Operationally, the system is transported to a location, persons or objects are inspected by the metal detector or X-ray scanner and the boom is deployed to inspect external cargo. The integrated portable checkpoint system provides security screening and inspection equipment with increased operational capabilities in one fully integrated package. |
| US08731135B2 |
Shift register and display device
Each stage of a shift register includes: a shift pulse input terminal; a shift pulse output terminal; first to fifth terminals; an input gate, first to fourth switching elements; a first output transistor, and a first circuit, connected between a first output terminal and the second input terminal, which forms a current path between the first output terminal and the second input terminal. |
| US08731131B2 |
Method of reducing corrosion of nuclear reactor structural material
In a method of reducing corrosion of a material constituting a nuclear reactor structure, an electrochemical corrosion potential is controlled by injecting a solution or a suspension containing a substance generating an excitation current by an action of at least one of radiation, light, and heat existing in a nuclear reactor, or a metal or a metallic compound forming the substance generating the excitation current under the condition in the nuclear reactor to allow the substance generating the excitation current to adhere to the surface of the nuclear reactor structural material, and by injecting hydrogen in cooling water of the nuclear reactor while controlling the hydrogen concentration in a feed water. |
| US08731127B2 |
Method and apparatus for a BWR inlet mixer clamp assembly
A method and apparatus for physically restraining an inlet mixer of a boiling water reactor (BWR) jet pump assembly. An inlet mixer clamp assembly is attached to the top of a transition piece of the BWR jet pump assembly, to provides a downward clamping force on the top of the inlet mixer. The clamping force restrains the inlet mixer from experiencing vibration and mitigates leakage between the inlet mixer and the transition piece sealing surfaces of the jet pump assembly. The clamping force also restrains the inlet mixer from undesirable rotation, especially during operation of the jet pump assembly. The inlet mixer clamp assembly may be used as an alternative to conventional jet pump beam assemblies. Alternatively, the inlet mixer clamp assembly may be used as a redundant physical restraint in addition to the conventional jet pump beam assemblies. |
| US08731126B2 |
Phase locked loop and satellite communication terminal using the same
A phase locked loop includes: a loop filter; a voltage controlled oscillating unit configured to output a frequency varying according to an output voltage of the loop filter; a frequency down-converting unit configured to down-convert an output frequency of the voltage controlled oscillating unit according to a band of the output frequency of the voltage controlled oscillating unit; and a frequency divider configured to divide a frequency down-converted by the frequency down-converting unit. The output frequency of the voltage controlled oscillating unit varies according to the output voltage of the loop filter and a control signal compensating the frequency down-converted by the frequency down-converting unit. |
| US08731125B2 |
Method and apparatus for aligning phases of a master clock and a slave clock
The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for aligning the phases of a master clock and a slave clock; and the method comprises the following steps: A. locking a phase of a master clock; B. measuring phase difference between a slave clock and the master clock; and C. adjusting a phase output by the slave clock so as to align it with the phase of the master clock based on the phase difference measured in Step B. The present invention also discloses an apparatus for aligning the phases of a master clock and a slave clock. By measuring the phase difference between the master clock and the slave clock, and aligning the phases of the master clock and the slave clock according to the phase difference the present invention improves the precision of phase alignment without increasing costs. |
| US08731124B2 |
Signaling of sequence generator initialization parameters for uplink reference signal generation
A base station initializes pseudo-random sequence generators on which wireless devices base generation of uplink reference signals. The base station determines a first sequence from a first subset of possible initialization sequences for a sequence generator of a first device, and determines a second sequence from a second subset of possible initialization sequences for a sequence generator of a second device. The range of this second subset spans at least the range of the first subset. The base station further encodes the first sequence as a first set of two or more parameters, and encodes the second sequence as a second set of one or more parameters. This second set includes at least one parameter not included in the first set, and comprises fewer bits than the first set. The base station initializes the sequence generators by transmitting the first and second sets of parameters to the devices. |
| US08731123B2 |
Demultiplexing device, multiplexing device, and relay device
A demultiplexing device that includes frequency-conversion and reception low-pass-filter units that perform a frequency converting process and a low-pass filtering process for causing a signal to pass through a desired band, perform downsampling to reduce a sampling rate to half of a data rate of an input signal, and output the signal, reception channel-filter units that waveform-shape a signal with a desired frequency characteristic and output the waveform-shaped signal. The demultiplexing device also includes a filter-bank control unit that generates a clock control signal for supplying a clock to frequency-conversion and reception low-pass-filter units and reception channel-filter units corresponding to signal passage bands, based on channel information, and a reception-clock supply unit that supplies a clock to frequency-conversion and reception low-pass-filter units and reception channel-filter units corresponding to signal passage bands, based on the clock control signal. |
| US08731111B2 |
Apparatus and method for tunable wideband solar radio noise measurement
An apparatus and method for tunable wideband solar radio noise measurement is provided. Accordingly, it is possible to directly measure the absolute flux of solar radio waves in a desired frequency band using a tunable receiver, and accordingly, to protect radio communication broadcasting systems located on the earth from its damage caused due to radio burst, noise and the like. |
| US08731109B2 |
Methods and systems for effective channel estimation in OFDM systems
A method and apparatus for channel estimation in wireless communications are provided. After an initial channel estimation and an estimation of the effective channel length (ECL) are performed, a weighting based on the ECL may be applied in an effort to remove noise from the initial channel estimate and provide an estimated channel with increased accuracy. Different weightings may apply for different channel lengths. A threshold may be used during the ECL estimation, and the threshold may be predetermined or calculated in an effort to adapt to different channel environments. |
| US08731103B2 |
Multicarrier-signal receiving apparatus and multicarrier-signal transmitting apparatus
A multicarrier-signal transmitting apparatus comprising a rotation-amount setting unit configured to set a phase rotation amount for each subcarrier of a plurality of subcarrier groups, the phase rotation amount being set with a setting selected from a first setting and a second setting, the first setting being such that the phase rotation amount is different between a subcarrier group and an adjacent subcarrier group within a plurality of adjacent subcarrier groups, and the second setting being such that the phase rotation amount is identical between a subcarrier group and an adjacent subcarrier group within a plurality of adjacent subcarrier groups; and a phase rotator configured to add a phase rotation to reference signals and a data signal of said each subcarrier of said plurality of subcarrier groups based on the phase rotation amount. |
| US08731101B2 |
System for amplifying signals generated by a satellite signal generator unit
A system for amplifying signals generated by a unit for generating signals of a satellite, the system including: a first pathway including a first bandpass digital filter with finite impulse response and a first digital/analog converter; frequency transposition means; an amplifying device; a second pathway including a second bandpass digital filter with finite impulse response; gain means disposed at the output of said second digital filter, a phase-slaved numerically-controlled oscillator, and a second digital/analog converter; and a recombiner device for summing the signals of said first and second pathways. |
| US08731095B2 |
Data transmission method, transmitter and receiver in coordinated communication system
The present invention provides a data transmission method, a transmitter, and a receiver in a coordinated communication system, including: precoding, by a first transmitter, its payload data by using a first precoding matrix to obtain first precoded data; precoding, by the first transmitter, coordinated data by using a second precoding matrix to obtain second precoded data to cancel interference with the first precoded data at a receiver caused by data transmitted by another transmitter; and transmitting the first precoded data and the second precoded data after the precoding to the receiver. According to the method, the first transmitter codes its payload data by using the first precoding matrix; and codes the coordinated data by using the second precoding matrix to cancel, by using different precoding matrices, the interference with the first precoded data at the receiver caused by the data transmitted by another transmitter. |
| US08731092B2 |
Apparatus and associated methods to perform space-frequency interleaving in a multicarrier wireless communication channel
An apparatus and associated methods for performing space-frequency interleaving in a multicarrier wireless communication system is generally described. |
| US08731088B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting downlink signal in a MIMO wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for transmitting a downlink signal in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) wireless communication system is disclosed. A method for receiving a downlink signal from a base station to a user equipment in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system, which supports dual layer transmission based on first and second antenna ports, comprises receiving downlink control information (DCI) through a downlink control channel; and receiving downlink data through a downlink data channel, the downlink data including one or more of a first transport block and a second transport block, wherein the downlink control information includes a new data indicator (NDI) for each of the first and second transport blocks, and if the first transport block is disabled and the second transport block is enabled, the new data indicator for the first transport block indicates an antenna port through which the second transport block is received. |
| US08731087B2 |
Uplink MIMO transmission from mobile communications devices
A method of uplink transmission from a mobile device having multiple antennas to a base station having multiple antennas includes transmitting in an open-loop single-user MIMO mode when the mobile device is at high speed, transmitting in a closed-loop single-user MIMO mode when the mobile device is at low speed, and, upon request, transmitting in a multi-user collaborative MIMO mode. The method also includes controlling uplink transmissions in a selected one of the open-loop single-user MIMO, the closed-loop single-user MIMO and the multi-user collaborative MIMO modes. Uplink transmissions from the mobile device may be transmitted using multiple antennas of the mobile device. Upon request, the mobile device may switch to transmitting in multi-user collaborative MIMO mode with a subset of the multiple antennas. |
| US08731086B2 |
Method of transmitting control information in multiple antenna system
A method of transmitting control information in a multiple antenna system includes generating a dedicated pilot including a weight and a weight index indicating the weight, and transmitting the dedicated pilot. Detection performance can be improved when control information such as a weight and a weight index is transmitted on a pilot. |
| US08731085B1 |
Method and apparatus for equalization and decoding in a wireless communications system including plural receiver antennae
A transceiver including a receiver and a receive baseband processor. The receiver is configured to receive an analog radio frequency signal including a time domain analog Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol and generate a baseband signal. The baseband signal includes a frequency domain digital OFDM symbol. The receive baseband processor is configured to generate an estimate of the channel for each sub-carrier of the frequency domain digital OFDM symbol, generate channel state information corresponding to each sub-carrier of the frequency domain digital OFDM symbol, generate a plurality of demodulated symbols based on the estimate of the channel for each sub-carrier of the frequency domain digital OFDM symbol, wherein each demodulated symbol corresponds to a given sub-carrier of the frequency domain digital OFDM symbol, perform decoding on each demodulated symbol, and generate a corresponding decoded symbol, wherein the decoding of each demodulated symbol is based on the channel state information. |
| US08731083B2 |
Receiver and signal received power estimation method
In the case of a narrow band in which the number of sub-carriers to be used for the concurrent transmission is smaller than a predetermined value, an RSRP estimation unit carries out processes in an order of time-wise in-phase addition, frequency-wise averaging, and conjugate multiplication, with respect to the channel estimation values estimated by the channel estimation unit; and in the case of a wide band in which the number of sub-carriers to be used for the concurrent transmission is greater than the predetermined value, the RSRP estimation unit carries out processes in an order of frequency-wise averaging, conjugate multiplication, and time-wise in-phase addition, with respect to the channel estimation values estimated by the channel estimation unit. |
| US08731081B2 |
Apparatus and method for combinatorial coding of signals
A method and apparatus are for performing one of encoding and decoding a code word that is used to communicate a portion of a signal. For encoding, at least a portion of a code word is encoded from a signal based value using an approximation of a combinatorial function, wherein the signal based value represents one or more aspects of a signal. For decoding, at least a portion of a code word is decoded to a signal based value using an approximation of a combinatorial function, wherein the signal based value represents one or more aspects of a signal. The approximation of the combinatorial function is based on a linear combination of a set of basis functions. |
| US08731078B1 |
Downlink subchannelization module
In a transmitter of an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system, a subchannelization module generates an OFDMA symbol with data on multiple subcarriers, from received incoming data packets. An input controller applies a first formula to determine a first index of each received data packet, and stores each received data packet at an address in memory according to its first index. An output controller applies a second formula to determine the nature of the data to be carried by each subcarrier in the OFDMA symbol and, if said second formula indicates that a data subcarrier should be output, reads the data from said memory, wherein said data packets are stored in said memory at addresses such that the data can be read out at least piecewise sequentially when generating the OFDMA symbol. |
| US08731076B2 |
Variable symbol period assignment and detection
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for dynamically selecting symbol periods for communications signals and recovering symbols from the communications signals. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a plurality of communications signals over a plurality of different communications channels and determining symbol period end times for the communications signals. A determination is made that a present time is coincident with an end of a sample period for the communications signals and that an end of the symbol period for the communications signals received over at least one of the communications channels is coincident with the present time. In turn, data are provided that represent a symbol received over each communications channel for which an end of the symbol period is coincident with the present time. |
| US08731071B1 |
System for performing finite input response (FIR) filtering in motion estimation
A system for performing finite input response filtering. The system includes an array of random access memories (RAMs) for storing at least one two-dimensional (2D) block of pixel data. The pixel data is stored such that one of each type of column or row from the 2D block of pixel data is stored per RAM. A control block provides address translation between the 2D block of pixel data and corresponding addresses in the array of RAMs. An input crossbar writes pixel data to the array of RAMs as directed by the control block. An output crossbar simultaneously reads pixel data from each of the array of RAMs and passes the data to an appropriate replicated data path, as directed by the control block. A single instruction multiple data path block includes a plurality of replicated data paths for simultaneously performing the FIR filtering, as directed by the control block. |
| US08731070B2 |
Hybrid look-ahead and look-back distortion estimation
According to an implementation, a value of distortion is determined. The value is associated with at least a portion of a particular picture in a series of pictures. The value is based on distortion in the particular picture that is attributable to error in the particular picture or in a previous picture in the series. The value is also based on distortion in a subsequent picture in the series that is attributable to error in the particular picture or in a previous picture. |
| US08731066B2 |
Multimedia signature coding and decoding
A method and apparatus for coding and decoding the fingerprint of a multimedia item such as video or audio is disclosed. A multimedia content temporal, such as a video segment or audio segment, is described by a coarse fingerprint and a plurality of fine fingerprints, each fine fingerprint corresponding to a temporal sub-interval of said temporal interval, said temporal sub-interval typically being smaller than said temporal interval. One or more fine fingerprints are encoded in a non-predictive way, with no reference to the temporally neighboring signatures, and one or more fine fingerprints are encoded in a predictive way, from the temporally neighboring signatures. The predictive encoding entails computing the difference between neighboring fine fingerprints to make up a prediction difference matrix, scanning said prediction difference matrix into a one dimensional vector by vectorising along rows or along columns or along diagonals or along any suitable scanning pattern, and performing lossless encoding on the one dimensional vector by an appropriate method, preferably selected, at least in part, based on the scanning method used. |
| US08731065B2 |
Dynamic image stream processing method and device, and dynamic image reproduction device and dynamic image distribution device using the same
There are included: an extraction unit that extracts a first bit stream of a picture that is decodable by itself and a second bit stream of a picture whose image data part is decodable by itself but a part other than the image data part is not decodable by itself from a coded bit stream of a moving image; and a conversion unit that converts the second bit stream extracted by the extraction unit into a third bit stream of a picture that is decodable by itself, the first bit stream of the picture extracted by the extraction unit and the third bit stream being arranged and output in order of extraction or in reverse order to that of extraction. |
| US08731064B2 |
Post-processing for decoder complexity scalability
Systems, apparatuses and methods whereby a base coded video signal is provided to a decoder having a set of post-processing stages. The base coded video signal can be decoded to produce a base decoded video signal. Post-processing of the base decoded video signal can be used to produce an enhanced quality video output signal. Application of a post-processing stage can be implemented according to the capabilities of the decoder and/or the instantaneous operating parameters of the decoder and/or characteristics of a display. A control signal, communicated over a dedicated channel separate from the base coded video signal, can be used initiate and/or aid implementation of a post-processing stage. The control signal can also provide information to assist/manage the decoding of the base coded video signal. The use of additional post-processing stages increases the complexity of an overall decoding process while improving the quality of a resulting reproduced video sequence. |
| US08731063B2 |
Block error compensating apparatus of image frame and method thereof
An apparatus and method are provided for compensating a block error in an image frame. This may include a video codec decoder for decoding an inputted image frame, and outputting a decoded image frame. An error concealment block may detect an error-generated block in the decoded image frame and compensate the detected error block through a median filter, and output the compensated image frame. |
| US08731062B2 |
Noise and/or flicker reduction in video sequences using spatial and temporal processing
A method and apparatus are disclosed herein for reducing at least one or both of flicker and noise in video sequences. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving an input video and performing operations to reduce one or both of noise and flicker in the input video using spatial and temporal processing. |
| US08731060B2 |
Video encoding system and method
A video encoding system for encoding consecutive images, the encoding of a current image being done with respect to a previous and/or subsequent image, the encoding system including a reception module to receive the current image to be encoded and to receive a non-estimated real motion vector of a moved area of the current image; a divider to divide the current image into macroblocks; a module to estimate motion vectors depending on the macroblocks of the current image and on the previous and/or subsequent image; a motion compensation module to receive motion vectors and to provide a predicted area; a module to allocate the non-estimated real motion vector to the macroblocks belonging to the moved area; a module to transmit the non-estimated real motion vector directly to the motion compensation module without any estimation of the motion vectors by the estimation module for macroblocks belonging to the moved area. |
| US08731059B2 |
Apparatus and method for calculating sum of absolute differences for motion estimation of variable block
An apparatus that calculates a Sum of Absolute Differences (SAD) for motion estimation of a variable block capable of parallelly calculating SAD values with respect to multiple current frame macroblocks at a time is presented. The apparatus includes a PE array unit including at least one Processing Element (PE) that is aligned in the form of a matrix, and parallelly calculating a SAD value of at least one pixel provided in multiple serial current frame macroblocks, a local memory including current frame macroblock data, reference frame macroblock data, and reference frame search area data, and transmitting the data to each PE that is provided in the PE array unit, and a controller for making a command for the data that are provided in the local memory to be transmitted corresponding to at least one pixel, on which each PE provided in the PE array unit performs calculation. |
| US08731058B1 |
Method and apparatus for processing video data
A method for diagonal processing of video data includes separating diagonally arranged data from rectilinearly arranged data in a video stream, rotating the diagonally arranged data to a rectilinear position; and compressing the rotated diagonally arranged data by a rectilinear compression algorithm. An apparatus for diagonal processing of video data includes a demultiplexer receptive to a video stream and developing a plurality of separated color planes, a number of address generators associated with the plurality of color planes, and a data compressor receptive to the address generators and operative to compress the plurality of color planes with a rectilinear compression algorithm. |
| US08731053B2 |
Method of multiplexing H.264 elementary streams without timing information coded
Embodiments of the present invention multiplex elementary streams without timing information coded to create a transport stream. In some embodiments, ‘n’ number of access units are constructed and pushed into a list one by one. Each access unit is capable of looking ahead to obtain information on timing for the next access unit. A header is constructed by calculating timing information from the topmost access unit of the list. Said header is written in the transport stream and the remaining bytes of the transport stream are filled with data from the said elementary stream. Thus the transport stream is constructed. |
| US08731051B1 |
Forward and inverse quantization of data for video compression
A video processor is described, which is useful for implementing a quantization process, in compliance with the H.264 standard. The video processor includes an input, for receiving a block of image data. The image data is loaded into an internal register. In response to receiving a SIMD instruction, a quantizer, which incorporates the quantization lookup tables associated with the H.264 standard in its associated hardware, makes necessary high-level quantization decisions. In response to receiving another SIMD instruction, the quantizer uses those high-level quantization decisions to retrieve specific values from the quantization lookup tables. |
| US08731050B2 |
Image encoding apparatus and image decoding apparatus
An image encoding apparatus encodes image data and includes an image encoding unit that receives an input of the image data and image parameters and generates encoded image data by performing image encoding on the image data with reference to the image parameters and furthermore binarizing and arithmetically encoding the image data. A parameter processing unit outputs, as parameter information, parameters that are included in the image parameters and that are referred to when the encoded image data is arithmetically decoded, and encodes the image parameters to generate and output encoded image parameters. A stream generation unit generates a stream including the encoded image data obtained from the image encoding unit and the parameter information and the encoded image parameters that are outputted from the parameter processing unit. |
| US08731044B2 |
Moving-picture processing apparatus
A moving-picture processing apparatus includes a plurality of decoding or encoding units, and a pre-fetch memory shared by the plurality of decoding or encoding units. |
| US08731038B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining channel state information
A mobile station receiving a signal from a base station experiences time/frequency varying channel conditions. In order to get the maximum throughput from a base-station, it is necessary to adjust the modulation and coding schemes to the actual channel quality. To do so, mobile receivers are required to probe the radio channel condition and feedback a limited set of estimated channel state information parameters such as CQI, RI, and PMI. The invention uses modulation-specific mutual information as a basic metric for CQI-PMI-RI computation to yield high bandwidth efficiency under both flat fading and interference conditions as well as time and frequency selective fading and interference conditions, at reasonable complexity. |
| US08731036B2 |
Packet filter-based clock synchronization system, apparatus, and method, and program thereof
A clock synchronization system synchronizes a clock of a slave node with a clock of a master node. The master node includes a packet transmitting unit that transmits a packet including a time stamp (TS) to the slave node. The slave node includes: a packet receiving unit that receives the packet transmitted from the master node; a packet filter unit that calculates as a value of delay of the packet a difference between a TS on the clock of the slave node when the packet is received and the TS of the packet received, corrects the value of the delay of the packet or a threthold for the delay of the packet, and performs filter processing on the packet received from the packet receiving unit based on the value of the delay of the packet and the threshold for the delay of the packet; and a phase synchronization unit that outputs the clock of the slave node based on the TS included in the packet employed. |
| US08731035B2 |
Cable modem and ranging method
A cable modem executes periodic ranging with a cable modem terminal system and records a time point at which the periodic ranging is completed. The cable modem obtains an un-ranging time interval during which the cable modem terminal system permits the cable modem not to execute periodic ranging with the cable modem terminal system, and sets a sleep time interval during which the cable modem does not execute periodic ranging with the cable modem terminal system according to the un-ranging time interval. Then, the cable modem shuts off a power amplifier in the cable modem in the sleep time interval if the cable modem does not transmit packets during the preset time interval before the recorded time point. |
| US08731034B2 |
Method and system of payload encoding and modulation for channel quality feedback
The present invention relates to a method, a computer readable medium, and a system of payload encoding and modulation and, more particularly, to a method, a computer readable medium, and a system of payload encoding and modulation for channel quality feedback. A method includes sending a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) in a x-bit modulation scheme, and after sending the CQI, sending at least one CQI in a y-bit modulation scheme, the at least one CQI indicating one of an increment and a decrement of a previous CQI. The method further includes detecting a trigger event, and when the trigger event is detected, sending the CQI in the x-bit modulation scheme. |
| US08731033B2 |
Channel estimator and channel estimation method
A channel estimator and a channel estimation method are provided. The channel estimator comprises a storage module, for storing a plurality of channel responses of first pilot signals over a plurality of continuous pilot sub-channels, and a plurality of channel responses of second pilot signals over a scatter pilot sub-channel; and a calculation module, for calculating a channel response at a time point without a pilot signal over the scatter pilot sub-channel according to the channel responses of the first pilot signals and the channel responses of the second pilot signals. |
| US08731031B1 |
Serializer/deserializer apparatus with loopback configuration and methods thereof
The present invention is directed to integrated circuits. In a specific embodiment, high frequency signals from an equalizer is directly connected to a first pair of inputs of a sense amplifier. The sense amplifier also has a second pair of inputs, which can be selectively coupled to output signals from a DAC or high frequency loopback signals. There are other embodiments as well. |
| US08731029B1 |
Frequency offset acquisition for wireless communications
Systems and techniques relating to wireless communications are described. A described technique includes receiving information that is indicative of a wireless communication signal transmitted by a wireless communication device, the wireless communication signal having been generated based on a spreading sequence and a known preamble; determining, based on the received information and the known preamble, an estimation of a first frequency offset using two or more locations for encoding elements associated with the spreading sequence; determining, based on the received information, the known preamble, and the first frequency offset, an estimation of a second frequency offset using two or more locations for symbols associated with the known preamble, the second frequency offset being different from the first frequency offset; and processing the received information based on a combination of the first frequency offset and the second frequency offset. |
| US08731027B2 |
Methods and apparatuses using filter banks for multi-carrier spread-spectrum signals
A transmitter includes a synthesis filter bank to spread a data symbol to a plurality of frequencies by encoding the data symbol on each frequency, apply a common pulse-shaping filter, and apply gains to the frequencies such that a power level of each frequency is less than a noise level of other communication signals within the spectrum. Each frequency is modulated onto a different evenly spaced subcarrier. A demodulator in a receiver converts a radio frequency input to a spread-spectrum signal in a baseband. A matched filter filters the spread-spectrum signal with a common filter having characteristics matched to the synthesis filter bank in the transmitter by filtering each frequency to generate a sequence of narrow pulses. A carrier recovery unit generates control signals responsive to the sequence of narrow pulses suitable for generating a phase-locked loop between the demodulator, the matched filter, and the carrier recovery unit. |
| US08731026B2 |
Ultra wideband modulation for body area networks
A symbol modulation system applicable to a body area network is disclosed herein. The symbol modulation system includes a symbol mapper. The symbol mapper is configured to determine a time within a predetermined symbol transmission interval at which a transmission representative of the symbol will occur. The time is determined based on a value of a symbol and a value of a time-hopping sequence. The time is selected from a plurality of symbol value based time slots, and a plurality of time-hopping sequence sub-time-slots within each symbol value based time slot. The symbol mapper is configured to generate a single guard interval within the symbol transmission interval. The single guard interval is positioned to terminate the symbol transmission interval. |
| US08731021B2 |
All digital implementation of clock spectrum spreading (dither) for low power/die area
A digital circuit configured to spread a clock train spectrum includes a clock configured to generate the clock train, and a variable divider configured to divide the frequency of the clock train by a temporally-varying-divider value to modulate the clock train and generate a dithered clock train. The circuit further includes a first accumulator configured to accumulate the dithered clock train to generate a frequency modulation waveform, and a second accumulator configured accumulate the frequency modulated waveform to generate a phase modulation signal. The circuit further includes a phase-value calculator configured to calculate the temporally-varying divider value based on the phase modulation signal; and a closed-loop control circuit configured to track and filter the modulation of the dithered clock train to generate a second clock train that is the spread spectrum of the first mentioned clock train. |
| US08731018B2 |
Semiconductor laser
A semiconductor laser includes: a DBR (Distributed Bragg Reflector) region having a diffraction grating; a FP (Fabry-Perot) region having no diffraction grating; and an optical waveguide section placed between the DBR region and an outputting end surface. A length of the optical waveguide section is longer than a length of the DBR region in a resonator length direction. |
| US08731015B2 |
Compact CO2 slab-laser
A compact CO2 slab-laser is contained in a fluid cooled housing having three compartments. One compartment houses discharge electrodes and a laser resonator. Another compartment houses a radio-frequency power supply (RFPS) assembled on a fluid-cooled chill plate and an impedance-matching network. The remaining compartment houses beam-conditioning optics including a spatial filter. The housing and RFPS chill-plate are on a common coolant-fluid circuit having a single input and a single output. The spatial filter is optionally fluid-coolable on the common coolant fluid circuit. |
| US08731010B2 |
Phased laser array with tailored spectral and coherence properties
Architectures for coherently combining an array of fiber-based lasers are provided. By matching their lengths to within a few integer multiples of a wavelength, the spatial and temporal properties of a single large laser are replicated, while extending the average or peak pulsed power limit. |
| US08731007B2 |
Digital microwave radio link with a variety of ports
A microwave radio terminal capable of multiple gigabits/sec bit rate is provided. The radio terminal may use QAM modulation, including the two lowest modulation formats of BPSK and QPSK. The serial bit stream, including forward error correction (FEC) and all other overhead, is prepared in a digital circuit, such as a filed programmable gate array (FPGA) and is output serially, using SERDES devices inside the FPGA, as two separate channels known as “I-channel” and “Q-channel”. |
| US08731004B2 |
Method of and apparatuses for recognizing an out-of-sync base station
A method of and a network controller (304) for recognizing an out-of-sync BS in a TDD based cellular communication network is provided. The method comprises the steps of receiving information reported by one or more BSs having uplink interference from the out-of-sync BS (414), and locating the out-of-sync BS based on the information (416). A BS and an NMS for use with the above network controller (304) and a TDD based cellular communication network comprising at least the above network controller (304) and the above BS (306-1, 306-2, . . . , 306-n) are also provided. |
| US08730996B2 |
Method and device for reestablishment at packet data convergence protocol layer
The present invention discloses a method and device for reestablishment at packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer. On the receiving side of the PDCP layer, the method comprises: clearing resident control messages (501); processing resident service messages, and clearing feedback information generated during processing (502); and resetting a decompressor, and updating configuration of a decryption module (503). On the transmitting side of the PDCP layer, the method comprises: resetting a compressor, and updating configuration of an encryption module; clearing the resident control messages; and reprocessing the resident service messages. With the differentiated processing for the resident messages at the PDCP layer during the reestablishment, the present invention can avoid the abnormal mode switching of the compressor, and accelerate the user plane restoration after the reestablishment. The present invention can further avoid the transmission of invalid feedback, thus improving the utilization of air interface resources; meanwhile, by avoiding the influence of the invalid status report on uplink and downlink transmission policies, the present invention can reduce retransmission of the service messages, thus improving the utilization of air interface resources. |
| US08730993B2 |
Methods and apparatus for uplink MU MIMO scheduling
According to various embodiments, a computer-implemented method is disclosed that includes receiving a field in a frame or a frame from the one or more STAs, wherein the field in a frame or the frame includes information on buffered traffic and a timeout value for a given access category (AC); and scheduling the one or more STAs to transmit uplink traffic simultaneously through a polling frame. |
| US08730988B2 |
Method of allocating logical channels in wireless sensor network
A method of allocating logical channels in consideration of an interference range in a wireless sensor network includes defining logical channels to increase the number of available channels and determining the number of logical channels in accordance with the number of nodes within an interference range, allocating the logical channels to the nodes within the interference range so that the determined logical channels do not overlap each other, and exchanging data among the nodes using the allocated logical channels. |
| US08730986B2 |
Service bearing method and apparatus, service data receiving method and receiving terminal
A service bearer method and apparatus, a service data receiving method and a receiving terminal are provided. The method includes: a network side converts a Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (MBSFN) sub-frame to a unicast service sub-frame and bears the unicast service on the converted unicast sub-frame. The method improves the utilization ratio of the wireless resources. |
| US08730981B2 |
Method and system for compression based quality of service
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide for a system and method for preserving bandwidth in data networks. The method includes determining whether to perform functional redundancy processing for a current data set. Determining whether to perform functional redundancy processing for a current data set may be conducted according to redundancy rules. In performing functional redundancy processing, the method includes receiving a first data set and a second data set and storing the first data set in a queue. The method may also include determining whether the content of the first data set is functionally redundant to the content of said second data set. If the contents of the first data set are functionally redundant to the contents of the second data set, the method includes transmitting the first data set and dropping the second data set. Functionally redundant messages are dropped prior to transmission, optimizing bandwidth. |
| US08730977B2 |
Method of transferring data between a sending station in a first network and a receiving station in a second network, and apparatus for controlling the communication between the sending station in the first network and the receiving station in the second network
The invention relates to the field of network communication in a wide area, where a local network of a first type has a sending station that communicates with a receiving station in a local network of a second type. A network of a third type is in between the two networks and provides virtual private networking between the two local networks. The network of the first type supports a fine grained QoS, whereas the network of the third type supports a coarser grained QoS. In one example the network of the first type is RSVP capable and the network of the second type is an MPLS network.The invention resides in a component called RSVP-MPLS proxy that maps the RSVP resource advertisements and reservations within an RSVP-aware customer network to an MPLS network, whereby the receiver side doesn't participate in the RSVP communication process. |
| US08730976B2 |
System and method for preventing erroneous link aggregation due to component relocation
Various methods and systems for preventing erroneous link aggregation due to component relocation are disclosed. Such methods include a method for changing the identifier used by a network device and communicating the identifier change to a peer network device without disrupting an aggregated link. In one embodiment, a method involves detecting an identifier change and sending a Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP) protocol data unit (PDU) that includes a new identifier and information. The information indicates the identifier change. The new identifier identifies a network device subsequent to the identifier change. Another embodiment of a method involves detecting an identifier change and, subsequent to the identifier change, sending a link aggregation protocol PDU that includes an “old device identifier” field dedicated to conveying an old identifier. The old identifier identifies a network device prior to the identifier change. |
| US08730973B2 |
Method and equipment for user'S uplink data scheduling
A method for user uplink data scheduling and an user equipment are applied in multi-period mode semi-persistent scheduling under 3GPP Long Term Evolution TDD configuration 2, the method includes setting the different offsets delta of periods for multi-period mode semi-persistent scheduling started by each uplink sub-frame in 10 ms radio frame, determining the periods of multi-period mode semi-persistent scheduling started by each uplink sub-frame in 10 ms radio frame according to the set delta, and scheduling the uplink new conveyed package data of user according to the periods of multi-period mode semi-persistent scheduling started by each uplink sub-frame in 10 ms radio frame. The method and user equipment can be used to increase the utilization ratio of resource, and are simple and easy to use. |
| US08730970B2 |
Methods systems, and computer program products for providing voicemail routing information in a network that provides customized voicemail services
Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing voicemail routing information in a network that provides customized voicemail services are disclosed. According to one method, a voicemail routing query is received at an advanced voicemail routing node, where the query includes at least one parameter associated with a voicemail transaction. Based on at least one query parameter, voicemail routing information may be determined that identifies a voicemail server and a voicemail service from among a plurality of voicemail servers, where at least some of the voicemail servers provide different services. A voicemail routing query response may then be generated including the determined voicemail routing information. |
| US08730966B2 |
Anonymization using anonymizing device and packet server in which anonymous address is generated based on prefix acquired from server
A communication system (1) includes an anonymizing device (100) and a server (200). The anonymizing device (100) generates an anonymous address based on a prefix acquired from the server (200), receiving a packet transmitted from a communication node (300), rewrites a source address of the received packet into an anonymous address, encapsulates the received packet, and sends the packet to a second network (600) using the address of the anonymizing device (100) as a source address of the encapsulated packet and the address of the server (200) as a destination address. Then, receiving the encapsulated packet transmitted from the anonymizing device (100), the server (200) decapsulates the encapsulated packet and sends the packet to the second network (600). High anonymity can be thereby assured. |
| US08730965B2 |
Systems and methods for dynamic routing in a multiprocessor network using local congestion sensing
Adaptive packet routing is employed in a multiprocessor network configuration such as an InfiniBand switch architecture. Packets are routed from host to host through one or more switches. Upon receipt of a packet at a switch, the packet header is inspected to determine the destination host. A destination field in the header is used to index into a lookup table or other memory, which produces a route type and an output port grouping. Depending on the route type, one or more primary and secondary output port candidates are identified. An output port arbitration module chooses an output port from which to send a given packet, using congestion sensing inputs for the specified ports. A heuristic may include the congestion information that is provided to the arbitration module. Switching may be performed among minimal or non-minimal routes along each hop in the path, depending upon link and packet injection information. |
| US08730964B2 |
System for data communications, router, and method for data transmission and mobility management
The embodiments of the present invention disclose a system for data communications, a router, and a method for data transmission and mobility management. The method for data transmission includes: receiving, by a first AR, data; identifying the transmission route based on the results of querying the local mapping information base; and transmitting data, where the local mapping information base stores the mappings between IDs and LLs. The embodiments of the present invention completely separate the ID, LL, and GL of the terminal, and thus solve the problems with the routing table expansion and scalability faced by the Internet. In this way, the terminal data can be transmitted without changing the terminal or the routing protocol stack; in addition, the hierarchical mapping helps reduces the amount of locally and globally stored information, and thus accelerating the query. |
| US08730961B1 |
System and method for optimizing router lookup
A system and method for reducing the number of cycles used in CAM lookup. A network comprises a plurality of network devices connected to a router. The router comprises a media access controller which is effective to receive an input packet and a packet processor which is effective to receive the input packet from the media access controller and to extract data stored in the input packet. The router further comprises a CAM which is effective to receive the data stored in the input packet from the packet processor, a PRAM, a control processor and a bus. The control processor controls the packet processor and the CAM so that the packet processor extracts a destination address from the input packet and forwards the destination address to the CAM. The packet processor extracts a source address from the input packet and forwards the source address to the CAM. The CAM performs a lookup of the destination and source addresses in parallel. The packet processor extracts miscellaneous information, a source protocol address, and a destination protocol address from the received packet and the CAM performs a lookup of the miscellaneous information, the source protocol address, and the destination protocol address at the same time. |
| US08730957B2 |
System and method of enabling a transparent Ethernet switch
A system and method of enabling a transparent Ethernet switch are disclosed. According to an aspect, a network switch is disclosed. The network switch can include a plurality of physical ports configured to communicate data via a network. The network switch can further include a memory configured to store a first forwarding database, and a plurality of aggregate zone entries within the first forwarding database. The aggregate zone entries can also include a port identifier of first port of the plurality of physical ports to be used as a transparent port within a first aggregate zone. |
| US08730953B2 |
Method and system for communicating video data in a packet-switched network, related network and computer program product therefor
A method for communicating video data on a wireless channel in a packet-switched network includes the steps of operating at a wireless terminal a compression in packets on the video data during a video coding operation, detecting wireless channel conditions and adapting control parameters of the video coding operation to the detected wireless channel conditions. The compression operation is a robust header compression operation and the step of adapting control parameters of said video coding operation is performed depending on information about the wireless channel conditions detected on a feedback channel made available in a decompression step associated with the compression operation. |
| US08730946B2 |
System and method to precisely learn and abstract the positive flow behavior of a unified communication (UC) application and endpoints
A system and method to precisely learn and enforce security rules for Unified Communication (UC) applications and endpoints is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a behavioral learning system learns and abstracts positive flow behaviors of UC applications and endpoints. The properties of previously received messages from the endpoints and learned behaviors of the plurality of endpoints are stored in a database. A message from a endpoint is received by a message scanner and correlated with the AOR records in the database. The message is classified into one of a whitelist, a blacklist, and a graylist based on the results of analysis by the analysis engine. The whitelist contains the AOR records that are legitimate, the blacklist contains the AOR records that are a potential attack, and the graylist contains the AOR records that belong to neither the whitelist nor the blacklist. Based on the analysis and inspection of the message in light of the learned behaviors, a decision is made to allow, deny, quarantine or redirect the message. |
| US08730943B1 |
Session initiation protocol communication with endpoints managed by a call management server in a stimulus based network
In one embodiment, an apparatus may include a trunk service unit and at least one logical multimedia terminal adapter (L-MTA). The trunk service unit may be configured to provide session initiation protocol (SIP) service to at least one subscriber equipment in a subscriber network. Each subscriber equipment may have an associated subscriber equipment identifier. The trunk service unit may provide subscriber-facing signaling to communicate with the subscriber network and network-facing signaling to communicate with a stimulus-based network. The L-MTA may be associated with the stimulus based network and may be configured to obtain service from a call management server (CMS) in the stimulus-based network. Each L-MTA may have an associated L-MTA equipment identifier, where the network-facing signaling of the trunk service unit being used to control the at least one L-MTA. |
| US08730942B2 |
Method and arrangement for enabling a multimedia communication session
A method and arrangement for enabling multimedia during an ongoing circuit-switched call between a first mobile terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal uses a first access having constraints by not admitting simultaneous packet-switched and circuit-switched communication. A change of connection is detected from the first access to a second access having no such constraints by admitting simultaneous packet-switched and circuit-switched communication. A capability query is then sent to the second terminal in response to said detection. When the requested capabilities are received from the second terminal, possible multimedia applications and/or services are indicated to the user according to the received capabilities. |
| US08730938B2 |
Minimizing the impact of self synchronization on wireless communication devices
A method for self synchronization by a base station is described. Network information is sent to a wireless communication device. The network information indicates a first time period. The first time period is a period of silence by the base station. Synchronization signals are monitored during the first time period. Monitoring synchronization signals includes not transmitting. |
| US08730934B2 |
Systems and methods for assigning a customer device to a group of customer devices for the transmission of broadband data signals
Systems and methods are provided for assigning a customer device to a group of customer devices for the transmission of broadband data signals. A communications signal output by a customer device associated with a customer of the service provider may be received by a service provider system. The service provider system may be associated with the service provider, and the service provider system may include one or more computers. The received communications signal may be processed by the service provider system to determine a linear impairment associated with the customer device. Based at least in part on the linear impairment, a frequency range at which communications will be output by the service provider system for receipt by the customer device may be determined. |
| US08730931B1 |
Airtime-based packet scheduling for wireless networks
Airtime usage may be used as a factor in controlling network traffic flow to and from client devices via a wireless network interface. Received packets or other data are assigned to a quality of service profile. Additionally, a cost value for communicating the received data is determined at least in part based on an actual or estimated airtime usage for the received packet. The cost value is used to allocate wireless network airtime to data. The allocation of wireless network airtime may be varied dynamically based on operating conditions. The cost value may be based on factors including the airtime used to communicate data; whether the data is a retransmission; and wireless network overhead. The cost value of data may also be different depending on whether the data is being sent from a client device or to a client device. |
| US08730930B2 |
Polling using B-ACK for occasional back-channel traffic in VoWIFI applications
Polling using B-ACK for occasional back-channel traffic in VoWIFI applications. Within wireless communication systems having a relatively asymmetric channel (e.g., relative more downstream traffic than upstream), certain upstream communications (e.g., acknowledgments (ACKs) and/or block acknowledgments (B-ACKs)) include indication therein (e.g., piggybacked therein) that a given downstream located communication device desires/needs to make upstream communication. In some instances, specificity is also provided therein to indicate the type of information to be transmitted upstream. Such a communication protocol mitigates (or eliminates) contention between upstream and downstream traffic in an environment with significantly more downstream traffic (e.g., such as ongoing downstream traffic that may include streaming video). A coordinating device (e.g., access point (AP)) may employ such upstream provided indicia to coordinate upstream and downstream communications within the wireless communication system in a non-contentious manner that does not deleteriously affect ongoing downstream traffic. |
| US08730929B2 |
Method to maintain network address translation (NAT) binding
A method to maintain Network Address Translation (NAT) binding is provided. The method includes: an edge NAT router mapping a source address of a data packet from a mobile terminal to the source address of the edge NAT router, and mapping a destination address of the data packet from a computing device to the destination address of the mobile terminal, and maintaining the two address mapping relationships for a first time interval; the computing device sending a heartbeat packet to the mobile terminal according to a second time interval smaller than the first time interval, so a Time To Live set value progressively decreases to 0 as the heartbeat packet reaches the edge NAT router, thereby maintaining a link from the mobile terminal to the computing device, such that the heartbeat packet will not be sent down to the handheld device. |
| US08730926B2 |
System and method for multi-network coverage
A system and method are provided for a multi-network wireless communications access terminal (AT) to access multi-network coverage. The method registers a multi-network AT in a first communications network. In response to registering with the first network, the AT receives information via the first network that is required for accessing a second communications network (e.g., an IEEE 802.20 or 1xEV-DO network). The AT obtains services accessed via the second network, in response to the access information received via the first network. For example, the second network access information may be system information, channel information, or access point parameters. The AT retains the option of obtaining services accessed via the first network if the second network cannot be accessing the second network. |
| US08730922B2 |
Methods and devices for uplink transmit diversity
Methods and devices are described for use in a wireless communications system supporting uplink transmit diversity. If it is detected that a user equipment is currently in one of a predetermined set of situations, a set of restrictions associated with the detected situation is applied when the user equipment changes pre-coding weights. The set of restrictions limits how much the pre-coding weights can be changed. A user equipment in soft handover may also be restricted to only consider feedback information from a serving base station when selecting pre-coding weights. Thus it is possible to ensure that pre-coding weights are carefully selected in situations where there is a high risk for detrimental interference and/or inferior uplink/downlink performance. A network node may be configured to detect such a situation and notify the user equipment of any restrictions to be applied on the pre-coding weight selection. |
| US08730920B2 |
Inter-network communication session handoff
A communication session between a first communication device and a second communication device is hosted in an Internet Protocol (IP) based packet data network. A contact server functions as a bridge service between the first communication device and the second communication device. A communication link between the first communication device and the contact server or the second communication device and the contact server is initially a voice-over IP (VoIP) communication link over a wireless data network. The contact server analyzes a call quality characteristic of the VoIP communication link and causes the communication device having the VoIP communication link to handoff the VoIP communication link from the wireless data network to a cellular communication link on a cellular network when the analyzed call quality characteristic of the VoIP communication link crosses a threshold level. Other embodiments describe handing off from a cellular communication link to VoIP communication link. |
| US08730918B2 |
Handover method based on mobile relay and mobile wireless relay system
The present invention provides a handover method based on a mobile relay comprising: when handover of the mobile relay occurs, a source Donor evolved NodeB (DeNB), as an intermediate node, connecting a relay access network with an Evolved Packet Core (EPC), the relay access network at least comprising a target DeNB and a mobile relay; and the source DeNB forwarding data from the relay access network to the EPC and forwarding the data from the EPC to the relay access network. With the present invention, the handover of the mobile relay is implemented, and the mobility of the relay can be supported. |
| US08730915B2 |
Multiple input multiple output (MIMO) based concurrent scan of neighbor cells
Methods, systems, and devices are described for concurrently performing handoff-related measurements for neighbor cells using multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna resources. In one example, a mobile device is in communication with a serving cell. Handoff-related measurements of first wireless signals from a first neighbor cell are performed. The first wireless signals are received at first MIMO antenna resources of a device. Handoff-related measurements of second wireless signals from a second neighbor cell are performed, as well. The second wireless signals are received at second MIMO antenna resources concurrently with the first wireless signals received at the first MIMO antenna resources. The first handoff-related measurements and the second handoff-related measurements may be performed during a scan interval. A type of handoff-related measurement to perform may be determined based on a determined length of the scan interval. |
| US08730914B2 |
Systems and methods for an intelligent mobile media server
An Intelligent Mobile HotSpot (IMHS) comprises a local area network radio interface; an in home display interface; a user interface comprising one of a switch, button, or input (collectively an input); non-transitory memory configured to store instructions; and a processor coupled with memory, the instructions configured to cause the processor to perform the following in response to an activation of the input: automatically establish a data connection with a vehicle display over the local area network, or automatically establish a data connection with a television over the in home display interface, and automatically cause a landing page to be displayed on the in vehicle display or the television. |
| US08730911B2 |
System and method for redirecting messages to an active interface of a multiple-interface device
In accordance with an embodiment, a method of operating a first network configured to communicate with a first interface of a multi-interface user device is disclosed. The first network receives a first message from the user device, where the first message requests that messages for the user device be forwarded via a second network. The first network receives a second message for user device and forwards the second message to the second network. |
| US08730907B2 |
Transmitting and receiving location registration messages and data packets in a communication system
A network system including a mobile node, a correspondent node for transmitting/receiving a data packet to/from the mobile node, a first router to which the mobile node is connected at a visited domain and a second router to which the mobile node is connected at a moving destination to which the mobile node moves from the first router. The second router including a location registration message generating unit for generating a location registration message of the mobile node and transmitting the location registration message. The first router including a binding cache, a movement managing unit for receiving the location registration message and storing into the binding cache address information from before and after the mobile node moves and an encapsulating unit for receiving the data packet, encapsulating the data packet concerned, and creating and transmitting a data packet containing as a transmission destination the address information after the change. |
| US08730904B2 |
Wireless communication system, wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method
A wireless communication system which performs data transmission using spatially multiplexed streams from a first terminal including N antennas to a second terminal including M antennas (N is an integer of 2 or more and M is an integer of 1 or more) is disclosed. The system includes notifying means, training means, channel matrix estimation means, beamforming information feedback means, transmission weight matrix setting means, and beamforming means. |
| US08730899B2 |
Fixed resource allocation method and device in a broadband wireless communication system
The present invention is a method for operating terminals in a broadband wireless communication system in which a persistent allocation technique is employed, comprising the steps of: receiving a persistent resource allocation message from a base station; determining whether or not the persistent resource allocation message includes frame position information related to a second persistent resource allocation; deciding a frame position for allocating a persistent resource based on a persistent allocation period and the frame position information included in the persistent resource allocation message, when it is determined that the frame position information related to the second persistent resource allocation is included; and receiving a data packet using the persistently allocated resource at the decided frame position. |
| US08730894B2 |
Variable bandwidth OFDM receiver and methods for receiving OFDM signals of different bandwidths
A variable bandwidth OFDM receiver and methods for receiving OFDM signals of different bandwidths are generally disclosed herein. The variable bandwidth OFDM receiver may be configured to receive signals over wider bandwidths by processing a resource block of subcarriers comprising a greater number of subcarriers, and receive signals over narrower bandwidths by processing a resource block of subcarriers comprising a lesser number of subcarriers. The resource blocks have a number of OFDM symbols in a time dimension to define a time slot, and each wherein the resource block comprises a minimum number of subcarriers for a narrowest bandwidth for a predetermined minimum bandwidth reception and a predetermined maximum number of subcarriers for a maximum bandwidth reception. In some embodiments, the variable bandwidth receiver may operate in accordance with an 3GPP LTE E-UTRAN standard. |
| US08730891B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method
Disclosed is a wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method wherein flexible frequency scheduling is performed without increasing the scale of the DFT (Discrete Fourier Transform) circuitry. For example, when resource allocation information is reported indicating whether or not a resource has been allocated to each of a plurality of RBGs (RB groups) into which the system bandwidth is divided, as in Type 0 allocation, if the number of reported RBs reported by the resource allocation information cannot be expressed as “2^n×3^m×5^l”, an allocated RB number setting section (208) sets the number of allocated resource blocks used in the actual transmission band, corresponding to the reported RB number, to the number of resource blocks that can be represented by any of “2^n×3^m×5^l”, and an allocated RB selection section (209); selects the allocated RB employed in the actual transmission band from the resource allocation information and allocated RB number. |
| US08730889B2 |
Method or HARQ acknowledgement transmission and transport block retransmission in a wireless communication system
A method of transport block retransmission in a wireless communication system employing carrier aggregation is disclosed. A method of retransmitting transport blocks in a base station of a wireless communication system employing carrier aggregation comprises mapping each of a plurality of transport blocks to each of a plurality of component carriers using a first mapping pattern and transmitting the plurality of transport blocks to a mobile station; recognizing that the plurality of transport blocks are not transmitted successfully; and mapping each of the plurality of transport blocks to each of the plurality of component carriers using a second mapping pattern and retransmitting the plurality of transport blocks to the mobile station. |
| US08730885B2 |
Method for improved robust header compression with low signal energy
A method is provided a wireless system for reliably transmitting context information in robust header compression at low signal energies. More particularly, the methodology of the invention provides an elongated virtual Transmission Time Interval (Super TTI) for the first few (in particular, the first) non-compressed packet (that includes upper layer headers) of a packet stream transmitted using ROHC compression. Improved reception reliability for the uncompressed packet, in particular to decode the headers, results by application to the Super TTI of a combination of TTI Bundling techniques, RLC segmentation and association with multiple HARQ processes and use of enough HARQ rounds. |
| US08730884B2 |
Method for managing resources in high capacity wireless communication system
Provided is a method for managing resource in a high capacity wireless communication system capable of communicating with two or more users in a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) scheme when a base station transmits data. The includes: transmitting a MU-MIMO request-to-send (RTS) message to stations intending to transmit data in the MIMO scheme, and sequentially receiving a clear-to-send (CTS) message from stations intending to receive the data; transmitting a transmission ACK message to the stations, wherein the transmission ACK message includes information which prevents data collision during a time of data transmission to the stations and ACK signal; and configuring data to be transmitted to the stations into aggregated packets (A-MPDUs), transmitting the A-MPDUs to the stations in the MIMO scheme, and receiving a block ACK message from the stations. |
| US08730881B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for implementing cell handover
It is disclosed a method and system for implementing a cell handover, which are used to solve the problem in the prior art that the cell handover can not be implemented when a target cell uses a TDD mode. The method for implementing the cell handover includes: when a user terminal needs perform the cell handover, a network side sending a cell handover command to the user terminal; when the target cell uses the TDD mode and the cell handover command carries TDD slot configuration information of the target cell, the user terminal implementing the cell handover according to the TDD slot configuration information in the cell handover command. It is further disclosed a user terminal and a Base Station, which are used to implement the cell handover in a TDD system. |
| US08730880B2 |
Apparatus and method for resource allocation in mobile communication system
An apparatus and method for providing a resource allocation of a Base Station (BS) in a mobile communication system includes, when a Mobile Station (MS) is located in a cell boundary region, locating a transmission frame region for the MS in a duty cycle reduction region. |
| US08730879B2 |
Communication device and method of communication that bonds communication channels together
A wireless device (100) communicates in a wireless system by selecting a communication channel (202) for communication, identifying a control channel or control channels (204) designated for communication of control information for the selected communication channel, and listening for the control information (212) on the control channel to determine if the selected communication channel is bonded with any other communication channel. When control information is received via the control channel(s) indicating that the selected communication channel is bonded with at least one other communication channel, then the wireless device abstains from communication on the selected communication channel, or communicates in a narrowband mode. When control information is received via the control channel(s) indicating that the selected communication channel is not bonded with another communication channel, or when no control information is received via the control channel, then the wireless device communicates via the selected communication channel. |
| US08730876B2 |
MIMO reception device and MIMO reception method
Provided are a MIMO transmission device and a MIMO transmission method which can improve reception quality of a response signal. A terminal (100) as the MIMO transmission device maps a first and a second element of the ACK/NACK signal vector formed from ACK/NACK signals onto a first and a second stream, respectively, and transmits the elements contained in a 2SC-FDMA symbol in a single slot. In the terminal (100), a response signal vector formation unit (140) forms [a·Sack, 0] as the ACK/NACK signal vector in a first SC-FDMA symbol and [0, a·Sack] as an ACK/NACK signal vector in a second SC-FDMA symbol. A precoding unit (165) uses a unitary matrix to precode the ACK/NACK signal vector formed in the response signal vector formation unit (140). |
| US08730873B2 |
Asymmetric beam steering protocol
A system for configuring antenna systems for selecting directional communication signals corresponding to other apparatuses. A directional communication signal may be selected as the result of a beam training operation coordinated between at least two apparatuses. Beam selection training sequences may then be broadcast from one apparatus, and the receiving apparatus may determine the quality of each received beam training sequence in order to approximate a vector describing the direction from which the signals were sent. |
| US08730870B2 |
Systems and methods for wireless transmission of packet-based data to one or more residential gateways
Methods and systems are disclosed that include receiving packet-based data at residential gateway from a service provider unit. In one embodiment, a location of a residential gateway is determined and at least a portion of the packet-based data is transmitted wirelessly to the residential gateway when the residential gateway is at an approved location. |
| US08730869B2 |
Mobility management system, home agent, mobile terminal management method used for them, and its program
A mobility management system manages mobility of any one mobile terminal with a different mobility protocol depending on an access method. The system comprises an anchor node having a function of managing a CMIP (Client Mobile Internet Protocol) SA (Security Association) and a PMIP (Proxy MIP) SA used to authenticate a location registration message of said mobile terminal. |
| US08730867B2 |
Clock synchronization aid device for communication station(s) of a wireless network, and associated clock synchronization device
A device (DA1) is intended to aid a clock synchronization device (DS1) of a master station (SM) of a wireless network in performing time synchronizations, this master station (SM) comprising a master clock (HM) represented by the value of a master counter (CM) and means (MG1) for generating wireless frames of IP packets containing in particular PTP messages of first and second types. The aid device (DA1) comprises detection means (MD1) for, in case of detection by the physical layer of the master station (SM) of a frame pulse received from the network, triggering the sampling of the value of the master counter (CM). |
| US08730866B2 |
Radio base station and communication control method
A radio base station communicating with a radio terminal, comprising a control unit configured to perform scheduling of a radio resource with respect to the radio terminal, wherein the control unit estimates transmission power of the radio terminal, which is calculated by the radio terminal, based on information on transmission power notified from the radio terminal, calculates power of an uplink signal from the radio terminal based on uplink propagation loss between the radio base station and the radio terminal, and performs the scheduling based on a difference between a first power obtained by the estimation of the transmission power of the radio terminal and a second power obtained by the calculation of the power of the uplink signal. |
| US08730865B2 |
Front-end for satellite communication
A communication method includes operating a communication unit (60, 124), which demodulates radio signals in accordance with a first air interface and applies at least one upper-layer process to the demodulated signals. A signal is received and demodulated in accordance with a second air interface, different from the first air interface. The demodulated signal is input to the communication unit so as to cause the communication unit to apply the upper-layer process to the signal that was demodulated using the second air interface, while superseding the first air interface. |
| US08730864B2 |
Context aware adaptive switching in reconfigurable low earth orbit satellite networks
A payload switching architecture for LEO satellite networks minimizes processing and storage requirements of payloads for deployment as small primary or secondary payloads, payloads perform only forwarding functions. Forwarding rules are provisioned in the payloads enabling them to reroute in case of failures or congestion without intervention from a ground station. Configuration rules are provisioned in the payloads enabling them to dynamically establish and remove interplane crosslinks without intervention from a ground station. The central network operations center on the ground computes forwarding rules and configuration rules for payloads and uploads the rules to the payloads. |
| US08730863B2 |
Network communication systems and methods
Distributing a message in a network may include transmitting, via a contention-free access channel, the message from an originating node to a first set of nodes neighboring the originating node, and designating a subset of the first set of nodes as relay nodes. A first one of the relay nodes may then relay, via the contention-free access channel, the message to a second set of nodes neighboring the first relay node. |
| US08730860B2 |
Provision of multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) for roaming subscribers
The present invention proposes a solution for providing multicast/broadcast service to users roaming between different operational domains. In particular it is proposed to provide means enabling the user to contact a home multicast/broadcast server. Said means might be a request being triggered by the user. Said request includes a network identifier identifying the visited operational domain, which is provided to the multicast/broadcast server. The latter decides on a provision method for providing the at least one multicast/broadcast service to the user in the visited operational domain considering rules for a provision of multicast/broadcast services in the visited operational domain and the request triggered by the user. Further the multicast/broadcast server determines a second parameter set for accessing the at least one multicast/broadcast service in the visited operational domain according to the provision method and informs the user about the second parameter set. |
| US08730858B2 |
Method and device for sensitivity compensation
When a radio station terminates a first service on a first radio frequency channel and selects a second radio frequency channel for engaging in a second service, a time delay is inserted after the termination of the first service and before selecting the second radio frequency channel or before engaging in the second service. The time delay is dependent on the state of the radio station and/or a characteristic of the second service. |
| US08730857B2 |
Filtering group-addressed frames in Wi-Fi devices
A method includes the operations of buffering group-addressed frames; generating a first signal field comprising a first rate code selected from a plurality of invalid rate codes; receiving a trigger frame from a wireless station; and transmitting the first signal field in combination with the buffered group-addressed frames in response to the trigger frame. |
| US08730855B2 |
Method and device for detecting a channel
A method for detecting a channel in a mixed-mode communications system is presented. The channel contains a primary synchronization pattern in a predetermined location within the channel. The primary synchronization pattern is compared against different predetermined channel synchronization patterns to detect a channel. Upon detection of the channel, a look-back channel detector confirms the existence of the channel by using the location of the primary synchronization pattern. Detection and confirmation of the channel may be employed simultaneously to each channel of a multiple-channel direct mode of operation signal. Audio holes may be eliminated in a 2:1 TDMA direct mode operation where both time slots contain signals from two different originating communication devices and the signals have different priority. |
| US08730854B2 |
Timing adjustments in a communication system
Methods, systems, apparatus and computer program products are provided to improve synchronization of information units communicated in a wireless communication system. Timing misalignment in the transmission of adjacent information units can produce gaps or overlaps in the transmitted information. In a long-term evolution (LTE) wireless communication system, such gaps and overlaps can be eliminated or reduced by adjusting the lengths of a cyclic prefix portion of one or more transmitted symbols. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the disclosed subject matter. Therefore, it is to be understood that it should not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims. |
| US08730848B2 |
TDD repeater for a wireless network and method for operating said repeater
A repeater (1) particularly suitable for a time-division duplex transmission of communication signals is provided. The repeater (1) comprises a master unit (2) for communicating with a base station (3) of a wireless network, at least one remote unit (4) for communicating with a network terminal, as well as a waveguide (11) connecting the remote unit (4) with the master unit (2) for transmitting the communication signals in an uplink direction (6) from the remote unit (4) to the master unit (2) and in a downlink direction (5) from the master unit (2) to the remote unit (4). Both the master unit (2) and the remote unit (4) comprise one switch (19, 20) each for changing over the signal transmission between uplink direction (6) and downlink direction (5). Both switches (19, 20) are selected by a synchronizing unit (21) arranged in the master unit (2), the synchronizing unit (21) being designed for determining a clock pulsing from the communication signal fed to the master unit (2)—in particular from the base station (3)—and for supplying a control signal corresponding to this clock pulsing to the switches (19, 20). |
| US08730844B2 |
Self-forming ad-hoc network system
Disclosed are a self-forming ad-hoc network architecture and triplet-based radio waveform for communicating via the network architecture. The self-forming ad-hoc network preferably has a plurality of network nodes including a point-of-presence node, one or more relay nodes that aggregate data (triplet) traffic, one or more sensor nodes that send and receive data from relay nodes, and one or more handheld nodes that send and receive data to and from relay nodes and communicate data between themselves. The communication waveform is defined by orthogonal triplets having multiple time slots, multiple frequency channels, and multiple hop sequences in a channel, that is used to communicate between the network nodes. |
| US08730836B2 |
Conditionally intercepting data indicating one or more aspects of a communiqué to obfuscate the one or more aspects of the communiqué
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: intercepting communiqué aspect data that is directed to an end user entity and that indicates one or more aspects of a communiqué directed to the end user entity and that is affiliated with a particular source entity, the intercepting of the communiqué aspect data being in accordance with one or more conditional directives of the end user entity to conditionally obfuscate the communiqué affiliated with the source entity; and transmitting to the end user entity, in response to intercepting the communiqué aspect data and in lieu of transmitting direct indication of the communiqué to the end user entity, covert indicator data that upon reception by the end user entity covertly indicates the one or more aspects of the communiqué. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure. |
| US08730835B2 |
Multi-dimensional resource management in a wireless network
A communication system may include a plurality of entities comprising a hybrid network controller, one or more femtocells, one or more access points and/or one or more end-point devices. The hybrid network controller may determine and/or communicate configuration parameters corresponding to space, time, frequency and/or code domains that may enable communication of data between and/or among two or more of the entities. The configuration parameters may comprise frequency, time slot, codes and/or antenna pattern assignments. The network controller may control communication between a communication device external to the communication system and one or more of the entities within the communication system. Availability of frequencies, time slots, codes and/or antenna patterns may be monitored. The network controller may assign the femtocells, access points and/or end-point devices to handle the communication of the data. The hybrid network controller may communicate with the plurality of entities via wired, optical and/or wireless interfaces. |
| US08730824B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing services in a communication system
A method and apparatus for managing services in a communication system is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a collection element that receives a plurality of service component definitions associated with a corresponding plurality of services of a communication system, a service bundle generation element that generates a plurality of service bundles from the plurality of service component definitions, a policy element that determines a network configuration for each of the plurality of service bundles, a loop rate determination element that determines a data rate for a communication loop coupled to the communication system, and a service offering element that presents one or more service bundles selected from the plurality of service bundles according to the data rate. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08730823B2 |
Core services platform for wireless voice, data and messaging network services
A Core Service Platform (CSP) system is integrated with an operator network and IT system to provide services to subscribers and operators. Based on information collected from the operator network and IT system, the CSP system delivers alerts to a subscriber's device and provides offers to resolve the condition causing the alerts. The CSP system provides customized contextual offers to the subscriber's device based on contextual assessments of a subscriber's current context, such as time in contract, loyalty status, data and voice usage, value of customer, time, location and purchase history. The CSP system also provides an operator a suite of tools for the operator to manage its pricing, offers, campaigns and other subscriber-related issues. |
| US08730821B2 |
Packet loss rate detection method, apparatus, and system
A packet loss rate detection method, apparatus, and system relating to a Packet Switching Network (PSN) are provided, and the method includes: transmitting, by a transmitting end, data packets and Operation, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) packets, and writing a counting value of the data packets into the subsequent OAM packets after a time delay, and receiving, by a receiving end, the data packets and the OAM packets, counting a number of the received data packets, and calculating a packet loss rate based on the number of the practically received data packets and the counting value carried in the OAM packets. |
| US08730816B2 |
Dynamic administration of event pools for relevant event and alert analysis during event storms
Dynamic administration of event pools for relevant event and alert analysis during event storms including receiving, by an events analyzer from an events queue, a plurality of events from one or more components of the distributed processing system, each event including an occurred time and a logged time; creating, by the event analyzer, an events pool; determining whether an arrival rate of the events from the components of the distributed processing system is greater than a predetermined threshold; if the arrival rate is greater than the predetermined threshold, assigning, by the events analyzer, a plurality of events to the events pool in dependence upon their occurred time; and if the arrival rate is not greater than the predetermined threshold, assigning, by the events analyzer, a plurality of events to the events pool in dependence upon their logged time. |
| US08730815B2 |
Interworking for OAM information exchange
A node (110) for an MPLS telecommunications network has interfaces (100) for OAM information exchange relating to a path for data traffic, between first and second other nodes each operating according to different OAM state machines for OAM information exchange. An OAM state machine mapper (120) maps the states of either of the different OAM state machines of the first and second other nodes into states recognized by the other of the different OAM state machines. OAM information exchange is according to either the first or the second OAM state machine and according to states mapped from the other of the OAM state machines, to support the path for data traffic through the node. By such mapping of the different states OAM information can be exchanged across corresponding boundaries and so paths no longer need to be terminated at the boundary to enable end to end operations. |
| US08730814B2 |
Communication network connection failure protection methods and systems
Communication network connection failure protection methods and systems are disclosed. Control information is communicated in a communication network, and causes network elements of the communication network to establish connection monitoring for respective segments of the network connection. Connection monitoring information which is communicated on the segments allows failures such as loss of continuity to be detected and reported. Responsive to an indication of a failure on a segment, the segment on which the failure occurred is identified, and the network connection can be rerouted around that segment. |
| US08730813B2 |
Apparatus for performing packet-shaping on a packet flow
A first apparatus receives, at a first transmission rate, packets belonging to a target packet flow on which packet-shaping processing for controlling network traffic is to be performed, and stores the received packets in a first packet buffer. Then, the first apparatus performs first packet-shaping processing on the target packet flow by transmitting, at a second transmission rate, packets that belong to the target packet flow and read out from the first packet buffer. A second apparatus stores packets received from the first apparatus in a second packet buffer. When a shortage of buffer resource for storing packets belonging to the target packet flow occurs in the first packet buffer, the second apparatus performs second packet-shaping processing on the target packet flow by transmitting, at a third transmission rate, packets that belong to the target packet flow and are read out from the second packet buffer. |
| US08730811B2 |
Managing network traffic
Managing network traffic includes associating a wireless client device with a wireless access point comprising at least one processor with said wireless access point, identifying a network to which said wireless client device is assigned; and with said wireless access point, assigning said wireless client device to one of a plurality of Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) implemented within said network according to a protocol for balancing network traffic across the plurality of VLANs. |
| US08730805B2 |
Load estimation
An OFDM based communications system is provided, in which a scheduler is configured to estimate the load of existing bearers and the load increase that will arise from a new requested bearer if that bearer is accepted. Several techniques are described for estimating these loads and their advantages and disadvantages are also discussed. Estimators are also provided that can estimate the loads from a previous estimate and current load conditions. |
| US08730804B2 |
Overload control in a communications network
An adaptive overload system for controlling the amount of traffic processed by a network access controller is described for a network access controller arranged to control a plurality of network access points. Each network access point provides traffic with access to the communications network and the system comprises determining at the network access controller if an overload condition exists, and if so, generating at least one global constraint to restrict the rate at which a network access point admits said traffic to the communications network. The controller then multicasts at least one global traffic constraint to one or more of said plurality of network access points. Each network access point receiving the global constraint then processes the global traffic constraint to determine a plurality of local constraint conditions. The receiving network access point performs the following steps to determine said local constraint conditions: determining a local predetermined gap interval to be imposed on said traffic; and determining an initial gap interval which differs from the subsequent local predetermined gap intervals, the initial gap intervals differing between each of said plurality of network access points. The initial gap intervals are determined in either a random or pseudo-random manner to ensure synchronization effects at the network access controller which would otherwise occur in high call rate scenarios are removed. |
| US08730802B2 |
Method and system for transmitting packets
A system and method of transmitting packets from a wireless device is provided. According to a broad aspect, the wireless device is to transmit a packet on a communication channel during a time window based on whether or not the communication channel is expected to be torn down during the time window. If the communication channel is not expected to be torn down during the time window, then the wireless device transmits the packet late in the time window. However, if the communication channel is expected to be torn down during the time window, then the wireless device transmits the packet during the time window just prior to when the communication channel is expected to be torn down. This prevents having to re-establish the communication channel merely to transmit the packet if the communication channel is torn down. |
| US08730799B2 |
Dynamic adjustment of receive window utilized by a transmitting device
A method of controlling size of a receive window includes, at a transmitting device, transmitting packets over a communication channel from the transmitting device to a receiver, receiving acknowledgment packets from the receiver corresponding to the transmitted packets, determining a backlog parameter for the receiver in accordance with a parameter value in the received acknowledgment packets, resetting the size of the receive window in accordance with a function of a current size of the receive window and the backlog parameter, and after the resetting, transmitting packets over the communication channel from the transmitting devices to the receiver in accordance with the reset size of the receive window. |
| US08730798B2 |
Transmitter channel throughput in an information network
Apparatus and methods for transmitting information over a home coax network. The apparatus and methods may involve a physical layer frequency domain signal preprocessor and a physical layer time domain signal transmitter. The transmitter may be configured to receive the signal from the preprocessor and transmit the signal over coax that is in radiofrequency communication with a plurality of network nodes, the transmitter having a first transmission channel and a second transmission channel. The signal may be received by a receiver on the network. The receiver may have a MAC-to-PHY interface that is configured to receive signals from single-transmission-channel transmitters. |
| US08730797B2 |
Method for forwarding direct message in partial function OFDMA relay system
A method for forwarding direct message in partial function OFDMA relay system is proposed in present invention. In present invention, the operations like forwarding and reflecting are fixed for the PFRS. Therefore, the BS performs scheduling according to the fixed operations so as to make the PFRS actually has the function of direct message forwarding. |
| US08730794B2 |
Priority service protection
There is disclosed a method and apparatus for allocating resources in a transmission medium, in which method data is associated with different classes of traffic, the different classes of traffic being associated with different priority levels, wherein resources are selectively reserved on the transmission medium for traffic classes in accordance with an associated priority level. |
| US08730792B2 |
Switching device and switching method
Each of a first switching processor and a second switching processor included in a switching device switches plural pieces of data to determined destinations. A controller bypass-transmits a determined number of pieces of data received by the first switching processor to the second switching processor according to a congestion state of the first switching processor to make both of the first switching processor and the second switching processor perform a switching process. Alternatively, the controller bypass-transmits a determined number of pieces of data received by the second switching processor to the first switching processor according to a congestion state of the second switching processor to make both of the first switching processor and the second switching processor perform a switching process. |
| US08730788B2 |
Linear multiuser precoding with multiple-receive antenna receivers
According to one embodiment there is provided a method performed in a transmitter side of a multiuser minimum square error linear precoding MIMO system that comprises a transmitter with a plurality of transmit antennae and a plurality of receivers. Each receiver of the plurality of receivers comprises a plurality of receive antennae. The method is a method of scheduling receivers from among the plurality of receivers and comprises obtaining, for some or all of the receivers, receiver channel information that quantifies the properties of transmit channels between receiver antennae of the receiver and transmit antennae of the transmitter and establishing an order for determining the receiver combining vectors of the some or all of the receivers. The order is established by selecting as a next receiver in the order a so far unselected receiver from the some or all of the receivers that minimally increases the mean square data transmission error. The establishing of the order is based on the channel information of any receivers previously selected in the order and of unselected receivers. |
| US08730786B2 |
Remote radio head unit system with wideband power amplifier and method
A remote radio head unit (RRU) system for multiple operating frequency bands, multi-channels, driven by a single or more wide band power amplifiers. More specifically, the present invention enables multiple-bands RRU to use fewer power amplifiers in order to reduce size and cost of the multi-band RRU. The present invention is based on the method of using duplexers and/or interference cancellation system technique to increase the isolation between the transmitter signal and receiver signal of the RRU. |
| US08730784B2 |
Information storage medium, reproducing method, and recording method
A machine readable information storage medium, a reproducing method and apparatus which reproduces data from the storage medium, and a recording method and apparatus for recording data on the storage medium. The information storage medium includes a control area which stores within a data structure information usable by the recording or reproducing apparatus to record or reproduce the data on or from the storage medium. The information stored within the data structure includes a version corresponding to a specification, a revision number of recording speed, and an extended part version field. |
| US08730783B2 |
Information storage medium, reproducing method, and recording method
A machine readable information storage medium, a reproducing method and apparatus which reproduces data from the storage medium, and a recording method and apparatus for recording data on the storage medium. The information storage medium includes a control area which stores within a data structure information usable by the recording or reproducing apparatus to record or reproduce the data on or from the storage medium. The information stored within the data structure includes a version corresponding to a specification, a revision number of recording speed, and an extended part version field. |
| US08730782B2 |
Information storage medium, reproducing method, and recording method
A machine readable information storage medium, a reproducing method and apparatus which reproduces data from the storage medium, and a recording method and apparatus for recording data on the storage medium. The information storage medium includes a control area which stores within a data structure information usable by the recording or reproducing apparatus to record or reproduce the data on or from the storage medium. The information stored within the data structure includes a version corresponding to a specification, a revision number of recording speed, and an extended part version field. |
| US08730770B2 |
System and method for facilitating the handover process of digital vinyl systems
A system and method is introduced to facilitate the handover process of performers who are using digital vinyl systems (DVS). A DVS may be connected to an existing audio setup during the playing of another performer without interrupting the other performer and without disconnecting any connections in the existing audio setup. When the DVS is connected and a handover process is required, a switch is activated to select the DVS as the current active device for use. A DVS may be disconnected from an existing audio setup without interrupting another performer. The system may be implemented as part of an audio device or as a separate stand alone device. |
| US08730765B2 |
Method and device for measuring a profile of the ground
A method for measuring a profile of the ground involves using a transmitting arrangement, which is attached to a watercraft, for the directed emission of sound signals into an underwater area and a receiving arrangement having at least two transducers for receiving sound waves reflected by the profile of the ground. |
| US08730763B2 |
Methods and apparatus to optimize parameters in a downhole environment
Methods and apparatus to optimize parameters in a downhole environment are described. An example downhole tool includes a transmitter to transmit a signal into a subterranean formation and one or more receivers to receive at least a portion of the acoustic signal. The downhole tool also includes a processor configured to determine slownesses of different acoustic modes at a frequency of the signal received. Each of the slownesses is associated with a first parameter and a second parameter. The different acoustic modes have substantially different sensitivities to at least one of the first parameter or the second parameter. The processor to invert the determined slownesses of the different acoustic modes to determine an optimized value of the first parameter and an optimized value of the second parameter. |
| US08730762B2 |
Automatic programmed acquisition using downhole seismic sources
The present disclosure relates to making seismic measurements using a seismic source disposed in a wellbore. One or more seismic sources are provided and carried on a conveyance mechanism. One or more seismic receivers are provided and placed on or near the earth's surface, in the same wellbore as the seismic sources, or in another wellbore. The one or more seismic sources are run into and/or out of the wellbore using a controller or sequencer. The one or more seismic sources are positioned, manually or automatically, at one or more locations in the wellbore, using a set of computer-controlled instructions. Seismic measurements are made at the one or more locations by activating the one or more seismic sources and detecting a seismic source signal using the seismic receivers. The receivers may be carried on a conveyance mechanism and their position controlled, manually or automatically, using the set of computer-controlled instructions. |
| US08730759B2 |
Devices and system providing reduced quantity of interconnections
Methods, devices and systems for reducing the quantity of external interconnections of a memory device are disclosed. Implementation of one such method, device and system includes inputting over an address bus a first portion of an address of a next row of memory cells to be activated. The first portion of the address of the next row of memory cells to be activated is embedded in a command related to the previously activated row of memory cells. The next row of memory cells is subsequently activated according to a concurrently received second portion of the address of the next row of memory cells also received over the address bus. The portioning of the address signals can reduce the width of the address bus and, therefore, the number of required respective external interconnections. |
| US08730758B2 |
Adjustment of write timing in a memory device
A method and system are provided for adjusting a write timing in a memory device. For instance, the method can include receiving a data signal, a write clock signal, and a reference signal. The method can also include detecting a phase shift in the reference signal over time. The phase shift of the reference signal can be used to adjust a phase difference between the data signal and the write clock signal, where the memory device recovers data from the data signal based on an adjusted write timing of the data signal and the write clock signal. |
| US08730757B2 |
Memory system
According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a first semiconductor memory and a controller. The first semiconductor memory receives a first clock, and outputs, in accordance with the first clock, a second clock and a data signal in synchronization with the second clock. The controller includes a detection circuit which detects a shift of a duty ratio of the second clock which is output from the first semiconductor memory. The controller also includes an adjustment circuit which adjusts a duty ratio of the first clock based on the shift detected by the detection circuit. |
| US08730755B2 |
Single transistor driver for address lines in a phase change memory and switch (PCMS) array
The present disclosure relates to the fabrication of non-volatile memory devices. In at least one embodiment, a single transistor may be used to drive each address line, either a wordline or a bitline. Both an inhibit voltage and a selection voltage may be driven through these single transistor devices, which may be achieved with the introduction of odd and even designations for the address lines. In one operating embodiment, a selected address line may be driven to a selection voltage, and the address lines of the odd or even designation which is the same as the selected address line are allowed to float. The address lines of the odd or even designation with is different from the selected address lines are driven to an inhibit voltage, wherein adjacent floating address lines may act as shielding lines to the selected address line. |
| US08730754B2 |
Memory apparatus and system with shared wordline decoder
A memory device includes wordline decoder circuits that share components between adjacent memory blocks. The wordline decoder circuits include multiple levels, where at least one level is split, driving half of the wordlines in one adjacent memory block and driving half of the wordlines in another adjacent memory block. Memory blocks have every other wordline coupled to one adjacent decoder circuit, and the remaining wordlines coupled to another adjacent decoder circuit. |
| US08730752B1 |
Circuits and methods for placing programmable impedance memory elements in high impedance states
A memory device can include a load circuit coupled in series with at least one memory element between two nodes and configured to enable a programming current to flow through the memory element to lower its impedance, and configured to enable an erase current to flow through the element in a direction opposite to the program current, the erase current varying in response to an erase voltage applied across the two nodes as the memory element impedance increases. |
| US08730750B1 |
Memory device with control circuitry for generating a reset signal in read and write modes of operation
A memory device includes a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of sense amplifiers configured to sense data stored in the memory cells of the memory array, a dummy wordline coupled to respective enable inputs of the sense amplifiers, a dummy wordline return, a dummy bitline, a dummy sense amplifier having an input coupled to the dummy bitline, and control circuitry coupled to the output of the dummy sense amplifier and the dummy wordline return. The control circuitry has a first configuration for generating a reset signal based at least in part on a signal at the output of the dummy sense amplifier in a read mode of operation, and has a second configuration different than the first configuration for generating the reset signal based at least in part on a signal on the dummy wordline return in a write mode of operation. |
| US08730745B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for controlling the same
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of first interconnects which extend in a first direction and are arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a plurality of second interconnects which extend in the second direction and are arranged in the first direction, and a plurality of first storage modules which are formed in regions where the first interconnects and the second interconnects cross. The semiconductor memory device further comprises a first interconnect control module which supplies a voltage to the first interconnects, detects a first current flowing in the first interconnects, and outputs a first voltage corresponding to the first current, a reference voltage generator module which generates a second voltage based on a second current, and a regulator which generates a third voltage based on the first voltage and the second voltage. |
| US08730744B2 |
Semiconductor memory with redundant word lines, system, and method of manufacturing semiconductor memory
A semiconductor memory has a memory cell array having a plurality of real word lines, a plurality of redundant word lines, a plurality of bit lines crossing with the real and redundant word lines, a plurality of memory cells provided at crossing section of the real and redundant word lines and the bit lines, and a row selection circuit for selecting the real word line or the redundant word line in accordance with a row address being supplied. The row selection circuit selects the real word line or the redundant word line at an ordinary operation, and multi-selects the redundant word lines at a first test mode. |
| US08730741B2 |
Semiconductor memory system capable of suppressing consumption current
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory system includes a first semiconductor memory device, a second semiconductor memory device, and a wiring line. The wiring line is connected between the first semiconductor memory device and the second semiconductor memory device. When one of the first and second semiconductor memory devices discharges electric charge, the other of the first and second semiconductor memory devices receives the discharged electric charge through the wiring line. |
| US08730737B2 |
Method and system for minimizing number of programming pulses used to program rows of non-volatile memory cells
A flash memory device programs cells in each row in a manner that minimizes the number of programming pulses that must be applied to the cells during programming. The flash memory device includes a pseudo pass circuit that determines the number of data errors in each of a plurality of subsets of data that has been programmed in the row. The size of each subset corresponds to the number of read data bits coupled from the memory device, which are simultaneously applied to error checking and correcting circuitry. During iterative programming of a row of cells, the pseudo pass circuit indicates a pseudo pass condition to terminate further programming of the row if none of the subsets of data have a number of data errors that exceeds the number of data errors that can be corrected by the error checking and correcting circuitry. |
| US08730733B2 |
Non-volatile memory device and memory system including the same
A non-volatile memory device and a read method thereof are disclosed. The read method includes providing a memory block having memory cells connected to word lines and connected in serial to a bit line, sensing potential of the bit line by applying a first read voltage to a selected word line of the word lines and providing a first pass voltage to an unselected word line adjacent to the selected word line, sensing potential of the bit line by applying a second read voltage higher than the first read voltage to the selected word line and providing a second pass voltage lower than the first pass voltage to the unselected word line adjacent to the selected word line, and sensing potential of the bit line by applying a third read voltage higher than the second read voltage to the selected word line and providing a third pass voltage lower than the second pass voltage to the unselected word line adjacent to the selected word line. |
| US08730728B2 |
EEPROM cell with transfer gate
An EEPROM cell including a transfer gate that can suppress a data disturbance phenomenon of the EEPROM cell is provided. The EEPROM cell includes: an inverter; a control plate; a tunneling plate; a data output metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) that is connected to the inverter; a floating plate that is connected to the inverter; a tunneling capacitor area that is formed between the floating plate and the tunneling plate; and a transfer gate that is connected to the tunneling plate. As the transfer gate is added between a bit line and the tunneling plate of the EEPROM cell, in a standby (or unselected) operation of the EEPROM cell, the tunneling plate is floated. |
| US08730724B2 |
Common line current for program level determination in flash memory
In a nonvolatile memory array that stores randomized data, the program level—the number of states per cell stored in a population of memory cells—is determined from the total current passing through the population of memory cells under read conditions, as observed on a common line, for example a source line in NAND flash memory. |
| US08730719B1 |
MRAM with metal gate write conductors
In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a magnetic random access (MRAM) device. The device comprises a plurality of MRAM cells, wherein each MRAM cell comprises a magnetic bit, and write conductors defined by conductors patterned in a second metal layer above the magnetic bit; and a gate formed below the magnetic bit between a source and a drain; and addressing circuits to address the MRAM cells. |
| US08730712B2 |
SRAM including write assist circuit and method of operating same
A static random access memory (SRAM) is described and includes; a bit cell connected with a word line, connected between a bit line and a complementary bit line, and receiving an internal voltage from a write assist circuit. The write assist circuit includes a power control circuit that charges/discharges an internal voltage line to provide the internal voltage in response to at least one control signal, and a compensation circuit that controls a level of the internal voltage. |
| US08730699B2 |
Current-source power converter using normally-on field effect transistors
The invention relates to a current-source power converter comprising, in a module thereof , switching legs having normally-on field effect transistors each controlled by a gate control device. A normally-open auxiliary switch is in series with the switching legs and connected to the positive line of the power supply bus. This auxiliary switch can prevent the mains from short-circuiting during start-up or during malfunction of the auxiliary power supply. |
| US08730689B2 |
Capacitive power supply
A capacitive power supply including an input section having input terminals for connection to an AC-mains supply, and a capacitive coupling, a rectification section coupled via the capacitive coupling to the input terminals, and an output section coupled to the rectification section, the output section including output terminals, for providing an output voltage to a load, a first chain including a charge storage facility, and a second chain arranged in parallel to the first chain, and including an output voltage limiting facility, the capacitive power supply further including an inrush current limiting facility, wherein the output terminals are connected to respective terminals of the output voltage limiting facility, and the DC-conducting series impedance has a resistive component with a resistive value of at least 0.2 times a resistive value of the first chain. |
| US08730683B2 |
Attachment mechanism for electronic component
An attachment mechanism for an electronic component includes a circuit board and a fastener. A first connector is fastened to the circuit board to be connected to a second connector of the electronic component. The first connector includes a mounting portion fastened to the circuit board and a main body on a top of the mounting portion. The fastener includes an engaging portion and a rotating portion rotatably connected to a first end of the engaging portion. The engaging portion sandwiches the main body. The rotating portion includes a top wall and two abutting walls extending from opposite ends of the top wall to abut a top of the main body. One of the abutting walls is rotatably connected to the first end of the engaging portion. A stop wall extends from the other abutting wall to be detachably connected a second end of the engaging portion. |
| US08730677B2 |
Method of cooling electronic circuit boards using surface mounted devices
The invention relates to a method of cooling electronic circuit boards using surface mounted devices (SMD), the method comprising the steps of: after or during the board layout, filling empty spaces V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6, V7, V8, V9, V10 with at a number of heat sink devices 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 near a thermal hot spot and connecting the number of heat sink devices 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to a thermally conducting path 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35 of the board N, respectively. Further, the invention relates to a heat sink device 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 adapted to implement the method according to the invention. |
| US08730673B2 |
Fluid-cooled module for integrated circuit devices
A self-contained fluid-cooled electro-optical plug in type module capable of being exchangeably mounted in an external chassis incorporates electronic or electro-optical devices mounted on one or more interposers which provide electrical power and electric and optical signal connections to the devices and are also provided with fluid conduits through which a cooling fluid is circulated in a closed-loop cooling path to a heat exchanger for transferring the heat generated in the devices to external heat disposal equipment in the mounting chassis. |
| US08730671B2 |
Side-exhaust cooling system with extensible duct for rack mounted equipment
A cooling device for rack mount equipment comprises an extensible side duct, open on its inner and rear-facing sides which redirects warm exhaust air exiting vents in the side of a chassis towards the rear of an enclosure holding the chassis. An apparatus incorporating the cooling device may be installed in a rack with the extensible side duct in a retracted position. The extensible side duct may extend under the influence of air pressure, forming a plenum in fluid communication with the interior of a chassis on which it is mounted such that warm air exiting the chassis is collected in the plenum formed by the extensible side duct and directed out towards the rear of the chassis. Use of the apparatus permits conventional front-to-back cooling airflow patterns to be maintained even with chassis having side exhaust vents. |
| US08730670B1 |
Embossed heat spreader
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a heat spreader module for dissipating thermal heat generated by electronic components. The assembly comprises a printed circuit board (PCB), electronic components disposed on the PCB, a thermal interface material (TIM) thermally coupled to the electronic components, and a heat spreader plate thermally coupled to the TIM. The heat spreader plate includes an embossed pattern. Consequently, surface area available for heat conduction between the heat spreader plate and surrounding medium may be increased relative to the prior art designs. |
| US08730668B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device includes a housing unit, an electronic module and a locking mechanism. The housing unit includes a first housing and a second housing that is coupled detachably to the first housing. The locking mechanism includes an operable member and a drive member. The drive member can prevent movement of the second housing relative to the first housing. The operable member is operable to release the second housing from the drive member. When the drive member is moved to a position whereat the second housing is released, it can be maintained in the position, so that a user doesn't have to maintain the position of the drive member through operation of the operable member when separating the second housing from the first housing. |
| US08730667B2 |
Protection cover, electronic device and cover holding structure
A first coupling member 20 can be engaged with a first engagement hole 2e and held slidably by a first support member 12. A second coupling member 30 of the present embodiment can be engaged with a second engagement hole 2f and held slidably by a second support member 13. With this configuration, a relative position between a second housing 2 and a protection cover 10 changes at the time of turning the second housing 2 in a direction indicated by an arrow A or B, which can prevent the protection cover 10 from loosening significantly near the hinge portions 3. |
| US08730654B2 |
Uninterruptible power supply module unit and uninterruptible power supply including the same
A UPS module includes a battery; a case accommodating the battery; a terminal disposed on a side of the case so as to transmit or receive electric signals representing data about a status of the battery to or from an external device; and a terminal unit disposed on another side of the case to be electrically connected to an external device for charging or discharging the battery. |
| US08730651B2 |
Cross bus main device
A device for disconnecting electrical power from a first stack of meter modules, wherein the power is supplied by a main box that also supplies power to a second stack of meter modules. The device includes an incoming bus section for receiving power from the main box and an outgoing bus section for feeding power to the first stack of modules. In addition, the device includes a cross bus device connected to the incoming and outgoing bus sections and a circuit breaker connected to the cross bus device. When the circuit breaker is closed, power is supplied to the first and second stacks of modules. When the circuit breaker is opened, power to the first stack of modules is disconnected while power to the second stack of modules is maintained. |
| US08730650B2 |
Water purification device
Improved flow through capacitors (FTC) and methods for purifying aqueous solutions are disclosed. For example, FTC electrodes that are activated with a poly-electrolyte are disclosed. |
| US08730633B2 |
Method and device for protecting an autotransformer for an aircraft
The present disclosure is directed towards a method for protecting a multi-phase autotransformer for an aircraft including the steps of receiving values of current input into and output from the first and second phases; determining, as a function of these received values, values of current representative of the operation of the phases; determining, as a function of these determined values, a value representative of a homopolar current flowing in the first phase; comparing, in a first comparison, the value representative of the homopolar current flowing in the first phase with a first predetermined threshold value; and controlling the values of current input into the phases as a function of the first comparison. |
| US08730624B2 |
Electrostatic discharge power clamp with a JFET based RC trigger circuit
An ESD power clamp circuit and method of ESD protection. The ESD power clamp circuit includes: a power clamp device coupled to a resistive/capacitive (RC) network, the RC network including a capacitor as the capacitive element of the RC network and one or more junction field effect transistors (JFETs) configured as variable resistors as the resistive element of the RC network. |
| US08730623B2 |
Head stack assembly and disk drive unit with the same
Disclosed is a head stack assembly, which comprises a pivot bearing assembly having a main body which comprising a first end surface and a second end surface, and a flange extended from the main body and located between the first and second end surfaces, the flange having a first interface adjacent the first end surface of the main body and a second interface opposite to the first interface; a drive arm mounted on the main body and secured on the first interface of the flange; and a fantail spacer mounted on the main body and secured on the second interface of the flange. |
| US08730620B1 |
Flexible ramp in a hard disk drive
An example hard disk drive (HDD) comprising a magnetic disk and a ramp within the HDD is disclosed. A slit is disposed between a ramp body and a flange. |
| US08730617B1 |
Tapered leading and side shields for use in a perpendicular magnetic recording head
In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a main pole having a trapezoidal cross-section at a media-facing surface thereof and a flared shape with a greater width in a cross-track direction at positions away from the media-facing surface, a leading shield positioned near a leading side of the main pole, wherein a leading gap is provided between the main pole and the leading shield, side shields positioned on both sides of the main pole in the cross-track direction adjacent the media-facing surface of the main pole, with side gaps provided between the main pole and both of the side shields, and a trailing gap provided on a trailing side of the main pole at the media-facing surface thereof, with a throat height of the side shields being less than the throat height of the side shields at a position closer to the trailing gap than the leading gap. |
| US08730616B2 |
Magnetic recording head, head gimbal assembly with the same, and disk drive
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording head includes a main pole, a trailing shield opposing the main pole with a write gap therebetween, and a high-frequency oscillator between a distal end portion of the main pole and the trailing shield configured to produce a high-frequency magnetic field. The high-frequency oscillator includes a lower end surface facing the recording medium and an upper end surface substantially parallel to the lower end surface. The width of the lower end surface in a track-width direction is smaller than that of the upper end surface. |
| US08730609B1 |
DC shift detection and correction
A system including a first filter module and a second filter module. The first filter module is configured to (i) pass a first DC shift in an input signal and (ii) convert a second DC shift in the input signal to a first component and a second component. The first DC shift is shorter in duration than the second DC shift. The second filter module is configured to detect one or more of (i) the first DC shift and (ii) the first component and the second component of the second DC shift. In response to detecting one or more of (i) the first DC shift and (ii) the first component and the second component of the second DC shift, the second filter module is configured to filter one or more of (i) the first DC shift and (ii) the first component and the second component of the second DC shift. |
| US08730596B2 |
Imaging device and lens barrel
An imaging device comprises a lens barrel having an optical system with an adjustable focal point, and has a first state can focus relative to an imaging face, and a second state can not focus relative to the imaging face, a changing unit for changing the lens barrel from the second state to the first state when the imaging unit is activated, a discriminating unit which discriminates whether the state of the barrel is the first state or the second state, and a control unit which, at a time of activating the imaging unit, changes the lens barrel to the first state by the changing unit if it is discriminated that the state of the barrel is the second state, and which maintains the first state if it is discriminated that the state of the barrel is the first state. |
| US08730595B2 |
Optical image stabilizer and lens driving apparatus
An optical image stabilizer includes a base member, a movable member that is disposed at the base member and moves along a plane orthogonal to an optical axis, a movable-member driving portion that is disposed at the base member and the movable member, and moves the movable member in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis, and a regulator that regulates a movement of the movable member along the plane orthogonal to the optical axis. The regulator regulates the movement of the movable member with two movement paths, which are a linear movement path along which the movable member moves in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis and a rotation path along which the movable member rotates around a point on the linear movement path. |
| US08730594B2 |
Image pickup lens for solid-state image pickup element
An image pickup lens for a solid-state image pickup element includes a first lens having a positive refractive power with a convex surface facing the object side, a second lens with concave surfaces facing the object side and an image side, a third lens of a meniscus shape having a positive refractive power with a convex surface facing the image side, and a fourth lens with concave surfaces facing the object side and the image side, wherein the image pickup lens satisfies the following conditional expressions (1),(2),(5),and(7); −1.3 |
| US08730593B2 |
Image pickup optical system and image pickup apparatus having the same
An image pickup optical system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit that does not move for focusing and has a positive optical power, a second lens unit that moves during focusing, an aperture diaphragm, and a third lens unit that does not move for focusing. The image pickup optical system includes a diffractive optical element, and an optical element NLF made of a solid material on the object side of an intersection between a paraxial chief ray and an optical axis. The predetermined conditional expressions are satisfied. |
| US08730589B2 |
Image lens with high resolution and small distance
An image lens, in order from an object side to an image side thereof, includes a first lens including a first surface and a second surface, a second lens including a third surface and a fourth surface, a third lens including a fifth surface and a sixth surface, a fourth lens including a seventh surface and a eighth surface, and an image plane. The image lens satisfies the following formulas: D/TTL>1.11; D/L>1.13; Z/Y>0.076; wherein D is the maximum image diameter of the image plane; TTL is a total length of the image lens; L is a distance from an outermost edge of the eighth surface to an optical axis of the image lens; Z is a distance from a central point of the sixth surface to an outermost edge of the sixth surface; and Y is a distance from the outermost edge of the sixth surface to the optical axis. |
| US08730576B2 |
Microretarder film
The present invention provides a micro-retarder film for a 2D/3D image switchable display. The micro-retarder film comprises a first homogenous layer, a microstructure phase layer with a plurality of retarder patterns formed on the first homogenous layer alternately, and a second homogenous layer formed on the microstructure phase layer. |
| US08730575B2 |
Wire-grid polarizer and process for producing the same
Disclosed are a wire grid polarizer, which exhibits high polarization, p-polarized light transmittance, and s-polarized light reflectance in the visible light region, and the optical characteristics of which have low angular dependence and wavelength dependence, and a manufacturing method for the same. A wire grid polarizer (10) comprises a light transmissive substrate (14), on the surface of which a multiplicity of convex strips (12), the width of which gradually narrows from the base to the apex, is formed parallel to one another with intervening flat spots (13) formed between the convex strips (12), and at a specified pitch (Pp), and a metallic layer (20), which covers the entire surface of a first side face (16) of the convex strip (12) and a portion of the flat spot (13) adjacent thereto, and either does not cover a second side face (18) of the convex strip (12) or covers a portion of a second side face (18); and a manufacturing method forms a metallic layer (20) by vapor depositioning a metal or metal compound from a direction that is substantially orthogonal to the length direction of the convex strips (12) and forms a 25-40 DEG angle relative to the height direction of the convex strips (12) on the side of the first side face (16), under conditions in which the deposition amount is 40-60 nm. |
| US08730574B2 |
Microscope system
A microscope system includes a culture unit for holding and cultivating a specimen while maintaining constant temperature and humidity; a stage for holding the culture unit; a first light-converging optical system for converging illumination light emitted from a light source on the specimen; a second light-converging optical system for converging transmitted light that has passed through the specimen; a transmitted-light pinhole provided at a position optically conjugate to the light-converging position of illumination light on the specimen to cut off part of transmitted light converged by the second light-converging optical system; a transmitted-light detector that detects transmitted light that has passed through the transmitted-light pinhole; a moving system for moving the first and second light-converging optical systems, the transmitted-light pinhole, and the transmitted-light detector and the stage relative to each other; a housing that encloses these components and cuts off external light; and a control unit. |
| US08730571B2 |
Window films with reflective organic and metal layers
A system and method for windows films having one or more layers incorporating an organic free radical compound, wherein the layers reflect in the infrared region, and one or more layers of a multilayer interference stack of a metal/metal or metal/metal oxide design. Preferably, the organic free radical compound is a salt of an aminium radical cation. One or more layers of the multilayer interference stack may incorporate an aminium radical cation compound. Also provided are security windows that utilize such window films. |
| US08730568B2 |
Generating laser pulses based on chirped pulse amplification
Techniques and devices for producing short laser pulses based on chirped pulse amplification. |
| US08730567B2 |
Terahertz continuous wave generator
A terahertz continuous wave generator includes: an optical intensity modulator configured to modulate an optical signal into DSB optical signals; a local oscillator configured to generate a modulation signal for modulating the optical signal inputted to the optical intensity modulator into DSB optical signals; a notch filter configured to filter an optical signal with a specific frequency; an optical fiber amplifier configured to amplify an output signal of the optical intensity modulator; an optical circulator configured to transmit the optical signal inputted to the optical fiber amplifier to the notch filter and transmit the optical signal reflected from the notch filter to an input of the optical intensity modulator; an optical coupler configured to apply the optical signal to the optical intensity modulator; and an OE converter configured to photomix the DSB signals outputted through the notch filter. |
| US08730566B2 |
Grating based optical parametric oscillator and method of dynamically tuning the oscillator for generating desired optical signals
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) (e.g., for a laser transmitting device) includes non-linear optical media, optical beam manipulating elements, and a narrow linewidth filter in the form of a rotatable grating. The grating enables rapid tuning of the oscillator to provide an output beam with a desired wavelength. A pump laser provides a pump laser beam, and the non-linear optical media convert the pump beam into light beams with a signal wavelength and an idler wavelength. The angular positions or orientations of the non-linear optical media relative to a longitudinal propagation axis of the optical parametric oscillator (OPO) are adjustable to effectively tune the resulting signal and idler wavelengths. An output coupler receives the resulting beams from the non-linear optical media, and emits beams with the desired wavelength (signal and/or idler wavelengths). |
| US08730565B2 |
Electromagnetic wave radiation element and method for producing same
A device for irradiating an electromagnetic wave irradiates an electromagnetic wave having a target frequency in a range of 0.1 THz to 30 THz to the outside of a non-linear optical crystal. The device includes a main body composed of a non-linear optical crystal and a sub wavelength grating structure formed on a surface of the main body. The sub wavelength grating structure includes column shaped bodies regularly arranged on a surface of the main body. Each of the column shaped bodies includes a constant width part having a constant width and a base part provided from the surface toward the constant width part. A surface of the base part has a shape of an arc having a center of curvature in the outside of the base part viewed in a cross section of the column shaped body cut along a direction in which the column shaped bodies are arranged. |
| US08730564B2 |
Method and structure for nonlinear optics
A nonlinear optical crystal having a chemical formula of YiLajAlkB16O48, where 2.8≦i≦3.2, 0.8≦j≦1.2, i and j sum to about four, and k is about 12 is provided. The nonlinear optical crystal is useful for nonlinear optical applications including frequency conversion. Nonlinear optical crystals in a specific embodiment are characterized by UV blocking materials (e.g., some transition metals and lanthanides) at concentrations of less than 1,000 parts per million, providing high transmittance over portions of the UV spectrum (e.g., 175-360 nm). |
| US08730563B2 |
Potassium chloroborate nonlinear optical crystal, preparation method and use thereof
The present invention relates to a potassium chloroborate nonlinear optical crystal, a preparation method and a use thereof. The crystal has a chemical formula of K3B6O10Cl, has no symmetric center, belongs to rhombohedral crystal system, has a space group R3m with unit cell parameters of a=10.0624(14) Å, b=10.0624(14) Å, c=8.8361(18) Å, Z=3 and V=774.8(2) Å3. It has a powder second harmonic generation efficiency of about 3 times that of KDP (KH2PO4), and a Mohs hardness of 4-5, a transparent wavelength range of 165 nm-3460 nm. The compound is synthesized by a solid-state reaction and the crystal is grown by using a flux, which are of easy operation and low costs. The obtained crystal has large size, short growing period, little inclusion, relatively high mechanical hardness, and is easy to be cut, polished and stored. Said crystal is used to generate a second, third, fourth or fifth harmonic light output for a laser beam with a wavelength of 1064 nm. |
| US08730561B2 |
Electrophoretic display device and driving method thereof
An electrophoretic display device includes a first display substrate (including a base substrate, a first electrode, and a second electrode), a second display substrate (including a third electrode facing the first and second electrodes), and an electrophoretic layer between the first display substrate and the second display substrate, the electrophoretic layer including a first charged particle, a second charged particle and a colored solvent (the first and second charged particles having different polarities from each other and the colored solvent having a chromatic color). |
| US08730554B2 |
Variable transmittance element, optical system, and optical apparatus utilizing electrochromic material
A variable transmittance element includes two substrates, two transparent electrode layers held between the two substrates, an electrochromic layer held between the two transparent electrode layers and having transmittance that is reversibly changed by electric control, and a first dielectric layer provided between one of the two substrates and one of the two transparent electrode layers closest to the one of the two substrates and configured to reduce reflections. The first dielectric layer is a multilayer film made by alternately laminating two or more layers each having a high refractive index and two or more layers each having a low refractive index, a refractive index difference for a wavelength of 550 nm between the layer having the high refractive index and the layer having the low refractive index being 0.2 or more. |
| US08730551B2 |
Vehicular rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating these elements
The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same. Area of the effective field of view of the electro-optic mirror element substantially equals to that defined by the outermost perimeter of the element. |
| US08730549B2 |
Two-dimensional optical deflector including piezoelectric sensor on movable frame
In a two-dimensional optical deflector including a mirror, a movable frame supporting the mirror, a first piezoelectric actuator connected between the movable frame and the mirror and adapted to rock the mirror with respect to a first axis of the mirror, a support body supporting the movable frame, and a second piezoelectric actuator connected between the support body and the movable frame and adapted to rock the mirror through the movable frame with respect to a second axis of the mirror, at least one piezoelectric sensor is provided on the movable frame and adapted to sense rocking vibrations of the mirror caused by the first and second piezoelectric actuators. |
| US08730548B2 |
Image forming apparatus including setting unit for setting recommended function
In an image forming apparatus having various and may functions, in order to easily set a function based on a scanned document, a CPU of an MFP executes a program including: when a document is scanned by a user (YES at S3200), the step of displaying a preview image of the scanned document (S3202); the step of OCR-processing the document data (S3204); when the scanned document has been registered in a document-by-document recommended functions list (YES at S3210), the step of reading the document-by-document recommended functions list from an HDD and displaying the document type and recommended menu on a touch-panel display (S3212); the step of setting the function registered in the recommended functions list in the MFP (S3222) unless the setting of recommended menu is changed (NO at S3218); and the step of executing copy/transmission process based on the set function (S3224). |
| US08730547B2 |
Lattice-based screen design for N-color all-orders moire-free screen set
A method and system to generate a moiré-free to all-orders N-color screen-set by a lattice-based screen design the method including choosing a lattice in frequency space with basis vectors u1 and u2 such that (∥{right arrow over (u)}1∥,∥{right arrow over (u)}2∥,∥{right arrow over (u)}1±{right arrow over (u)}2∥)>f min, where f min is the minimum moiré invisible to the human eye, and choosing a set of N pairs of fundamental frequency vectors on the vertices of this lattice to be the screen vectors. |
| US08730544B2 |
Decolorizing device, sheet decolorizing method, and recording medium for recording decolorizing process program
According to an embodiment, a decolorizing section is placed on a downstream side of a first reading section in a sheet transferring direction. A second reading section is placed on a downstream side of the decolorizing section in the sheet transferring direction. A controller is configured to determine if the decolorizing process is necessary or not on a first side of a sheet based on first image data of the first side read by the first reading section, to read the first side of the sheet having been subjected to the decolorizing process at the decolorizing section by the second reading section if it is determined that the decolorizing process is necessary, and to avoid reading of the first side of the sheet passed through the decolorizing section by the second reading section if it is determined that the decolorizing process is unnecessary. |
| US08730538B2 |
High speed digital cataloguing system and method
Devices and methods are disclosed for the high speed digitization and cataloguing of large collections of objects. The objects are inserted into transparent pockets on an elongated belt, and the belt is driven rapidly past a high speed digital camera. A glare reduction means may be employed to avoid glare off the transparent pockets, and motion blur may be substantially eliminated through the use of high speed strobe illumination or a high speed shutter. The invention can be commercialized by having a customer load the belt with objects and deliver the belt to a processing location. Digital images of the objects may then be provided to the customer, and the original objects may be left in the pockets on the belt for convenient storage. |
| US08730536B2 |
Scanning apparatus with a sheet size delecting mechanism
A scanning apparatus includes a scanning module and a sheet size detecting mechanism. The scanning module is used for acquiring an image of a paper sheet. The sheet size detecting mechanism includes a first sheet guide part, a second sheet guide part, and a controlling unit. The first sheet guide part and the second sheet guide part are contacted with two parallel edges of the paper sheet, respectively. A light-emitting unit is disposed on the second sheet guide part. The light-emitting unit is used for projecting a light beam onto an optical sensing element of the scanning module. According to the light beam, the optical sensing element generates a sensing signal. According to the sensing signal, a distance between the two parallel edges of the paper sheet is acquired. |
| US08730533B2 |
Document photosensor of surface-mounted elements
A document photosensor is provided which comprises a substrate 11, 12, a bracket 41, 42 disposed on substrate 11, 12 for forming a light diffusion chamber 53 and a light receiving chamber 58 separated from each other, an LED chip 21, 31 surface-mounted on substrate 11, 12 in light diffusion chamber 53, and a PD chip 37, 38 surface-mounted on substrate 11, 12 in light receiving chamber 58. These chips 21, 37, 31 and 38 are secured at precise locations on a substrate 11 and 12 with accuracy on the order of a few micrometers or less to exactly detect by PD chip 37, 38 a light irradiated from LED chip 21 or 31 after reflection of the light on a bill 50 moved along a passageway 55 to improve validation performance of bill 50. |
| US08730520B2 |
Image processing method, image processing apparatus and inkjet printing method using determined ejection amounts of ink
An image processing method includes the steps of converting input image data to ink color data corresponding to each amount of a plurality of colors of achromatic inks used for printing, and generating printing data for first, second and third achromatic inks based on the ink color data. The printing data is used for printing by causing a printing head to scan a common image area in a printing medium a plurality of times, the printing head ejecting the plurality of colors of inks. The converting step converts the input image data to ink color data for the first, second and third achromatic inks so that the first achromatic ink is used with respect to a value of the input image data indicating achromatic color, and the generating step generates the printing data for the first, second and third achromatic inks so as to (a) make a printing duty for the first achromatic ink during first half of the plurality of scans higher than a printing duty for the first achromatic ink during the latter half of the plurality of scans, and (b) make printing duties for the second and third achromatic inks during the latter half of the scans higher than in the first half of the scans. |
| US08730519B2 |
Image processing device and image-processing method
An image processing device includes: a process section; a generation section; and a supply section. The process section includes: an index value determination section; and an adjustment section. The index value determination section is configured to determine an index value for each of a plurality of target pixels included in edge image data. The adjustment section is configured not to adjust a pixel value of the target pixel in a first case where the density of the target pixel is determined to be relatively low based on the index value of the target pixel, and configured to adjust the pixel value of the target pixel so as to reduce the density of the target pixel in a second case where the density of the target pixel is determined to be relatively high based on the index value of the target pixel. |
| US08730517B2 |
Image forming system, image forming method, and image forming apparatus that transfers a setting values set
An image forming apparatus stores a setting values set including core data independent of a model of the image forming apparatus and non-core data not included in the core data; writes the core data on another image forming apparatus without change, and if the model of the image forming apparatus is the same as the model of the another image forming apparatus, writes the non-core data on the another image forming apparatus without change, while if the model of the image forming apparatus is not the same as the model of the another image forming apparatus, writes the non-core data including a setting value of a function setting in the non core-data that is the same as the function setting in the another image forming apparatus on the another image forming apparatus. |
| US08730514B2 |
Recording apparatus and method of controlling the recording apparatus based on image data commands
A recording apparatus configured to record on a recording medium by using a recording head, includes a first storage unit that stores input data including a command and a first image data, a reading unit that reads out the command and the first image data stored in the first storage unit by using a first pointer, a generating unit that converts the first image data read out from the first storage unit and generate a second image data, a second storage unit that stores the second image data generated in the generating unit, a determining unit that determines whether an amount of data stored in the first storage unit reaches a predetermined value by using a second pointer, and a recording unit that starts a scan for recording after the determining unit determines that the amount of data stored in the first storage unit reaches the predetermined value. |
| US08730512B2 |
Scanning lens, optical scanning device and image forming apparatus using same
An optical scanning device includes a light source which emits a light beam, a deflector, an incident optical system and one scanning lens. The deflector reflects and deflects/scans the light beam emitted from the light source. The scanning lens includes a first face facing the deflector and a second face on an opposite side to the first face, and performs imaging of the deflected/scanned light beam on a surface to be scanned. In a main scanning cross section, when an angle relative to an optical axis of an incident light beam which enters the scanning lens from the first face is θin, and an angle relative to an optical axis of an outgoing light beam which is output from the second face toward the surface to be scanned is θout, in an entire scanning region, a condition of 0.9<θin/θout<1.3 is satisfied. |
| US08730511B2 |
Printing apparatus
A printing apparatus is provided, which includes an instruction receiving unit which receives an execution instruction of a print job, a sheet receiving unit which receives printed sheets; a sorting unit which discharges a separation sheet for separating the printed sheets, and a control device which determine whether the print job is a first job to be executed while a user exists in the vicinity or a second job to be executed while the user dose not exist in the vicinity, and which executes the print job in a first mode where the sorting unit does not discharge the separation sheet, when the print job is the first job, and executes the print job in a second mode where the sorting unit discharges the separation sheet, when the print job is the second job. |
| US08730510B2 |
Image input system, server in system, control method therefor, and storage medium storing control program therefor
An image input system capable of applying to a system using a cloud computing and of selecting the optimal transmission route. The image input system comprises a server, an information processing apparatus that communicates with the server via the Internet, and image input apparatuses communicate with the information processing apparatus via a local network and communicate with the server via the Internet. The server acquires the transmission capacity information of the image input apparatuses searched, selects a first route that directly transmit to the server or a second route that transmit to the server via the image processing apparatus based on the transmission capacity information, and transmits a job message to the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus transmits the job message to the image input apparatus selected. Each of the image input apparatuses generates the image information and transmits it to the server. |
| US08730508B2 |
Image forming apparatus, method of controlling the same, and recording medium
An image forming apparatus is connectable to a print server in which a print job is stored. A determination unit of the image forming apparatus deletes a print job stored in the print server and determined to be not executable by the determination unit on condition that an instruction to delete the print job is input to an input unit. |
| US08730507B2 |
Image forming apparatus, method for controlling the image forming apparatus, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus includes a generation unit and a preview control unit. The generation unit acquires print information from an input print job and generates a preview image for displaying, on a display unit, a print image of a page to be printed whose print processing by a printing unit is still stoppable. The preview control unit displays the preview image generated by the generation unit on the display unit. |
| US08730500B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, image processing system, image processing method, image processing program, and storage medium
A communication unit acquires image data. A flow control unit controls execution of a workflow in which optional processing on the image data and check processing are combined. A determining unit determines whether user confirmation is needed for a result of check target processing included in the check processing according to the workflow. A notification unit notifies a user of confirmation of the result when it is determined that the user confirmation is needed. A receiving unit receives a modification input of the result of the check target processing from the user. A modification unit modifies the image data according to the modification input when the receiving unit receives the modification input, while the unit modifies the image data corresponding to the check target processing when it is determined that the user confirmation is not needed. |
| US08730499B2 |
Image forming apparatus, control method therefor, and storage medium
When a preview image is displayed, an area on which a certain finishing process is executed is automatically enlarged and displayed. A control method for controlling an image forming apparatus including a display unit for previewing print results obtained by printing print information to be printed, the control method comprising: determining a preview position and a preview magnification rate of the print results to be displayed on the display unit, based on a post-processing setting for the print information; and controlling a preview of the print results to be displayed on the display unit, based on the determined preview position and preview magnification rate. |
| US08730496B2 |
Information processing apparatus, image processing apparatus, and control method therefor, as well as a program
An information processing apparatus connected to a plurality of image processing apparatuses via a network, comprising, a transmission unit configured to transmit identification information for identifying the information processing apparatus on the network and specifying information by which a user identifies the information processing apparatus to the plurality of image processing apparatuses on the network, and a reception unit configured to be operable when the user selects the specifying information in one of the plurality of image processing apparatuses, to receive information for using the selected image processing apparatus transmitted from the selected image processing apparatus based on the identification information. |
| US08730494B2 |
Image forming apparatus including display device
An image forming apparatus including an operation panel has, as a configuration of the operation panel, a display portion including a function to display environmental label information of the image forming apparatus. The environmental label information includes information on a type of greenhouse effect gases (CO2) and a total emission amount of the greenhouse effect gases in a life cycle of the image forming apparatus. On the display portion, there is provided a selective display portion for displaying an environmental label as list display or thumbnail display, as well as selectively displaying detailed information of the environmental label according to the environmental label. |
| US08730493B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus which is capable of flow easily and efficiently resuming an interrupted processing. The image processing apparatus executes a processing flow for sequentially carrying out a plurality of processes. When execution of the processing flow is interrupted due to occurrence of a power failure, the image processing apparatus creates a recovery processing flow for carrying out yet-to-be-executed ones of the processes included in the processing flow, after restart of the image processing apparatus, and executes the created recovery processing flow. |
| US08730492B2 |
Printing apparatus comprising series-models supporting firmware and series-models supporting method
A printing apparatus to perform a printing operation by driving hardware provided thereto according to a printing command received from a user, including a firmware unit to store function information of a plurality of models of the printing apparatus, and selectively perform the function of one of the plurality of models which corresponds to a model index designated as the printing apparatus is initialized. |
| US08730491B2 |
Original reading system, image forming system, and image forming apparatus
An original reading system includes an original reading unit, a storage unit, a display portion, a selection unit, and a control unit. The original reading unit reads an image of an original to generate image data. The storage unit stores name data regarding a name that is assigned to the image data. The storage unit can store the image data. The display portion displays a name based on the name data stored in the storage unit. The selection unit selects a name displayed on the display portion. The control unit sets the name selected by way of the selection unit as a name of the image data generated by the original reading unit, and stores the image data into the storage unit. |
| US08730488B2 |
Print control apparatus, print control system, and printer driver
A print control apparatus configured to control a plurality of types of printers, the print control apparatus including: a storage part storing a printer type, a function of the printer type, and a correspondence between the printer type and the function of the printer type; an acquisition part, which acquires identification information for identifying at least the printer type from the printer, and the acquisition part acquires the function corresponding to the printer type identified based on the identification information from the storage part, and a display part displaying an operation screen corresponding to the function acquired by the acquisition part. |
| US08730485B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A position measurements system to measure a position of a movable object with respect to another object includes two or more one dimensional (1D) encoder heads mounted on one of the movable object and the other object and each capable of emitting a measurement beam along a measurement direction, one or more reference targets mounted on the other of the movable object and the other object, each reference target including a planar surface with a grid or grating to cooperate with the two or more one dimensional (1D) encoder heads, and a processor to calculate a position of the object on the basis of outputs of the two or more 1D encoder heads, wherein the measurement direction of each of the two or more 1D encoder heads is non-perpendicular to the planar surface of the respective reference target. |
| US08730480B2 |
Testing of optical devices
The present disclosure describes techniques for testing optical devices in a manner that, in some implementations, simulates the environment in which the devices will be used when they are integrated into the end-product or system. For example, one aspect includes providing a transparent sheet that is positioned near the optical device in a manner that simulates at least some aspects of the environment when the device is incorporated into the end-product or system. The testing can be performed, for example, while the optical devices are in production or at some other time prior to their being integrated into an end-product or system. |
| US08730478B2 |
Manufacturing and testing techniques for electronic displays
A method for testing photosensitivity of an electronic display module, such as a liquid crystal display module, is provided. In one embodiment, a method includes exposing a display module to light at a first intensity and measuring an amount of light transmitted through the display module. The method may also include exposing the display module to light at a second intensity and measuring an amount of that light transmitted through the display module. The measured amounts may then be compared to determine an optical property, such as photosensitivity, of the display panel. Various other methods, systems, and manufactures are also disclosed. |
| US08730477B2 |
Device for optically scanning and measuring an environment
With a device for optically scanning and measuring an environment, which is designed as a laser scanner, with a light emitter, which emits an emission light beam, with a light receiver which receives a reception light beam which is reflected from an object in the environment of the laser scanner or scattered otherwise, and with a control and evaluation unit which, for a multitude of measuring points, determines at least the distance to the object, at least one shell is provided as part of the housing of the laser scanner, said shell being partially covered on its outer side by at least one yoke which serves as protection. |
| US08730475B2 |
Method of aligning a substrate
In a method of aligning a substrate, a first alignment mark and a second alignment mark in a first shot region on the substrate may be sequentially identified. The substrate may be primarily aligned using identified any one of the first alignment mark and the second alignment mark. A used alignment mark and an unused alignment mark during the primary alignment process of the first alignment mark and the second alignment mark in a second shot region on the substrate may be sequentially identified. The substrate may be secondarily aligned using identified any one of the used alignment mark and the unused alignment mark during the primary alignment process. Thus, a time for identifying the alignment mark may be reduced. |
| US08730470B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting cadmium with optical emission spectroscopy
An apparatus and method for detecting cadmium using optical emission spectroscopy is provided. The apparatus contains a system which uses optical emission spectroscopy which is programmed and calibrated to detect the presence of cadmium in PPM. The system is calibrated using test samples which have been prepared with a lead/cadmium matrix material having at least one iron based electrode integrated therein. |
| US08730467B2 |
Spectroscopic probe and method for detecting an inhomogeneity
A method for detecting by spectroscopy an inhomogeneity (I) in a sample (E), includes that (i) the sample (E) is illuminated with incident light using means (23) for illuminating the sample (E), and (ii) the light re-emitted by the sample (E) is collected using means (24; 24′) for collecting the light, wherein (i) the light re-emitted by the sample (E) is collected at different spots arranged each spaced apart from the other spots and being located at the same distance from the means (23) for illuminating this sample (E) or their barycenter, and (ii) the presence of an inhomogeneity (I) in the sample (E) is determined based on the signals corresponding to the light re-emitted and collected at least at two different spots. A spectroscopic probe (2) and a device for analyzing a sample by spectroscopy implementing the method are also disclosed. |
| US08730466B2 |
Optical spectrometer with underfilled fiber optic sample interface
An optical device is provided that includes a converging lens device, a transmitting optical fiber, a sample holder, and a receiving optical fiber. The converging lens device focuses light onto the transmitting optical fiber, which receives the focused light through an entrance face and transmits the light from an exit face, through a sample, and onto the receiving optical fiber. The sample holder holds the sample for analysis. The receiving optical fiber receives the light through an entrance face of the receiving optical fiber after transmission through the sample. The converging lens device is positioned to focus the light onto the entrance face of the transmitting optical fiber such that a half-angle of the angular distribution of the focused light that reaches the entrance face of the transmitting optical fiber is selected to underfill an entrance aperture of the entrance face of the receiving optical fiber in both a spatial dimension and an angular dimension. |
| US08730461B2 |
Method for monitoring fugitive gas emissions from the soil, via vertical concentration measurements
Method for the quantification of the fugitive gas flow from a dispersed source (A) by monitoring with a remote detection optical instrument mounted on an aircraft (UAV) which moves at a determined height along a plane (S) perpendicular to the direction of the wind field (u), such wind field being known through suitable positioning of meteorological stations within and in areas neighboring the site to be monitored according to known techniques and use of commercially available diagnostic meteorological models. By this instrument discrete vertical measurements are carried out of the fugitive gas concentration averaged over said height along the whole width (W) of the plane (S) to yield corresponding mean vertical concentration values and, according to mean wind speed values detected at said discrete vertical measurements, a value of the fugitive gas flow (Q) is obtained by integrating the product of the mean vertical concentration values and of the corresponding mean wind speed values with respect to the surface of the sampling plane (S). The obtained value of the fugitive gas flow (Q) is corrected by a corrective factor (a) obtainable by comparing concentration values obtained by direct measurements and values calculated by dispersion models. |
| US08730459B2 |
Examination device and examination method
Provided herein are an examination device and an examination method that can efficiently perform examination even when both whole blood and serum/blood plasma specimens are to be examined. A solid-phase extraction cartridge or a filter is placed on a continuous track of a cartridge table. A cup table is disposed below the cartridge table. A cup is placed on a continuous track of the cup table to receive a sample purified by the filter. When viewed from above, the continuous track of the cartridge table and the continuous track of the cup table cross each other at a position “m”, and each of the tracks crosses a position at which a sample probe operates. A pretreatment for serum/blood plasma is completed in one rotation of the cartridge table. A pretreatment for whole blood is completed in two rotations of the cartridge table. |
| US08730458B2 |
Optoelectronic sensor and method for detecting objects
An optoelectronic sensor (10), in particular a laser scanner, is provided which comprises a light transmitter (12) for transmitting a light beam (16) having a beam profile (28) elongated in a line direction into a monitored plane (26), a light receiver (34) for generating a received signal from the light bream (30) remitted by objects in the monitored plane (26), a movable deflection unit (24) for the periodic deflection of the light beam (16, 30) to scan the monitored plane (26) in the course of the movement and an evaluation unit (42) for detecting the objects with reference to the received signal. The laser scanner has an optical beam rotation element (20) which is disposed after the light transmitter (12) and which can tilt the line direction of a light beam (16) passing through. |
| US08730457B2 |
Sensor arrangement for object recognition
A sensor arrangement for object recognition in a monitored zone is provided having a first and second distance-measuring optoelectronic sensor whose fields of vision overlap, and having a common control unit which is formed for determining a position of a calibration target in the overlap region with respect to the first and second sensor to determine a transformation instruction between coordinate systems of the sensors in a registration mode so that measured points of the sensors can be combined in a common global coordinate system. The common control unit is designed to determine positions of the calibration target with respect to the first and second sensor and to determine that transformation instruction which brings a connection line between the positions with respect to the first sensor's coordinate system to cover the connection line between the positions with respect to second sensor's coordinate system. |
| US08730455B2 |
Illumination system for a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus
An illumination system for a microlithographic projection exposure step-and-scan apparatus has a light source, a first optical raster element and a second optical raster element. The first optical raster element extends in a first pupil plane of the illumination system and is designed such that the geometrical optical flux of the system is increased perpendicular to a scan direction of the projection exposure apparatus. The second optical raster element extends in a second pupil plane of the illumination system, which is not necessarily different from the first pupil plane, and is designed such that the geometrical optical flux of the system is increased in the scan direction and perpendicular thereto. This makes it possible to improve the irradiance uniformity in a reticle plane. |
| US08730454B2 |
EUV radiation source and method of generating EUV radiation
An EUV radiation source comprising a fuel supply configured to deliver droplets of fuel to a plasma formation location, and a collector configured to collect EUV radiation emitted by a plasma at the plasma formation location, wherein the collector has a reflective surface that is a modified ellipsoid shape, the modified ellipsoid shape providing improved intensity uniformity of collected EUV radiation in the far field compared with a perfect ellipsoid shape. |
| US08730451B2 |
Lithographic apparatus for transferring pattern from patterning device onto substrate, and damping method
A lithographic apparatus includes a support frame which is supported by a base via a vibration isolation system; a projection system arranged to transfer a pattern from a patterning device onto a substrate, wherein the projection system includes a first frame which is spring-supported by the support frame; and an active damping system configured to damp movement of the first frame, including: a first sensor system configured to provide a first sensor output representative of absolute movement of the first frame, a first actuator system arranged to apply a force between the first frame and the support frame, and a control system configured to provide a drive signal to the first actuator system based on the first sensor output. |
| US08730449B2 |
Optical device and device manufacturing method
An optical device includes a wavelength separation filter configured to separate incident light into light having a first wavelength and light having a second wavelength, the wavelength separation filter including a blazed grating whose cross-sectional shape is a saw-tooth shape formed by one-dimensionally arranging a plurality of grating elements, wherein the blazed grating is configured to exert a first power on the light having the first wavelength, of the light having the first wavelength and the light having the second wavelength, by gradually changing angles surfaces of the plurality of grating elements make with a base plane, and to exert a second power on the light having the second wavelength, of the light having the first wavelength and the light having the second wavelength, by gradually changing lengths of the plurality of grating elements along a direction in which the plurality of grating elements are arranged. |
| US08730447B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and method of operating the apparatus with a humid gas space between a projection system and a liquid confinement structure
A lithographic apparatus comprising a projection system, and a liquid confinement structure configured to at least partly confine immersion liquid to an immersion space defined by the projection system, the liquid confinement structure and a substrate and/or substrate table is disclosed wherein a humid gas space is defined between the projection system, the liquid confinement structure and immersion liquid in the immersion space, the humid gas space being configured to contain humid gas. |
| US08730444B2 |
Pixel array structure
A pixel array structure including a plurality of first pixels, second pixels, third pixels, a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data lines is provided. The first pixels are arranged in a first row. The second pixels are arranged in a second row. The third pixels are arranged in a third row. The scan lines and the data lines are electrically connected to the corresponding first pixels, second pixels and third pixels. A first pixel column and a second pixel column are respectively formed at two sides of each data line. The first pixels, the second pixels, and the third pixels in the first pixel column are connected to the scan lines of odd positions. The first pixels, the second pixels, and the third pixels in the second pixel column are connected to the scan lines of even positions. |
| US08730443B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates with a liquid crystal layer disposed therebetween, a display region and a peripheral region, a gate signal line and an image signal line, an insulating layer formed over the gate signal line and the image signal line, a pixel electrode formed in the display region, a counter electrode formed over the insulating layer and formed by a first transparent conductive layer, and a second transparent conductive layer and an external connection terminal. The second transparent conductive layer and the external connection terminal are disposed in the peripheral region, and the second transparent conductive layer is formed over the insulating layer and is electrically connected to the counter electrode and the external connection terminal. A part of the gate signal line is covered by the second transparent conductive layer in the peripheral region. |
| US08730440B2 |
Method of forming a vertical alignment layer, a method of manufacturing a display apparatus using the same, and a display apparatus made with the manufacturing method
A method of forming a vertical alignment layer includes disposing a substrate on a stage, the substrate including an alignment layer, the alignment layer includes first areas and second areas alternately arranged in a first direction, and disposing a mask over the substrate, the mask including light blocking parts and light transmitting parts that correspond to the first areas. An exposure apparatus disposed over the mask provides light to the first areas when the substrate moves in the first direction to form a pretilt angle in the first areas. The stage is rotated so that the light transmitting parts correspond to the second areas, and the exposure apparatus provides light to the second areas when the substrate moves in the first direction to form a pretilt angle in the second areas. The pretilt angle formed in the first areas is different from the pretilt angle formed in the second areas. |
| US08730437B2 |
Method for making a treated polymer for a liquid crystal alignment agent, the treated polymer made thereby, and liquid crystal alignment agent, liquid crystal alignment film and liquid crystal display element containing the treated polymer
A method for making a treated polymer for a liquid crystal alignment agent includes the steps of: subjecting a tetracarboxylic dianhydride compound and a diamine compound to conduct a polymerization reaction to obtain an untreated polymer; preparing a co-precipitating solvent for the untreated polymer which includes a major amount of a poor solvent and a minor amount of a good solvent; and subjecting the untreated polymer to a treatment with the co-precipitating solvent such that at least a significant amount of a polymer fraction having a molecular weight not larger than 3,000 is removed from the untreated polymer to obtain the treated polymer. A treated polymer for a liquid crystal alignment agent, a liquid crystal alignment agent including the treated polymer, a liquid crystal alignment film formed of the liquid crystal alignment agent, and a liquid crystal display element including the liquid crystal alignment film are also disclosed. |
| US08730428B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having first and second conductive members
This invention provides a liquid crystal display device that makes it possible to ground the conductive film provided on the display side of the liquid crystal display panel without fail while making the frame narrower. The device has a liquid crystal display panel where a liquid crystal layer is provided between two facing substrates; a mold frame for holding the liquid crystal display panel in a predetermined position; a lower frame made of a metal for containing the mold frame; and first and second conductive members, and characterized in that a conductive film is formed on the display side of the liquid crystal display panel, the first conductive member is provided so as to make contact with the conductive film and an upper surface of the mold frame, and the second conductive member is provided so as to make contact with the first conductive member and the lower frame. |
| US08730427B2 |
Flat panel display apparatus
A flat panel display apparatus including a transparent bezel including a floor part and a sidewall part protruding from the floor part and being capable of transmitting ultraviolet (UV) light, a display panel including a first substrate located on the bezel and having a display unit on one surface thereof and a second substrate facing the first substrate, a transparent window on the bezel, and a resin layer between the second substrate and the transparent window and between the first substrate and the bezel. |
| US08730420B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display to prevent light leakage with an improvement of aperture ratio and a reduction of load of a data line is provided. The liquid crystal display includes a gate line and a storage electrode line formed on a insulating substrate and apart from each other, a first data line and a second data line intersecting the gate line, a first pixel electrode defined by the gate line and the first data line, and a second pixel electrode defined by the gate line and the second data line and neighboring the first pixel electrode. Also, a blocking electrode between the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode is included, wherein at least portion of the first data line is disposed under the first pixel electrode, and at least portion of the blocking electrode is disposed under the second pixel electrode and apart from the first data line. |
| US08730419B2 |
Display device and electronic appliance including the display device
To provide a display device which has a narrower frame region and which includes a driver circuit not affected by variation in transistor characteristics. A base substrate having an insulating surface to which a single-crystal semiconductor layer is attached is divided into strips and is used for a driver circuit of a display device. Alternatively, a base substrate having an insulating surface to which a plurality of single-crystal semiconductor layers is attached is divided into strips and is used for a driver circuit of a display device. Accordingly, a driver circuit corresponding to a size of a display device can be used for the display device, and a display device which has a narrower frame region and which includes a driver circuit not affected by variation in transistor characteristics can be provided. |
| US08730417B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same
The LCD device of this invention comprises an LC panel having a plurality of pixels defined by a plurality of gate lines and data lines, one or more gate shorting bars disposed outside the LC panel, for applying a test signal to the LC panel through gate lines, first and second data shorting bars disposed outside the LC panel, for applying test signals to odd and even numbered data lines, respectively, an odd numbered data link line connected to the odd numbered data line, and spacing from the first data shorting bar by a predetermined distance, an even numbered data link line connected to the even numbered data line, and spacing from the second data shorting bar by a predetermined distance, and a connection line for electrically connecting the odd numbered data link line and the first data shorting bar with each other, and connecting the even numbered data link line and the second data shorting bar with each other through contact holes, wherein the odd numbered data link line has a length equal to that of the even numbered data link line. |
| US08730416B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a pixel area including a first display region and a second display region, a light supply portion sequentially supplying a plurality of lights having different hues to the first and second display regions and an optical system. Pairs of pixels are arranged in each of the first and second display regions. The pair of pixels is composed of a right-eye pixel and a left-eye pixel. The plurality of pieces of light is supplied to the first and second display regions to emit a first light with the right-eye pixel and a second light with the left-eye pixel. The optical system orients the travel direction of the first light to a right eye of a viewer and the travel direction of the second light to a left eye of the viewer. |
| US08730414B2 |
Liquid crystal display device including various embodiments of light-shielding line
Disclosed is an LCD device which facilitates to prevent light leakage by forming a light-shielding line in a disclination-occurring portion of a pixel region, that is, a portion along the interface between divided domains in the pixel region, wherein the LCD device comprises gate and data lines which are formed on a substrate while intersecting each other to define a pixel region; a pixel electrode which is formed in the pixel region, and is divided into at least two domains; a common electrode which is patterned to generate an electric field together with the pixel electrode; and a light-shielding line which is formed in the interfacial portion between the domains so as to prevent light leakage therethrough. |
| US08730411B2 |
Display device
A display device includes: a front-face member having a transparent plate, a frame having a joint face joined to a rear face of the transparent plate by a joint layer and a holding face provided upright from the joint face, and a hook projected from the holding face of the frame to the outer periphery side of the transparent plate; a display panel which is fit in the frame; a sandwiching member having a pair of clipping faces which come into contact with rear and front faces of the display panel, a side face connecting the pair of sandwiching faces, and an opening which is formed in the side face and to which the hook is inserted; and a rear-face casing covering the entire rear face of the transparent plate. |
| US08730410B1 |
Laser based display method and system
The present invention is directed to display technologies. More specifically, various embodiments of the present invention provide projection display systems where one or more laser diodes are used as light source for illustrating images. In one set of embodiments, the present invention provides projector systems that utilize blue and/or green laser fabricated using gallium nitride containing material. In another set of embodiments, the present invention provides projection systems having digital lighting processing engines illuminated by blue and/or green laser devices. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a 3D display system. There are other embodiments as well. |
| US08730403B2 |
Video communication device and method thereof
The present invention discloses a video communication device and a method thereof, the method comprises: obtain a current battery energy level of a device; load information of the battery energy level to a ready-to-send video; execute video encoding to the ready-to-send video and sending the same. The present invention can display the information of the energy level of one party's device on the video communication image of another party's device, so that another party can realize the actually current battery energy level of one party's device, tempos of the video communication can be controlled well, effects of the video communication can be raised. |
| US08730399B2 |
Dynamic illumination control for laser projection display
A display apparatus includes one or more imaging channels, each imaging channel includes a polarized light source and a spatial light modulator that is actuable to modulate the polarized light and provide a modulated polarized light. A control logic processor is disposed to receive and analyze each frame of image data for the one or more imaging channels. A variable brightness attenuator in the path of the modulated polarized light and actuable under the control of the control logic processor to attenuate the modulated polarized light to one of a plurality of attenuation levels for the one or more imaging channels according to each frame of image data. |
| US08730398B2 |
Video output apparatus and control method therefor, and non-transitory recording (storing) medium that records program
This video output apparatus includes a plurality of input units that input a plurality of video signals and an auxiliary information related to video shot-changes that are associated with the video signals. A composing unit stores the image data associated with the plurality of input video signals in an image memory and reads out image data at a predetermined timing, and outputs a composed video signal. A control unit obtains auxiliary information for each video signal and selects one video signal from among the plurality of video signals by comparing priority orders corresponding to the auxiliary information. The control unit carries out control in which the frame frequency of the video signal that the composition unit outputs by reading out the image data from the image memory is synchronized with the frame frequency of the selected video signal. |
| US08730396B2 |
Capturing events of interest by spatio-temporal video analysis
A computer implemented method and system for capturing events of interest by performing a spatio-temporal analysis of a video are provided. A continuous video stream containing a series of image frames is acquired over time. Each of the image frames is represented by horizontal spatial coordinates and vertical spatial coordinates of a two dimensional plane. A temporal dimension is assigned across the image frames of the video stream. A spatio-temporal analysis image is constructed based on a user-defined line of analysis on each of one or more of the image frames. The spatio-temporal analysis image is constructed by concatenating a series of temporally-successive linear pixel arrays along the temporal dimension. Each of the linear pixel arrays comprises an array of pixels along the line of analysis defined on each of one or more of the image frames. The constructed spatio-temporal analysis image is segmented for capturing the events of interest. |
| US08730395B2 |
History information recording device and image display equipment including the same
A history information recording device is provided to an image display equipment, for recording, as history information, information about operations that have been executed in the image display equipment up to a present time. The history information recording device includes a connection terminal to which an external storage medium is connected, in which the history information is transmitted to and recorded on the external storage medium connected to the connection terminal in response to a given instruction. Therefore, it is possible to check the history information of the image display equipment without displaying the history information on a screen of the image display equipment. |
| US08730389B2 |
Video processing apparatus
An AV amplifier detects combinations of resolutions and vertical frequencies of input video data, and reads information about combinations of resolutions and vertical frequencies stored in a display device in advance. The AV amplifier sets values, that are a combination of an output resolution and an output vertical frequency in which a value obtained by dividing a vertical frequency of the video data detected by a video detecting section by the output vertical frequency is an integer number and are present in the combinations of the resolutions and the vertical frequencies read by the reading section, as the combination of the output resolution and the output vertical frequency. |
| US08730388B2 |
Wearable video camera with dual rotatable imaging devices
A digital imaging device includes at least two image sensors carried by a body and having image axes oriented transverse to one another and facing in different directions transverse to one another. The image sensors are rotatable with respect to the body and each have a rotational axis parallel with a respective corresponding image axis. Each image sensor has an upright physical orientation corresponding to an upright orientation of the optical image and is capable of rotation about the rotational axis to orient the image sensor in the upright orientation. |
| US08730382B2 |
Charge accumulating and splitting imaging device
Charge generated in a photodiode is properly split for difference processing. An imaging element is constituted by a semiconductor such that a charge accumulation portion is connected to a light receiving portion using a buried photodiode and charge is split from the charge accumulation portion by a plurality of gates and is accumulated. An imaging device includes a control device performing control so as to accumulate charge that is generated by a photoelectric conversion at an exposure cycle synchronous with the light emission of a light source. The exposure cycle includes a first period for receiving reflection light from a subject illuminated by light from the light source and a second period for receiving light from the subject illuminated by an environmental light not including the light from the light source. The imaging device includes a charge accumulation region connected to each photoelectric conversion region, a first charge storage region for receiving charge generated in the photoelectric conversion regions during the first period via the charge accumulation portion, and a second charge storage region for receiving charge generated in the photoelectric conversion regions during the second period via the charge accumulation portion. |
| US08730381B2 |
Image pickup system, camera and interchangeable lens
The image pickup system includes a camera and an interchangeable lens having an image-taking optical system. The camera includes an image sensor to photoelectrically convert an object image formed by the image-taking optical system and to be moved in an optical axis direction, and a camera controller configured to control movement of the image sensor such that focus variation caused due to variation of magnification of the interchangeable lens is reduced. The camera controller is configured to acquire image sensor moving data corresponding to the interchangeable lens attached to the camera, and controls the movement of the image sensor by using the image sensor moving data. |
| US08730374B2 |
Focus detection apparatus
An image capture apparatus includes: an image sensor including a plurality of image forming pixels that generate an image generation signal, and focus detection pixels that divide a pupil region of the imaging lens, photo-electrically convert an object image from the divided pupil region and generate a phase difference detection signal; a first focus detection unit configured to perform focus detection by using the phase difference detection signal; a second focus detection unit configured to detect an image contrast from the image generation signal from the image forming pixels and performing focus detection by a contrast detection method; and a correction value calculation unit configured to calculate a correction value for a result of focus detection by the first focus detection unit based on a difference between the result of focus detection by the first focus detection unit and a result of focus detection by the second focus detection unit. |
| US08730371B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method, and data processing apparatus and data processing method
Optical transfer information of an imaging lens is input from the imaging lens, and characteristic information of an image capturing unit of an image capturing apparatus is acquired. The optical transfer information is converted into that, which depends on the characteristics of the image capturing unit, based on the characteristic information. A correction filter, which corrects degradation of an image captured via the imaging lens, is generated based on the optical transfer information which depends on the characteristics of the image capturing unit. |
| US08730369B2 |
Wafer level camera module and method of manufacture
A method includes forming optical lenses on an ICD at the wafer level, rather than attaching a separate lens assembly. The lenses may be formed as an array of individual lenses or as multiple, e.g., two, arrays of individual lenses. The array of lenses may be coupled to an array of ICDs. The ICDs and individual lenses in the array assembly may be singulated to form individual digital camera modules. Additionally or alternatively, the ICDs and individual lenses may be singulated in separate steps. |
| US08730367B2 |
Image pickup apparatus that displays images in parallel on display unit having touch panel function and other display unit, control method therefor, and storage medium
An image pickup apparatus that is capable of producing displays according to situations and limiting touch operations to be accepted, so that, for example, erroneous operations using a touch panel function can be reduced. The position of a touch panel portion with respect to an image pickup apparatus main body is detected, and it is determined whether or not an EVF is in use. When a display surface of the touch panel portion being at such a position as to face a subject taken by an image pickup unit is detected, and it is determined that the EVF is in use, control is performed to produce displays on the touch panel portion and disable at least a part of the touch panel function. |
| US08730364B2 |
Image sensor with pipelined column analog-to-digital converters
An image sensor includes a plurality of pixel cells organized into rows and columns of a pixel array. A bit line is coupled to each of the pixel cells within a line of the pixel array. Readout circuitry is coupled to the bit line to readout the image data from the pixel cells within the line. The readout circuitry includes a line amplifier coupled to the bit line to amplify the image data and first and second sample and convert circuits coupled in parallel to an output of the line amplifier to reciprocally and contemporaneously sample the image data and convert the image data from analog values to digital values. |
| US08730357B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and program
An image processing method includes the steps of calculating, with respect to a processing-target pixel in an input image signal, a concentric aberration correction amount for concentric aberration that is a component of magnification chromatic aberration, the concentric aberration causing a color shift to occur in a concentric manner from the center of an image, calculating, with respect to the processing-target pixel, a uniform aberration correction amount for uniform aberration that is a component of magnification chromatic aberration, the uniform aberration causing a color shift direction and a color shift amount to uniformly occur on a whole image, and correcting a pixel value of the processing-target pixel on the basis of the calculated concentric aberration correction amount and the calculated uniform aberration correction amount. |
| US08730355B2 |
Image signal processing device, imaging device, image signal processing method and program
An image signal processing device includes: a color mixture correction circuit correcting color mixture among pixels arranged in the row and column directions, having plural light receiving units which perform photoelectric conversion and including filters dividing light incident on respective plural light receiving units into plural color components, wherein the color mixture correction circuit performs correction processing to a signal value of a target pixel of color mixture correction by associating respective signal values of neighboring pixels adjacent to the target pixel of color mixture correction with correction parameters unique to an address of each signal. |
| US08730351B2 |
Method for deleting data files in an electronic device
The present invention relates to a an electronic device such as a digital camera 300 that includes a deletion mode whereby a camera/electronic device user can delete captured images or data files that have already been transferred in order to make room in the electronic device or digital camera memory for capturing further images. In one embodiment a digital camera keep track of which images have already been transferred to an external storage device and presents those to the user as potential images to be deleted. In another embodiment, the user is presented with a “delete all transferred images” which when selected deletes all the captured images that have already been transferred. In still another embodiment, a deletion criteria is used to prioritize which images are deleted first. |
| US08730350B2 |
Image capturing/reproducing apparatus
Only images captured in a snapshot movie capture mode are extracted and are continuously reproduced. Also, second audio data prepared separately from first audio data that is recorded during image capturing is reproduced in place of the first audio data. Accordingly, an effect of change in images at predetermined intervals at a good tempo can be obtained. Furthermore, an interrupt of audio data at change of images can be prevented, so that discomfort felt by a user can be decreased. |
| US08730349B2 |
Recording medium for data file management, apparatus for data file management, handling apparatus for image data, and image capturing system
When a shutter release operation is performed at an electronic still camera, an MPU records image data output from an image capturing element into a CF card. The MPU also stores the image data in a transfer buffer memory of an interface circuit. The image data stored in the transfer buffer memory are transferred to a transfer buffer memory provided at an interface circuit of a personal computer connected via an IEEE-1394 cable. The MPU of the personal computer reads out the image data having been taken into the personal computer from the transfer buffer memory and records them in a specific recording area in a recording device. |
| US08730346B2 |
Solid-state imaging apparatus
According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a pixel unit in which pixels are arranged in a matrix form; an electronic shutter scanning circuit controlling an accumulation time of the pixels for each line of the pixel unit; a flicker correction circuit correcting flicker generated in a signal imaged in the pixel unit for each line based on a signal of the pixels of each of the lines in which the accumulation times are different from each other. |
| US08730345B2 |
Solid-state imaging apparatus, driving method thereof and imaging system
A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a matrix and converting light into electric carriers; a transfer gate for transferring the electric carriers generated by the conversion to a floating node; a first transistor for amplifying a signal based on a voltage of the floating node and for outputting the amplified signal to a column signal line; and a second transistor for resetting the voltage of the floating node, wherein the solid-state imaging apparatus includes a transfer unit for combining signals from the column signal lines, based on the voltage of the floating nodes after the reset of the floating nodes by the second transistor, wherein outputting a signal based on the combined signals from the column signal lines based on the voltage of the floating nodes, for detecting a flicker of an imaging light source. |
| US08730344B2 |
Digital photographing apparatus and method of controlling the same for setting a white balance
A digital photographing apparatus and method of using the digital photographing apparatus that can manually set a white balance gain. The digital photographing apparatus including a light-emitting device configured to emit light of a plurality of colors; a light-emitting device control unit configured to control light emission of the light-emitting device; an imaging device configured to capture light incident to a subject to generate a plurality of image signals; and a gain setting unit configured to set a white balance gain by using the generated image signals. |
| US08730341B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image pickup apparatus, control method for image processing apparatus, and storage medium storing control program therefor
An image processing apparatus capable of suppressing color fringing in a color image further effectively by image processing. A determination unit determines a region in which signal levels for a color plane in a color image produced by photoelectric conversion of an optical image of a subject exhibit a monotonic increase or a monotonic decrease, as a color fringing region in which color fringing occurs. An estimation unit estimates an intensity of the color fringing in the color fringing region determined by the determination unit. A removal unit deducts an estimate value of the intensity of the color fringing estimated by the estimation unit from the intensity of the color fringing in the color fringing region. |
| US08730339B2 |
Camera
An image-capturing device includes: an instruction unit that issues a photographing instruction signal; an image sensor that obtains frame images over predetermined time intervals; a storage unit into which a plurality of frame images obtained via the image sensor are sequentially stored; a save candidate designation unit that designates a plurality of frame images obtained before and after an output of the photographing instruction signal among a plurality of frame images stored in the storage unit as save candidate images that may be saved into a recording medium; and a control unit that controls the save candidate designation unit so as to designate as the save candidates a plurality of frame images obtained before and after a second photographing instruction signal issued within a predetermined length of time following the output of the photographing instruction signal. |
| US08730334B2 |
Techniques for providing improved perpetrator imaging
Techniques for providing improved perpetrator imaging are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for providing improved perpetrator imaging comprising identifying a client device as at least one of lost and stolen, detecting, on the client device, a difference in first pixel data associated with a first frame of a visual image and second pixel data associated with a second frame of the visual image, and capturing, on the client device, a plurality of photographs in response to detecting the difference. |
| US08730329B2 |
Automatic adaptive image sharpening
This disclosure describes techniques for initially calibrating an image capture device. According to one aspect, the calibration includes calibrating parameters of an image filter for resolving the captured image. The method includes receiving a captured image of a test target and resolving the captured image using a set of initial parameters. A sharpness index of the resolved image is determined without matching the captured image to the test target. The sharpness index is used to minimize a cost function for determining parameters for use by the image capture device. |
| US08730323B2 |
Image converter
An image converter for performing processes of cutting out a part of a distorted circular image photographed by use of a fisheye lens and converting the part into a planar regular image. The image converter includes a distorted circular image memory, a planar regular image memory, a parameter input unit, a corresponding coordinate calculating unit, and a planar regular image forming unit. |
| US08730322B2 |
Telepresence using panoramic imaging and directional sound and motion
An imaging system comprising a panoramic visual image display, an associated directional sound playback device, and an associated motion reproduction device is disclosed. The imaging system conveys visual, sound and motion information related to a particular viewing direction to provide a realistic experience for the viewer. The imaging system can also comprise a panoramic visual image recording device capable of recording panoramic images, an associated directional sound capturing device capable of recording sound, and an associated directional motion capturing device capable of recording motion. Recorded panoramic images, sound and motion can be synchronously recorded to a common time code for simultaneous playback. |
| US08730321B2 |
Automatic alignment of a contrast enhancement system
An apparatus and method for insuring the proper alignment of a detected vein pattern and a projected vein pattern are disclosed. The apparatus enhances the visual appearance of veins so that an error that can lead to improper patient care or injury can be avoided. |
| US08730318B2 |
Inspection apparatus and method for producing image for inspection
In order to obtain a quality image without deterioration owing to radiation noise in inspection using the optical video camera in high radiation environment, an inspection apparatus is formed of an image pick-up unit, an image obtaining unit which fetches a video image that contains a signal (noise) that is substantially independent of each frame obtained by the image pick-up unit, a local alignment unit which locally aligns frames with different time phases for forming the image fetched by the image obtaining unit, a frame synthesizing unit which synthesizes the plurality of frames aligned by the local alignment unit for generating a synthesis frame with an SN ratio higher than the SN ratio of the frame before frame synthesis, and an image output unit for displaying or recording the image formed of the synthesis frame generated by the frame synthesizing unit. |
| US08730317B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus, substrate processing method and non-transitory computer storage medium
A substrate processing apparatus includes: a holding unit holding a substrate; a rotation driving unit rotating the substrate held on the holding unit; a moving mechanism moving the holding unit between a delivery position and an edge exposure position; an exposure unit provided on the edge exposure position side and exposing an edge portion of a coating film above the substrate held on the holding unit; an image capturing unit provided on the edge exposure position side and above the exposure unit and capturing an image of the substrate held on the holding unit; and a direction change unit changing a direction of an optical path formed between the substrate held on the holding unit and the image capturing unit. The direction change unit includes a first reflecting mirror, a second reflecting mirror, and a third reflecting mirror. |
| US08730315B2 |
Microscope apparatus and microscope observation method
The number of seams between magnified images in a created virtual slide is reduced to make the virtual slide clear and sharp. Provided is a microscope apparatus including an objective lens that collects light from a sample on a slide; a focus position detecting section that detects a focus position of the objective lens with respect to the sample; a focus state adjustment section that adjusts a focus state with respect to the sample based on a detection result from the focus position detecting section; and a magnified-image acquisition section that acquires a magnified image of each part of the sample, in which, if the focus position detected by the focus position detecting section is changed by more than a predetermined threshold with respect to a focus state in which an adjacent magnified image was obtained, the focus state adjustment section limits the adjustment in the focus state to the predetermined threshold or less. |
| US08730314B2 |
Systems and methods for monitoring radiation treatment
A method of monitoring radiation treatment employs a video camera directed to at least a portion of a patient and/or patient support and at least a portion of a radiation machine. The direction of movement of the radiation machine and/or clearance between at least a portion of the radiation machine and the patient are determined by a control system. Graphics indicating the direction of movement of the machine and/or the clearance between the machine and the patient are overlaid on the video images. The video images overlaid with graphics displayed on a display. |
| US08730313B2 |
Endoscope apparatus and method
An endoscope apparatus includes: a reading unit which reads video data and control data from a recording medium, the recording medium containing the video data including a plurality of image data and the control data used to control a measurement operation; a measuring unit which performs the measurement operation on the basis of the image data of the video data read by the reading unit; and a control unit which controls the measuring unit on the basis of the control data read by the reading unit. |
| US08730304B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method, program and recording medium
A data structure, recording medium, playing device, playing method, program, and program storing medium, which enable providing of a video format for 3D display, suitable for 3D display of captions and menu buttons. Caption data used for 2D display of caption and menu data used for 2D display of menu buttons are recorded in a disc as is a database of offset information, in which is described offset information, made up of offset direction representing the direction of shifting of an image for the left eye and an image for the right eye used for 3D display as to images for 2D display regarding the caption data and menu data, and an offset value representing the amount of shifting, correlated with the playing point-in-time of caption data and menu data, respectively. |
| US08730303B2 |
Broadcast transmitter, broadcast receiver and 3D video data processing method thereof
A broadcast transmitter, a broadcast receiver, and a 3D video data processing method are disclosed. The 3D video data processing method includes formatting 3D video data (S 9010) encoding the formatted 3D video data (S 9020), generating system information having 3D format information (S 9030) that includes information about 3D video data formatting and information about the encoding, and transmitting a broadcast signal including the 3D video data and the system information (S 9040). The 3D video data processing method includes receiving a broadcast signal including 3D video data and system information, obtaining 3D image format information by parsing the system information, decoding the 3D video data, scanning the decoded 3D video data according to the 3D image format information, and formatting the scanned video data. |
| US08730302B2 |
Method and system for enhancing 3D effects for 3D video rendering
A three-dimensional (3D) video rendering device monitors 3D effects associated with an object in a received 3D video image-by-image. The object may be re-located to a preferred location to adjust the associated 3D effects. Two-dimensional (2D) image data and corresponding depth information for the object at the current location are interpolated to the preferred location. A location difference and lighting condition changes corresponding to the re-location of the object are calculated to determine a view angle and lighting conditions for the object at the preferred location. 2D image data and depth information for the object at the preferred location are estimated based on the determined view angle and the determined lighting conditions for the object at the preferred location. The estimated 2D image data and the estimated corresponding depth information may be applied to the object at the preferred location to enhance the associated 3D effects for 3D video rendering. |
| US08730298B2 |
Method, device, terminal and system for switching video resolution
A method for switching video resolution includes: confirming that a video sender and a video receiver have established a video communication connection, and obtaining an initial resolution of the video sender; confirming that bandwidth of the video communication connection and hardware of the video sender meet preset conditions, and switching the initial resolution of the video sender to a target resolution, in which the target resolution is higher than the initial resolution. After establishing video communication connections between terminals, when there are available bandwidth and hardware of the terminal using video communication, the resolution of terminal may be switched to provide a more clear video communication for terminal user, and guarantee smooth switching of resolution. |
| US08730297B2 |
System and method for providing camera functions in a video environment
A method is provided in one example and includes receiving image data at a camera element that is provisioned at a first endpoint, which is configured to conduct a video session involving a second endpoint. The method also includes identifying an incoming request for the video session; signaling to the camera element to open a lens included within the camera element; detecting that the video session has been terminated; and signaling to the camera element to close the lens. |
| US08730292B2 |
Scanning optical device that scans photoreceptor with laser light and image forming apparatus
A scanning optical device that scans a photoreceptor with laser light includes a light source, a light outputting section, and a projection. The laser light from the light source is output through the light outputting section so that the photoreceptor is irradiated with the laser light. The projection projects through a partition wall toward the photoreceptor. The light outputting section is disposed in a position separated from the photoreceptor by the partition wall. The projection contains a polygon motor that rotates a polygon mirror to reflect the laser light. |
| US08730290B2 |
Light source device with light source and light-receiving element fixed to each other
A light source includes a plurality of light-emitting units arranged in a two-dimensional array. An optical element changes divergence angles of laser beams from the light-emitting units. A splitting element splits a part of each of the laser beams passing through the optical element. A compensating element compensates for a fluctuation in the divergence angle of each of the laser beams incident on the splitting element due to a change of temperature. A light-receiving element receives laser beams split by the splitting element. The light source, the optical element, the splitting element, the compensating element, and the light-receiving element are integrally supported. |
| US08730288B2 |
Optical writing device, image forming apparatus, and correction value information generating method
An optical writing device includes a light emission control unit configured to cause a light source to emit light based on a rotational position of a photosensitive element and pixel information making up a correction pattern to form an electrostatic latent image of the correction pattern on the photosensitive element, the correction pattern being formed across an entire circumference of the photosensitive element in a rotating direction; a reading signal acquiring unit configured to acquire reading signals resulting from reading the correction pattern, and generate, based on the reading signals, density variation information in which the rotational position and a density of the correction pattern are associated; and a correction value information generation control unit configured to generate information about correction to an amount of light emitted by the light source based on the density of the correction pattern to generate correction value information. |
| US08730285B2 |
Decoloring apparatus, image forming apparatus, and decoloring method
According to one embodiment, a decoloring apparatus includes: a heating rotating member having roughness (Rz) of a surface, which comes into contact with a conveyed sheet, equal to or larger than 3.5 μm and equal to or smaller than 6.0 μm and configured to heat and decolor a decolorable colorant on the sheet; and a pressing member configured to come into press contact with the heating rotating member to form a nip section between the pressing member and the heating rotating member and cooperate with the heating rotating member to nip and convey the sheet. |
| US08730280B2 |
Display device and method of driving the same
A display device includes a color converter, a timing controller, and a display panel. The color converter converts R, G, and B data into R′, G′, B′, and W′ data. The R′, G′, B′, and W′ data includes first component data and second component data. The timing controller provides the first component data to a data driver during a first driving time and provides the second component data to the data driver during a second driving time. The data driver provides gray level display voltages corresponding to the first component data and the second component data to a data line, and the display panel displays the R′, G′, B′, and W′ data in response to the gray level display voltage. |
| US08730279B2 |
Display device and manufacturing method thereof
Provided are a display device that can suppress occurrence of a color breakup as well as occurrence of a false contour, and a control method therefor. In the display device, a plurality of sub-frame periods forming one frame period are divided into: a first group to which sub-frame periods with the same length of light transmission periods belong; and a second group to which sub-frame periods with lengths of light transmission periods shorter than those of the sub-frame periods in the first group and different from each other belong. Further, among the sub-frame periods that belong to the first group, sub-frame periods having the light transmission period increase in number from a middle of the one frame period toward a start point and an end point of the one frame period in accordance with an increase of the gray level. |
| US08730278B2 |
Display device and method of manufacture thereof
Disclosed is a paper-like display device. A front substrate 1 and a back substrate 2 are disposed to face each other with a space therebetween, and partition walls 5 partition the space vertically (Y) and horizontally (X) into cell spaces 3. A predetermined quantity of black-colored particles 4 is enclosed within each cell space 3. A white reflective layer 6, first electrodes 7, and an insulating layer 8 are formed on the inner surface of the back substrate 2. Each first electrode 7 is separately formed for a different pixel and extends along the bottom surface of the cell space 3. Each partition wall 5 includes an upper partition wall 5b, facing the front substrate 1, and a lower partition wall 5a, facing the back substrate 2. A second electrode 9 serving as a common electrode is formed between the upper partition wall 5b and the lower partition wall 5a. |
| US08730275B2 |
Display device, brightness adjustment device, method of adjusting brightness, and program
Provided is a display device including a setting condition acquisition unit for obtaining various conditions for adjusting a gain of a video-signal, a current-brightness table calculation unit that calculates a table representing a relationship between an average brightness and a gain of a video-signal, and that calculates the table capable of setting a peak-brightness and power consumption of the video-signal independently, based on the various conditions acquired by the setting condition acquisition unit, a video-average brightness conversion block that calculates average-brightness of the video-signal input for each frame, a current-brightness control table that calculates a gain of the video-signal from the table based on the average-brightness calculated above, a video gain block that adjusts the video-signal using the gain calculated above, and a display panel that includes a plurality of pixels that emit light in response to a video-signal and displays a video based on the video-signal adjusted above. |
| US08730274B2 |
Backlight dimming ratio based dynamic knee point determination of soft clipping
A liquid crystal display (LCD) system including a liquid crystal (LC) panel; an LC panel controller to send output code values to the LC panel; a backlight to illuminate the LC panel; a backlight controller; and a display controller to control the backlight controller and the LC panel controller, and receive input code values from an image source is presented wherein the LCD system uses a dynamic knee point determination of soft clipping to provide output code values to the LC panel. A method for using an LCD system as above is also provided. |
| US08730273B2 |
RGBW display apparatus and control method thereof
In an exemplary RGBW display apparatus, a plurality of four-color image output signals and a plurality of mapping scale ratios are generated according to a plurality of three-color image input signals. Furthermore, a backlight output intensity outputted from a backlight module is dynamically adjusted according to the mapping scale ratios and a white color signal adjust ratio is generated. In addition, a white color signal in each of the four-color image output signals is adjusted to be an updated white color signal according to the white color signal adjust ratio. |
| US08730270B2 |
Method for gradually adjusting screen brightness when switching operating system
A method for gradually adjusting screen brightness when switching an operating system is provided. The method is used for gradually adjusting the brightness of a screen of an electronic device by a controller thereof when the electronic device is switched from a first operating system to a second operating system. First, an operating system switching signal is received. Then, a first brightness value of the first operating system is obtained. The screen brightness is gradually adjusted from the first brightness value to a predetermined second brightness value. Afterwards, the first operating system is switched to the second operating system, and the screen brightness is further adjusted from the second brightness value back to the first brightness value. Accordingly, a user can sense the switching of the operating system more intuitively and has enough time to get used to the change of the screen brightness and the displayed frame. |
| US08730268B2 |
Image processing systems and methods
A system for generating an output image based on an original image via an imaging application can comprise a parsing module, an optical flow displacement module, and a new pixel generation module. The parsing module can establish a magnified resolution lattice from an original resolution lattice of the original image. The optical flow displacement module can establish optical displacement vectors extending, within the magnified resolution lattice, between original pixels and optical displacement locations, the optical displacement vectors based on one-dimensional optical flow brightness constraint calculations for the original pixels. The new pixel generation module can generate new pixels in the magnified resolution lattice via one or more interpolations based on the optical displacement vectors. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein. |
| US08730267B2 |
Viewpoint change on a display device based on movement of the device
Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise a handheld display device with built-in accelerometer and, in some embodiments, compass. The display of a human figure is changed based on a change in viewpoint/orientation of the device. That is, upon detecting a change in viewpoint (e.g., viewing angle, tilt, roll, or pitch of the device), the image of the person changes. This may be used with a still picture of a person, such as for the sale of clothing, or in conjunction with moving images, such as for a sports or exercise instructional video. |
| US08730264B1 |
Determining when image elements intersect
A plurality of graphics objects are assigned to a quad-tree structure corresponding to a display. It is determined whether another graphics object overlaps with a display area corresponding to a node of the quad-tree structure. When the other graphics object overlaps with the display area, it is determined whether the other graphics object intersects with any graphics objects belonging to the node. |
| US08730262B2 |
Electronic apparatus and display method in electronic apparatus
In an electronic device and its display method, which dissolves a feeling of wrongness given to users in the case where information displayed in the foreground image and its related information is displayed in the background image, thereby making it possible to reduce a burden imposed on users; when a wallpaper display processing is carried out and a background image displayed by a background image display unit (183) is included in information and its related information displayed by an information display unit (182), such as a clock, a date, a radio condition, a remaining battery charge, and the like; an information display suppression unit (184) suppresses display of either the information display by the information display unit (182) or the information display by the background image display unit (183). |
| US08730261B2 |
Image processing device, image processing integrated circuit, image processing system, input assembler device, and input assembling integrated circuit
A coordinate data read unit reads coordinate data of vertexes of a three-dimensional object stored in a memory into an internal storage unit. A coordinate transformation unit performs coordinate transformation on the coordinate data stored in the internal storage unit. A vertex deletion unit determines whether a piece of the attribute data of each vertex is to be read, based on the transformed pieces of the coordinate data stored in the internal storage unit. An attribute data read unit reads a piece of the attribute data of each vertex determined to be read by the vertex read unit from the memory into the internal storage unit. A display control unit performs drawing processing based on the pieces of the coordinate and the attribute data stored in the internal storage unit. |
| US08730259B2 |
Image display device, image display control method and program
An image grouping device which may comprise a first classifying unit for classifying a plurality of items of image data in a first predetermined unit, a second classifying unit for breaking the plurality of the items of image data classified by the first classifying unit into smaller groups in a second predetermined unit, and a control unit for controlling the plurality of the items of image data classified by the second classifying unit to be displayed on a display. The control unit may automatically select a background image according to background music during a slide show. |
| US08730257B2 |
Color correction of mirrored displays
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that drives a first display and a second display mirrored to the first display from a computer system. During operation, the system obtains a framebuffer update for a first framebuffer associated with the first display. Next, the system performs a color-correction operation on the framebuffer update to obtain a color-corrected framebuffer update that enables color output from the second display to substantially match color output from the first display. Finally, the system uses the framebuffer update to drive the first display, and uses the color-corrected framebuffer update to drive the second display. |
| US08730254B2 |
Apparatus and method for performing color conversion based on viewing conditions
A color processing apparatus includes a device characteristic acquisition unit configured to acquire a monitor device characteristic, a viewing condition acquisition unit configured to acquire a viewing condition of a display screen, a correction unit configured to correct the monitor device characteristic based on the viewing condition of the display screen, and a color conversion unit configured to perform color conversion based on the viewing condition of the display screen and the corrected monitor device characteristic. |
| US08730253B2 |
Decomposing cubic Bezier segments for tessellation-free stencil filling
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for decomposing and filling cubic Bèzier segments of paths without tessellating the paths. Path rendering may be accelerated when a GPU or other processor is configured to perform the decomposition operations. Cubic Bèzier paths are classified and decomposed into simple cubic Bèzier path segments based on the classification. A stencil buffer is then generated that indicates pixels that are inside of the decomposed cubic Bèzier segments. The paths are then filled according to the stencil buffer to produce a filled path. |
| US08730246B2 |
Real-time goal space steering for data-driven character animation
A method for generating real-time goal space steering for data-driven character animation is disclosed. A goal space table of sparse samplings of possible future locations is computed, indexed by the starting blend value and frame. A steer space is computed as a function of the current blend value and frame, interpolated from the nearest indices of the table lookup in the goal space. The steer space is then transformed to local coordinates of a character's position at the current frame. The steer space samples closest to a line connecting the character's position with the goal location may be selected. The blending values of the two selected steer space samples are interpolated to compute the new blending value to render subsequent frames of an animation sequence. |
| US08730242B2 |
Performing time slice-based visual prediction
To perform time slice-based visual prediction, a weighted moving aggregate of data values in a data set is calculated over previous time slices to predict data values based on interactive user input. A visual accuracy indicator is generated for display to indicate a quality of prediction of data values at different times. A visualization presents data values from the data set and the predicted data values, where the data values from the data set and the predicted data values are represented as corresponding cells. |
| US08730240B2 |
Modeling and rendering of heterogeneous translucent materals using the diffusion equation
An exemplary method includes providing image data for an illuminated physical sample of a heterogeneous translucent material, determining one or more material properties of the material based in part on a diffusion equation where one of the material properties is a diffusion coefficient for diffusion of radiation in the material and where the determining includes a regularization term for the diffusion coefficient, mapping the one or more material properties to a virtual object volume, assigning virtual illumination conditions to the virtual object volume, and rendering the virtual object volume using the virtual illumination conditions as a boundary condition for a system of diffusion equations of the virtual object volume. Other methods, devices and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08730239B2 |
Transitioning between shading regions on an object
Embodiments relate to a computer-implemented method of providing a transition between first and second regions within a virtual scene, where the first and second regions are rendered using different methods and being connected to one another along a border line. The second region features a sharply diminishing illumination from the border line. The method includes adding, an overlay of additional illumination to the first region as to make the illumination in portions of the first region that are close to the borderline similar to that of portions of the second region that are close to the border line. The method also includes shifting a position on which calculation of the illumination of the second region is based away from the first region. |
| US08730236B2 |
Compression of a tessellated primitive index list in a tile rendering system
A method and apparatus for comprising primitive data generated by tessellation of patches in a three-dimensional computer graphics rendering system receives domain point indices for a first primitive in a list of primitives defining the tessellated patch, stores the domain point indices for the received primitive, compares domain point indices of a next primitive in the list with stored domain point indices and determines any matches, stores domain point indicates of the next primitive or, if a match was found, stores a reference to the position of the matched index, receives domain point indexes of the next primitive in the list and repeats the step until each primitive in the list has been compressed. |
| US08730234B2 |
Image display apparatus and image display method
The invention provides an image display apparatus for displaying three cross sectional images for enabling efficient observation of a three-dimensional distribution of the images between a plurality of positions of interest when there are the plurality of positions of interest (abnormal shadow candidates) in three-dimensional medical image data. The apparatus determines a display switch parameter for each coordinate axis according to a positional relationship between a first position of interest and a second position of interest on a displayed image for each coordinate axis, and displays the cross sectional images by switching the cross sectional images in parallel from the first position of interest toward the second position of interest according to the determined display switch parameter. |
| US08730227B2 |
Driving device, liquid crystal display having the same, and method of driving the liquid crystal display
In a driving device, a liquid crystal display having the driving device, and a method of driving the liquid crystal display, the driving device includes a signal controller, a voltage selector, a gray-scale voltage generator, and a data driver. The signal controller outputs a power-down signal indicating an imminent power-off. The voltage selector outputs a common voltage in response to the signal. The gray-scale voltage generator receives the common voltage to generate common gray-scale voltages having a same voltage level as that of the common voltage. The data driver generates common data voltages based on the common gray-scale voltages. The driving device controls a display panel so that the display panel displays a white image in response to the signal. Thus, an after-image after the power-off is removed, therefore improving the display quality of the display panel. |
| US08730226B2 |
Thin-film transistor liquid-crystal display with variable frame frequency
An active matrix includes an array of pixels individually addressable over a first frame-frequency range and over a second, higher frame-frequency range. The active matrix also includes, for each pixel of the array, a charging circuit through which that pixel is addressed. Each charging circuit includes an adjustable storage capacitance and is configured such that the storage capacitance is maintained at a first level over the first frame-frequency range, and at a second, lower level over the second frame-frequency range. |
| US08730221B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit, self-luminous display panel module, electronic apparatus, and method for driving power supply line
A semiconductor integrated circuit and corresponding display panel and electronic apparatus. A pixel element includes a self-luminous element and a drive transistor connected to a power supply line. In an emission period of the self-luminous element, an active voltage and an intermediate voltage are sequentially applied between the power supply line and a potential line with a pulse-shaped waveform such that a predetermined luminance duration is obtained in the emission period. In a non-emission period of the self-luminous element, an off-state voltage is applied between the power supply line and the potential line so as to maintain the self-luminous element in a non-emission state. |
| US08730216B2 |
Display medium drive device, computer-readable storage medium, and display device
A display medium drive device includes: a translucent display medium, a back substrate opposing the display substrate, a dispersant sealed between the display substrate and the back substrate, and plural types of particle groups with different colors and charge polarities that are dispersed in the dispersant so as to move in the inter-substrate space in response to an electric field; and a voltage application unit which, in a case of displaying a gradation of a color of a first particle group, applies a first voltage and which is a voltage equal to or greater than a threshold voltage needed to cause at least some of the first particle group to detach from the display substrate or the back substrate and thereafter applies a second voltage that has the same polarity as the first voltage and is lower than the threshold voltage. |
| US08730215B2 |
Data latch circuit, driving method of the data latch circuit, and display device
The present invention provides a data latch circuit which can operate stably with a low-amplitude signal, which consumes less electric power, and which is resistant against the variation in TFTs. When an analog switch is turned on, a data signal is inputted to a gate electrode of an n-channel TFT and, at this time, VDD is supplied to an input terminal of an inverter. When the analog switch in turned off, the n-channel TFT is turned on or off depending on a level of the data signal. When the data signal is at an H level, the n-channel TFT is turned on and VSS is supplied to the input terminal of the inverter. When the data signal is at an L level, VDD is supplied to an input terminal of the inverter. Therefore, only VDD and VSS levels are applied to the input terminal of the inverter. |
| US08730211B2 |
Optical touch circuit and liquid crystal display device using same
In an exemplary optical touch circuit and a LCD device using the same, an optical sensing unit is turned on or off according to an irradiation light intensity and accordingly generates a first signal. A first signal readout unit is electrically coupled to the optical sensing unit and turned on or off according to a first operation timing sequence and accordingly outputs the first signal. A touch reference unit is for providing a reference voltage. A second signal readout unit is turned on or off according to a second operation timing sequence and accordingly outputs the reference voltage. The touch sensing unit is electrically coupled to the first and second signal readout units and uses a voltage difference between the first signal and the reference voltage as a basis to determine that whether the optical touch circuit is touched or not. |
| US08730201B2 |
Touch panel
A touch panel includes an insulating base, a plurality of first sensing electrodes, a plurality of second sensing electrodes and a plurality of third sensing electrodes. The insulating base has a first surface and a second surface. The first sensing electrodes and the second sensing electrodes are disposed on the first surface of the insulating base, and electrically isolated from each other. The third sensing electrodes are disposed on the second surface of the insulating base, and each third sensing electrode at least partially overlaps a portion of the first sensing electrodes and a portion of the second sensing electrodes. |
| US08730197B2 |
Touch panel controller and electronic apparatus employing same
A touch panel controller (1), which can accurately detect changes in capacitance values of respective first and second electrostatic capacitors which are touched, includes: a driving section (4) for driving drive lines (DL1 through DL4) on the basis of a code sequence so as to drive (i) electrostatic capacitors (C31 through C34) provided between the respective drive lines (DL1 through DL4) and a sense line (SL3) and (ii) electrostatic capacitors (C41 through C44) provided between the respective drive lines (DL1 through DL4) and a sense line (SL4) so that (i) a first linear sum of first capacitance values of the respective electrostatic capacitors (C31 through C34) is outputted from the sense line (SL3) and (ii) a second linear sum of second capacitance values of the respective electrostatic capacitors (C41 through C44) is outputted from the sense line (SL4); a differential amplifier (5) for amplifying a difference between the first linear sum and the second linear sum; and a saturation prevention control section (8) for correcting a line dependency between the first capacitance values and the second capacitance values. |
| US08730194B2 |
Finger stylus for use with capacitive touch panels
Capacitive styluses and methods for use thereof. A stylus according to the present application may include a finger engagement portion adapted to engage the finger of a user. Furthermore, the stylus may include an extension portion that is adapted to extend beyond the distal tip of the finger of the user. An electrically conductive contact surface may be disposed beyond the distal tip of the finger and be contactable with a capacitive touch panel. An electrically conductive path may be provided between the contact surface and the finger engagement portion to establish electrical communication therebetween. The contact surface may be of sufficient size to affect a capacitive sensor of a capacitive touch panel when in contact therewith and when the stylus is mounted to the finger of a user. |
| US08730193B2 |
Capacitive touchscreen with rhombic and hexagonal pads
The present invention provides a mutual capacitive multi-touch screen. The conductive strip pattern allows that, when a touch range of each external conductive object on the mutual capacitive multi-touch screen is larger than a predetermined condition, capacitive coupling between each external conductive object and first conductive strip is greater than capacitive coupling between each external conductive object and second conductive strip, such that the proportion of a driving signal flowing out of the first conductive strip via at least one first external conductive object in the external conductive objects and into the second conductive strip via at least one second external conductive object in the external conductive objects decreases as the number of second external conductive objects increases. |
| US08730192B2 |
Contact tracking and identification module for touch sensing
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device. |
| US08730190B2 |
Detect motion generated from gestures used to execute functionality associated with a computer system
A system and method to detect motion generated from gestures, the gestures used to execute functionality associated with a computer system is described. The system includes a touch-sensitive display for receiving input. Further, the system includes a processor to convert the user input into an electrical signal to activate a sensor, the sensor to generate field of view. Additionally, the system includes a sensor logic module to identify at least one wave value associated with a gesture object residing within the field of view. Moreover, the system includes a receiver wave logic module to determine that the at least one wave value has exceeded a limit value. The system also includes a gesture logic module to execute functionality associated with the at least one wave value, the functionality related to an application depicted on the touch-sensitive display. |
| US08730187B2 |
Techniques for sorting data that represents touch positions on a sensing device
An apparatus includes a memory and a processing device comprising touch sorting logic. The touch sorting logic sorts the raw touch position data in two stages. In each of the stages, the touch sorting logic predicts the centroid positions for each touch of the plurality of touches, compares the predicted centroid positions for each touch and indexes the centroid position for each touch based on the predicted centroid position that is closest to the raw touch position data. The sorted touch position data is sorted according to the touch index assigned to each of the centroid positions for each of the plurality of touches. |
| US08730181B1 |
Tactile guidance system for touch screen interaction
A mobile computing device includes a housing portion defining a front face and a substantial planar back face that is opposed to and directed away from the front face. The device also includes a touch screen input mechanism arranged on the front face and a plurality of tactile guides on the back face. Program code is stored and executable on the device so that, when the code is executed, it identifies a contact input area on the touch screen, where a user can make selections on the touch screen, as being aligned with one of the plurality of tactile structures. |
| US08730169B2 |
Hybrid pointing device
The present invention discloses a hybrid pointing device including an optical navigation module and a pointing module. The optical navigation module is configured to replace the conventional buttons of a convention pointing device, such as an optical mouse or a trackball mouse. The optical navigation module is configured to sense gestures of at least one object operated by a user to activate commands associated with particular programs running on the host. Since the optical navigation module is only configured to sense gestures of the object but not the movement of the hybrid pointing device relative to a surface, the resolution thereof is aimed to be sufficiently high enough for sensing gestures and no need to be relatively high. |
| US08730167B2 |
Pointing device with optical positioning on low-diffusive surfaces
A computer input device includes a light source assembly forming an incident light beam that strikes an area on a surface beneath the input device with large incident angle. A light sensing assembly in the input device is positioned to receive scattered light and includes a band-pass filter. A barrier is located directly above the area where the light beam is incident on the top surface to prevent light from traveling directly from the light source assembly to the light sensing assembly. |
| US08730166B2 |
Multi-sensored control stick for enhanced input sensitivity and funtionality
Systems and methods incorporating an embedded sensor in a control stick to detect the presence of an object, such as a thumb. A presence detect signal may be generated by the additional sensor and auto calibration logic then may automatically remove bias from the control stick in real time when the presence detect signal indicates the control stick is not under the influence of a force external to the controller, and therefore at its neutral mechanical position. In further embodiments, embedded sensors are arrayed across an exterior surface of a control stick as a secondary control stick-based positional input device. In such embodiments, tactile or proximity sensor technology may be applied to either improve precision of first positional information generated by the control stick or to control a coordinate space separate from that controlled by first position information provided by the control stick. |
| US08730162B1 |
Methods and apparatus related to cursor device calibration
In one general aspect, a computer-readable storage medium can store instructions that when executed cause a computing device to perform a process. The instructions can include instructions to receive a cursor behavior representing an interaction with a user interface where the interaction is triggered via a cursor device. The instructions can include instructions to identify a deviation of the cursor behavior from an expected cursor behavior, and calculate a cursor value related to a responsiveness of the cursor device based on the deviation. |
| US08730157B2 |
Hand pose recognition
Hand pose recognition comprises determining an initial hand pose estimate for a captured input hand pose and performing iterations based upon hand pose estimates and residues between such estimates and hand pose estimates. One or more control signals are generated based upon the hand pose recognition. |
| US08730156B2 |
Maintaining multiple views on a shared stable virtual space
Ways for controlling a virtual-scene view in a portable device are presented. In one method, a signal is received and the device is synchronized to make the location of the device a reference point in a three-dimensional (3D) space. A virtual scene with virtual reality elements is generated around the reference point. The current position of the device in the 3D space, with respect to the reference point, is determined and a view of the virtual scene created. The view represents the virtual scene as seen from the current position of the device with a viewing angle based on the position of the device. The created view is displayed in the device, and the view of the virtual scene is changed as the device is moved within the 3D space. In another method, multiple players shared the virtual reality and interact with each other in the virtual reality. |
| US08730149B2 |
Method for back light control and apparatus thereof
A method for backlight control includes: receiving a display synchronization signal; generating a backlight control signal according to the display synchronization signal; and driving a backlight source according to the backlight control signal. An apparatus for backlight control includes: a signal receiving circuit, for receiving a display synchronization signal; a control circuit, coupled to the signal receiving circuit, for generating a backlight control signal according to the display synchronization signal; and a driving circuit, coupled to the control circuit, for driving a backlight source according to the backlight control signal. |
| US08730148B2 |
Method of driving a light source, light source apparatus for performing the method and display apparatus having the light source apparatus
A method of driving a light source of a light source module including a red light source, a green light source and a blue light source, includes sensing a luminous intensity of the environment; and adjusting a wavelength of light generated from the light source module according to the luminous intensity of the environment. |
| US08730146B2 |
Drive voltage generating circuit and liquid crystal display including the same
A drive voltage generating circuit which has a first shifter receiving an input voltage and outputting a first drive voltage obtained by first shifting a voltage level of the input voltage; a second shifter receiving outputting the second drive voltage obtained by second shifting a voltage level of the first drive voltage; and a drive voltage controller adjusting one of a shifting amount of the first shifter and a shifting amount of the second shifter in accordance with a surrounding temperature, wherein the second drive voltage is continuously varied in an analog manner, in accordance with the surrounding temperature. |
| US08730145B2 |
Shift register circuit, display panel, and electronic apparatus
Disclosed herein is a shift register circuit that is formed on an insulating substrate with thin film transistors having channels of the same conductivity type and includes shift stages, each of the shift stages including: a first thin film transistor; a second thin film transistor; a 3(1)-th thin film transistor; a 3(2)-th thin film transistor; a 4(1)-th thin film transistor; a 4(2)-th thin film transistor; a fifth thin film transistor; and a sixth thin film transistor. |
| US08730141B2 |
Display pixel structure, liquid crystal panel, liquid crystal display device and driving method
The present invention discloses a display pixel structure, a liquid crystal panel, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a driving method. Said display pixel structure comprises multiple parallel pixel areas; each said pixel area comprises two single rows of first sib-pixel area and second sub-pixel area which are mutually parallel; said second sub-pixel area comprises multiple pixel elements; every three adjacent pixel elements form a group; and the three pixel elements of each group are respectively corresponding to three primary colors. The present invention has the advantages that the corresponding phase retardation coating is not exceeded within the range of wider light; the XTALK problem under the condition of large-angle light is avoided; the viewed color is not changed because the light emitted by each pixel of the second sub-pixel area is not blocked; and higher aperture opening ratio is obtained. |
| US08730139B2 |
Image display apparatus employing laser beam source and image display method therefor
An image display apparatus employing a laser beam source includes: a light modulating unit that modulates a laser beam emitted from the laser beam source into image light representing an image; and a driving-signal generating unit that generates, on the basis of an image signal of a frame image updated at a fixed first period, a driving signal for driving the light modulating unit. The driving-signal generating unit periodically inserts a noise image in the driving signal while maintaining timing for updating display of the frame image at the first period. |
| US08730138B2 |
Organic light emitting diode pixel array
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) pixel array includes a plurality of first signal lines, a plurality of second signal lines, and a plurality of pixel array units. The pixel array units are arranged in array on a substrate. Each of the pixel array units includes a plurality of OLED pixels. The OLED pixels are connected to the same first signal line and respectively connected to a first portion and a second portion of the second signal lines. At least two of the OLED pixels are located between the first portion and the second portion. A transmittance region is surrounded by the first portion, the second portion, and the OLED pixels, and the first portion and the second portion are respectively located at two opposite sides of the transmittance region. |
| US08730133B2 |
Display device and electronic device
The present invention provides a display device includes: a pixel array section including a set of pixels arranged in a form of a matrix; and a driving section for driving the pixel array section. |
| US08730131B2 |
Head mounted display and method of outputting a content using the same in which the same identical content is displayed
The present invention relates to a method of outputting a content using a head mounted display (HMD), and more particularly, to a method of outputting a currently displayed content of a digital device to an HMD. The present invention includes performing a pairing with a digital device having at least one display unit configured to display the content, detecting a location state of the paired digital device, and outputting the content displayed on the digital device to the HMD, wherein the location state comprises a first state in which a display unit of the digital device is located within a preset view angle region of the HMD and a second state in which the display unit of the digital device is not located within the view angle region. |
| US08730128B2 |
Apparatus for displaying information in a motor vehicle
An apparatus for displaying information in a motor vehicle, has a first display device which has a display area which is arranged in a dashboard of the motor vehicle. The apparatus also has a second display device for displaying the information on a windshield of the motor vehicle, which has a projection device. The second display device is arranged with respect to the first display device, and the two display devices are connected to a common control device, in such a way that coherent information, which continues from the first display device to the second display device, can be displayed on the two display devices. |
| US08730127B2 |
Method and system for displaying a panoramic view to an operator
A method for displaying to an operator a rectangular image having a wide field of view of a scene, includes forming a virtual cylinder from the rectangular image, as if it was first printed on a transparent sheet such that it is visible from both sides of the sheet, and then rolled to form the cylinder. A perspective view of the cylinder is provided, vertically dividing the cylinder into two halves. One of the cylinder halves is vertically shifted until there is no overlap between the two halves. The ellipse which is formed between the two halves following the shifting step is defined as an orientation plane. |
| US08730124B2 |
Self-deploying helical antenna
A compressible and deployable helical antenna (2) includes a supporting structure (7) having a helical shape. The supporting structure (7) includes a core (18), especially of foamed material, and a carrier layer (19) of composite fiber material, the carrier layer (19) being located on the core (18). An electrically conducting layer (8) is located on the carrier layer (19). An antenna unit (1) includes the compressible and deployable helical antenna (2) and a reflector plate (3). The reflector plate (3) is connected to the helical antenna (2). |
| US08730122B2 |
Antenna device and communication device provided therewith
An antenna device includes a concave-shaped reflecting mirror that reflects radio waves, a primary radiator disposed in the concave mirror and transmitting/receiving radio waves, and an antenna cover attached to an opening face of the reflecting mirror. The antenna cover is secured to the reflecting mirror with a flange part formed on the rim of the antenna cover and fitted to the inner side of a flange part formed on the rim of the reflecting mirror. |
| US08730121B2 |
Large scale folded dipole antenna for near-field RFID applications
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, reader antennas are provided within storage fixtures or supporting fixtures for transporting RF signals between, for example, an RFID reader and an RFID tag. In a preferred embodiment, the RFID-enabled fixtures are implemented using an intelligent network, which may allow enhanced flexibility in controlling systems for interrogation of RFID antennas. |
| US08730118B1 |
Biconical antenna with equal delay balun and bifurcating ground plane
A biconical antenna driven by an equal-delay transformer is provided herein with a bifurcating ground plane. According to one embodiment, the biconical antenna comprises a pair of cone-shaped elements and a conducting ground plate. The cone-shaped elements are arranged back-to-back to one another and aligned along a first axis. The conducting ground plate is arranged between the cone-shaped elements in a plane perpendicular to the first axis. As described herein, the bifurcating ground plane provides the decoupling needed to eliminate the anomalous undulations, which tend to occur in the antenna response at odd-integer average quarter-wave frequencies. |
| US08730114B2 |
Low-profile multiple-beam lens antenna
An antenna is provided for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic energy. A circular-shaped lens is disposed within a volume that has a first surface, a second surface, and a center, has an axis of rotation that passes substantially through the first surface, the second surface and the center. A plurality of feed elements are positioned at a plurality of focal points of the circular-shaped lens along at least a portion of a circle which is centered substantially on the axis of rotation. The thickness of the antenna is ⅓ or less of the diameter of the antenna. |
| US08730107B2 |
Multi-frequency antenna
A multi-frequency antenna comprises a first conductor, a second conductor, a grounding member, and a third conductor. The first and second conductors are respectively arranged on a first plane and a second plane. The grounding member is arranged on a third plane existing between the first and second planes. The third conductor is connected with the first conductor and arranged on the first plane also. The first and third conductors are respectively coupled to the radiated signals of the second conductor to form a first electrical path and a second electrical path. The first electrical path and the second electrical path have a phase difference of 180 degrees. The present invention features the additional third conductor. The third conductor and the first conductor are coupled to the radiated signals of the second conductor to generate opposite-phase signals. Thus are counterbalanced the interferences among the antenna systems of an identical frequency band. |
| US08730106B2 |
Communications device and tracking device with slotted antenna and related methods
A communications device may include an electrically conductive antenna layer having a slotted opening therein extending from a medial portion and opening outwardly to a perimeter thereof, the electrically conductive antenna layer including antenna feed points. The communications device may include a first dielectric layer adjacent the electrically conductive antenna layer, an electrically conductive passive antenna tuning member adjacent the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer adjacent the electrically conductive passive antenna tuning member, circuitry adjacent the second dielectric layer, and electrically conductive vias extending through the first and second dielectric layers and coupling the circuitry and the antenna feed points. |
| US08730105B2 |
Finding the position of a mobile terminal
A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining the position, or change in the position, of a mobile terminal. The terminal has a receiver for receiving the signals from one or more transmission sources at unknown positions and an independent positioning device able to find, when operative, the position of the mobile terminal. The method uses the independent positioning device to measure the position of the mobile terminal at one or more first locations. A respective first set of time or phase offset values of signals received from the transmission sources relative to each other or to a reference in the mobile terminal is measured in the mobile terminal, at each first location. A second set of time or phase offset values are measured in the mobile terminal at a second terminal location where the independent positioning device is not operative and a second set of time or phase offset values of the signals received from the transmission sources, relative to each other or to a reference in the mobile terminal is measured. The values and said first measured terminal position or positions are combined, to thereby calculate the position of the mobile terminal at the second location, or the change in position of the mobile terminal between a first location and the second location. |
| US08730104B2 |
Programmable wide-band radio frequency feed network
The programmable wide-band radio frequency feed network is a wideband multi-port microwave/RF feed network that can operate with multiple communication bands covering a wide frequency range. In addition, the feed network is programmable via a digital controller and has two degrees of freedom, viz., amplitude and phase variations. The feed network provides amplification as well as attenuation to the amplitude of the incoming signals. The feed network is designed using discrete microwave components, and fabricated on a multilayer printed circuit board (PCB) with a small footprint. The digitally controlled feed network is ideal for any antenna array application within the covered frequency range, and can be re-programmed for various wireless communication standards. |
| US08730098B1 |
Method for radar detection of persons wearing wires
Methods are described for radar detection of persons wearing wires using radar spectra data including the vertical polarization (VV) radar cross section and the horizontal polarization (HH) radar cross section for a person. In one embodiment, the ratio of the vertical polarization (VV) radar cross section to the horizontal polarization (HH) radar cross section for a person is compared to a detection threshold to determine whether the person is wearing wires. In another embodiment, the absolute difference of the vertical polarization (VV) radar cross section and the horizontal polarization (HH) radar cross section for a person is compared to a detection threshold to determine whether the person is wearing wires. To reduce false positives, other additional indicators, such as speed of movement, and or visual features of the person, can be used to further narrow a person suspected of wearing wires. |
| US08730091B2 |
Target identification for a radar image
The target identification technology described herein includes a method, a system, and a computer program product. In some examples, the system includes a length estimation module configured to determine a length of a target from a radar image based on a range profile, the radar image, and one or more adaptive parameters. The system can include a points of interest module configured to identify at least one point of interest of the target from the radar image based on the length of the target, the range profile, the radar image, the one or more adaptive parameters, and Hough Line processing. The system can include an identification module configured to determine a target identification from a plurality of identification classes based on the length of the target and the at least one point of interest of the target. |
| US08730088B2 |
Radar coherent processing interval scheduling via ad hoc network
Techniques disclosed herein include systems and methods for accurately scheduling radar and radio events against each other. Specifically, a scheduling manager can schedule radar events based on scheduled radio events (wireless network communication events). A given radio schedule for a compact radar sensor can be a relatively complicated schedule, especially when the compact radar sensor operates as part of an ad hoc network. In certain embodiments, the scheduling manager identifies a radio transmission schedule of neighboring radar nodes or compact radar sensor units. Such a radio transmission schedule of neighboring nodes can include information on when neighboring nodes will be receiving or transmitting data. The scheduling manager then schedules radar events to be executed by the radar device at available times, or at times that do not overlap with scheduled radio events. |
| US08730086B2 |
Weather detection using satellite communication signals
Disclosed is a satellite weather detection system that uses atmospheric precipitation density data. Subscribers detect the signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio of signals that are transmitted from the satellite. Upstream transmit power data is also collected, which is needed to achieve a given SNR at a gateway. The values of the downstream signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio data as well as the upstream transmit power data are normalized and compared with current atmospheric data. The data can be color coded and graphically displayed to show weather patterns. Location and velocity of high precipitation density cells can be tracked to predict movement of storms. |
| US08730084B2 |
Dual mode ground penetrating radar (GPR)
A dual mode ground penetrating radar includes an enclosure which houses radar electronics. The dual mode ground penetrating radar includes an enclosure housing radar electronics. The dual mode ground penetrating radar further includes a first antenna feed having ferrite loading and extending outside of the enclosure. The dual mode ground penetrating radar further includes a second antenna feed spaced apart from the first antenna feed, the second antenna feed having ferrite loading and extending outside of the enclosure. An RF signal is provided in at least one of the first and second antenna feeds by the radar electronics. |
| US08730079B2 |
Sampling rate converter data flow control mechanism
A sampling rate converter that converts an incoming stream of data, clocked at a first frequency, to an output stream of data that can be clocked at a second frequency is described. The sampling rate converter up-samples an incoming data stream, filters the up-sampled incoming data stream, interpolates the filtered up-sampled data stream, and then stores the interpolated filtered up-sampled incoming data stream in a FIFO at the first frequency. The interpolated filtered up-sampled data can then be read from the FIFO at the second frequency. A control block that includes a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) that generated the first frequency is provided. Control of the NCO's production of the first frequency is based on the status of the FIFO, how the data stream is modulated, and the sampling rate ratio of the incoming data stream with respect to the output or read rate of data stream. |
| US08730077B2 |
Read channel with selective oversampled analog to digital conversion
Methods and apparatus are provided for processing a signal in a read channel using a selective oversampled analog to digital conversion. The disclosed selective oversampled analog to digital conversion simplifies the analog design by transferring at least a portion of the equalization and/or filtering processes to the digital domain. An analog input signal in a read channel is converted to a digital signal to generate one or more digital samples corresponding to the analog input signal for a given bit interval. The analog input signal is selectively filtered in an analog domain in a first mode and the digital samples are selectively filtered in a digital domain in a second mode. A data detection algorithm is applied to the digital samples to obtain a detected output. The selection of the first mode and the second mode can be, for example, based on channel conditions. The analog to digital conversion can be performed at a baud rate in the first mode and at an oversampled rate in the second mode. |
| US08730067B2 |
Optimized multi-level finite state machine with redundant DC nodes
A method and system for eliminating/suppressing long transition runs over a communications channel is disclosed. The method may include providing modulation coding based on a multi-level finite state machine (ML-FSM) having a periodic structure, the periodic structure being defined by a predetermined number of time frames. The ML-FSM may include a plurality of penalty-free edges for connecting nodes in one time frame to nodes at the same level in a subsequent time frame and a plurality of penalty edges for connecting nodes in one time frame to nodes at an upper level in the subsequent time frame. The method may further include utilizing the ML-FSM based modulation coding to facilitate data transmission over the communications channel. |
| US08730063B1 |
Fail safe control circuit for a vehicle barrier security system
A fail-safe circuitry for a vehicle barrier security system prevents accidental raising of the barrier due to inadvertent closing of an activation relay causing power to be provided to an activation mechanism raising the barrier. A latching relay, having a latched state and reset state, is placed in series between the activation relay and the activation mechanism. The latching relay is reset whenever the OPEN switch is pressed for lowering the barrier or an automatic reset relay is energized by a controller whenever passage of a vehicle is sensed. Prior to raising the barrier, the latching relay must be reset, which can occur by pressing the OPEN switch or by the controller detecting passage of a prior vehicle and activating a automatic reset relay. Accidental raising of the barrier due to malfunctions of the activation relay due to vibrations is prevented by latching and resetting the latching relay. |
| US08730062B2 |
Computer-implemented system and method for providing gun shot detection through a centralized parking services server
A computer-implemented system and method for providing gun shot detection through a centralized parking services server is provided. Smart parking devices are physically proximate parking spaces. Acoustic sensors are deployed with at least one acoustic sensor in a smart parking device. Vehicle occupancy sensors and parking availability indicators are associated with the parking spaces. Parking space occupancy is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor. Use of the parking space is processed based on an identity of a driver. Potential gunshots are detected by aurally monitoring ambient sounds in the service region through the acoustic sensors. The potential gunshots are identified by evaluating the ambient sounds for sound characteristics of gunfire and triangulating the ambient sounds relative to the locations of the acoustic sensor comprised in one of the smart parking devices and at least one other of the acoustic sensors. Finally, an alert is generated for the potential gunshot. |
| US08730061B2 |
Method for calibrating an on-board unit and a test device, a method for wireless toll collection
A method comprises: disposing an on-board unit at a preset relative position with respect to a road-side unit; transmitting a signal by the road-side unit; receiving the signal by the on-board unit and detecting a strength of the received signal; calculating, by the on-board unit, a calculated strength of the received signal according to the detected strength of the received signal; storing the calculated strength of the received signal in a memory accessible by the on-board unit; using the stored calculated strength of the received signal to determine if payment of a toll should be made. |
| US08730053B2 |
Battery assembly with alarm
A battery alarm for use with a battery assembly is provided, the battery alarm including a first activation component, a signaling component, and an output component. The first activation component is configured to activate the alarm upon disengagement of the battery assembly from a battery-operated device and is further configured to deactivate the alarm upon engagement of the battery pack with the battery-operated device. The signaling component is coupled to the first activation component and is configured to transmit a signal when the alarm is activated. The output component is adapted to receive the signal from the signaling component and is configured to produce a visual, audible, and/or tactile output upon receipt of the signal from the signaling component. |
| US08730046B2 |
EAS integrated faucet tag assembly
A tag assembly for a faucet that includes a housing, a cover and an electronic article surveillance tag. The housing has a base plate with a top side, a bottom side and a perimeter, an internal wall defining a first section and a second section on the bottom side and an outer perimetrical side wall. The first section has an opening in the base plate defined by an inner perimetrical side wall. One or more flexible members extend into the opening from the inner perimetrical side wall. The second section has a compartment for an electronic article surveillance tag enclosed by the cover and bounded by the internal wall and the outer perimetrical side wall. The threaded pipe on a faucet is inserted in the opening of the tag assembly housing and the flexible members engage the threads to secure the tag assembly. |
| US08730044B2 |
Method of assigning and deducing the location of articles detected by multiple RFID antennae
In accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention, a method (and corresponding apparatus) is provided for deducing the location of one or more items or objects to be monitored. In exemplary embodiments, the method (and corresponding apparatus) is implemented in RFID (radio frequency identification) applications (e.g., reading RFID tags at 13.56 MHz and approximately 900 MHz) by deducing the location of an item associated with a unique RFID tag in one or more areas of detection covered by multiple RFID reader antennae. |
| US08730042B2 |
Systems and methods for detecting tampering associated with a utility meter
Systems and methods for detecting tampering associated with a utility meter. According to one embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a method. The method can include detecting either a rate of change or change in magnitude of a magnetic field associated with a utility meter; based at least in part on the rate of change or the magnitude of the magnetic field, determining that a magnetic event has occurred; upon or after occurrence of the magnetic event, receiving additional utility meter information; based at least in part on the magnetic event and additional utility meter information, determining that meter tampering has occurred; and generating an event indication for transmission to a utility service or for subsequent review by the utility service. |
| US08730039B1 |
Systems and methods for recording and using information about conditions present in a house or other location
A data recorder may be installed in a house or other type of building in order to record conditions present at the building. The data recorded may be analyzed in order to forensically assess conditions that have led to damage or destruction of the building, or to prospectively forecast the possibility of future damage or destruction. A decision may be made based on analysis of the data, and an action may be taken based on the decision. Examples of data that may be recorded include temperature, wind speed, humidity, or any other information. Examples of decisions that may be made include insurance claim decisions, underwriting decisions, reinsurance decisions, alert decisions, or any other types of decisions. |
| US08730037B2 |
Physical interaction device for personal electronics and method for use
The present disclosure describes, among other things, a method that may include receiving, at one or more sensors in communication with a mobile computing device positioned within a device receptacle portion of a device, the device receptacle portion being configured to substantially enclose and protect the mobile computing device during physical activity, sensor data. The method may include determining, by a processor of the mobile computing device, motion data regarding a movement of the protective device. The method may include estimating a behavior of a user based in part upon the motion data. The method may include generating a response to the behavior including at least one of graphic, audio, tactile, or video output. The method may include providing, through a wireless communications path, the response to a second device in wireless communication with the mobile computing device. |
| US08730034B2 |
Footwear products including data transmission capabilities
Footwear systems include an article of footwear and a data transmission system engaged with the article of footwear. The transmission system transmits data to a remote system, such as a display system, another data transmission system, a processing system, etc. Such footwear systems further may include activation systems for activating the transmission and/or display systems. The transmitted data may be used for various purposes, such as: (a) identifying a user of the article of footwear; (b) activating targeted advertising or product information; (c) confirming the user's presence at a specific location and/or at a specific time; (d) determining start, finish, and/or intermediate split times for specific user; (e) confirming athletic equipment usage; (f) providing data for a game or reward program; (g) registering the user for an event or competition; or the like. |
| US08730033B2 |
Method and system for sending information from a user device to a car
A telematics server manages meeting request messages sent from, and to, a vehicle-coupled device. The server performs authentication services when a subscriber logs in to the server from the vehicle-coupled device, or with a device associated with the subscriber's telematics services account. Upon login, the server may append a session identifier to the request message. After the message passes through the server, an application running on a device remote from the vehicle receives the request message and accepts user input that permits the remote device to transmit its current location to the vehicle-coupled device in a confirmation message according to the session identifier. The telematics server can use the session identifier to determine the destination address of the vehicle-coupled device to forward the confirmation message to. The vehicle-coupled device displays the remote user device location on a map. The request and confirmation messages may include a media content file. |
| US08730030B2 |
Hazard/perimeter safety system
A method and system (10) are provided for preventing accidental intrusion into a hazardous area (12) at a worksite (14). The system (10) includes a transmitter (16), a signal wire (18) connected to the transmitter (16) to emit a wireless signal (19) driven by the transmitter (16), with the signal wire (18) configured for placement between the hazardous area (12) and a nonhazardous area (22) at the worksite (14), a sensor (24) configured to be carried on a person (28) at the worksite (14) and to sense the wireless signal (19) from the signal wire (18) when the sensor (24) is within a predetermined distance from the signal wire 18, and at least one alerting device (30) operably associated with the sensor (24) to generate an alert to the person (28) carrying the sensor (24) in response to the sensor (24) sensing the wireless signal (19). |
| US08730029B2 |
Tablet computer as user interface of security system
A building security system including a security sensor configured to sense a security breach associated with a building. An off-the-shelf portable personal electronic computing device is communicatively coupled to the security sensor and to a central monitoring station. The computing device is programmable within the building to transmit an alarm signal to the central monitoring station in response to the security sensor sensing a security breach associated with the building. |
| US08730027B2 |
Vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus
A vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus is basically provided with a sound emitting device and a notification sound control device. The sound emitting device emits a starting movement notification sound to outside of a vehicle to inform a person in an outside area surrounding the vehicle that the vehicle will transition from a stopped state to a moving state, and emits a moving notification sound to outside of the vehicle to inform a person in the outside area surrounding the vehicle that the vehicle is moving. The notification sound control device operates the sound emitting device to selectively emit the starting movement notification sound. The notification sound control device includes a notification sound emission timing section that sets a start timing of the starting movement notification sound in response to a shift operation having been performed and an additional start movement preparation operation of the vehicle having been performed. |
| US08730025B2 |
Instrument driving device
Provided is an instrument driving device which can have improved marketability and designability by providing a new expression for a prompting operation. The instrument driving device is provided with an instrument (2) that displays vehicle information by causing a pointer to turn on a display board, and a display board lighting means (2d) for illuminating the display board. The instrument driving device is also provided with a control means (2a) for causing, in response to the input of a predetermined start signal, the instrument (2) to perform a prompting operation which is different from a normal operation, and as the prompting operation, activating at least the display board lighting means (2d), then gradually reducing the illumination such that the transition in brightness is nonlinear and the fading rate lessens over time. The predetermined start signal may be the ON or OFF of an electrical power switch. |
| US08730021B2 |
Lit door handle for a vehicle
A door handle apparatus for a vehicle is provided. The door handle includes a door handle body that is configured to be disposed at a door of the vehicle. A light source is mounted inside the door handle body. A light-transmitting member is located between the light source and the door handle body. The light-transmitting member is partially exposed to an exterior of the door handle body. |
| US08730017B2 |
Antenna, tag communication apparatus, and reader-writer system
A first antenna section included in an antenna has a first conductor, supplies electric power to a plurality of tags, and transmits electromagnetic waves to and receives electromagnetic waves from the plurality of tags. One end of the first conductor is a feeding point and an other end of the first conductor is an open end. The first conductor is connected to a reader-writer device for communicating with the plurality of tags. The first conductor can output electromagnetic waves. A second antenna section included in the antenna has a second conductor one end of which is a feeding point, an other end of which is an open end, and which is opposite to the first conductor of the first antenna section with the plurality of tags therebetween. |
| US08730016B2 |
Non-contact communication device and method of operating the same
A non-contact communication device is disclosed comprising: an antenna having an input impedance and being for receiving an AC signal having a voltage and a current, a main unit comprising a power-extraction unit and a communication unit and having a main unit impedance, a tuning circuit, and a matching network for matching the input impedance to the main unit impedance, characterized in that the tuning circuit comprises a phase detector for detecting a phase difference between the voltage and the current and is configured to adjust the impedance of the matching network in dependence on the phase difference. Also disclosed is a method for tuning a non-contact communication device. |
| US08730011B2 |
Wireless position transducer with digital signaling
Apparatus for tracking an object includes a position transducer, which is adapted to be fixed to the object. The position transducer includes a digital microcontroller, which includes a plurality of output pins, and which is operative to generate an alternating digital output at a selected frequency on at least one of the output pins. At least one transmit antenna is coupled directly to the at least one of the output pins, so that the at least one antenna transmits a magnetic field at the selected frequency responsively to the alternating digital output. A field sensor senses the magnetic field and generates a signal responsively thereto. A processor receives and processes the signal in order to determine coordinates of the position transducer. |
| US08730006B2 |
Engine control unit
Provided is an engine control unit, which supports an antitheft system outputting, when a key ID registered in a portable device matches an authentication-purpose key ID registered in a receiver, a receiver status signal that contains information indicating that the portable device has been authenticated, and which is initiated in response to an initiating instruction has not been issued from an external, includes: starting control unit for controlling a starting operation of an engine in response to a start permission signal; storage unit registered with an authentication-purpose receiver ID for authenticating the receiver; and antitheft function install/non-install judging unit for judging whether or not the antitheft function is installed to the moving object, in which, when the authentication-purpose receiver ID is not registered in the storage unit and the receiver status signal is not entered, the antitheft function install/non-install judging unit judges that the antitheft function is not installed, and outputs the start permission signal to the starting control unit. |
| US08730005B2 |
Control system for managing access to restricted areas
The invention is directed to a control system for managing access of users to a plurality of restricted areas. The control system includes at least one manager module and one or more provider modules. The modules are configured in particular fashions. |
| US08730003B2 |
Resistor and method for making same
A resistor includes a substantially cylindrical resistive element having a resistance of less than about 1 mΩ, a substantially cylindrical first termination electrically connected to the resistive element and a second termination electrically connected to the resistive element. The substantially cylindrical first termination is hollow to allow for accepting a connection such as from a battery cable. In addition there may be sense leads present on the resistor. A method of forming a substantially cylindrical resistor includes forming a hollow cylindrical resistor body by rolling a flat sheet comprising a resistive element and a first termination and a second termination joined on opposite ends of the resistive element. |
| US08730002B2 |
Non-conducting zirconium dioxide
A resistance thermometer is provided having a measuring resistor in a form of a 0.1 to 10 μm thick structured platinum layer applied to an electrically insulated surface of a substrate and an electrically insulating coating layer covering the platinum layer. The substrate or its surface contains zirconium dioxide, which is stabilized with oxides of a trivalent and a pentavalent metal. Preferably, the trivalent metal is yttrium and the pentavalent metal is tantalum or niobium. The characteristic curve of the measuring resistor preferably conforms to DIN-IEC 751. For mass production of resistance thermometers having high and reproducible measurement accuracy, a structured platinum layer having a thickness of 0.1 to 10 μm is applied to an electrically insulating substrate having a thermal expansion coefficient in the range of 8.5 to 10.5×10−6/° K and a roughness less than 1 μm, and the structured platinum layer is covered by an electrical insulator. The resistance thermometers allow precise temperature measurement between −200° C. and +850° C., preferably as a sensor in an exhaust gas treatment system. In a substance-sensitive sensor having a circuit path structure on a substrate, the circuit path structure has an epitaxially applied base layer, and a substance-sensitive metal layer attached to the epitaxially applied base layer. |
| US08730001B2 |
Reactor and reactor-use component
Provided is a reactor and a reactor component that can prevent cracking of a resin portion that is interposed between a coil and an internal core portion. The reactor includes a coil 10 and a core that includes an internal core portion 22 and a couple core portion 24. The coil 10 is formed by helically winding a wire. The internal core portion 22 is disposed inside the coil and forms a part of a closed magnetic path. The couple core portion 24 is joined to the internal core portion 22 and forms the remaining part of the closed magnetic path. The reactor includes a resin portion (internal resin portion 30) including a region that is interposed between the coil 10 and the internal core portion 22, and a cushioning member 70 that is interposed between the resin portion and the internal core portion 22 and that does not cover the couple core portion 24. It is preferable that the material of the cushioning member 70 has a Young's modulus that is smaller than a resin material of the resin portion. |
| US08730000B2 |
Reactor and manufaturing method thereof
Divided cores 11, 12 includes left and right leg portions and a yoke portion and formed by molding a yoke portion side core material within resin. The leg portions of the divided core are formed by tubular core mounting portions 41, 42. I-shaped leg portion side core materials 51-53 and spacers 6 are mounted in the tubular core mounting portions. A ring-shaped molded core 1 is formed by abutting and integrating the respective leg portions of two divided cores, and a coil 100 is wound around the molded core. |
| US08729992B2 |
Electromagnetic actuator device
An electromagnetic actuator device has a core unit with a coil device designed to cooperate with armature units displaceably guided relative to the core unit in response to current applied to the coil device, wherein the core unit is designed to cooperate with a plurality of spatially separated plunger units of the armatures so that an electromagnetic interaction takes place with the plurality of plunger units in response to current applied to a coil of the coil device. |
| US08729989B2 |
Magnetic trigger mechanism and associated control method
A magnetic trigger mechanism is provided. The magnetic trigger mechanism operates in conjunction with a plurality of magnetic sensors. The magnetic trigger mechanism includes: a magnet; a body, with its one side provided with a recess and its other side located near the plurality of magnetic sensors; and a moveable section, provided in the recess in a movable manner, comprising an accommodating space for restraining the magnet therein. |
| US08729988B1 |
Trip device support frame and top frame calibration method
A trip device support frame for a circuit breaker is provided. The trip device support frame includes a calibration tab that is a cantilever member. As a cantilever member, the calibration tab may be moved, i.e. deformed at a proximal end of the tab, so as to adjust the position of the calibration tab relative to the other portions of the trip device support frame. The calibration tab extends upwardly and the distal end thereof is disposed adjacent a top member of a circuit breaker housing assembly. The circuit breaker housing assembly, and more specifically a housing assembly top member, includes a calibration slot. In this configuration, the calibration tab distal end may be engaged by a calibration tool from the upper side of the circuit breaker rather than a lateral side. |
| US08729983B2 |
Resonance coupler
A resonance coupler includes transmission-side resonant wiring provided on a transmission substrate and connected to a transmission ground between a connection point of first transmission wiring to the transmission-side resonant wiring and a connection point of second transmission wiring to the transmission-side resonant wiring, and reception-side resonant wiring provided on a reception substrate and connected to a reception ground between a connection point of first reception wiring to the reception-side resonant wiring and a connection point of second reception wiring to reception-side resonant wiring. When viewed in a direction perpendicular to a main surface of the transmission substrate, the transmission substrate and the reception substrate are provided facing each other so that the transmission-side resonant wiring and the reception-side resonant wiring are symmetric about a point and have matching contours. |
| US08729981B2 |
Precision delay line instrument
Precision delay line instruments according to this disclosure may include a plurality of controller activatable delay loops of different delay length design values, and a controller configured to apply a selected delay setting by activating delay loops corresponding to the selected delay setting. The delay length design values may comprise a first set of delay lengths according to a first set of binary step values, and a second set of delay lengths according to a second set of binary step values that is offset from the first set of binary step values. Delay loops corresponding to selected delay settings may be identified in an operating data structure comprising best-fit matched combinations of delay loops that produce more accurate signal delays than one or more other combinations of delay loops. |
| US08729977B2 |
Compensation for crystal frequency using multiple temperatures
A method in a mobile communication device includes: measuring a first temperature associated with a crystal configured to provide a reference signal having a frequency; measuring a second temperature associated with a component that is coupled to the crystal by an electrically and thermally conductive line; and compensating, based upon the measuring of the first and second temperatures, for a change in the frequency of the reference signal of the crystal. |
| US08729973B2 |
MEMS resonator
A MEMS resonator comprises a resonator body (34), and an anchor (32) which provides a fixed connection between the resonator body (34) and a support body. A resistive heating element (R1,R2) and a feedback control system are used to maintain the resonator body (34) at a constant temperature. A location for thermally coupling the anchor (32) to the resistive heating element (R1,R2) is selected which has a lowest dependency of its temperature on the ambient temperature during the operation of the feedback control. |
| US08729971B2 |
Oscillator, and clock generator, semiconductor device, and electronic device including the same
An oscillator includes a reference voltage generator, an oscillation element configured to oscillate by either a drive voltage or a drive current and output an oscillation signal, a peak hold element configured to detect a peak level of the oscillation signal for output; and a controller configured to increase or decrease the drive voltage or drive current in accordance with the reference voltage generated by the reference voltage generator and the peak level output from the peak hold element. |
| US08729970B2 |
Oscillator circuit
An oscillator circuit includes a pair of negative-resistance circuits, a pair of transmission lines coupled to the pair of negative-resistance circuits respectively, a pair of pads that are provided symmetrically to each other with respect to the pair of transmission lines and are to be coupled to each other by a bonding wire, and a synthetic circuit to synthesize output signals of the pair of negative-resistance circuits. |
| US08729969B2 |
Oscillation circuit and oscillation system
An oscillation circuit includes a threshold voltage extraction module, a positive temperature coefficient voltage generation module, an addition module, a common-source amplifier module, a charge and discharge module, and a clock output terminal. The common-source amplifier module includes a first field effect transistor (FET) and a second FET. The addition module includes a first operational amplifier, a second operational amplifier, a third FET, a fourth FET, a fifth FET, a sixth FET, a first resistor, a second resistor, and a third resistor. The charge and discharge module includes a seventh FET, an eighth FET, a charge and discharge FET, a first switch, a second switch, a first comparator, a second comparator, a first nor gate and a second nor gate. An oscillation system is further provided. The oscillation circuit and the oscillation system of the present invention have simple structures and are easy to implement. |
| US08729964B2 |
Power envelope controller and method
A power envelope controller configured for use with an amplification stage and method are disclosed. The power envelope controller includes voltage feedback input circuitry configured to receive a voltage feedback signal representing an internal voltage drop across the amplification stage and current feedback input circuitry configured to receive a current feedback signal representing an output current of the amplification stage. An analog multiplier is configured to generate an internal power dissipation signal representing the internal power dissipation of the amplification stage based on the voltage and current feedback signals. A comparator circuit is configured to compare the internal power dissipation signal to a power threshold and generate a power control error signal when the internal power dissipation of the amplification stage exceeds the threshold. |
| US08729960B2 |
Dynamic adjusting RFID demodulation circuit
A dynamic adjusting RFID demodulator circuit includes an envelope detector having an input for receiving a modulated RF signal, a fixed reference generator coupled to the input of an RC filter, an RF level dependent signal path adding to the fixed reference level at higher RF energy levels, a comparator having a first input coupled to an output of the envelope detector, a second input coupled to an output of the RC filter, and an output for providing a data output signal. |
| US08729959B1 |
Voltage generating apparatus
A voltage generating apparatus is provided. The voltage generating apparatus includes a reference voltage generator and an output voltage generator. The reference voltage generator is used for generating a reference voltage, and the reference voltage generator decides to generate the reference voltage or not according to a control signal. The output voltage generator includes a comparator, a variable resistor and a current source. The comparator compares the reference voltage and an output voltage to generator a calibrating signal. A resistance of the variable resistor is decided by the calibrating signal. The current source provides an output current to flow through the variable resistor for generating the output voltage. Wherein, the reference voltage is generated during an initial timing period, and the generator is turned off after the initial timing period. The initial timing period is determined according to the control signal. |
| US08729956B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device is provided, including a charge-pumping unit configured to charge-pump power voltage in every period of a pumping clock to generate pumping voltage, a first voltage level detection unit configured to detect a maximum voltage level of the generated pumping voltage, a second voltage level detection unit configured to detect a minimum voltage level of the generated pumping voltage, and a pumping clock generating unit configured to generate the pumping clock, the pumping clock having a frequency that is adjusted in response to an output signal of the first and the second voltage level detection units. |
| US08729954B2 |
MOFSET mismatch characterization circuit
A semiconductor device comprising a first inverter circuit including a first PMOS transistor and a first NMOS transistor, a drain electrode of the first PMOS transistor coupled to a drain electrode of the first NMOS transistor, and a second inverter circuit including a second PMOS transistor and a second NMOS transistor, a drain electrode of the second PMOS transistor coupled to a drain electrode of the second NMOS transistor. A first output voltage pad coupled to gate electrodes of the first and second PMOS and NMOS transistors, and between the drain electrode of the first PMOS transistor and the drain electrode of the NMOS transistor to self-bias the first inverter circuit. A second output voltage pad coupled between the drain electrode of the second PMOS transistor and the drain electrode of the second NMOS transistor. |
| US08729949B2 |
Switching circuit
A method for controlling a switch based on transistors is disclosed. A switching circuit for switching a signal from an input port to an output port thereof is provided. A shunting circuit for switchably shunting the signal from the input port to ground is also provided. A control signal is generated for biasing a control port of the shunting circuit and an approximately complimentary control signal is generated for biasing of the switching circuit to either shunt a signal received at the input port or to switch the signal to the output port. A further bias signal for biasing a port within the switching circuit along the signal path between the input port and the output port is also provided. |
| US08729947B2 |
Wide-range glitch-free asynchronous clock switch
Embodiments include systems and methods for asynchronous, glitch-free clock switching across a wide range of clock frequencies with minimal clock down time. Embodiments effectively provide two stages of synchronization across two independent clock domains. In a first synchronization stage, a received, asynchronous clock select signal is translated into a synchronized clock select signal that is effectively synchronous with respect to a first clock domain and is still effectively asynchronous with respect to a second clock domain. In a second synchronization stage, the synchronized clock select signal is resynchronized so as to be effectively synchronous with respect to the second clock domain. The synchronized select signal can be used to disable the clock of the first clock domain, and the resynchronized clock select signal can be used to enable the clock of the second clock domain. |
| US08729943B2 |
Phase interpolating apparatus and method
The present invention discloses a phase interpolating apparatus comprising: a first signal generation circuit, configured for generating a first signal having a first phase; an optional second signal generation circuit, configured for generating a second signal having the first phase; a third signal generation circuit, configured for generating a third signal having a second phase; a fourth/fifth signal generation circuit, configured for generating a fourth signal having a third phase when operating in a first mode and for generating a fifth signal having the second phase instead of the fourth signal when operating in a second mode; and a phase interpolator, configured for generating an interpolated signal without utilizing the fourth signal when operating in the first mode and for generating the interpolated signal according to the first signal, the third signal, and the fifth signal when operating in the second mode. |
| US08729941B2 |
Differential amplifiers, clock generator circuits, delay lines and methods
A differential amplifier may be configured to have a duty cycle and/or gain that is adjustable, such as by adjusting the switch points of circuitry in the differential amplifier. The differential amplifier may alternatively or additionally have a hysteresis function by, for example, using a signal feedback from the output of the amplifier to adjust the switch points of circuitry in the differential amplifier. The differential amplifier may be used for a variety of purposes, such as in an input buffer or delay line, either of which may be used, for example, in a clock generator circuit. |
| US08729939B2 |
Charging/discharging circuit and PLL circuit using the same
A charging/discharging circuit includes a connection terminal, a reference current providing module, an up current module and a down current module. The down current module includes: a first switch module, having a first control terminal, for receiving the down signal to determine whether the first switch module is turned on; a first bias transistor, having a first terminal coupled to the connection terminal, a second terminal coupled to the first switch module, and a control terminal coupled to the reference current providing module; and a first capacitor simulation transistor, having a first terminal and a second terminal coupled to the control terminal of the first switch module, and a control terminal coupled to the control terminal of the first bias transistor. |
| US08729935B2 |
Start-up circuit for an output driver
One or more techniques and systems for starting an output driver and an associated start-up circuit are provided herein. In some embodiments, a voltage provider is configured to charge a charge store to a pre-turn-on voltage. In some embodiments, an output driver is configured to control a connection between the charge store and the output driver. For example, the connection enables the charge store to discharge a voltage to the output driver, thus starting the output driver. Accordingly, a response time associated with starting the output driver is mitigated at least because the charge store is charged to the pre-turn-on voltage and connected to the output driver such that a gate of the driver is biased in a sudden fashion. In this manner, the driver is turned on more quickly. Additionally, effects associated with process, voltage, and temperature variations are mitigated, for example. |
| US08729934B2 |
Electronic circuit
An electronic circuit of the present disclosure includes a noise eliminating circuit configured to eliminate noise in a reset signal and output a signal obtained by eliminating the noise in the reset signal; a digital circuit configured to be reset by the signal outputted from the noise eliminating circuit; and an early-initialization circuit configured to fix an output signal of the digital circuit at a predetermined value until a reset status due to the reset signal is released. |
| US08729929B2 |
Gate driving circuit
A gate driving circuit includes a gate control circuit and a gate voltage limit circuit. The gate control circuit establishes or breaks electrical continuity of a gate voltage supply path from a power source line to a gate terminal of a transistor in response to an on-command and an off-command. The gate voltage limit circuit limits a gate voltage of the transistor to be less than or equal to a first voltage in response to the on-command at least in a period until a determination of whether an electric current greater than a fault criterion value flows to the transistor ends and then limits the gate voltage to be less than or equal to a second voltage. |
| US08729928B2 |
Switching circuit
A switching circuit suitable for a low power oscillator circuit includes control and output circuits, the control circuit arranged to control the output circuit, the control circuit having input and output terminals, the output circuit having input and output terminals and control terminals; wherein the input terminal of the control circuit is connected to the input terminal of the output circuit, and the control terminal of the output circuit is connected to the output terminal of the control circuit, the output circuit first switches connected in series and arranged such that in use at least one of the switches is in a low impedance state at any given time, and the control circuit has second switches connected in series and arranged such that in use at least one of the switches is in a low impedance state at any given time. |
| US08729923B2 |
Majority vote circuit
Data words from a parallel communication channel are interleaved to two majority vote blocks that operate out of phase, using a divided clock signal that has half the clock frequency of the clock signal associated with the parallel communication channel. As one majority vote block evaluates a data word and outputs a result, the other majority vote block is in pre-charge mode awaiting the next data for evaluation. |
| US08729918B2 |
Test apparatus, circuit module and manufacturing method
An apparatus comprising a test circuit that is provided on a test substrate and tests the device under test; a sealing section that covers a region of the test substrate on which the test circuit is formed, and seals the test circuit to form a sealed space that is filled with a cooling agent; and a through-connector that passes through the sealing section and electrically connects the test circuit to an element provided outside the sealing section, such that the connection is not through the test substrate. |
| US08729914B2 |
Detection of the conduction state of an RC-IGBT
A circuit arrangement includes: a reverse conducting IGBT configured to allow for conducting a load current in a forward direction and in a reverse direction, the IGBT having a load current path and a gate electrode; a gate control unit connected to the gate electrode and configured to activate or deactivate the IGBT by charging or, respectively, discharging the gate electrode in accordance with a gate control signal; a gate driver unit configured to detect whether the IGBT conducts current in the forward direction or the reverse direction by sensing a gate current caused by a change of a voltage drop across the load path due to a changing of the reverse conducting IGBT into its reverse conducting state, the gate control unit further configured to deactivate the IGBT or to prevent an activation of the IGBT via its gate electrode when the gate driver unit detects that the IGBT is in its reverse conducting state. |
| US08729913B2 |
Capacitance sensing systems, circuits and methods that include current conveyor based oscillators
A capacitance sensing system may include a current conveyor circuit coupled to receive induced current from a capacitance sensing structure at a low impedance current input port; and a comparator having an input coupled to a high impedance output port of the current conveyor circuit, and an output coupled to the current conveyor circuit by a feedback path and coupled to drive the capacitance sensing structure to generate the induced current. |
| US08729911B2 |
Usage of weighting matrices in multi-phase scanning modes
Apparatuses and methods of driving different transmit (TX) phase sequences of a TX signal on TX electrodes in different sensing stages according to a weighting matrix as the excitation matrix. One method drives the TX signals according to the weighting matrix and measures receive (RX) signals on the RX electrodes to determine if an object is proximate to the electrodes. |
| US08729905B2 |
Method of detecting faults on an electrical power line
This invention relates to a method of detecting faults on an electrical power line (7) and a sensor (5) for use in such a method. Preferably, the sensor is a line-mounted sensor (5). The method comprises the initial step of determining an initial impedance profile for the power line (7), and thereafter the method comprises the subsequent steps of the line-mounted sensor (5) transmitting a conducted communication signal (41) along the power line, receiving a reflected signal (43) particular to the transmitted communication signal and correlating the transmitted signal and the reflected signal. By correlating the signals, it is possible to determine the actual impedance of the power line. The actual impedance of the power line may then be compared with the initial impedance profile and it is possible to ascertain whether a fault exists on the power line. Preferably, the method uses an adaptive filter to determine the location of the fault. |
| US08729904B2 |
Method and system for safe operation of large lithium-ion batteries
Modeling and testing are used to characterize consequences of a first lithium-ion cell having an internal short. The vulnerability of a second lithium-ion cell being induced into thermal runaway by the energy released by the first cell undergoing an internal short is quantified. Characteristics of the packaging of Li-ion cells within a battery pack are analyzed. Combined, these analyses determine the robustness required of a cell in order to withstand a nearby cell's internal short given that the battery is maintained within the specified operational envelope by a BMS and this envelope is modified in real-time as required to meet the safety requirement. Robustness factors are: age, history of charging/discharging, as well as immediate state of charge and environment. In operation, the cell's operational history is incorporated into a model. When the model indicates cell robustness at a predetermined lower limit, operation of the cell is ceased or limited. |
| US08729901B2 |
Measurement device and associated method for use in frequency selection for inground transmission
A portable device and associated method are described for use with a system in which a locating signal is transmitted from within the ground during an operational procedure. The locating signal includes a transmission frequency that is selectable from a group of discrete transmission frequencies in a frequency range and the region includes electromagnetic noise that can vary. The portable device includes a receiver having a bandwidth that includes the transmission frequency range and is operable for measuring the electromagnetic noise in the transmission frequency range to establish a frequency content of the electromagnetic noise for use in selecting one of the discrete transmission frequencies that is subsequently transmitted as the locating signal during the operational procedure. The locating signal can be transmitted from a boring tool, a pullback arrangement or an inground cable. A predicted maximum operational depth for a transmitter can be determined prior to the operational procedure. |
| US08729889B2 |
Method and apparatus for magnetic contactless measurement of angular and linear positions
Contactless measurement of angular or linear positions is obtained by means of magnetic circuit configurations, biased by a permanent magnet, characterized by two airgaps whose relative geometry is designed to result in magnetic field values whose ratio is a function of the position to be measured. The magnetic field in said airgaps is measured by magnetic field probes, whose output signals are then electronically conditioned to generate a voltage proportional to said ratio. The output signal being function of a ratio, it naturally becomes insensitive to drifts of the magnet working point, or drifts in sensitivity of the magnetic field probes. In one embodiment said ratio of magnetic field values becomes a function of the relative angular displacement of two coaxial shafts, while becoming completely independent from their absolute angular displacement, allowing hence the realization of simple and robust torque sensors. |
| US08729887B2 |
Rotation angle sensor
A rotation angle sensor comprises: a resolver stator including an excitation coil for receiving an excitation signal and a detection coil (a sine wave coil and a cosine wave coil) for outputting a detection signal; and a resolver rotor rotatably placed to face the stator. The resolver stator is formed on a stator flat plate. The resolver rotor is made of a flat-shaped rotor flat plate. The stator flat plate and the rotor flat plate are placed in parallel to face each other. The rotor flat plate is formed with a cutout. |
| US08729886B2 |
Device for measuring alternating current magnetic susceptibility and method of measuring the same
A device for measuring alternating current (AC) magnetic susceptibility and the method for measuring the same are provided. The device comprises an AC magnetic susceptibility coil set, a signal capturing unit, and a signal processing unit. The device detects AC magnetic susceptibility signals from under testing particles in the magnetic field with variable AC frequencies, and extracts the AC magnetic susceptibility intensity variation and phase difference and/or the real part and the imaginary part of the AC magnetic susceptibility by the signal processing unit. |
| US08729884B2 |
Voltage measuring circuit
A voltage measuring circuit includes a voltage measuring port, a voltage reference unit, a first voltage comparing unit and a light emitting diode. The voltage measuring port is for receiving an external voltage to be measured. The voltage reference unit includes a port providing a reference voltage. The first voltage comparing unit includes a reference port connected to the voltage reference unit, a measuring port connected to the voltage measuring port, and an output port for outputting a high/low level voltage when the external voltage is lower/higher than the reference voltage. The light emitting diode includes a cathode connected to the output port of the first voltage comparing unit and an anode connected to an external voltage port. |
| US08729883B2 |
Current source with low power consumption and reduced on-chip area occupancy
A current source with low power consumption and reduced on-chip area occupancy. The current source for providing a constant current to a load includes a first circuit that generates a reference current. The first circuit includes a first plurality of interconnected transistors. The current source also includes a characteristic resistor, coupled to the first circuit, that determines value of the reference current. The current source further includes a second circuit and a third circuit. The second circuit, coupled to the first circuit and to the load, generates an output current that is identical to the reference current. The second circuit includes a second plurality of interconnected transistors. The third circuit, coupled to the first circuit, drives a multiple of the reference current into the characteristic resistor. The third circuit includes a third plurality of interconnected transistors. |
| US08729881B2 |
Voltage/current control apparatus and method
A voltage/current control apparatus and method are disclosed. The apparatus includes a low-side field effect transistor (FET) having a source, a gate and a drain, a high-side field effect transistor (FET) having a source, a gate and a drain, a gate driver integrated circuit (IC), a sample and hold circuit, and a comparator configured to produce a trigger signal at the output when a sum of the first and second input signals is equal to a sum of the third and fourth input signals, wherein the trigger signal is configured to trigger a beginning of a new cycle by turning the gate of the high-side FET “on” and the gate of the low-side FET “off”. |
| US08729880B2 |
Switched power regulator with error signal estimation and presetting
A regulator circuit comprising an input for receiving an input voltage; an output stage, configured to switch between said input voltage and a reference voltage to generate an output voltage, in dependence on a modulated signal; a controller, configured to receive an error signal (VERROR) on a control input and to provide the modulated signal to said output stage; an error amplifier, for providing the error signal to the controller in dependence on the output voltage; and presetting circuitry, configured to estimate the error signal in dependence on at least the input voltage, and for presetting the control input with the estimated error signal. |
| US08729879B2 |
Device of inductance detection and the method using the same
A device of inductance detection, which includes: a controller, a current pulse generator, and a detector. The controller generates a control signal and an enable signal to the switching regulator according to a judge signal. The switching regulator then generates an output voltage. The current pulse generator is coupled to the controller and generates a current pulse signal to the object according to the control signal. The detector is coupled to the object and the current pulse generator, and is used to detect a reflective signal responded by the object after the object receives the current pulse signal. The detector then generates a judge signal according to the reflective signal. |
| US08729878B2 |
Switching regulator control circuit and switching regulator
Provided is a switching regulator including an overload protection circuit, which has high accuracy even without requiring adjusting means in a test step. The switching regulator includes: a first triangle wave generation circuit for generating a first triangle wave which controls Duty of a PWM signal; and a second triangle wave generation circuit for generating a second triangle wave for overload detection, which has a crest value smaller than that of the first triangle wave. A ratio between the crest value of the first triangle wave and the crest value of the second triangle wave is set based on respective capacitances or constant currents thereof. |
| US08729877B2 |
Fast startup algorithm for low noise power management
A method is provided. A low dropout regulator (LDO) is disabled during a first mode, and a first reference voltage is selected and applied to a switched-mode converter during the first mode. Also during the first mode, a first output voltage is generated by the switched-mode converter from a power supply, and a first capacitor is overcharged with the first output voltage. The LDO is then enabled during a second mode. During a first portion of a startup period for the second mode, a second capacitor is charged from the first capacitor, and a second reference voltage is selected and applied to the switched-mode converter. Then, during a second portion of the startup period for the second mode, the second capacitor is charged with the switched-mode converter. |
| US08729875B2 |
Current zero crossing detector in a dimmer circuit
A method and circuit for controlling the delivery of power having a current component to a load having an inductive component, the method comprising selectively switching power to the load with a switch, wherein the switch is caused to operate at the threshold of saturation during a conduction state such that the switch self commutates to its off state when the magnitude of the current through the load is substantially zero. The method and circuit may be used in a number of applications for detecting a current zero crossing and may be applied to circuits such as dimmer circuits. |
| US08729874B2 |
Generation of voltage supply for low power digital circuit operation
A voltage regulator for low power operation of digital circuits includes an output node for providing a regulated output voltage, a diode-connected P-channel transistor in series with a second diode-connected N-channel transistor coupled between the output node and ground, and a bias current having a value for biasing the first and second diode-connected transistors in a sub-threshold mode of operation. The low power voltage regulator further includes a buffer amplifier or emitter or source follower stage to provide a low impedance regulated voltage. The bias current may be generated by a bandgap circuit. |
| US08729873B2 |
DC-to-DC converter with high-side switch and low-side switch
In general, according to one embodiment, a DC-to-DC converter includes a high-side switch, a low-side switch, a diode, a high-side controller and a low-side controller. The low-side switch is connected in series with the high-side switch. The diode is connected in parallel with the low-side switch. The high-side controller has a detector for detecting a current of the high-side switch and controls the high-side switch to be turned on or off in accordance with an output of the detector. The low-side controller controls the low-side switch to be turned off when the high-side switch is ON and controls the low-side switch to be turned on or off in accordance with a peak value of the output of the detector when the high-side switch is OFF. |
| US08729872B2 |
Multiphase control system and control unit
A multiphase control system is provided, which is adapted to convert power of an input power source into an output voltage for outputting through an output terminal. The multiphase control system comprises a plurality of control units connected in series to form a loop. Each of the control units receives a sequential input signal from an adjacent control unit connected there before through a multiphase input terminal, and generates a control signal to control power transmission from the input power source to the output terminal when determining that the output voltage is lower than a predetermined voltage value, and generates a sequential output signal at a multiphase output terminal for outputting to an adjacent control unit connected there after. |
| US08729868B2 |
Method and apparatus for charging batteries
A battery charging system is disclosed. The battery charging system includes a battery charger, a switching circuit and a control circuit. The battery charger receives electric power from a DC power supply and charges a rechargeable battery based on a setting current. The switching circuit is capable of switching between a first charging mode and a second charging mode. In the first charging mode, the battery charger charges the rechargeable battery while the DC power supply is supplying electric power to the battery charger in a state where the DC power supply is able to supply electric power to a load. In the second charging mode, the DC power supply charges the rechargeable battery in a state where the DC power supply is able to supply electric power to the load. The control circuit controls the switching circuit based on a comparison result of the magnitude of a charging current (or a charging power) in the first charging mode and the magnitude of a charging current (or a charging power) in the second charging mode. |
| US08729867B2 |
Sink current adaptation based on power supply detection
Techniques are provided for selecting a charge current to be sunk by a mobile electronic device. A charging device is received at a connector of the mobile electronic device. The charging device is configured to supply a charge current to a rechargeable battery of the mobile electronic device. One or more data signals is/are received from the charging device at an interface circuit of the mobile electronic device on one or more data signal lines through the connector. One or more control signals are applied to the interface circuit to enable data signal values to be generated for the data signal(s) based on the control signal(s) and a type of the charging device. The data signal values are mapped to a maximum charge current for the rechargeable battery. The charge current supplied by the charging device to the rechargeable battery is limited to the selected maximum charge current. |
| US08729865B2 |
Scalable intelligent power supply system and method
A scalable intelligent power-supply system and method capable of powering a defined load for a specified period of time is disclosed and claimed. Multiple external AC and DC inputs supply power to the system if available and required. An internal DC input from a back-up energy source is on board. The back-up energy source is scalable by adding additional energy cartridges such as batteries in racks mounted within frames of the system. The AC and DC inputs (including the internal DC input) are controlled, measured, sensed, and converted by circuitry controlled by the microprocessor into multiple AC and/or DC outputs. A microprocessor manages power input to, within, and output from the system. The performance of a Lithium-ion batteries used to power an automobile can be determined on the basis individual battery packs or individual battery cells within the packs. |
| US08729860B2 |
Energy storage assembly and method for operating such an assembly
The invention relates to an energy storage assembly, comprising a plurality of cells connected in series, wherein the series connection of cells is connected to a power output of the energy storage assembly and a control unit, wherein at least a part of the cells connected in series is connected to the power output and the control unit by way of potential-free controlled converter and control units connected in parallel, such that during the charging, discharging and recharging processes each of the cells is operated according to the individual performance characteristics of said cell by means of selective current drains by the converter and control units and a total current flowing at the power output of the energy storage assembly is formed by a base current flowing through the series connection of the cells and by additional currents, which are drained from the individual cells depending on the capacity of the cells. The invention allows for the interconnection of different cell types to form an energy storage assembly and for uniform charging or discharging thereof, thus facilitating optimal use of the energy stored and extending the total usage period. |
| US08729859B2 |
Wireless high power transfer under regulatory constraints
Improved battery-charging system for a vehicle. Primary and secondary coils are located in places where the vehicle can receive power from the primary coil by pulling into a parking space, for example. The parking space may have a coil embedded in the ground, or may have an array of coils embedded in the ground. A guidance system is disclosed. Fine positioning is also disclosed. The secondary coil in the vehicle can also be raised or lowered to improve coupling. |
| US08729858B2 |
Charging device for use in charging electric vehicles and method of providing electricity to an electric vehicle
A method of delivering power from a power supply to an electric vehicle is described herein. The method includes receiving a request to deliver power from the power supply to the electric vehicle. A first monitoring signal indicative of a combustible gas is transmitted from a sensor to a controller. The controller determines whether electrical power is to be delivered, from a charging device to the electric vehicle, based at least in part on the received first monitoring signal. |
| US08729857B2 |
System, device and method for data transfer to a vehicle and for charging said vehicle
A data transfer, power supply and charging apparatus having a data interface transfers both energy to an energy storage device and vehicle- or driver-related data via a charging cable or electric line. The use of a charging cable for transmitting data to and from the vehicle is suitable particularly for electric and hybrid vehicles in the automotive sector. In this way, it is possible to perform updates for vehicle-internal systems and to check these. In addition, the data transfer, power supply and charging apparatus may include a communication unit which also allows data to be received and sent during travel without an electrical connection. |
| US08729852B2 |
Method for identification of a light inductive charger
The present invention relates to a method for identification of a light inductive charger, in which a power base includes a light receiving hole to expose a light receiver, and a light emitting component is established in a light emitter of a wireless charging receiver to emit lights towards the light receiving hole. The power base transmits electromagnetic wave energy to the receiving terminal for a short period of time when finding it covered by an object, in a dark place or covered by the wireless charging receiver after having received lights from the light receiver and transmitted the signals to the microprocessor via a voltage detection circuit. The charging module of the wireless charging receiver, if not fully charged, feeds back light signals for the same time period to indicate that charging is required. Then charging energy of electromagnetic waves will be emitted to start charging. |
| US08729851B2 |
Battery pack for miner's cap lamp with charging and discharging control module
A battery pack features a shock-absorbing and sealed construction and an electronic control module that provides automatic recovery circuitry in the event of a short circuit in the load whereby the power is terminated and then restarted at a lower level so that removal of the short circuit may be detected. Full power is restored to the load when the short circuit is removed. In addition, the electronic control module of the battery pack uses the battery pack load, such as a cap lamp, to provide an indication of a low battery charge level. The electronic control module also provides a soft-start feature where the power provided to the bulb is ramped up to avoid current in-rush to the bulb during startup. |
| US08729848B2 |
Fail-passive variable gradient control stick drive system
A control system for an aircraft including a passive feedback arrangement, a stick and a positioning arrangement is provided that provides for user adjustability of the resistance applied to the stick, such as in a fly-by-wire system. The passive feedback arrangement is movable relative to a mechanical ground. The stick is moveable relative to the mechanical ground and the passive feedback arrangement. The passive feedback arrangement acts on the stick to resist movement of the stick relative to the passive feedback arrangement. This resistance provides passive feedback to the pilot for the fly-by-wire system. The positioning arrangement is coupled to the passive feedback arrangement for adjusting the position of the passive feedback arrangement relative to the mechanical ground in response to movement of the stick relative to the mechanical ground. |
| US08729841B2 |
Electronic circuit and method generating electric motor drive signals having phase advances in accordance with a user selected relationship between rotational speed of an electric motor and the phase advances
An electronic circuit and an associated method used to drive an electric motor provide a user selectable relationship between rotational speed of the electric motor and phase advances of signals used to drive the electric motor. By selecting the relationship, efficiency of the electric motor drive can be improved. |
| US08729837B2 |
Automatic door with position-dependent force limiting
A method of controlling the motion of a moveable door includes determining the direction that the door is moving with respect to its anticipated closed position, and based on the direction, regulating an amount of force that is available to the door for its motion. The method may further include monitoring the position of the door as it is moving, and adjusting the motion of the door and regulating the amount of force available to the door for its motion, based on the calculated difference between the door's position as detected during monitoring and its expected position. |
| US08729836B2 |
Control device for hoist and control method thereof
A control device for a hoist, which enables easy judgment of the lifetime of a brake of a hoist is provided. The time setting unit sets the time from startup of a double winding induction motor to disengagement of the brake and the time from start of engagement of the brake to stopping of the double winding induction motor in accordance with the time from the startup of the double winding induction motor to generation of torque. The time changing unit detects if power-supply frequency of a power supply is 50 Hz or 60 Hz and can change at least one of the time from the startup of the double winding induction motor to the disengagement of the brake and the time from stopping of driving of the brake to stopping of double winding induction motor in accordance with the power-supply frequency of the power supply. |
| US08729835B2 |
Group creation in auto-commissioning of lighting systems
A lighting system for areal illumination is disclosed which may include a remote driver and a plurality of fixtures including luminaires. The luminaires may include a light source whose output light level can be adjusted, a light sensor co-located therewith adapted to measure light received from adjacent fixtures. The remote driver may provide power for the light sources of the luminaires. |
| US08729833B2 |
Methods, systems, and apparatus for providing variable illumination
Digital Control Ready (DCR) is a two-way open standard for controlling and managing next-generation fixtures. A DCR-enabled lighting fixture responds to digital control signals from a separate digital light agent (DLA) instead of analog dimming signals, eliminating the need for digital-to-analog signal conditioning, fixture-to-fixture variations in response, and calibration specific to each fixture. In addition, a DCR-enabled lighting fixture may also report its power consumption, measured light output, measured color temperature, temperature, and/or other operating parameters to the DLA via the same bidirectional data link that carries the digital control signals to the fixture. The DLA processes these signals in a feedback loop to implement more precise lighting control. The DCR-enabled lighting fixture also transforms AC power to DC power and supplies (and measures) DC power to the DLA via a DCR interface. These features enable intelligent, networked DCR lighting systems operate with lower power (energy) consumption, greater flexibility, and simpler installation than other intelligent lighting networks. |
| US08729831B2 |
Light source apparatus
A constant-current power source unit has a variable power source which can adjust an output voltage. To detect a voltage applied to the gas discharge tube, a voltage detection unit is provided. A power source controlling unit configured to control the voltage by adding a predetermined voltage to the voltage taken in from the voltage detection unit after the electric discharge is started in the gas discharge tube. |
| US08729830B2 |
Feedback circuit for zero-voltage-switching converter
A feedback circuit for a zero-voltage-switching converter (1) for feeding a load circuit (2, 3), which converter (1) comprises a chopper (4), a driver (5) and a resonant tank (6), is provided with an arrangement (10) for receiving a first signal derived from a resonant tank signal and a second signal derived from a load circuit signal and for generating in response thereto a control signal for the driver (5). Such converters (1) can stand feeding voltage fluctuations and load variations relatively well. The arrangement (10) may comprise an error circuit (12) for, in response to the second signal and a reference signal, generating an error signal, and a combiner circuit (13) for, in response to the first signal and the error signal, generating the control signal. The same converter (1) may be used for supplying two or more load circuits (2, 3), in which case an error circuit (15) may generate an error signal and a duty cycle signal or two error signals. |
| US08729828B2 |
Integrated circuit controller for ballast
The present invention provides an integrated circuit controller for ballast with preheat/repreheat filament and ignition time control. A charge/discharge circuit is connected to a capacitor to provide the charge/discharge path for the capacitor. It charges when integrated circuit controller without errors and discharges when error occurred during lamp operation or power tripped. A control circuit is coupled to the charge/discharge circuit to control the charge/discharge circuit to charge or discharge the capacitor. A compare circuit is coupled to the charge/discharge circuit to compare a voltage signal on the capacitor from the charge/discharge circuit with threshold voltages for timing control and providing a preheat signal and an ignition signal. A control logic circuit is coupled to the control circuit to control the control circuit and coupled to the compare circuit to receive the preheat signal and the ignition signal for preheating the filament and igniting the lamp. The control logic circuit further receives a feedback voltage for over voltage protect. Once the feedback voltage is over its threshold voltage in the control logic circuit, the control logic circuit controls the control circuit for discharging the capacitor. |
| US08729827B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting element drive device and lighting fixture with the same
A semiconductor light emitting element drive device includes: a converter circuit configured to supply a light source unit with a load current from a first-primary winding; and a current regulation circuit. The converter circuit further includes a second-secondary winding. The current regulation circuit includes a switching device (second switching device) connected in series with the second-secondary winding. In a dimming ratio of the light source unit is lower than a first ratio, the second switching device is controlled to ON and OFF so as to decrease the load current through the light source unit by a shunt of a part of the energy stored in the primary winding. |
| US08729826B2 |
Dual-mode dimming of a light
Various methods and apparatus for controlling brightness of a light emitting apparatus include controlling a brightness of a light emitting device based on a brightness value, receiving a message over a network, and detecting a modulation of a power input of the light emitting apparatus. The brightness value is changed based on both the message and the modulation. |