Document Document Title
US08799075B2 Method and system for providing refined location relevant marketing devices
A method and system for providing refined location relevant marketing devices whereby a marketing device management system obtains: data representing one or more marketing devices from one or more merchants; location refinement data associated with the merchants; location refinement data associated with the marketing devices; and location refinement data associated with a consumer. The marketing device management system includes a marketing device matching engine that includes a location refinement matching filter. The location refinement matching filter uses all, or part of: the location refinement data associated with the merchant; the location refinement data associated with the marketing devices; and the location refinement data associated with the consumer; to determine the marketing devices in the marketing device database most relevant to the consumer, and the consumer's current state. The most relevant marketing devices are then provided to the consumer.
US08799074B2 Methods and apparatus for performing enhanced queries for items such as maps and geospatial data
Methods and apparatus for cataloguing items such as maps and geospatial data sets store in a database information defining a geospatial region corresponding to each item and a size characteristic of the geospatial area. The database may be queried to identify items of interest by intersecting a search seed comprising one or more geospatial points lines or areas with the areas corresponding to the items. A result set containing items produced by a query may be ordered at least in part according to the size characteristics. In some embodiments the size characteristics comprise square roots of the areas of the geospatial regions.
US08799071B2 Personalized video generation
A personalized video generation system, including: (i) a digital asset manager for storing a video project file marked with references to content groups and content substitution rules; (ii) an editing tool for accessing the file and displaying content of the file grouped based on the groups, and generating an interface for substituting content across a video corresponding to the file, the interface adjusting the references for the digital asset manager; and (iii) a content generation engine for processing the file and the rules, based on personal data for intended recipients, to access content items and generating a plurality of video project files for rendering as corresponding videos for the recipients. The system can also include (iv) a distribution engine for communicating with a least one distribution gateway for a delivery platform; and (v) a least one render engine for receiving the video project files, causing rendering of the videos for a respective delivery platform, and forwarding the videos to the distribution engine for distribution of the videos for the respective delivery platform.
US08799068B2 Social advertisements and other informational messages on a social networking website, and advertising model for same
A social networking website logs information about actions taken by members of the website. For a particular member of the website, the website generates socially relevant ads for the member based on the actions logged for other members on the website to whom the member is connected (i.e., the member's online friends). The advertiser associated with the social ad may compensate the social networking website for publishing the ad on the website. When presenting a member with a social ad, the website may optimize advertising revenue by selecting an ad from the received ads that will maximize the expected value of the social ad. The expected value may be computed according to a function that includes the member's affinity for the ad content and the bid amount. The technique is also applied for providing socially relevant information off the social networking website.
US08799065B2 Methods for providing digital incentives including a digital incentives switch for matching transactions and incentives
Systems and methods for providing digital incentives or financial offsets including the steps of: providing a financial platform operable on a server computer and at least one database in electronic, digital communication over a network, the financial platform operable for financial services transactions; providing a database of profile data for the at least one user; developing a digital incentive program for stimulating financial transactions by at least one user, the digital incentive program including profile factors from the profile data of the at least one user; automatically providing at least one digital incentive to corresponding of the at least one user, the at least one digital incentive available for a redemption by each of the users, wherein the digital incentive has an electronic financial transaction value available for the redemption on any electronic financial transaction media, and wherein the redemption of the electronic financial transaction value of the digital incentive does not occur at a merchant level of the financial transactions.
US08799060B2 Method for electronic coupon creation, deployment, transference, validation management, clearance, redemption and reporting system and and method for interactive participation of individuals and groups with coupons
This invention relates generally to electronic commerce (e-commerce) methods for the use of systems and media platforms, for use with both mobile and non-mobile systems, to deploy virtual advertising and promotion via the use of electronic coupons, and more particularly a method and system for creating, deploying, transferring, clearing, managing, redeeming and reporting on the use of electronic coupons or virtual electronic rebates (VeeBates) and permitting individuals and groups within one or more social communications networks to participate in and transmit information to others about their activities related to the virtual advertising, incentives, redemption and promotion.
US08799059B2 System and method for the presentation of advertisements
A system and method for the presentation of advertisements is present. According to one embodiment, a number of impressions of an advertisement message are presented over a computer network such as the Internet to a variety of viewer computers. Depending on the actions taken by the viewers (e.g., whether the Viewer selects the advertising message and accesses a web-link to the advertiser's web-site), bonus exposure (e.g., an additional number of impressions provided to the viewers) of the advertising message is given.
US08799058B2 System and method for administering an advisory rating system
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for scoring and ranking financial advisors based on their sales histories. The system includes a database and an advisor rating system processor in communication with the database. The database stores sales history data related to a plurality of financial advisors. The advisor rating system processor obtains data related to financial advisors from the database and calculates a score for each financial advisor based on their sales revenue and sales frequency. The advisor rating system processor then compares the advisors based on these scores and generates a report indicating to which financial advisors a company should market financial products.
US08799051B2 System and method for automating customer-validated statement of work for a data storage environment
Computer systems and methods are disclosed for improving professional services delivery, such as services in a data management environment. In certain examples, computer systems comprise portals for transmitting and receiving information from parties involved in the performance and receipt of professional services. For instance, a first portal can receive data (e.g., from sales personnel) descriptive of a customer's product environment. A manager module populates a record with the data, and a second portal provides the customer with access to the record for review, correction and/or validation prior to the generation of a Statement of Work or other like project description. The second portal can also request additional information from the customer regarding the product environment. The manager module compares the data received through the first portal with the customer-entered information to identify and/or address discrepancies between the sets of data and customize the generation of the Statement of Work.
US08799043B2 Consolidation of member schedules with a project schedule in a network-based management system
A system is used for the creation, maintenance, and management of an overall project schedule, of individual project member schedules, and of project task assignments over a network. The system comprises three editors accessed through a web browser to perform the various tasks by members of a project. Information is passed between a web server and web browser and a database is used to maintain all information. The project manager can use a task assignment editor to assign tasks to individual project members. The project manager can use a project schedule editor to initially create the project schedule and to show the overall project schedule. After the project schedule is created, each project member can create their own member schedule using a member schedule editor, containing tasks related to the project schedule. After project members complete a task, the project member updates the member's schedule via the member schedule editor.
US08799041B2 Calculating an amount of enterprise resource to be assigned based on received parameters
A tool receives parameters relating to target enterprise objective of an enterprise, the cost of an enterprise resource associated with the enterprise, and an enterprise resource capacity. The tool calculates an amount of an enterprise resource to be assigned in an enterprise based on the received parameters relating to the target enterprise objective, the enterprise resource cost, and the enterprise resource capacity.
US08799040B2 Engine, system and method of providing business valuation and database services using alternative payment arrangements
A computer-implemented engine, system and method for generating business valuations, scoring, and/or flagging over a network, responsively to information input by a user remote from the engine, system and method. The invention may include a graphical user interface capable of locally querying a user to input the company information, at least one network port capable of remotely receiving the company information from the graphical user interface, and at least one engine communicatively connected to the at least one network port, which engine preferably includes a plurality of rules to generate, responsively to the input company information, at least one of a business valuation, a business score, and/or one or more business flags to be used as indicators in a network marketplace, for the company associated with the inputted company information.
US08799037B2 Computer-implemented system and method for managing motor vehicle parking reservations
A computer-implemented system and method for managing motor vehicle parking reservations is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces are managed through a server. Smart parking devices physically proximate to the parking spaces are interfaced with the server. Vehicle occupancy sensors physically proximate to the parking spaces are interfaced with the server. Parking availability indicators associated with the parking spaces are interfaced with the server. A motorist reserves a parking space. A reservation request for the parking space is accepted. The request is granted if available over any other reservations. Occupancy of the requested parking space is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor. The motorist's or the motor vehicle's identity are verified against the reservation through the nearest smart parking device. Parking availability is indicated through the nearest parking availability indicator based upon the current time, any motor vehicle occupancy, applicable parking regulations, or any unfulfilled reservations for the parking space.
US08799033B2 Methods and systems for providing longevity insurance with or without an asset based premium
The present invention provides methods and systems for providing longevity insurance by obtaining information useful for issuing a longevity insurance contract for an individual, and determining a premium or an income payment for the individual that are computed based at least in part on an individual's age at a predetermined date that income payments are deferred to. The longevity insurance contract generally provides deferred income payments for a period of time, such as for the life of the individual, beginning at a predetermined date that is after an individual's anticipated retirement, or at a predetermined date that is after the individual's life expectancy, or on or after a specified birthday of the individual.
US08799031B2 System and method to screen insurance claims to identify subrogation potential
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for screening insurance claims to identify subrogation potential. According to some embodiments, a loss report associated with a plurality of insurance claims, includes, for each insurance claim: (i) a claim identifier, (ii) a claim date, (iii) a claim loss amount, and (iv) a claim description. Data from the loss report may be loaded into a subrogation engine, such as by loading the data into cells of a spreadsheet application. The spreadsheet application may then automatically calculate a subrogation potential score for each insurance claim in the loss report based on the claim date, claim loss amount, claim description, and a library containing keywords and associated keyword values. The spreadsheet application may then output an indication of the claim identifier and associated subrogation potential score for each insurance claim in the loss report.
US08799030B1 Methods and systems for disease management care coordination
Methods and systems for disease management care coordination are described. In one embodiment, claim data associated with a prescription drug is integrated with additional health data from a plurality of data feeds received from a client device, a care coordination device, and a health management vendor device. The integrated data is targeted to identify a member. The integrated data associated with the member is transmitted to a patient evaluator device. The integrated data is updated using additional member information received from the patient evaluator device. Other methods and systems are described.
US08799025B2 Insurance claim data exchange
According to some embodiments, workers' compensation claims are received at a payor processing system from a plurality of remote bill input devices. The workers' compensation claims may be transformed in accordance with a jurisdiction-based claims processing rule. The transformed workers' compensation claims may then be transmitted to a workers' compensation adjudication engine.
US08799023B2 Mass customization for management of healthcare
A healthcare mass customization infrastructure individualizes plan designs by incorporating demographics, income, drug history, medical history, lab values, and future genomic information for appropriate and affordable access to medications. The mass customization infrastructure results in quality outcomes for the patients, improved care and productivity for the providers, and lower medical costs for the payers.
US08799020B2 POS printing triggered by pharmacy prescription orders
A system and method for printing, at a POS of a retail store, information relating to a pharmacy prescription ordered in a pharmacy of said retail store, comprises determining in a PM CS of the pharmacy a payloadID to associate with a prescription order and printing by the PM CS information associated with said first prescription order. Then, a POS CS reading the printing at a POS of the retail store resulting in said POS CS printing a payload associated with the payloadID in the memory of the POS CS.
US08799017B2 Apparatus and method for managing interaction-based services
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a syntactic component for retrieving records corresponding to an individual and analyzing the records to assess a condition for the individual; a user interface for capturing interaction data that is associated with an encounter between the individual and a service provider; and a semantic component for comparing the interaction data to interaction criteria, where an action plan for the individual is generated based at least in part on the assessed condition and the comparison of the interaction data to the interaction criteria. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08799013B2 Mammography information system
A method and system for analyzing and retrieving tissue abnormality tracking data, providing a tool for a radiologist that includes a report summarizing the statistical frequency of diagnosed patients, both locally and nationally, with tissue region-of-interest classifications similar to the tissue images taken of the anatomy of an individual patient. In one embodiment, a computer aided diagnostic program can suggest region-of-interest attributes and classifications for user review. In one embodiment, user can select a seed area for computer aided diagnostic program analysis, the CAD analysis can suggest region-of-interest attributes and classifications. In yet another embodiment, the region-of-interest abnormality attributes suggested by the computer aided diagnostic program can be stored and compared with the user selected abnormality attributes and classifications. In one embodiment the images are of human breast tissue.
US08799004B2 System and method for real estate spatial data analysis
A system and method for providing analysis on geocoded objects through collection, distribution and use of information through a user interface which allows the user to visualize the analysis through maps, symbols, text, and colors. In the context of commercial real estate, the system and method provides the user with a visual display and printout which allows the user to make decisions as to where retail locations should be located.
US08799003B2 Dynamic binding of principal services in a cross-enterprise business process management system
The present invention is a method, system and apparatus for dynamically binding principal services to activities in a business process in a cross-enterprise business process management system. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the system can include a business process specification document processing engine configured to process business process specification documents in which each of the documents defines a business process. A deployment service can be coupled to the engine and programmed to generate and deploy partner link instances for corresponding partner links specified in the documents. Finally, a link base authority can be configured to notify each partner link instance when an endpoint reference to a principal service has changed. Notably, the business process specification documents can include BPEL documents. As such, the business process specification document processing engine can include a BPEL4WS run-time engine.
US08798999B2 Dialog design tool and method
A dialog design tool includes a dialog manager including a system prompt generator and a response generator which allows a dialog designer to generate at least one response; a dialog synthesizer for structurally managing the input and response; and an output and display unit for outputting and displaying at least one dialog structure. At least one system prompt and at least one response are included in each state, and a linking unit may link a first state to a second state related to the first state, link the second state to a third state, and so on until certain system actions can be achieved. A dialog synthesizer includes a loop detecting unit which detects and identifies loops in the dialog structure. Thus, the dialog design tool facilitates the creation of natural language dialogs by creating data structures for voice user interfaces.
US08798994B2 Resource conservative transformation based unsupervised speaker adaptation
The present invention discloses a solution for conserving computing resources when implementing transformation based adaptation techniques. The disclosed solution limits the amount of speech data used by real-time adaptation algorithms to compute a transformation, which results in substantial computational savings. Appreciably, application of a transform is a relatively low memory and computationally cheap process compared to memory and resource requirements for computing the transform to be applied.
US08798993B2 Speech detector
A method for detecting speech using a first microphone adapted to produce a first signal (x), and a second microphone adapted to produce a second signal (x2), the method comprising the steps of: (i) applying gain to the second signal to produce a normalised second signal, which signal is normalised relative to the first signal; (ii) constructing one or more signal components from the first signal and the normalised second signal; (iii) constructing an adaptive differential microphone (ADM) having a constructed microphone response constructed from the one or more signal components which response has at least one directional null; (iv) producing one or more ADM outputs (yf, yb) from the constructed microphone response in response to detected sound; (v) computing a ratio of a parameter of either a first signal component or a constructed microphone response to a parameter of an output of the ADM; (vi) comparing the ratio to an adaptive threshold value; (vii) detecting speech if the ratio is greater than or equal to the adaptive threshold value.
US08798991B2 Non-speech section detecting method and non-speech section detecting device
A non-speech section detecting device generating a plurality of frames having a given time length on the basis of sound data obtained by sampling sound, and detecting a non-speech section having a frame not containing voice data based on speech uttered by a person, the device including: a calculating part calculating a bias of a spectrum obtained by converting sound data of each frame into components on a frequency axis; a judging part judging whether the bias is greater than or equal to a given threshold or alternatively smaller than or equal to a given threshold; a counting part counting the number of consecutive frames judged as having a bias greater than or equal to the threshold or alternatively smaller than or equal to the threshold; a count judging part judging whether the obtained number of consecutive frames is greater than or equal to a given value.
US08798989B2 Automated content generation
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for automated content generation. In some examples, the method includes generating content metadata from document content via natural language processing based on one or more context parameters associated with the document content. The method can further include receiving user feedback about the content metadata from a computing device associated with a user associated with the document content. The method can further include modifying the one or more context parameters based on the received user feedback.
US08798984B2 Method and system for confidence-weighted learning of factored discriminative language models
A system and method for building a language model for a translation system are provided. The method includes providing a first relative ranking of first and second translations in a target language of a same source string in a source language, determining a second relative ranking of the first and second translations using weights of a language model, the language model including a weight for each of a set of n-gram features, and comparing the first and second relative rankings to determine whether they are in agreement. The method further includes, when the rankings are not in agreement, updating one or more of the weights in the language model as a function of a measure of confidence in the weight, the confidence being a function of previous observations of the n-gram feature in the method.
US08798982B2 Information processing device, information processing method, and program
A configuration storage unit (110) stores the constituent element identification information of each constituent element, in association with the type information indicating the type of the constituent element, the constituent element identification information of another constituent element related to the constituent element, and the type information of the another constituent element. For each piece of the type information, a rule storage unit (120) stores the type information of another constituent element, which is influenced when failures occur in the constituent element corresponding to the type information, in association with influence information indicating a content of the influence. An availability model generation unit (130) generates an availability prediction model for an information processing system, on the basis of the information stored in the configuration storage unit (110) and the information stored in the rule storage unit (120).
US08798981B2 Circuit simulation using step response analysis in the frequency domain
A method for simulating a response of a circuit to an ESD input stimulus applied to the circuit includes the steps of: receiving a description of the circuit into a circuit simulation program, the circuit including at least one mutual inductance element indicative of magnetic coupling in the circuit; generating a linear approximation of nonlinear elements in the circuit at respective DC bias points of the nonlinear elements; obtaining a frequency domain transfer function of the circuit; obtaining a time domain impulse response of the circuit as a function of the frequency domain transfer function; integrating the time domain impulse response to yield a step response of the circuit, the step response being indicative of a response of the circuit to the ESD input stimulus; and analyzing the step response of the circuit to determine whether the circuit will operate within prescribed parameters corresponding to the circuit.
US08798974B1 Method and system for interactive geological interpretation, modeling and restoration
The present invention comprises a computer-implemented method for interactive geological interpretation, structural modeling and structural restoration, in which instantaneous feedback is provided to an interpreter. A software module is loaded into and executed by the computer system to implement the method of the invention. The method and system are employed by a technician or scientist, such as an earth scientist, geologist or geophysicist, hereinafter called an “interpreter”. Using the method and system, the interpreter can make skilled qualitative and quantitative appraisals of geologic structures that occur within the upper parts of the earth's crust, including both the current state of such structures and their kinematic development through time. One use of such appraisals is to evaluate resources found in structures within sedimentary basins, including but not limited to oil and gas resources. The method and system can be used to train novice and advanced interpreters to improve their understanding.
US08798973B2 Method of simulating impact events in a multi-processor computer system
A computer-implemented method of simulating an impact event in a finite element analysis used for assisting users to design or improve one or more structures is described. The structures are represented in a finite element analysis model that is divided or partitioned into a plurality of domains. Efficiency of the method is achieved when used in a computer system having multiple processing units and multiple contact interfaces defined and specified by users (engineers and/or scientists). Each domain is associated with or assigned to one of the processing units. A “group-able” correlation is established or determined between domains and contact interfaces so that data communications can be conducted in most efficient manner, for example, minimizing idle processing units during data communications.
US08798966B1 Measuring critical dimensions of a semiconductor structure
One embodiment relates to a method of model-based optical metrology. An area of a geometrical structure of dispersive materials on a substrate is illuminated with polarized incident electromagnetic radiation using an illuminator of a scatterometer apparatus. Spectral components of the incident electromagnetic radiation reflected from the area are measured using a detector of the scatterometer apparatus. Using a computer for the scatterometer apparatus, parameter values are determined that minimize an objective function which represents a difference between the measured spectral components and computed spectral components based on a parameterized model of the geometrical structure. Steps for determining the parameter values that minimize the objective function include: computing a solution to state equations driven by a function representing the incident electromagnetic radiation, and computing a solution to an adjoint to the state equations. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed.
US08798965B2 Generating three-dimensional models from images
The subject disclosure relates to generating models from images. In an aspect, multi-view semantic segmentation is provided to recognize and segment images at the pixel level into semantically meaningful areas, and which can provide labels with a specific object class. In further aspects, a partition scheme is provided that can separate objects into independent blocks using major line structures of a scene. In addition, an inverse patch-based orthographic composition and structure analysis on a block is provided that can regularize noisy and missing reconstructed 3D data to facilitate image-based modeling.
US08798964B2 Methods and apparatus for designing the racking and wiring configurations for pieces of hardware
In one embodiment of the invention, a method of designing the racking configuration for boxes in racks and for determining which connections go between different racks, including: solving a rack select optimization sub-problem to determine racks to use; and solving a rack assign optimization sub-problem to determine which particular rack will hold a particular box. In another embodiment, an apparatus for designing the racking configuration for boxes in racks and for determining which connections go between different racks, including: a machine-readable representation for a racking configuration problem; and a solver that can read that machine-readable representation and that is configured to: solve a rack select optimization sub-problem to determine at least one rack to use; and solve a rack assign optimization sub-problem to determine which particular rack will hold at least one box.
US08798960B1 Application performance analysis for a multiple processor queuing station
A technique includes monitoring a first cumulative number of transactions arriving into a processing station and monitoring the second cumulative number of transactions completed by the station. The technique includes based on the first and second cumulative numbers, determining at least one of a transaction waiting time of the station and a predicted reduction in the transaction waiting time due to processor expansion.
US08798958B2 Rotation angle detection device and electric power steering system
Bridge circuits have half bridges formed of sensor elements, which vary respective impedances in accordance with a rotating magnetic field generated by a rotary object. A control unit acquires output signals produced from intermediate points of the half bridges, and calculates a rotation angle of the rotary object based on the output signals. The control unit determines that the output signal is abnormal, if a calculation value of the output signal calculated based on at least four output signals is outside a predetermined range. The control unit thus determines which one of the output signals has become abnormal due to failure or the like.
US08798956B2 Method and apparatus for surface sensing input device
An improved input device, such as a mouse, for a processing system, such as, a computer system; and a method for operating that input device. The system monitors at least one indicia of movement, such as an operating parameter of the input device, where the operating parameter has a first characteristic when the input device is in one operating position or state and a second characteristic when the input device is in another position or state. In one example, the operating parameter includes generally vertical movement of the input device.
US08798951B2 Systems and methods for performing measurements of one or more materials
Systems and methods for performing measurements of one or more materials are provided. One system is configured to transfer one or more materials to an imaging volume of a measurement device from one or more storage vessels. Another system is configured to image one or more materials in an imaging volume of a measurement device. An additional system is configured to substantially immobilize one or more materials in an imaging volume of a measurement device. A further system is configured to transfer one or more materials to an imaging volume of a measurement device from one or more storage vessels, to image the one or more materials in the imaging volume, to substantially immobilize the one or more materials in the imaging volume, or some combination thereof.
US08798948B2 Magnetic exchange coupling energy calculating method and apparatus
A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium stores a magnetic program causing a computer to perform an exchange coupling energy calculating process including interpolating a rotation angle between two magnetization vectors disposed at the respective centers of two adjacent elements used in a finite volume method with reference to a rotation axis perpendicular to the two magnetization vectors, and calculating a magnetic exchange coupling field by integrating a magnetic field acting as a force exerted on the two magnetization vectors with the interpolated rotation angle.
US08798945B2 Computing device and method for testing charging and discharging reliability of rechargable battery
In a method for testing the charging and discharging reliability of a rechargeable battery, a test device measures the battery to obtain first terminal voltages and first electric currents when the battery is charged by a power supply. After the battery is discharged, the test device measures the battery to obtain second terminal voltages and second electronic currents. Based on the first terminal voltages and the first electric currents, a first lifecycle curve can be created. Based on the second terminal voltages and the second electric currents, a second lifecycle curve is created. The method compares the first lifecycle curve with a charging lifecycle curve, compares the second lifecycle curve with a discharging lifecycle curve, and generates a lifecycle estimation report of the rechargeable battery according to the comparison results.
US08798943B2 Drainability measurement
A measurement device measures a liquid flow discharged from a funnel in a lower branch and/or a side branch. A modelling function is established between liquid flows received with the funnel and/or liquid flows discharged through the lower branch and/or the side branch. In drainability measurement, a sensor measures the flow through a wire out of a measurement chamber at least at two points in time. A processor establishes a parameter descriptive of the drainability from flows measured at the different points in time based on a modelling function stored in a memory.
US08798942B2 Method and device for phase-sensitive flow measurement by a magnetic resonance
In a method and a device for phase-sensitive flow measurement of a volume segment of an examination subject in a measurement system, the volume segment is divided into multiple partial volume segments and the following steps are executed repeatedly until the volume segment has been completely measured: movement of a table such that a center of one of the partial volume segments to be measured essentially corresponds to the isocenter of the magnetic resonance system, and implementation of the phase-sensitive flow measurement for the partial volume segment to be measured while the center of the partial volume segment essentially corresponds to the isocenter.
US08798941B2 Differential pressure sensor and method
A differential pressure sensor (105) for determining a differential pressure value is provided. The differential pressure sensor (105) includes a selector valve (110) configured to receive a first pressure at a first location and a second pressure at a second location that is spaced-apart from the first location, a single-sided pressure sensor (120) coupled to the selector valve (110) and receiving either the first pressure or the second pressure, and a processing system (130) coupled to the single-sided pressure sensor (120) and configured to receive one or more first single-sided pressure measurements from the single-sided pressure sensor (120), subsequently receive one or more second single-sided pressure measurements from the single-sided pressure sensor (120), and generate the differential pressure value from the one or more first single-sided pressure measurements and the one or more second single-sided pressure measurements.
US08798938B2 Method for determining a gas concentration in a measuring gas by means of a gas sensor
The invention relates to a method for determining a gas concentration in a measuring gas by means of a gas sensor. In a first mode of operation of an internal combustion engine, in which the gas concentration in the measuring gas is known, a gas concentration signal and a pressure signal are detected. A compensation parameter of the gas sensor is determined from said signals. The thus determined compensation parameter is taken into account in at least one of the two modes of operation of the internal combustion engine for determining the gas concentration.
US08798934B2 Real time management of data relating to physiological control of glucose levels
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data and insulin delivery data are used to generate more reliable projected alarms related to a projected glucose levels. A memory stores endogenous data related to measurements of glucose level in a patient, and also stores exogenous data, such as insulin on board, both of which are used by a processor to create projected alarms. Profiles of CGM data are created for use in tuning patient-specific insulin data, such at basal rate, carb ratio, and insulin sensitivity. A processor searches for patterns in the data profiles and if found, recommended changes to patient-specific insulin data are provided to permit more accurate control over a patient's glucose levels.
US08798933B2 Frozen compositions and methods for piercing a substrate
Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to compositions, methods, devices, systems, and products regarding frozen particles. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles include materials at low temperatures. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles provide vehicles for delivery of particular agents. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles are administered to at least one biological tissue.
US08798932B2 Frozen compositions and methods for piercing a substrate
Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to compositions, methods, devices, systems, and products regarding frozen particles. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles include materials at low temperatures. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles provide vehicles for delivery of particular agents. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles are administered to at least one biological tissue.
US08798927B2 Method of aligning a swivelable vehicle sensor
A method of aligning a vehicle sensor is provided. The sensor is arranged on a motor vehicle and is swivelable about at least one axis in the direction of an attention angle determined as a function of the actual driving situation. The presence of a traffic route leading into the probable driving route of the motor vehicle is detected, and the attention angle is selected such that the receiving range of the vehicle sensor resulting from the alignment in the direction of the attention angle at least partially contains the traffic route leading into the probable driving route of the motor vehicle.
US08798921B2 Method and device fore reproducing information
A system for presenting information regarding an object provided within a plurality of information sources to a user or a presentation means depending on a location of the user or the presentation means includes a means for determining the location, a means for selecting the information to be presented depending on the determined location and on one or several pre-settable selection criteria defining an information source from the plurality of information sources, and a means for outputting the information to be presented.
US08798918B2 Navigation system, route search server, route search method and route search program
An example navigation system enables searching for an optimum route through a one-time route searching process where several destination or departure locations exist. The navigation system includes a point of interest (POI) attribute information database for accumulating POI attribute information, a network data edit unit and a virtual node setup unit. The navigation system determines whether there is a plurality of POIs in a certain departure location and/or a destination location by making reference to relevant data in the POI attribute information database. If there are several POIs, the virtual node setup unit sets up a virtual node connected to each node of the plurality of POIs through links having identical link cost. The network data edit unit then adds the virtual node to the searching network data, and a route search unit functions to search for routes using the searching network data containing the added virtual node.
US08798915B2 System and method for the collaborative collection, assignment, visualization, analysis, and modification of probable genealogical relationships based on geo-spatial and temporal proximity
System, methods, apparatus and media for the geo-spatial capture and transcription of family trees, vital records, census records, land transfer records, cemetery records, and organizational membership records; for assigning deterministic and probabilistic relationships between people in geographic proximity; and for visualizing known, probable, and potential relationships in a geo-spatial context over time. Also disclosed are systems, methods, apparatus and media for organizing and analyzing genealogical information for searching and visualizing individuals and entities and their relationships to each other within a geo-spatial and temporal context. Further disclosed are systems, methods, apparatus and media for identifying a social networking site based on geo-spatial and temporal context data relating to individuals and entities and their relationships to each other.
US08798909B2 Enhanced geolocation device
The present specification provides an electronic geolocation device comprising a location sensor and a geolocation application configured to record location data associated with said device. The device further includes a processor configured to receive the location data and to associate the location data with contextual data, and to export the location data and contextual data in a data format native to an external application.
US08798908B2 Method of supporting location services in a mobile radio communications system
A method for supporting location services in a mobile radio communications system, in which method a mobile station receives from at least one network element involved in location services, for the implementation of a position measurement procedure, at least one information element indicating if the method type required for that position measurement procedure is a “Conventional GPS” method type where the mobile station behaves as a conventional satellite positioning system receiver.
US08798906B2 Vehicle control device and rotation detection device used in same
A vehicle control device capable of accomplishing a highly reliable vehicle control with the separation distance recognized correctly, even if a reduction or an error of the detecting capability occurs in the result of measurement by a separation distance measuring section for measuring the separation distance with an object such as inter-vehicle gap is provided. The control device includes a rotation detector for detecting the rotational speed of a vehicle wheel and a vehicle movement amount detecting section for detecting the amount of movement of a vehicle from an output signal thereof. The use is made of a separation distance measuring section such as a laser radar for measuring, on a non-contact basis, the separation distance between the vehicle and the object, and of a vehicle movement control section for controlling the movement of the vehicle using the separation distance and the vehicle movement amount.
US08798905B2 Vehicle location detection device and vehicle location detection method
The vehicle location detection device includes: a sound source location specifying unit which calculates an attenuation amount of a sound pressure of a vehicle sound by subtracting a sound pressure detected by a sound pressure detecting unit from a sound pressure indicated by vehicle sound pressure information stored in a sound pressure information storage unit, and specifies a location where another vehicle emitting a vehicle sound is predicted to be present, by specifying a sound source location of a sound diffracted by an obstacle which is specified by a diffraction location specifying unit and serves as a diffraction point, based on the calculated attenuation amount, a rule indicating an attenuation amount dependent on a propagation distance of the sound, and a relationship indicated by diffraction information stored in a diffraction information storage unit; and a presentation unit which presents the specified location.
US08798902B2 System, method and computer software code for obtaining information for routing a powered system and adjusting a route in accordance with relevant information
A method for controlling a powered system, the method including operating the powered system to perform a mission based on an optimized mission plan, identifying when the powered system is approaching a location in the mission where the powered system may change from a first route to a second route, obtaining information about whether the first route or the second route will be taken, and if the second route is taken, adjusting the mission plan to optimize reduced emissions output and/or reduced fuel consumption based on the route change.
US08798900B2 Charge point notification system and in-vehicle device
A charge point notification system includes a center device and an in-vehicle device disposed in an electric vehicle. The system provides a notification regarding a charge point based on a comparison between a required energy for traveling to a nearby charge point from a node that is close to the nearby charge point, and a remaining energy of the electric vehicle. The system does not generate a notification when the remaining energy is greater than the required energy by an amount greater than a first threshold. The system generates the notification, which is to be provided to the user via the in-vehicle device, when the remaining energy is greater than the required energy by an amount that is in between the first threshold and a second threshold, which is less than the first threshold, and when the nearby charge point exists within a first distance range from the electric vehicle.
US08798899B2 System and method for controlling operation of an airline
An airline operations control system for an airline having multiple aircraft and multiple routes formed by one or more flights where the airline operations control system includes a computer searchable database a query module configured to query the database and a display module and a method of controlling operation of the airline having the multiple aircraft and the multiple routes.
US08798898B2 Methods and systems for inferring aircraft parameters
A method and system suitable for inferring trajectory predictor parameters of aircraft for the purpose of predicting aircraft trajectories. The method and system involve receiving trajectory prediction information regarding an aircraft, and then using this information to infer (extract) trajectory predictor parameters of the aircraft that are otherwise unknown to a ground automation system. The trajectory predictor parameters can then be applied to one or more trajectory predictors of the ground automation system to predict a trajectory of the aircraft. In certain embodiments, the method and system can utilize available air-ground communication link capabilities, which may include data link capabilities available as part of trajectory-based operations (TBO).
US08798897B2 Real-time traffic analysis through integration of road traffic prediction and traffic microsimulation models
A system, method and computer program product for forecasting a vehicle traffic condition in a near future. The system comprises a traffic prediction tool, a turning percentage prediction module and a simulation tool. The traffic prediction tool estimates a traffic speed and volume in a traffic link. A traffic link refers to a portion of a traffic road where the traffic prediction tool is installed. The turning percentage prediction module estimates a turning percentage in the traffic link based on the estimated traffic speed and traffic volume. The simulation tool computes, based on the estimated turning percentage, the estimated traffic speed and the estimated traffic volume, an expected traffic volume in the traffic link.
US08798891B2 System and method for increasing operating efficiency of a hybrid vehicle
A method is provided for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine having a cylinder provided with an intake valve, an exhaust valve, and a piston configured to rotate the engine's crankshaft. The method includes determining whether deceleration of the vehicle is desired and also includes ceasing supply of fuel to the cylinder when such condition is satisfied. The method additionally includes selecting a fuel-off actuation arrangement for the intake valve via a mechanism configured to provide variable valve timing and lift, such that a magnitude of compression pulses in the cylinder during deceleration is limited. A system for controlling the hybrid vehicle and a vehicle employing such a system are also provided.
US08798889B2 Automatic transmission and method of control for rejecting erroneous torque measurements
A method for an automatic transmission includes measuring torque of a component of the transmission using a torque sensor in communication with the component. The torque of the component is estimated from information other than the measured torque. The measured torque is rejected from being used in a control operation of the transmission if the difference between the measured torque and the estimated torque is greater than a selected threshold.
US08798884B2 Method for clutch control
A clutch control process for a motor vehicle transmission during brake lift-out monitors a time rate of change of a brake pedal position and torque to detect a lift-out condition with rapidly changing torque. When the process detects a brake lift-out condition, the process limits the minimum scheduled clutch pressure as well as modifies the clutch pressure to torque relationship.
US08798883B2 Automatic transmission apparatus and straddle-type vehicle equipped with the apparatus
An automatic transmission apparatus includes a transmission mechanism, an actuator arranged to rotate a shift drum, and a control device. The control device includes a determining unit arranged to detect a state of a straddle-type vehicle and to determine whether the straddle-type vehicle is in a first state in which an engaging force between the transmission gears is estimated to be equal to or greater than a predetermined value or in a second state in which the engaging force is estimated to be less than the predetermined value; a first gear shifting control unit arranged and programmed to control the actuator so that, if in the first state, the rotational speed of the shift drum becomes a first rotational speed; and a second gear shifting control unit arranged and programmed to control the actuator so that, if in the second state, the rotational speed of the shift drum becomes a second rotational speed that is lower than the first rotational speed.
US08798881B2 Method for operating a transmission device with a plurality of friction-locking and positive-locking shifting elements
A method of operating a transmission device comprising friction-locking and form-locking shift elements for obtaining different gear ratios. A shift request for engaging a shift element undergoes a time delay dependent upon an operating state prior to a time of engagement of the shift element. A rotational speed differential between halves of the shift element lies within a rotational speed differential window required for the engagement procedure is assigned to the time of engagement. A gradient of the transmission input speed is ascertained at the time of the shift request, and the actual gradient is subsequently monitored and compared with the gradient that existed at the time of the shift request. If an absolute deviation greater than a threshold value is ascertained, the time delay is changed or an actuation of another shift element to be disengaged is varied such that the deviation is reduced below the threshold value.
US08798879B2 Method and device for operating a drive unit of a motor vehicle
A method is described for operating a drive unit of a motor vehicle, a setpoint torque being determined for driving the drive unit as a function of a driver request torque and an idle speed regulator torque being included in the driver request torque for determining the setpoint torque, and a drivability filter being applied for torque smoothing. In order to maintain the quality of the speed regulation and simultaneously make the drivability of the vehicle comfortable, the drivability filter is applied before or after the inclusion of the idle speed regulator torque in the driver request torque as a function of the instantaneous driving situation of the motor vehicle.
US08798878B2 Speed change system for work vehicle
A speed change system for work vehicle having a continuously variable transmission device selects a first change gear ratio which is set larger than a smallest change gear ratio, when an engine rotational speed is a first set rotational speed which is set equal or close to an idling rotational speed of an engine; retains the change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device at the smallest change gear ratio, when the engine rotational speed is equal to or above a second set rotational speed set on a high-speed side relative to the first set rotational speed; and makes the change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device larger between the first change gear ratio and the smallest change gear ratio, as the engine rotational speed at that moment becomes lower, when the engine rotational speed is between the first and second set rotational speeds.
US08798876B2 Hybrid working machine and controlling method thereof
In a hybrid working machine, a control unit corrects an output upper limit value of an engine based on a deviation between a target revolution speed of the engine and an actual revolution speed of the engine, and output values of a motor generator, a hydraulically driven unit and an electrically driven unit are determined based on the corrected output upper limit value of the engine, or the control unit corrects an output lower limit value of the motor generator based on a deviation between the target revolution speed of the engine and the actual revolution speed of the engine, and the output values of the motor generator, the hydraulically driven unit and the electrically driven unit are determined based on the corrected output lower limit value of the motor generator.
US08798875B2 Working machine
A working machine includes: a first electric motor used for work; a second electric motor used for applications other than work; a first inverter circuit connected to the first electric motor; a second inverter circuit connected to the second electric motor; a battery connected to the first and second inverter circuits; and a control unit that drives the first and second inverter circuits. The control unit has a discharge mode to discharge electric power stored in the battery, and discharges the battery by stopping the first inverter circuit while driving the second inverter circuit in order to make the second electric motor perform electric operation in the discharge mode. Accordingly, since the state of charge is reduced, the life of a capacitor can be increased.
US08798874B2 System for limiting contact between a dipper and a shovel boom
A system for limiting contact between a dipper and dipper attachments and a boom and machinery desk of a shovel, the system defining dipper to boom relative position in terms of crowd amount or hoist length, the system defining the relative position boom limits in terms of a second order polynomial of crowd amount or hoist length. The system also includes a slow speed region of the crowd amount and the hoist length, where the speed is varied depending on the crowd amount or the hoist length. The system also includes a field-strengthening region, depending on the crowd amount or the hoist length, where the field weakening is removed.
US08798871B2 Liftgate controller
A controller for a lift, includes a communication module configured to wirelessly transmit data relating to the personnel operating and operating conditions of a lift to a remotely located station. The remote station wirelessly sends satisfaction or non-satisfaction messages to the lift controller in response to received input data or sensed conditions relating to the operation of the lift. The lift controller includes circuitry for obtaining and/or storing the sensed conditions and received input data, where the communication module then transmits this information to a remote station using a wireless network either public or private depending on the desired application. In accordance with one implementation, the sensed conditions can include a lift state, a motion of the lift, a load applied to the lift, a lift temperature, a hydraulic fluid pressure, a wait time for recharging a hydraulic pump, an operator safety condition and a number of cycles of operation of the lift. The operator safety conditions may include, for example, whether the operator is using both hands for inputting a command into the lift controller, whether the vehicle is properly parked, whether the operator is off a deck of the lift, and whether the operator is clear of a projected motion pay of the lift.
US08798863B2 Electrically driven power steering system
In an electrically driven power steering system having a blushless three phase motor, an abnormality of a control unit is detected on a basis of a direct current bus bar current of an inverter detected by a current sensor and an estimated primary current. The estimated primary current is calculated from, for example, the following equation, namely, Iu×Du+Iv×Dv+Iw×Dw)/100%, wherein Iu denotes a current of a U phase of the motor, Du denotes a PWM duty signal of the U phase, Iv denotes a current of a V phase of the motor, Dv denotes the PWM duty signal of the V phase of the motor, Iw denotes a current of a W phase of the motor, and Dw denotes the PWM duty signal of the W phase.
US08798860B2 Drive assisting method for reversal path with drawn vehicle
The invention relates to a drive assisting method for the reversal path of a vehicle which consists of a tow track and a trailer pivotable with respect thereto and is provided with a conventional mechanical steering device. The inventive method consists in selecting a target point (C), which the vehicle path should pass through, Determination in calculating the steering angle instruction β0 according to said target point (C) and the vehicle geometry and in displaying said steering angle instruction β0 in comparison with an actual steering angle β, which corresponds to the position of the member (21) of the steering device, on a display device accessible to a driver.
US08798858B2 Emergency release locking system, vehicle thereto, and method for operating the locking system
An emergency release locking system for a trunk lid, with a lid lock and a catch device which has a catch hook and in the case of the opened rotary latch limits the opening movement of the lid, with an emergency release system disposed in the trunk, and with an actuator that is controlled by a control unit of the vehicle and drives a blocking element, which above a predetermined or predeterminable recommended speed of the vehicle stops at least the releasing action of the emergency release system on the catch hook of the catch device. The control unit is assigned, apart from a sensor unit for detecting the current driving speed of the vehicle, one sensor unit each for detecting the current operating position of the emergency release system and of the catch hook of the catch device.
US08798856B2 Accessory load control systems and methods
An accessory load control system for a vehicle, includes an actuator control module, a period estimation module, and a load control module. The actuator control module operates an internal combustion engine of the vehicle in a high-efficiency (HE) mode. The period estimation module estimates a period between a current time and a future time when an actual load on a crankshaft of the engine will reach a maximum engine load associated with the HE mode. The load control module selectively decreases engine loads applied by vehicle accessories, respectively, based on the period.
US08798850B2 Method and measurement system for localizing at least one wheel on a motor vehicle
A method and a measurement system are specified for localizing at least one wheel on a motor vehicle. In this case the operating situation of the motor vehicle and the wheel load of the at least one wheel and/or a variable dependent on this is determined. Then the at least one measured value of the wheel load is compared with a value assigned to the operating situation. As an alternative or in addition, the comparison of at least one parameter dependent on at least two measured values can be undertaken with at least one of the parameters assigned to this operating situation. Finally the point on the motor vehicle at which the wheel is mounted is determined on the basis of the comparison results.
US08798841B1 System and method for improving sensor visibility of vehicle in autonomous driving mode
A system and method designed to improve sensor visibility for a host vehicle operating in an autonomous driving mode when one or more forward-looking sensors are being occluded or obstructed. According to an exemplary embodiment, when a forward-looking object detection sensor is being obstructed by a target vehicle located closely ahead of the host vehicle, the method determines if lateral movement by the host vehicle within its own lane is appropriate to improve sensor visibility around the target vehicle. If lateral movement is deemed appropriate, the method generates lateral movement commands that dictate the direction and distance of the lateral movement by the host vehicle. This may enable the object detection sensors to at least partially see around the obstructing target vehicle and improve the preview distance of the sensors.
US08798839B2 Hybrid vehicle control device
A hybrid vehicle control device is provided with an engine, a motor/generator, a first clutch, an automatic transmission, a second clutch, and a controller having a simultaneous process selection control section. The simultaneous process selection control section performs engine startup control and downshift control in parallel in cases where the torque outputtable by the motor subsequent to downshifting during overlap of an engine startup request and a downshift request is equal to or greater than the engine startup torque, or performs engine startup control first then downshift control in cases where the torque outputtable by the motor subsequent to downshifting is less than the engine startup torque.
US08798838B2 Hybrid vehicle control device
A control device of a hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a motor/generator, a first clutch, an automatic transmission, a second clutch, and startup/shifting simultaneous processing section. When engine speed increase control for increasing the engine speed by the motor/generator in order to start up the engine during travel and downshifting control of the automatic transmission are processed in parallel, the startup/shifting simultaneous processing section uses the motor torque of the motor/generator to increase the increase of input speed by the downshifting control to a target input speed while engine speed increase control is being performed by the motor/generator.
US08798836B2 Control device for hybrid vehicle
A control device is provided to reduce an engine start shock when there is a request to start the engine in response to the accelerator pedal depression and the slip polarity of the second clutch is negative. The control device for a hybrid vehicle has an engine, a motor/generator, a first clutch, a second clutch, and a mechanism for an engine start permission controlling operation. The first clutch is selectively engaged during engine start in which the motor generator is operated as the starter motor. The second clutch is interposed between the motor/generator and tires, and is slip-engaged when the engine is started. The mechanism for the engine start permission controlling operation delays starting the engine until the slip polarity becomes positive when the engine start request is produced and the slip polarity of the second clutch is negative.
US08798835B2 Hybrid diesel-electric powertrain smoke limit avoidance
A hybrid diesel-electric powertrain includes a diesel engine in power flow communication with an electric motor and a controller. The diesel engine and electric motor are each configured to generate a respective torque in response to a provided torque command. The controller is in communication with the electric motor, the diesel engine, and an accelerator pedal, and configured to receive a driver torque request from the accelerator pedal. In response to the driver torque request, the controller is further configured to command the diesel engine to generate an output torque that is less than a smoke limit torque, and command the electric motor to generate an output torque equal to the difference between the driver torque request and the output torque of the diesel engine.
US08798833B2 Vehicle and method for controlling vehicle
A vehicle is provided with a battery, a motor configured to generate the driving force of the vehicle by using electric power stored in the battery, a charger configured to supply the battery with electric power outputted from a power source outside the vehicle, and an ECU configured to control the charged state of the battery when the battery is charged. The ECU calculates an index value indicating the charged state of the battery, and sets the control range of the index value. When a predetermined condition relating to the deterioration of the battery is satisfied, the ECU raises the upper limit value of the index value.
US08798831B2 Device and method for calculating distance to empty of electric vehicle
The prevent invention provides a device and a method for calculating a distance to empty of an electric vehicle which can reduce an initial error in estimating a distance to empty of an electric vehicle. The device and the method for calculating a distance to empty of an electric vehicle can provide more accurate DTE information from the start to the end of traveling by reducing the earlier error, in estimating the DTE from the amount of the presently remaining fuel (the amount of remaining capacity of a battery) of the electric vehicle.
US08798828B2 Kinetic energy recovery and electric drive for vehicles
A kinetic energy recovery and electric drive system for automotive vehicles comprises an electric pancake motor-generator (11, 211) having its stator housing (14, 214) coupled, combined or integrated with the gearbox housing (18, 218) of a gearbox (216) or final drive mechanism (16) and its rotor shaft (12, 212) oriented vertically and perpendicular to the drive-shaft (21, 234) or drive axle (20) of the vehicle. In certain embodiments the pancake motor rotor (10, 110, 210) may be fitted or integral with a perpendicular peripheral stiffening flange (113A, 113B, 213) in which is located a plurality of equally spaced permanent magnets (32, 132) of alternating polarity that electromagnetically engage with electromagnets (128A, 128B) of the pancake motor-generator stator. To facilitate retrofitting to existing vehicles the system may include an autonomous hybrid controller (316) that includes at least one sensor (322) to detect motion of the vehicle and/or motor without requiring any interface or integration with the vehicle's subsystems.
US08798823B2 Electronic control apparatus for driving a boat
An electronic control apparatus for driving a boat capable of safely and positively steering the boat to move forward and backward, including: a steering mechanism; a shift actuator for switching neutral, forward, backward; a throttle actuator for driving a throttle valve; and an electronic control unit connected to the steering mechanism, the shift actuator and the throttle actuator, for calculating a movement command value and an output command value for controlling the shift actuator and the throttle actuator, respectively, based on a steering position signal from the steering mechanism, and for controlling the shift actuator and the throttle actuator according to the movement command value, the output command value, feedback signals indicating control states, the electronic control section restrains the output command value until a shift operation of the shift actuator is completed, when the movement command value has been generated for shifting the shift actuator to forward or backward.
US08798822B2 Electrical junction box for a railway vehicle
An onboard electrical junction box. The onboard electrical junction box comprises an auto-change-over switch adapted to acquire: a first state wherein power is supplied to the electrical system from a power rail via at least one onboard power collector device; and a second state wherein power is supplied to the electrical system from a removable shore power source, wherein during operation in the second state, the at least one onboard power collector device is isolated from the power supplied by the removable shore power source. The onboard electrical junction box also comprises a switch control module in electrical communication with the auto-change-over switch for causing the auto-change-over switch to acquire the second state upon detection that: the removable shore power source has established an electrical connection with the onboard electrical junction box; and the electrical system of the vehicle is receiving power below a predetermined threshold.
US08798821B2 System and method for communicating data in a locomotive consist or other vehicle consist
A communication system for a vehicle consist includes a control module that interfaces with at least one of a first router transceiver pair or a redundant router transceiver pair. Each of the router transceiver pairs can communicate network data between vehicles of the consist over a cable bus of the vehicle consist. The control module includes a monitor module and a switch module. The monitor module monitors operation of at least one of the first router transceiver pair or the redundant router transceiver pair. The switch module is operably coupled with the monitor module and controls the first router transceiver pair or the redundant router transceiver pair to communicate the network data over the cable bus if the other of the first router transceiver pair or the redundant router transceiver pair enters a failure condition for being unable to communicate the network data over the cable bus.
US08798818B2 Method and system for dynamically determining and displaying navigation information
A method and system for dynamically evaluating a quantity of context sensitive information used by an operator of an airborne mobile platform in performing an operational procedure involving said mobile platform, and determining, in real time, a sub-quantity of context sensitive information that pertains to only that sub-quantity of information required by said operator to execute said operational procedure. The sub-quantity of information is then displayed on a display in real time for the operator. The method and system significantly eases the cognitive workload of the operator by enabling the operator to focus on and digest only that sub-quantity of information that is pertinent to performing the operational procedure with the specific type of mobile platform being operated. In one embodiment the sub-quantity of information pertains to minima information for performing an aircraft landing approach operation.
US08798817B2 Methods and systems for requesting and retrieving aircraft data during flight of an aircraft
The disclosed embodiments relate to methods and systems for requesting and retrieving aircraft data during flight of an aircraft. This aircraft data can be used to perform additional monitoring of aircraft sub-systems to detect an abnormal condition, and/or to identify one or more sources that are causing the abnormal condition. In one embodiment, aircraft data for one or more relevant parameters can be requested from the ground, measured on-board the aircraft, and stored in a data file that is then communicated back to personnel on the ground. The real-time aircraft data for one or more relevant parameters can then be analyzed to identify the one or more sources that are causing the abnormal condition.
US08798816B1 Method and system for unloading the inertia wheels of a spacecraft
The method for unloading the inertia wheels of a spacecraft comprising three references axes X, Y, Z, the axis Z corresponding to a pointing direction, consists in inverting the direction of accumulation of the angular momentum in the wheels by automatic rotational flipping of the spacecraft about the axis Z, the pointing direction remaining fixed. The method has application to the field of satellites or of interplanetary probes.
US08798808B2 Service station maintenance mode for extended range electric vehicles and hybrid vehicle applications
A method of controlling an Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) or a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine (ICE) that is capable of automatically starting in response to a pre-defined event includes determining if the vehicle is within a pre-defined distance of a service station, determining if the ICE is running, determining if the vehicle is in an ignition on mode or in an ignition off mode, and automatically starting the ICE when the vehicle is within the pre-defined distance of the service station, the engine is not running and the ignition is in the ignition on mode to notify a service technician that the ICE is in the ignition on mode.
US08798807B2 Data distribution system and method for distributing data in a vehicle
A data distribution system for a vehicle includes a data distributor module that is communicatively coupled with a data acquisition module that obtains values of available data parameters related to operation of the vehicle, a service module that provides functions for the vehicle based on the values, and a memory. The data distributor module receives a request list from the service module that includes one or more requested data parameters of the available data parameters. The data acquisition module stores the values of the requested data parameters in the memory. The data distributor module retrieves the values of one or more of the requested data parameters from the memory and communicates the values that are retrieved to the service module for the service module to use the values that are retrieved to provide the functions for the vehicle.
US08798802B2 Queuing access to a shared power supply
A method of queuing access to a power supply shared by a set of electrical access points. The access points turn on independently from one another and thus have independent power draws. Each access point has a specific power draw when on. The on state and associated power draw of each of access point is identified, and a load duration curve for each access point is normalized (i.e., combined with load duration curve(s)) from the other access points) into a probability distribution function. The probability distribution function is a normalized load duration curve that thus accounts for a varying set of “operating states” that may occur with respect to the set of access points (when viewed collectively). Each operating state has an associated probability of occurrence. As the operating state of the set (of access points) changes, access to the power supply is selectively queued, or de-queued (if previously queued).
US08798801B2 Computer based energy management
Computer based energy management including an adaptor having a server network interface and a control device interface. The server network interface receives commands from the energy management host software, the commands specify a control device and include control instructions and requests for energy usage data. The control device interface transmits the commands to the control device and receives energy usage data from the control device. The server network interface transmits the energy usage data to the energy management software in response to receiving the energy usage data from the control device. In this manner, the adaptor provides a bridge between the server network and the copper wire network to provide control and measurement of energy usage at a control device level in response to commands from a remote computer system.
US08798798B2 System and method for operating steam systems
A system and method for operating a steam system, such as a district heating system is provided with provisions for predicting potential water hammer conditions. The system measures steam parameters as inputs into a steam system engine. The steam system engine uses physics models and empirical steam flow behavior models to determine a condensate parameter such as rate of condensate generation and condensate levels within the system. When the condensate parameter exceeds a threshold, a signal is transmitted to the system operator so that actions may be taken to alleviate or prevent undesired conditions.
US08798796B2 General control techniques in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning network
The disclosure provides an HVAC data processing and communication network. In various embodiments of systems and methods including a bus, a compressor is coupled to the bus, and a subnet controller is coupled to the bus. The subnet controller disables the compressor when acting upon a dehumidification command.
US08798789B2 Method and apparatus for dispensing items
An apparatus for dispensing discrete items into a multiplicity of containers such that each of the multiplicity of containers contains at least a predetermined number of items, the apparatus comprising: a conveyor for transporting items from a feeder to a location from which the items fall into the container; a counting mechanism for counting a number of items that have fallen off the conveyor into the container during operation of the conveyor and due to inertial forces after the operation; an actuator for operating or stopping the conveyor in accordance with control commands; and a computing platform for receiving a count from the counting mechanism and generating the control commands to be provided to the actuator.
US08798788B2 System and method for dispensing prescriptions
An automated method for dispensing pharmaceuticals particularly tablets and capsules, and other small discrete objects, includes: receiving prescription information, selecting a container, labeling the container, dispensing the tablets or capsules into the labeled container, applying a closure to the filled, labeled container, and offloading the container to a designated location. Preferably, the tablets are dispensed with high speed dispensing bins that employ forced air to agitate and singulate the tablets. The other functions within the system are typically carried out at stations designed to offer speed, flexibility and precision to the dispensing operation.
US08798787B2 Ultra-flexible production manufacturing
A manufacturing system has one or more work cells that each performs one or more manufacturing processes. The system also has one or more mobile transport units (“MTUs”) that deliver transportable containers containing workpieces to and from said work cells. The MTUs deliver the containers to the work cells in a manner such that the workpieces are localized in the work cells. The manufacturing system also has a computer system that has status information for each of the one or more MTUs and uses the status information to control each of the one or more MTUs to deliver the transportable containers to and from the one or more work cells.
US08798786B2 System and method for processing waste material
A method for processing waste in a material handling system includes detecting an occurrence of a trigger event associated with a waste holder located at a first location and, in response to detecting the trigger event, moving a mobile drive unit to the first location. The method also includes loading waste material onto the mobile drive unit at the first location and transporting the waste material to a waste station using the mobile drive unit.
US08798780B2 Cartridge apparatus for three-dimensional object printing
A material supply apparatus for supplying printing materials to a printing system is provided. The apparatus includes a container to store printing material and a source of electromagnetic radiation to cure remnant printing material within the container. The printing system may be a three-dimensional printing system for producing three-dimensional objects.
US08798778B2 Method and system for synchronizing chamber down times by controlling transport sequencing in a process tool
A cluster tool may be operated on the basis of an enhanced sequencing regime in which the supply of substrates is controlled such that a planned time of maintenance is reached for two or more process chambers simultaneously. Consequently, the occurrence of non-correlated sequential down times of various process chambers may be significantly reduced, thereby enhancing throughput and availability of complex cluster tools.
US08798772B2 Electrode connection, in particular for an electrode catheter
An electrode connection for an electrode catheter including an electrode, a line for electrical signals configured as a coil having an electrode end connected to the electrode, and a fixation device for the electrode end of the coil on the electrode, wherein the fixation device includes an inner sleeve, on which the electrode end of the coil sits, and a squeeze ring, which acts upon the electrode end of the coil, establishing an electrical contact with the electrode and mechanical clamping on the inner sleeve.
US08798767B2 MRI conditionally safe lead with multi-layer conductor
An implantable medical lead exhibits reduced heating under MRI conditions. The lead includes a multi-layer coil conductor including an inner coil layer, a middle coil layer disposed around the inner coil layer, and an outer coil layer disposed around the middle coil layer. Each of the coil layers is characterized by one or more of a filar thickness, a coil pitch, or a coil diameter configured such that the coil conductor exhibits a high inductance when exposed to MRI radiation. Each of the coil layers is electrically connected to the other coil layers to provide parallel conductive paths resulting in a coil conductor resistance suitable for defibrillation lead applications.
US08798759B2 User interface with toolbar for programming electrical stimulation therapy
The disclosure is directed to a user interface with a menu that facilitates stimulation therapy programming. The user interface displays a representation of the electrical leads implanted in the patient and at least one menu with icons that the user can use to adjust the stimulation therapy. The user may drag one or more field shapes from a field shape selection menu onto the desired location relative to the electrical leads. A manipulation tool menu may also allow the user to adjust the field shapes placed on the electrical leads, which represent the stimulation region. The programmer that includes the user interface then generates electrical stimulation parameter values for the stimulator to deliver stimulation according to the field shapes or field shape groups defined/located by the user. The field shapes may represent different types of stimulation representations, such as current density, activation functions, and neuron models.
US08798752B2 Removable implantable battery positioned inside implant coil
An implantable component of a prosthesis comprising of at least one powered component; at least one antenna coil contained within an electrically insulating surround; and an electrical storage element for powering at least one powered component, the electrical storage element being positionable within a support area of the surround, the support area being at least partially within the area defined by the at least one antenna coil.
US08798747B2 Method and apparatus for control of cardiac therapy using non-invasive hemodynamic sensor
A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system includes a non-invasive hemodynamic sensing device and an implantable medical device to sense a hemodynamic signal and derive one or more cardiac performance parameters from the hemodynamic signal. The non-invasive hemodynamic sensing device includes at least a portion configured for external attachment to a body in which the implantable medical device is implanted. The one or more cardiac performance parameters are used for various diagnostic, monitoring, and therapy control purposes.
US08798746B2 Automatic mechanical alternans detection
This document discusses, among other things, a cardiac mechanical alternans (MA) detector circuit. In an example, the mechanical alternans detector circuit is configured to determine a mechanical alternans (MA) condition. In an example, the MA detector circuit can include a physiologic impedance input configured to receive physiologic information indicative of mechanical alternans. In an example, the MA detector circuit can include an intravascular pressure input configured to receive physiologic information indicative of mechanical alternans.
US08798743B1 Self-contained cardiac response unit
An apparatus includes a housing including a first side and a second side; a chest compression sensor coupled with the second side of the housing; at least one compartment partially formed by one of the first side and the second side of the housing; and at least one removable defibrillator electrode pad contained in the at least one compartment partially formed by one of the first side and the second side of the housing.
US08798742B2 Method and apparatus for adjusting cardiac event detection threshold based on dynamic noise estimation
An implantable cardiac rhythm management (CRM) device includes a sensing and detection circuit that senses at least one cardiac signal and detects cardiac electrical events from the sensed cardiac signal using a detection threshold that is adjusted based on a dynamic noise estimation. The sensed cardiac signal is filtered to produce a filtered cardiac signal having a signal frequency band and a noise signal having a noise frequency band. The noise frequency band is substantially different from the signal frequency band. A dynamic noise floor is produced based on the noise signal and used as the minimum value for the detection threshold. A cardiac electrical is detected when the amplitude of the filtered cardiac signal exceeds the detection threshold.
US08798741B2 Automated high voltage defibrillator tester
The present invention is directed to an automated high voltage (HV) defibrillator tester system that is able to asynchronously test a plurality of devices (e.g. defibrillators etc.). The HV defibrillator tester system includes a first field programmable gate array (FPGA) connected to a set of tester modules. Each tester module of tester modules is individually associated with a single communication port of the first FPGA.
US08798736B2 EEG control of devices using sensory evoked potentials
An EEG control of devices using Sensory Evoked Potentials (SEPs) (e.g., visually-evoked potentials), is disclosed. In some embodiments, a system receives a plurality of EEG signal samples; generates a stimulus locked average signal using the plurality of EEG signal samples; and determines whether the plurality of EEG signal samples are evoked in response to a pattern of stimulus.
US08798732B2 Apparatus, system and method of determining a heart rate variability value
A system for measuring heart rate variability (HRV) comprising 3 sub-systems: a data collection sub-system, a data analysis sub-system, and an output sub-system. A patient is connected to a heart monitoring device such as an ECG and the data collection sub-system records the patients heart beats, and an ECG chart is produced from which the patient's HRV value is derived by the data analysis sub-system. The present invention obtains the HRV value through calculation of a new parameter called relative density (RD). In accordance with the inventive method, data points are generated from the peak interval data of measured heart beats and the HRV relative density parameter (RD) is calculated by correlation between two subsets of data points.
US08798731B2 Devices, systems and methods to perform arrhythmia discrimination based on the atrial and ventricular activation times
Described herein are implantable systems and devices, and methods for use therewith, that can be used to perform arrhythmia discrimination based on activation times. A plurality of different sensing vectors are used to obtain a plurality of IEGMs that collectively enable electrical activations to be detected in the left atrial (LA) chamber, the right atrial (RA) chamber, and at least one ventricular chamber of a patient's heart. For each of a plurality of cardiac cycles, there is a determination, based on the plurality of obtained IEGMs, of an LA activation time, an RA activation time, and a ventricular activation time. Arrhythmia discrimination is then performed based on the determined activation times.
US08798730B2 Time domain monitoring of myocardial electrical stability
Embodiments of the present invention relate to implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, for monitoring myocardial electrical stability. A patient's heart is paced for a period of time using a patterned pacing sequence that repeats every N beats, and an electrical signal is obtained that is representative of a plurality of consecutive beats of the patient's heart while it is being paced using the patterned pacing sequence that repeats every N beats. Myocardial electrical stability is then analyzed using time domain techniques that are tailored to the patterned pacing sequence used to pace the patient's heart. In other embodiments, the patient's heart need not be paced. This abstract is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention.
US08798722B2 Fiber array for optical imaging and therapeutics
The present invention relates to the field of optical imaging and therapeutics. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention provide minimally-invasive Fiberoptic Microneedle Devices (FMDs) for light-based therapeutics, which physically penetrate tissue and deliver light directly into the target area below the skin surface (FIG. 1). A preferred embodiment of the invention is a fiberoptic microneedle device comprising: (a) one or more silica-based needles capable of guiding light and comprising a length of about 0.5-6 mm, a base having an outer diameter in the range of about 100-150 micron, and a tip having an outer diameter in the range of about 5-20 micron; (b) a support member to which the needles are secured; (c) a ferrule comprising one or more holes for each of the needles, wherein the ferrule is operably configured to provide mechanical support to each needle at all or some portion of the length of the needle. Embodiments of the invention enable depth-selective and deep photothermal therapeutics and can be adapted for use with any laser-based treatment or diagnostic in which light is used to detect or treat targets under or on the skin surface.
US08798721B2 System and method for visualizing catheter placement in a vasculature
A system for advancing a needle through a vasculature to an injection site at the heart of a patient includes a guide catheter with a reflective distal tip. Also included is an imaging unit that is mounted on the catheter to radiate an energy field. Structurally, a distal portion of the catheter is biased to bend into a predetermined configuration that will position the distal end of the catheter for interception by the energy field. If necessary, coincidence of the reflective tip with the energy field is established by moving the energy field along the length of the guide catheter. With coincidence, the reflective tip reflects a signal that is useful for advancement of the needle from the guide catheter and into the injection site.
US08798717B2 Patient support and/or transport means and magnetic resonance system
A patient support and/or transport device is proposed. The patient support and/or transport device comprises a receptacle in particular for a push-in patient support plate. At least one metal detection device is provided on the receptacle adjacent to the patient support plate when the patient support plate is pushed in.
US08798715B2 Method for non-invasive measurement of cardiac output
A comparatively light and compact permanent magnet arrangement for an MRI apparatus has a pair of opposed permanent magnet arrays with a shimming system to adjust the uniformity and strength of a magnetic field in a central chamber of the apparatus. The MRI apparatus is used to examine the extremities of a patient to determine cardiovascular characteristics from an analysis of the blood flow through selected arteries in the extremity. The information collected can be used to calculate such characteristics as total cardiac output, blood flow, arterial wall thickness and elasticity and the presence of plaque.
US08798714B2 Medical apparatus installation, and method for controlling a medical apparatus
In a medical apparatus and method, the apparatus installation has a placement device for a patient, into which placement device is integrated at least one electromechanical sensor. A signal evaluation device is supplied with the measurement signals generated with the at least one electromechanical sensor, for evaluation. The medical apparatus is connected with the signal evaluation device, and the medical apparatus acquires measurement signals that relate to breathing and/or cardiac activity of the patient with the at least one electromechanical sensor upon support of the patient on said placement device. Trigger signals are generated with the signal evaluation device based on the measurement signals which relate to breathing cycle and/or cardiac cycle of the patient. The operation of the medical apparatus is controlled based on the trigger signals.
US08798710B2 Apparatuses, systems and methods for biopotential sensing with dry electrodes
A biopotential electrode for transferring electrical signals with a subject that includes an electrical conductor, a membrane selectively permeable to ionic conduction for presenting a dry surface to the subject, and a conductive medium positioned in communication with a portion of the electrical conductor and a portion of the membrane. The electrical potentials are coupled from the subject across the membrane into the conductive medium and then transferred from the subject to the electrical conductor. In other embodiments, the electrical potentials may be transferred from the external conductor to the subject through the conductive medium across the membrane into the subject. Other embodiments include systems and methods for using the biopotential electrodes.
US08798709B1 Dermal sensing package and use
A sensor apparatus in the form a substantially flat package for receiving and transmitting physiologic electronic signals, to be monitored or recorded, comprising in combination, a first layer consisting of hydrogel and having opposite ends, second layer sections projecting oppositely relative to the opposite ends, and consisting of hydrocolloid, a thin conductive third layer directly overlying and contacting the top of the first layer, an electrical lead in contact with the thin conductive layer, and extending to the exterior of the layers, there being phthalate-free insulation on said lead, adhesive adhering the lead to said thin conductive layer, and a cover layer extending over the first, second and third layers, and over the lead.
US08798705B2 Medical instrument for delivery of high voltage pulses and method of delivering the same
An instrument 10 for delivering a high voltage pulse to tissue is disclosed. The instrument 10 can include an outer support member 12 with a liquid reservoir 14 that has a liquid-contacting interior surface 16, an opening 18 at a distal end 20 of the outer support member 12, and a ground electrode 22 extending in a longitudinal direction and having a lower surface 23 proximate the opening 18. The instrument 10 can also include a working electrode 26 extending longitudinally from the liquid-contacting interior surface 16 with a needle-shaped distal portion 28 proximate the distal end 20; and an inlet port 31 and an outlet port 34 in liquid communication with the liquid reservoir 14. The working electrode 26 can be electrically isolated from the ground electrode 22 by an insulating portion 30 of the outer support member 12, and a direct path can exist through the liquid reservoir 14 between the ground electrode 22 and the working electrode 26.
US08798701B2 Functional near-infrared spectroscopy as a monitor for depth of anesthesia
Disclosed are methods and devices for measuring a state of anesthesia in a noninvasive manner. Optical techniques may be used to measure changes in a functional near-infrared (fNIR) signal, where the fNIR signal is received in response to directing wavelengths of light in a near-infrared range on a patient. The optical density change may be used to obtain a change in deoxyhemoglobin (deoxy-Hb) concentration and/or a change in an oxyhemoglobin concentration (oxy-Hb). The changes in the deoxy-Hb and/or the oxy-Hb may then be compared to determine a state of anesthesia.The effect of artifacts (e.g., strong surgery room lighting, patient-table tilting, patient intubation/extubation) on the fNIR signal may be removed using a noise removal algorithm. In selecting the noise removal algorithm, a switching technique may be used to select the component analysis algorithm, such as a principal component analysis (PCA), an independent component analysis (ICA), or the like.
US08798700B1 Oximeter with marking feature
A medical device such as an oximeter includes a marking feature. In an implementation, a marking mechanism of the device marks tissue based on a location of where a measurement was taken by the device. In an implementation, the marking mechanism of the device marks tissue based on an oxygen saturation measurement obtained by the device.
US08798696B2 Superconducting wire with low AC losses
A multilayer superconducting wire 7 with essentially round cross sectional area where the outer surface of the round wire is provided with a high temperature superconductor layer 3 and where at least the high temperature superconductor layer 3 is fabricated as a spiral running along the length of the superconductor wire 7 in parallel lanes 15.
US08798693B2 Earpiece with voice menu
An ear-level device which can be operable in multiple modes supports a voice menu by which more complex functions executable by the ear-level device or by a companion module can be selected using input at the ear-level device. By pushing a button on an earpiece for example, a voice menu is activated announcing a set of functions such as voice dial, last number redial and so on. When the function that the user wants is announced, the user presses the same button which activates the execution of the function.
US08798689B2 Apparatus and method for controlling function of communication module in portable terminal
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for controlling a function of a communication module in a portable terminal, by which the function of the communication module can be automatically turned on or off in order to reduce the consumption of a battery of the portable terminal based on a connection/disconnection pattern, so that learning pattern the communication module selectively turned on a particular cycle calculated as a learning pattern.
US08798685B2 Estimating remaining use time of mobile computing devices
Methods, systems, apparatus, and computer programs encoded on computer storage medium, for receiving a set of expected activities, each expected activity in the set of expected activities including an activity that is expected to be performed by a computing device, determining one or more time periods based on the set of expected activities, determining one or more expected rates of change of state of charge (SOC) of a battery of the mobile computing device by, for each time period of the one or more time periods, determining an expected rate of change of SOC based on a base rate of change of SOC and one or more expected activities associated with the time period, and determining an estimated remaining time based on the one or more expected rates of change of SOC, the remaining time corresponding to a time at which an expected SOC is less than a threshold SOC.
US08798682B2 Systems and methods for configuring subscriber systems in wireless mesh networks
A wireless network may be managed by identifying one or more wireless subscriber systems included in a lobe pool of a wireless network, identifying at least one candidate subscriber system outside of the lobe pool with which to enable communications, and reconfiguring the antenna such that the lobe pool includes the identified candidate subscriber system.
US08798678B2 Systems and methods for controlling quality of service at picocells using agnostic platform
Systems and methods for maintaining the quality of service provided by a picocell and for reducing the cost to maintain and operate the picocell. The systems and methods provided herein, in an embodiment, provide for a backhaul and radio agnostic system where the picocell is highly configurable and can be used with a variety of different types of backhauls and radio devices. Remote monitoring and configuration of the device may be provided to reduce the cost of maintaining the picocell.
US08798675B2 System of stacked devices
A method of implementing use cases includes associating a use case with each of a plurality of devices capable of being used or accessed by a user. The method also includes providing a plurality of stackable blades, each providing a standard physical interface and being configured to implement a solution to the use case associated with each of the plurality of devices. The method further includes stacking the plurality of stackable blades to form an interconnected stack. Each of the plurality of stackable blades are coupled using the standard physical interface. The method also includes executing a first purpose corresponding to a first use case and executing a second purpose corresponding to a second use case. Embodiments provide an electronic ecosystem featuring ubiquitous connectivity in which a standard contact array in each component of the ecosystem assures interoperability between heterogeneous devices.
US08798674B2 Mobile terminal
Disclosed is a mobile terminal comprising: a terminal body having a touch screen; an audio jack mounted to one side of the terminal body, and connected to an audio output device; and an antenna device detachably mounted to the audio jack, wherein the antenna device includes: an antenna body implemented in the form of a rod having a predetermined length; a connector formed atone end of the antenna body so as to be inserted into the audio jack, and including one or more feeding terminals; and a touch tip provided at an end of the connector, and configured to manipulate the touch screen.
US08798673B2 Communication method of mobile phone
A communication method is used for a mobile phone. The mobile phone is capable of receiving a first subscriber identity module (SIM) card and a second SIM card. The mobile phone acquires a first paging reception time of the first SIM card and a second paging reception time of the second SIM card, and further calculates a minimum time gap between the first paging reception time and the second paging reception time. If the minimum time gap is less than a threshold time gap, the mobile phone modulates the first paging reception time and the second paging reception time, such that the minimum time gap is not less than the threshold time gap.
US08798672B2 Method of processing a call in a mobile terminal
A method of controlling a mobile terminal, and which includes controlling, via a Windows processor, a plurality of peripheral devices of the mobile terminal; switching, via the Windows processor, the mobile terminal into a sleep state; granting, via an arbiter control processor, a control authority for controlling predetermined peripheral devices among the plurality of peripheral device to a 3G modem when the mobile terminal is switched into the sleep state; receiving, via a communication unit on the mobile terminal, an incoming call; and managing, via the 3G modem, circuit data and the predetermined peripheral devices for the incoming call.
US08798668B2 Call control system and call control method
A call control system performs call control for a terminal which accesses different radio access network systems. A communication exchange processing apparatus includes: a device storing maximum bandwidth for specified calls processed in the radio access network system; a device measuring present bandwidth for specified calls presently processed in the radio access network system; a device computing a ratio of the present bandwidth to the maximum bandwidth for specified calls; and a device sending specified call band ratio information indicating the ratio of present bandwidth to maximum bandwidth for specified calls to a radio network control apparatus in the radio access network system and connected to the present communication exchange processing apparatus. The radio network control apparatus provided in the radio access network system includes a device sending the specified call band ratio information to a terminal which is connected to the present radio network control apparatus by radio communication.
US08798667B2 Mobile communication method, mobile station and radio base station
A mobile communication method according to the present invention including the steps of: generating, at a mobile station (UE), first verification information by use of a first key, a first parameter and an algorithm for “Integrity Protection”; generating, at the mobile station (UE), second verification information by extracting predetermined bits of the first verification information; and performing, at the mobile station (UE), cell selection processing, and transmitting, from the mobile station to a radio base station that manages the selected cell, an RRC-PDU for RRC connection re-establishment request through a common control channel, upon detection of a radio link failure in an RRC connection, the second verification information being set in the RRC-PDU for RRC connection re-establishment request.
US08798662B2 Transmission control for a specific absorption rate compliant communication device
Transmission of data from a portable communication device to a station via a radio frequency signal uses a protocol that has recurring frames, each having a plurality of transmission slots, different numbers of which can be used to transmit the data. When the portable communication device desires to send a data transmission, a first value is selected for either a power level for the radio frequency signal or the number of transmission slots to use. Then the first value is used to select a second value for the other one of the power level and the number of transmission slots. The first and second values are selected so that the data transmission at the selected power level using the selected number of transmission slots does not result in a specific absorption rate that is greater than a specific absorption rate limit.
US08798658B2 Minimizing drive test logged data reporting
This disclosure pertains to a method in a network node, a method in user equipment, a network node and user equipment in a wireless communications network. More particularly, there is provided methods and platforms for network based control of report messages comprising logged measurements in a wireless communications network. In accordance with some example embodiments, a UE (30) that has stored logged data i.e. logged measurements that are bigger than a single transmission packet, i.e. report message, segments the logged measurements and sends only a portion of the logged measurements that fits into a single report message. The UE (30) also indicates to a network node (28) that additional logged measurements exist at the UE buffer (44).
US08798657B2 Method and device for transmitting multimedia broadcast multicast service control information
The present invention discloses a method and a device for transmitting multimedia broadcast multicast service control information. The method comprises: a base station stopping transmission of an MBMS service in a cell, and transmitting control plane information of the MBMS service, wherein, in the control plane information, contents of an SIB2, MCCH information and DSI remain unmodified, and contents of an SIB13 are modified or remain unmodified. The device comprises: a service stopping unit, configured to stop transmission of an MBMS service in a cell; a transmitting unit, configured to transmit control plane information of the MBMS service in the cell in which the MBMS service is stopped, wherein in the transmitted control plane information, contents of an SIB2, MCCH information and DSI remain unmodified, and contents of an SIB13 are modified or remain unmodified. The present invention improves reliability of receiving an MBMS service by a UE.
US08798656B2 Methods and apparatus by which periodically broadcasting nodes can resolve contention for access to a smaller pool of broadcasting resources
A method, a computer program product, and an apparatus for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus transmits broadcast information in a first broadcast resource from a first set of broadcast resources. In addition, the apparatus determines based on the broadcast information a need for a second broadcast resource from a second set of broadcast resources. Furthermore, the apparatus selects the second broadcast resource based on a priority associated with the first broadcast resource.
US08798653B2 Probabilistic interference mitigation for wireless cellular networks
An interference mitigation system randomizes transmissions to cell-edge users by carefully controlling the probability of transmission to these users, thereby creating a virtual fractional frequency system that does not require extensive frequency management and coordination across the network. In some embodiments, the interference mitigation system identifies severely interfered links and reduces the probability of transmission on these links, with the result being a reduced probability of interference.
US08798649B2 Apparatus and method for transmitting handwriting animation message
Provided is a system for transmitting a handwriting animation message including a transmitting mobile terminal for transmitting the handwriting animation message including coordinate information and time information of one or more points forming handwriting information which is input by a user of a transmitting mobile terminal, an animation messaging server for, upon receiving the handwriting animation message, transcoding the handwriting animation message into a format supported by the receiving mobile terminal and transmitting the transcoded handwriting animation message, and the receiving mobile terminal for receiving the transcoded handwriting animation message.
US08798644B2 Systems and methods for determining the location of mobile devices independent of location fixing hardware
Implementations relate to systems and methods for determining a location of a mobile device. The mobile device can query other mobile devices within service range for identification information, and send the identification information to a remote server for storage therein. The remote server can receive location information from other mobile devices corresponding to the identification information. The mobile device can send a location query to the remote server, which can determine or calculate a location of the mobile device based on the identification and/or location information of the other mobile devices. The remote server can provide the location of the mobile device to the mobile device for use in associated mobile applications.
US08798640B2 Location based data acquisition
A method, apparatus, and system for providing information related to a geographic location of a user of a mobile device are disclosed. In some embodiments, a location of the mobile device is determined. Information related to the location is also determined. The related information is provided to a user of the mobile device via the mobile device. In some embodiments, an image sensor nearby the mobile device is identified and an image captured by the image sensor is displayed via the mobile device. In some embodiments, the mobile device can be used to control the direction, focus, and aperture of the image sensor.
US08798638B2 Methods and apparatus for providing base station position information and using position information to support timing and/or frequency corrections
A wireless terminal receives base station position over an airlink, determines its relative position with respect to the base station and determines a timing adjustment correction. The wireless terminal applies the determined timing correction to control uplink signaling timing and achieve synchronization at the base station's receiver. The wireless terminal determines its relative velocity with respect to the base station and determines a Doppler shift adjustment which it adds to the uplink carrier frequency or to its baseband signal. A wireless terminal determines the position of a moving base station and determines timing and/or frequency corrections. Base station position is determined from the current time and stored information correlating the base station position with time, e.g., for a geo-synchronous satellite. Base station position information is determined from broadcast information, e.g., GPS base station position, for an aircraft base station. Wireless terminals may be mobile and include a GPS receiver for WIRELESS TERMINAL position determination.
US08798637B2 Electronic message exchange over multiple wireless communication networks with a single device
Electronic messages such as pages are exchanged between a user device and a message service using one of multiple wireless communication networks. The wireless communication networks may include mobile and/or fixed wireless networks. The user device registers with the message service through at least one of the wireless communications networks. The user device may register through multiple wireless communication devices when available. The user device sends messages through the wireless network through which registration has been established and may apply rules to choose when registration has occurred via multiple wireless networks.
US08798636B2 Method and apparatus for carrier selection and scheduling in wireless systems
Various methods and devices are provided to address the need for improved multicarrier system operation. In one method, an indication of a received signal power level at a UE (user equipment) is received (501) from the UE. A carrier is then selected (502) on which to schedule the UE. The carrier is selected from a group of carriers based on the indication of the received signal power level at the UE.
US08798635B2 Method for transmitting and receiving system information via a broadcast channel (BCH) and a downlink shared channel (DL—SCH)
A method for exchanging, between a mobile terminal and a base station, system information via a broadcast control channel (BCCH), which is a logical channel between a radio link control (RLC) layer and a medium access control (MAC) layer, and a broadcast channel (BCH) and a downlink shared channel (DL_SCH), which are transport channels between the MAC layer and a physical layer. The method includes: receiving a block of first system information from the base station via the BCH; and receiving a plurality of blocks of second system information from the base station via the DL_SCH configured to carry system information and other data, one of the plurality of blocks of second system information including scheduling information.
US08798634B2 Systems, methods and apparatus to facilitate identification and acquisition of access points
Systems, apparatus and methods for facilitating identification and/or acquisition of an access point are provided. Methods can include transmitting or receiving access point information (“API”) indicative of an identification of the access point (“AP”). The API can be provided at the AP through hardwiring or receipt of configuration information input by a user or transmitted to the AP by a network operator through Over-The-Air (“OTA”) signaling. The API can be computer-readable and, in some embodiments, the API can also be human-readable. The API can be transmitted on a paging channel from which user equipment (“UE”) can receive information. The frequency at which the API is transmitted can be fixed, dynamic and/or configurable. Upon receipt of the API, acquisition of the AP is attempted if the AP is determined to be a permitted AP.
US08798631B2 Method and devices for allocating bearers
The embodiments herein relates to a method in a target Mobility Management Entity, MME, for allocating bearers in a target network, which target MME is comprised in the target network and which target network comprises a first number of existing bearers. When a second number of required bearers is larger than the first number of existing bearers in the target network, the target MME transmits an allocation request message to a target base station. The allocation request message comprises a request for allocation of the first number of existing bearers and a request for allocation of a third number of extra bearers in the target network.
US08798630B2 Femtocell base station
There is provided a method of operating a femtocell base station comprising, following a hand-in or reselection of the femtocell base station by a mobile device, determining a reason for the hand-in or reselection by the mobile device and adjusting a maximum permitted transmission power of the femtocell base station according to the determined reason. A femtocell base station for use in a communication network is also provided that comprises a processor configured to perform the above method following hand-in or reselection of the femtocell base station.
US08798627B2 Apparatus and method of handoff between wireless networks
A system and method are provided for supporting a multi-mode portable user terminal (UT) hard handoff procedure for a call from a wireless local area network (WLAN) to a cellular telephone network. The method includes: establishing a link between a UT and a serving WLAN; establishing a call via the established WLAN link; monitoring the WLAN link signal strength; simultaneously monitoring a serving cellular network; initiating a hard handoff to the cellular network, responsive to the monitored WLAN link signal strength falling below a minimum threshold; and, continuing the call via the cellular network. More specifically, the method initiates a call handoff to a Cellular Gateway (CGW) telephone number, responsive to the monitored WLAN link signal strength falling below the minimum threshold. Then, continuing the call via the cellular network includes continuing the call to the first telephone number via the CGW handoff telephone number.
US08798626B2 Handover control apparatus and operation method of handover control apparatus
A handover control apparatus and an operation method of a handover control apparatus are provided. The handover control apparatus includes an information identification unit which ascertains movement direction information of a terminal and location information of a plurality of neighboring RASs adjacent to the terminal and a scanning order determination unit which determines a scanning order for a handover with respect to the plurality of neighboring RASs using the movement direction information of the terminal and the location information of the plurality of neighboring RASs.
US08798624B2 Providing an indicator of presence of a first access network that is capable of interworking with a second access network
A mobile station receives a control message containing an indicator of presence of a first access network that operates according to a first protocol that is capable of interworking with a second access network that operates according to a second, different protocol. In response to receiving the indicator, the mobile station performs a procedure to establish a personality for the mobile station that specifies the configuration to allow the mobile station to use features of the first access network that enable interworking with the second access network.
US08798621B2 Method and apparatus for performing idle-mode operation using mobility information
A method and apparatus for performing a location update based on mobility information indicating a velocity of a Mobile Station (MS), and a method and apparatus for using a timer for a location update in a wireless access system are disclosed. The MS transmits a deregistration request message requesting initiation of idle mode to a first Base Station (BS), receives a deregistration command message including paging group information from the first BS, the paging group information including a primary paging group Identifier (ID) and primary paging offset of a primary paging group allocated to the MS, and a secondary paging group ID and secondary paging offset of a secondary paging group allocated to the MS, and activates a paging group location update timer after moving from the primary paging group to the secondary paging group. The deregistration request message includes first mobility information indicating a velocity of the MS and the paging group information is set based on the first mobility information.
US08798619B2 Method and apparatus for performing inter-system searches in idle mode
Techniques for performing searches by a user equipment (UE) are described. The UE may camp on a serving cell for a first radio access technology (RAT) (e.g., GSM) and may periodically perform searches for a second RAT (e.g., WCDMA). In an aspect, the UE may vary the rate of searches for the second RAT based on received signal levels for the first and second RATs. The UE may determine a difference between the received signal levels for the two RATs, compare the difference against at least one threshold, and select a search rate associated with a range within which the difference falls as the rate of searches for the second RAT. In another aspect, the UE may control certain aspects of searches (e.g., determine whether or not to perform searches or the rate of searches) for the second RAT by considering the frequency bands for the two RATs.
US08798617B1 Device enabled peer-to-peer location based routing to cellular network using an unlicensed radio spectrum for delivery of discovery messages
A mobile device for use in a peer-to-peer radio communication network coupled to a cellular radio communication network. The mobile device comprises a cellular radio transceiver, a short range radio transceiver configured for radio communication using unlicensed radio spectrum over short ranges, a non-transitory memory, a processor, and an application stored in the non-transitory memory. When executed by the processor, the application discovers a plurality of peer mobile devices based on communication with these peer mobile devices using the short range radio transceiver, identifies at least one base transceiver station to which at least one of the discovered peer mobile devices provides a peer-to-peer network link, and initiates a data link to a first base transceiver station via a first discovered peer mobile device in the peer-to-peer radio communication network based on a geographical route list.
US08798616B2 Flexible telematics system and method for providing telematics to a vehicle
A method for providing telematics to a vehicle includes the steps of providing a user-removable telematics component with a Global Positioning System (GPS) device, a data pump, and a short range wireless personal area network transceiver (e.g., Bluetooth transceiver), communicatively connecting the telematics component to an integrated communication device of the vehicle, the integrated communication device having a vehicle short range wireless personal area network transceiver operable to connect and communicate with at least one of at least one mobile communication device selected from a currently paired mobile communication device, a previously paired mobile communication device, and a pre-defined mobile communication device and a least one vehicle communications bus, receiving at the data pump a request from the at least one mobile communication device to perform a vehicle function, and performing the vehicle function with the telematics component.
US08798615B2 Method and apparatus for LTE radio link failure determination in DRX mode
A method and apparatus for detecting radio link failure (RLF) in a wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU) includes the WTRU performing a series of radio link measurements during a discontinuous reception (DRX) on-duration, comparing each of the series of radio link measurements to a threshold, and determining that the series of radio link measurements indicates an out-of-synch condition.
US08798614B2 Enhanced communication service for predicting and handling communication interruption
A method and apparatus for anticipating communication interruption. If, during an established call between two communication devices, a telecommunication device determines that a communication link to one of the devices will be interrupted, either temporarily or permanently, the device predicts the interruption in the communication link. The device may send a message, as pre-determined by at least one of the communication device, to the communication device of the predicted or pending call drop or interruption. After the interruption the previously established call is resumed. If a reconnection attempt is appropriate, then the device will attempt to reconnect to the dropped device. If a reconnection attempt is not appropriate, or if the reconnection attempt is unsuccessful, the non-dropped communication device is connected, as predetermined by either of the communication devices, to an appropriate connection, such as, to a voice mail. If the reconnection attempt is successful, the call between the two communication devices is re-established.
US08798608B2 System and method for controlling the use of a wireless device
Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide for enabling a user to select telephone numbers to which a wireless device may place calls and from which the wireless device may receive calls. One preferred embodiment of the present invention includes software for use on a general purpose computer allowing the user to input into the memory of a wireless device desired telephone numbers that may not be changed by the operator of the wireless device. The computer software also programs the wireless device to only place calls to, or receives calls from, the telephone numbers entered into the memory of the wireless device by the owner.
US08798607B1 Method and apparatus for synchronizing contact and calendar information between a handset and a computing device
Embodiments of the present invention provide for synchronizing contact and calendar information between a handset and a computer. For example, one method as disclosed herein allows the handset to import contact and calendar information from the computing device or to export the contact and the calendar information to the computing device. The computing device can be a PC or a new handset, for example. The importation and the exportation of the contact and calendar information includes a conversion process that occurs within the handset that transforms the contact and calendar information into a format suitable for the destination of the data.
US08798606B2 Method of enabling a wireless information device to automatically modify its behaviour
An end-user enters time sensitive information into an application; this, for example, may be an entry (e.g. ‘meeting’, or ‘lunch with Bob’) against specific times in an agenda or calendar application. Then, a different application on the device can utilize that information to modify the device behaviour appropriately. For example, say the ‘meeting’ in the calendar application is listed to last between 10 am and 11 am; then, during that hour, the telephone application in the device (that enables telephone functions of the device to be controlled) could automatically be set to a ‘silent’ profile so that the device does not ring on an incoming call, but instead only vibrates.
US08798599B2 Content identification and retrieval based on device component proximity
The invention provides proximity based content retrieval. A proximity element is provided for each of a plurality of components associated with a primary device. Identification information of each proximity element for an associated particular proximity space is communicated to a mobile wireless device. Upon the mobile wireless device being located within the associated particular proximity space of a particular proximity element, the mobile device receives associated identification information of the particular proximity element. The mobile device retrieves video content based on the associated identification information.
US08798597B2 Voicemail user interface methods and apparatus for mobile communication devices
A mobile device stores a first command set for voicemail functions of a first voicemail system and a second command set for voicemail functions of a second voicemail system. The mobile device receives a voicemail notification message associated with a voicemail message received at one of the first or the second voicemail systems. The mobile device detects an end-user selection of a visual object which is visually indicative of a voicemail function. In response to the end-user selection, the mobile device selects, from one of the first and the second command sets corresponding to the first or the second voicemail system at which the voicemail message was received, a command code corresponding to the voicemail function. The mobile device sends the selected command code to the first or the second voicemail system for invoking the voicemail function at the first or the second voicemail system.
US08798593B2 Location sharing and tracking using mobile phones or other wireless devices
A system for exchanging GPS or other position data between wireless devices for purposes of group activities, child location monitoring, work group coordination, dispatching of employees etc. Cell phones and other wireless devices with GPS receivers have loaded therein a Buddy Watch application and a TalkControl application. The Buddy Watch application communicates with the GPS receiver and other wireless devices operated by buddies registered in the users phone as part of buddy groups or individually. GPS position data and historical GPS position data can be exchanged between cell phones of buddies and instant buddies such as tow truck drivers via a buddy watch server. Emergency monitoring services can be set up with notifications to programmable individuals in case an individual does not respond. Positions and tracks can be displayed. TalkControl simplifies and automates the process of joining talk groups for walkie talkie services such as that provided by Nextel.
US08798588B2 Terminal and method for providing zone-based service outside of service zone
Disclosed is a terminal comprising a memory; a display; and a controller configured to: store log information for a service provided within a service zone in the memory; extract connection information corresponding to the service from the log information if an input requesting for the service is received outside the service zone; and display the connection information extracted from the log information on the display.
US08798585B2 System and method for enhanced communications via small data rate communication systems
A system and method for interacting with an interactive communication system include processing a profile associated with an interactive communication system; generating a user interface based on the processing of the profile to solicit a user response correlating to a response required by the interactive communication system; receiving the user response via the user interface; updating the user interface using the profile based on the user response; and sending a signal to the interactive communication system based on one or more user responses.
US08798580B2 Method and system for activating services on a wireless terminal
A method and apparatus for setting a wireless terminal for a service are disclosed. The wireless terminal automatically sends identification information to a server by dialing a predetermined number. Upon receiving the identification information, the server finds customer information corresponding to the identification information, and determines one or more services which are available on the wireless terminal. The server sends service information indicating the available services. The wireless terminal displays a list of the available services, and upon detecting a selection of an available service, sends a request to transfer an application program for setting up the selected service to the server. The wireless terminal executes the downloaded application program and displays guidance for setting up the available service. In response to user inputs based on the displayed guidance, the selected service is activated and set-up in the wireless terminal.
US08798578B2 Computer-implemented method, system, and computer program product for telecommunications rating
The present application relates to a computer-implemented method, system, and computer program product for telecommunications rating. The computer-implemented method for telecommunications rating may comprise: receiving an event from a source system for a service, wherein the event is generated by a user; transforming the event into a normalized event by determining event characteristics comprising determining a guiding point identifier to identify a guiding point associated with the user; by using the guiding point identifier, retrieving from the guiding point a list of products operable to guide the normalized event; rating the normalized event by calculating and aggregating costs according to the list of products; and posting the costs by updating at least one balance associated with the user, the guiding point, and/or the service.
US08798577B2 System and method for real time self-provisioning for a mobile communication device
A system and method of provisioning services for a mobile communication device are disclosed. A provisioning request including provisioning information and specifying a provisioning operation and a first communication service is prepared on the mobile communication device and sent to a provisioning system. Processing of the provisioning request is dependent upon whether or not a second communication service has been activated for the mobile communication device. If the mobile communication device is outside a coverage area of a wireless communication network when a provisioning request is prepared, the request is stored at the mobile communication device and sent to the provisioning system when the mobile communication device enters the coverage area. The provisioning system preferably manages service provisioning for multiple services, any of which may be hosted by different service providers.
US08798574B2 Information broadcasting system
Provided is an information broadcasting system for broadcasting information to subscribers of the system. The system includes an information receiving module that is configured to receive information from a monitoring authority, and an information transmitting module that is configured to receive the information from the information receiving module. The transmitting module is also configured to transmit coded data relating to the information to relay stations in at least one pre-selected geographical location to be relayed to subscribed communications devices in said at least one pre-selected geographical location. The coded data is configured to correspond with at least one information component stored on said communications devices such that on receipt of the coded data, the subscribed communications devices generate a notification corresponding to said at least one information component.
US08798563B2 Method and apparatus for decreasing power consumption of power amplifier
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the communication field and disclose a method and an apparatus for decreasing power consumption of a power amplifier, which minimize the power consumption of the power amplifier and extend the operation time of a mobile terminal. The method includes: obtaining a compensation power control value, where the compensation power control value is a power control value that is input to the power amplifier, and the minimum value of the input voltage is a minimum input voltage that can guarantee normal operation of the power amplifier when a preset power control value is input to the power amplifier; and inputting the minimum value of the input voltage and the compensation power control value to the power amplifier to control the power amplifier to output the preset power value of the antenna port.
US08798559B2 FIR/IIR filter predistorter for power amplifiers exhibiting short-term and/or long-term memory effects
The present disclosure generally relates to predistortion that compensates for non-linearity of a power amplifier as well as short-term and long-term memory effects of the power amplifier. In one embodiment, a transmitter includes a power amplifier that amplifies a power amplifier input signal to provide a power amplifier output signal, a predistortion sub-system that effects predistortion of the power amplifier input signal to compensate for non-linearity of the power amplifier and memory effects of the power amplifier, and a adaptation sub-system that adaptively configures the predistortion sub-system. The predistortion sub-system includes a memory-less predistortion component that compensates for the non-linearity of the power amplifier, a Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filter that compensates for short-term memory effects of the power amplifier, and an Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filter that compensates for long-term memory effects of the power amplifier.
US08798557B2 Forming method using pressing and injection-molding multifunction die, forming apparatus provided with pressing and injection-molding multifunction die, and metal-resin molded product formed by the method or the apparatus
A forming method using a pressing and injection-molding multifunction die for forming a metal-resin molded product by integrating metal with resin, includes: forming a resin-molded portion on the metal; and performing, after the resin-molded portion is formed on the metal, at least one of a pressing process and an injection-molding process on the metal in the state in which the metal-resin molded product is supported by only the resin.
US08798551B2 Method and system for spatial CSI feedback for coordinated multi-point processing (CoMP)
Spatial discrimination information is fed back at both the multi-antenna transmitter and the multi-antenna receiver connecting a UE and cells within a CoMP measurement set. With the UE feeding back the transmitter and the receiver side spatial discrimination information of each cell-to-UE connection, the composite spatial CSI over multiple sites/nodes can be determined. The approach is applicable for UEs with single or multiple receiving antennas, and the spatial discrimination information can be wideband long-term or subband short-term. In some embodiments, the spatial discrimination information at the receiver side is derived from the actual spatial channel while receiver implementation is taken into account. The spatial discrimination information at the transmitter and at the receiver can be fed back using codebooks for MIMO precoding.
US08798547B2 Noise padding techniques in heterogeneous networks
A method of wireless communication includes detecting uplink interference in a received uplink transmission of a user equipment. The received uplink transmission is padded with noise based on the detected interference and also based on a frequency domain partition, whether a subframe is protected, and/or a user equipment type.
US08798542B2 Information processing apparatus and method
The present disclosure is directed to an information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus may have a memory configured to store an identification information of an IC tag in association with a communication profile in a table. The information processing apparatus may also have a first communication unit configured to communicate with the IC tag using a first communication function. The information processing apparatus may also have a second communication unit configured to communicate with an external apparatus using a second communication function different from the first communication function. In addition, the information processing apparatus may have a controller, which may be configured to receive identification information from the IC tag through the first communication unit and to establish a connection with the external apparatus through the second communication unit based on the received identification information and the table stored in the memory.
US08798534B2 Mobile devices and methods employing haptics
A variety of haptic improvements useful in mobile devices are detailed. In one, a smartphone captures image data from a physical object, and discerns an object identifier from the imagery (e.g., using watermark, barcode, or fingerprint techniques). This identifier is sent to a remote data structure, which returns data defining a distinct haptic signature associated with that object. This smartphone then renders this haptic signal to the user. (Related embodiments identify the object using other means, such as location, or NFC chip.) In another arrangement, haptic feedback signals social network information about a product or place (e.g., the user's social network friends “Like” a particular brand of beverage). In yet another arrangement, the experience of watching a movie on a television screen is augmented by tactile effects issued by a tablet computer on the viewer's lap. In still another arrangement, commercial vendors bid for rights to employ different ones of a library of haptic signals on one or more users' smartphones, e.g., to alert such user(s) to their products/services. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
US08798532B2 Mobile wireless communications device establishing wireless communication links based upon near field communication and related methods
A wireless communications system may include first and second mobile wireless communications devices each comprising a respective input device, wireless transceiver, near-field communication (NFC) transceiver, and controller coupled to the input device, wireless transceiver and NFC transceiver. At least one of the controllers may be configured to establish an NFC communications link between the NFC transceivers when the first and second mobile wireless communications devices are in proximity, provide a temporary device identifier (ID) via the NFC communications link, request authorization to establish a wireless link between the wireless transceivers, provide a permanent device ID upon receiving the authorization and based upon the temporary device ID, and establish the wireless link between the wireless transceivers based upon the permanent device ID.
US08798531B2 System and portable device for transmitting identification signals
A system is provided with a portable device (31) for the transmission of signals to a second device, wherein the portable device (31) is wearable on the body of a user. The portable device (31) includes at least two electrodes (3, 4) and transmitter electronics (7) for applying an electrical signal between the electrodes, in such a way that the signal between the electrodes (3, 4) is able to be coupled into the body of the user and detected by at least one electrode of the second device. The transmitter electronics are an application specific integrated circuit and thus include both means for the production of electrical signals that are dependent upon specified data, as well as means for applying the electrical signal between the electrodes. The means for generating electrical signals that are dependent upon specified data are typically digital circuits for the encoding of specified data that are to be transmitted and for the modulation of the data that are so encoded.
US08798529B2 Method and apparatus for enhancing wireless communications to and from the inside of a building
An apparatus for enhancing wireless communications to and from a building is provided. A first antenna associated with the building for sending and receiving wireless signals to and from a wireless signal transponder located remote from the building and a signal path interface are provided. A first signal path is located between the first antenna and the signal path interface. The building includes a wiring system. At least a second signal path is located between the signal path interface and the wiring system. At least a portion of the wiring system is a second antenna for sending and receiving wireless signals to and from wireless devices located within the building.
US08798522B2 Simulation authoring tool
A computer program for creating a social simulation comprises code segments for enabling a user to create a plurality of social simulation stages, to create a map associating each of the plurality of stages with at least one other of the plurality of stages, and to assign a first score value to a first response and a second score value to a second response, wherein the first response and the second response are received from a student during at least one of the plurality of social simulation stages. The computer program further enables the user to assign a condition to a conditional stage of the plurality of simulation stages such that the student experiences the conditional stage only if a cumulative score corresponds to a target score, wherein the cumulative score includes the first score value and the second score value.
US08798516B2 Cleaning device, and image forming apparatus, process cartridge, and intermediate transfer unit each including the cleaning device
A cleaning device cleaning a moving surface of a cleaning target includes a laminate-structured blade member including multiple layers made of materials different in permanent set value, a holding member to hold a proximal end of the laminate-structured blade member, and a plurality of slits. An edge layer of the multiple layers is formed of a material higher in permanent set value than any other one of the materials of the multiple layers and includes a distal-end edge portion corresponding to a leading end ridgeline portion contacting the cleaning target. The plurality of slits are formed over an area of a surface of the edge layer ranging from the proximal end of the blade member where the holding member holds the blade member toward the distal-end edge portion and extend in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the surface of the cleaning target.
US08798515B2 Transported medium heating-liquid-barrier toner fixer
A system for fixing toner onto a receiver medium includes a reservoir containing heating liquid. A liquid-heating system warms the heating liquid to a temperature greater than a toner glass transition temperature. A rotatable liquid-blocking barrier has an inner surface and an outer surface. A media-transport system transports the receiver medium along a transport path. The transported receiver medium contacts or is entrained around the liquid-blocking member barrier so that the receiver medium is brought into contact with the outer surface of the liquid-blocking layer. The liquid-blocking barrier member and the reservoir are arranged so that an entrained portion of the receiver medium passes through the reservoir and is submerged in the warmed heating liquid, which contacts the inner surface. Heat is transferred from the warmed heating liquid to the toner, raising a temperature of the toner to a level above the toner glass transition temperature.
US08798514B2 Image fixing appratus for fixing a toner image on a recording material by heating the toner image while feeding the recording material through a nip
Image fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image through a nip, the apparatus including a cylindrical film; a nip forming member contacting an inner surface of the film; a pressing rotatable member forming the nip in cooperation with the nip forming member with the film interposed therebetween; and a regulating member for regulating movement of the film in a direction of a generatrix of the film, wherein the regulating member has an opposing surface opposing an edge of an end portion of the film with respect to the direction of the generatrix, and the opposing surface has a regulation region for regulating the edge of the film when the film is driven and moves in the generatrix direction, wherein the regulation region is narrower in a downstream side of a center portion of the nip than in an upstream side thereof with respect to a sheet feeding direction.
US08798509B2 Electrophotographic image forming apparatus and method utilizing misregistration prevention pattern
An image forming apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect a position where a toner image of a color component other than the color component of a misregistration prevention pattern and the toner image of the misregistration prevention pattern overlap each other on a surface of an image carrier; and a control unit configured to control to form the misregistration prevention pattern on the surface of the image carrier except for the overlapping position detected by the detection unit, and not to form the misregistration prevention pattern at the overlapping position on the surface of the image carrier.
US08798503B2 Belt unit configuration for an image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including an endless belt in a belt unit is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes an engaging portion that contacts the belt unit such that the surface of the belt is placed under tension while the belt unit is urged against the engaging portion.
US08798502B2 Image forming apparatus having toner cartridge including first and second containing units, one of which is configured to contain collected waste toner
An image forming apparatus includes a housing; a partition wall which is provided in the housing along a substantially vertical direction, the partition wall partitioning an inner space of the housing into a first space and a second space; developing units which are disposed in parallel along the substantially vertical direction in the first space, each of the developing units comprising a first reception opening and a return opening; and developer cartridges which correspond to the plurality of developing units, the developer cartridges being disposed in parallel along the substantially vertical direction in the second space, each of developer cartridges comprising a supply opening and a second reception opening. The first reception openings of the developing units communicate with the supply openings of respective ones of the developer cartridges, and the return openings of the developer units communicate with the second reception openings of respective ones of the developer cartridges.
US08798501B2 Cover member and cartridge
A cover member is mounted on a cartridge including a developer bearing member for providing a developer for developing an electrostatic latent image, and a grip portion to be gripped, and cover an exposed part of the developer bearing member exposed outside a frame member of the cartridge includes a portion configured to partition a space between the grip portion and the exposed part when the cover member is mounted on the cartridge.
US08798497B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a main assembly; a movable member movable, while supporting a cartridge including at least one of an image bearing member on which a latent image is to be formed and developing means for developing with a developer the latent image formed on the image bearing member, between an outside position in which the cartridge is located outside the main assembly and an inside position in which the cartridge is located inside the main assembly; and a cartridge displacing member for displacing the cartridge with respect to the movable member in a demounting direction in which the cartridge is demountable from the movable member in a state in which the movable member is located at the outside position.
US08798496B2 Electro-photographic type image forming device and photosensitive unit provided in the same
An image forming device includes a main casing and a photosensitive unit. The photosensitive unit has a first peripheral portion at a downstream side in an attaching direction provided with a first contact portion and has a second peripheral portion at an upstream side in the attaching direction provided with a second contact portion. The main casing includes a pair of side walls and first and second positioning members. The first and second positioning members span between the side walls. The first positioning member has a first positioning portion with which the first contact portion is contactable for positioning the photosensitive unit relative to the main casing. The second positioning member is positioned upstream of the first positioning member in the attaching direction. The second positioning member has a second positioning portion with which the second contact portion is contactable for positioning the photosensitive unit relative to the main casing.
US08798494B1 Filter on top output bin of a printer
A filter on top output bin of a printer is consisted of a box wherein a chamber inside of a box, filtering exit on the top of the box, sealing strips sealed along the edge of the filtering exit, filtering entrance under the box, anti-paper jam strips bored on two literal side of the filtering entrance, and an opening bored on a literal side of the box, a filtering net inside of the box is surrounded by frames, and electrostatic filter attached on the top of the filtering net. The filter can be placed on the top output bin on the printer, or be supported the box by having flexible holder adapted to a variety printer. The output papers won't be impacted into the filtering net by having anti-paper jam strips therefore filter can absorb toner emissions and odor so as to clear the air.
US08798488B2 Image forming apparatus including guide and attracting members
An image forming apparatus includes an attracting member and a guide member. The attracting member extends along a transport path. A print medium carries a developer image thereon and is transported on the guide member in the transport path after passing through a transfer section. The guide member is disposed downstream of the transfer section and is disposed at a position where when the print medium is transported in the transport path, the attracting member attracts the electrostatically toward the attracting member such that the print medium is spaced a distance from the attracting member by the guide member.
US08798486B2 Image forming apparatus, non-transitory computer readable medium and image forming method
Provided is an image forming apparatus including a container which contains plural sheets, an image forming unit which forms an image on each of the sheets supplied from the container, a detecting unit which detects an image density of the image formed on the sheets by the image forming unit, a blowing unit which blows air to the sheet contained in the container, and a blowing control unit which controls the blowing unit based on the image density detected by the detecting unit.
US08798479B2 Controlling brightness of light sources used for data transmission
In a first embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided comprising: receiving a selection of a desired brightness level of a light source; receiving a piece of data to be transmitted via visible light communication using the light source; selecting a duty cycle, described by an encoding scheme, based on the desired brightness level; encoding the data using the encoding scheme, wherein the encoding includes identifying a code corresponding to both the piece of data and the selected duty cycle; and transmitting the identified code via visible light communication using the light source.
US08798478B2 Low-cost WDM source with an incoherent light injected fabry-perot laser diode
The present invention discloses a low-cost light source for optical transmission systems and optical networks based on wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) technology. A light source in accordance with the present invention is implemented by externally injecting a narrow-band incoherent light into a Fabry-Perot laser diode (F-P LD). After injection of narrow-band incoherent light, the output of F-P LD becomes wavelength-selective rather than multi-mode and the output wavelength of F-P LD coincide with the peak wavelength of the injected incoherent light.Multi-channel WDM light sources according to the present invention can be implemented using a single broadband incoherent light source and plurality of F-P LDs. An optical transmission system for upstream signal transmission in an passive optical network using the light source according the present invention is also disclosed.
US08798473B2 Optical signal level adjustment system, information analysis/control signal generation apparatus in the same system, and information analysis/control signal generation method
The present invention enables to prevent transmission characteristics from deteriorating due to the nonlinear effect in the transmission path caused by an increase in the channel power when a cable disconnection occurs. An optical signal level adjustment method comprises the steps of: obtaining, based on one or more optical signal disconnections which are detected per wavelength block and each of which is detected by a signal disconnection detection section included in each of terminal station devices, a location at which the optical signal disconnection has occurred, a combination of a terminal station device and a wavelength block, and a dummy light adjustment amount, said combination being required to be subjected to adjustment of transmission dummy light, said combination and said dummy light adjustment amount corresponding to the location; and transmitting, to the terminal station device which is required to be subjected to adjustment of the transmission dummy light, a control signal for adjusting the intensity of the dummy light in the obtained wavelength block by the dummy light adjustment amount.
US08798472B2 Agile light source provisioning for information and communications technology systems
A chassis includes a plurality of continuous wave lasers each operable to emit a continuous wave optical beam at the same power as the other lasers, and a plurality of optical couplers operable to input the continuous wave optical beams of the same power and output a plurality of continuous wave optical beams at different powers. The chassis further includes a plurality of optical assemblies operable to modulate the continuous wave optical beams of different powers into a plurality of modulated optical signals at different powers and couple the modulated optical signals onto different length optical mediums so that lower power ones of the modulated optical signals are coupled to shorter ones of the optical mediums and higher power ones of the modulated optical signals are coupled to longer ones of the optical mediums.
US08798469B2 Optical network element and optical transmission system
The invention relates to an optical network element (100; 200), particularly an optical line terminal, OLT, for transmitting (540) and receiving (560) signals wire an optical network that comprises at least one optical fiber link (500) and at least one further optical network element (300; 400). The optical network element (100; 200) provides a primary optical pumping mean (166; 266) for emitting optical pump power to set at least one optical fiber link (500). The emitted optical pump power forms at least one gain medium outside the optical network element (100; 200) to provide optical pump power to the network for amplifying the singles to receive (560) so that outside of the domain of the optical network element (100) no electrical energy supply is needed.
US08798465B2 Optical path switching signal transmission/reception apparatus and corresponding method
An optical path switching type optical signal transmission/reception apparatus includes a one-to-seven compatible optically controlled optical path switching apparatus 100 that is connected to a host optical signal transmission/reception apparatus 1 via an optical fiber, a total of seven subordinate optical communication adapters 110 connected via optical fibers, user side devices 160 connected to respective subordinate optical communication adapters via an electric circuit, an optical transmission/reception control circuit provided in each of the total of seven subordinate user side optical communication adapters 110, and including an uplink optical signal transmission mechanism, a downlink optical signal reception mechanism, a control light source that can generate control light to drive the optical path switching apparatus 100, in which a wavelength of the generated control light is different from a wavelength of signal light, and an optical communication oriented transmission/reception mechanism using the wavelength of the control light source, optical paths 1211 to 1216 dedicated to the control light to connect the optical path switching apparatus 100 to the seven user side optical communication adapters 110, and a reflection-type star coupler.
US08798463B2 Optical channel monitor and optical transmission apparatus
The optical channel monitor includes a polarization adjuster, a wavelength divider, a polarization divider, a first intensity detector, and a second intensity detector. The polarization adjuster adjusts the plane of polarization of a first optical signal to a first direction and the plane of polarization of a second optical signal to a second direction. The wavelength divider divides each of the optical signals multiplexed on the first and second optical signals, in accordance with the wavelengths. The polarization divider divides each of the divided optical signals, based on the direction of the plane of polarization. The first intensity detector receives an optical signal whose direction of the plane of polarization is the first direction among the divided optical signals. The second intensity detector receives an optical signal whose direction of the plane of polarization is the second direction.
US08798462B2 Optical packet switching system
An optical packet switching system includes an optical packet generator for generating an optical packet signal, an optical packet switching unit, provided with an optical switch, for switching the route of an inputted optical packet signal by controlling on/off of the optical switch, and an optical signal-to-noise ratio measuring unit for measuring the optical signal-to-noise ratio of the optical packet signal outputted from the optical packet switching unit. When switching the route of the optical packet signal, the optical packet switching unit outputs an optical packet signal with optical noise by keeping the optical switch on longer than the time width of the packet signal. The optical signal-to-noise ratio measuring unit measures the optical signal power and the optical noise power, respectively, in the optical packet signal with optical noise and measures the optical signal-to-noise ratio by calculating the ratio between the optical signal power and the optical noise power.
US08798460B2 Optical access system, optical network unit, and optical line terminal
It is provided an optical access system, comprising an optical line terminal which is coupled to another network and optical network units which are coupled to the optical line terminal and to a plurality of user terminals. Each of the optical network units obtains a capacity of a buffer included in the each of the optical network unit and a link speed between the each of the optical network units and one of the plurality of user terminals that is coupled to the each of the optical network units; determines a sleep time based on the obtained capacity and the obtained link speed in a case where no communication frames are transmitted for a given period of time from any one of the plurality of user terminals and the optical line terminal; and sets in a sleep state for the determined sleep time.
US08798457B2 Protocols for out-of-band communication
Methods for managing an optical network through out-of-band communication between optical transceiver modules in a heterogeneous network fabric are disclosed. The disclosed methods include methods for performing fabric discovery, communicating error messages, detecting intrusion. Methods are also disclosed for communicating between transceivers of differing protocol versions and memory capacity.
US08798455B2 Secure fiber optic communication systems and methods
The present disclosure relates to fiber optic networks carrying sensitive information such as classified government communications, sensitive financial information, proprietary corporate information, and associated systems and methods for secure transmission where fiber tampering is easily detected. The present invention provides improved security systems and methods for fiber optic communication links. Specifically, a hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber is deployed as a transmission medium. A secure fiber optic communication link is established over the hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber with a monitoring mechanism. The monitoring mechanism is configured to detect large losses and large spectral variability each indicative of loss introduced by malicious intrusion attempts. Further, the monitoring mechanism allows easy differentiation of intrusion relative to normal system variations thereby reducing false positives and missed intrusions.
US08798448B2 Heating system and method for microfluidic and micromechanical applications
An integrated semiconductor heating assembly includes a semiconductor substrate, a chamber formed therein, and an exit port in fluid communication with the chamber, allowing fluid to exit the chamber in response to heating the chamber. The integrated heating assembly includes a first heating element adjacent the chamber, which can generate heat above a selected threshold and bias fluid in the chamber toward the exit port. A second heating element is positioned adjacent the exit port to generate heat above a selected threshold, facilitating movement of the fluid through the exit port away from the chamber. Addition of the second heating element reduces the amount of heat emitted per heating element and minimizes thickness of a heat absorption material toward an open end of the exit port. Since such material is expensive, this reduces the manufacturing cost and retail price of the assembly while improving efficiency and longevity thereof.
US08798447B2 Recording medium, reproducing apparatus, and reproducing method
In a recording medium on which is recorded a multiplexed stream (231) including a plurality of first packets (V_main) constituting a first I-picture in a first video stream and a plurality of second packets (V_sub) constituting a second I-picture in a second video stream, information for identifying the first I-picture and information for identifying the second I-picture are recorded on the medium. A recording medium can thereby be obtained that enables the rapid detection, from a small amount of information, of a particular picture included in a stream such as a TS in which multiple content streams are multiplexed.
US08798446B2 Play back device with adaptive trick play function
The present invention relates to a method for play back a digitized video streams at different fast forward speed levels, wherein at least one speed level is adapted so that a remaining portion of the stream is played back within a predefined time interval, and to a playback device for playing back a digitized video streams at different speed levels.
US08798443B2 System and method of recording programs of favorite channels
A method includes automatically recording a plurality of programs associated with a favorite channel including creating a recording entry for at least one program of the plurality of programs. The recording entry includes information indicating a starting position of a recording of the at least one program and a storage location corresponding to the recording. The method includes, in response to receiving a request to display a particular program, sending a recording of the particular program to a device for presentation. The particular program is automatically presented at the starting position indicated by a particular recording entry that corresponds to the particular program.
US08798442B2 System, method and computer program product for updating advertising data for recorded video data
A method is disclosed including but not limited to, receiving a video data stream at a multimedia processor end user device; storing the video data stream at a digital video recorder; monitoring a playback of the stored video data stream at the multimedia processor end user device; detecting an advertising trigger in the playback of the video data stream at the multimedia processor end user device; logging a time for the trigger detected in the video data stream in a trigger log at the multimedia processor end user device; sending the trigger log including data to an advertising server so that the advertising verification system can correlate the time the trigger occurred with an advertising schedule; receiving a replacement advertising data stream from the advertising server based on the advertising trigger; and receiving a replacement advertising data stream during the playback of the video data.
US08798439B2 Method and apparatus for continuously reproducing moving picture files
A method and apparatus successively reproduce moving picture files stored in a digital image processing apparatus. The digital image processing apparatus includes a moving picture detector that detects one or more moving picture files from a storage unit which stores one or more kinds of files, a frame classifier that classifies the one or more detected moving picture files based on index frames of the moving picture files, and a successive reproducing unit that reproduces the classified moving picture files successively.
US08798433B2 Systems and methods for recording overlapping media content during scheduling conflicts
In many aspects, systems and methods for recording overlapping media content using interactive media guidance applications are provided. The systems and methods for recording overlapping media content generally relate to cropping overlapping portions of the media content thereby allowing a user to enjoy most of the recording while only forgoing a portion of the beginning or the end of a program.
US08798432B2 Fabrication of a laminated optical wedge
Embodiments are disclosed that relate to fabrication of a laminated optical wedge. One embodiment provides a method comprising inserting a wedge blank into a vacuum molding tool, applying a vacuum to the vacuum molding tool, and removing a layer from a top surface of the wedge blank to expose a machined surface of the wedge blank. The method further comprises laminating a finish piece to the machined surface via an adhesive, wherein the finish piece comprises a smoother surface than the machined surface, and curing the adhesive to form a finished optical wedge. The method further comprises removing the finished optical wedge from the vacuum molding tool.
US08798427B2 Fiber optic terminal assembly
There is provided fiber drop terminal (“FDT”) assemblies for providing selective connections between optical fibers of distribution cables and optical fibers of drop cables, such as in multiple dwelling units. The FDT assemblies include a base and a cover that define a tongue and groove that selectively engage to seal the base and cover. The FDT assemblies also include a mounting plate for mounting of the base and cover, as well as a mounting plate extension for mounting of a skirt. The skirt provides slack storage for drop cables exiting the FDT. The components of the FDT assembly are selectively interlockable to prevent unauthorized access to the interior cavity of the base and cover and to the slack storage area of the skirt.
US08798424B2 Single-mode optical fiber
A single-mode optical fiber includes a central core surrounded by an outer optical cladding. The optical fiber includes an inner depressed cladding, a ring, and an outer depressed cladding positioned between the central core and the outer optical cladding. The central core typically has a refractive-index difference (Dn1) with the outer optical cladding of between about −0.5×10−3 and 0.5×10−3. The ring typically has an inner radius (rring1) of between about 21 microns and 35 microns and a refractive-index difference with the outer optical cladding (Dnring) of between about −0.5×10−3 and 0.5×10−3. The outer depressed cladding typically has a volume (Vout) of between about 15 μm2 and 30 μm2. The ratio of the volume of the central core over the width of the ring (Vcore/wring) is typically between about 0.12 micron and 0.2 micron.
US08798423B2 Single-mode optical fiber
A single-mode optical fiber includes a central core surrounded by an outer cladding. The optical fiber includes at least first and second depressed claddings positioned between the central core and the outer cladding. The central core typically has a radius of between about 3.5 microns and 5.5 microns and a refractive-index difference with the outer cladding of between about −1×10−3 and 3×10−3. The first depressed cladding typically has an outer radius of between about 9 microns and 15 microns and a refractive-index difference with the outer cladding of between about −5.5×10−3 and −2.5×10−3. The second depressed cladding typically has an outer radius of between about 38 microns and 42 microns and a refractive-index difference with the first depressed cladding of between about −0.5×10−3 and 0.5×10−3.
US08798419B2 Conductive elements in cable jackets and separators
A cable, of the twisted pair or fiber optic type, includes conductors for permitting patch cord tracing between ports. In the case of a twisted pair cable, the conductors may be embedded within, or attached to a surface of, a separator. Alternatively, in the case of a twisted pair cable, the conductors may be embedded within, or attached to a surface of, a jacket. In the case of a fiber optic cable, the conductors may be located amongst strength members. Alternatively, in the case of a fiber optic cable, the conductors may be embedded within, or attached to a surface of, a jacket.
US08798416B2 Low shrink telecommunications cable and methods for manufacturing the same
The present disclosure relates to a telecommunications cable having a layer constructed to resist post-extrusion shrinkage. The layer includes a plurality of discrete shrinkage-reduction members embedded within a base material. The shrinkage-reduction members can be made of a liquid crystal polymer. The disclosure also relates to a method for manufacturing telecommunications cables having layers adapted to resist post-extrusion shrinkage.
US08798413B2 Optical waveguide device and optical hybrid circuit
The optical waveguide device includes a first optical coupler which branches input light and outputs first signal light and second signal light, an optical phase shifter including a first and a second optical waveguides of optical path lengths different from each other and giving a phase difference between the first signal light and the second signal light, and the second optical coupler coupling the first signal light outputted from the first optical waveguide and the second signal light outputted from the second optical waveguide. The first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide have the same waveguide width and have optical waveguides bent with substantially the same radius of curvature.
US08798409B2 Optical transmitter with flip-chip mounted laser or integrated arrayed waveguide grating wavelenth division multiplexer
An optical communication system comprising first and second planar substrates and an alignment assembly. The first substrate of a semiconductor material, is located on a planar surface of a sub-mount and having a planar first edge. The second substrate of a different second material, is located on said planar surface of said sub-mount and having a planar second edge. The alignment assembly is located on said sub-mount, said alignment assembly including rigid standoff structures configured to fixedly vertically align said first and second edges above said sub-mount such that each optical output of one of said lasers is vertically aligned with the end of one of said light-guiding structures.
US08798404B2 Making available to a user machine editable text extracted from an image
A system includes an imaging device and an acquisition layer. The imaging device acquires an image. The acquisition layer is logically located between a source manager and the imaging device, the source manager being called by an application when a user of the system requests to acquire the image. The acquisition layer includes imaging acquisition logic that receives the image from the imaging device and performs optical character recognition (OCR) that extracts machine editable text from the image. The acquisition layer forwards the image to the application and makes the machine editable text available to the user.
US08798402B2 Using near-duplicate video frames to analyze, classify, track, and visualize evolution and fitness of videos
A system and method for analyzing video include segmenting video stored in computer readable storage media into keyframes. Near-duplicate keyframes are represented as a sequence of indices. The near-duplicate keyframes are rendered in a graphical representation to determine relationships between video content.
US08798401B1 Image sharing with facial recognition models
An image sharing server provides several ways of sharing images between users. After a user contributes images to the image sharing server, the user can interact with the image sharing server to identify and tag people in the images, share the images with other users, and organize the images into memory boxes. Memory boxes can also be shared between users, and multiple users can be granted the ability to add images to a shared memory box. In addition, the image sharing server can prompt a user to share his or her images with other users who contributed related images. The image sharing server also performs facial recognition to automatically identify people in images, and facial recognition models can be shared between users.
US08798397B2 System and method for converting source image data to tile data
System and method for converting source image data to tile data including (a) selecting a source image set; (b) computing a scaling value for the source image set; (c) establishing tile set geographic bounds of a tile set that is created based on the scaling value; (d) converting the tile set geographic bounds to discrete tile bounds; (e) for each source image (i) determining source image geographic bounds; (ii) if there is an intersection between the source image geographic bounds and the tile set geographic bounds, (1) extracting image data from the source image at the intersection; (2) scaling the image data based on a pre-selected scale; (3) storing the scaled image data to a tile storage mechanism; and (f) repeating steps (a) through (e) for each of the source image sets.
US08798396B2 Apparatus and method of segmenting an image in an image coding and/or decoding system
An apparatus usable in an image encoding and/or decoding system includes a segmentation unit to convert a first image of a first resolution into a second image of a second resolution, to segment the second image of the second resolution with one or more blocks of a binary mask layer having a foreground and a background, and to convert the segmented second image into a third image of a third resolution as a segmented image.
US08798389B2 Image processing method, image processing apparatus, and image pickup apparatus for correcting degradation component of image
An image processing method includes the steps of obtaining an image generated by an image pickup system, and performing correction processing for the image by utilizing an image restoration filter generated or selected based on an optical transfer function of the image pickup system. The image restoration filter is a filter configured to reduce a phase degradation component of the image.
US08798388B2 Digital image combining to produce optical effects
An apparatus is described. The apparatus includes a digital camera that is capable of shooting at least two images at different effective lens focal lengths. The camera is also capable of high pass filtering (HP) said at least two images, estimating respective spectral densities (SD) of said at least two filtered images and then low pass filtering (LP) the respective estimates of said at least two filtered images prior to combining said at least two images into a single image to produce one or more optical effects.
US08798385B2 Suppressing interference in imaging systems
According to one embodiment, an imaging system includes an interface, a plurality of filters, and a processor. The interface receives data blocks. The processor associates each data block with a processing step list that represents a filter chain that has at least a subset of the filters coupled in sequence. The processor filters each data block according to the filter chain represented by the associated processing step list.
US08798382B2 System and method for image storage and analysis
An image storage and retrieval system is provided with means for matching and retrieving images based on image content, rather than image file names. In one embodiment, an image storing tool is configured to store an image in a relational database table. The image storing tool converts a compressed image back to the original image with the actual pixel values block-by-block until the entire image line as derived by the width has been decoded for one component or all interleaved components. In another embodiment, an image matching tool is configured to retrieve a stored image in a relational database table and return data values associated with the image. The image matching tool matches image content of an input image against each retrieved image in the relational database table on a line-by-line basis from top to bottom within the same image number and component number.
US08798377B2 Efficient scale-space extraction and description of interest points
Method, system and computer program for efficiently extracting and describing scale-space interest points. It is designed towards low overall computational complexity. On one hand, the data acquired during extraction in the description phase is intensively re-used. On the other hand, an algorithmic optimization of the description that dramatically speeds up the process, is proposed.First, the image is filtered with triangle kernel at different scales. The triangle filtered images are reused for extraction of the keypoints dominant orientation and the computation of the DAISY-like descriptor.
US08798376B2 Algorithm for detecting contour points in an image
A method for detecting contour points of an object in an image obtained by a video camera comprising the steps of: (i) selecting a scan line of the image; (ii) identifying minimum intensity differences called transitions between pixels of the selected scan line; (iii) identifying plateaus at both ends of the identified transitions; (iv) determining contour points of the object between the identified plateaus; (v) generating a descriptor of the contour in one dimension; and (vi) beginning again with step (i) by selecting another scan line of the image according to a predefined order.
US08798374B2 Automated facial action coding system
An automatic facial action coding system and method can include processing an image to identify a face in the image, to detect and align one or more facial features shown in the image, and to define one or more windows on the image. One or more distributions of pixels and color intensities can be quantified in each of the one or more windows to derive one or more two-dimensional intensity distributions of one or more colors within the window. The one or more two-dimensional intensity distributions can be processed to select image features appearing in the one or more windows and to classify one or more predefined facial actions on the face in the image. A facial action code score that includes a value indicating a relative amount of the predefined facial action occurring in the face in the image can be determined for the face in the image for each of the one or more predefined facial actions.
US08798373B2 Image restoration system, image restoration method, and image restoration program
A defect pixel value estimation means estimates a pixel value which each pixel in a defect region as a region to be restored in an image may take, based on the pixel value of pixels in a non-defect region as a region in the image not including the defect region. A patch selection means selects a pair of patches in which a defect patch and a reference patch are most similar to each other from pairs of patches including the defect patch as the image of a region including the defect region and the reference patch as the image of a region not including the defect region. The patch selection means selects a pair of patches in which the image of the defect patch and the image of the reference patch are most similar to each other based on a relationship between the pixel value of the defect region estimated in the defect patch and the pixel value of the corresponding reference patch. An image restoration means restores the defect patch based on the reference patch in the selected pair of patches.
US08798368B2 Image capture and identification system and process
A digital image of the object is captured and the object is recognized from plurality of objects in a database. An information address corresponding to the object is then used to access information and initiate communication pertinent to the object.
US08798367B2 Optical imager and method for correlating a medication package with a patient
A system is provided to correlate a medication package with a prescribed medication for a patient. The medication package accommodates an intended patient medication. The system includes an optical imager adapted to read an encoded symbol character comprising encoded patient information and further adapted to image an attribute of the medication package. The optical imager comprises a two-dimensional image sensor array and an imaging lens for focusing an image on the two-dimensional image sensor array. The two-dimensional image sensor array has a plurality of pixels formed in a plurality of rows and columns of pixels. The optical imager further includes a digital link to transmit a segment of data. The segment of data includes the patient information encoded in the encoded symbol character and the attribute of the medication package. The system further includes a host computer connected to the digital link to receive the segment of data from the optical imager, and a database coupled to the host computer via a digital connection. The database correlates the segment of data to (a) a patient record, and (b) a medication package attribute library.
US08798366B1 Electronic book pagination
An electronic book can be paginated by reference to a print version of the same book. Pages of the print version are scanned to obtain text strings and page labels corresponding to each of the pages. The text strings are then compared to the electronic book to find the best matching positions within the electronic book. The matching positions within the electronic book are then associated with the page numbers of the pages from which the matching text strings were obtained. Autocorrelation can be used to determine matching positions.
US08798364B2 Image processing system and image processing method
An image processing apparatus and a method thereof are provided. A plurality of target blur radii are obtained by calculating blur radiuses corresponding to the out of focus transform function between a deblurred datum color channel image and the other color channel images. A plurality of deblurred color channel images are obtained by respectively performing deblurring operations on the original channel images according to the target blur radii that are corresponding to the original channel images. The deblurred datum color channel image and the deblurred color channel images are combined to obtain a blur calibrated image. Accordingly, the image out of focus problem induced by dispersion can be solved.
US08798363B2 Extraction of image feature data from images
An apparatus and method for obtaining image feature data of an image are disclosed herein. A color histogram of the image is extracted from the image, the extraction of the color histogram including performing one-dimensional sampling of pixels comprising the image in each of a first dimension of a color space, a second dimension of the color space, and a third dimension of the color space. An edge map corresponding to the image is analyzed to detect a pattern included in the image. In response to a confidence level of the pattern detection being below a pre-defined threshold, extracting from the image an orientation histogram of the image. And identify a dominant color of the image.
US08798362B2 Clothing search in images
Methods, systems, and computer readable media with executable instructions, and/or logic are provided for clothing search in images. An example method of clothing search in images can include characterizing clothing within a plurality of reference images using a processor, and characterizing clothing within a query image using a processor. A number of the plurality of reference images having clothing with similar color features as clothing of the query image is identified using a processor. A subset of the identified number of the plurality of reference images having clothing with predefined non-color attributes as clothing of the query image are selected using a processor.
US08798359B2 Systems and methods for image sharpening
A method of generating an image comprises accessing a dataset gathered from a sensor system and generating, from the dataset, a first image including a plurality of image elements. The method further includes generating a training image by combining the dataset with known sensor responses and generating a weighting factor by correcting the training image in view of the known sensor responses. The method further includes applying the weighting factor to one of the plurality of image elements to form a weighted image element.
US08798358B2 Apparatus and method for disparity map generation
A method and system for generating a disparity map. The method comprises the steps of generating a first disparity map based upon a first image and a second image acquired at a first time, acquiring at least a third image and a fourth image at a second time, and determining one or more portions comprising a difference between one of the first and second images and a corresponding one of the third and fourth images. A disparity map update is generated for the one or more determined portions, and a disparity map is generated based upon the third image and the fourth image by combining the disparity map update and the first disparity map.
US08798357B2 Image-based localization
Image-based localization technique embodiments are presented which provide a real-time approach for image-based video camera localization within large scenes that have been reconstructed offline using structure from motion or similar techniques. From monocular video, a precise 3D position and 3D orientation of the camera can be estimated on a frame by frame basis using only visual features.
US08798356B2 Apparatus and method for encoding and decoding multi-view image
An apparatus and method for encoding and decoding a multi-view image including a stereoscopic image are provided. The apparatus for encoding a multi-view image includes a base layer encoding unit that encodes a base layer image to generate a base layer bit stream, a view-based conversion unit that performs view-based conversion of the base layer image to generate a view-converted base layer image, a subtractor obtaining a residual between a enhancement layer image and the view-converted base layer image, and an enhancement layer encoding unit that encodes the obtained residual to generate an enhancement layer bit stream.
US08798353B2 Apparatus and method for two-view tomosynthesis imaging
The invention is a directed to an apparatus for tomosynthesis imaging, wherein the apparatus comprises an x-ray source configured to irradiate an object with a beam of x-rays and a detector configured to detect the x-ray beam that passes through the object. The apparatus further comprises a computer programmed to perform a scan, wherein the scan comprises a translation of at least one of the x-ray source and the detector along a path, an acquisition of a tomosynthesis image dataset, and a reconstruction of one or more three-dimensional (3D) volumes adapted to one or more predetermined view directions, wherein at least one of the one or more predetermined view directions is aligned outside of a central view direction.
US08798351B2 System and method for improved real-time cine imaging
A cine imaging filter and method of use that includes a denoising image-filter based on the Karhunen-Loeve transform along the temporal direction to take advantage of the high temporal correlation among images. The cine imaging filter may further include the application of a simple formula describing the quantitative noise reduction capabilities of the KLT filter as a function of eigenimage cutoff. Additionally, the filter may validate its accuracy in numerical simulation and in in-vivo real time cine images. Furthermore, exemplary embodiments of the cine imaging filter may employ a technique to automatically select the optimal eigenimage cutoff to maximize noise reduction with minimal effect on image information.
US08798347B2 System and method for image-based respiratory motion compensation for fluoroscopic coronary roadmapping
A method for compensating respiratory motion in coronary fluoroscopic images includes finding a set of transformation parameters of a parametric motion model that maximize an objective function that is a weighted normalized cross correlation function of a reference image acquired at a first time that is warped by the parametric motion model and a first incoming image acquired at a second time subsequent to the first time. The weights are calculated as a ratio of a covariance of the gradients of the reference image and the gradients of the first incoming image with respect to a root of a product of a variance of the gradients of the reference image and the variance of the gradients of the first incoming image. The parametric motion model transforms the reference image to match the first incoming image.
US08798342B2 Method and system for ultrasound imaging with cross-plane images
An method and system for ultrasound imaging includes accessing a first cross-plane image of a first plane. The method and system includes identifying a first region including a structure in the first cross-plane image. The method and system includes accessing a second cross-plane image of a second plane, where the second plane intersects the first plane. The method and system includes identifying a second region including the structure in the second cross-plane image. The method and system includes automatically configuring acquisition parameters based on at least one of the first region and the second region. The method and system includes implementing the acquisition parameters to acquire data of the structure. The method and system includes generating an image from the data and displaying the image.
US08798340B2 Dipole matched filter for MRI
A method includes receiving k-space data corresponding to magnetic resonance data for a subject and selecting a template for analysis. In addition, the method includes generating an image using the k-space data and using the template.
US08798336B2 Facial recognition
An example method includes receiving a first image and a second image of a face of a user, where one or both images have been granted a match by facial recognition. The method further includes detecting a liveness gesture based on at least one of a yaw angle of the second image relative to the first image and a pitch angle of the second image relative to the first image, where the yaw angle corresponds to a transition along a horizontal axis, and where the pitch angle corresponds to a transition along a vertical axis. The method further includes generating a liveness score based on a yaw angle magnitude and/or a pitch angle magnitude, comparing the liveness score to a threshold value, and determining, based on the comparison, whether to deny authentication to the user with respect to accessing one or more functionalities controlled by the computing device.
US08798334B2 Methods for performing biometric recognition of a human eye and corroboration of same
A method of biometric recognition is provided. Multiple images of the face or other non-iris image and iris of an individual are acquired. If the multiple images are determined to form an expected sequence of images, the face and iris images are associated together. A single camera preferably acquires both the iris and face images by changing at least one of the zoom, position, or dynamic range of the camera. The dynamic range can be adjusted by at least one of adjusting the gain settings of the camera, adjusting the exposure time, and/or adjusting the illuminator brightness. The expected sequence determination can be made by determining if the accumulated motion vectors of the multiple images is consistent with an expected set of motion vectors and/or ensuring that the iris remains in the field of view of all of the multiple images.
US08798330B2 Methods for performing biometric recognition of a human eye and corroboration of same
A method of biometric recognition is provided. Multiple images of the face or other non-iris image and iris of an individual are acquired. If the multiple images are determined to form an expected sequence of images, the face and iris images are associated together. A single camera preferably acquires both the iris and face images by changing at least one of the zoom, position, or dynamic range of the camera. The dynamic range can be adjusted by at least one of adjusting the gain settings of the camera, adjusting the exposure time, and/or adjusting the illuminator brightness. The expected sequence determination can be made by determining if the accumulated motion vectors of the multiple images is consistent with an expected set of motion vectors and/or ensuring that the iris remains in the field of view of all of the multiple images.
US08798329B2 Authentication apparatus, authentication method, registration apparatus and registration method
An authentication apparatus includes: a vein data extracting unit that extracts vein data representing veins, from an image including the veins existing in a finger; an extracting unit that extracts position data representing the position which the contour of the finger has at an intermediate stage of extracting the vein data; and a determining unit that determines a collation candidate to be collated with the vein data, from the similarity between the position data and data associated with vein data to be registered.
US08798325B2 Efficient and fault tolerant license plate matching method
A method and system for identifying a matching license plate. A pair of full or partial plate numbers to be matched can be received. The pair includes a target plate made up of a first set of characters and a suspect plate made up of a second set of characters. A set of number-order preserved sub-plates can be generated by adding and subtracting a single character from the second set of characters. Utilizing a site specific license plate matching table (P-table), a matching score between each of the sub-plates and the target plate may be calculated as part of a string correlation calculation. A maximum value for each of the sub-plate matching scores can then be calculated. The maximum value can be normalized to a 0˜100 scale and used as a final matching score. When the final matching score exceeds a predetermined threshold, an alert may be issued.
US08798324B2 Vehicle identification based on an image
A machine may be configured as a vehicle identification machine to identify a model of a vehicle based on an image that depicts a dashboard of the vehicle. As configured, the machine may receive an image of the dashboard, where the image depicts a layout of instrumentation within the dashboard. The machine may identify the layout of instrumentation by processing the image. For example, the machine may process the image by determining a position of an instrument within the layout of instrumentation, determining an outline of instrument, or both. The machine may access a data record that correlates a model of the vehicle with the identified layout of instrumentation and, based on the data record, identify the model of the vehicle. The machine may then provide a notification that references the vehicle, references the identified model of the vehicle, or references both.
US08798320B2 Image processing
Apparatus and method for processing a sequence of images of a scene, the method including: tracking a region of interest in the sequence of images (e.g. using a Self Adaptive Discriminant filter); selecting a particular image in the sequence; selecting a set of images from the sequence, the set having one or more images that precede the particular image in the sequence of images; for each pixel in the region of interest in the particular image, determining a value for a parameter; for each pixel in the region of interest of each image in the set of images, determining a value for the parameters; and comparing a function of the determined values for the region of interest in the particular image to a further function of the determined values for the regions of interest in the images in the set of images.
US08798317B2 Adjusting print format in electronic device
A print format adjustment system includes a receiving module, a visual condition determination module, a print format determination module, and a print control module. The receiving module receives content for printing in a first print format. The visual condition determination module establishes the sharpness of vision of a viewer in front of a display, at a predetermined view distance. The print format determination module determines a second print format based on both the first print format and the visual condition of the viewer. The print control module prints the content in the second print format.
US08798314B2 Detection of vehicles in images of a night time scene
The invention concerns the detection of vehicles in images of a night time scene. In particular, but not limited to, the invention concerns a traffic surveillance system that is used to detect and track vehicles to determine information about the detected and tracked vehicles. Candidate pair of headlights are identified 900 in an image based on luminance of points in the image. These candidates are then verified 902 by identifying 400i a sub-image of the image sized to include a candidate vehicle having the pair of candidate headlights; and determining whether the candidate vehicle is a vehicle represented in the image by testing 400k the sub-image for the presence of predetermined features of a vehicle other than the headlights. Aspects of the invention include a method, software and computer hardware.
US08798313B2 Counterfeit detection system
A counterfeit detection system is disclosed herein. The system includes an image reduction system for minimizing size of at least one original image using a plurality of different reduction strategies to generate a plurality of minimized images. The system further includes a classification system which includes a first sub-system for generating at least one accuracy comparative assessment metric for each of the plurality of minimized images, a second sub-system for comparing the at least one accuracy comparative assessment metric for each of the plurality of minimized images with an accuracy assessment metric for the at least one original image, and a third sub-system for determining if at least one of the plurality of minimized images can be transmitted with improved or equivalent classification accuracy at a reduced bandwidth when compared to the original image are also part of the system.
US08798309B2 Speaker device with a magnetic gap filled with magnetic fluid and changing magnetic flux density in axial and circumferential direction
A speaker includes a ring-shaped magnet, a yoke having a center pole portion inserted in the center of the magnet, and a ring-shaped plate and arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the center pole portion of the yoke and attached to the magnet. The speaker includes a cylindrically-shaped coil bobbin that is movable in the axial direction of the center pole portion and partially fitted on the center pole portion of the yoke. The speaker includes a voice coil wrapped around the outer circumferential surface of the coil bobbin, part of the voice coil being arranged in a magnetic gap, which is filled with a magnetic fluid, formed between the plate and the center pole portion of the yoke. The speaker includes a diaphragm having its inner circumferential portion connected to the coil bobbin, and that is vibrated as the coil bobbin moves.
US08798308B2 Convective airflow using a passive radiator
Systems and methods to remove heat from an acoustic enclosure are provided. An apparatus for reproducing acoustic signals includes an acoustic enclosure comprising an acoustic volume. A heat producing element is coupled to the acoustic enclosure, and a thermally conductive structure is thermally coupled to the heat producing element. The thermally conductive structure includes a first surface. A first passive radiator includes a first diaphragm. The first diaphragm extends over at least a portion of the first surface and moves in response to pressure variations within the acoustic volume. Movement of the first diaphragm causes air to flow over the first surface, to facilitate heat removal from the thermally conductive structure.
US08798304B2 Acoustic valve mechanisms
A valve for a personal auditory system is described. The auditory system is capable of converting between an acoustic signal and an electrical signal. The auditory system has an acoustic pathway through which an acoustic signal may travel between a first point exterior to the auditory system and a second point interior to the auditory system. The valve includes a free floating electrode and a second electrode adjacent to free floating electrode. An electric signal that is generated by the second electrode moves the free floating electrode to substantially open or close the acoustic pathway.
US08798300B2 Adjustable spring assembly for a vibrator of a bone anchored hearing aid
Spring assembly as part of a vibrator for a bone anchored hearing aid, wherein the spring assembly comprises a suspension spring having a first end immovably connected to a mass of the vibrator and a second end immovably connected to a coupling attachable to a user's skull bone and comprised by the vibrator, wherein the spring assembly comprises an adjusting means adapted to adjust a spring rate of the suspension spring between a first spring rate and a second spring rate, the first rate being higher than the second rate, so as to move a resonance peak of the vibrator.
US08798295B2 Method for deploying hearing instrument fitting software, and hearing instrument adapted therefor
A method for deploying hearing instrument fitting software wherein the fitting software comprises executable fitting program code (13) configured to process fitting program data (12,14) on a programmable data processor (11), comprises the steps of reading fitting program definition data (3) from data storage means provided in the hearing instrument (1), determining, from the fitting program definition data (3), at least part of least one of the fitting program data (12,14) and the fitting program code (13). The hearing instrument itself comprises the information defining the fitting software—be it the complete fitting software or an update or change to a fitting software residing in an external device.
US08798293B2 Piezoelectric speaker
A piezoelectric speaker includes a cover with a receiving space and a vibrating speaker unit accommodated in the receiving space. The vibrating speaker unit includes a piezoelectric oscillator including an upper surface and an lower surface, a diaphragm disposed on the upper surface of the piezoelectric oscillator, and a vibrating member kept a distance from the lower surface of the piezoelectric oscillator. The piezoelectric oscillator defines a first amplitude capable of driving the diaphragm only and a second amplitude driving both the vibrating member to vibrating with a largest amplitude and the diaphragm to generate sound. The distance is larger than the first amplitude and smaller than the second amplitude.
US08798290B1 Systems and methods for adaptive signal equalization
The present technology minimizes undesirable effects of multi-level noise suppression processing by applying an adaptive equalization. A noise suppression system may apply different levels of noise suppression based on the (user-perceived) signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR). The resulting high-frequency data attenuation may be counteracted by adapting the signal equalization. The present technology may be applied in both transmit and receive paths of communication devices. Intelligibility may particularly be improved under varying noise conditions, e.g. when a cell phone user is moving in and out of noisy environments.
US08798288B2 Voice output device
A sound output device is configured to be installed in a vehicle. The sound output device includes a driving-status detector for detecting a driving status of the vehicle, a sound signal generator for generating a reference signal in response to the detected driving status, first and second units for processing the generated reference signal, first and second sound output parts for outputting the reference signals processed by the first and second units. The first unit includes a phase shifter for shifting a phase of the reference signal such that the reference signals output from the first sound output part and the second sound output part have a phase difference between the respective reference signals. This sound output device allows a passenger at a predetermined position to hear the sound in a preferable condition.
US08798287B2 Vehicle sound simulation system
A vehicle sound simulation system and sound simulation methodologies are provided. The vehicle sound simulation system includes a sound playback device utilized to produce sound signals. As a vehicle is operated, the vehicle sound simulation system approximates an engine state and generates sounds corresponding to the engine state. The vehicle sound simulation system generates sounds in accordance with a vehicle sound generation routine that utilizes a number of inputted parameters to vary the sounds generated through the sound playback device.
US08798286B2 System and method of providing audio content
A method includes receiving input from a remote control device at a set-top box device. The input identifies media content that includes audio content and video content. The input also indicates that the audio content is to be output via an audio output device coupled to the set-top box device without sending the video output from the set-top box device to an external display device coupled to the set-top box device. The method includes determining whether the media content is stored at a local memory device of the set-top box device. When the media content is stored at the local memory device, the method includes retrieving the media content from the local memory, sending a first audio signal corresponding to the audio content of the media content to the audio output device and blocking output of the video content to the external display device.
US08798283B2 Providing ambient naturalness in ANR headphones
In an active noise reducing headphone, a signal processor applies filters and control gains of both the feed-forward and feedback active noise cancellation signal paths. The signal processor is configured to apply first feed-forward filters to the feed-forward signal path and apply first feedback filters to the feedback signal path during a first operating mode providing effective cancellation of ambient sound, and to apply second feed-forward filters to the feed-forward signal path during a second operating mode providing active hear-through of ambient sounds with ambient naturalness.
US08798279B2 Adjusting acoustic speaker output based on an estimated degree of seal of an ear about a speaker port
A degree of seal of an ear about a speaker port may be estimated by detecting touch contact between the ear and at least one touch sensor in fixed relation to the speaker port. The degree of seal is estimated based on the detected touch contact. Based upon the estimated degree of seal, the acoustic output of the speaker may be adjusted. The adjustment may compensate for perceived changes to the quality of the acoustic output resulting from the degree of seal. The at least one touch sensor may be a plurality of touch sensors spaced around the speaker port. Each sensor may have a truncated wedge shape, with a narrow end closest to the speaker port. Upon receipt of user input indicative of a high degree of ear seal, a sample of the sensor(s) may be taken and stored for using during future estimation of the degree of seal.
US08798277B1 Mute indicator
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer-readable media for presenting a mute indicator to a caller when the caller is attempting to provide input to a call that has been muted. In particular, a determination is made that a mute function is engaged during a call. An area surrounding a calling system, such as a phone, is then monitored by a monitoring system to determine whether a caller is attempting to provide input to the call. A determination is then made that a caller is attempting to provide input to the call. The determination may be based on a caller providing a threshold volume of voice input within a threshold area of proximity near the calling system. A mute indicator is then presented to the caller to notify the caller that the call has a mute function engaged.
US08798274B2 Acoustic apparatus, acoustic adjustment method and program
An acoustic apparatus which outputs test signals from a plurality of speakers configuring a multichannel reproduction system and adjusts acoustic characteristics by picking up response signals from the speakers using a microphone, includes a test signal storage unit storing test signals output from the speakers; a response signal storage unit storing response signals from the speakers picked up by the microphone; a parameter calculation unit calculating acoustic adjustment parameters including at least a polarity reversal parameter and a phase filter parameter based on the response signals from the speakers stored in the response signal storage unit; and an acoustic adjustment parameter storage unit storing the acoustic adjustment parameters calculated by the parameter calculation unit. The parameter calculation unit calculates the polarity reversal parameter using a low-pass component of the response signals.
US08798272B2 Systems and methods for managing multiple keys for file encryption and decryption
Systems and methods for managing multiple keys for file encryption and decryption may provide an encrypted list of previously used keys. The list itself may be encrypted using a current key. To decrypt files that are encrypted in one or more of the previous keys, the list can be decrypted, and the appropriate previous key can be retrieved. To re-key files, an automated process can decrypt any files using previous keys and encrypt them using the current key. If a new current key is introduced, the prior current key can be used to decrypt the list of keys, the prior current key can be added to the list, and the list can be re-encrypted using the new current key.
US08798270B2 Communication system and communication method
To improve a communication system including two communication apparatuses in order to reduce a possibility of having communication thereof decrypted by a third party. The communication system includes a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus, where one of the communication apparatuses encrypts transmission subject data to generate encrypted data and transmits it to the other communication apparatus which then decrypts received encrypted data. Before performing encryption, each of the communication apparatuses cuts the transmission subject data by a predetermined number of bits to generate transmission subject cut data. In this case, each of the communication apparatuses varies the number of bits of the transmission subject cut data, and mixes dummy data of a size of which number of bits matches with the largest number of bits out of the numbers of bits of the transmission subject cut data into the transmission subject cut data other than that of the largest number of bits.
US08798268B2 System and methods for permitting open access to data objects and for securing data within the data objects
A system and methods for permitting open access to data objects and for securing data within the data objects is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for securing a data object is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for securing a data object is disclosed. The method includes the steps of (1) providing a data object comprising digital data and file format information; (2) embedding independent data into a data object; and (3) scrambling the data object to degrade the data object to a predetermined signal quality level. The steps of embedding and scrambling may be performed until a predetermined condition is met. The method may also include the steps of descrambling the data object to upgrade the data object to a predetermined signal quality level, and decoding the embedded independent data.
US08798265B2 Secure data transfer on a handheld communications device
A handheld communications device and method for transmitting an encryption key are provided. The method comprises: generating an encryption key via the data processor, the encryption key comprising a bit sequence; and varying an output of the display device over a period of time to transmit the encryption key from the handheld communications device by varying at least one of a sequence at least one of colour rendered on the display device or a sequence of brightness levels output by the display device.
US08798262B1 Preserving LBA information between layers of a storage I/O stack for LBA-dependent encryption
An encryption endpoint (EE) receives, via a storage I/O stack (having a key controller module (KCM)), encryption metadata identifying an encryption key and a set of region entries. Each region entry includes an identification of a region within a storage device subject to encryption with the encryption key and an identification of a correlation between the region and a corresponding region on a logical volume (LV) managed by the KCM. The EE receives, via the stack, a storage command to process a block having a first address on the storage device. It corresponds to a second address located within the corresponding region of the LV. The EE determines the second address within the LV and then cryptographically processes the block using an address-dependent cryptographic algorithm and (a) data of the block, (b) the determined second address, and (c) the encryption key.
US08798261B2 Data protection using distributed security key
For protecting data stored in an electronic device, an inner security key encrypting and decrypting data stored in the electronic device is encrypted with an outer security key. The outer security key is stored on an external memory to be coupled to the electronic device. The outer security key is generated from at least a unique identifier of the electronic device, a unique identifier of the external memory device, and a personal identification number. Additional constituents of the outer security key may be provided, e.g., an identifier of an auxiliary device to be coupled to the electronic device.
US08798260B2 Delivery of alarm system event data and audio
Delivery of alarm system event data and audio. In certain aspects, a method for delivery of alarm system event data is described, including communicating alarm event data from an alarm system to a private telecommunications switch. In turn, the alarm event data may be communicated to a message processing gateway. The message processing gateway evaluates service parameters of the alarm system and, in certain cases, instructs the private telecommunications switch to contact a central alarm monitoring station if certain service parameters are met. In additional aspects, private telecommunications switch opens a voice channel between the private telecommunications switch and the central alarm monitoring station and communicates the alarm event data. Additionally, in response to a determination that a voice channel between the private telecommunications switch and the central alarm monitoring station remains open, the private telecommunications switch may also bridge the voice channel to the alarm system.
US08798258B1 Method and apparatus for providing telecommuting virtual numbers for remote workers
A method and apparatus for providing enterprises with the ability to provide telecommuting virtual number to these remote workers that are consistent with the dialing plans used internally at an enterprise location are disclosed. This telecommuting virtual number is routed through a packet network, e.g., a VoIP network, to allow calls placed to and from these workers to be treated as local calls.
US08798256B2 System and method for telephone call routing using a relational routing matrix
A system, method, apparatus, means, and computer program code is provided wherein a telephone call is received. A telephone call routing matrix is accessed, from a relational database platform, to select a service representative for the received telephone call. It may then be arranged for the received telephone call to be routed in accordance with the selected service representative.
US08798254B2 System and method for recording and distributing customer interactions
A system and method for recording and distributing calls are provided. A call may be associated with an information record. Parameters in the information record may be used to determine if the call is to be recorded. Parameters in the information record may be used to determine a method of providing a recording of the call. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08798253B2 Network routing
At least one device receives a call request from a calling party to a called party. The device routes the call request to an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) core when a first condition is met and bypasses the IMS core when a second condition is met.
US08798248B2 Intelligent call log and schedule integration
Described are embodiments that provide for an intelligent call log. Specifically, in embodiments, a call log module can be provided on a user's phone (or as a sequenced application) that analyzes the actual communications between a calling party and a called party. The call log module is configured, in embodiments, to do analysis of the calling party's interaction with the called party, changes in routing, and/or failure to connect. The call log module is linked to the calling party's schedule information, in some embodiments, for situations with multiple failures to connect and/or multiple short discussions have inadequately dealt with the need to talk, and therefore scheduling a meeting is likely to be more effective.
US08798242B1 Voice-related information in data management systems
An instruction including one or more criteria is received. It is determined, based at least in part on the criteria, at least voice-related information in storage to which the instruction applies; the voice-related information includes call audio data, a call transcript, and call metadata associated with a call. The instruction is performed at least on the determined voice-related information.
US08798241B2 Secure visual voicemail
A method (200) for managing voicemail messages for a visual voicemail system (102) can include establishing a secure data session (212) between a voicemail system (102) and a mobile device (118). The voicemail system (102) can receive a voicemail message (202) that is directed to a voicemail account associated with a voicemail subscriber. The voicemail system (102) can generate a notification message and can send the notification message (208) to the mobile device (118) that is associated with the voicemail account that received the voicemail message. In response to the notification message, the mobile device (102) can generate and send a first request for voicemail message header information (234). The voicemail system (118) can send the requested voicemail message header information (236) to the mobile device (102) and, in response, receive a second request for at least one voicemail message (238). The voicemail message can send at least a portion of the at least one voicemail message (240) to the mobile device (118).
US08798240B2 Personalized interactive voice response system
An interactive voice response process that permits an intelligent interactive voice system to communicate with a caller includes receiving a call and connecting the caller with the system. The process also includes identifying the caller, determining if the caller is a first time caller or a repeat caller, and interactively communicating with the caller in accordance with an interactive script. For each first time caller, the process establishes a personal profile of the caller from information gathered from the caller. The process then develops a predictive personalized interactive communication dialog for future calls from the caller based on information gathered from the caller during the interactive communication and stored in the caller's personal profile.
US08798231B2 Radiographic apparatus
One object of this invention is to provide radiography apparatus with suppressed exposure to a subject in tomography mode. An FPD provided in X-ray apparatus according to this invention converts X-rays into electric signals, and thereafter amplifies the signals to output them to an image generation section. According to this invention, an amplification factor is higher in a tomography mode than in a spot radiography mode. A tomographic image is obtained through superimposing two or more fluoroscopic image. In comparison of the fluoroscopic images, they differ from one another in appearance of the false image. Accordingly, superimposing the images may achieve cancel of the false images. In this way, the tomographic image finally obtained has no false image.
US08798219B2 High-speed serial data transceiver and related methods
A high-speed serial data transceiver includes multiple receivers and transmitters for receiving and transmitting multiple analog, serial data signals at multi-gigabit-per-second data rates. Each receiver includes a timing recovery system for tracking a phase and a frequency of the serial data signal associated with the receiver. The timing recovery system includes a phase interpolator responsive to phase control signals and a set of reference signals having different predetermined phases. The phase interpolator derives a sampling signal, having an interpolated phase, to sample the serial data signal. The timing recovery system in each receiver independently phase-aligns and frequency synchronizes the sampling signal to the serial data signal associated with the receiver. A receiver can include multiple paths for sampling a received, serial data signal in accordance with multiple time-staggered sampling signals, each having an interpolated phase.
US08798218B2 Method and apparatus for generating secondary synchronization signals
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for generating secondary synchronization signals, wherein the method comprises steps of: determining a value of iteration times M according to a total number N of cell ID groups or a cell ID group index NID(1), wherein M is a natural number; calculating to obtain M cyclic shift accumulation parameters qk (k=0, 1 . . . M−1) through M times of iterations; calculating a common cyclic shift factor m′ through q0; calculating a first cyclic shift value m0 and a second cyclic shift value m1 according to m′; and generating the secondary synchronization signals according to m0 and m1. The present invention solves the problem that the method for generating the secondary synchronization signals in related arts cannot support a greater number of cell ID groups.
US08798213B2 Communication device and method
Methods and devices for detecting a symbol in a radio channel and for cell identification are disclosed. A signal is received from the radio channel and the signal is filtered by a filter being responsive to the symbol thereby establishing a first signal. A second signal dependent on the noise floor of the received signal is established—whereby a time interval expected to include multi-path components being excluded or suppressed. A third signal being the ratio between the first signal and the noise floor is established, and the presence of the symbol is detected by detecting a peak in the third signal.
US08798209B2 Orthotope sphere decoding method and apparatus for signal reconstruction in the multi-input multi-output antenna system
The present disclosure provides an orthotope sphere decoding method of a multiple antenna system. The method includes: tree mapping a node having highest pruning potential that can be predicted at a root of a tree of orthotope sphere decoding to a root level of the tree, among nodes to be mapped to the tree; and performing tree search of the orthotope sphere decoding on the nodes mapped to the tree.
US08798206B2 Vital digital input
A digital input interface is provided which can be checked for its reliability. The configuration of the circuit on the input side allows a high impedance for a DC input signal and a low impedance for induced AC noise, naturally attenuating any AC induced noise while maintaining the DC input signal. The interface also provides a latent failure detection engine. The latent failure detection engine can open and close an optocoupler on the input side of the interface, which discharges and charges a capacitor on the input side. The time taken for the capacitor to recharge when the optocoupler is re-opened is used to determine if there has been any threshold decay in the interface.
US08798203B2 Signal processing apparatus and signal processing method
Disclosed herein is a signal processing apparatus including: a frequency multiplier configured to carry out an N-times frequency multiplication process on a modulated signal obtained as a result of an N phase shift keying modulation process in order to generate a multiplied frequency signal; and an oscillator configured to oscillate the multiplied frequency signal as an injected signal in order to generate a signal obtained by carrying out a by-N frequency division process on the multiplied frequency signal to serve as a reproduced carrier which is a carrier reproduced from the modulated signal.
US08798201B2 Codeword permutation and reduced feedback for grouped antennas
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate reducing feedback required to be transmitted on a reverse link channel in response to a forward link data transmission for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication systems. In a per group rate control MIMO system, a codeword can be linked to more than one layer. Codewords are mixed among antennas in the MIMO systems based upon a symmetric permutation of antennas groups. Further, codewords are transmitted in permuted form so that receivers can reduce feedback to a base channel quality indicator (CQI) and a differential CQI. Additionally, spatial diversity is increased for each codeword improving the robustness of the system against inaccurate CQI reports.
US08798187B2 Method for selecting transmitting points in a communication system
The present invention provides a method for identifying a specific number of communicating points having relatively smallest accumulated path values from a plurality of transmitting points for a receiving point in a communication system. The method includes steps of: (a) defining a first coordination of each of the plurality of transmitting points and the receiving point on a complex plane; (b) transferring the first coordination of the receiving point to a second coordination thereof, in which the second coordination of the receiving point is near an origin of the complex plane; and (c) identifying the specific number of transmitting points having relatively smallest accumulated path values based on the second coordination of the receiving point.
US08798183B2 Feedback and rate adaptation for MIMO transmission in a time division duplexed (TDD) communication system
Techniques for sending a MIMO transmission in a wireless communication system are described. In one design, a transmitter sends a first reference signal to a receiver. The receiver selects a precoding matrix based on the first reference signal and in accordance with a selection criterion. The receiver estimates noise and interference at the receiver and determines channel quality indicator (CQI) or modulation and coding scheme (MCS) information based on the precoding matrix and the estimated noise and interference. The receiver sends the CQI or MCS information and a second reference signal to the transmitter. The transmitter selects the precoding matrix based on the second reference signal and in accordance with the same selection criterion used by the receiver. The transmitter then sends a MIMO transmission to the receiver based on the CQI or MCS information obtained from the receiver and the precoding matrix selected by the transmitter.
US08798182B2 Precoding method and apparatus
A precoding method and apparatus are disclosed. The corresponding method includes: constructing a Lagrange function according to a precoding matrix, transmit power, a receive filter matrix and a weighting matrix, and obtaining a Lagrange multiplier by using the Lagrange function; updating the precoding matrix according to the Lagrange multiplier to obtain an iterative precoding matrix and an iterative receive filter matrix; obtaining an iterative Lagrange multiplier according to the iterative precoding matrix, the transmit power, the iterative receive filter matrix and the weighting matrix, and repeating the above steps in an iterative manner of updating the iterative precoding matrix according to the iterative Lagrange multiplier till the iterative precoding matrix converges to a threshold; and precoding information to be transmitted according to the iterative precoding matrix converging to the threshold.
US08798180B1 Method and apparatus for transmitting time domain signals over a network
Systems and methods are provided for transmitting time domain signals over a network. A prime factor inverse Fourier transform module is configured to receive a frequency domain symbol comprising n samples and convert the frequency domain symbol into a time domain signal. The prime factor inverse Fourier transform module includes a prime factor module that is configured to perform an inverse Fourier transform on the frequency domain symbol to reduce the number of samples of the frequency domain symbol by a factor of p, where p is a prime number, and where p is a factor of n. The prime factor inverse Fourier transform module further includes a reduced inverse Fourier transform module that is configured to convert the reduced number of samples to a time domain signal for transmission over the network.
US08798179B2 Radio communication device
A radio communication device includes an amplification unit configured to amplify a transmission signal, an antenna transmitting an amplification signal amplified by the amplification unit, a detection unit configured to detect a reflection signal that is the amplification signal reflected from a side of the antenna, and a correction processing unit configured to correct the transmission signal, wherein the correction processing unit is configured to correct the transmission signal based on the reflection signal when installation of a filter through which the amplification signal passes is recognized.
US08798174B2 Method and device for quantizing likelihood quotients
A method in signal processing is used for quantizing likelihood quotients of binary random variables for transmitting between at least two signal processing units. Decision levels and reconstruction levels of a quantization of likelihood quotients are thereby determined by maximizing corresponding information between the binary random variables and the associated quantized likelihood quotients at a prescribed probability distribution of the likelihood quotients. A corresponding quantization device determines decision levels and reconstruction levels of a quantization of the likelihood quotients by maximizing the corresponding information between the binary variables and the associated quantized likelihood quotients at a prescribed probability density of the likelihood quotients.
US08798171B2 Video transmission by decoupling color components
Techniques are provided herein for receiving at a video processing device color video frames comprising grayscale components and color components. The grayscale components corresponding to each of the color video frames are extracted as each of the color video frames is received to obtain grayscale video frames. The grayscale video frames are transmitted at a first transmission rate. Color components for selected color video frames are periodically fused with selected grayscale video frames to obtain fused color video frames, and the fused color video frames are transmitted at a second transmission rate interspersed with the grayscale video frames transmitted at the first transmission rate.
US08798169B2 Data summarization system and method for summarizing a data stream
In order to further develop a method for summarizing at least one data stream (12) as well as a corresponding data summarization system (100) comprising at least one receiving means (10) for receiving at least one data stream (12) in such way that at least one summary is available immediately after receiving of the data stream (12), in particular immediately after content acquisition and/or recording and/or encoding and/or decoding of the data stream without any post-processing operation, it is proposed to provide—at least one selecting means (30) for selecting part (32, 32′) of the data stream portions and at least one processing means (70) for generating at least one summary by summarizing at least part of the selected data stream portions (32′) in particular until at least one predetermined summary volume is obtained, wherein the summary is generated during the receiving of the data stream (12).
US08798167B2 Encoder and its method
An encoding apparatus adds delay time information DTI indicating initial delay time i_d and delay time d of each group data to a position to be read prior to frame data by a decoding apparatus in the group data of encoding stream data DBI and transmits the same to the decoding apparatus 3. Namely, the encoding apparatus does not transmit initial offset delay time i_of to the decoding apparatus 3. The encoding apparatus starts to read and transmit the encoding stream data DBI from a transmission buffer at a predetermined bit rate R at timing designated by the initial offset delay time i_of.
US08798165B2 Techniques for prediction of unavailable samples in inter-layer predicted video coding
Disclosed herein are video coding techniques for prediction of a to-be-reconstructed block from enhancement layer/view data from base layer/view data in conjunction with enhancement layer/view data, where samples that are not available in the base or enhancement layer/view, respectively, are being predicted through padding.
US08798160B2 Method and apparatus for adjusting parallax in three-dimensional video
A method and apparatus for adjusting parallax of a three-dimensional (3D) video are provided. The method including receiving an input of a 3D video sequence; determining whether a scene transition occurs between a previous frame and a current frame of the 3D video sequence; if it is determined that the scene transition occurs between the previous frame and the current frame, determining and comparing first depth information of a previous scene which includes the previous frame and second depth information of a current scene which includes the current frame; and, based on a result of the comparing, selectively adjusting depth information of at least one of the frames of the previous scene and the frames of the current scene in consideration of a difference between the first depth information and the second depth information.
US08798154B2 Frame rate conversion apparatus and control method thereof
The frame rate conversion apparatus of the present invention has: a detection unit that generates motion information by detecting motion of picture at each pixel location from a moving image which is not synthesized with a still image; a synthesizing unit that generates a synthesized moving image by synthesizing a still image on a blending region in the moving image at a prescribed opacity; a judgment unit that determines whether or not a pixel of interest of an interpolation frame to be inserted between frames of the synthesized moving image is a pixel within the blending region; and a generation unit that generates the interpolation frame by determining a value of the pixel of interest corresponding to a determination result.
US08798153B2 Video decoding method
A method of decoding videos comprises the steps of performing, in respect of a decoding objective area of decoding objective frame, a motion search by using images of plural frames finished with decoding and deciding, on the basis of the result of the motion search, whether an image of the decoding objective area is to be generated through an interpolation process or a decoded image is to be generated through motion compensation using data included in an encoding stream.
US08798152B2 Method and apparatus for fast motion estimation
Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and apparatus for fast motion estimation. One embodiment of a method for motion estimation includes classifying a macroblock of a source frame in accordance with an initial matching cost, an intermediate matching cost, and a final matching cost, where the intermediate matching cost is estimated based on a predicted motion vector for the source frame and the final matching cost is estimated based on a final motion vector for a correlated macroblock in a prior frame, performing motion estimation for the macroblock based upon the classifying, wherein an early termination is applied in accordance with a result of the classifying, and outputting a motion vector for the macroblock based on a result of the motion estimation.
US08798147B2 Moving picture coding method, moving picture decoding method, moving picture coding apparatus, moving picture decoding apparatus, and moving picture coding and decoding apparatus
A moving picture coding method includes (i) transforming, for each of one or more second processing units included in the first processing unit, a moving picture signal in a spatial domain into a frequency domain coefficient and quantizing the frequency domain coefficient, and (ii) performing arithmetic coding on a luminance CBF flag indicating whether or not a quantized coefficient is included in the second processing unit in which transform and quantization are performed, wherein, in the arithmetic coding, a probability table for use in arithmetic coding is determined according to whether or not the size of the first processing unit is identical to the size of the second processing unit and whether or not the second processing unit has a predetermined maximum size.
US08798143B2 System method and apparatus for seamlessly splicing data
A plurality of bit streams are seamlessly spliced. Separate decoders decode each bit stream. A controller selects the decoded pictures according to a re-encoding range in the vicinity of a splicing point of the bit streams. Pictures presenting a reordering of the streams are excluded in the selection of the decoded pictures. An encoder re-encodes the pictures within the re-encoding range. When it is determined that crossover motion compensation exists between pictures of different streams, the controller changes the motion prediction direction of the problematic picture. The controller changes a motion prediction picture type of a picture which is improperly motion predicted with reference to another stream. A quantization characteristic or motion vectors for the new picture type are generated by the controller. The controller effects the encoding in accordance with a target amount of bits to prevent a breakdown of a buffer and a discontinuation of an amount of data occupancy thereof. A multiplexer multiplexes the original streams with the re-encoded stream to produce a seamless bit stream.
US08798142B2 Method of removing a blocking artifact using quantization information in a filtering system
In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining quantization information related to at least one of a first block and an adjacent second block, comparing the quantization information with a predefined constant value, and performing a filtering process based on the comparing step when both of the first block and the second block are intra-coded blocks according to obtained block type information. The filtering process includes calculating a value of at least one pixel in the first block based on pixel values of at least two pixels in the first block, and calculating a value of at least one pixel in the second block based on pixel values of at least two pixels in the second block. The at least two pixels in the first block and the at least two pixels in the second block are successive pixels across a block boundary between the first block and the second block.
US08798138B2 Digital broadcast transmitter, digital broadcast receiver, and methods for configuring and processing streams thereof
A method for processing a stream of a digital broadcast receiver is provided. The method which processes a stream that is divided into a first area allocated to first mobile data and a second area allocated to normal data, includes: receiving a transport stream including new mobile data in at least a part of the second area separately from the first mobile data, demodulating the transport stream, equalizing the demodulated transport stream, and decoding at least one of the first mobile data and the new mobile data from the equalized transport stream. Accordingly, mobile data services may be provided in various ways.
US08798132B2 Video apparatus to combine graphical user interface (GUI) with frame rate conversion (FRC) video and method of providing a GUI thereof
A video apparatus to combine a graphical user interface (GUI) with a frame rate conversion (FRC) video. The video apparatus combines a GUI with an area of a video in which a frame rate is converted. By performing a FRC, a moving image having increased quality is provided for a user, and minimizing artifacts from occurring around a boundary of a still image such as a GUI.
US08798131B1 Apparatus and method for encoding video using assumed values with intra-prediction
A system, apparatus, and method encoding a video stream having a plurality of frames, each frame having a plurality of blocks is disclosed. The method can include selecting a current block from a current frame of the plurality of frames, the current block being in at least one of a top row or a left column of the current frame, determining one or more assumed values based on a prediction mode of the current block, creating a residual block using the current block, prediction mode of the current block, and the one or more determined assumed values, and encoding the current block using the residual block.
US08798128B2 Method and device for signal processing and applied to microwave communication system
A method and a device which are for signal processing and are applied to a microwave communication system are disclosed. The method includes: performing equalization processing on each input signal by using an equalizer so as to obtain an equalized signal corresponding to the each input signal; performing phase estimation on phase noise in the equalized signal to obtain an estimated phase of the phase noise; performing phase rotation on the equalized signal to offset the estimated phase of the phase noise, so as to obtain a phase rotation signal; suppressing residual phase noise in the phase rotation signal by using a phase-locked loop so as to output an error signal and a received signal; and performing an iterative update on a filter coefficient of the equalizer by using the error signal.
US08798127B2 Apparatus and methods for adaptive receiver delay equalization
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for adaptive receiver delay equalization. One embodiment relates to a method for adaptive receiver delay equalization. Filtered positive and negative polarity signals are generated by a first variable-delay filter and a second variable-delay filter, respectively. A delay difference is determined between the filtered positive and negative polarity signals, and a skew-indication signal is generated based on the delay difference. A delay control signal is generated based on the skew-indication signal, and the delay control signal is sent to at least one of the first and second variable-delay filters. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed.
US08798124B2 Method of measuring error vector magnitude
A method of checking an error vector magnitude of transmitter in accordance with some embodiments of the inventive concept may include dividing a transmission baseband signal which the transmitter transmits into a plurality of processing units; performing a transmitter function and an ideal receiver function with respect to each of the plurality of processing units; generating a reception baseband signal by recombining a processing result of each of the plurality of processing units; and calculating an error vector magnitude (EVM) by comparing the transmission baseband signal with the reception baseband signal. A simplified method of checking an error vector magnitude of transmitter in accordance with some embodiments of the inventive concept may include generating symbols composed of only pilots; generating symbol composed of only data; and checking an error vector magnitude (EVM) using the all the symbols.
US08798122B2 Symbol-timing recovery techniques for multi-branch receivers
A symbol-timing recovery function of a receiver is provided with a signal combiner (465) coupled to a first receive branch with a first receive signal (10) and to a second receive branch with a second receive signal (20). The signal combiner (465) generates a combined signal (C) on the basis of the first receive signal (10) and the second receive signal (20). Further, a common timing error detector (470C) is provided. The common timing error detector (470C) is coupled to the signal combiner (465) and is configured to generate a common timing error signal (TEC) on the basis of the combined signal. A first digital symbol timing for the first receive signal (10) and a second digital symbol timing for the second receive signal (20) are recovered on the basis of the common timing error signal (TEC).
US08798121B2 High speed data bus for communicating between wireless interface devices of a host device
A circuit includes a first wireless interface circuit that communicates packetized data to a first external device in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol. A second wireless interface circuit communicates packetized data to a second external device in accordance with a second wireless communication protocol. A plurality of signal lines communicate at least four lines of cooperation data between the first wireless interface circuit and the second wireless interface circuit, wherein the cooperation data relates to cooperate transceiving in a common frequency spectrum.
US08798120B2 Methods and communication systems having adaptive mode selection
Examples are generally described that include methods for selecting a transmit mode in a communications system. An example method may include calculating a first transmission rate for data in a multiple-input multiple-output mode of the communications system and calculating a second transmission rate for the data in a single-input multiple-output mode of the communications system. A mode may be selected from the group consisting of the multiple-input multiple-output mode and the single-input multiple-output mode based, at least in part, on an energy consumption of the first and second transmission rates. Data may be transmitted from a transceiver in the communications system using the selected mode.
US08798119B2 Symbol-level code-specific joint detection for CDMA receivers
Techniques are disclosed for processing a received spread spectrum signal containing multiple signals of interest and one or more interfering signals with known spreading codes. An example method begins with the generation of a despread signal vector for each signal of interest, for a given symbol time, using a corresponding group of correlators for each of the signals of interest. The method continues with the calculating of a covariance matrix for the given symbol time, the covariance matrix representing impairment correlations among the correlators from sources other than the signals of interest, as well as from inter-symbol interference in and among the signals of interest. The covariance matrix includes diagonal blocks that each represent impairment correlations among a single one of the groups of correlators; the diagonal blocks are calculated based on first terms that account in a code-specific manner for same-symbol-time interference from each of the interfering signals.
US08798114B2 System and method for dual chirp modulation
A system for dual chirp modulation includes a transmission unit, a receiving unit, and a transmission channel. A modulation module of the transmission unit is configured to receive binary data and modulate the binary data by a first dual chirp sequence and a second dual chirp sequence for generating an output signal. Then the output signal is converted from digital form to analog form by a digital to analog converter. A transmission channel is configured to receive the output signal converted to analog form, wherein the output signal converted to analog folio passes the transmission channel for generating a received signal. An analog to digital converter converts the received signal from analog form to digital form and a demodulation module demodulates the received signal with digital form, by the first dual chirp sequence and the second dial chirp sequence, for recovering the binary data.
US08798108B2 Device for generating a short duration laser pulse
An embodiment relates to a device for generating a short duration laser pulse, which comprises: means for generating a laser beam and for filtering same, arranged in such a way as to generate an input laser beam providing an input laser pulse; a transparent slide comprising a non-linear scattering material; the laser generation means being arranged so that the slide widens the spectrum of the input laser pulse by phase self-modulation in order to generate a wide-spectrum laser pulse; compression means adapted for compressing the wide-spectrum laser pulse in order to generate a short duration laser pulse; wherein the laser generation means are arranged so that the input beam is spatially uniform on the transparent slide and has a break integral B lower than three when the input beam passes through the transparent slide.
US08798104B2 Pulsed high-power laser apparatus and methods
In various embodiments, output beams of multiple seed lasers differing in at least one beam characteristic are combined, amplified, and separated according to the beam characteristic(s) for use in, e.g., plateless lithographic printing.
US08798097B2 Communication devices that communicate using frames and computer-readable media for controlling communication devices
A communication device may include a reference maximum segment size (“MSS”) value acquisition device, a data length acquisition device, and a transmission device. The reference MSS value acquisition device may acquire a reference MSS value from a first device by executing a transmission control protocol communication with the first device. The data length acquisition device may acquire a data length value comprised in a user datagram protocol (“UDP”) header of a frame received by executing a UDP communication with the first device. The transmission device may generate a transmission frame and may transmit the transmission frame to a second device when executing a UDP communication with the second device. The reference MSS value may be an MSS of the first device. A size of the transmission frame may be based on a specific value determined utilizing the reference MSS value of the first device or utilizing the data length value.
US08798094B2 Presence-based network service availability announcements
Availability of common features (e.g. device functions and/or subscription plan features) associated with two or more communication devices can be detected, and data indicative of commonly supported features can be provided to at least one of the two communication devices. Disclosed systems can include components that can audit communication devices and communication networks to determine features supported by a communication, and components that can selectively mask unsupported features and/or reveal supported features.
US08798092B2 Cross language object sharing
Methods, system, and computer storage media are provided for enabling cross-language object sharing by providing shareable typename information agreed upon by clients that wish to share object with each other. A first client creates an object by communicating a create request, which includes typename information associated with the object. The object is created and the typename information, along with data and properties associated with the object, is stored. A second client requests to open that object. The data, properties, and typename information stored in associated with the object is communicated to the second client so that the second client is able to create a correct instance of the object.
US08798087B2 Group scheduling method, method for selectively receiving information elements according to group scheduling, and mobile communication terminal
A group scheduling method, a method for selectively receiving information elements according to group scheduling, and a Mobile Station (MS) are provided. The group scheduling method schedules allocation of resources to a plurality of mobile stations by dividing the plurality of mobile stations into at least one group. The group scheduling method includes enabling an index element in a group index corresponding to a group to which a mobile station (MS) scheduled to transmit data belongs and placing a group allocation information element including the group index at the beginning of a MAP. In this method, group scheduling information is transmitted to MSs using a group allocation IE to prevent the MSs from reading unnecessary information transmitted every frame, thereby reducing power consumption of the MSs.
US08798085B2 Techniques to process network protocol units
Techniques are described herein that can be used to process inbound network protocol units. In some implementations, the techniques may process inbound DDP segments. In some implementations, a steering tag of an inbound network protocol unit may be used to access a context accessible to a network component. In some implementations, the context may include an array useful to determine whether all segments in a group have been received by the network component. In some implementations, the segments may be stored in a first buffer and transferred to a second buffer after all segments in a group have been received.
US08798084B2 Increasing reliability and reducing latency in a wireless network
A mesh communication network for use in, for example, process control plants includes a plurality of network devices transmitting and receiving data according to a network schedule defined as a set of concurrent overlapping superframes, and along a set of graphs defining communication paths between pairs of network devices. A network manager residing in or outside the communication network develops a routing scheme for the network by analyzing the topology of the network and defining a set of graphs for use in routing or transmitting data between various nodes of the network, each graph including one or more communication paths between pairs of network devices. Concurrently or consequently, the network manager defines the network schedule in view of at least transmission requirements, power availability, and signal quality at each network device. If desired, the network manager may begin to define the network schedule upon completing the definition of the graphs of the communication network, so that the network manager may define the network schedule in view both the defined graphs and the transmission, power, etc. parameters associated with each network device.
US08798081B2 Event delivery system, rendezvous node, broker node, load distribution method for event delivery system, load distribution method for rendezvous node, delivery route construction method for broker node, storage medium storing load distribution program, and storage medium storing delivery route construction program
Provided is an event delivery system where a bottleneck on the system can be eliminated by reducing load on a rendezvous node. The event delivery system includes publisher nodes, subscriber nodes, the rendezvous node, and broker nodes. The rendezvous node includes a traffic monitoring means that monitors the traffic volume of event information issued by the publisher node, and a specific event determination means that determines specific event information subject to load distribution from among the event information when the traffic volume exceeds a predetermined value. Each broker node includes a route defection means that detects whether its own node is an aggregation point node or a branch point node of the delivery route of the specific event information, and a route construction means that constructs a new delivery route of the specific event information going through the aggregation point node and the branch point node, bypassing the rendezvous node.
US08798080B2 Distributed fabric protocol (DFP) switching network architecture
A switching network includes an upper tier including a master switch and a lower tier including a plurality of lower tier entities. The master switch includes a plurality of ports each coupled to a respective one of the plurality of lower tier entities. Each port includes a plurality of virtual ports each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of remote physical interfaces (RPIs) at the lower tier entity coupled to that port. Each port also includes a receive interface that, responsive to data traffic from a particular lower tier entity, queues the data traffic to the virtual port that corresponds to the RPI on the particular lower tier entity that was the source of the data traffic. The master switch further includes a switch controller that switches data traffic from the virtual port to an egress port from which the data traffic is forwarded.
US08798079B2 Method and apparatus for fast passing through services for synchronous digital hierarchy device
The present invention provides a method for fast passing through services in a SDH device including: a protection switching module compresses first pass-through time slots between adjacent protection ports to a second pass-through time slot; when an action of pass-through is triggered, the protection switching module sending the second pass-through time slot to a time slot configuration module to parse, and the time slot configuration module sending a parsing result to a time slot register to perform a process of a time slot pass-through. The present invention provides an apparatus for fast passing through services in a SDH device, including a protection switching module, a time slot configuration module and a time slot register. With the method and apparatus in the present invention, the processing time for the pass-through configuration is reduced obviously, which benefits to fast completion of protection switching and achieves fast recovery of ring protection network services.
US08798074B1 Packet queueing within ring networks
In general, techniques are described for packet queuing within ring networks. In accordance with the techniques, a network device of a ring network comprises a memory having a different queue for each order-dependent pair of the network devices. Each pair represents a different order-dependent combination of the network devices that includes an ingress network device that provides an ingress to the ring network and an egress network device that provides an egress from the ring network. The network device further comprises an interface for receiving a packet from a neighboring one of the plurality of network devices and a control unit that, in response to receiving the packet, stores the packet to one of the queues based on which network devices is the ingress and which network device is the egress for the packet. The control unit forwards the stored packet via the ring network according to a scheduling algorithm.
US08798067B2 Methods, systems, and computer program products for enabling an operative coupling to a network
Methods and systems are described for enabling an operative coupling to a network. In an aspect, first data is detected for forwarding between a first node in a first network and another node by a network relay including a first network interface hardware component operatively coupled to a first network. A determination is made that a second operative coupling to a second network of a second network interface hardware component in the network relay is disabled. The second network interface hardware component is configured to enabled the second operative coupling, in response to the determination. Data received for forwarding between the first network and the second network is forwarded via the enabled second operative coupling.
US08798063B2 Information processing apparatus and information processing method
An apparatus includes a first processing unit to judge, whether the route information storing unit stores a second next destination address; a second processing unit to judge whether a received packet includes an message authentication code, in the case where the route-information storing unit stores the second next destination address; a third processing unit to judge whether the key-information storing unit stores a second shared key, which is a first shared key shared between the information processing apparatus, in the case where the received packet does not include the message authentication code for the second next destination address; a third packet generating unit to generate a third packet, which includes a next destination and information indicating that the generation of an message authentication code is impossible, in the case where the key information storing unit does not store the second shared key.
US08798062B2 Extensions to IPv6 neighbor discovery protocol for automated prefix delegation
In one embodiment, a method comprises detecting, by a router, a first router advertisement message from an attachment router that provides an attachment link used by the router, the first router advertisement message specifying a first IPv6 address prefix owned by the attachment router and usable for address autoconfiguration on the attachment link. The router detects an unsolicited delegated IPv6 address prefix from the attachment router and that is available for use by the router. The router claims a second IPv6 address prefix from at least a portion of the delegated IPv6 address prefix, for use on at least one ingress link of the router.
US08798055B1 Forming a multi-device layer 2 switched fabric using internet protocol (IP)-routed / switched networks
A network device associates a first node prefix with first network devices provided in a first network, associates a second node prefix with second network devices provided in a second network, and associates a third node prefix with third network devices provided in a third network. The network device advertises the first node prefix to the second and third networks, advertises the second node prefix to the first and third networks, and advertises the third node prefix to the first and second networks.
US08798053B2 Header compression in wireless links
In compression of packet data headers the compressor side (100) in a point-to-multipoint connection transmits (301) a message announcing a particular service. The entities (200) receiving the announcement message are adapted to respond to the message and based on the response message(s) (305) the compressor can adapt the compression scheme used. In particular the compressor may compress (315) or not compress (311) the header of the packet data header.
US08798047B1 Methods and systems for processing network information
The present embodiments support both tunneling and offload functionality for tunneled packet having a tunnel header, the tunnel header encapsulating a packet, the packet having a packet header and a payload. When a tunneled packet is received at a network device, an offset value for the packet header is determined by comparing the tunnel header to a plurality of entries stored at a data structure maintained by the network device. The offset value is used for pre-processing the packet, and an offload module of the network device performs an offload function.
US08798045B1 Control plane architecture for switch fabrics
In some embodiments, a system includes multiple access switches, a switch fabric having multiple switch fabric portions, and a control plane processor. Each switch fabric portion is coupled to at least one access switch by a cable from a first set of cables. Each switch fabric portion is configured to receive data from the at least one access switch via the cable from the first set of cables. The control plane processor is coupled to each switch fabric portion by a cable from a second set of cables. The control plane processor is configured to send control information to each access switch via a cable from the second set of cables, a switch fabric portion, and a cable from the first set of cables. The control plane processor is configured to determine control plane connections associated with each access switch and is configured to determine data plane connections associated with each access switch as a result of the control plane connections.
US08798044B2 Orthogonal channel data switch
An integrated circuit device for switching data has a plurality of input channels and a plurality of output channels. The device includes a switch for selectively connecting a subset of the output channels, mutually orthogonal, to the input channels by providing signal paths between the selected mutually orthogonal output channels and the input channels. The selected output channels are not orthogonal to the output channels that are not selected.
US08798043B2 Apparatus and method for routing traffic in multi-link switch
A method of routing traffic in a switch includes forming an optimized routing table specifying for each switch ingress port an exit port to be utilized to reach a specified destination domain. The optimized routing table is formed in accordance with load distribution, oversubscription, and fragmentation criteria. The optimized routing table is distributed to a set of ingress ports of the switch. Traffic is processed at the set of ingress ports in accordance with the optimized routing table.
US08798040B2 Remote service identifier
A method includes receiving a signaling protocol message associated with a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call. The method includes identifying a From value of the signaling protocol message. The From value includes at least one symbol. The method includes converting each symbol of the From value to a corresponding American Standard Code for Information Exchange (ASCII) decimal value. A To value of the at least one signaling protocol message is identified. The To value includes at least one symbol. The method includes converting each symbol of the To value to a corresponding ASCII decimal value. The ASCII decimal value of the From value is compared to the ASCII decimal value of the To value to determine a larger integer and a smaller integer. The method includes concatenating the larger integer and the smaller integer to form a remote service identifier based on a predetermined sequence.
US08798034B2 System and method for selecting a route based on link metrics incorporating channel bandwidth, spatial streams and/or guard interval in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) network
Systems and methods are provided for determining a link metric for a communication link along a path between a source node to a destination node is provided. A node can generate a link metric (LM) for the communication link between the particular node and next-hop node towards the destination node in the path based on a plurality of variables. The node can determine the LM for the communication link based on a plurality of variables including: bandwidth on the communication link, a number of spatial streams used to transmit over the communication link, and a guard interval used used to transmit over the communication link.
US08798031B2 User equipment and downlink synchronization determining method in the user equipment
To determine a downlink synchronization state in a DRX state or in a state in which uplink timing synchronization is not maintained in user equipment, a mobile station configured to perform communications with a radio base station determines a downlink synchronization state by comparing RSRP measured based on a downlink reference signal transmitted from the radio base station with Qrxlevmin notified from the radio base station when the mobile station is in a connected state in which a radio link with the radio base station is established and in the discontinuous reception state.
US08798029B2 Ultra wideband assisted initial acquisition
A method is provided for reducing the search space of an acquiring ultra wideband (UWB) device seeking to join an UWB communication system, such as a Multi-band orthogonal frequency divisional multiplexing (OFDM) UWB system, by providing wireless network information, such as the hopping pattern or Time-Frequency Code (TFC), timing and frequency information to the acquiring UWB device. The wireless network information is provided using a short range wireless module such as Bluetooth that may coexist with a UWB device. For example, an assisting UWB device, via a short range Bluetooth device module, may convey initial synchronization information, to the acquiring UWB device that also may have a coexisting UWB module. By knowing the TFC, timing and frequency information the acquiring UWB device may know the approximate beginning of the superframes of the UWB devices in the UWB communication system which may help reduce power consumption and probability of false alarm.
US08798024B2 Control station device, transmitting station device, communication method, and communication system
In a communication system configured by a transmitting station device and a receiving station device for transmitting and receiving a multicarrier signal using a spectrum including a plurality of subcarriers, a superposed rate which is a rate in which a superposed band in which interference is occurring is used in a used frequency band used for transmitting the multicarrier signal is set so as to increase frequency utilization efficiency of the used frequency band, and the multicarrier signal is transmitted using a spectrum allocated in accordance with the set superposed rate.
US08798013B1 Method and system for management of data transmission in timeslots
A method and system is disclosed for managing transmission of data in upcoming timeslots on an air interface. A radio access network detects that in the upcoming timeslots, less than a threshold portion of currently-contending devices are scheduled to receive transmissions, and the radio access network responsively de-schedules a number of the devices and schedules in their place a greater number of other devices, where the newly scheduled devices have higher forward link data rates than the de-scheduled devices.
US08798011B2 Enhancement of download multi-user multiple-input multiple-output wireless communications
A method implemented in a user equipment configured to be used in a multi-user (MU) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communications system is disclosed. In an aspect, the user equipment transmits to a base station a first channel state information (CSI) report determined according to a single-user (SU) MIMO rule and a second CSI report determined according to an MU-MIMO rule.
US08798008B2 Method and apparatus for locating a wireless local area network in a wide area network
The disclosure is directed to a mobile communication device that measures characteristics or attributes of a first communications network that vary according to physical location within that first communications network to create a fingerprint, or signature, of a location within the first communications network. When the fingerprint of the current location of the mobile device is created it can be compared to a known fingerprint associated with a second communication network to determine the mobile device's proximity to the second communications network. For example, the first communications network may be a CDMA wide area wireless communication network and the second communications network may be a 802.11 wireless LAN.
US08798007B2 Handover method, radio base station, and mobile station
A radio base station according to the present invention comprising the radio base station eNB#2 comprising a transmission unit 11 configured to transmit C-RNTI that can be used in the cell #2, to the radio base station eNB #1, in response to “HO Preparation (a handover preparation signal)” received from the radio base station eNB #1 that manages the cell #1, and a resource assignment unit 14 configured to notify a radio resource assigned to the mobile station UE by using C-RNTI included in “HO Complete”, when it is determined that C-RNTI included in “HO Complete” received from the mobile station UE that can be used in the cell #2.
US08798003B2 Hybrid communication terminal
There is provided a hybrid communication terminal which can overcome a drawback that, in performing switching a system between a 3G network and a WiMAX/LTE is performed under control of a mobile unit, when an IP address allocated to a mobile unit from the network differs before and after system switching, an active session of communication application is disconnected so that it is impossible to continue the communication. In automatically switching connection between different systems during communication, in order to conceal from the communication application that an IP address assigned by the network is changed, an exchange of user data with the communication network is performed via a virtual network device where the IP address is always the same.
US08798000B2 Managing wireless wide area network bandwidth constraints in a communication network
A technique to manage wireless wide area network bandwidth constraints in a communication network includes; prioritizing client activities in a serving access point; detecting that wired domain access is inactive while wireless wide area domain access is active; and utilizing an available bandwidth of the wireless aide area domain access for the highest priority client activities. The lower priority client activities can be address in various different ways including transferring to other available wired access.
US08797993B2 Method and device for superimposing reference signal and data based on space division multiple access
The present invention provides a method of superimposing data signals and reference signals in a space division multiple access communication system, a base station of the communication system transmitting the first layer resource block and another layer resource block to a terminal using the same time/frequency resources, reference signals in the first layer resource block and reference signals in the other layer resource block being orthogonal to each other, the method including superimposing data signals transmitted in the first layer resource block at positions of reference signals in the first layer resource block, making a spreading sequence of the superimposed data signals orthogonal to a spreading sequence of the reference signals in the first layer resource block. The present invention can effectively use resources consumed under a multiuser MIMO system and drastically improve the system performance.
US08797990B2 Reference signal transmission method, mobile station apparatus and base station apparatus
To efficiently use radio resources used in transmission of SRS, a base station apparatus (eNode B) transmits a scheduling grant including an instruction for transmission of a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS), and a mobile station apparatus (UE) transmits the SRS in response to the scheduling grant. The SRS is transmitted in the same subframe, another subframe or a previous subframe by the predetermined number of subframes as, immediately before, or before a subframe of a PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel) that the scheduling grant instructs to transmit.
US08797988B2 Resource allocation methods and use thereof for sounding reference signals in uplink
Apparatus, methods, and program products are presented that perform the following: allocating a set of sounding reference signal resources in a sounding reference signal resource space to a plurality of user equipment using a portioning scheme, and signaling indications of the allocated set of sounding reference signal resources to the plurality of user equipment. The portioning scheme may be a load balancing, complete partitioning, or hybrid scheme. The selection of a portioning scheme may be based on load.
US08797984B2 Signal transmitting and receiving method of repeater and repeater using the same
The present invention relates to a method for a repeater to transmit and receive a signal on a downlink sub frame in a wireless communication system, comprising the steps of: transmitting a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) to terminals positioned within a repeater cell on a downlink sub frame; and receiving a second PDCCH or a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) from a base station after a first guard time succeeding a first PDCCH section elapses, wherein a second guard time succeeding the PDSCH or the second PDCCH received from the base station is allocated to the downlink sub frame, and the repeater receives the second PDCCH through a certain range of symbols in accordance with information on the predetermined control channel section, which is received from the base station.
US08797961B2 Apparatus and methods for transmitting and receiving MAC PDU using MAC headers
An apparatus and methods for transmitting and receiving MAC PDU (medium access control protocol data unit) using a MAC Header are disclosed. The method includes steps of establishing, by a transmitting end with a receiving end, a connection associated with a service flow, constructing, by the transmitting end, the MAC PDU comprising a MAC header which is configured according to the connection, and transmitting the MAC PDU to the receiving end, wherein the MAC header is general MAC header (GMH) if the connection is associated with a general data packet transmission, and wherein the MAC header is short-packet MAC header (SPMH) if the connection is associated with a small data packet transmission and non-ARQ transmission.
US08797958B2 Method of wirelessly communicating data between vehicles and central facilities
A method of wirelessly communicating packetized data between a vehicle and a central facility includes receiving a request at a vehicle telematics unit to transmit packetized data; determining whether the vehicle telematics unit is communicating through a roaming wireless carrier system; and delaying the transmission of packetized data between the vehicle telematics unit and a central facility until the vehicle telematics unit is no longer communicating through the roaming wireless carrier system.
US08797957B2 Terminal, network node, system and methods for soft buffer handling in carrier aggregation
A terminal (e.g., mobile communication device, UE) and a method are described herein for allocating a soft buffer after interacting with a network node (e.g., base station, eNB). In addition, a network node (e.g., base station, eNB) and a method are described herein that facilitates robust operations during a reconfiguration period while a terminal allocates a soft buffer located therein.
US08797956B2 Mobile communication system
A radio base station includes a mobile communication system that sends and receives control signals between a mobile station and a mobile switching center via a first radio bearer, a second radio bearer, and a wired bearer. The relay node includes a first radio bearer function, a second radio bearer function, an IP layer function, an SCTP layer function, and an application layer function. The radio base station includes a second radio bearer function, a wired bearer function, and an IP layer function. The mobile switching center includes a wired bearer function, IP layer function, SCTP layer function, and an application layer function. Keep-alive processing is performed between the SCTP layer function of the relay node and the SCTP layer function of the mobile switching center. Security processing is performed between the IP layer function of the relay node and the IP layer function of the mobile switching center.
US08797955B2 Duplex communication method, terminal scheduling method and system
The present invention provides a method for duplexing communication, and a method and a system for scheduling a terminal. The method for scheduling a terminal includes: determining capability information of the terminal when the terminal makes a request for a service; allocating a band resource for the terminal according to the capability information of the terminal and the currently available band resources, and sending information of the allocated band resource to the terminal in the band currently used by the terminal, wherein the allocated band resource includes a bidirectionally used band, and at least one of the uplink band and downlink band includes a unidirectional band; and communicating with the terminal in the manner of time division duplexing by way of the allocated band resource. The present invention makes the best of the band resources near the TDD licensed band and improves the communication efficiency.
US08797954B2 Efficient signaling of discontinuous transmission
Methods and devices are disclosed for efficient signaling of discontinuous transmission in a wireless communication system. In various aspects of the disclosure, a user equipment device monitors transmissions on a plurality of physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) and, in response to said transmissions, generates an acknowledge/negative acknowledge (ACK/NACK) signal comprising a plurality of bits, wherein the plurality of bits includes a discontinuous transmission (DTX) indicator bit. In some embodiments, the indicator bit corresponds to an even or odd number of PDCCHs successfully decoded. In other embodiments, the indicator bit corresponds to an odd or even number of component carriers comprising “TRUE” NACKs.
US08797950B2 Dual-layer beam forming in cellular networks
Single user and multiuser MIMO transmission in a cellular network may be performed by selecting by a base station (eNB) to transmit either one or two transmission layers. When one transmission layer is selected, a first transmission layer is precoded with a first precoder. A first demodulation reference signal (DMRS) sequence or a second DMRS sequence is selected by the eNB and precoded using the first precoder. The first transmission layer is transmitted with the selected precoded DMRS from the eNB to a user equipment (UE), and an indicator is transmitted to the UE to indicate which DMRS sequence is selected and transmitted.
US08797947B2 Packet forwarding in telecommunication network
A solution for rearranging data transfer in a telecommunication network is provided. Accordingly, a data packet related to a first logical connection and originating from a first user terminal is received in a network node of a first logical connection associated with a first user terminal and a second logical connection associated with a second user terminal in a telecommunication network, wherein the data packet is addressed to the second user terminal. Then, the network node checks for an intermediate network node common to both the first logical connection and the second logical connections, and arranges a shortcut between the first and the second logical connection through the intermediate network node, if the common intermediate network node has been detected.
US08797937B2 System and method for providing multicast and broadcast service supporting macro diversity
The present invention relates to a multicast and broadcast service (MCBCS) system and method. According to the present invention, the MCBCS system comprises: an MBS distribution DPF (Data Patch Function) for receiving MBS data from an MCBCS server/controller and distributing the data; an MBS synchronization controller for acquiring GRE (Generic Routing Encapsulation) for the MBS data from the MBS distribution DPF and then generating an MBS synchronization rule; an MBS synchronization executor for executing MBS synchronization on the MBS synchronization rule received from the MBS synchronization controller; and an MBS DPF for receiving MBS data from the MBS distribution DPF, packaging the MBS data into an MBS burst and then transmitting the data to an MS (Mobile station). As such, multicast and broadcast services can be provided efficiently.
US08797936B2 Cooperative communication methods and devices
Cooperative communication methods for a wireless communication network (100) and devices configured to perform such methods are disclosed herein. In a described embodiment, the network (100) includes a first communication device (102) and a second communication device (104), each of the communication devices (102,104) being associated with respective users and configured to communicate with a common base station (130). The cooperative communication method comprises the first communication device (102) transmitting a first message to the second communication device (104) for transmission to the base station (130) as a first routed message; and receiving a second message from the second communication device (104) for transmission to the base station (130) as a second routed message. In this way, the transmission is able to achieve diversity gains at the base station (130).
US08797929B2 Communication apparatus and control method thereof
A discrimination unit of a communication apparatus discriminates information on devices configuring a network, and a selection unit of the communication apparatus selects whether or not to execute a process of selecting an antenna to be used in communication, based on the information discriminated by the discrimination unit. The information discriminated by the discrimination unit in the present circumstance is type, the function, the type of power supply, or the remaining battery life, of other communication apparatuses.
US08797923B2 Method for transmitting uplink sounding reference signal for LTE system
Disclosed are a method and apparatus for transmitting an uplink Sounding Reference Signal (SRS), the method including identifying a number of downlink and uplink switch points within a radio frame Nsp and a system frame number nf, calculating a value of nSRS according to a number of downlink and uplink switch points within a radio frame Nsp, and the system frame number nf for transmitting the SRS, determining a frequency-domain starting position of the SRS with nSRS, and transmitting the SRS at the determined frequency-domain starting position.
US08797920B2 Methods and systems for access to real-time full-duplex web communications platforms
At least one embodiment of this invention pertains to an abstraction layer that provides a consistent interface, with client-side and server-side implementations, to allow web client to interact with other web clients (that are connected to a common interactive event) in real-time over standard web ports without the web clients being tied to a specific real-time communications platform. At least some embodiments described herein contemplate methods and systems for establishing web communication among multiple web clients by providing a layer of abstraction between the web clients and the interactive session using interfaces to an Open Real-Time Connectivity (ORTC) layer. The system may use authentication methods to validate the web communications. The system may be implemented on a scalable, load-balanced, and fault-tolerant network.
US08797918B1 Method and apparatus for distributed topology function in serial attached small computer system interface (SAS)
The present invention is directed at a method and apparatus for determining a distributed Serial Attached Small computer system interface (SAS) topology in a storage network system. Once a SAS storage network element, such as a SAS Expander, receives notification that a downstream SAS topology has changed, the SAS Expander queries all downstream SAS Expanders to update its route table.
US08797913B2 Reduction of message and computational overhead in networks
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving, at the node, a network update message; determining whether the network update message should be propagated to other nodes; if the network update message should be propagated to other nodes, forwarding the network update message to at least one other node; and if the network update message should not be propagated to other nodes, refraining from forwarding the network update message to any other node. Various further embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: determining a first time period for the network update message; setting the first time period as a delay time; waiting for the delay time; and after the delay time has elapsed, computing new routing information based on the network update message.
US08797910B2 Modem and network search method of modem
The present application provides a modem and a network search method of the modem. The method includes: sampling a signal level value and a signal quality value of a serving cell; obtaining a signal power condition according to the signal level value, and obtaining a signal stability condition according to the signal quality value; and when both the signal power condition and the signal stability condition are higher than set conditions, determining a network search state as an off state. In embodiments of the present application, power consumption and a workload may be reduced.
US08797909B1 Network interface with autonegotiation and cable length measurement
A network interface to be implemented with a first network device is configured to autonegotiate a network link with a second network device by advertising a first selector field. The first selector field indicates that the first network device is capable of a first speed. The network interface is further configured to listen for a second selector field advertised by the second network device and stall autonegotiation while listening for the second selector field. The network interface is further configured to, in response to the second selector field indicating that the second network device is capable of communicating over the network link using the first speed, determine a cable length between the first and second network devices. The network interface is further configured to, in response to the cable length being less than a first predetermined threshold, select the first speed for communication over the network link.
US08797906B2 Method and system for wireless message-based advertising
Systems and methods for message-based advertising in a wireless communications network are described. A digital message is contained in a data packet set in transit from a terminal of a sender to a terminal of a recipient. At least one of the terminals is implemented as a mobile telephone. The digital message is received through a network connection. A processor determines a context for the digital message and matches the message context to content of advertisements stored in an advertisement database in order to identify at least one relevant advertisement. The data packet set is transmitted to the terminal of the recipient. A processor retrieves the relevant advertisement(s) from the advertisement database and generates a confirmation message containing a delivery status of the data packet set. The confirmation message includes the relevant advertisement and is transmitted to the terminal of the sender.
US08797901B2 Method and its devices of network TCP traffic online identification using features in the head of the data flow
Online TCP traffic identification using features in the head of the data flow wherein parameters of a number of packets in the head of the data flow such as packet length are extended with modified packet interval time and so on to establish the protocol features library according to the joint probability distribution. The protocol type of the data flow is obtained through comparing the packets features in the head of the data flow with the protocol features library. Data flow separation module, features extraction module, classification arbitration module and protocol features library module are included. The present invention weakens the impact that the round-trip delay has significantly on the protocol features, can accurately identify various TCP-based application-layer services and support online traffic identification. The identification process is suitable for hardware devices implementation and can be used in devices and systems that need online traffic identification in high-speed backbone network.
US08797894B2 Technique for communication between a plurality of nodes
A method is provided for communication between a plurality nodes organized as a ring provided with transmission resources at least one of which is a control resource dedicated to transmitting control information and associated with at least one transmission resource, said method comprising the following step executed by a node of the ring: a step of receiving information relating to a reservation of a transmission window of the transmission resource received over the associated control resource. The method further comprises, if the transmission window is reserved by another node of the ring, steps of: comparing the respective volumes of reservations of resources of the ring made by the node in question and by the other node during a reference period; and pre-empting said reservation of the transmission window as a function of the result of the comparison step.
US08797888B2 VoIP quality bar and “toast” notifications
The present invention provides in one aspect a method and a system for displaying a VoIP quality to a user, so that the user may determine if a specific call should be placed in view of the VoIP quality. The present invention also provides in another aspect a method and a system for non-intrusively signaling of an incoming VoIP call so that a user can be informed of the incoming call and yet not be interrupted from his/her current work.
US08797882B2 Mobile station, radio base station, and mobile communication method for determining a radio link failure in both a discontinuous state and a non-discontinuous state
In a mobile station (UE) according to the present invention, a radio link failure state determination unit determines whether or not the mobile station (UE) is in a radio link failure state, based on a downlink synchronization state and a discontinuous reception state parameter, when the mobile station (UE) is in a discontinuous reception state. The radio link failure state determination unit determines whether or not the mobile station (UE) is in the radio link failure state, based on the downlink synchronization state and a non-discontinuous reception state parameter, when the mobile station (UE) is not in the discontinuous reception state.
US08797878B1 Mobility-aware mesh construction algorithm for low data-overhead multicast ad hoc routing
Data overhead of mesh-based multicast ad hoc routing protocols are controlled by adaptively adding redundancy to the minimal data overhead multicast mesh as required by the network conditions. The computation of the minimal data overhead multicast mesh is NP-complete, and therefore an heuristic approximation algorithm inspired on epidemic algorithms is employed to increase tractability of a solution. A mobility-aware and adaptive mesh construction algorithm based on a probabilistic path selection is provided, which is able to adapt the reliability of the multicast mesh to the mobility of the network. Simulation results show that the proposed approach, when implemented into On-Demand Multicast Routing Protocol (ODMRP), is able to offer similar performance results and a lower average latency, while reducing data overhead between 25 to 50% compared to the original ODMRP.
US08797877B1 Virtual output queue allocation using dynamic drain bandwidth
In general, techniques are described for allocating virtual output queue (VOQ) buffer space to ingress forwarding units of a network device based on drain rates at which network packets are forwarded from VOQs of the ingress forwarding units. For example, a network device includes multiple ingress forwarding units that each forward network packets to an output queue of an egress forwarding unit. Ingress forwarding units each include a VOQ that corresponds to the output queue. The drain rate at any particular ingress forwarding unit corresponds to its share of bandwidth to the output queue, as determined by the egress forwarding unit. Each ingress forwarding unit configures its VOQ buffer size in proportion to its respective drain rate in order to provide an expected delay bandwidth buffering for the output queue of the egress forwarding unit.
US08797876B2 Identification of underutilized network devices
A method, article of manufacture, and system for indicating underutilized network devices that provide services in a data communications network. The method includes: receiving network traffic data; filtering the network traffic data to eliminate data for predefined connections; producing, from the filtered network traffic data, a graph representing a connection between a first device and a second device within the data communications network; analyzing the graph to identify a set of interconnected nodes that is outside the data communications network; and indicating an underutilized network device by producing an output dependent on traffic rate data associated with a link to the identified set of interconnected nodes that is outside the data communications network.
US08797869B2 Flow-based rate limiting
A device may include logic configured to receive a packet, identify a flow associated with the packet in a flow table, and identify a rate limit associated with the flow in the flow table. A current rate associated with the flow may be calculated based on the packet. It may be determined whether the current rate associated with the flow exceeds the rate limit associated with the flow. If so, the packet may be discarded or tagged as “over limit.”
US08797864B2 Adaptive traffic management via analytics based volume reduction
A method of managing traffic over a communication link between a transmitting node and a receiving node is provided herein. The method includes: determining momentary traffic shaping constraints; accumulating incoming messages at the transmitting node into a data queue, based on the momentary traffic shaping constraints; transmitting the messages from the data queue to the receiving node over the communication link based on the momentary traffic shaping constraints; estimating a desired amount of data that needs to be discarded from messages in the data queue, based on: (a) the size of the data queue and (b) the momentary traffic shaping constraints; sorting data in the data queue by an order of importance, based on analytic objects; discarding, based on the analytic objects, the desired amount of data from the messages in the queued data, such that the discarded data is ranked lowest by the order of importance.
US08797861B2 System and method for mobile internet offloading in a wireless communication network
A system and method for mobile Internet offloading in a wireless communication network are disclosed. In one embodiment, a session is established through an Internet offload gateway (IOGW) with a mobile operator network to establish a communication with a mobile device. A packet coming from the mobile device is received by an intelligent policy manager (IPM) residing in the IOGW during the session. If the received packet is a signaling packet, offload rule flags are generated and operator defined offload policy rules are then enabled. If the received packet is a data packet, it is determined whether the operator defined offload policy rules match with session information associated the data packet. If the operator defined offload policy rules match, the data packet is offloaded to the Internet. If the operator defined offload policy rules do not match, the data packet is sent to a home gateway.
US08797860B2 Method for implementing flow control in switch fabric, switching device, and switching system
A method for implementing flow control in a switch fabric includes: sending, by each input port, request information to a destination output port where no packet congestion occurs; according to respective back pressure information, determining, by the destination output port which receives the request information, whether to return grant information to each input port to establish a matching relationship between each input port and the destination output port which returns the grant information; according to the matching relationship, scheduling, by each input port, a cell to a destination output port that is matched with each input port. Through the embodiments of the present invention, quantity of information transmitted between an input port and an output port is reduced, the design of the switch fabric is simplified, and data processing efficiency in the switch fabric is improved.
US08797859B2 Reset functions
The invention discloses a node (120) for use in a wireless access communications system (100) which is arranged to transmit information to and receive information from a PCRF (110), a Policy and Charging Rules Function, in the system. The information to and from the PCRF (110) is transmitted over a Gx interface, and the node is also arranged to count the amount of a defined service in the system which is used by a user, a UE (130) in the system during a defined period of time and to take a defined course of action when said amount of the defined service reaches a threshold value. The node (120) is arranged to be able to reset said count at a defined point in time, a “reset point”, and the information which the node it is arranged to receive from the PCRF (110) comprises information on said reset point.
US08797855B1 Method and apparatus of providing emergency communication services
Disclosed is an electrical device and method of automatically searching for and connecting to known or unknown available public communication infrastructure and/or devices in the vicinity using a multi-layer communication model. Each layer may include binding information for local available communication methods and shareable hardware devices, a routing table, and, if applicable, one or more logon profiles for service providers. Communication layers may be built by searching for available public communication infrastructure and/or devices in the vicinity by actively sending out connection requests to all addressable destinations along the available transport medium. Each node is able to access and use the communication infrastructure of each other node. Switching between layers as they become inoperable and/or become available without any user interaction required is also possible.
US08797852B2 Dynamical bandwidth adjustment of a link in a data network
An apparatus includes a first node configured to receive the data packets from a plurality of source nodes of the data network and to selectively route some of the received data packets to a link via a port of the first node. The apparatus also includes a link-input buffer that is located in the first node and is configured to store the some of the received data packets for transmission to the link via the port. The first node is configured to power off hardware for transmitting received data packets to the link in response to a fill level of the link-input buffer being below a threshold.
US08797844B1 Scheduling traffic over aggregated bundles of links
In general, techniques are described for scheduling traffic for delivery over an aggregated bundle of links. The techniques may be implemented by a network device comprising a control unit. The control unit configures a primary logical interface such that the primary logical interface is associated with a primary link of the aggregated bundle of links. The primary logical interface is associated with a primary scheduling module that schedules the traffic for delivery via the primary link. The control unit further, prior to detecting a failure associated with the primary scheduling module, configures a backup logical interface such that the backup logical interface is associated with a backup link of the aggregated bundle links. The backup logical interface is associated with a backup scheduling module that schedules, in response to detecting the failure associated with the primary scheduling module, the traffic for delivery downstream via the backup link.
US08797843B2 High availability distributed fabric protocol (DFP) switching network architecture
In a switching network, each of a plurality of lower tier entities is coupled to each of multiple master switches at an upper tier by a respective one of multiple links. At each of the multiple master switches, a plurality of virtual ports each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of remote physical interfaces (RPIs) at the lower tier are implemented on each of a plurality of ports. Each of the plurality of lower tier entities implements a respective egress port mapping indicating which of its plurality of RPIs transmits egress data traffic through each of its multiple links to the multiple master switches. In response to failure of one of the multiple links coupling a particular lower tier entity to a particular master switch, the particular lower tier entity updates its egress port mapping to redirect egress data traffic to another of the multiple master switches without packet dropping.
US08797839B2 Signaling processor and link switching method
A signaling processor has a message transfer part for a Layer 2 operable to notify a message transfer part for a Layer 3 of a signal indicative of stop (release) completion of a link being connected when it receives a response to a request for a link release process after detection of a failure of the link being connected and notification of the request for the link release process to a correspondent signaling processor and a message transfer part for the Layer 3 operable to perform a retrieval process of a received signal that has not been retrieved and has been stored in the message transfer part for the Layer 2 when it receives the signal indicative of stop (release) completion of the link.
US08797838B2 Intelligent network restoration
A device may isolate a first failure of a network interface that transports packets from one point in a network to another point in the network, may detect a subsequent failure of the interface, and may identify a recovery of the network interface from the subsequent failure. In addition, the device may restore the network interface to the network to enable the interface to transport packets after a wait-to-restore period that is approximately greater than or equal to a time difference between when the first failure and the subsequent failure occur.
US08797836B2 Communication resource allocation systems and methods
A channel descriptor management message is transmitted on a broadcast connection to a mobile terminal. The channel descriptor management message provides a format for a frame. The frame includes a resource space. The channel descriptor management message defines a plurality of channels within the resource space and allocates at least one of the channels to a plurality of users. Subsequent resource allocation messages may refer to a location within a channel rather than a location within the entire resource space.
US08797835B1 Method and apparatus for detecting crosstalk between a plurality of devices communicating in accordance with a universal serial bus (USB) protocol
A first device comprising a transceiver module configured to begin transmission of a first signal to a second device. A control module is configured to, in response to the transceiver module receiving a second signal during the transmission of the first signal to the second device, determine whether the second signal corresponds to crosstalk by having the transceiver module suspend the transmission of the first signal. In response to the transceiver module continuing to receive the second signal subsequent to the transceiver module having suspended the transmission of the first signal to the second device, the control module determines that the second signal does not correspond to crosstalk. In response to the transceiver module not continuing to receive the second signal subsequent to the transceiver module having suspended the transmission of the first signal to the second device, the control module determines that the second signal does correspond to crosstalk.
US08797831B2 Suspension board with circuit
A suspension board with circuit is for mounting thereon a slider/light source unit provided with a slider on which a magnetic head is mounted, and a light source device including a main body, and a light source provided to protrude from the main body. The suspension board with circuit includes a receiving portion formed therein to be capable of receiving the light source, and a guide surface for guiding the light source to the receiving portion when the slider/light source unit is mounted.
US08797828B1 Remote optical seismic surveying and detection and imaging of underground objects
System for optical seismic surveying of an area of interest including at least one seismic source, at least one laser source, at least one optical sensing system and a processor, the processor being coupled with the seismic source, the laser source and the optical sensing system, the seismic source for generating at least one seismic wave in the area of interest, the laser source for generating a matrix of laser spots over the area of interest, the optical sensing system for detecting reflections of the laser spots as a speckle pattern, wherein the seismic source modifies the speckle pattern and wherein the processor determines at least one property of the seismic wave according to the modified speckle pattern thereby generating a seismic map of the area of interest.
US08797825B2 Method and apparatus for measuring formation anisotropy while drilling
A logging system for measuring anisotrophic properties of the materials penetrated by a borehole. A downhole or “logging tool” element of the system comprises a source section that comprises either a unipole or a dipole acoustic source. The receiver section comprises a plurality of receiver stations disposed at different axial spacings from the acoustic source. Each receiver station comprises one or more acoustic receivers. The system requires that the source and receiver sections rotate synchronously as the logging tool is conveyed along the borehole. Receiver responses are measured in a plurality of azimuthal angle segments and processed as a function of rotation angle of the tool. The logging system can be embodied as a logging-while-drilling system, a measurement-while-drilling system, and a wireline system that synchronously rotates source and receiver sections. All embodiments require that the acoustic source operate at a relatively high frequency.
US08797824B2 Phase based sensing
A method of sensing using a phase based transducer in which a transducer response is provided at multiple different levels of sensitivity. The different levels of sensitivity are used to produce an output which does not overscale across a wide range of signal levels. This is particularly useful for use in conjunction with multiplexed arrays of fiber optic sensors for seismic surveying. Methods of sensor calibration and noise reduction are also described.
US08797823B2 Implementing SDRAM having no RAS to CAS delay in write operation
A method and circuit for implementing faster-cycle-time and lower-energy write operations for Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. A first RAS (row address strobe) to CAS (column address strobe) command delay (tRCD) is provided to the SDRAM for a read operation. A second delay tRCD is provided for a write operation that is substantially shorter than the first delay tRCD for the read operation.
US08797821B2 Card controller controlling semiconductor memory including memory cell having charge accumulation layer and control gate
A card controller includes an arithmetic processing device. The controller writes data to a semiconductor memory having a first memory block and a second memory block each including a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells each configured to hold at least 2 bits, data in the first memory block and data in the second memory block being each erased at a time. The arithmetic processing device writes the data to the memory cells in the first memory block using an upper bit and a lower bit of the at least 2 bits and writes the data to the memory cells in the second memory block using only the lower bit of the at least 2 bits.
US08797820B2 Soft breakdown mode, low voltage, low power antifuse-based non-volatile memory cell
A non-volatile memory cell using two transistors, a bit select and a sense device and an antifuse device. The antifuse device is implemented with a field-effect transistor operated to behave like an antifuse when the cell is selected and a modest programming voltage under 5.5 volts and a current under 5-μA is applied. Only a soft breakdown is needed in the thin gate oxide because a local sense transistor is used during read operations to detect the programming and amplify it for column sense amplifiers. Reading also only requires low voltages of about one volt.
US08797819B2 Refreshing data of memory cells with electrically floating body transistors
A semiconductor device along with circuits including the same and methods of operating the same are described. The device comprises a memory cell including one transistor. The transistor comprises a gate, an electrically floating body region, and a source region and a drain region adjacent the body region. Data stored in memory cells of the device can be refreshed within a single clock cycle.
US08797817B2 Semiconductor devices, operating methods thereof, and memory systems including the same
At least one example embodiment discloses a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a first sense amplifier selectively connected between a first bit line and a second bit line, a second sense amplifier selectively connected between the first bit line and the second bit line, a first power supply circuit configured to provide a power supply voltage to the first sense amplifier in response to a first control signal, a second power supply circuit configured to provide a ground voltage to the second sense amplifier in response to a second control signal, and a switching circuit configured to selectively connect the first power supply circuit with the second power supply circuit in response to a third control signal.
US08797812B2 Memory system having delay-locked-loop circuit
A delay-locked-loop (DLL) circuit having a DLL that operates when an external clock signal has a low frequency and a DLL that operates when an external clock signal has a high frequency is disclosed. The DLL circuit includes a first DLL and second DLL. The first DLL adjusts a delay time of an external clock signal to generate a first internal clock signal synchronized with the external clock signal when the external clock signal has a low frequency. The second DLL adjusts the delay time of the external clock signal to generate a second internal clock signal synchronized with the external clock signal when the external clock signal has a high frequency.
US08797811B2 Method and apparatus to reduce power consumption by transferring functionality from memory components to a memory interface
A common Delay Locked Loop (DLL) circuit and/or voltage generator circuit is provided in, or associated with. a memory interface interposed between a memory controller and a plurality of memory components. Corresponding circuits in the memory components are disabled and/or bypassed, or the memory components are manufactured without the circuits. Both the DLL circuit and voltage generator draw current, which is multiplied by the number of memory components in a memory system. By operating a single DLL circuit and/or voltage generator in or associated with the memory interface, that generates a read clock signal and/or various voltage levels, respectively, for all memory components in the memory system, power consumption may be significantly reduced.
US08797781B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device with a memory unit of which the variations in the operation timing are reduced is provided. For example, the semiconductor device is provided with dummy bit lines which are arranged collaterally with a proper bit line, and column direction load circuits which are sequentially coupled to the dummy bit lines. Each column direction load circuit is provided with plural NMOS transistors fixed to an off state, predetermined ones of which have the source and the drain suitably coupled to any of the dummy bit lines. Load capacitance accompanying diffusion layer capacitance of the predetermined NMOS transistors is added to the dummy bit lines, and corresponding to the load capacitance, the delay time from a decode activation signal to a dummy bit line signal is set up. The dummy bit line signal is employed when setting the start-up timing of a sense amplifier.
US08797780B2 Memory device having sub-bit lines and memory system
A memory device includes; a memory cell array including a memory cell connected to a bit line, a page buffer unit receiving data from the memory cell via the bit line, and a contact unit providing an electrical path through which the data is communicated from the memory cell array to the page buffer unit, wherein the contact unit comprises a sub-bit line configured to connect the bit line via a first contact with the page buffer unit via a second contact.
US08797779B2 Memory module with memory stack and interface with enhanced capabilites
A memory module, which includes at least one memory stack, comprises a plurality of DRAM integrated circuits and an interface circuit. The interface circuit interfaces the memory stack to a host system so as to operate the memory stack as a single DRAM integrated circuit. In other embodiments, a memory module includes at least one memory stack and a buffer integrated circuit. The buffer integrated circuit, coupled to a host system, interfaces the memory stack to the host system so to operate the memory stack as at least two DRAM integrated circuits. In yet other embodiments, the buffer circuit interfaces the memory stack to the host system for transforming one or more physical parameters between the DRAM integrated circuits and the host system.
US08797776B2 Diode-less full-wave rectifier for low-power on-chip AC-DC conversion
A bridge rectifier operates on low A.C. input voltages such as received by a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) device. Voltage drops due to bridge diodes are avoided. Four p-channel transistors are arranged in a transistor bridge across the A.C. inputs to produce an internal power voltage. Another four diode-connected transistors form a start-up diode bridge that generates a comparator power voltage and a reference ground. The start-up diode bridge operates even during initial start-up before the comparator and boost drivers operate. A comparator receives the A.C. input and controls timing of voltage boost drivers that alternately drive gates of the four p-channel transistors in the transistor bridge with voltages boosted higher than the peak A.C. voltage. Substrates are connected to the power voltage on the power-voltage half of the bridge and to the A.C. inputs on the ground half of the bridge to fully shut off transistors, preventing reverse current flow.
US08797775B2 Driving circuit for low voltage drop bridge rectifier and method thereof
The embodiments of the present circuit and method disclose a bridge rectifier and a driving circuit. The bridge rectifier having a first input, a second input, a first output, and a second output may comprise two high side diodes and two low side switches. The driving circuit may be coupled to the first input of the bridge rectifier and the second input of the bridge rectifier, and the driving circuit may be configured to provide a first driving signal and a second driving signal. The first driving signal may be coupled to a first low side switch and the second driving signal may be coupled to a second low side switch. The first driving signal may be limited to less than a first predetermined driving voltage and the second driving signal may be limited to less than a second predetermined driving voltage.
US08797774B2 Manufacturing method for chopper circuit, chopper circuit, DC/DC converter, fuel cell system, and control method
A manufacturing method for a chopper circuit that uses soft switching operation includes: identifying devices that constitute the chopper circuit and that are relevant to determining time at which a voltage applied to a main switching element during operation of the chopper circuit takes a minimum value; calculating a design representative value of an observed device that is at least one of the identified devices in such a manner that a plurality of the observed devices are prepared and then variations from a rated value in electrical characteristic of each observed device are subjected to statistical processing; and setting the representative value, instead of the rated value of the electrical characteristic of the observed device, in a switching control unit that controls the timings of switching of the main switching element and an auxiliary switching element on the basis of the electrical characteristics of the identified devices.
US08797769B2 On time sampling prevention
An example controller for a power converter includes a feedback sampling circuit, drive logic and a false sampling prevention circuit. The feedback sampling circuit is coupled to sample a feedback signal received from a terminal of the controller and to generate a sample signal representative of a value of the feedback signal. The drive logic is coupled to the feedback sampling circuit and coupled to control the power switch to regulate an output of the power converter in response to the sample signal. The false sampling prevention circuit is coupled to receive a sampling complete signal that indicates when the sampling of the feedback signal is complete. The false sampling prevention circuit is further coupled to the drive logic to extend the off time of the power switch until the sampling complete signal indicates that the sampling of the feedback signal by the feedback sampling circuit is complete.
US08797765B2 Angle adjustable device and electronic display unit using the same
The instant disclosure relates to an angle adjustable device, which includes: a base having a fixing member disposed thereon, where the fixing member has a fixing surface; a switch mechanism having a locking ring, a first gear, and a second gear, while at least one block protrudes from the inner surface of the locking ring, with the first gear having a contact incline slidingly abutted by the block, where the contact incline is defined with a first end and a second end, where the first gear is received by the locking ring and capable of meshing with the second gear; and a rotator having at least one connecting member connected to the second gear. The instant disclosure also discloses an electronic display unit using the same.
US08797760B2 Substrate, electronic device, and electronic apparatus
A substrate includes: a base; and a plurality of bonding terminals arranged on at least one surface of the base, wherein the plurality of bonding terminals include a first bonding terminal and a second bonding terminal, the first bonding terminal and the second bonding terminal include, in plan view of the base, a circle contacting portion extending along the circumference of a circle tangent to the first bonding terminal and the second bonding terminal, all of the plurality of bonding terminals are arranged so as not to protrude from an area including the circle and the inside thereof, and the circle contacting portion includes at least a first circle contacting portion disposed in the first bonding terminal and a second circle contacting portion disposed in the second bonding terminal.
US08797758B2 Electrical connection structure of electronic board
An electrical connection structure of an electronic board includes: a board support member formed of synthetic resin; an electronic board fixed to the board support member; an electrical connection pad disposed on the electronic board; a bus bar disposed in the board support member; and a bonding wire that electrically connects the electrical connection pad and the bus bar. The bus bar includes: an exposed portion exposed in a face of the board support member; an embedded portion embedded in the board support member; and a connection portion extending from the exposed portion and being electrically connected to an electrical component. An end of the bonding wire is bonded to the exposed portion, and a first cut portion is formed in the embedded portion.
US08797754B2 Power supply system for server cabinet
A power supply system provides power to a server cabinet, which includes a number of servers. A number of sockets, first and second electrical connecting portions, first and second through holes are arranged on a power connecting board. Each socket includes a first power pin connected to the first electrical connecting portion and a first ground pin connected to the second electrical connecting portion. A number of power interfaces, third and fourth electrical connecting portions, third and fourth through holes are arranged on a base. Each power interface includes a second power pin connected to the third electrical connecting portion and a second ground pin connected to the fourth electrical connecting portion. The base is electrically connected to the power connecting board when the first connecting element engages in the first and third through holes and the second connecting element engages in the second and fourth through holes.
US08797746B2 Interface card quick plug-and-unplug device
An interface card quick plug-and-unplug device for use with a PCIe interface card is disclosed to include a shell covering a part of the PCIe interface card, and a locating member disposed at one side of the shell and/or the PCIe interface card for engagement with the PCIe slot upon insertion of the PCIe interface card into the PCIe slot. Biasing the locating member allows quick removal of the PCIe interface card from the PCIe slot without any tool. The interface card quick plug-and-unplug device enhances the flexibility of the design of computer circuit layout.
US08797745B2 Server cabinet
A server cabinet includes a rack and a server unit installed in the rack. The server unit includes a receiving portion extending rearward from a rear wall of the server unit adjacent to a sidewall of the server unit, a motherboard with a first connector, and a cable with a second connector. The motherboard is received in the server unit. The first connector is received in the receiving portion. The receiving portion defines a through hole adjacent to the sidewall. The second connector of the cable extends through the through hole, to be connected to the first connector of the motherboard.
US08797742B2 Electronic controller for vehicle
An electronic controller for a vehicle includes a circuit board on which an electronic component is mounted and a metal housing accommodating the circuit board therein. The housing includes an inner face and an outer face, at least one of the inner face and the outer face being subjected to surface treatment facilitating heat absorption and dissipation. The inner face of the housing further includes a protruding portion extending to a heating portion of the circuit board so as to be close to the heating portion, or includes concavities and convexities at at least a part thereof opposed to a surface of the circuit board on which the electronic component is mounted so as to increase a surface area of the inner face.
US08797735B2 Electrical device having hinged structure
An exemplary electrical device includes a first main body; a second main body; and a rotatable mechanism pivotally connected the first main body and the second main body. The rotatable mechanism includes a first rotation unit and a second rotation unit. The first rotation unit is capable of making the first main body rotate around a second rotation axis in a plane perpendicular to the second rotation axis. The second rotation unit is capable of making the first main body rotate relative to the second main body around a first rotation axis.
US08797734B2 Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus has a trapezoidally shaped first housing having a first side portion, a second side portion, slanted side portions, a bottom surface portion, and a top surface portion, the second side portion having a width smaller than a width of the first side portion and being parallel to the first side portion, the slanted side portions connecting end points of the first side portion with respective end points of the second side portion. The electronic apparatus has a second housing and a connecting portion connecting the first side portion of the first housing with the second housing such that the second housing is capable of being opened and closed with respect to the top surface portion of the first housing.
US08797733B2 Fastening module
A fastening module for fastening a data storage device is provided. The data storage device includes first and second positioning apertures. A frame of the fastening module includes a retaining hole, and first and second positioning holes. The data storage device is slidably received in the frame. A securing member of the fastening module includes a main body, a pivot member, and a pin. The main body includes a pivot hole pivotally connected by the pivot member. A securing piece of the pivot member passes through the retaining hole and rotates relative to the main body to fasten the securing member to the frame. When the securing piece passes through the retaining hole, the pin passes through either the first or second positioning hole and inserts into either the first or second positioning aperture to fasten the data storage device at different positions.
US08797730B2 Sliding module for electronic device
A sliding module includes a first section, a second section, a pivot plate, a hinge module and an assist lever. Two sides of the pivot plate are respectively rotatably connected to the first section and the hinge module. The hinge module is positioned on the second section. Two ends of the assist lever are respectively rotatably connected to the first section and the second section. The first section brings the pivot plate to rotate relative to the hinge module, and elevates the assist lever, the pivot plate and the assist lever bring the first section to move and rotate relative to the second section in a tilted orientation.
US08797729B2 Connecting component for connecting a display panel to a cabinet
The instant application describes a display device including a display panel; a cabinet configured to house the display panel; a spacer disposed inside of the cabinet between a back wall of the cabinet and a back portion of the display panel; and a fastening component configured to secure the back wall of the cabinet to the back portion of the display panel by penetrating through the back wall of the cabinet and the spacer and resting in an aperture provided in the back portion of the display panel.
US08797721B2 Portable electronic device housing with outer glass surfaces
Improved housings for electronic devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, an electronic device housing can have one or more outer members (e.g., exposed major surfaces), such as front or back surfaces, that are formed of glass. The one or more glass surfaces can be part of outer member assemblies that can be secured to other portions of the electronic device housing. In other embodiments, apparatus, systems and methods for robustly attaching a cover portion of an electronic device to a bottom portion, e.g., a housing portion, of the electronic device are described. The electronic device can be portable and in some cases handheld.
US08797720B2 Manually-controlled arc flash energy reduction system and method for circuit breaker trip units
A circuit protection system has a normal mode, and a maintenance mode with reduced potential arc flash energy. A downstream circuit breaker is mounted within a first enclosure comprising a first access panel. A locking mechanism locks the first access panel closed. An upstream breaker is mounted within a second enclosure comprising a second access panel. A current sensor senses current and is in communication with an electronic trip unit that controls current interruptions by the upstream breaker based on a trip setting. A user interface device is accessible when second enclosure is closed, and allows user selections of normal and maintenance modes. When maintenance mode is selected, the trip unit changes the trip setting such that potential arc flash energy is reduced. The system is configured to keep the first access panel locked closed based on normal mode being selected, and allow unlocking based on maintenance mode being selected.
US08797712B2 Ceramic capacitor and electronic component including the same
In a ceramic capacitor, first and second electrode terminals each include a bonded-to-substrate portion, a first bonded-to-electrode portion bonded to a first edge of one of first and second external electrodes, a second bonded-to-electrode portion bonded to a second edge of the one of first and second external electrodes and disposed at a distance from the first bonded-to-electrode portion in the first directions, and a connecting portion connecting the first and second bonded-to-electrode portions and the bonded-to-substrate portion. W1/W0 is about 0.3 or more, and h/L is about 0.1 or more.
US08797710B2 Multilayer ceramic capacitor
There is provided a multilayer ceramic capacitor. The capacitor includes: a multilayer body having a dielectric layer; and first and second internal electrodes disposed in the multilayer body, the dielectric layer being disposed between the first and second internal electrodes, wherein, in a cross-section taken in a width-thickness direction of the multilayer body, an offset portion is defined as a portion where adjacent first and second internal electrodes do not overlap with each other, and a ratio (t1/td) of a width t1 of the offset portion to a thickness td of the dielectric layer is 1 to 10.
US08797709B2 Multilayer ceramic electronic part and method of manufacturing the same
There is provided a multilayer ceramic electronic part, including: a ceramic element having a plurality of dielectric layers laminated therein; and a plurality of first and second internal electrodes each including a body part formed on at least one surface of each of the plurality of dielectric layers within the ceramic element, the first and second internal electrodes including first and second lead parts extended from one surfaces of the body parts to be exposed through one surface of the ceramic element, respectively, wherein inside connection portions between the body parts and the first and second lead parts are curvedly formed, and have a curvature radius of 30 to 100 μm.
US08797705B2 Methods and arrangement for plasma dechuck optimization based on coupling of plasma signaling to substrate position and potential
A method for optimizing a dechuck sequence, which includes removing a substrate from a lower electrode. The method includes performing an initial analysis to determine if a first set of electrical characteristic data of a plasma formed during the dechuck sequence traverses a threshold values. If so, turning off the inert gas. The method also includes raising the lifter pins slightly from the lower electrode to move the substrate in an upward direction. The method further includes performing a mechanical and electrical analysis, which includes comparing a first set of mechanical data, which includes an amount of force exerted by the lifter pins, against a threshold value. The mechanical and electrical analysis also includes comparing a second set of electrical characteristic data against a threshold value. If both traverse the respective threshold value, removes the substrate from the lower electrode since a substrate-released event has occurred.
US08797701B2 Electronic load for testing voltage stability
An electronic load for testing stability of a power voltage of a power source under test (PSUT) includes a voltage supply device, a field effect transistor (FET), an amplification circuit, and a current sampling resistor. The amplification circuit includes a first input, a second input, and an output. The voltage supply device is connected to the first input. The second input is connected to a source electrode of the FET. The output is connected to a gate electrode of the FET. A drain electrode of the FET is connected to the PSUT. One end of the current sampling resistor is grounded, and the other end of the current sampling resistor is connected to the source electrode of the FET and the second input. The voltage supply device outputs a control voltage. The amplification circuit amplifies the control voltage and drives the FET using the amplified control voltage.
US08797699B2 Medium-voltage drivers in a safety application
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a current driver for controlling a safety control device, including: a clamp circuit connected to a first output configured to clamp the voltage at the first output to a clamp voltage value, wherein the first output is configured to be connected to a high voltage switch; a plurality of medium voltage switches; a plurality of switch drivers, wherein each switch driver is connected to one of the medium voltage switches; a plurality of second outputs wherein each of the plurality of second outputs are configured to be connected across one of a plurality of loads; and a controller configured to control the high voltage switch.
US08797697B2 High frequency integrated circuit
A high frequency integrated circuit equipped with an electrostatic protection device provided with a field effect transistor as an electrostatic protection device at the input and output of a high frequency integrated circuit, having excellent high frequency characteristics, and making an ESD withstand voltage large, having a high frequency circuit 11 having input/output terminals and an enhancement type field effect transistor 13 formed on a compound semiconductor substrate and provided in said high frequency circuit, having one terminal of the input/output terminals connected to the input/output terminals of the high frequency circuit, having the other terminal connected to a first reference potential, and having a gate connected via a resistor 14 to a second reference potential, and making an impedance of the field effect transistor 13 low for ESD protection when noise or a high voltage pulse is applied from the input/output terminals.
US08797696B2 Current leakage protection circuit, power socket and electronic device using same
A current leakage protection circuit includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal for receiving a power voltage and a current leakage detection terminal configured for detecting a current leakage from an electronic device. A control circuit of the current leakage protection circuit is configured for providing a control signal to control a first switch circuit to switch off a first connection between the first input terminal and a first output terminal and to control a second switch circuit to switch off a second connection between the second input terminal and a second output terminal when the current leakage detection terminal detects current leakage of the electronic device.
US08797695B2 High voltage direct current circuit breaker arrangement and method
A DC circuit breaker arrangement for interrupting a current on a transmission line or in a HVDC circuit is provided. The DC circuit breaker arrangement comprises a first DC breaker and a second DC breaker, identical to the first DC breaker. The second DC breaker is connected in parallel with the first DC breaker on the transmission line or in the HVDC circuit and the current is divided between the first and the second DC breakers. By means of the invention, a DC circuit breaker arrangement is provided able to handle very high currents. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.
US08797694B2 Magnetic sensor having hard bias structure for optimized hard bias field and hard bias coercivity
A magnetic read sensor having a hard bias structure that extends beyond the back edge of the sensor stack by a controlled, distance that is chosen to maximize both hard bias field and hard bias magnetic coercivity and anisotropy. The hard bias structure has a back edge that is well defined and that has a square corner at its innermost end adjacent to the sensor stack. The magnetic sensor can be constructed by a process that includes a separate making an milling process that is dedicated to defining the back edge of the hard bias structure.
US08797687B1 Head with supplemental module for backward and/or cross-platform compatibility
In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes at least one first module configured for writing and/or reading data to and from a magnetic medium in a first format and/or first generation and writing data to the magnetic medium in a second format and/or second generation that is different than the first format and first generation. The apparatus also includes a supplemental module coupled to the first module, the supplemental module being configured for reading a magnetic medium having data written in the second format and/or the second generation.
US08797686B1 Magnetic recording transducer with short effective throat height and method of fabrication
A magnetic recording transducer for use in a data storage device includes a writer pole with a ABS surface, trailing edge bevel and a trailing shield. The effective throat height of the writer main pole is reduced by the use two gap layers between the writer main pole and the trailing shield. A first gap layer is on and in contact with the writer pole trailing surface, and a second gap layer is on a section of the first gap layer on the writer pole trailing edge bevel, from a point removed from the ABS surface and absent from a part on a section of the first gap layer on the writer pole trailing edge bevel nearest the ABS. A method of fabricating the transducer is also provided.
US08797683B2 Magnetic head and storage system having two inner and two outer arrays of writers
A magnetic head in one embodiment includes a first outer array of writers; a second outer array of writers; a first inner array of writers positioned between the first and second outer arrays; a second inner array of writers positioned between the first inner array and the second outer array; and an array of readers, at least some of the readers being generally aligned with the writers of the first and second outer arrays in a direction of media travel relative thereto, wherein the writers of the first inner array are misaligned with the writers of the first outer array relative to the direction of media travel.
US08797682B1 Quasi-statically tilted magnetic tape head having backward compatibility
In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic head. The magnetic head has a first array of data transducers; a second array of data transducers spaced from the first array; and a third array of data transducers positioned between the first and second arrays. The magnetic head is positionable between a first position and a second position. A pitch of the data transducers of at least two of the arrays presented to the tape is compatible with a first format when the magnetic head is positioned between the first and second positions. The pitch of the data transducers of at least one of the arrays is compatible with a second format when the longitudinal axis of the third array is oriented about perpendicular to the intended direction of tape travel. A data track pitch of the first format is different than the data track pitch of the second format.
US08797676B2 Pressure-adjusting mechanism for hard disk drive device
Provided is a hard disk drive device that can be formed in a small size, which is capable of maintaining the humidity inside the device to the initial manufacture humidity for a long term and capable of adjusting the difference between the pressures of the inside and outside the device. The hard disk drive device includes: a casing formed by an upper housing and a lower housing; and a magnetic disk as well as a magnetic head housed inside the casing. An intake port for adjusting a difference between pressures of inside and outside the casing is provided to the upper housing or the lower housing, and the intake port is sealed by a pressure-adjusting gel-type member from outer side. Further, the pressure-adjusting gel-type member is formed substantially in the same size as the aperture size of the intake port.
US08797674B2 Servo mark length matched to write head gap for magnetic storage media
Magnetic storage tape and techniques for erasing and writing to magnetic storage tape having a perpendicular squareness greater than 50 percent and a longitudinal squareness less than 50 percent are described. In general, the magnetic tape may be biased with a remanence magnetization, or magnetic orientation, in any direction. One or two head systems may use various magnetic field patterns to create the desired remanence magnetization. Servo marks may have a remanence magnetization in an opposite magnetic orientation than that of the remaining bias on the servo track, e.g., substantially perpendicular to the magnetic tape. In some examples, a write head may alternate the direction of the magnetic field to continuously bias and write servo patterns to the magnetic tape. In addition, a symmetrical servo mark may be created in the magnetic tape with a write head having a gap width approximately equal to the length of the servo mark.
US08797673B2 Adaptive lattice predictive filter
An implementation of a circuit disclose herein comprises a vibration sensor circuit that generates a sensor signal from a disturbance signal, a lattice filter circuit that decorrelates the sensor signal to generate orthogonal backward prediction errors, and a multiple regression filter that estimates a disturbance correction signal using the orthogonal backward prediction errors.
US08797670B2 Adaptive soft-output detector for magnetic tape read channels
In accordance with one embodiment, a data storage system includes a tape channel for reading precoded data from a magnetic tape medium to produce a signal, a soft detector adapted for calculating first soft information about each bit of the signal and sending the first soft information to a soft decoder, and the soft decoder positioned subsequent to the soft detector, the soft decoder being adapted for calculating second soft information about each bit of the signal and sending the second soft information to the soft detector, wherein the precoded data includes a characteristic of being passed through at least one precoder prior to being written to the magnetic tape medium, and wherein the soft detector provides automatic compensation for the precoded data. Other systems, methods, and computer program products for reading data using an adaptive soft-output detector are described according to more embodiments.
US08797663B1 Method and apparatus for selective filtering of an illumination device
A filter for an illumination device may include wedge-shaped lenses arranged about an opening of the illumination device and pivotable between open and closed positions. When pivoted to a closed position, the lenses substantially cover the illumination device opening and block or filter radiation emitted therefrom. When pivoted to an open position, the lenses lie substantially perpendicular to the plane of the illumination device opening, allowing radiation emitted from the illumination device to pass through the opening unfiltered. In one aspect, the filter may include radially inner and outer supports, and each lens element may be pivotally attached to, and pivot about a radially extending pivot axis extending between, the inner and outer supports.
US08797662B2 Apparatuses and devices for absorbing electromagnetic radiation, and methods of forming the apparatuses and devices
Photonic nanostructures, light absorbing apparatuses, and devices are provided. The photonic nanostructures include a plurality of photonic nanobars configured to collectively absorb light over an excitation wavelength range. At least two of the photonic nanobars of the plurality have lengths that are different from one another. Each photonic nanobar of the plurality has a substantially small width and a substantially small height relative to the different lengths. A method for forming such may comprise forming a plurality of first photonic nanobars comprising a width and a height that are smaller than a length of the plurality of first photonic nanobars, and forming a plurality of second photonic nanobars comprising a width and a height that are smaller than a length of the second photonic nanobar, wherein the lengths of the plurality of first photonic nanobars and the lengths of the plurality of second photonic nanobars are different from one another.
US08797661B2 Driving mechanism, lens barrel and camera
A driving mechanism includes a first piezoelectric element and a first driving member that is driven by the first piezoelectric element and that vibrates in a first direction. The first driving member includes a second piezoelectric element and a second driving member that is driven by the second piezoelectric element and that vibrates in a second direction different from the first direction. A difference between the vibration resonance frequency of the first driving member and the vibration resonance frequency of the second driving member is equal to or less than the half-width at a half maximum of a function representing an amplitude frequency characteristic in the vibration of the first driving member.
US08797657B2 Zoom lens
A zoom lens includes sequentially from an object side, a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, an aperture stop, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power, and fifth lens group. The zoom lens further satisfies given conditions.
US08797656B2 Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus
A zoom lens includes, from the object side, a positionally-fixed first lens group having a positive refracting power, a second lens group having a negative refracting power and movable in an optical axis direction for zooming, a third lens group having a positive refracting power, and a fourth lens group movable in the optical axis direction. The first lens group includes a negative lens, a positive lens and another positive lens disposed in order from the object side and satisfies 15.0
US08797655B2 Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus having the same
A zoom lens includes a lens unit Ln having negative refractive power including two or less lenses moving during focusing and zooming, a lens unit Lp1 having positive refractive power disposed adjacent to an object side thereof, and a lens unit Lp2 having positive refractive power disposed adjacent to an image side thereof. The lens units Lp1 and Lp2 move during zooming. A distance Tlw between a lens surface nearest to the object side in the entire zoom lens and an image plane at a wide-angle end, a distance Dnw between the lens surface nearest to the image side of the lens unit Ln and the image plane at the wide-angle end, a back focus bfw at the wide-angle end, and a maximum amount of movement Mnz during focusing of the lens unit Ln at a telephoto end are appropriately set.
US08797647B2 Double-vision display, double-vision color film structure and manufacturing method thereof
A double-vision color filter structure comprises a glass substrate, a slit grating, a transparent thin layer and a pattern of pixels, wherein the slit grating is formed on the glass substrate, the transparent thin layer is arranged on the surface of the slit grating on the glass substrate to form a cell structure with the glass substrate, and the pattern of pixels are formed on the transparent thin layer in the cell structure and comprises odd sub-pixel columns and even sub-pixel columns.
US08797644B2 Capillary-based cell and tissue acquisition system (CTAS)
The present invention relates to a capillary-based cell and tissue acquisition system that integrates the capillary approach with a microscope manipulator to collect and sort cells of interest. Cells of interest are determined by using a laser beam focus to identify the initial contact between the capillary and the cells.
US08797639B2 Method and system for regenerating and reshaping of optical signals
A method and an apparatus for processing an optical signal are disclosed wherein an input optical signal having an amplitude profile is combined by means of Bragg scattering with a first pulsed pump signal having a first waveshape and a second pulsed pump signal having a second waveshape. The combined optical signal is input in a nonlinear optical material for frequency converting the input optical signal thereby obtaining an idler signal wherein the first pulsed pump signal co-propagates with the input optical signal and the second pulsed pump signal co-propagates with the idler signal. The idler signal produced has a peak amplitude proportional to the peak amplitude of the input optical signal and a shape corresponding to the second pump waveshape.
US08797631B2 Photonic modulation of a photonic band gap
An apparatus comprises a first photonic crystal structure having a first photonic band gap distribution and configured to support a first electromagnetic signal, wherein the first photonic band gap distribution may vary according to a second electromagnetic signal.
US08797628B2 Display with integrated photovoltaic device
A display with a photovoltaic (PV) cells integrated as the front side and/or back side of the display is disclosed. Ambient light may reach a PV cell situated behind a display through fully or partially transmissive features within the display. Display-generated light may also reach a PV cell behind a display. A transmissive PV material situated in front of a display may collect both ambient light as well as display-generated light.
US08797625B2 Actuator, method for manufacturing actuator, and optical scanner
An actuator includes a base made of silicon and including a movable portion capable of oscillating around an oscillation axis, at least one connection portion extending from the movable portion, and a support portion that supports the connection portion, an insulating layer provided on a surface of the base, and a conductive portion having conductivity and provided on the insulating layer. In a plan view of the base viewed in a thickness direction of the base, the insulating layer is provided on portions other than an edge of the connection portion, an edge that connects an edge of the movable portion to the edge of the connection portion, and an edge that connects an edge of the support portion to the edge of the connection portion.
US08797622B2 Scanning optical apparatus
In a scanning optical apparatus, an illumination optical system has a diffractive power φdM in a main scanning direction, a diffractive power φdS in a sub-scanning direction, a refractive power φnM in the main scanning direction, and a refractive power φnS in the sub-scanning direction. A ratio φnM/φdM in the main scanning direction for a focal length fi in a range of 10-30 mm satisfies: g2(fi)≦φnM/φdM≦g1(fi), where A(Z)=(3.532×107)Z2+3023Z+0.7010, B(Z)=(5.719×107)Z2+4169Z+0.7678, C(Z)=(1.727×107)Z2+3244Z+0.4217, D(Z)=(1.373×108)Z2+3232Z+1.224, g1(fi)=fi{D(Z)−B(Z)}/20−0.5D(Z)+1.5B(Z), g2(fi)=fi{C(Z)−D(Z)}/20−0.5C(Z)+1.5A(Z), and a ratio φnS/φdS in the sub-scanning direction satisfies: φnS/φdS<1.3.
US08797620B2 Autostereoscopic display assembly based on digital semiplanar holography
This invention relates to autostereoscopic display assemblies, in particular for hand-held devices such as tablets, i-Pads, mobile phones, etc., wherein a stereoscopic effect is achieved by forming light beams are emitted from the display at different angles and with different polarization. The display assembly comprises a sandwiched structure consisting of a light-guide panel and a modified liquid-crystal display that is applied onto the light-guide panel. The panel has on its outer surface a net of light waveguides for delivery of light from the light source and for uniform distribution of light over the entire surface of the display. The different polarizations and angular directions of the beams perceived differently by a viewer's left and right eyes are achieved by providing the light-distribution waveguides with holograms of two different types.
US08797618B2 Image processing apparatus for determining whether a document is color or monochrome
Provided is an image processing apparatus that improves the accuracy in ACS determination without needing a mechanism to detect an original document size, a user input of an original document size, or pre-scanning of an original document, and a control method therefor. To accomplish this, the image processing apparatus specifies, when reading an original document, the size of the original document, based on the timings at which the leading edge and the trailing edge of the original document that is conveyed were detected. Furthermore, the image processing apparatus determines whether image data read from the original document is a color image or a monochrome image, for each size of a plurality of standard-size printing medium, and selects, from among the determination results, a determination result obtained by performing determination using the standard-size printing medium size that is similar to the specified size of the original document.
US08797602B2 UV and IR specialty imaging methods and systems
Disclosed are methods and systems of processing work flow associated with a print job including Specialty Imaging such as UV and/or IR encoding. According to one exemplary embodiment, a printing system controller accesses a spatially structured ink composed of a plurality of non-overlapping primitive spot colors to render Specialty Imaging effects along with other images and text associated with the print job.
US08797600B2 Image forming apparatus and gradation correction method with density unevenness detection
Image forming apparatus (100) creates a toner pattern on intermediate transfer belt (11) as a preprocessing of gradation correction, and calculates a cycle at which density unevenness is largest. Then, a toner image for gradation correction is formed so as to cancel cyclic unevenness at a cycle at which the largest density unevenness occurs. As a result of this, it becomes possible to suppress the deterioration of density detection accuracy and perform a highly accurate gradation correction even if density unevenness of any cycle occurs.
US08797599B2 Image processing device and image processing method
There is provided an image processing device which converts multi-gradation pixels configuring a multi-gradation image of image data to be used in a color image forming apparatus, into unit dither patterns. The image forming apparatus includes photosensitive members on which developer images are formed by supplying developer to electrostatic latent images, and an exposure device which exposes the photosensitive members. The developer images on the photosensitive members are transferred to a transferred medium which is moved while contacting the photosensitive members. The image processing device includes a processing unit which converts a multi-gradation pixel of a first color into unit dither patterns, each unit dither pattern consisting of a first line extending in a predetermined direction and a second line extending in a direction intersecting with the first line when a gradation value of the multi-gradation pixel is within a predetermined range.
US08797586B2 Image forming apparatus and scanned data process method
An information processing system including an information processing apparatus that selects between transferring data and obtaining data, and controls transferring data or obtaining data based on the selection. The system also includes a server that stores data transferred from the information processing apparatus, and controls transferring data to the information processing apparatus based on a request for transferring data received from the information processing apparatus.
US08797585B2 Image processing system, information providing apparatus, and information providing method for simultaneously displaying environmental burden reductions in an image forming apparatus and an erasing apparatus
A system in an embodiment includes an image forming apparatus, an erasing apparatus, a first apparatus, and a display unit. The image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet using a decolorable color material. The erasing apparatus decolorizes an image. The first apparatus computes, from a reduction in the number of sheets achieved by a setting for image formation in the image forming apparatus, the amount of a reduction in environmental burdens achieved by use of the image forming apparatus and computes, from the number of sheets erased by the erasing apparatus, the amount of a reduction in environmental burdens achieved by use of the erasing apparatus. The display unit simultaneously displays the amount of the reduction in environmental burdens achieved by the image forming apparatus and the amount of the reduction in environmental burdens achieved by the erasing apparatus.
US08797580B2 Systems and methods for enterprise sharing of a printing device that is configured to communicate with a distributed printing service
Systems, methods, and devices for registering a printing device receive a selection of a printing device available on an enterprise, wherein the selection includes a printing device identifier associated with the printing device, receive a credential issued by an enterprise device, wherein the enterprise device is associated with the enterprise, receive a refresh token from the printing device, receive a printing service user identifier, send the refresh token to the printing service, receive an access token from the printing service, and send the access token, the printing device identifier, a share request, and the printing service user identifier to the printing service.
US08797579B2 Interactive paper system
A printer, scanner device and methods for using same are described herein. A printer device may include a dedicated input that, when actuated, generates and sends a request to a computer for known data or a predetermined print job, e.g., schedule information from a personal information management (PIM) application. A scanner device may include another dedicated input that, when actuated, automatically scans a document fed to the device by the user and sends the scanned image to IM (or other) software on a computer, bypassing the need to manipulate the scanned image using scanner software. The device may be used with printed metapaper, which includes a barcode or other indicia identifying the metapaper and corresponds to a stored template image of the metapaper. When the metapaper is rescanned, the scan can be compared to the stored template information to identify changes and synchronize the changes with the IM software.
US08797573B2 Image forming apparatus, print data processing method thereof, and recording medium
An image forming apparatus judges whether or not a close-range wireless communication with a portable terminal is enabled during a period until a printer completes printing out print data. Based on a result drawn from the judgment and a print operation status of the image forming apparatus itself, which is indicated until completion of printing out the print data, the image forming apparatus deletes the print data from the memory or keeps the print data recorded in the memory.
US08797571B2 Host device and method to set distributed printing
A host device and method for a distributed printing setup includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses registered to a database and a user interface (UI) generator to generate a UI screen to generate a workflow relating to the image forming apparatuses. When the distributed printing setup of a file to be printed is requested on the generated UI screen, a workflow generator generates a workflow by combining the image forming apparatuses to distribute the printing job to the registered image forming apparatuses.
US08797570B2 Image transmission apparatus
A transmission-side MFP receives a user name, checks whether the user name is registered in a destination user list, and if so, transmits image data to a reception-side MFP. If an ACK is received, the transmission-side MFP displays that transmission was successful. When a NACK is received or a time out occurs, the transmission-side MFP checks whether the user name is registered in an individual address book, and if so, transmits the image data using a corresponding transmission method. If an ACK is received, the transmission-side MFP displays that transmission was successful. If a timeout occurs, the transmission-side MFP displays that transmission failed.
US08797562B2 Page level recovery on print jobs for production printing systems
A print controller and associated methods of performing recovery processes responsive to a redrive event (i.e., print setting changes/hardware errors) are disclosed. A print controller in one embodiment comprises a job storage system that receives and stores print jobs from host systems, and a print data path from the job storage system to one or more print engines. The print data path includes components operable to process print jobs for imaging on the print engine. The print controller further comprises a redrive system that detects a redrive event, and identifies the print job interrupted by the redrive event. The redrive system also identifies a target page of the identified print job from which to restart the print job, and purges the identified print job from the print data path (along with other print jobs). The redrive system then reschedules the identified print job for processing followed by other eligible jobs.
US08797558B2 Method, apparatus, computer program, and computer readable storage media for configuring a printer driver
A method and apparatus for configuring a printer driver where default settings of a printer on which a job is to be printed are queried by a printer driver of a client computer. The default settings can be, for example, stored in the printer itself, or in a storage medium or in a database in some other location that is accessible to the client computer. Depending on the default settings of the printer, default settings of the driver are configured.
US08797552B2 Apparatus for generating three-dimensional image of object
A non-contact laser triangulation scanning apparatus for generating a three-dimensional image of the surface of an object based on the 3D surface position and surface contrast information. The apparatus comprises a laser source, a first optical unit, a second optical unit, a photosensitive positional detector having a plurality of sensor elements, and an incident light measurement device. According to generated timing signals having a predetermined time interval, a reset timing of the sensor elements of the photosensitive positional detector is controlled. The incident light measurement device measures an amount of a certifying laser light after one timing signal. An amount of a measurement laser light is determined dependent on the measured amount of the certifying laser light. The three-dimensional image is generated by combining position data derived from signals of the positional detector with contrast data derived at least from signals of the incident light measurement device.
US08797551B2 Compact, affordable optical test, measurement or imaging device
The system disclosed is for optical coherence tomography (OCT). The system includes an improved interferometric system for metrology, detection, ranging as well as imaging system based on optical coherence tomography (OCT). Further, the method provides advancements in detection, imaging of samples in biological, medical, ophthalmic, corneal and retinal diagnosis.
US08797549B2 Interferometric methods and apparatus for seismic exploration
A interferometer apparatus for studying the surface of an object, the apparatus comprising a source producing an object beam of coherent light, a source producing a reference beam which is coherent with the object beam, and a detector or a plurality of detectors arranged in a line or array, wherein the apparatus is arranged such that the object beam is diverging or substantially collimated, and wherein, in use the diverging or substantially collimated object beam is directed towards the surface of the object to produce a reflected object beam reflected from the surface of the object, the detector(s) is/are focused to a point beneath the surface of the object, and the reflected object beam is combined with the reference beam and detected by the detector(s). Also provided is a corresponding method for conducting an interferometric study of the surface of an object. The surface of the object may be a sea floor, and the interferometer apparatus may be for studying the movement of particles on the sea floor in response to a seismic event.
US08797547B2 Apparatus and method for measuring deformation of a cantilever using interferometry
Apparatus and method for measuring the deformation of a tethered or untethered cantilever by projecting a radiation beam onto the cantilever, detecting an interference pattern reflected from or transmitted through the cantilever, and calculating the deformation of the cantilever by measuring the intensity variation within at least a portion of the interference pattern.
US08797543B2 Coherent and non-coherent interferometry with cold mirror for contact lens thickness measurement
This invention relates to an apparatus for measuring a sample contact lens. In particular, the present invention has a housing to hold a sample contact lens to be measured, one or more movement stages connected to the housing, and an interferometer.
US08797540B2 Slow-light fiber Bragg grating sensor
In certain embodiments, an optical device and a method of use is provided. The optical device can include a fiber Bragg grating and a narrowband optical source. The narrowband optical source can be configured to generate light. A first portion of light can be transmitted along a first optical path extending along and through the length of the fiber Bragg grating at a group velocity. The light can have a wavelength at or in the vicinity of a wavelength at which one or more of the following quantities is at a maximum value: (a) the product of the group index spectrum and a square root of the power transmission spectrum, (b) the slope of a product of the group index spectrum and one minus the power transmission spectrum, and (c) the slope of a product of the group index spectrum and the power transmission spectrum.
US08797537B2 Interferometer with a virtual reference surface
An imaging interferometer includes optics defining an interferometric cavity, in which the optics include a first beam-splitting optic positioned to separate an input beam into a test beam and a reference beam, a second beam-splitting optic positioned to transmit the test beam to the test surface, receive the test beam back from the test surface, and thereafter recombine the test beam with the reference beam, and a third optic positioned to direct the reference beam from the first optic to the second optic. The interferometric cavity defines a virtual reference surface positioned along a path for the reference beam between the second and third optics. The interferometer also includes an imaging channel positioned to receive the recombined test and reference beams, where the imaging channel includes an imaging detector, and at least one imaging element configured to image the test surface and the virtual reference surface onto the detector.
US08797534B2 Optical system polarizer calibration
An apparatus to calibrate a polarizer in a polarized optical system at any angle of incidence. The apparatus decouples the polarization effect of the system from the polarization effect of the sample. The apparatus includes a substrate with a polarizer disposed on the surface. An indicator on the substrate indicates the polarization orientation of the polarizer, which is in a predetermined orientation with respect to the substrate.
US08797531B2 Particle detectors
A beam detector (10) including a light source (32), a receiver (34), and a target (36), acting in co-operation to detect particles in a monitored area (38). The target (36), reflects incident light (40), resulting in reflected light (32) being returned to receiver (34). The receiver (34) is a receiver is capable of recording and reporting light intensity at a plurality of points across its field of view. In the preferred form the detector (10) emits a first light beam (3614) in a first wavelength band; a second light beam (3618) in a second wavelength band; and a third light beam (3616) in a third wavelength band, wherein the first and second wavelengths bands are substantially equal and are different to the third wavelength band.
US08797530B2 Linearized variable-dispersion spectrometers and related assemblies
Wavenumber linear spectrometers are provided including an input configured to receive electromagnetic radiation from an external source; collimating optics configured to collimate the received electromagnetic radiation; a dispersive assembly including first and second diffractive gratings, wherein the first diffraction grating is configured in a first dispersive stage to receive the collimated electromagnetic radiation and wherein the dispersive assembly includes at least two dispersive stages configured to disperse the collimated input; and an imaging lens assembly configured to image the electromagnetic radiation dispersed by the at least two dispersive stages onto a linear detection array such that the variation in frequency spacing along the linear detection array is no greater than about 10%.
US08797525B2 Pattern inspection apparatus and pattern inspection method
A pattern inspection apparatus in accordance with one aspect of the present invention includes a laser light source configured to emit a laser light, an integrator lens configured to input the laser light, and form a light source group by dividing the laser light inputted, a scattering plate, arranged at a front side of an incident surface of the integrator lens, configured to scatter the laser light which is to enter the integrator lens, and an inspection unit configured to inspect a defect of a pattern on an inspection target object where a plurality of figure patterns are formed, by using the laser light having passed through the integrator lens as an illumination light.
US08797524B2 Mask inspection method and mask inspection apparatus
According to one embodiment, a method of detecting a defect of a semiconductor exposure mask includes acquiring a background intensity from a surface height distribution of the mask, acquiring a standard background intensity distribution from the background intensity, making light of an arbitrary wavelength incident on the mask, and acquiring an image at a position of interest of the mask, acquiring background intensity raw data, based on a signal intensity of the acquired image at the position of interest and a mean value of image intensity data in a peripheral area of the position of interest, finding a correction coefficient of the signal intensity, based on a ratio of the background intensity raw data to the standard background intensity distribution, correcting the signal intensity by multiplying the signal intensity.
US08797522B2 Light quantity detection method and device therefor
To enable measurement over a wide dynamic range from weak light quantity to strong light quantity in a light quantity detection device for detecting the light quantity, a detection signal from a photon counting light detector is A/D converted. When the A/D converted detection signal has a preset threshold value or more, the detection signal is transmitted as it is to a number-of-photons calculation circuit in a subsequent stage, and when the detection signal has the threshold value or less, threshold value processing for transmitting a preset reference value to the subsequent stage is performed. In the number-of-photons calculation circuit, the number of photons or the light quantity incident on the photon counting light detector is acquired from the dimension of an acquired detection signal waveform until the light quantity measurement ends.
US08797518B2 Identifiable visible light sources for fiber optic cables
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method including generating a plurality of identifiable visible light sources having at least one constant visible light source and at least one oscillating visible light source and selectively applying, such as one at a time, at least two identifiable visible light sources among the plurality of identifiable visible light sources to a fiber optic cable strand in order to remotely test a fiber optic cable having a plurality of strands including the fiber optic cable strand. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08797517B2 PVT analysis of pressurized fluids
Methods and systems for performing pressure-volume-temperature testing on fluids include: a portable environmental control chamber 14, a first pressure vessel 12A disposed inside the portable environmental control chamber, a second pressure vessel 12B disposed inside the portable environmental control chamber, the second pressure vessel in hydraulic communication with the first pressure vessel, a viscometer 18 configured to measure the viscosity of fluids flowing between the first pressure vessel and the second pressure vessel, and an optics system 22 configured to measure optical properties of fluids flowing between the first pressure vessel and the second pressure vessel.
US08797515B2 Deformation measuring apparatus and deformation measuring method
An apparatus and a method capable of measuring large deformation with a high accuracy and dynamically, using speckle interference, utilizes an optical path where one laser beam out of two laser beams becomes non-collimated light and a plane parallel transparent plate, and can form carrier fringes. More specifically, the transparent plate is arranged on the optical path where the non-collimated light is formed, or is removed from the optical path, or a refractive index, or a thickness of the transparent plate arranged on the optical path, or a tilt angle relative to an optical axis is changed. The phase analysis can be performed from fringe images corresponding to the deformation, by performing repetitively the above-described processing and acquisition of the speckle interference pattern.
US08797513B2 Distance measuring system and distance measuring method
In a distance measuring system, photoelectrons are generated depending on light energy received in a light-receiving period predetermined for the emission timing of pulsed light emitted to a target object and are cumulatively stored, and a distance to the target object is determined according to a time-of-flight process. A solid-state image sensing device cumulatively stores therein photoelectrons generated depending on the light energy received in each of the first and second light-receiving periods. The first light-receiving period is part of a rise period of the reflected light intensity received by the image sensing device, and the second light-receiving period includes a peak of the reflected light intensity and a fall period thereof. An arithmetic processing unit determines the distance to the object using a light energy ratio obtained by dividing information concerning photoelectrons stored in the second light-receiving period by information concerning photoelectrons stored in the first light-receiving period.
US08797512B2 Automatic range corrected flash ladar camera
A three dimensional imaging camera comprises a system controller, pulsed laser transmitter, receiving optics, an infrared focal plane array light detector, and an image processor. The described invention is capable of developing a complete 3-D scene from a single point of view. The 3-D imaging camera utilizes a pulsed laser transmitter capable of illuminating an entire scene with a single high power flash of light. The 3-D imaging camera employs a system controller to trigger a pulse of high intensity light from the pulsed laser transmitter, and counts the time from the start of the transmitter light pulse. The light reflected from the illuminated scene impinges on a receiving optics and is detected by a focal plane array optical detector. An image processor applies image enhancing algorithms to improve the image quality and develop object data for subjects in the field of view of the flash ladar imaging camera.
US08797507B2 Illumination system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus having a temperature control device
An illumination system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus includes a primary light source, a system pupil surface and a mirror array. The mirror array is arranged between the primary light source and the system pupil surface. The mirror array includes a plurality of adaptive mirror elements. Each mirror element includes a mirror support and a reflective coating. Each mirror element is configured to direct light produced by the primary light source towards the system pupil surface. The mirror elements can be tiltably mounted with respect to a support structure. The mirror elements include structures having a different coefficient of thermal expansion and being fixedly attached to one another. A temperature control device is configured to variably modify the temperature distribution within the structures to change the shape of the mirror elements.
US08797505B2 Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
A liquid immersion exposure apparatus and method exposes a substrate. The apparatus includes a projection optical system having an optical element via which exposure light is projected through liquid and a member having a channel in which the liquid flows. The member has an opening through which the exposure light passes. A gap is formed between a first surface of the member and a second surface of at least one of the optical element and a holding component which holds the optical element, and at least a portion of one or both of the first surface and the second surface is liquid repellent.
US08797504B2 Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A lithographic apparatus includes a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate, a projection system configured to project a patterned radiation beam through an opening and onto a target portion of the substrate, and a conduit having an outlet in the opening. The conduit is configured to deliver gas to the opening. The lithographic apparatus further includes a cooling apparatus controlled by a control system. The cooling apparatus is configured to cool the gas such that gas which travels from the opening to the substrate has a predetermined temperature when the gas is incident upon the substrate.
US08797501B2 Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
An apparatus which projects a pattern of an original onto a substrate by a projection optical system within a chamber to expose the substrate, comprises a measurement unit which performs measurement to calculate a deformation amount of the original, and a controller which calculates a predicted deformation amount of the original and corrects a projection magnification of the projection optical system so as to correct the predicted deformation amount, based on information representing a relationship between the deformation amount with reference to a shape of the original at a certain temperature and a time for which the original receives exposure light, a deformation amount of the original before exposure determined based on a measurement value obtained by measuring, by the measurement unit, the deformation amount of the original loaded into the chamber and unused for exposure, and the time for which the original receives the exposure light.