| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08867656B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication method
When a determination is made that communication by an SM scheme is suitable, a setting unit performs switching from a communication level by an STC scheme to the communication level by the SM scheme, between the communication level at a first level of MCS by the space-time coding scheme and the communication level at a second level of MCS by the SM scheme. When a determination is made that communication by the SM scheme is unsuitable, the setting unit performs switching from the communication level by the STC scheme to the communication level by the spatial multiplexing scheme, between the communication level at a third level of MCS, which is higher than the first level, by the space-time coding scheme and a fourth level of the modulation scheme and the coding rate, which is higher than the second level, by the SM scheme. |
| US08867652B2 |
Transmitter for multi-format data
A data transmitter (A, B, C, D) wherein, in a first operating mode, the first and second carrier signals are mutually phase-shifted, and the data module generates said first and second data signals based on different data, so as to produce, at the transmitter's output, a modulated signal exhibiting a first constellation of states (A, B, C, D) in a complex plane,and, in a second operating mode of the transmitter, the data module generates said first and second data signals correlated with one another based on common data, so as to produce, at the transmitter's output, a modulated signal exhibiting a second constellation of states (A, D; E, F) in the complex plane that is more reduced and more dispersed then said first constellation of states. |
| US08867643B2 |
Testing apparatus and method for MIMO systems
Four (=M) transmission information signals are output from transmission information generating unit to linear transform unit, where they are transformed into synthesis signals by linear transform expressed by multiplication by a 2×4 matrix having complex numbers as elements. Signal processors perform signal processing corresponding to the modulation technique of test target on synthesis signals. On the resultant signals, 2×2 channel processing unit performs 2×2 pseudo channel processing, thereby forming equivalent M×N channels. Parameter setting unit sets information necessary to acquire desired M×N channel characteristics as the synthesis characteristics of linear transform unit and N×N channel processing unit. |
| US08867641B2 |
Concatenated transmission system and concatenated transmission method
A concatenated transmission system according to the embodiment generates OFDM signals, from unit transmission waves of broadcast transport streams for a plurality of systems, concatenates the OFDM signals for the respective systems. To generate OFDM signals, the system arranges pilot signals, each having a specific phase, at prescribed positions in the frames, respectively. The system displaces the OFDM signals so that the pilot signal for any unit transmission wave may be identical in position and phase to the pilot signals for the two adjacent unit transmission waves having lower and higher frequencies, respectively. |
| US08867636B2 |
Method for improving synchronization and information transmission in a communication system
A method is provided for synchronization in a communication system. A receiver receives and processes a signal with a centrally symmetric part s(k) exploitable for synchronization. The signal is based on a uniquely identifiable sequence c(l) from a set of sequences exploitable for information transmission. The centrally symmetric part s(k) is centrally symmetric in the shape of absolute value thereof. The centrally symmetric part s(k) is of arbitrary length N, and the sequence c(l) is a Zadoff-Chu sequence. |
| US08867635B1 |
Generalized co-phasing for multiple transmitting and receiving antennas
A method for determining a phase of each of a plurality of transmitting antennas in a multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) communication system includes: calculating, for first and second ones of the plurality of transmitting antennas, a value based on first and second groups of channel gains, the first group including channel gains between the first transmitting antenna and each of a plurality of receiving antennas, the second group including channel gains between the second transmitting antenna and each of the plurality of receiving antennas; and determining the phase of each of the plurality of transmitting antennas based on at least the value. |
| US08867634B2 |
Method and appratus for spectrum sensing for OFDM systems employing pilot tones
Methods and apparatuses for OFDM spectrum sensing are provided. The proposed spectrum sensing algorithms are based on Time-Domain Symbol Cross-Correlation (TDSC-MRC and TDSC-NP methods) and can be applied to all existing wireless OFDM systems. The statistical behaviors of the TDSC-based spectrum sensors are explicitly analyzed. In addition, the spectrum sensing method employing the Cyclic Prefix of the OFDM modulated signals (CP method) is described for comparison purposes. The DVB-T Standard is adopted as an application example to illustrate the proposed spectrum sensing algorithms. Simulation results show that the TDSC-MRC method outperforms the CP method for all values of CP ratio considered. The TDSC methods have the advantage that the detection performances are the same for different CP ratios, while the detection performance of the CP method degrades dramatically when the CP ratio becomes small. |
| US08867632B2 |
Wireless communication system, communication device, communication method, and program
Provided is a wireless communication system including a first communication device configured to perform spectral shaping on a frequency signal and transmit the signal, and a second communication device configured to receive the signal transmitted by the first communication device, and the second communication device includes: a frequency averaging unit configured to dividing information on transmission power gains in all the discrete frequencies into blocks by a plurality of discrete frequencies, information being necessary for the first communication device to perform the spectral shaping; a quantizing unit configured to quantize representative values of the blocks; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the quantized signals. |
| US08867630B2 |
Agile switched-load resonating transmitter for passband power line communication
An agile switched-load transmitter for a communications system for a power distribution network comprises a resonant transponder (T1) with a variable primary frequency. The transmitter significantly increases the bandwidth for communications, significantly lessens the effect of bandwidth noise, and greatly improves both the quality of communications and data throughput. Switches (S1, S2) selectively connect the transponder to the communications systems and control current flow through a resonant circuit of the unit, particularly the timing between charging and discharging of a capacitive component thereof. This allows the frequency of operation of the transmitter to be controlled so an inbound signal has a frequency within a range of selected frequencies, rather than a fixed frequency, and enables the transponder to deliver an output signal of relatively high power that propagates through the power distribution network with relatively little loss in signal strength. |
| US08867629B2 |
Power line communications during selected time intervals
A method of power line communications includes obtaining timing information for an AC mains signal transmitted on a power line in a power line communication (PLC) system that includes at least one receiver and at least one other device connected on the power line which provides variable loading during cycles of the AC mains signal. A first loading interval within at least a first cycle of the cycles having lower loading and at least a second loading interval within said first cycle having higher loading are identified using the timing information. At least one data packet is transmitted only during the first loading interval over the power line to the receiver. |
| US08867622B2 |
Method and system for priority-based digital multi-stream decoding
Aspects of a method and system for priority-based digital multi-stream decoding. A multi-stream decoder may be enabled to decode and present multiple streams of a multi-stream multimedia application, simultaneously. The multi-stream decoder may be enabled to determine a priority level for each of the received multiple streams of the multimedia application. A high-priority stream may be decoded and presented at a high frame rate and a relative high resolution level, while a lower-priority stream may be decoded and presented at a low frame rate and a relative low resolution level. The decoded frames may be presented in a picture-in-picture format. The priority level for each of the received multiple streams may depend on user input, a user profile, and/or a display capability. |
| US08867621B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding motion vector by obtaining motion vector predictor candidate using co-located block
Provided are methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding a motion vector. The method of encoding a motion vector includes: selecting a mode from among a first mode in which information indicating a motion vector predictor of at least one motion vector predictor is encoded and a second mode in which information indicating generation of a motion vector predictor based on pixels included in a previously encoded area adjacent to a current block is encoded; determining a motion vector predictor of the current block according to the selected mode and encoding information about the motion vector predictor of the current block; and encoding a difference vector between a motion vector of the current block and the motion vector predictor of the current block. |
| US08867619B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating a coded video sequence by using an intermediate layer motion data prediction
In the scalable video coding in connection with motion compensation both in a base layer and in an enhancement layer, a prediction of the motion data of the enhancement layer is performed by using the motion data of the base layer to obtain a scalability concept, which provides, on the one hand, a maximum flexibility for the calculation of the motion data of the different layers and, on the other hand, allows a lower bit rate. |
| US08867616B2 |
Methods and apparatus for bit depth scalable video encoding and decoding utilizing tone mapping and inverse tone mapping
Methods and apparatus are provided for bit depth scalable video encoding and decoding utilizing tone mapping and inverse tone mapping. An apparatus includes an encoder for encoding picture data for at least a portion of a picture by generating an inter-layer residue prediction for the portion using a tone mapping function and an inverse tone mapping function. The tone mapping function and the inverse tone mapping function perform a conversion of the inter-layer residue prediction from a residue domain to a pixel domain for bit depth scalability while maintaining a same bit depth representation. |
| US08867613B2 |
Method and apparatus for rate control for compression of video frames
A method and apparatus for controlling the rate of compression in video/image compression environments is provided. The method includes determining a scaling factor that results in a compressed file size as close to a target file size as possible. In determining the scaling factor, tolerance limits of the current file size as compared with a predetermined tolerance is made, and when the tolerance is not met, the current scaling factor is interpolated to generate a new scaling factor, and consideration of a ratio of file sizes is made to determine if a new downsampling factor is needed for the interpolated scaling factor. |
| US08867611B2 |
Video transmitting method and system with image quality adjusting function
A video transmitting method with an image quality adjusting function is provided. In the method, a video stream is transmitted to a receiving terminal. A received number of frames of the video stream received by the receiving terminal in a preset period is obtained. An image quality of the video stream is adjusted according to the received number of frames. |
| US08867609B2 |
Dynamically configuring a video decoder cache for motion compensation
A video decoder cache used for motion compensation data may be dynamically reconfigured. In some embodiments, it may be reconfigured on picture or frame boundaries and in other embodiments it can be reconfigured on sequence boundaries. The cache may be flushed on each boundary to enable such reconfiguration. |
| US08867608B2 |
Systems and methods for segmenting and communicating video data
A data processing system receives video data from a data source and separates the video data into multiple video data segments. Each of the multiple video data segments are substantially the same size. The system generates a data segmentation element associated with each video data segment. The data segmentation element describes content in the associated video data segment. Each video data segment and the associated data segmentation element are communicated to a destination device. |
| US08867606B2 |
Multi-core image encoding processing device and image filtering method thereof
An embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for performing image filtering by a multi-core image encoding device, comprising: a first digital signal processing (DSP) chip performing loop filtering on the image encoded by itself; and the latter digital signal processing (DSP) chip in any two adjacent DSP chips performing loop filtering on all horizontal boundaries except the highest horizontal boundary and all vertical boundaries of the first row of macro blocks in the image encoded by itself. An embodiment of the present invention further discloses a multi-core image encoding device. Using the method for performing image filtering of the present invention, utilization of DSP resources in the multi-core image encoding device can be improved effectively. |
| US08867605B2 |
Second deblocker in a decoding pipeline
A decoder may include a first stage that can be used to decode (prior to deblocking) an encoded frame of data. The decoder may also include a second stage that is downstream of the first stage. The second stage includes a first deblocker and a second deblocker that can be used to deblock decoded frames in parallel. |
| US08867604B2 |
Crossing ISI cancellation
An apparatus comprising an inter symbol interference (ISI) cancellation circuit and a detector circuit. The inter symbol interference (ISI) cancellation circuit may be configured to minimize ISI at data sampling and crossing sampling points in a symbol interval of an input signal. The detector circuit may be configured to generate data samples and crossing samples at the data sampling and crossing sampling points in the symbol interval of the input signal. |
| US08867602B1 |
Pre and post-acquisition tap quantization adjustment in decision feedback equalizer
A tap coefficient control circuit and a method for controlling a tap coefficient for a decision feedback equalizer are disclosed. The method includes adjusting a correction voltage applied to the tap coefficient based on a first tap quantization and detecting a decision feedback equalizer tap convergence. After the decision feedback equalizer tap convergence is detected, the method adjusts the correction voltage applied to the tap coefficient based on a second tap quantization, wherein the second tap quantization is different from the first tap quantization. |
| US08867600B2 |
Turbo equalization for diversity receivers
Apparatus includes a slave equalizer chain, which includes a first decoder and a first adaptive filter including first coefficients, and is configured to filter a first signal using the first adaptive filter to produce a first filtered signal, to decode the first filtered signal using the first decoder to generate a first output, and to adapt the first coefficients based at least on the first output. A master equalizer chain includes a second decoder and a second adaptive filter including second coefficients, and is configured to filter a second signal using the second adaptive filter to produce a second filtered signal, to calculate a weighted combination of the second filtered signal and the first filtered signal produced in the slave equalizer chain, to decode the weighted combination using the second decoder to generate a second output, and to adapt the second coefficients based at least on the second output. |
| US08867599B2 |
Equalization of transmissions
Transmissions from mid-bus test equipment to a first device and from a second device to the mid-bus test equipment are equalized. Equalization instructions are passed from the first device through the mid-bus test equipment to the second device. The mid-bus test equipment changes the quality of transmissions sent to the first device in order to steer the first device to produce equalization instructions that will produce optimized transmissions from the mid-bus test equipment to the first device and from the second device to the mid-bus test equipment. |
| US08867598B1 |
Timing and data recovery in feed-forward equalization
An equalizer is disclosed, and associated operational method. The equalizer has a configuration that balances performance and complexity by obtaining samples that are strongly correlated with future and past transmitted bits, and are weakly correlated with future and past bit transitions, and is useful for timing recovery circuits. Samples are only obtained or collected at time intervals more than one sample period away from the reference sample. Samples are shifted by a delay value less than the sample period, and are obtained at a sample period of one unit interval. A means to adjust the sampling point delay is also disclosed. In an implementation, samples that are within the sample period away from the reference sample are obtained and used for implementing a timing shift, not for equalization of the timing recovery signal. Embodiments are also disclosed for optimizing performance for data recovery. |
| US08867591B2 |
Discrete digital transceiver
A discrete digital transceiver includes a receiver sample and hold module, a discrete digital receiver conversion module, a transmitter sample and hold module, a discrete digital transmitter conversion module, clock generation module, and a processing module. The receiver sample and hold module samples and holds an inbound wireless signal in accordance with a receiver S&H clock signal. The discrete digital receiver conversion module converts the receiver frequency domain sample pulse train into an inbound baseband signal. The transmitter sample and hold module samples and holds an outbound signal to produce a transmitter frequency domain sample pulse train. The discrete digital transmitter conversion module converts a transmitter frequency domain sample pulse train into the outbound wireless signal. The clock generation module generates S&H clock signals in accordance with a control signal. The processing module generates the control signal such that the S&H clock signals are shifted. |
| US08867590B2 |
Method and apparatus for relaying signal in wireless network
Disclosed are a control method and a control device for implementing two-way communication in a wireless network. A repeater can measure a channel matrix, which indicates channel information of each of a plurality of nodes based on signals received simultaneously from the plurality of the nodes, and calculate a first basic lattice size, which initializes the lattice sizes of the received signals according to predefined rules. Then, the repeater uses the channel matrix of each of the nodes and the initialized first lattice size to calculate for each of the nodes a first normalization factor, which normalizes the sizes of the signals simultaneously received from each of the nodes, and a minimum normalized factor, which is equivalent to the minimum value of the first normalization factor. And then, the repeater calculates a second lattice size for each of the nodes using the first normalization factor, the minimum normalization factor, and the initialized first lattice size, which have been calculated for each of the nodes. Then, the repeater calculates a second normalization factor using the second lattice size and the channel matrix of each of the nodes. And then, the repeater transmits the new calculated lattice size and the normalization factor to each of the nodes. |
| US08867585B2 |
Laser oscillator
The present invention provides a laser oscillator using an electroluminescent material that can enhance directivity of emitted laser light and resistance to a physical impact. The laser oscillator has a first layer including a concave portion, a second layer formed over the first layer to cover the concave portion, and a light emitting element formed over the second layer to overlap the concave portion, wherein the second layer is planarized, an axis of laser light obtained from the light emitting element intersects with a planarized surface of the second layer, the first layer has a curved surface in the concave portion, and a refractive index of the first layer is lower than that of the second layer. |
| US08867584B2 |
Intra-cavity optical parametric oscillator
An optical parametric oscillator comprising: an optical cavity; a semiconductor gain-medium located within the optical cavity, such that together they form a semiconductor laser, and a nonlinear material located within the cavity such that the nonlinear material continuously generates down-converted idler- and signal-waves in response to a pump-wave continuously generated by the semiconductor gain-medium, wherein the pump wave is resonant within the optical cavity and one or other but not both of the down-converted waves is resonant within the pump wave cavity or a further optical cavity. Brewster plates ensure singly resonant optical parametric oscillators and a birefringent filer is used for frequency setting. Coupled cavities allow for setting the photon lifetime in the cavity that relaxation oscillations are prevented. |
| US08867577B2 |
Laser light source
A laser light source according to the present invention includes a laser element that outputs a fundamental wave; a wavelength conversion element into which the fundamental wave is input and that converts at least a part of the fundamental wave input therein to a converted wave having a wavelength shorter than the wavelength of the fundamental wave; a waveguide that attenuates a component of the fundamental wave included in an output wave from the wavelength conversion element; and a diffraction grating that is formed on the waveguide and feeds back the fundamental wave output from the wavelength conversion element to lock the wavelength or the frequency of the fundamental wave output from the laser element. The diffraction grating is formed at a position determined taking into account an amount by which the fundamental wave is attenuated in the waveguide. |
| US08867572B1 |
Apparatus and methods for radio frequency signal boosters
Provided herein are apparatus and methods for radio frequency (RF) signal boosters. In certain implementations, a multi-band signal booster is provided for boosting the uplink and downlink channels of at least a first frequency band and a second frequency band. In certain configurations, the downlink channels of the first and second channels are adjacent, and the signal booster includes a first amplification path for boosting the uplink channel of the first frequency band, a second amplification path for boosting the uplink channel of the second frequency band, and a third amplification path for boosting both downlink channels of the first and second frequency bands. |
| US08867570B2 |
Methods of transmitting pilot tones and data in spatial multiplexing transmission
A method and apparatus of transmitting pilot tones and data in multi-carrier spatial multiplexing transmission is disclosed. The method includes a plurality of subscribers transmitting data to a base station through common frequency sub-carrier and symbol time tiles. Each of the multiple subscribers rotating frequency sub-carrier and symbol time locations of pilot tones within the frequency sub-carrier and symbol time tiles. |
| US08867569B2 |
Physical layer data unit format
A beamforming training (BFT) data unit for transmission via a communication channel in a wireless personal area network is generated, and in particular, is for transmitting beamforming training information. A physical layer header and first BFT data are encoded using block encoding to generate a first block. Second BFT data are encoded using block encoding to generate a second block. The BFT data unit is generated with a fixed-length payload, such that the BFT data unit includes only i) a preamble, ii) the first block, and iii) the second block. |
| US08867566B2 |
Methods of header compression within a wireless communications network
Embodiments of the invention disclose header compression within a wireless communications network. In an example, the method includes establishing, between an access network and an access terminal, a flow identifier (ID) and mapping protocol to support header compression for packets sent to the access network from the access terminal and intended for an application server. The mapping protocol can be configured to convert packets including the flow ID into packets that conform with a given addressing protocol for routing to the application server. The access terminal sends and the access network receives a first packet of a stream of packets. The first packet includes the flow ID and is in a compressed format compared to that of the same packet conforming with the given addressing protocol. The access network converts the received first packet into a routing packet based on the mapping protocol that conforms with the given addressing protocol. |
| US08867563B1 |
Content optimization of a physical layer preamble
Embodiments of the present invention provide for content optimization of a physical layer preamble. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for encapsulating a payload for transmission through a network is disclosed. The method comprises the step of programming a legacy physical layer length value in a legacy physical layer preamble. The legacy physical layer preamble is configured such that it can be received by any legacy stations that may be on the network, and such that a separate physical layer length value can be derived from the legacy physical layer preamble. Using such a system, content optimization of a physical layer preamble is provided. |
| US08867561B2 |
Managing upstream transmission in a network
A bandwidth allocation and monitoring method may divide available bandwidth on a shared communication medium into a plurality of discrete tones that can be individually allocated to modems on an as-needed basis. The effective modulation rate that a particular modem can use for each discrete tone can be monitored over time using a schedule of pilot tones transmitted from the modems on different tones at different times. The schedule may define representative pilot tones, in which case effective modulation rates for neighboring tones may be inferred from a determined effective modulation rate of a pilot tone. |
| US08867560B2 |
Managing crossbar oversubscription
A number of ports are configured in a linecard in a network device as dedicated ports and a remaining number of ports as shared ports. A total bandwidth allocated to the dedicated ports is computed. It is determined that available bandwidth at a central crossbar is greater than the total bandwidth allocated to the dedicated ports. The total data sent the central crossbar is rate limited to less than the available bandwidth at the central crossbar. First data associated with the dedicated ports is scheduled to the central crossbar using a first priority. Second data associated with the shared ports is scheduled using a second priority. A shared port data is scheduled based on a ration of a bandwidth requirement for the shared port as a fraction of overall bandwidth requirement for the shared ports. |
| US08867552B2 |
Virtual cluster switching
One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch system. The switch includes one or more ports on the switch configured to transmit packets encapsulated based on a first protocol. The switch further includes a control mechanism. During operation, the control mechanism forms a logical switch based on a second protocol, receives an automatically assigned identifier for the logical switch without requiring manual configuration of the identifier, and joins a virtual cluster switch. |
| US08867549B2 |
System and method for concurrent sessions in a peer-to-peer hybrid communications network
An improved system and method are disclosed for peer-to-peer communications. In one example, the method provides for concurrent sessions to be maintained by multiple endpoints. |
| US08867546B2 |
Communication path control technique
Upon receipt of a change request to change a path in a first communication and including a label assigned to a path after change and information of a transfer destination after change, a relay apparatus stores the label assigned to the path after change in association with the information of the transfer destination after change into a first storage unit. The relay apparatus then updates a second storage unit so as to change a first label assigned to a path before change in the first communication to the label assigned to the path after change. Upon determining that response messages for a request message transferred on the path before change have been received without omission with respect to the first communication, the relay apparatus deletes the first label assigned to the path before change and information of a transfer destination corresponding to the first label from the first storage unit. |
| US08867544B2 |
System and method for accepting information from routing messages into a list
A system and method adds and manages entries on a list of entries of routing information to allow the top entry to be used for routing to a destination corresponding to the list. Costs of a wireless link may be a function of the success rate experienced on that wireless link. |
| US08867543B2 |
In-line packet processing
A method and apparatus for in-line processing a data packet while routing the packet through a router in a system transmitting data packets between a source and a destination over a network including the router. The method includes receiving the data packet and pre-processing layer header data for the data packet as the data packet is received and prior to transferring any portion of the data packet to packet memory. The data packet is thereafter stored in the packet memory. A routing through the router is determined including a next hop index describing the next connection in the network. The data packet is retrieved from the packet memory and a new layer header for the data packet is constructed from the next hop index while the data packet is being retrieved from memory. The new layer header is coupled to the data packet prior to transfer from the router. |
| US08867542B2 |
Method and apparatus for connecting subscriber devices to an IPv6-capable aggregation network
The present invention relates to an access node (2) for connecting a subscriber device (1) to an IPv6-capable aggregation network (3),and adapted to receive an upstream IPv6 packet (Ns1O; RS1O; NA1O) comprising an IPv6 address (LLIP@O) held by the subscriber device.An access node according to the invention is further adapted to assign a new interface identifier (IDT) to the subscriber device that is unique within the scope of a L2 communication domain (6), which the subscriber device belongs to,to substitute, within the upstream IPv6 packet, the new interface identifier for an original interface identifier (IDO) of the IPv6 address, thereby yielding a translated upstream IPv6 packet (Ns1T; Rs1T; NA1T) comprising a translated IPv6 address (LLIP@T), and to forward the translated upstream IPv6 packet towards the aggregation network. The present invention also relates to a method for connecting a subscriber device to an IPv6-capable aggregation network. |
| US08867541B2 |
Method for communication in a wireless network comprising a local area network
A method for use by a subscriber device associated with a LAN in a wireless network, to enable provisioning of services to another subscriber device associated with that LAN. The method includes (i) at the first subscriber device, receiving an outgoing packet generated by the other subscriber device associated, wherein that outgoing packet has been tagged with a VLAN label; (ii) forwarding the outgoing packet towards a source MAC address of the subscriber device; (iii) associating a DSCP value with the outgoing packet; (iv) removing VLAN label and Ethernet MAC layer from the outgoing packet and forwarding the remaining IP packet to a MAC convergence sub-layer; (v) at the MAC convergence sub-layer, forwarding the outgoing packet to a service flow determined by using a DSCP value associated with the outgoing packet; and forwarding the outgoing packet along an air-link service flow connection. |
| US08867537B1 |
Method and system for processing network packets
A method for writing information to a first memory location controlled by a first computing system from a second memory location controlled by a second computing system that interfaces with the first computing system via a network connection is provided. |
| US08867536B2 |
Communication apparatus conditional notification destination registration
When a destination address specified by a client is to be registered as a destination, determination is made as to whether name resolution of the destination address is possible or not. If it is determined that name resolution is impossible, registration of the destination address that requires name resolution is restricted. |
| US08867534B2 |
Data device to speech service bridge
The present invention provides a data device to speech service bridge. The bridge allows packet-based devices, such as, for example, the PDA and 2.5/3G cellular phone, to access voice services. |
| US08867532B2 |
Method and system of voice carry over for instant messaging relay services
A method of assisting communication for a user is provided. The method includes receiving an IM message including a request for a voice carry over from the user, and transmitting to the user an invitation to join a first voice connection. The method further includes initiating the first voice connection with the user, and initiating a second voice connection with a recipient. Additionally, the method includes communicating to the recipient a first voice communication from the user over the first and second voice connections, and communicating to the user a response IM message including a transcribed version of a second voice communication from the recipient. An apparatus for assisting communication for a user is provided. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions is provided. The computer-executable instructions cause a processor to perform a method when executed. |
| US08867527B2 |
Speech processing peripheral device and IP telephone system
There are provided with an IP telephone system having both convenience of the softphone and durability of the hardphone, and a speech processing peripheral device (10) for the IP telephone system. The speech processing peripheral device as a peripheral device of an information processing device (20) is connected to the information processing device (20) for executing a call control program and functioning as a call controller. This speech processing peripheral device (10) includes a host connection means for sending/receiving an audio signal to/from the information processing device (20) and a speech processing means for executing speech processing in IP telephone communication. The IP telephone system according to the present invention includes the information processing device (20) for executing the call control program and functioning as the call controller and the speech processing peripheral device (10) according to the present invention, connected to the information processing device (20). |
| US08867521B2 |
Apparatus and method for communication
Apparatus and method for communication are provided. The solution includes controlling the communication of a transceiver on shared data channels using a data channel slot including a sensing period and a data period and controlling a transceiver to communicate on common and dedicated control channels on a shared spectrum using control channel slots, each control channel slot including a downlink part and an uplink part, wherein the uplink part occurs at the same time as the sensing period of a data channel slot. |
| US08867519B2 |
PDCCH monitoring method and apparatus in a carrier junction system
The present invention relates to a PDCCH monitoring method in a carrier junction system, comprising: monitoring a plurality of candidate PDCCHs in an overlapping region between a PDCCH search space of a first component carrier and a PDCCH search space of a second component carrier; and receiving downlink control information through one PDCCH out of the plurality of candidate PDCCHs, which has succeeded in decoding. The PDCCH having succeeded in decoding is a shared PDCCH that contains shared control information, a PDCCH for a self-scheduling component carrier without a carrier indicator field, or a PDCCH for a primary component carrier. |
| US08867516B2 |
Binary CDMA image-transceiving system directly connected to an image capture device
A binary CDMA image transmission and receiving system directed connected to an image capturing device includes an image transmission unit including: an image capturing device comprising a CCD/CMOS camera module and configured to output a captured digital image signal; an image pre-treatment processing unit configured to process a digital image signal output from the image capturing device to be vivid; a digital image processing unit configured to convert the image signal into a compressible signal; a transmission side A/V codec configured to compress an image and a voice of an output image signal; a transmission side host processor configured to perform a binary CDMA function, a transmission side binary CDMA baseband processor; and an RF transmission unit, and an image receiving unit including: an RF receiving unit configured to receive the transmitted RF signal; a receiver side binary CDMA baseband processor configured to receive and decode the received RF signal; a receiver side host processor; a receiver side A/V codec configured to restore the image and the voice; and an image post-treatment unit configured to output the image signal. The binary CDMA image transmission and receiving system may increase a resolution of an image through a digital processing method, not an analog method, may improve security by being capable of encoding a transmission data, may have an excellent frequency efficiency, may enable a remote distance communication superior to a short range wireless communication, and may enable a low power high speed transmission. |
| US08867515B2 |
Transmitting or receiving data via code division multiple access using highly correlated spreading codes assigned to a user
Examples are disclosed to transmit data from a CDMA transmitter. The data may be transmitted by encoding a first portion of the data and encoding a second portion of data. The first encoded portion of data may be spread based on a first spreading code and the second encoded portion of data may be spread based on a second spreading code. The first spreading code and the second spreading code may be highly correlated to each other. The spread first encoded portion of data may be combined with the spread second encoded portion of data to generate a chip-block. The chip-block may then be wirelessly transmitted. |
| US08867514B2 |
System and method of infrastructure service discovery
A system and method of infrastructure service discovery is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method includes requesting an access point to issue an Internet protocol address reserved for service discovery messages. In another particular embodiment, a method includes generating a service query message at a mobile station and sending the service query message to an advertisement server via an uncontrolled port. In yet another particular embodiment, a method includes generating, at a mobile station, a layer 2 protocol query encapsulating at least a portion of a layer 3 protocol query in the layer 2 protocol query to generate a modified layer 2 protocol query. The layer 3 protocol query is associated with a service discovery request. The method further includes sending the modified layer 2 protocol query to an access point or to an information server via a wireless network. |
| US08867513B2 |
Method and apparatus for utilizing a second receiver to establish time and frequency
Apparatus and methods for synchronizing a network element (e.g. access points, femtocells, etc.) to a master network (such as a cellular network) to provide accurate frequency and/or time references for their internal systems. In one embodiment, the network element utilizes a dedicated receiver (or transceiver) to receive timing information from the master network. The implementation of the dedicated receiver is advantageous for cost and simplicity reasons. Furthermore, the timing or frequency information, as received from the master network, is used to correct the network element's internal timing. In addition, the network element's internal timing can operate in open-loop mode, if no master network can be found, thereby allowing for the device to continue providing service to network users. Additionally, a dedicated receiver can also receive information (e.g. location, SID, NID, SSID, etc.) local to the network element, such information may be useful or required for seamless operation within the master network. |
| US08867506B2 |
Network combining wired and non-wired segments
A local area network (60) within a residence or other building, including both wired (5) and non-wired segments (53). The wired segments are based on new or existing wires (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) in the building, wherein access to the wires is provided by means of outlets (61a, 61d), such as a telephone system, electrical power distribution system, or cable television wiring system. The non-wired segments are based on communication using propagated waves such as radio, sound, or light (e.g. infrared). The wired and non-wired segments interface in the outlet, using a module (50) that serves as mediator between the segments. The module can be integrated into the outlet, partially housed in the outlet, or attached externally to the outlet. Such a network allows for integrated communication of data units (24b) connected by wires and data units (24a, 24d) connected without wires. |
| US08867505B2 |
Fast data-link connection method for saving connection time in CDMA 2000 network
Disclosed herein is a fast data call connection method capable of reducing a connection time and increasing the probability of connection success in a CDMA 2000 network.In the fast data call connection method of the present invention, the PDSN transmits a data call connection request message, including an authentication type and a challenge value, to the MS. The MS transmits a data call connection response message, including a response to the challenge value, to the PDSN. The PDSN performs authentication with reference to the data call connection response message, and transmits a data call connection complete message to the MS if authentication succeeds. Accordingly, the present invention is advantageous in that it can reduce connection time, can increase the probability of connection success, and can guarantee compatibility by checking the MS version before a data call connection process is executed. |
| US08867504B2 |
Providing distributed wide area coverage infrastructure using bluetooth signal combiner
A distributed wide area coverage system is disclosed that effectively expands the coverage area of the local wireless links by combining the signals from local area base stations and routing the combined signal back to the base stations. The base stations provide two-way open wireless communication channels among mobile devices situated within wireless signal coverage area of each of the base stations. |
| US08867501B2 |
Multi-radio coexistence
In a multi-radio user equipment, communications on a Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) radio operating in Wi-Fi mode may be aligned to reduce interference between the two radios. Communications of the WLAN radio may be aligned to the LTE radio using Notice of Absence (NoA) functionality. |
| US08867500B2 |
Systems and methods for reducing acknowledgment message overhead
Systems, methods, and devices for reducing the overhead required to transmit acknowledgment messages (ACKs) are described herein. In some aspects, the ACKs are reduced in size. In some aspects the ACKs include several short training fields. In some aspects, a receiver of the ACKs can determine the transmitter of the ACK based on when the ACK is received. In some aspects, a receiver of the ACKs can determine the transmitter of the ACK based on information superimposed on the short training fields in the ACK. |
| US08867498B2 |
Directed beaconing using polling for devices with different capabilities
A method and system for directed beaconing in a superframe structure (100, 310, 320, 330, 340) among devices of different types in a Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN). A first type device directs a second type device to transmit beacons (345, 346) in a beacon group of first type devices, announcing the second type device's time slot reservations (314). The method includes: making a Distributed Reservation Protocol (DRP) reservation (314) of a time period in every superframe; selecting two consecutive beacon slots (325, 326) and indicating the two consecutive beacon slots (325, 326) as occupied; informing the second type device the timing of the two occupied consecutive beacon slots during the reserved time period (327); transmitting a response (338) in the reserved time period by the second type device; and transmitting two beacons (345, 346) by the second type device in the two occupied consecutive beacon slots. |
| US08867496B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting control information in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for transmitting control information via a PUCCH in a wireless communication system, and to an apparatus for the method, wherein the method comprises the following steps: joint-coding a plurality of pieces of control information to obtain a single code word; obtaining a first modulated symbol sequence from the single code word; obtaining, from the first modulated symbol sequence, a plurality of second modulated symbol sequences corresponding to each slot in the PUCCH; cyclically shifting the plurality of second modulated symbol sequences in a time domain to obtain a plurality of third modulated symbol sequences; performing a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) precoding process on the plurality of third modulated symbol sequences to obtain a plurality of complex symbol sequences in a frequency domain; and transmitting the plurality of complex symbol sequences via the PUCCH. |
| US08867483B1 |
SCIM peering
IMS technology can allow service providers to share services with each other over different IMS networks. A SCIM can operate with ISC and COPS interfaces to communicate with another similarly situated SCIM to monitor and query information from applications servers operating in IMS networks. When a mobile phone from a home IMS network roams in a visited IMS network, the mobile phone can access features through a tunnel back to the home IMS network while operating in the visited IMS network. The mobile may also access features in the visited IMS network. |
| US08867475B2 |
CDMA mobile communication system and communication method
A radio communication system having a base station and a plurality of radio terminals, wherein each radio terminal having a transmission request transmits a reservation packet at arbitrary timing through a reservation channel in accordance with a CDMA scheme, and the base station assigns a traffic channel and a time slot to be used to each radio terminal requesting a reservation through a reply packet outputted onto a reply channel. On the reservation channel, a short spreading code corresponding to a matched filter is applied. |
| US08867468B2 |
Joint uplink data processing by plural base stations
Joint uplink processing by plural base stations includes sending, by a serving base station, a request for uplink resources of a second base station for receiving uplink data of a mobile station. The serving base station receives first uplink data from the mobile station, and the serving base station further receives (from the second base station) second uplink data of the mobile station received by the second base station using the uplink resources specified by the request. |
| US08867466B2 |
Method and apparatus for activating or deactivating secondary carriers in time division duplex mobile communication system using carrier aggregation
A method and an apparatus for activating or deactivating a primary carrier and secondary carriers in a Time Division Duplex Long Term Evolution (TDD LTE) system using carrier aggregation are provided. An apparatus includes an User Equipment employing the method corresponding the operation associated with the activation and deactivation of SCells, which thereby performs communication with eNBs without errors. |
| US08867464B2 |
Methods and arrangements in a wireless communication system
A method for processing downlink control information in a mobile terminal capable of receiving multiple component carriers. The mobile terminal receives on a component carrier, downlink control information that includes a bit field allocated for a transmit power control (TPC) command. If the bit field comprises one or more bits that are not used for the TPC command, the mobile terminal interprets the meaning of the bits not used for the TPC command based on an ACK/NACK feedback mode with which the mobile terminal is configured. |
| US08867462B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting training sequence in multi user wireless communication system
An apparatus of transmitting a long training field includes: a station number determination unit configured to determine at least one station to be transmitted using transmission data or channel status information; a transmission stream allocation unit configured to determine the number of transmission streams for each of the least one station determined by the station number determination unit; a long training field number calculation unit configured to calculate the number of long training fields required for each of the at least one station determined by the transmission stream allocation unit and determines the least common multiple of the number of calculated long training fields of each station; and a long training field allocation unit configured to allocate the long training fields for each station to subcarriers allocated to each station to correspond to the least common multiple of the determined long training fields. |
| US08867460B2 |
Techniques to assign identifiers in a wireless network
Techniques are described that can be used to assign identifiers to carriers of a multi-carrier mobile station. In some cases, each carrier of the mobile station is assigned the same identifiers. In some cases, each carrier of the mobile station is assigned a unique identifier on each channel. |
| US08867456B2 |
Interface management in wireless communication system using hybrid time reuse
Interference that occurs during wireless communication may be managed by hybrid time reuse. A method, apparatus amend medium of communication determines one or more time reuse patterns of respective one or more unplanned access points. A second time reuse pattern that is less interfering with the one or more time reuse patterns is selected. Signals are transmitted according to the second time reuse pattern from a second unplanned access point to an associated access terminal. |
| US08867455B2 |
Enhanced uplink for inactive state in a wireless communication system
Techniques for supporting operation with enhanced uplink in inactive state are described. A user equipment (UE) may send an access preamble for random access while in an inactive state and may receive a message containing resources allocated to the UE. The allocated resources may be selected by a Node B from a pool of resources pre-allocated to the Node B for the enhanced uplink. The UE may send information (e.g., scheduling information and/or its UE identity) to the Node B using the allocated resources. The UE may receive an acknowledgement addressed to the UE based on the UE identity. The UE may remain in the inactive state and continue to use the allocated resources until they are de-allocated. Alternatively, the UE may transition to an active state and either continue to use the allocated resources or receive an allocation of new resources for the active state. |
| US08867454B2 |
Method for allocating non-dedicated resource as a dedicated resource
A method of allocating resources and signatures of a random access resource (RACH) (200) that includes dedicated (202) and non-dedicated (204) resources or sub-resources is disclosed. The network device determines if the dedicated resource is available for allocation. If the dedicated resource is available, the network device allocates the dedicated resource. If the dedicated resource is blocked, the network device allocates one of the non-dedicated resources. A message can be sent that indicates that allocated non-dedicated resource is being allocated as a dedicated resource. |
| US08867451B2 |
Optimized telecommunications distribution system
Systems and methods for optimized telecommunications distribution are provided. For example, a distributed antenna system can include a master unit for transceiving signals with remote units operable for wirelessly transceiving signals with mobile devices in a coverage area. A self-optimized network analyzer can be in a unit of the distributed antenna system. A self-optimized network controller in the distributed antenna system can output commands for changing operation of a component in the distributed antenna system in response to analysis results from the self-optimized network analyzer. In some aspects, the master unit includes base transceiver station cards for receiving call information in network protocol data from a network and for generating digital signals including the call information from the network protocol data for distribution to the remote units. |
| US08867449B2 |
Transmitting data in a mobile communication system
According to one embodiment, a method for retransmitting a protocol data unit (PDU) in a mobile communication system includes: segmenting a first PDU to form one or more second PDUs if the first PDU does not fit within a PDU size indicated by a lower layer; and transmitting the one or more second PDUs to a receiving side. Segmenting the first PDU includes: mapping only a data field of the first PDU to a data field of the one or more second PDUs; and setting a header of each of the one or more second PDUs. The header of each of the one or more second PDUs includes a field indicating a sequence number of the first PDU. |
| US08867448B2 |
Power-efficient adaptive channel state feedback in discontinuous reception scenarios
Providing adaptive channel state feedback (CSF) reports in discontinuous reception (DRX) scenarios in a power-efficient manner. The described algorithm may be able to make adaptive decisions to carry over the CSF from previous DRX cycles based on channel conditions, DRX cycle length, and/or the requirements of CSF reporting for current DRX cycle. The proposed approach can allow for more efficient power consumption related to CSF reports in DRX scenarios where new CSF reports have little or no impact to throughput. |
| US08867445B2 |
Bit soft value normalization
An LTE uplink soft demapper includes an SC-FDMA symbol noise power meter (22) configured to individually determine a noise power measure for each SC-FDMA symbol in a slot by exploiting information contained in modulated data symbols of the corresponding SC-FDMA symbol. A bit soft value normalizer (24) connected to the SC-FDMA symbol noise power meter (22) is configured to normalize bit soft values, representing reliability of received bits obtained from the SC-FDMA symbols in the slot, based on the determined noise power measures. |
| US08867444B2 |
Wireless communication system, transmitting device and receiving device
A wireless communication system has a transmitting device and a receiving device that perform communication by using a multi-carrier signal, wherein the receiving device includes a quality generating unit generating each piece of receiving quality information on each pilot channel for transmitting each pilot signal, a determining unit determining the number of pilot channels needed in the multi-carrier signal based on the receiving quality information, and a notifying unit transmitting a signal requesting the determined number of pilot channels to the transmitting device, and the transmitting device includes an allocation unit determining allocations of pilot signals in the direction of the time axis and in the direction of the frequency axis, corresponding to a requested number of pilot channels, and a transmitting unit transmitting the multi-carrier signal having the determined pilot signal allocations. |
| US08867439B2 |
Method and apparatus for establishing an interface between access points
Methods and apparatuses are provided that facilitate establishing an interface for communications between access points. Where access points operate in a same local or enterprise network, an interface can be established via the local or enterprise network instead of (or in addition to) a wireless operator network. A source access point can determine an address over which to request establishment of the interface based at least in part on an identifier of a target access point. In another example, target access point can determine an address to provide to the source access point for establishing the interface based at least in part on an identifier of the source access point. |
| US08867437B2 |
Cell site modem application message interface
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a technique for implementing a cell site modem application message interface (CSM API) for a cell site of Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless system. |
| US08867435B2 |
Method for determining successful receipt at a mobile terminal
Transmissions sent on a multicast broadcast multimedia service control channel (MCCH) to a mobile terminal are determined to be successfully received by signalling the expected number of messages within the transmission; and terminating receipt of the MCCH only when the number of messages received is equal to the number of messages signalled. |
| US08867433B2 |
Method of retransmission to reduce the overhead
A method of transmitting data in a wireless access system and a packet retransmitting method therein are disclosed. The present invention includes receiving an initial control message including information required for a packet retransmission from a base station, transmitting the packet to be provided with a service from the base station, and if a NACK (non-acknowledgement) signal is received from the base station, retransmitting the packet corresponding to the NACK signal to the base station using the information required for the packet retransmission and included in the initial control message. Therefore, since a separate control message needs not to be transmitted in case of packet retransmission, it is able to save radio resources and reduce an overhead by retransmitting a packet via a previously allocated retransmission region without the separate control message. |
| US08867422B2 |
Precoding matrix index feedback interaction with discontinuous reception
A user equipment (UE) is provided that includes a processor configured to transmit a precoding matrix index (PMI) using one of an assigned periodic PMI reporting resource that precisely aligns with the start of an on-duration of a discontinuous reception (DRX) operation mode of the UE and a first assigned periodic PMI reporting resource after the start of an on-duration of a discontinuous reception (DRX) operation mode of the UE. |
| US08867421B2 |
Correction of clock errors in a wireless station to enable reduction of power consumption
According to an aspect, a wireless station uses a low-frequency clock during sleep intervals and a high-frequency clock during awake intervals. Drift between the low-frequency clock and the high-frequency clock are corrected to enable aligning a wake time instant of the wireless receiver with start of beacon transmissions from an access point, and thereby to reduce power wastage. According to another aspect, errors between the clock of an access point and that of a wireless station are corrected. The wireless station computes an error between the clocks, and extrapolates the error for a sleep interval to compute a wake-up time instant. The correction and extrapolation are performed in every awake interval. Again, undesired power consumption in the wireless station is thereby reduced. |
| US08867418B2 |
Methods of incorporating an ad hoc cellular network into a fixed cellular network
In this invention, we disclose methods directed toward integrating an ad hoc cellular network into a fixed cellular network. The methods disclosed herein automate the creation and integration of these networks. In additional embodiments, we disclose methods for establishing a stand-alone, ad hoc cellular network. In either of these implementations, we integrate or establish an ad hoc cellular network using mobile ad hoc cellular base stations configured to transmit and receive over a variety of frequencies, protocols, and duplexing schemes. The methods flexibly and dynamically choose an access or backhaul configuration and radio characteristics to optimize network performance. Additional embodiments provide for enhancing an existing network's coverage as needed, establishing a local network in the event of a loss of backhaul coverage to the core network, and providing local wireless access service within the ad hoc cellular network. |
| US08867416B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling load balance
A method for controlling a load balance between a CDMA2000 1X EV-DO network and a CDMA2000 1X network is provided. A base station controller (BSC) in the CDMA2000 1X EV-DO network receives a connection request message sent by a terminal, determines that a load of the CDMA2000 1X EV-DO network is higher than a threshold, sends a load query message to a BSC in the CDMA2000 1X network, receives a load query response message indicating that the CDMA2000 1X network is not overloaded from the BSC in the CDMA2000 1X network, and sends a system switchover message to the BSC in the CDMA2000 1X network to instruct the BSC in the CDMA2000 1X network to switch the terminal from the CDMA2000 1X EV-DO network to the CDMA2000 1X network. |
| US08867415B2 |
System and method for extending communication coverage in a wireless network
A wireless communication system may include a first base station having a first communication coverage area and operating in an HFDD mode using a first frequency and a second frequency in an alternating pattern. The system may also include a second base station having a second communication coverage area different than the first communication coverage area and also operating in an HFDD mode. The second base station may communicate using the first frequency and the second frequency in an opposite alternating pattern from the first base station. |
| US08867412B1 |
System and method for seamlessly switching a half-duplex session to a full-duplex session
A communication system that is particularly suited to switch a half duplex session to a full duplex session. The system includes a dispatch call controller that sets up a half duplex session; and a VoIP server that receives a request to switch the half duplex session to a full duplex session; forwards the request to the target subscriber unit; receives an acceptance of the request; and sets up the full duplex session between the subscriber units. In another embodiment, the dispatch call controller receives the request to switch to the full duplex session; forwards the request to the target subscriber unit; receives an acceptance of the request; and instructs the VoIP server to set up the full duplex session. In yet another embodiment, a service broker receives the request, instructs the VoIP server to set up the full duplex session, and instructs the dispatch call controller to terminate the half duplex session. |
| US08867411B2 |
Emergency call mode preference in wireless communication networks
A system and method to determine a type of wireless network that is to be used for an emergency communication session that is initiated at a mobile device. A Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) header is modified to introduce an emergency call mode preference (ECMP) field into the header. When a mobile device registers a session with an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), the ECMP field is populated by the service provider with information that conveys the preferred network to use when an emergency communication session is initiated by a user of the mobile device. In the event of a subsequent request to start an emergency communication session using the mobile device, the mobile device utilizes the preferred network to establish communication. |
| US08867406B2 |
System and method for automated discovery of customer-edge devices and interface connections in a virtual-private-networking environment
One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a customer-edge-discovery subsystem, within a VPN-provider system interconnected with a public communications network, that automatically generates a data representation of a VPN-provider view of the network by: initializing the data representation; accessing tools and protocols available within the VPN-provider system to discover elements, connections, interfaces, VPNs, and other components and characteristics of the public communications network and include representations of the discovered elements, connections, interfaces, VPNs, and other components and characteristics of the public communications network in the data representation; and finding customer-edge devices for each provider-edge device to include in the data representation using broadcast domains or address-resolution-protocol caches. |
| US08867403B2 |
Virtual network overlays
Systems are provided for overlaying a virtual network on a physical network in a data center environment. An overlay system is arranged in an overlay virtual network to include an overlay agent and an overlay helper. The overlay agent is implemented in an access switch. The overlay helper is implemented in an end station that is in communication with the access switch. Overlay parameters in compliance with an in-band protocol are transmitted between the overlay agent and the overlay helper. |
| US08867400B2 |
Method and apparatus for tracking clock sources
A method and an apparatus for tracking a clock source are disclosed. The method includes determining a best clock source to be tracked by a device according to a best clock source tracked by a slave candidate port in the device and distributing the best clock source tracked by the device through a master candidate port in a master state. Through the embodiments of the present disclosure, the clock source selection of the device converges quickly. Moreover, because the slave candidate port is determined according to the network planning, the planning of the transport network is observed. |
| US08867397B2 |
Method and apparatus for uplink power control in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access communication system
A communication system minimizes inter-cell interference and handover holes by providing for a user equipment (UE) to monitor downlink signals from a serving, boundary eNodeB and one or more neighbor eNodeBs, determine a signal quality metric (SQM) for each monitored signal to produce an SQM associated with each eNodeB, and determine a maximum uplink transmit power level (PMAX) for each eNodeB. Based on the determined SQMs and PMAXs, the UE determines a eNodeB of the one or more neighbor eNodeBs with a best SQM and, in response to determining that the neighbor eNodeB of the one or more neighbor eNodeBs with a best SQM is a high power eNodeB, determines a difference between the SQM associated with the high power ENodeB and the SQM associated with the boundary eNodeB. The UE then sets a PMAX for the UE based on the difference determination. |
| US08867393B2 |
Method and apparatus for allocating a sounding channel in a wireless communication system
There are provided a method and apparatus for allocating a sounding channel in a wireless communication system. A base station transmits a first sounding channel allocation data to allocate a first sounding channel for a first system to a first zone, and transmits a second sounding channel allocation data to allocate a second sounding channel for a second system other than the first system to a second zone. The first zone and the second zone are multiplexed by an FDM (Frequency Division Multiplexing) method, and the first sounding channel and the second sounding channel are allocated to a same OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) symbol. A channel response can be estimated accurately when a terminal for IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.16m system and a terminal for IEEE 802.16e system coexist in a legacy support mode. |
| US08867392B2 |
Handoff of a mobile device moving at a high relative velocity to base stations for a wireless network
Examples are disclosed for handoff of a mobile device moving at a high relative velocity to a plurality of base stations for a wireless network. |
| US08867391B2 |
Method and apparatus for error correction ciphering in mobile communication system
A method for error correction deciphering of a receive apparatus in a mobile communication system includes receiving a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) packet. The method also includes, when error correction ciphering is set, acquiring a partial Hyper Frame Number (HFN) from the PDCP packet. The method further includes comparing the partial HFN and the receive apparatus's own lower HFN of a constant bit count. The method still further includes, if the partial HFN and the receive apparatus's own lower HFN of the constant bit count are different from each other, performing an HFN correction function. |
| US08867390B2 |
Adaptive quality of service policy for dynamic networks
A close-loop quality of service system is provided that collects real-time network performance indicators at the physical, data link and network layers. Using those indicators, the system dynamically controls the network traffic in order to achieve improved performance according to the priority and policy defined by a data user or system/network administrator. Several features of this quality of service system includes (1) dynamic maximum bandwidth reallocation, (2) dynamic maximum packet sizing, (3) adaptive policing, and/or (4) real-time link status feedbacks to make more efficient use of available bandwidth and adjust to transmission requirements. |
| US08867388B2 |
Distributing content to a plurality of mobile stations using a downlink point-to-multipoint (PTM) bearers and downlink point-to-point (PTP) bearers
A method and apparatus is provided for distributing content to a plurality of mobile stations using a downlink point-to-multipoint (PTM) bearers and downlink point-to-point (PTP) bearers. A controller can process events, to determine whether a current modulation-and-coding scheme (MCS) level applied to downlink transmissions over the downlink PTM bearer is to be changed or maintained, and to communicate a change message whenever the current MCS level is to be changed. An actuator can adjust, in response to receiving a change message, a MCS level that is applied to downlink transmissions over the downlink PTM bearer. |
| US08867387B2 |
Mobile communication system and transmission-side node
In a mobile communication system according to the present invention, an AP/ULP layer of a transmission-side node (A) is configured to acquire, from a SCTP layer of the transmission-side node (A), a “rwnd” for each connection of the SCTP layer, a “cwnd” for each physical path, and a third data amount indicating an amount of data transmitted within a unit time by the transmission-side node (A) for each stream; and when an urgency flag is included in data subject to transmission, the AP/ULP layer of the transmission-side node (A) is configured to determine a stream and a physical path through which the data subject to transmission should be transmitted, based on the “rwnd”, the “cwnd”, and the third data amount, and to notify, to the SCTP layer, the determination. |
| US08867386B2 |
Multiuser scheduling in WLAN systems
An apparatus for wireless communications is provided including a processing system. The processing system is configured to determine path-losses between the apparatus and a plurality of wireless nodes, to group the plurality of wireless nodes into sets based on the determined path-losses, and to exchange data with at least one of the wireless nodes in one of the sets. |
| US08867385B2 |
Tunneling reports for real-time Internet Protocol media streams
A router, switch, or other network node generates reports that contain packet level statistics and other information for a monitored media stream. The media stream reports reduce the amount of bandwidth typically required for sending monitored media stream information back to a central analysis device. However the computation of other media stream analytics, such as long term statistical averaging or quality metric computation, is performed by the central analysis device to remove some of the processing burden from the individual network nodes. |
| US08867379B2 |
Flexible spectrum sharing
Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to one example embodiment, a method may include receiving, by a first wireless node in a first wireless network, a request from a second wireless node in a second wireless network to borrow spectral resources from the first wireless network. The method may further include determining a cost of granting the request, the cost being based at least in part on a cost to a lending cell within the first wireless network from which the spectral resources will be borrowed and a cost to neighboring cells of the lending cell. The method may further include lending the spectral resources to the second wireless node based at least in part on the determined cost of granting the request. |
| US08867378B2 |
Triggering multi-carrier requests
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate triggering multi-carrier requests at a mobile device and granting or denying the request at the access point. The mobile device can determine when to request additional carriers from the access point based on communication parameters, such as buffer levels, inflow/outflow data rates, PA headroom for handling an additional carrier, a timer for requesting the carrier, a maximum number of allocable carriers, and/or the like. Upon receiving the request, the access point can grant or deny the request based at least in part on subscriber level of the mobile device, available resources in the access point, reverse link throughput, and/or the like. Allocating additional carriers to the mobile device can increase throughput for communicating with the access point. |
| US08867375B2 |
Failback to a primary communications adapter
In some example embodiments, there is a method for failback to a primary communications adapter. The method includes receiving, in a driver for the primary communications adapter and a backup communications adapter, a link up event for the primary communications adapter, wherein the link up event is sent from the primary communications adapter to the driver, and wherein the link up event is triggered by establishing electrical connectivity to the primary communications adapter. The method includes inferring that the primary communications adapter is configured for receiving packets. The method includes setting the backup communications adapter to idle, wherein the backup communications adapter receives packets and drops the packets while idle. The method includes activating the primary communications adapter, wherein the primary communications adapter receives packets and passes the packets up a protocol stack while activated. |
| US08867374B2 |
Link adaptation for retransmission schemes
Link adaptive retransmission techniques are provided for use in connection with wireless communications between a first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device. The first wireless communication device generates M packet error information values for the transmit session of a packet based on whether an acknowledgment message or a non-acknowledgment message is received from the second wireless communication device for a transmission and for previously sent transmissions even if less than M transmissions are sent by the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device upon completion of the transmit session. The first wireless communication device computes a retransmission fading margin based on the M packet error information values, from which an effective carrier-to-interference-plus-noise ratio is derived for selection of a modulation scheme. |
| US08867373B2 |
Apparatus and method for declaring radio link failure (RLF)
According to one aspect, there is provided a method performed by a communication device for declaring RLF. In some embodiments, the method includes: (1) the communication device establishing a connection with a serving base station; (2) the communication device determining whether to relax a condition for declaring RLF; (3) the communication device using a first rule in declaring an RLF in response to determining that the communication device should not relax the condition; and (4) the communication device using a relaxed rule in declaring an RLF in response to determining that the communication device should relax the condition, wherein the relaxed rule is less stringent than the first rule. |
| US08867371B2 |
Estimating physical locations of network faults
A method of estimating a physical location of a network fault is provided. Information is received concerning the physical topology of the network by data pulls of information concerning network components and terminal network elements and geographic locations thereof. A network fault is detected by monitoring at least one performance parameter transmitted via upstream communications from the terminal network elements, and a physical location of a network fault is estimated based on the performance parameter, the physical topology of the network, and the terminal network element or elements from which the performance parameter was received that indicated the network fault. A list of network components that require inspection and that may provide a source of the network fault is generated. A signal processing electronic device for mapping the network fault and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer program instructions are also provided. |
| US08867369B2 |
Input/output connection device, information processing device, and method for inspecting input/output device
An input/output connection device includes a generating section which generates an inspection packet that has a tag that uniquely identifies the packet, a transmitting section which transmits the inspection packet to the input/output device, a receiving section which receives a packet, a first determining section which determines, on the basis of a tag of the packet received by the receiving section, whether or not the received packet is a packet transmitted in response to the inspection packet transmitted by the transmitting section, and a second determining section which analyzes the received packet and determines whether or not the input/output device is normal when the first determining section determines that the received packet is the packet transmitted in response to the inspection packet. |
| US08867366B2 |
Multicast implementation in a link state protocol controlled Ethernet network
Forwarding state may be installed for sparse multicast trees in a link state protocol controlled Ethernet network by enabling intermediate nodes to install state for one or more physical multicast trees, each of which may have multiple logical multicast trees mapped to it. By mapping multiple logical multicasts to a particular physical multicast, and installing state for the physical multicast, fewer FIB entries are required to implement the multiple multicasts to reduce the amount of forwarding state in forwarding tables at the intermediate nodes. Mapping may be performed by destination nodes before advertising membership in the physical multicast, or may be performed by the intermediate nodes before installing state when a destination node advertises membership in a logical multicast. Intermediate nodes will install state for the physical multicast tree if they are on a shortest path between a source and at least one destination of one of the logical multicasts that has been mapped to the physical multicast. |
| US08867364B2 |
Method and apparatus for multi-homing path selection of stream control transmission protocol
The present disclosure discloses a method for multi-homing path selection of a stream control transmission protocol (SCTP). The method includes the following steps of: starting quality evaluation of paths; calculating a quality evaluation value of each path; comparing the quality evaluation value of each path; and selecting a path with the highest quality evaluation value to transmit a data message. The present disclosure also discloses an apparatus for multi-homing path selection of an SCTP. By adopting the method and the apparatus, a network selects the path with the highest quality evaluation value to transmit a data message. As long as path faults affect the transmission efficiency, other path with better quality is selected for transmission, thus the capability of the network of dealing with all kinds of path faults can be improved, and the data transmission speed and quality are further improved. |
| US08867362B2 |
Congestion control for interworking between networks
A congestion indication is introduced to indicate the congestion status of the circuit-switched network to a packet-switched network, such as an LTE network. The congestion indication is transmitted from an interworking function in the circuit-switched network to the LTE network. The congestion indication and/or other congestion information is transmitted with a circuit services signaling message that is otherwise being sent. Piggy-backing the congestion information with other circuit services signaling messages reduces the amount of signaling over the LTE network. |
| US08867361B2 |
Implementing EPC in a cloud computer with OpenFlow data plane
A method implements a control plane of an evolved packet core (EPC) of a long term evolution (LTE) network in a cloud computing system. A cloud manager monitors resource utilization of each control plane module and the control plane traffic handled by each control plane module. The cloud manager detects a threshold level of resource utilization or traffic load for one of the plurality of control plane modules of the EPC. A new control plane module is initialized as a separate virtual machine by the cloud manager in response to detecting the threshold level. The new control plane module signals the plurality of network elements in the data plane to establish flow rules and actions to establish differential routing of flows in the data plane using the control protocol, wherein flow matches are encoded using an extensible match structure in which the flow match is encoded as a type-length-value (TLV). |
| US08867355B2 |
MoCA multicast handling
An apparatus and methods for transmitting information over a home coax network are provided. A method according to the invention for transmitting information over a home coax network preferably includes adding a multicast transmission mode to a system that previously only had unicast transmission mode and broadcast mode. The method preferably includes broadcasting multicast (“MC”) traffic. The MC traffic may be directed to a predetermined MC group. The MC traffic may be transmitted from an ingress node to a plurality of egress nodes. A portion of the plurality of egress nodes may belong to the MC group. Upon receipt by at least one of the egress nodes of the MC traffic, the method may further include using the at least one egress node to filter the received MC traffic to determine whether the MC traffic is directed to a group for which the egress node is a member. |
| US08867353B2 |
System and method for achieving lossless packet delivery in packet rate oversubscribed systems
A system and method for achieving lossless packet delivery in packet rate oversubscribed systems. Link-level packet rate control can be effected through the transmission of packet rate control messages to link partners of an oversubscribed system. The transmission of packet rate control messages can be triggered upon a determination that a packet arrival rate over a set of ingress ports exceeds a packet processing rate of a packet processing unit bound to the set of ingress ports. In one embodiment, the packet processing rate is artificially reduced due to a reduction in power consumption in the oversubscribed system. |
| US08867351B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for the transmission of data with different QoS attributes
An apparatus, system and method are provided for transmitting data from logical channel queues over a telecommunications link, each of the logical channel queues capable of being associated with quality of service attributes, the method including determining available resources for transmission over the telecommunications link in a frame; selecting one of the logical channel queues based on a first one of the quality of service attributes; packaging data from the selected one of the logical channel queues until one of: a second one of the quality of service attributes for the selected one of the logical channel queues is satisfied, the available resources are used, or the selected one of the logical channel queues is empty; and repeating the selecting step and the packaging step for remaining ones of the logical channel queues. |
| US08867347B2 |
Method and apparatus for congestion control
A method for control of congestion of traffic, being categorized according to a number of layers (L), in a network node, comprises a step of monitoring the amount (n(t)) of incoming flows to this node such that, based upon this amount (n(t)) of incoming flows and on a current number of accepted layers (l(t)), a next number of accepted layers (l(t+1)) for entry into said node is determined by consultation of an action table (T). In an enhanced embodiment the action table is adjusted based on the observed traffic during an observation period. |
| US08867346B2 |
Method, system, and computer program product for providing network data flow analysis and routing
Data flow analysis and routing processes include monitoring a process of a workflow, intercepting data traffic for data entered for the process, and identifying a communication path of a destination location for the data traffic. The method also includes verifying compliance of the process by applying business rules to the data, and notifying an entity of any non-compliance identified from the verification. |
| US08867344B2 |
Methods for bus data transmission and systems utilizing the same
A method for data transmission in a device coupled to a host via a bus is provided. A sequence of data packets are received from the host and the received data packets are stored into a buffering unit of the device. It is then determined whether a predetermined error has occurred. When the predetermined error has occurred, the buffering unit of the device is locked to stop receiving the data packets. Thereafter, the buffering unit of the device is unlocked according to an unlock request from the host to resume receiving subsequent data packets. |
| US08867339B2 |
Method, system and device for recovering invalid downlink data tunnel between networks
Described herein is a method for processing an invalidation of a downlink data tunnel between networks. The method includes the following steps: (1) a core network user plane anchor receives an error indication of data tunnel sent from an access network device, (2) after deciding that the user plane corresponding to the error indication uses a One Tunnel technology, the core network user plane anchor notifies a relevant core network control plane to request recovering the downlink data tunnel, (3) the core network control plane recovers the downlink data tunnel and notifies the core network user plane anchor to update information of the user plane. In addition, a communication system and a communication device are also provided. The method, system, and device can improve the speed of recovering data transmission after the downlink data tunnel becomes invalid. |
| US08867335B2 |
System and method for fault isolation in a packet switching network
A system and method for fault isolation in a packet switching network, wherein a network element may be categorized as faulty when the network element is identified as a point-of-congestion in the network. One such system can be broadly summarized by a representative communication system that incorporates a fault isolating element to monitor multiple network elements. The fault isolating element includes components such as a database of data flow paths that exist in the plurality of network elements, a data gathering element that is configured to collect performance information related to one or more network elements, and an analyzer element that uses the performance information collected by the data gathering element to identify one or more network elements as points of congestion. |
| US08867325B2 |
Optical pickup apparatus having diffractive element for focusing and tracking plurality of light types
There is provided an optical pickup apparatus. In an optical pickup apparatus, a focus diffraction region includes focus regions of which a number of types is equal to a number of types of light that can be emitted by a light source. The types of the focus regions correspond to the respective types of light, the respective focus regions diffract the corresponding types of light toward same positions of focus light-receiving regions. The focus regions include a plurality of focus segmented regions. The plurality of focus segmented regions of the respective types of focus regions are periodically distributed in the focus diffraction region, and at least some of the focus segmented regions are disposed to be adjacent to focus segmented regions for different types of light. |
| US08867321B2 |
Watch comprising a zebra connector for electrical connection between a digital display device and a printed circuit board and method of assembling such a watch
Method of ultrasonic welding a watch crystal, the watch including a middle part which, with the crystal, delimits a watch case, the crystal including a top face oriented towards the user and an opposite bottom face oriented towards the watch cases, a digital display device being fixed to the bottom face of the crystal, a printed circuit board being disposed inside the watch case, underneath and remote from the digital display device, the digital display device being electrically connected to the printed circuit board by means of a zebra electrical connector, wherein, as the crystal is abutting on a shoulder arranged in the middle part, the ultrasounds are directed onto the shoulder to melt the shoulder and to lower the level of the crystal in the direction of the printed circuit board, so that the zebra connector is compressed between the digital display device and the printed circuit board. |
| US08867320B2 |
Timepiece cover glass and timepiece
A timepiece cover glass used in a timepiece with a solar battery is provided. The timepiece cover glass covers the solar battery. The timepiece cover glass includes an antireflective layer is formed on at least both sides of the timepiece cover glass. A formula (1) is satisfied. f(x, y, z)≦40 (1), where (f(x, y, z) expresses the absolute value of the difference between the maximum value and minimum value among x, y, and z, where z=550.), xnm represents a wavelength exhibiting a minimum reflectance in a reflectance curve based on the antireflective layer, ynm represents a maximum sensitivity wavelength of the solar battery, and znm represents a maximum visible sensitivity wavelength, and the luminous reflectance is 0.6% or less. |
| US08867319B2 |
Interval timing device
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an interval timing device and methods of utilizing the same. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a device for timing customized interval exercises, having set workout periods and rest periods, over a predetermined number of intervals and methods of utilizing the same. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an interval timing device comprises a housing, a means for starting the interval timing device, at least one graphical user interface for displaying multimedia content, wherein the at least one graphical user interface comprises an exercise hold timer, a rest timer, and a repetition counter. |
| US08867317B2 |
Electronic device and radio timepiece including antenna
An electronic device includes a circuit substrate, an antenna, an electronic component or a terminal, and a shield pattern. The antenna includes: a core having a length direction; and a coil part including a conducting wire wound around the core, and is disposed on a first side of the substrate in such a way that the length direction is nearly parallel to the first side. The electronic component or the terminal is disposed on a second side of the substrate in such a way as to correspond to the antenna. The shield pattern is disposed on and/or in the substrate between the antenna and the electronic component or the terminal. The length of a part of the shield pattern, the part overlapping with the antenna, is shorter than the length of the coil part. |
| US08867314B2 |
Ultrasonic probe device and its control method
An ultrasonic probe device includes capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers, a band control unit and a bias voltage change unit. Each of the transducers belongs to one of groups, each of the groups includes at least one of the transducers. The band control unit determines the bias voltage value which varies for each of the groups, and a timing to apply the direct-current bias voltage having the bias voltage value so that all frequencies included in an operating frequency are transmitted and/or received by the ultrasonic probe device during an operation period. The bias voltage change unit changes the direct-current bias voltage to be applied to the capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers in accordance with the bias voltage value and the timing. |
| US08867311B2 |
Systems and methods for low grating sidelobe synthetic aperture sonar
The systems and methods described herein relate to systems and methods for synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) having multiple transmitters and generating orthogonal pinging sequences configured to enhance performance. |
| US08867310B1 |
Method and system for transmission of seismic data
The transmission method utilizes multiple seismic acquisition units within an array as intermediate short range radio receivers/transmitters to pass collected seismic data in relay fashion back to a control station. Any one seismic unit in the array is capable of transmitting radio signals to several other seismic units positioned within radio range of the transmitting unit, thus allowing the system to select an optimal transmission path. Utilizing an array of seismic units permits transmission routes back to a control station to be varied as needed. In transmissions from the most remote seismic unit to the control station, each unit within a string receives seismic data from other units and transmits the received seismic data along with the receiving unit's locally stored seismic data. Preferably, as a transmission is passed along a chain, it is bounced between seismic units so as to be relayed by each unit in the array. |
| US08867308B2 |
System, method and computer program product for stacking seismic noise data to analyze seismic events
Disclosed is a method for determining seismic event data from indications of seismic noise, the method including receiving seismic trace data from a plurality of locations, and providing a virtual trace value (ERvirtual) as seismic event data for a virtual trace location from the seismic trace data. A system and computer program product for determining seismic event data is also disclosed. |
| US08867306B2 |
Resonance method of radial oscillations for measuring permeability of rock formations
A method for determining permeability of a porous medium of a formation, the method including: placing a logging instrument into a borehole that traverses the porous medium, the borehole filled with a borehole fluid; measuring a pressure, p(1), of an acoustic wave in the borehole at about a boundary between the porous medium and the borehole, the acoustic wave comprising a frequency that is about a resonant frequency of a system that includes the borehole and the porous medium; calculating the permeability from the pressure; and providing the permeability as output to a user. |
| US08867305B2 |
Method of assisting the deployment/retrieval of linear acoustic antennas towed by a vessel, during the course of which distance-measuring means carried by the antennas communicate with one another
A method of assisting the deployment/retrieval of linear acoustic antennas towed by a vessel, said linear antennas each having geophysical data sensors, means for measuring the distance of at least one adjacent linear antenna, during the course of which at least one of said linear acoustic antennas has at least longitudinal mobility in relation to said vessel, including: at least one phase for configuring cells (Cn) each defined by a central position corresponding to a distance-measuring means (T), and by at least one peripheral position corresponding to another distance-measuring means (T) in proximity to said distance-measuring means (T) for said central position, reference distances between said central positions and said peripheral positions being predetermined; and at least one phase for controlling said central and peripheral positions with respect to said reference distances, by establishing communication between at least some of said distance-measuring means (T). |
| US08867304B2 |
Command throttling for multi-channel duty-cycle based memory power management
A technique for memory command throttling in a partitioned memory subsystem includes accepting, by a master memory controller included in multiple memory controllers, a synchronization command. The synchronization command includes command data that includes an associated synchronization indication (e.g., synchronization bit(s)) for each of the multiple memory controllers and each of the multiple memory controllers controls a respective partition of the partitioned memory subsystem. In response to receiving the synchronization command, the master memory controller forwards the synchronization command to the multiple memory controllers. In response to receiving the forwarded synchronization command each of the multiple memory controllers de-asserts an associated status bit. In response to receiving the forwarded synchronization command, each of the multiple memory controllers determines whether the associated synchronization indication is asserted. Each of the multiple memory controllers with the asserted associated synchronization indication then transmits the forwarded synchronization command to associated power control logic. |
| US08867299B2 |
Non-volatile memory device
A non-volatile memory device includes a plurality of memory blocks, first block switches configured to correspond to the respective odd-numbered memory blocks of the plurality of memory blocks and couple the word lines of the odd-numbered memory blocks and first local lines, second block switches configured to correspond to the respective even-numbered memory blocks of the plurality of memory blocks and couple the word lines of the even-numbered memory blocks and second local lines, a local line switch unit configured to selectively couple the first local lines or the second local lines and global word lines, and a high voltage generator configured to supply operating voltages to the global word lines. |
| US08867298B2 |
Semiconductor device and operating method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a first bit line section coupled to a first cell string, a second bit line section coupled to a second cell string, a page buffer coupled to the first bit line section and a switching circuit formed between the first bit line section and the second bit line section, wherein the switching circuit couples the first bit line section to second bit line section in response to a select signal. |
| US08867297B1 |
Charge/discharge control circuit and charge/discharge method thereof
A charge/discharge circuit is configured to directly charge a storage system using a power source under a power-on stage and to charge the storage system using power pre-stored in a capacitor under a power-off stage. With the aid of the charge/discharge circuit, an access speed of the storage system is prevented from being slowed down by attaching the large capacitance of the capacitor, and data accuracy of the storage system is prevented from being affected by sudden loss of power supply of the power source. |
| US08867295B2 |
Power converter for a memory module
An apparatus including a memory module and power converter and method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a memory module, located on a circuit board, configured to operate from a first voltage and a second voltage being a multiple of the first voltage. The apparatus also includes a power converter employing a switched-capacitor power train, located on the circuit board, configured to provide the second voltage for the memory module from the first voltage. |
| US08867292B2 |
Semiconductor device, method of retrieving data, and microcomputer
A semiconductor device includes a data memory cell for storing data; a reference data memory cell for storing reference data to be compared with the data; an inverted data memory cell for storing inverted data of the reference data; a sense amplifier unit; and a data output unit. In a first retrieving process, the sense amplifier unit differentially amplifies the data and the reference data, and adjusts an output thereof when a voltage difference between the data and the reference data becomes a predetermined retrievable voltage difference. In a second retrieving process, the sense amplifier unit differentially amplifies the data and the inverted data, and adjusts an output thereof when a voltage difference between the data and the inverted data becomes the predetermined retrievable voltage difference. The data output unit determines and outputs the data according to a result of the first retrieving process and the second retrieving process. |
| US08867290B2 |
Apparatuses, integrated circuits, and methods for measuring leakage current
Methods, apparatuses, and integrated circuits for measuring leakage current are disclosed. In one such example method, a word line is charged to a first voltage, and a measurement node is charged to a second voltage, the second voltage being less than the first voltage. The measurement node is proportionally coupled to the word line. A voltage on the measurement node is compared with a reference voltage. A signal is generated, the signal being indicative of the comparison. Whether a leakage current of the word line is acceptable or not can be determined based on the signal. |
| US08867288B2 |
Memory device and test method thereof
A method for testing a memory device includes entering a test mode in which multiple memory banks operate in a same manner, allowing a row corresponding to a row address in the multiple memory banks to be activated, latching a bank address and the row address corresponding to the multiple memory banks, writing same data in a column selected by a column address in the multiple memory banks, reading the data written in the writing of the data from the multiple memory banks, checking whether the data read from the multiple memory banks in the reading of the data are equal to each other, and programming the bank address and the row address to a nonvolatile memory when the data read from the multiple memory banks are different from each other. |
| US08867287B2 |
Test circuit and method of semiconductor memory apparatus
A semiconductor memory apparatus including a test circuit configured for generating compressed data by comparing and compressing data stored in a plurality of memory cells inside a memory bank during a first test mode, and configured for outputting the compressed data as test data to an input/output pad through one selected global line during the first test mode, and the test circuit is configured for transmitting the compressed data to a plurality of global lines during a second test mode, combining the compressed data loaded in the respective global lines during the second test mode, and outputting the combination result as the test data to the input/output pad during the second test mode. |
| US08867286B2 |
Repairable multi-layer memory chip stack and method thereof
A repairable multi-layer memory chip stack wherein each of the memory chips of the chip stack includes a control unit, a decoding unit, a memory array module and a redundant repair unit comprising at least one redundant repair element. The decoding unit receives a memory address from an address bus, and correspondingly outputs a decoded address. The memory array module determines whether to allow a data bus to access the data of the memory array module corresponding to a decoded address in accordance with an activation signal of the control unit. The redundant repair element includes a valid field, a chip ID field, a faulty address field and a redundant memory. When the valid field is valid, the value of the chip ID field matches the ID code, and the value of the faulty address field matches the decoded address, the redundant memory is coupled to the data bus. |
| US08867285B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus and data write circuit of semiconductor apparatus for preventing transmission error
A data write circuit of a semiconductor apparatus includes a plurality of latches configured to latch a plurality of data in response to activation of a plurality of control signals and output the latched data to data lines; and a control unit configured to generate the plurality of control signals to be activated at different timings, such that partial data input at relatively earlier timing among the plurality of data is latched at earlier timing than the other data by a portion of the plurality of latches. |
| US08867280B2 |
3D stacked NAND flash memory array enabling to operate by LSM and operation method thereof
This invention provides a 3D stacked NAND flash memory array and operation method thereof enabling to operate by LSM (a layer selection by multi-level operation) and to get rid of the waste of unnecessary areas by minimizing the number of SSLs needed for a layer selection though the number of layers vertically stacked is increased. |
| US08867278B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device, memory system including the same, and method of operating nonvolatile memory device
A non-volatile memory device includes a non-volatile memory cell array including a plurality of word lines, a voltage generator configured to generate a first high-voltage using a supply voltage and a second high-voltage using an external voltage which is higher than the supply voltage, and a word line selection circuit configured. The word line selection circuit is configured apply, during a program operation of the memory cell array, the first high-voltage to a selected word line among the plurality of word lines, and the second high-voltage to unselected word lines among the plurality of word lines. |
| US08867277B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A first non-selected word line including a word line adjacent to a selected word line is applied with a first write pass voltage. Furthermore, a second non-selected word line which is a non-selected word line excluding the first non-selected word line is applied with a second write pass voltage smaller than a program voltage. A control circuit, in the write operation, raises the first write pass voltage toward a first target value by executing a voltage raising operation having a first voltage rise width, X times, and raises the second write pass voltage toward a second target value by executing a voltage raising operation having a second voltage rise width, Y times. The first voltage rise width is larger than the second voltage rise width, and X times is fewer than Y times. |
| US08867272B2 |
Method of accessing a non-volatile memory
A method of accessing a non-volatile memory is disclosed. Original bits of data are duplicated on a bit level to generate a plurality of duplicated bits corresponding to each original bit. At least one shielding bit is provided between the duplicated bits corresponding to different original bits. The duplicated bits and the at least one shielding bit are programmed to the non-volatile memory. The original bits are generated or determined according to the duplicated bits. |
| US08867271B2 |
Threshold voltage adjustment for a select gate transistor in a stacked non-volatile memory device
In a 3D stacked non-volatile memory device, the threshold voltages are evaluated and adjusted for select gate, drain (SGD) transistors at drain ends of strings of series-connected memory cells. To optimize and tighten the threshold voltage distribution, the SGD transistors are read at lower and upper levels of an acceptable range. SGD transistors having a low threshold voltage are subject to programming, and SGD transistors having a high threshold voltage are subject to erasing, to bring the threshold voltage into the acceptable range. The evaluation and adjustment can be repeated such as after a specified number of program-erase cycles of an associated sub-block. The condition for repeating the evaluation and adjustment can be customized for different groups of SGD transistors. Aspects include programming SGD transistors with verify and inhibit, erasing SGD transistors with verify and inhibit, and both of the above. |
| US08867270B2 |
Method for performing memory access management, and associated memory device and controller thereof
A method for performing memory access management includes: with regard to a same Flash cell of a Flash memory, receiving a first digital value outputted by the Flash memory, requesting the Flash memory to output at least one second digital value, wherein the first digital value and the at least one second digital value are utilized for determining information of a same bit stored in the Flash cell, and a number of various possible states of the Flash cell correspond to a possible number of bit(s) stored in the Flash cell; based upon the second digital value, generating/obtaining soft information of the Flash cell, for use of performing soft decoding; and controlling the Flash memory to perform sensing operations by respectively utilizing a plurality of sensing voltages that are not all the same, in order to generate the first digital value and the second digital value. |
| US08867269B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of word lines, and a plurality of bit lines, and a control circuit. A first memory cell stores first data of n bits, a second memory cell stores second data used to determine whether data of k bits is stored in the first memory cell, and the control circuit performs first determination of determining data read from the data of the second memory cell, performs second determination of determining data read from the second memory cell by supplying the first word line with a second read voltage different from the first read voltage, and outputs either one of a result obtained by reading the data stored in the first memory cell at the first read voltage and a result obtained by reading the data stored in the first memory cell at the second read voltage, based on a result of the second determination. |
| US08867268B2 |
Accessing memory using reference voltages
Devices, systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with accessing memory using fractional reference voltage are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes comparison logic. The comparison logic compares a threshold voltage of a memory cell to at least one pair of reference voltages that are near an integral reference voltage to generate comparison results. The apparatus includes read logic to determine a bit value of the memory cell based, at least in part, on the comparison results. |
| US08867264B2 |
SRAM read-write memory cell having ten transistors
A device and a method for controlling an SRAM-type device, including: a bistable circuit and two switching circuits respectively connecting two access terminals of the bistable circuit to two complementary bit lines in a first direction, each switching circuit including a first switch and a second switch in series between one of the bit lines and one of the access terminals, the control terminal of the second switch being connected to a word control line in the first direction; and a third switch between the midpoint of the series connection and a terminal of application of a reference potential, a control terminal of the third switch being connected to the other one of the access terminals. |
| US08867259B2 |
Method of programming variable resistance nonvolatile memory element
A method of programming a variable resistance nonvolatile memory element that removes a defect in a resistance change, ensures an operation widow, and stably sustains a resistance change operation, the method including: applying, when the detect in the resistance change occurs in the variable resistance nonvolatile memory element, a recovery voltage pulse at least once to the variable resistance nonvolatile memory element, the recovery voltage pulse including: a first recovery voltage pulse that has an amplitude greater than amplitudes of a normal high resistance writing voltage pulse and a low resistance writing voltage pulse; and a second recovery voltage pulse that is the low resistance writing voltage pulse following the first recovery voltage pulse. |
| US08867258B2 |
Memory cell that includes multiple non-volatile memories
A system and method to read and write data at a memory cell that includes multiple non-volatile memories is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a memory device includes a plurality of memory cells. At least one of the memory cells includes a first non-volatile memory including a first resistive memory element and a second multi-port non-volatile memory including a second resistive memory element. Each of the first non-volatile memory and the second non-volatile memory is accessible via multiple ports. |
| US08867257B2 |
Variable resistance memory device
A variable resistance memory device includes: first and second structures that each include a first electrode, a second electrode, and a variable resistance material layer interposed between the first and second electrodes and configured to switch between different resistance states depending on a voltage applied across the variable resistance material layer; and a material layer interposed between the first and second structures and configured to pass a bidirectional current according to a voltage applied across the material layer. The first and second structures are symmetrical with respect to the material layer. |
| US08867255B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of operation
A semiconductor device and method of operation having reduced read time of fuse array information during boot-up operation. When fuse array information is read, only repaired fuse-set information is read such that a read time of the semiconductor memory device is reduced, resulting in an increased read margin. |
| US08867253B2 |
Semiconductor device having multiport memory
A semiconductor device enabling expansion of a noise margin. For example, in a memory area in which each memory cell MC is coupled to a word line WLA for a first port and a word line WLB for a second port, and a plurality of memory cells MC are disposed in a matrix shape, each word line is disposed in the order of WLA0, WLB0, WLB1, WLA1, WLA2. Further, a pitch d2 between WLA-WLA and between WLB-WLB is made smaller than a pitch d1 between WLA-WLB. As such, the word lines of an identical port are disposed at the pitch d2 on one of both sides of a certain word line and the word lines of different ports are disposed at the pitch d1 on the other. |
| US08867248B2 |
High-efficiency, three-level, single-phase inverter
A highly efficient transformerless inverter and a method of controlling the same. The inverter is designed for use in a distributed power generation system, such as a home having photovoltaic cells (e.g., a solar panel), wind turbines, batteries, and other sources of DC electrical power. The inverter includes four switching states including a positive current path for a positive half-cycle, a free-wheel current path for the positive half-cycle, a negative current path for a negative half-cycle, and a second free-wheel current path for the negative half-cycle. The free-wheel current paths include a reduced number of circuit components (e.g., diodes), which enables a highly efficient inversion of DC power to AC power. |
| US08867247B2 |
DC/AC power converter with DC side double frequency pulsation suppression caused by AC side faults
A commanded negative-sequence current is added to a commanded current so as to suppress double-frequency pulsation on the DC side. The commanded negative-sequence current is found from three values (i.e., the detected value of positive-sequence voltage vector on the power-supply side, the detected value of negative-sequence voltage vector, and a commanded positive-sequence current). Thus, the pulsations which occur on the DC side of a semiconductor power converter and which have a frequency double the power-supply frequency are suppressed even when the AC power supply is at fault while assuring stability of the current control system, thus permitting stable and continuous operation. |
| US08867246B2 |
Communication device and battery pack in which the communication device is provided
A communication device, includes a CMOS type inverter configured to transfer a signal, the signal being transferred and received between an electronic device and a control part able to communicate with the electronic device whose electric power supply is a rechargeable battery; and a regulator configured to generate a regulated voltage, the regulated voltage being formed by decreasing an electric power supply voltage of the electronic device, wherein the regulator includes a depletion type NMOS transistor where a drain is connected to a high electric potential side of the electric power supply voltage and a gate and a source are mutually connected, and a capacitive element having an electrode connected to the source side and another electrode connected to a low electric potential side of the electric power supply voltage, wherein a voltage of the capacitive element is supplied across both ends of the inverter. |
| US08867242B2 |
Hybrid 2-level and multilevel HVDC converter
A voltage source converter is used in high voltage direct current power transmission and reactive power compensation. The voltage source converter includes first and second DC terminals for connection in use to a DC network, three phase elements and at least one auxiliary converter connected between the first and second DC terminals, each phase element including a plurality of primary switching elements and at least one AC terminal for connection in use to a respective phase of a multi-phase AC network, the plurality of primary switching elements being controllable in use to facilitate power conversion between the AC and DC networks, the or each auxiliary converter being operable in use to act as a waveform synthesizer to modify a first DC voltage presented to the DC network so as to minimize ripple in the DC voltage. |
| US08867239B2 |
Power supply device and method of controlling the same by using an adjustable power factor corrector
Provided are a power supply device and a method of controlling the same. The power supply device includes: a power factor corrector which corrects a power factor of an initial power; a standby power supply unit which is connected to the power factor corrector, the standby power supply unit including a transformer which converts an input power received from the power factor corrector; a sensor which detects a level of an induced power corresponding to the input power; and a power supply controller which determines whether the level of the induced power exceeds a critical value, activates the power factor corrector to correct the power factor of the initial power if the level of the induced power exceeds the critical value, and supplies a driving power to the system based on the level of the induced power. |
| US08867227B2 |
Electronic component
An electronic component is mounted on a circuit board. The electronic component includes: a lead frame including a fixed portion, a lead portion connected to the fixed portion, and a heat-dissipating portion connected to the fixed portion; a semiconductor chip fixed on the fixed portion by a first binder; and an encapsulation resin for encapsulating the fixed portion, the semiconductor chip, and a base portion of the lead portion. A groove is provided in the fixed portion and the heat-dissipating portion of the lead frame. The groove extends from a portion of the fixed portion where the first binder is present toward the heat-dissipating portion. |
| US08867220B2 |
Packaging board with visual recognition windows
A packaging board of the type having board terminals soldered on a printed board and including an insulation support member made of a resin disposed on a printed board having tubular support portions configured to receive board terminals, visual recognition windows configured for visually recognizing soldering portions of the board terminals inserted into the printed board through the windows, and engaging portions that engage the board terminals and define insertion amounts of the board terminals. |
| US08867219B2 |
Method of transferring and electrically joining a high density multilevel thin film to a circuitized and flexible organic substrate and associated devices
A method is for making an electronic device and includes forming an interconnect layer stack on a sacrificial substrate and having a plurality of patterned electrical conductor layers, and a dielectric layer between adjacent patterned electrical conductor layers. The method also includes laminating and electrically joining through an intermetallic bond a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) substrate to the interconnect layer stack on a side thereof opposite the sacrificial substrate. The method further includes removing the sacrificial substrate to expose a lowermost patterned electrical conductor layer, and electrically coupling at least one first device to the lowermost patterned electrical conductor layer. |
| US08867217B2 |
Tear-proof circuit
A circuit including a flexible substrate and at least one electric element attached to the substrate, the substrate including at least one cavity arranged near the electric element and helping to break or distort the electric element in response to a flexion or stretching of the substrate. Application in particular is to the manufacture of tear-proof electronic micromodules. |
| US08867212B2 |
Circuit board structure having measures against heat
To achieve efficient heat spreading and heat releasing by using a metal core of a circuit board, a terminal block includes an insulating block body and terminals. At least one of the terminals is provided with terminal portions for a connection with a circuit board. The terminal portions are inserted into respective through holes of the circuit board, the circuit board having a pattern circuit at a surface layer thereof and a conductive metal core at an intermediate portion in a thickness direction, so that heat of the metal core or of both the metal core and the pattern circuit is absorbed and transferred to the terminals. A bus-bar block includes an insulating block body and several parallel bus-bars with different lengths. Terminal portions at a tip end of the bus-bars are inserted, near heat-generating component on the circuit board, into the through holes of the circuit board. |
| US08867201B2 |
Composite stylus retaining structure in electronic device
A composite stylus retaining structure for an electronic device is provided. The composite stylus retaining structure includes a stylus and a housing. The stylus includes a body, a head and a connecting rod. The housing includes a first wall and a second wall connected to each other, and a first receiving groove and a second receiving groove are formed at an intersection of the first wall and the second wall. The first receiving groove is used to receive the head. A retaining member is disposed in the first receiving groove to retain the stylus. The second receiving groove is used to receive the head of the stylus. |
| US08867200B2 |
Electronic apparatus
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a first housing, a first display and a transparent first panel. The first display in the first housing includes a first display portion. The first panel covers the first display portion and includes a first flat surface portion and a first curved surface portion along an outer edge of the first flat surface portion. The first display portion displays images in a location corresponding to the first flat surface portion and a location corresponding to the first curved surface portion respectively at different aspect ratios from each other. |
| US08867198B2 |
Protective case for a tablet computer
Described is a protective case for a tablet computer providing a compartment for receiving and holding the tablet computer in a watertight environment. The protective case can further include a mounting adaptor attachable to a mounting apparatus for holding the protective case in a fixed or stationary position on a boat. The protective case allows the optimal use and protection of a tablet computer with its connections in many environments, including protecting the tablet computer from water damage on boats. |
| US08867196B2 |
Onboard information system for vehicles
An onboard information system for vehicles, including a housing in which a computation unit and a first mass memory are arranged and are connected to one another for the purpose of data transfer. The system includes a support that can at least to some extent be moved out of the housing and which has a data interface for a second mass memory, which data interface is connected to the computation unit for the purpose of data transfer. |
| US08867195B2 |
Attachment/detachment mechanism for electronics unit, electronics unit, power supply unit, and electronics apparatus
Disclosed herein is an attachment/detachment mechanism for an electronics unit mounted on a casing in an attachable/detachable manner, including: a position-keeping type switch switching between first and second states of the electronics unit; a lever switching between a securing state where the electronics unit is secured to the casing and an attachable/detachable state where the electronics unit is made attachable/detachable to/from the casing; a first restricting member switching between a restricting state where state-switching of the lever is restricted and a permitting state where the state-switching of the lever is permitted; and a second restricting member traveling between a first position where the state-switching of the first restricting member is restricted and the state-switching of the position-keeping type switch is permitted, and a second position where the state-switching of the first restricting member is permitted and the state-switching of the position-keeping type switch from the first state to the second state is restricted. |
| US08867193B2 |
Adjustable scalable rack power system and method
Systems and method for installing computer equipment and power distribution equipment in facilities is provided. In one aspect, the present invention provides a power distribution rack, and uninterruptible power supply rack and a plurality of equipment racks. A plurality of power cables are run from the power distribution rack to each of the plurality of equipment racks using power cable tracks located on the roofs of the equipment racks. |
| US08867192B2 |
Electrolytic capacitor interconnect
An electrolytic capacitor is constructed as a stacked structure of alternating anode and cathode plates. A clip is fitted over a peripheral portion of each cathode plate, the clips being welded together to electrically connect the cathode plates in common. The dimensions of the clips are such that the clips take up approximately the same space away from the edges of the cathode plates as the thickness of the anode plate on each side of a cathode plate when the anode and cathode plates are stacked upon one another. |
| US08867179B2 |
Power source voltage protective device and power source voltage protection method
A microcomputer is equipped with a CPU and an AD converter. The AD converter is supplied with the same power source voltage as the CPU, and converts a reference voltage into digital data using the received power source voltage and outputs the digital data as a conversion value. The CPU detects a state of the power source voltage by calculating a voltage variation of a power source voltage for ordinary operation on the basis of a first conversion value obtained by AD-converting the reference voltage by the AD converter in a state that a standard power source voltage including no voltage variation is supplied to the AD converter and a second conversion value obtained by AD-converting the reference voltage by the AD converter in a state that the power source voltage for ordinary operation is supplied to the AD converter. |
| US08867178B2 |
Read sensor with a hard bias layer having a high static field resistance
In one embodiment, a magnetic sensor comprises a read element and a magnetic-domain-control film positioned on both sides of the read element in a cross-track direction. The magnetic-domain-control film has a flare shape which causes the magnetic-domain-control film to flare away in an element height direction from the depthwise end of read element and extending in both directions away from the read element in a cross-track direction. In another embodiment, a method for forming a magnetic sensor includes forming a read element and forming a magnetic-domain-control film positioned on both sides of the read element in a cross-track direction, wherein the magnetic-domain-control film has a flare shape which causes the magnetic-domain-control film to flare away from the depthwise end of read element extending in both directions in a cross-track direction. |
| US08867177B2 |
Magnetic sensor having improved resistance to thermal stress induced instability
A magnetic read sensor having improved robustness to withstand thermal variations resulting from thermal fly height heating. Improved thermal robustness comes as a result of improved pinned layer pinning. The read head includes an AFM layer having an increased thickness to provide a higher blocking temperature. The read head further includes a pinned layer structure that includes a first magnetic layer adjacent to and exchange coupled with the AFM layer. The first layer comprises a Co—Fe layer with an increased Fe content of 20-30 atomic percent. The pinned layer structure also includes a second magnetic layer that is antiparallel coupled with the AP1 layer. The AP2 layer can be a multi-layer structure that includes a layer of CoFe, a layer of Co—Fe—Hf formed on the layer of Co—Fe, a layer of Co—Fe—B formed on the layer of Co—Fe—Hf, and a second layer of Co—Fe formed on the layer of Co—Fe—B. |
| US08867174B1 |
Apparatuses and methods for loading a head onto a disk medium
Systems and methods for improving loading and unloading of a read or write head onto and off of a disk medium. Particular embodiments may assist in loading a read or write head to, or unloading a read or write head from, a load location over a surface of a disk medium in such a manner that damage to the surface of the disk medium (e.g., load location) is either prevented or minimized. The prevention or reduction of damage may be achieved by ensuring that a read or write head has sufficient clearance over the surface of a disk medium as the read or write head moves over the surface (e.g., as the head moves parallel to the surface) during a head loading or unloading process. |
| US08867170B1 |
Multilayer plasmon generator
A plasmon generator has a front end face located in a medium facing surface of a magnetic head. The plasmon generator includes a metal portion and a multilayer film portion. The metal portion has a bottom surface, a top surface, and an end face facing toward the front end face. The multilayer film portion includes a first metal layer, a second metal layer and an intermediate layer, and covers the top surface and the end face of the metal portion. The intermediate layer is formed of a material that is higher in Vickers hardness than the metal material used to form the metal portion, the metal material used to form the first metal layer and the metal material used to form the second metal layer. |
| US08867157B2 |
Perpendicular pole head for servo writing magnetic media
The present disclosure relates to a perpendicular pole head for creating a perpendicular magnetic moment in a concentrated pattern for writing the pattern on perpendicular magnetic media, such as BaFe based media. The pole head can have flux concentrators in the shape of the written pattern, which can be repeatedly applied to a moving magnetic medium to create a timing pattern on the media, e.g., a servo timing pattern. |
| US08867155B2 |
Apparatus and method for inter-track interference cancellation from reproduced data based on polarity and ratio of bits
According to one embodiment, a data reproduction apparatus includes a decoder, a cancellation process module and a calculator. The cancellation process module cancels, from equalized-waveform data of a read signal, the interference between a signal read from a first track and a signal read form a second track adjacent to the first track. The calculator calculates, for a specific window, a first cancellation coefficient necessary to cancel the interference. The calculator further calculates a second cancellation coefficient by correcting the first cancellation coefficient based on a ratio of the number of adjacent bits of opposite polarity to the number of all bits in the specific window. |
| US08867154B1 |
Systems and methods for processing data with linear phase noise predictive filter
Systems, methods, devices, circuits for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for data processing with a linear phase noise predictive filter. A data processing system includes an equalizer circuit operable to filter a digital data input to yield equalized data, a linear phase noise predictive finite impulse response filter operable to filter the equalized data to yield filtered data, and a data detector circuit operable to apply a data detection algorithm to the filtered data to yield a detected output. The greatest tap coefficient for the linear phase noise predictive finite impulse response filter is at a center tap. |
| US08867151B2 |
Voice coil motor and camera module using the same
A voice coil motor for driving a lens group includes a housing, a first cover, a second cover, a movable member, and a plurality of magnets. The housing is a hollow and includes a top plate and four sidewalls protruding from the top plate. The movable member is movably received in a space defined by the housing and the first and second covers, and includes a barrel for receiving and being connected to the lens group, and a coil arranged around the barrel. The magnets are arranged between the housing and the movable member, stayed in contact with the sidewalls, and drive the movable member and the lens group to move in the housing when a current is supplied to the coil. |
| US08867148B2 |
Lens barrel and imaging apparatus
A lens barrel includes a cam follower, a first cam ring with a cam slide protrusion in which a cam groove engages with the cam follower, a second cam ring so supported by the first cam ring that both are unrotatable around an axis parallel to an optical axis, a rectilinear guide ring so supported by the second cam ring that the second cam and rectilinear guide rings are rotatable around the axis and unmovable in the optical axis direction, a rectilinear guide guiding the rectilinear guide ring in the optical axis direction, a rectilinear cam ring in which a cam slide groove engages the cam slide protrusion and which guides the rectilinear guide in the optical axis direction, and a rotary ring so supported by the rectilinear cam ring that the rectilinear cam and rotary rings are rotatable around the axis and unmovable in the optical axis direction. |
| US08867146B2 |
Imaging lens, optical apparatus equipped therewith, and method for manufacturing imaging lens
The imaging lens includes, in order from an object side, a first lens group having positive refractive power; and a second lens group having the positive refractive power, the first lens group being fixed with respect to an image plane, the second lens group being moved toward the object side to adjust a focus on a close object, and a given conditional expression being satisfied, thereby disclosing a downsized imaging lens having a wide angle of view, capable of preferably correcting various aberrations upon focusing on a close object from an infinitely distant object and having high optical performance over an entire picture, an optical apparatus including the imaging lens and an imaging lens manufacturing method. |
| US08867145B2 |
Zoom lens system, interchangeable lens apparatus, and camera system
A compact and lightweight zoom lens system having excellent imaging performance, which is favorably applicable to an interchangeable-lens type digital camera system, is provided. The zoom lens system of the present invention includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having positive optical power and composed of not more than two lens elements, a second lens unit having negative optical power, a third lens unit having negative optical power, and a fourth lens unit having positive optical power. In zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit, the fourth lens unit moves along an optical axis. Further, the following conditions are satisfied: 1.50 |
| US08867143B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
A zoom lens includes a negative lens unit having a negative refractive power and a positive lens unit having a positive refractive power arranged in order from an object side to an image side. For focusing from infinity to a closest distance, the negative lens unit moves towards the image side and the positive lens unit moves towards the object side. Predetermined mathematical conditions are satisfied to obtain high optical performance over the entire focusing range. |
| US08867140B2 |
Low distortion athermalized imaging lens
A compact, lens suitable for airborne photography and mapping has distortion less than 0.6% and is athermal from −15° C. to +40° C. The lens is near-telecentric to less than 11°, apochromatic over the wavelength range 450 nm-650 nm, and has a full field of view of 60° (high quality field over 53°). The lens can be secondary color corrected. In embodiments, the focal length is 101 mm and the back working distance is more than 10 mm. Embodiments have a focal plane diameter of 104 mm and are compatible for use with a CMOS 1.8 gigapixel multiple FPA. In embodiments, the lens comprises three groups of optical elements, with an aperture located within the second optical group. In some embodiments the first group includes two elements, the second group includes six or seven elements, and the third group include three elements. In embodiments the lens (without window) is less than 180 mm long. |
| US08867138B2 |
Reflective display device
A concave mirror of a reflective display device, which includes a reflector, a concave mirror arranged inside of an instrument panel, a display body, a lighting device, a display control circuit, driving parameters and the like, has reflecting surfaces with different wavelength selectivities, and the reflecting surfaces are formed into reflecting surface shapes of different focal lengths. By image light reflected selectively from the concave mirror, it is possible to present virtual images in different positions to an observer. |
| US08867126B2 |
Microscope controller and microscope system having microscope controller
A microscope controller improves the operability in moving a stage when a stage moving operation is performed on a touch panel. The microscope controller for control of the operation of each electric unit configuring the microscope system solves problems by including: a touch panel unit having a display function and receiving an input by an external physical contact; a control unit for setting a display region as a function area by assigning an image for operation of the electric unit to a specified display region of the touch panel unit, and, when an input to the function area is detected, generating a control instruction signal for control of the electric unit depending on the contact operation to the electric unit corresponding to the function area, and a communication control unit for transmitting the control instruction signal to an external device for controlling the operation of the electric unit. |
| US08867125B2 |
Multi-mode optical fiber amplifier
An apparatus includes a multi-core optical fiber and first, second, and third optical couplers. The multi-core optical fiber is rare-earth doped to provide optical amplification in response to optical pumping thereof. The first optical coupler is configured to end-couple a first multi-mode optical fiber to an end of the multi-core optical fiber. The second optical coupler is configured to end-couple a second multi-mode optical fiber to an end of the multi-core optical fiber. The third optical coupler is configured to optically couple a pump light source to the multi-core optical fiber. |
| US08867121B2 |
Methods and apparatus for controlling dispersions of nanoparticles
Electrically reconfigurable metamaterial with spatially varied refractive index is proposed for applications such as optical devices and lenses. The apparatus and method comprises a metamaterial in which the refractive indices are modified in space and time by applying one or more electric fields. The metamaterials are electrically controllable and reconfigurable, and consist of metal (gold, silver, etc.) particles of different shapes, such as rods, with dimension much smaller than the wavelength of light, dispersed in a dielectric medium. The metamaterial is controlled by applying a non-uniform electric field that causes two effects: (1) It aligns the metallic anisometric particles with respect to the direction of the applied electric field and (2) It redistributes particles in space, making their local concentration position dependent. |
| US08867116B1 |
Distate electrochromic device
A distate interior electrochromic mirror including: first and second substrates; an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which includes at least one solvent, at least one anodic material, at least one cathodic material, wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic; a cross-linked polymer matrix; wherein, in a first state, the electrochromic medium exhibits a maximum light transmission; and wherein, in a second state, attenuation occurs to a significant extent in at least one of visible radiation and near-infrared radiation; and further wherein the distate electrochromic device does not materially exhibit segregation after being maintained in the second state for 24 continuous hours at 50 degrees centigrade. |
| US08867112B2 |
Image reading device determining conveying path
In an image reading device, a scanning unit moves relative to the main unit between a base position and a moved position. A conveyance unit moves relative to the scanning unit between a base position and a moved position at which the cover closes the platen, and is formed with a first and second openings. The cover member moves between a base position at which the cover member covers a second opening and a moved position. The first and second detectors detect a state of the scanning unit, the conveyance unit, and the cover member. The conveyance unit conveys the document along one of a first and second conveying paths that is used to convey the document and is determined based on the state of the first and second detectors. |
| US08867104B2 |
Image scanning apparatus
An image scanning apparatus of this disclosure includes: a scanner unit which generates image data by image scanning and outputs it; a memory; a data processing unit which (a1) performs a predetermined process for either the image data outputted by the scanner unit or the image data for which a preprocess has been performed, (a2) writes the processed image data into a predetermined memory area in the memory in turn, and (a3) returns a writing position of the image data to a top of the memory area and overwrite the image data if the writing position of the image data reaches an end of the memory area; and a control unit which (b1) allocates the memory area in the memory and (b2) measures a shortage amount of the memory area on the basis of a size of an area where the image data has been overwritten. |
| US08867102B2 |
Communication apparatus and control method of communication apparatus
There is provided a communication apparatus for preventing re-transmission to the address associated with a predetermined communication system. The communication apparatus deletes the stored address information after the transmission instruction is received and a transmission process according to the transmission instruction is ended if the stored address information is associated with a predetermined communication system, and the communication apparatus keeps storing the stored address information even after the transmission instruction is received and the transmission process according to the transmission instruction is ended if the stored address information is associated with another communication system. |
| US08867100B2 |
Image quantization for digital printing
An image may be quantized into a pattern of dots, e.g., for devices capable of printing dots of variable size and variable color intensity. One may use a pre-determined mapping of the continuous-tone intensity value into a discrete vector of intensity values, and each intensity value may then be processed by a set of binary quantizers. The resulting binary vector may then be mapped into a combination of available dot sizes and color intensities. Through a scalar multiplier, the pre-determined mapping of continuous-tone intensity values may be used at multiple print resolutions. |
| US08867099B2 |
Image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a medium on which an image processing control program is recorded, an image evaluation device, an image evaluation method and a medium on which an image evaluation program is recorded
A method for image processing image data having a plurality of picture elements. While scanning the image data, a scanned picture element is determined to be sampled or not according to a plurality of sampling methods until the scanned picture element is displaced to a next picture element (to be scanned) of the image data. |
| US08867097B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method for correcting image distortion using correction value
An image processing apparatus includes a forming unit configured to form, on a sheet, a pattern from which at least two lines each connecting two points located at positions parallel to a conveyance direction of the sheet are detectable, a detection unit configured to detect, from the pattern formed by the forming unit, at least two lengths of lines each connecting two points located at positions parallel to the conveyance direction, and an acquisition unit configured to acquire a correction value used when correction is performed so that there is no difference between the lengths of a plurality of lines detected by the detection unit. The forming unit forms an image obtained by correcting a corrected image to be output using the correction value acquired by the acquisition unit. |
| US08867093B2 |
Printing system and business partner selection method that selects an optimum business partner capable of delivering high-quality printed materials
A printing system includes a first storage part storing printing partners correlated with respective predetermined printing fields and respective printing quality evaluation degrees; a second storage part storing distribution partners correlated with respective delivery quality evaluation degrees; a printing partner selecting part configured to select a single printing partner whose predetermined printing field matches a printing field to which a print ordered by a user corresponds and whose printing evaluation degree is the highest among the printing partners; a distribution partner selecting part configured to select a single distribution partner whose delivery quality evaluation degree is the highest among the distribution partners; and an order placing part configured to place, via an electrical network, an order for a printing service for printing the print to the single printing partner and an order for a delivery service for delivering the print to the single distribution partner. |
| US08867086B2 |
Information processing apparatus, control method therefor, and computer-readable storage medium
There is provided a mechanism of preferentially using a memory layer which suffers a small influence of heat of an SOC die, based on the positional relationship between the SOC die and the memory layer, and decreasing the refresh frequency of the DRAM and a leakage current. To accomplish this, an information processing apparatus allocates, in order to execute an accepted job, a memory area for executing the job preferentially from a memory physically farthest from the SOC die among a plurality of memories, and then executes the job. |
| US08867080B2 |
Metadata support in a distributed scan system
Approaches are provided for processing scan data based on a scan process definition (SPD) that defines a set of instructions for acquiring image data based on one or more printed documents. An SPD may include extension data that is used to store additional data in association with the scan data. An SPD may include rights management data that is used to provide security to the scan data that is generated based on the SPD. An SPD may be used as a print process definition for dictating how print operations are to be performed. An SPD may be associated with data that identifies one or more scan devices that are prohibited from using the SPD. An SPD may be associated with access delegation data that indicates one or more users who have been delegated access to the SPD. |
| US08867078B2 |
Operation device and operation method
Disclosed is an operation device which receives an input of an address twice in a row from a user, and determines the input of the address when a second address is identical to a first address, and the operation device includes a pseudo-address generator 402, a pseudo-address display unit 404, and an address determining unit 405. The pseudo-address generator 402 generates a pseudo-address obtained by converting a portion of characters included in the first address to predetermined characters when the first address is input. The pseudo-address display unit 404 displays a key of the first address and a key of the pseudo-address to be pressed by the user. The address determining unit 405 sets a predetermined address of a pressed key to a second address when the key of the predetermined address is pressed, and determines whether the second address is identical to the first address. |
| US08867076B2 |
Installing printer applications on a printer using messages
Disclosed is a system, apparatus, and method for installing a printer application on a printer. A cloud based server system receives a recommendation message from a source printer over a network connection such as, for instance, the Internet. The recommendation message may contain an email address for a destination printer and a printer application name. The cloud server system may verify that the email address in the request message corresponds to a valid destination printer. The cloud server system may then forward the printer application name to the destination printer where it is processed. A download request to the cloud server system may be generated requesting the specific printer application. The cloud server system may push the requested printer application over the network where it is installed on the destination printer. |
| US08867072B2 |
Information processing apparatus, control method therefor, and computer-readable medium
An information processing apparatus connected to a print apparatus via a network, comprises: receiving unit configured to receive a plurality of jobs; determination unit configured to determine a priority level of each of the plurality of jobs in an order in which jobs are sent to the print apparatus, based on information of a post-processing step which corresponds to each of the plurality of jobs and is performed after the plurality of jobs are printed by the print apparatus; and sending unit configured to send the plurality of jobs to the print apparatus in accordance with the priority levels in which jobs are sent, which are determined by the determination unit. |
| US08867069B2 |
Anonymous printer registration in a cloud-based print service
A print server may include an anonymous printer registration module configured to receive, at a cloud print service, a registration request from a printer over a network and return a registration response to the printer over the network. The anonymous printer registration module may include a claim code provider configured to provide a claim code included within the registration response to the printer over the network, wherein the printer is configured to provide the claim code to a user of the printer, and a printer matcher configured to receive the claim code from the user over the network and match a user account of the user within the cloud print service with the printer, in response to the receipt of the claim code from the user. |
| US08867061B2 |
Method and system for printing from web applications, a corresponding computer program and a corresponding computer-readable storage means
A method and a system for printing from web applications, as well as a corresponding computer program and a corresponding computer-readable storage means, are described. The method and system are particularly useful for improving the print functionality of web applications; e.g., by enabling printout of additional formats. It is proposed to provide on web pages a print option that can be controlled via data input means of a terminal. Activation of the print option causes a server executing the web application to send the data to be printed to a designated print server to start a print process on the print server, and to send the data generated by the print process from the print server to a network printer or to the terminal. |
| US08867060B2 |
Information processing apparatus that prevents unauthorized access, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus which is capable of preventing unauthorized access from an external apparatus, such as a PC, and improving user-friendliness. A wired communication section and a wireless communication section receive requests for acquiring screen data from external apparatuses. When a request is received via wireless communication, a CPU determines whether or not a security method used for the wireless communication is a predetermined security method. When the CPU determines that the security method is not the predetermined security method, the CPU and an operation panel cause screen data responsive to the received request to be transmitted to the external apparatus on condition that a predetermined input operation is performed on the operation panel. |
| US08867058B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming system
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit; a storage section that stores a plurality of registration information, each including authentication information and terminal information indicating a terminal corresponding to the authentication information; an input section that inputs authentication information; an acquisition section that acquires registration information including terminal information corresponding to the authentication information inputted by the input section, from the storage section of the image forming apparatus or a storage section of another image forming apparatus; and a controller that receives image data from a terminal indicated by the terminal information included in the registration information acquired by the acquisition section and controls the image forming unit to form an image on a recording medium based on the received image data. |
| US08867055B2 |
Reading apparatus and printing apparatus comprising a presser plate, a sensor, and a carriage
A movable carriage includes a mechanism configured to hold a sensor unit so as to allow the sensor unit to displace with respect to the carriage. The mechanism allows the sensor unit to displace with respect to the carriage in a rotational direction centering on a shaft parallel to a moving direction of the carriage and disposed above a reading area of the sensor unit, and in a vertical direction. |
| US08867052B2 |
Multi-function peripheral, communication system, and communication method indicating and operation setting function or a user setting function of the multi-function peripheral based on received instructions
A multi-function peripheral is connected to an instruction device and performs each operation function of a plurality of operation functions in accordance with an instruction from the instruction device. The multi-function peripheral includes an input unit, a communication unit and a controller. The controller is configured to perform: a function selecting process; an instruction requesting process; an input-information receiving process of receiving input information for performing one operation function of the plurality of operation functions; an operation-setting function process; an input-information transmitting process; and a user-setting function process including setting user-specific information on a basis of the input information. The controller of the multi-function peripheral is configured not to transmit the user-specific information, which is set in the user-setting function process, to the instruction device. |
| US08867050B2 |
Image processing apparatus, non-transitory computer readable medium storing program and image processing method for restoring a single table from a plurality of pages
An image processing apparatus includes an extracting unit that extracts each tablespace image from each page of image data containing plural pages read by a document reading device, a generating unit that generates each table structure data of the tables from each tablespace image extracted by the extracting unit, a discrimination unit that discriminates a connection possibility between the tables based on table structure data of the tables of each page generated by the generating unit, a determination unit that determines a connection sequence for restoring an original table by connecting each of the tables based on the connection possibility between the tables discriminated by the discrimination unit, and a restoring unit that restores data on a single table before division by connecting each of the tables based on the connection sequence determined by the determination unit. |
| US08867047B2 |
Switching power source and image forming apparatus
In a switching power source, in a state where a second voltage smaller than a first voltage is output from an output unit by intermittently driving a switching unit, the switching unit changes a number of driving times of the switching unit for each driving cycle when the switching unit is intermittently driven. |
| US08867044B2 |
Computing device and method for scanning edges of an object
In a method for scanning edges of an object using a computing device, the computing device is connected to an image measuring machine including an image capturing device. A start point, an end point, a scan direction, and a scan distance interval are set. Scan points on the edges of the object are determined. For each scan point, the computing device aims the image capturing device at the scan point, controls the image capturing device to capture images of the object at different depths, and records focal points. Definition values of the images are calculated and an image with a highest definition value is determined. A focal point corresponds to the image with the highest definition value and so coordinates of the scan point are determined. Scanned edges of the object are formed based on all the scan points. |
| US08867043B2 |
Method and device for determining properties of textured surfaces
A method of determining optical properties of textured surfaces by irradiation of the surface to be investigated. At least part of the radiation irradiated onto the surface and reflected by the latter is detected by a detector device which permits a location-resolved evaluation of the radiation striking it. A first characteristic value from the radiation detected, characteristic of a texture of the surface is detected. A second characteristic value from the radiation detected, characteristic of a further optical property of the surface is detected. And, a result value is determined on the basis of the first characteristic value and the second characteristic value. |
| US08867041B2 |
Optical vacuum ultra-violet wavelength nanoimprint metrology
An optical metrology apparatus for measuring nanoimprint structures using Vacuum Ultra-Violet (VUV) light is described. Focusing optics focus light onto the sample and collect the light reflected from the sample so as to record an optical response from nanoimprint structures on the sample, wherein the nanoimprint structures have an orientation that varies over a surface of the sample. A sample stage is configured to support the sample. At least one computer is connected to the metrology instrument and the sample stage and is configured to run a computer program which causes the sample stage to rotate the sample so as to present multiple different locations on the sample to the optical metrology instrument such that the orientation of the nanoimprint structures at the multiple different locations remains fixed with respect to a plane of the focusing optics of the metrology instrument in order to eliminate polarization effects. |
| US08867040B2 |
In-situ detection and analysis of methane in coal bed methane formations with spectrometers
The invention subject of this disclosure teaches a method of determining a production factor for a carbonaceous material reservoir, the method comprising: providing a well in a carbonaceous material reservoir; providing unsampled fluid at a depth in the well; placing a sensor adjacent to the unsampled fluid and performing a measurement on the unsampled fluid; using data from the measurement to determine a partial pressure of a solution gas in the carbonaceous material reservoir; and determining a production factor for the carbonaceous material reservoir from the partial pressure of the solution gas. |
| US08867032B2 |
Surface enhanced optical detection substrate for sensing purposes and methods for manufacturing
A substrate is described that is suitable for surface enhanced optical detection. The substrate comprises an electrically conductive layer The substrate further comprises at least one nanoparticle comprising an electrically conductive portion. The electrically conductive portion may provide an opening to an underlying material. Such at least one nanoparticles may be a nanoring, a nanodisc, or a non-spherical nanoshell. The substrate further comprises a dielectric spacer for spacing the electrically conductive layer from the at least one nanoparticles. The dielectric spacer is a dielectric material substantially only present under the at least one nanoparticle, leaving the electrically conductive layer uncovered from dielectric material at positions away from the nanoparticles. The at least one nanoparticle and the dielectric spacer are interfaced along a first major surface and the at least one nanoparticle comprises an upstanding surface not in line with an upstanding surface of the dielectric spacer. |
| US08867030B2 |
Object detection device provided with angle adjustment mechanism
A horizontal adjustment-engagement member (33) of an object detection device (D) drives the horizontal rotation component (32) to adjust a horizontal angle of a detection unit (11, 12), and a vertical adjustment-engagement member (37) drives the vertical rotation component (36) to adjust a vertical angle of a detection unit. Both adjustment-engagement members (33 and 37) are positioned adjacent to each other at fixed positions such that portions thereof are exposed on a front surface of the device (D), are removably engaged with an external automatic angle adjustment unit (70) from front surfaces, and are automatically adjusted by a driving force of the automatic angle adjustment unit (70) based on a signal level of a detection signal outputted by level output section (7). |
| US08867027B2 |
Apparatus and method for estimating bilirubin concentration using refractometry
A bilirubin measuring apparatus includes a sample holding portion for holding at least a sample to be analyzed, a light source for directing light toward the sample holding portion, and means for determining a concentration of bilirubin in the sample based on an amount which the light is refracted while passing through the sample holding portion when at least the sample is held at the sample holding portion. Also, a method of measuring bilirubin in a sample includes holding at least the sample at a sample holding position, directing light toward the sample holding position so that the light will pass through the sample, and determining a concentration of bilirubin in the sample based on an amount which the light is refracted while passing through the sample holding position. |
| US08867026B2 |
Chip-scale optomechanical gravimeter
An method and apparatus for measuring gravitational force are described where at least one first radiation can be provided to at least one optomechanical oscillator, the at least one optomechanical oscillator being structured to deform under the gravitational force to cause a shift in resonance associated with the at least one optomechanical oscillator. In addition, at least one second radiation is received from the at least one optomechanical oscillator, wherein the at least one second radiation is associated with the shift in the resonance, and the shift in the resonance can be determined based on the first and second radiations. |
| US08867024B2 |
Reflective film interface to restore transverse magnetic wave contrast in lithographic processing
A system for exposing a resist layer to an image that includes a layer reflective to imaging tool radiation and a resist layer having a region of photosensitivity over the reflective layer. An imaging tool projects radiation containing an aerial image onto the resist layer, with a portion of the radiation containing the aerial image passing through the resist and reflecting back to the resist to form an interference pattern of the projected aerial image through the resist layer thickness. The thickness and location of the resist layer region of photosensitivity are selected to include from within the interference pattern higher contrast portions of the interference pattern in the direction of the resist thickness, and to exclude lower contrast portions of the interference pattern in the resist thickness direction from said resist layer region of photosensitivity, to improve contrast of the aerial image in said resist layer region of photosensitivity. |
| US08867022B2 |
Movable body drive method and movable body drive system, pattern formation method and apparatus, and device manufacturing method
A controller uses two Z heads, which are positioned above a reflection surface installed on the ±X ends of the upper surface of a wafer table, to measure the height and tilt of the wafer table. The Z head to be used is switched according to XY positions of the wafer table. On the switching of the heads, the controller applies a coordinate linkage method to set an initial value of the Z head which is to be newly used. Accordingly, although the Z head to be used is sequentially switched according the XY position of the wafer table, measurement results of the height and the tilt of the wafer table are stored before and after the switching, and it becomes possible to drive the wafer table with high precision. |
| US08867017B2 |
Liquid recovery apparatus, exposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing method
A liquid immersion exposure apparatus that exposes a substrate via a projection optical system and liquid includes a movable member having an upper surface, a part of which holds the substrate. A liquid immersion system that has a supply port and a recovery port supplies the liquid to a space between the projection optical system and the upper surface via the supply port of a supply path and recovers the liquid of a liquid immersion region formed in the space via the recovery port of a recovery path. A flow path is connected to the supply path between the supply port and a source of the liquid, the flow path permitting flow therethrough to remove liquid that remains in the supply path, the liquid that remains in the supply path having been supplied from the source of the liquid without being discharged from the supply port. |
| US08867015B2 |
Displays with liquid crystal shutters
An electronic device may have a display such as a liquid crystal display. The display may have an array of display pixels. The array of display pixels may display images for a user in an active area of the display. An inactive area of the display may surround the active area. An opaque masking layer may be provided in the inactive area to block internal components in the electronic device from view. An optical component such as a light-based proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, image sensor, or light-emitting status indicator may be aligned with an opening in the opaque masking layer. A liquid crystal shutter may be provided in the display. The liquid crystal shutter may be controlled by control circuitry in the electronic device. The liquid crystal shutter may be aligned with the opening in the opaque masking layer in the inactive area and with the optical component. |
| US08867014B2 |
Method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device comprising a reflector that includes a protection sheet that has a rectangular shape and a protruding part wherein the protection sheet is detached using the protruding part
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel; a main frame surrounding sides of the liquid crystal panel; a backlight unit disposed under the liquid crystal panel and surrounded by the main frame, the backlight unit including a light guide plate, a lamp at a side of the light guide plate, a reflector under the light guide plate and an optical sheet on the light guide plate, wherein a rear surface of the reflector is exposed through an opening of the main frame; and a protection sheet attached to the rear surface of the reflector to protect the rear surface of the reflector and including a protruding part at a side of the protection sheet, the protection sheet has a rectangular shape. |
| US08867012B2 |
Liquid crystal device and electronic equipment
In a liquid crystal device, a shoulder portion configured to increase the distance between a element-substrate-side substrate body and a opposed-substrate-side substrate body is provided on the opposed-substrate-side substrate body in an area overlapped with a sealing material including a gap material. Therefore, in an area inside the sealing material, the gap between the element substrate and the opposed substrate is smaller than the gap therebetween in the area overlapped with the sealing material. Therefore, the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer can be reduced without reducing the size of the gap material. |
| US08867008B2 |
Blue phase liquid crystal display device
A blue phase liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate having a first pixel region, a first gate line on the first substrate, first and second data lines on the first substrate, a first thin film transistor (TFT) and a second TFT disposed in the first pixel region, the first TFT connected to the first gate line and the first data line, and the second TFT connected to the first gate line and the second data line, a first pixel electrode in the first pixel region and connected to the first TFT, and a second pixel electrode in the first pixel region and connected to the second TFT, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates, the liquid crystal layer having an optical isotropic property without an electric field and a birefringence property with the electric field. |
| US08867007B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having a strip-shaped electrode
A liquid crystal display device includes an array substrate including a pixel electrode which is disposed in each of pixels, a counter-substrate which is disposed to be opposed to the array substrate and includes a counter-electrode which is common to a plurality of the pixels, and a liquid crystal layer which is held between the array substrate and the counter-substrate. The pixel electrode includes a first major electrode portion having a strip shape, and the counter-electrode includes second major electrode portions each having a strip shape, the second major electrode portions being disposed in parallel to the first major electrode portion in a manner that the first major electrode portion is interposed between the second major electrode portions and that the first major electrode portion and the second major electrode portions are alternately arranged. |
| US08867006B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
In one embodiment, a first shield electrode and a second shield electrode are arranged on a first substrate. A first source line and a second source line are arranged facing the first and second shield electrodes through an insulating layer, respectively. A first main common electrode and a second main common electrode are formed facing the first and second source lines through an insulating layer, respectively. A main pixel electrode is formed so as to locate between the first and second main common electrodes. A second substrate includes a third main common electrode and a fourth main common electrode facing the first and second main common electrodes, respectively. A liquid crystal layer is held between the first and second substrates. The first, second, third and fourth main common electrodes are set to the same electric potential. |
| US08867003B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device including a first substrate including a pixel electrode, a second substrate facing the first substrate and including a common electrode, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate includes a storage capacitive line. The liquid crystal display device further includes a domain forming member that is formed over a first region corresponding to the storage capacitive line and a second region adjacent to the first region. The domain forming member is formed with irregular parts including a first irregular part having an enlarged width, a second irregular part having a reduced width, and an external irregular part, which is closest to the first region of the irregular parts formed in the second region and has an enlarged width. |
| US08866996B2 |
Liquid crystal display and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal display including: a liquid crystal display panel including a thin film transistor substrate and a liquid crystal layer disposed on the thin film transistor substrate; a heat generation unit that is configured to heat the liquid crystal layer; a resistance sensing unit that senses a change in a magnitude of resistance of the heat generation unit; a heat generation unit power controller that decreases a magnitude of power applied to the heat generation unit when the magnitude of resistance of the heat generation unit is equal to or greater than a reference magnitude of resistance; and a power supply unit that supplies power of a designated magnitude to the heat generation unit power controller. |
| US08866995B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device is disclosed, which comprises a liquid crystal panel which can be displayed in any other color instead of a black color during a non-driving mode through the use of one-color film for selectively reflecting light with a predetermined wavelength. The LCD device comprises a backlight unit for supplying light to a liquid crystal panel including lower and upper substrates; a first polarizing plate formed between the lower substrate and the backlight unit; a second polarizing plate formed on the upper substrate; a passivation substrate for protecting the lower and upper substrates; and a one-color film for selectively reflecting light with a predetermined wavelength during a non-driving mode of the backlight unit. |
| US08866991B2 |
Tiled display device having uniform brightness
A tiled display device includes a plurality of display devices defining an image display part, the image display part divided into a central portion and an outer edge portion, a support frame tiling the plurality of display devices side by side, and a plurality of light guides, each light guide disposed on each of the display devices, wherein the brightness of an image displayed at the outer edge portion is higher than that of an image disposed at the central portion. |
| US08866984B2 |
Display device and manufacturing method thereof
Disclosed is a display device including a transistor showing extremely low off current. In order to reduce the off current, a semiconductor material whose band gap is greater than that of a silicon semiconductor is used for forming a transistor, and the concentration of an impurity which serves as a carrier donor of the semiconductor material is reduced. Specifically, an oxide semiconductor whose band gap is greater than or equal to 2 eV, preferably greater than or equal to 2.5 eV, more preferably greater than or equal to 3 eV is used for a semiconductor layer of a transistor, and the concentration of an impurity which serves as a carrier donor included is reduced. Consequently, the off current of the transistor per micrometer in channel width can be reduced to lower than 10 zA/μm at room temperature and lower than 100 zA/μm at 85° C. |
| US08866983B2 |
Display module
A display module is provided, which includes a display panel and an ESD protection member. The display panel includes a rear substrate, a front substrate, a front polarizer, and an electrical connection layer. The front substrate is stacked on the rear substrate and includes a manifesting area and a perimeter area surrounding the display area. The front polarizer is relative to the manifesting area and is disposed on the front surface of the front substrate. The electrical connection layer is relative to the manifesting area and the perimeter area and is sandwiched between the front polarizer and the front substrate. The ESD protection member, a flexible printed circuit, is connected to the electrical connection layer and is electrically grounded. |
| US08866979B2 |
Display device with parallax barrier
The present disclosure discloses a display device comprises: a parallax barrier comprising a light transmission region and a light blocking region; a backlight unit; and a transflective film disposed between the parallax barrier and the backlight unit. |
| US08866978B2 |
Display device and touch panel thereof
A display device includes a display element and a touch panel including a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate. The first electrode plate includes a first conductive layer and two first electrodes electrically connected to the first conductive layer. The second electrode plate includes a second conductive layer and two second electrodes electrically connected to the second conductive layer. The display element includes a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns along a first direction and a second direction. At least one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes arranged primarily along the same aligned direction. The aligned direction and the second direction define an angle ranging from above 0° to less than or equal to 90°. |
| US08866975B1 |
Backwards-compatible delivery of digital cinema content with higher dynamic range and related preprocessing and coding methods
Methods and systems for image processing and delivery of higher dynamic range cinema content are disclosed. A digital cinema signal with a lower dynamic range is obtained from a digital cinema signal with a higher dynamic range, for example through mapping. The lower dynamic range digital cinema signal is encoded and decoded at the transmitting end. The decoded lower dynamic range digital cinema signal is normalized to produce a set of normalization parameters which enable the mapping process at the receiving end to produce a final image with higher dynamic range that is of a higher quality. Alternatively, the higher dynamic range digital cinema signal is also encoded and decoded at the transmitting end, to produce a set of normalization parameters which enable the mapping process at the receiving end to produce a final image with higher dynamic range that is of a higher quality. |
| US08866969B2 |
Display apparatus and control method of the same
A display apparatus includes a receiver which receives a broadcasting signal, a display which displays an image based on the received broadcasting signal, a communication unit which communicates with a mobile device, and a controller which determines whether the mobile device interferes with at least one channel of a plurality of broadcasting channels received through the receiver, and controls the display to display a user interface (UI) indicates a user whether image noise has resulted from channel interference by the mobile device. |
| US08866968B2 |
Video processing device, and video display system containing same
Provided is a video processing device capable of displaying an easily viewable video utilizing a broader area in a display. A video processing unit that is included in the video processing device and processes an input video includes a first memory that stores the input video, a second memory that stores the input video, a compression/expansion control unit that compresses and/or expands a first area of the input video stored in the first memory and compresses and/or expands a second area of the input video stored in the second memory, and an image composing unit that generates an output video in which a video of the first area compressed and/or expanded by the compression/expansion control unit and a video of the second area compressed and/or expanded by the compression/expansion control unit are horizontally aligned. |
| US08866964B2 |
Assemblies and methods for reducing the complexity of camera mounting assemblies
A camera mounting assembly includes a positioning support defining a central axis and a plurality of brackets. Each of the brackets includes a first end coupled to the positioning support and a second end spaced apart from the first end. The brackets are configured to move between a retracted state and an extended state. When in the retracted state, the second ends of the brackets are at a first distance from the central axis, and in the extended state, the second ends of the brackets are at a second distance. The second distance is greater than the first distance. |
| US08866962B2 |
Imaging apparatus and camera system
An imaging apparatus capable of performing shooting with flash light emitted by a flash device includes an imaging unit configured to capture an image of an object to output image data, and a charging control unit configured to perform charging control of a capacitor configured to accumulate energy for performing flash emission by the flash device. The charging control unit, in a case where shooting with flash light emitted by the flash device is performed, among a plurality of shooting operations for acquiring a plurality of pieces of image data to be used for image combining processing, performs the charging control so that charging of the capacitor is not performed until the last shooting of the plurality of shooting operations for acquiring a plurality of pieces of image data to be used for the image combining processing is finished. |
| US08866960B2 |
Imaging apparatus that adjusts light exposure by analyzing polarization components
An imaging apparatus, including an imaging device determining an index value representing differences in sizes of plural polarization components having polarization directions different from each other included in light from each point in an imaging area, and continuously image a polarization information image having a pixel value based on the determined index value to form a moving image of the polarization information image; and a light exposure adjuster adjusting a light exposure such that the differences in sizes of the plural polarization components are maximum at a predetermined light exposure adjustment time during the continuous imaging. |
| US08866959B2 |
Imaging apparatus and camera body including a normally open type shutter having a full open state
An interchangeable lens including a focus lens for collecting subject light, an imaging sensor operable to generate an image signal based on the subject light, a shutter device that is arranged between the interchangeable lens and the imaging sensor and includes a first curtain and a second curtain, a pulse counter operable to detect positions of the first curtain and the second curtain, and a body controller operable to start capturing of a signal from the imaging sensor based on the positions of the first curtain and the second curtain detected by the pulse counter are provided. |
| US08866958B2 |
Focusing apparatus
A focusing apparatus including a focus lens; a focus lens driving unit that drives the focus lens; an imaging device configured to generate an image signal; a focus evaluation value calculating unit configured to receive an image signal from the imaging device and to calculate a focus evaluation value of a captured image; a difference calculating unit configured to calculate a difference between a current focus evaluation value and a previous focus evaluation value; a first determining unit configured to compare the difference to each of a plurality of threshold values different from each other; a counter configured to count results of comparing the difference to each of the plurality of threshold values and to generate count information; and a second determining unit configured to compare the count information to threshold count information and to determine a target drive direction in which the focus lens is to be driven. |
| US08866957B2 |
Imaging arrangements and methods therefor
Image data is processed to facilitate focusing and/or optical correction. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an imaging arrangement collects light data corresponding to light passing through a particular focal plane. The light data is collected using an approach that facilitates the determination of the direction from which various portions of the light incident upon a portion of the focal plane emanate from. Using this directional information in connection with value of the light as detected by photosensors, an image represented by the light is selectively focused and/or corrected. |
| US08866953B2 |
Mobile device and method for controlling the same
A mobile device and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The mobile device includes a camera unit configured to sense an image, a display unit configured to display the image, a sensor unit configured to detect an input signal and transmit the detected input signal to a processor, and the processor configured to control the display unit, the camera unit and the sensor unit. The processor is further configured to provide an image capturing interface, wherein the image capturing interface displays the image sensed by the camera unit and an image capturing trigger for storing the image, and adjust focus of the image to an area corresponding to a location of a pattern code automatically and simultaneously display a pattern code trigger in the image capturing interface, only when the pattern code is recognized from the image. |
| US08866948B2 |
Imaging apparatus
In an image capture mode, a noise reading operation and image signal reading operation are used. In a photometric operation mode, the image signal reading operation is used. |
| US08866947B2 |
Double pass back side image sensor systems and methods
Double pass back side image (BSI) sensor systems and methods are disclosed. The BSI sensor may include a substrate, pixel reflectors formed on the substrate, and pixel photodiodes fabricated in the substrate, each pixel photodiode positioned over a respective one of the pixel reflectors. Micro-lenses may be formed over each photodiode and an image filter may be formed between the photodiodes and the micro-lenses. The pixels reflectors, photodiodes, micro-lenses, and filter may be formed using CMOS fabrication. |
| US08866944B2 |
Method for correcting pixel information of color pixels on a color filter array of an image sensor
A method for correcting pixel information of color pixels on a color filter array of an image sensor includes: establishing an M×M distance factor table, selecting M×M pixels of the color filter array, calculating a red/green/blue-color contribution from the red/green/blue pixels to a target pixel in the selected M×M pixels, calculating a red/blue/green-color pixel performance of the target pixel, calculating a red/blue/green-color correcting factor, obtaining a corrected pixel information of each of the red/green/blue pixels, by applying the red/green/blue-color correcting factor to the measured pixel information of each of the red/green/blue pixels. |
| US08866942B2 |
Auto focus adjusting device and method and recording medium of the same method
Provided are an auto focus adjusting device, method, and a recording medium storing a program product for executing the auto focusing method. The method includes: deriving an input image from an image capturing device by changing a position of a focus lens; deriving a gamma correction image by applying a gamma curve to the input image; and deriving an auto focus (AF) value about a position of a focus lens through the gamma correction image. |
| US08866938B2 |
Frame to frame persistent shadow reduction within an image
An apparatus, computer program product, and method for reducing persistent shadows within an image. The apparatus includes a camera configured to generate frames of the image. The apparatus also includes a computer processor. The computer processor calculates the average normalized brightness for each pixel in the image and adjusts the brightness of each pixel with the average normalized brightness. |
| US08866937B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
Provided is an image processing apparatus that reduces over recovery of image data by image recovery processing. An image processing unit selects an image recovery filter corresponding to an imaging condition and performs image recovery processing on captured image data using the image recovery filter. Further, the image processing unit limits a change amount of a pixel signal value of the image data by the image recovery processing based on a change amount limit value determined according to characteristics of a gamma correction processing that is applied after the image recovery processing. |
| US08866932B2 |
Voice recordable terminal and its image processing method
A voice recordable terminal and its image processing method are provided. The image processing method includes determining whether or not capturing is selected when a recording function of storing voice data is performed, acquiring at least one meta image when the capturing is selected, and storing at least one voice file including the acquired meta image and the voice data. |
| US08866930B2 |
Digital camera with communications interface for selectively transmitting images over a cellular phone network and a wireless LAN network to a destination
A digital camera for capturing images and transmitting captured images over a wireless network includes a sensor for capturing images; a display for displaying at least one captured image; at least one user input for selection of at least one captured image and for selection of a wireless network; a communication interface capable of transmitting the at least one selected image over the selected wireless network; a memory for storing a password needed to utilize the selected wireless network; and a processor for controlling the transmission of the at least one selected image over the selected wireless network utilizing the stored password. |
| US08866929B2 |
Method of producing a still image
A method of producing an image is disclosed. A reference track is received. The reference track is, optionally, displayed on a preview image with at least one light spot. Subsequently, a position of an incident light projected on an image sensor of an image capturing device is varied during an exposure period to trace the reference track. Accordingly, the image with a light track that traces the reference track is captured. |
| US08866927B2 |
Determining an image capture payload burst structure based on a metering image capture sweep
A first plurality of images of a scene may be captured. Each image of the first plurality of images may be captured with a different total exposure time (TET). Based at least on the first plurality of images, a TET sequence may be determined for capturing images of the scene. A second plurality of images of the scene may be captured. Images in the second plurality of images may be captured using the TET sequence. Based at least on the second plurality of images, an output image of the scene may be constructed. |
| US08866925B2 |
Image sensor compensation
Compensation is performed for an image capture device which includes an image sensor which has a tunable spectral response and which is tunable in accordance with a capture mask. The compensation is for spatial non-uniformity in color sensitivity of the image sensor. A default capture mask is applied to the image sensor, and a sample image is captured using the image sensor tuned by the default capture mask. Color of the sample image is analyzed to identify spatial non-uniformity in color sensitivity of the image sensor. A compensation capture mask is constructed. The compensation capture mask is constructed using calculations based on the identified spatial non-uniformity so as to compensate for spatial non-uniformity in color sensitivity of the image sensor. The compensation capture mask is stored in a memory of the image capture device for application of the compensation capture mask to the image sensor. |
| US08866923B2 |
Modular camera and printer
A modular camera and printer is disclosed. A camera module is provided having an image sensor for capturing an image in a RGB format. The camera module also has a central processing unit with program memory for storing program steps for execution by the central processing unit to operate the camera module, and an image storage memory for storing the captured image in the RGB format. An image processing unit of the camera module is in communication with the image storage memory and transforms image data in the image storage memory into a L*a*b* format. The camera module also has a serial bus for outputting transformed image data in the L*a*b* format. A printer module is provided also having a serial bus in communication with the serial bus of the camera module. The printer module receives the image data from the camera module in the L*a*b* format, converts the image data to a color space of the printer module, and then prints the image data on a printhead. |
| US08866917B2 |
Optical apparatus and control method therefor
An optical apparatus includes a compensation unit compensating for a blur in an image formed by an imaging optical system, a shake detection unit detecting a shake of the apparatus, a position detection unit detecting a position of the compensation unit, wherein the position detection unit comprising variable detection accuracy, a driving control unit calculating a drive target position of the compensation unit based on a shake amount and the position of the compensation unit, a driving unit driving the compensation unit to the drive target position, a switching determination unit determining whether or not to perform switching of the detection accuracy of the position detection unit, and a control unit controlling the detection accuracy such that the detection accuracy is increased during moving image capture in a case where it is determined to perform switching of the detection accuracy of the position detection unit. |
| US08866913B1 |
Systems and methods for calibration of a 360 degree camera system
Systems and methods for calibrating a 360 degree camera system include imaging reference strips, analyzing the imaged data to correct for pitch, roll, and yaw of cameras of the 360 degree camera system, and analyzing the image data to correct for zoom and shifting of the cameras. Each of the reference strips may include a bullseye component and a dots component to aid in the analyzing and correcting. |
| US08866908B2 |
Mobile camera system
A mobile camera system is provided in which a user can view images of various desired locations while staying in a location remote from those locations. A control server acquires positions of a plurality of mobile camera apparatuses set up on mobile bodies such as vehicles, and images that are acquired by the mobile camera apparatuses, via radio communication. Then, the control server manages the positions and the images in its image DB. Then, in response to an imaging request that is issued from a terminal apparatus to designate a location (area), the control server searches for the image satisfying the request, in the image DB, or newly acquires the image satisfying the request, from the mobile camera apparatus. Then, the control server transmits the image to the terminal apparatus via radio communication. |
| US08866906B1 |
Land vehicle based surveillance system
The present invention is a systems for visual and sound surveillance using a land vehicle with multiple cameras that may have a small pan-tilt-zoom camera profile that may be attached to a roof or ceiling of the land vehicle. The cameras may be positioned in a passenger side front and rear corner, in a driver side position behind a driver seat location, and in a driver side rear corner. A platform with a controller may be in communication with the cameras, and may have a display, a keyboard, a camera position control device, and a recorder. |
| US08866905B2 |
Surroundings monitoring device for a vehicle
A surroundings monitoring device for a vehicle, includes a pair of side cameras, each of which is provided at a side mirror, obtaining capture images capturing views extending to left and right of the vehicle including views below the side mirrors, respectively, an image graphic generating portion generating an image graphic of the vehicle from a view point above a rear portion thereof towards a front lower portion thereof, or from a view point above a front portion of the vehicle towards a rear lower portion thereof in order to include at least a portion of the vehicle and the side mirrors on the image graphic, and a side image generating portion generating left and right side images on the basis of the capture images so as to correspond to images shown at left and right portions of the image graphic displayed on a monitor, respectively. |
| US08866904B2 |
Calibrating apparatus for on-board camera of vehicle
There is provided a calibrating apparatus for an on-board camera of a vehicle, which allows speedy, yet reliable decision of acceptance/rejection of calibration result, with a simple apparatus construction, without depending on or being influenced by the calibration environment. An image processing target region on which an image processing for detection of each calibration point in each one of calibration markers in a camera-captured image which is a projecting plane of a camera coordinate system is displayed as a region frame in the form of a graphic image, in superposition with the camera-captured image. |
| US08866899B2 |
Systems and methods for defect detection using a whole raw image
An apparatus for identifying a defect in an electronic circuit having periodic features, the apparatus including at least a camera for obtaining an image of the electronic circuit and an image processing system. The image processing system receives the image of the electronic circuit from the camera, performs a diagonal shift of the received image of the electronic circuit by at least a diagonal size of the periodic features of the electronic circuit to produce a shifted image of the electronic circuit, identifies a candidate defect using the image of the electronic circuit and the shifted image of the electronic circuit, computes one or more local defect-free reference (golden) images of the electronic circuit using at least one selected area in the closest proximity of the identified candidate defect and determines the defect in the electronic circuit using one or more computed local golden images of the electronic circuit, the image of the electronic circuit. |
| US08866898B2 |
Living room movie creation
A system and method are disclosed living room movie creation. Movies can be directed, captured, and edited using a system that includes a depth camera. A virtual movie set can be created by using ordinary objects in the living room as virtual props. The system is able to capture motions of actors using the depth camera and to generate a movie based thereon. Therefore, there is no need for the actors to wear any special markers to detect their motion. A director may view scenes from the perspective of a “virtual camera” and record those scenes for later editing. |
| US08866897B2 |
Image pickup device and image pickup method for the same
Image pickup is executed at an image pickup timing based on reference pulses by using, as a trigger, workpiece pulses which are output at an interval synchronized with a shape portion (projecting or recess portion) which is periodically and repetitively formed on a workpiece being rotated, and the image pickup is executed at the image pickup timing based on the reference pulses PA every time only reference pulses PA whose number corresponds to a pulse number between workpiece pulses are output from the image pickup timing concerned. |
| US08866896B2 |
Biological body state assessment device including drowsiness occurrence assessment
Disclosed is a biological body state assessment device capable of accurately assessing an absentminded state of a driver. The biological body state assessment device first acquires face image data of a face image capturing camera, detects an eye open time and a face direction left/right angle of a driver from face image data, calculates variation in the eye open time of the driver and variation in the face direction left/right angle of the driver, and performs threshold processing on the variation in the eye open time and the variation in the face direction left/right angle to detect the absentminded state of the driver. The biological body state assessment device assesses the possibility of the occurrence of drowsiness of the driver in the future using a line fitting method on the basis of an absentminded detection flag and the variation in the eye open time, and when it is assessed that there is the possibility of the occurrence of drowsiness, estimates an expected drowsiness occurrence time of the driver. |
| US08866895B2 |
Passing control of gesture-controlled apparatus from person to person
A television (TV) includes a display and a processor controlling the display and receiving signals representing human gestures. The processor is programmed to respond to gestures from a first viewer to control the display. Also, the processor is programmed to respond to gestures from a second viewer to control the display only responsive to a determination that the first viewer has both looked toward the second viewer, and that the first viewer has confirmed, as a separate act from looking toward the second viewer, a desire to transfer control of the TV to the second viewer. |
| US08866893B2 |
Imaging apparatus
Imaging apparatus performs controlling to read pixel information from pixels belonging to target area by each frame. One frame period is period from when an exposure period for exposing pixels on a horizontal line that is to be read first from among horizontal lines belonging to the target area of a sensor is started and until when reading of the pixel information generated by each of the pixels on the horizontal line is completed. The imaging apparatus sequentially emits, by each illumination period of a length corresponding to at least two frame periods, illumination lights in synchronization with start of the exposure period. The imaging apparatus performs a predetermined controlling by performing controlling to exclude, from predetermined processing target, image data corresponding to the pixel information read during first frame period of the illumination period, while by acquiring image data corresponding to the pixel information read during other frame period. |
| US08866890B2 |
Multi-camera
A method of making a high resolution camera includes assembling, imaging and processing. The assembling includes assembling on a carrier a plurality of sensors. Each sensor is for imaging a portion of an object. The plurality of sensors are disposed so that the portions imaged by adjacent sensors overlap in a seam leaving no gaps between portions. The imaging images a predetermined known pattern to produce from the plurality of sensors a corresponding plurality of image data sets. The processing processes the plurality of image data sets to determine offset and rotation parameters for each sensor by exploiting overlapping seams. |
| US08866887B2 |
Computer graphics video synthesizing device and method, and display device
A CG image combining device generates a CG image by mapping an image to an object. A memory unit stores shape data and a pair of left-view and right-view image data. A determination unit refers to the shape data to evaluate a curvature of the object's surface from normal vectors of polygons constituting the object. Furthermore, the determination unit determines whether the object is suitable for stereoscopic image mapping by comparing the curvature with a threshold. A mapping unit (i) generates left-view CG data by combining the left-view image data with the shape data and generates right-view CG data by combining the right-view image data with the shape data, when the object is suitable for the mapping, and (ii) generates left-view CG data and right-view CG data by combining one of the left-view and right-view image data with the shape data, when the object is not suitable for the mapping. |
| US08866882B2 |
Stereoscopic image format transformation method applied to display system
In a display system, the invention provides a stereoscopic image format transformation method being used for transforming a non-interlace format of a stereoscopic image into an interlace format. When an aspect ratio of the stereoscopic image is not equal to an aspect ratio of a panel, the stereoscopic image format transformation method of the invention is used for interlacing a left-eye image data and a right-eye image data of the stereoscopic image according to a format of the stereoscopic image, the aspect ratio of the panel, and the aspect ratio of the stereoscopic image, to form a completely interlaced stereoscopic image. |
| US08866881B2 |
Stereoscopic image playback device, stereoscopic image playback system, and stereoscopic image playback method
In the case where a parallax of left and right images is not appropriate, an influence on the health caused by stereoscopic viewing is preliminarily prevented. A camera and a television are connected (step S1) and a television size is input from the camera (step S2). A parallax adjustment amount v is created based on the input television size (step S3) and the left and right image data and the parallax adjustment amount v are transmitted to the television (step S4). When the television receives those (step S101), the parallax of the left and right images is adjusted by the parallax adjustment amount v (step S102). A region including the subject having the largest parallax among subjects in the left and right images is clipped and displayed in a small screen with the size of the display unit of the camera (step S103). The user checks the image displayed in the small screen (step S5) and when there is no problem, the left and right images are displayed on all over the television size in a 3D mode (step S104). |
| US08866880B2 |
Display-camera system with selective crosstalk reduction
A method performed by a display-camera system includes displaying first content and second content that occludes a portion of the first content on a display during a first time period, displaying the second content and third content on the display during a second time period that is non-overlapping with the first time period, the third content to minimize crosstalk from the first content, and capturing fourth content with a camera through the display during the second time period. |
| US08866878B2 |
Representative pre-selection for customer service video conference
Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for assisting a user to select a customer service representative of a financial institution in preparation for a customer service conference. Embodiments determine that an operative connection is being established between a user device of the user and a system associated with the financial institution, such that the user and the representative of the financial institution may conduct the conference; recognize the user as a customer enrolled in a representative pre-selection program; determine at least one representative from a pool of potential representatives, the at least one representative determined for presentation to the user for user selection and determined based at least in part on the user having previously conferenced with the at least one representative; and receive user input selecting one of the at least one representatives for conference connection. |
| US08866877B2 |
Split screen presentation of functionality during a hold period prior to a customer-service video conference
Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for split-screen functionality to be provided to a user device during a hold period prior to a customer-service video conference. Specifically, according to defined embodiments, the present invention provides for a first portion of split-screen includes a visual depiction of a queue of users currently awaiting a video conference with the customer-service associate. The queue allows for the user/customer to gauge how long the hold period will last. In addition to the visual depiction of the hold queue, the split screen may provide for other portions of the screen to include other information and/or functionality such as, such as information related or unrelated to the impending video conference. |
| US08866875B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a conference place environment in video communication
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and an apparatus for controlling a conference place environment in video communication, in which, the method for controlling a video communication conference place environment includes: generating illumination feedback information indicating an illumination effect of a video communication conference place, in which the illumination feedback information comprises: a parameter indicating an illumination flaw or a parameter indicating correction of the illumination flaw; and outputting the illumination feedback information, so that a lighting controlling device in the video communication conference place controls lighting in the video communication conference place according to the illumination feedback information. By use of technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present invention, a conference place environment in video communication is able to be remotely controlled. |
| US08866874B2 |
Adjusting a camera whose video is not currently displayed in a videoconferencing system
System and method involving user interfaces and remote control devices. These user interfaces may be particularly useful for providing an intuitive and user friendly interaction between a user and a device or application using a display, e.g., at a “10 foot” interaction level. The user interfaces may be specifically designed for interaction using a simple remote control device having a limited number of inputs. For example, the simple remote control may include directional inputs (e.g., up, down, left, right), a confirmation input (e.g., ok), and possibly a mute input. The user interface may be customized based on current user activity or other contexts (e.g., based on current or previous states), the user logging in (e.g., using a communication device), etc. Additionally, the user interface may allow the user to adjust cameras whose video are not currently displayed, rejoin previously left videoconferences, and/or any of a variety of desirable actions. |
| US08866866B2 |
Drive circuit, light print head, and image forming apparatus
A drive circuit is provided for supplying a drive current to drive a plurality of driven elements. The drive circuit includes a switch circuit having an input terminal for receiving a drive signal alternately changing between an on state and an off state, and an output terminal connected to the driven elements; and a constant current circuit connected to the switch circuit for adjusting the drive current at a constant level. The constant current circuit is formed of a depletion type MOS transistor. |
| US08866861B2 |
Systems and methods for automatic print alignment
The present application is directed to systems and methods for print alignment by a continuous feed printer. A sensor of a printer detects a first line of a pattern on a non-printing side of a printing medium, the pattern comprising two non-parallel lines separated by a predetermined distance at a predetermined position of the printing medium. The printer advances the printing medium a first distance, and the sensor detects a second line of the pattern. The printer identifies a horizontal offset of the printing medium from an expected location of the predetermined position proportional to the difference between the first distance and the predetermined distance. |
| US08866859B2 |
Display device, scan driver for a display device, and a driving method thereof
A scan driver may include: a first scan driving block, outputting a second clock signal to a first output terminal according to an input signal, in synchronization with a first clock signal; and a second scan driving block, outputting the first clock signal according to the output signal of the first scan driving block to a second output terminal, in synchronization with the second clock signal, wherein the first scan driving block and the second scan driving block simultaneously output an entire clock signal, according to a level of a simultaneous light emission control signal. |
| US08866854B2 |
Consolidated orthogonal guide creation
A guide is configured in an authoring program to aid the user in editing objects on a document. The guide can be a horizontally or vertically oriented guide line and can be created from a single ruler, either a vertical or horizontal ruler displayed on the workspace. To create a horizontal guide, the user can position the cursor on a horizontal ruler. The user can click-and-hold and drag the cursor to create and position a horizontal guide over the workspace. To create a vertical guide, the user can position the cursor in the horizontal ruler and click and release. The user can create both vertical and horizontal guides using the vertical ruler in a corresponding manner, where clicking on the vertical ruler creates a horizontal guide, and click-and-hold and dragging creates a vertical guide. Guides can be individually configured or altered in their visual characteristics. |
| US08866849B1 |
Portable device supporting videotelephony of a head mounted display and method of controlling therefor
A method of controlling a portable device according to one embodiment of the present specification includes the steps of pairing with a head mounted display (HMD), detecting a first position of the paired HMD when an incoming call is received, configuring marker information corresponding to the incoming call according to the detected first position of the paired HMD, and transmitting an augmented reality image corresponding to the marker information to the paired HMD. |
| US08866843B1 |
Clock objects having visual graphical indicators with interactive time shifting
The embodiments provide a data processing apparatus including a graphics controller configured to obtain a subset of selected time zones among a plurality of available time zones and generate a plurality of clock objects. Each clock object may be a graphical representation of a different time zone of the selected subset, and each clock object may provide a visual graphical indicator for a respective time zone. The data processing apparatus may include a user interface configured to display an arrangement of the plurality of clock objects and receive a command shifting to a travel mode time. The graphics controller may be configured to update the plurality of clock objects according to the command including providing an updated local time corresponding to the travel mode time for each selected time zone and adjusting the visual graphical indicator according to the updated local time for each selected time zone. |
| US08866842B2 |
Adaptive content authoring
Various embodiments of methods and apparatus for adaptive content authoring are disclosed. A dimensionally-linked authoring interface comprising a dimension control for associating values of a dimension to frames is displayed. A plurality of frames and input associating each of the plurality of frames to a respective value of the dimension are received. A data structure comprising the plurality of frames and associations between the frames and the respective values of the dimension is generated. |
| US08866841B1 |
Method and apparatus to deliver imagery with embedded data
The present invention is directed to the realistic three-dimensional presentation of images in scenes, and is particularly useful for providing and tailoring artwork to appear on scene. In one embodiment, reserved names, such as reserved ink names, are provided to artwork, which results in the image being modified, such as by filling with a surface image, modifying layers properties, and/or turning layers on or off. In another embodiment, resizing of objects is provided in 2.5D or 3-D. In yet another embodiment, automatic adjustment of layer opacity, highlighting and/or shading is provided to artwork provided to a scene to provide a more realistic look. |
| US08866840B2 |
Sending a parameter based on screen size or screen resolution of a multi-panel electronic device to a server
In a particular embodiment, a method includes detecting a hardware configuration change at an electronic device. The electronic device includes at least a first panel having a first display surface and a second panel having a second display surface. An effective screen size or a screen resolution corresponding to a viewing area that includes the first display surface and the second display surface is modified in response to the hardware configuration change. The method also includes sending at least one parameter associated with or based on the modified effective screen size or the modified screen resolution to a server. |
| US08866838B2 |
Color management for multiple display presentation of visual media
Methods and data processing systems are disclosed for color management in a multiple display system. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes color managing media based on a color gamut of a first display. Then, the method mirrors the media in a mirrored mode onto the first display and a second display. Then, the method processes the media for the second display through a gamma information for the second display. The gamma information is for a non-mirrored mode for the second display. The first and second displays may have different color gamuts. These color gamuts can be used for generating or modifying the gamma information for the second display. The gamma information may provide a color management for the second display that is based on the second display and is independent of the first display. |
| US08866836B2 |
Method and apparatus for data communication based on digital image processing
A data communication apparatus based on digital image processing includes a display that displays a color block array including color blocks corresponding to transmission data. The data communication apparatus also includes a camera that captures an image of a color block array displayed on a display of a transmitting side, and a storage that stores a code table including information about colors mapped to data values. The data communication apparatus further includes a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) that creates a color block array by converting transmission data to color blocks according to the code table during data transmission, identifies the color block array in the image captured by the camera, detects colors of color blocks in the color block array, and extracts data values corresponding to the detected colors during data reception. |
| US08866835B2 |
Color adjustment system for display device and printed material
A color adjustment system for a display device includes a computer device, and a display device for displaying an image. The display device selectably displays a plurality of color temperature color presets. The computer device makes a white point adjustment to the display device, based on a color temperature color preset selected from among the plurality of color temperature color presets by a selecting operation from the computer device. |
| US08866834B2 |
System and method for sprite capture and creation
A sprite capture and reproduction system for a gaming machine is disclosed. A sprite is a graphic image that can move within a larger graphic image. The system includes a sprite capture component and a sprite reproduction component. The sprite capture component enables capture of a sprite in video memory for use as another sprite. The sprite reproduction component enables reproduction of independent animated images that are combinable in a larger animation. The system does not require a discreet texture for each and every image that is loaded. Additionally, the system dramatically increases likelihood that desired images are resident and available for use in video memory, thereby saving texture memory. Further, the system minimizes shadow RAM usage. |
| US08866832B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method for displaying high resolution images
A decoding execution unit decodes image data encoded with a resolution higher than that of a display device. A display buffer stores image data decoded by the decoding execution unit. A standby buffer stores image data decoded by the decoding execution unit while the image data stored in the display buffer is being displayed. A reduced image buffer stores image data produced by reducing the entirety of the image data. An image display control unit switches from the image data stored in the display buffer to the image data stored in the standby buffer if the decoding of the image data by the decoding execution unit is completed, and enlarges the image in the reduced image buffer and stores the enlarged image in the display buffer if the decoding of the image data by the decoding execution unit is not completed. |
| US08866830B2 |
Memory controller interface for micro-tiled memory access
In one embodiment of the invention, a memory integrated circuit is provided including an address decoder to selectively access memory cells within a memory array; a mode register with bit storage circuits to store an enable bit and at least one sub-channel select bit; and control logic. The control logic is coupled to a plurality of address signal lines, the address decoder, and the mode register. In response to the enable bit and the at least one sub-channel select bit, the control logic selects one or more of the address signal lines to capture independent address information to support independent sub-channel memory accesses into the memory array. The control logic couples the independent address information into the address decoder. |
| US08866827B2 |
Bulk-synchronous graphics processing unit programming
Described is a technology in a computing environment comprising a programming language for general purpose computation on a graphics processing unit (GPU), along with an associated compiler. A Bulk-Synchronous GPU Programming (BSGP) program is programmed to include barriers to describe parallel processing on GPUs. A BSGP compiler detects barriers corresponding to supersteps, converts BSGP programs to kernels based on the barriers, and combines them. During compilation, the compiler aligns barriers in the statements and bundles the corresponding supersteps together. A par construct is provided to allow the programmer to control aspects of bundling, e.g., by specifying a block independent statements. Thread manipulation emulation is provided to transparently emulate thread creation and destruction, with operations fork and kill. Also provided is remote variable access intrinsics for efficient communications between threads, and collective primitive operations. |
| US08866826B2 |
Method and apparatus for dispatching graphics operations to multiple processing resources
Parallel graphics-processing methods and mobile computing apparatus with parallel graphics-processing capabilities are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment of a mobile computing apparatus includes physical memory, at least two distinct graphics-processing devices, and a bus coupled to the physical memory and the at least two graphics-processing devices. A virtual graphics processing component enables each of at least two graphics-processing operations to be executed, in parallel, by a corresponding one of the at least two distinct graphics-processing devices, which operate in the same memory surface at the same time. |
| US08866824B2 |
Image processing method, image processing device, and display apparatus
An image processing method includes: calculating a first index value through back matching between a first image and a second image in relation to a first pixel which is one or a plurality of pixels of the first image and a second pixel which is one or a plurality of pixels located at a position corresponding to the first pixel in the second image; calculating a second index value by normalizing a correlation index value indicating correlation between the first pixel and the second pixel using a complexity index value indicating complexity of an image which is displayed by the first pixel; and calculating a third index value by multiplying the first index value by the second index value. |
| US08866809B2 |
System and method for rendering dynamic three-dimensional appearing imagery on a two-dimensional user interface
System and method for rendering dynamic three-dimensional appearing imagery on a two-dimensional user interface screen of a portable computing device in dependence on a user's view-point of the screen. The method includes processing, on a portable computing device, data defining a plurality of user view-points of a user interface screen of the portable computing device. The method next includes rendering a first image of a constructed scene on the user interface screen based on a first determined user's view-point of the user interface screen of the portable computing device. The method then includes rendering a different image of the constructed scene on the user interface screen based on a subsequently determined user's view-point of the user interface screen and thereby presenting the illusion of a three-dimensional image of the constructed scene on the user interface screen. |
| US08866807B2 |
Display device and method of driving the same
A display device includes an organic EL display unit including plural pixels, a variable-voltage source which supplies a positive electrode supply potential and a negative electrode supply potential to the display organic EL display unit, and an arithmetic circuit which measures an anode potential and a cathode potential of a representative pixel. The variable-voltage source regulates the positive electrode supply potential with respect to the negative electrode supply potential, according to at least the potential difference between the negative electrode supply potential of the variable-voltage source and the cathode potential of the representative pixel, and supply the regulated positive electrode supply potential to the organic EL display unit. |
| US08866804B2 |
Pixel structure and a driving method thereof
A first transistor comprises a gate coupled to a first scan line, a source coupled to a data line, and a drain coupled to the first storage capacitor. The second transistor comprises a gate coupled to a second scan line, a source coupled to the first storage capacitor, and a drain coupled to the second storage capacitor. A first polarity voltage applied on the data line is stored into the first storage capacitor during a first time period which the first transistor is turned on. The first storage capacitor discharges due to a connection between the first capacitor and the second capacitor during a second time period which the second transistor is turned on. By using such driving method, the difference in voltage between the liquid crystal capacitor and a common voltage is reduced from charge sharing for improving a color washout effect of the LCD panel. |
| US08866800B2 |
Stacked display with a bended substrate, an electronic apparatus and a method for manufacturing the same
A stacked display (20b) comprises superposed regions for changing between a reflective color state (R, G, B) and a transparent state, which regions form part of a˜bended substrate (20). The substrate (20) may comprise a sequence of portions (1-6) which forms regions having pre-defined color. Each portion (1-6) is electrically connected to a further portion in the sequence by interconnect regions (b′, c′, d′) which form an oversized loop between the regions (1-2, 3-4, 5-6) when the substrate (20) is bent. The regions (1-2, 3-4, 5-6) are filled with a suitable optoelectronic color material (R, G, B). |
| US08866796B2 |
Compensation for air gap in an input device
Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a processing system for a display device integrated with a capacitive sensing device. The processing system includes a driver module, a receiver module, and a determination module. The driver module is coupled to a plurality of common electrodes configured to be driven for display updating and capacitive sensing. The receiver module is coupled to a plurality of receiver electrodes and configured for receiving resulting signals with the receiver electrodes. The determination module is configured for comparing a delta capacitive image to one or more saturation capacitance values and replacing the saturation capacitance values with one or more capacitance values from the delta capacitive image. The determination module is further configured for determining calibration values based on the saturation capacitance values. The calibration values calibrate for an air gap defined between a cover lens of a display device and the plurality of common electrodes. |
| US08866795B1 |
Current sensor output measurement system and method
Finger navigation methods, devices and systems are disclosed. In one embodiment the system comprises a light source configured to radiate a light beam towards a tactile surface. The system also comprises a photo detector module configured to sense speckle beams emitted by a target surface navigating the tactile surface in response to light hitting the target surface. The system further comprises a processor configured to track a movement of the target surface with respect to the tactile surface based on output from the photo detector module and a conductor structure for capacitive sensing of the target surface with respect to the tactile surface. The conductor structure is configured to determine a plurality of navigational functionalities based on the capacitive sensing of the target surface with respect to the tactile surface, including at least one of single click, double click, and scrolling. |
| US08866794B2 |
Statistical analyzing method and statistical quality indicator for reliability improvement of a capacitive touch device
For a capacitive touch device having a capacitive touch sensor to be sensed to generate sensed values, a sensing apparatus and method statistically analyze the sensed values generated in a certain time period to evaluate the sensing quality thereof, discard the poor reliable sensed values, and re-sense the capacitive touch sensor to generate new sensed values, by which the resultant output signal will have improved reliability. |
| US08866792B2 |
Method for scanning projective capacitive touch panel
The present invention relates to a method for scanning a projective capacitive touch panel. The method includes the following steps: scanning the mutual capacitance that are divided into at least two groups by applying different frequency excitation signals to different mutual capacitance groups, wherein a frequency of a excitation signal applied to a mutual capacitance group with greater RC constant is lower than that of a excitation signal applied to a mutual capacitance group with smaller RC constant; obtaining a first current voltage of each mutual capacitance; comparing the first current voltage with a first reference voltage to obtain candidate mutual capacitance whose first current voltage exceed the first reference voltage by a first threshold value; scanning the candidate mutual capacitance by applying a low frequency excitation signal; obtaining a second current voltage of each candidate mutual capacitance; comparing the second current voltage of each candidate mutual capacitance with a corresponding second reference voltage to obtain touched mutual capacitance whose second current voltage exceed the corresponding second reference voltage by a second threshold value. |
| US08866790B2 |
Multi-touch tracking
A method of tracking multiple touches over time on a touch sensor, for example a capacitive touch screen. The method analyzes first and second touch data sets from adjacent first and second time frames. First, the touch data sets are analyzed to determine the closest touch in the second time frame to each of the touches in the first time frame, and calculating the separation between each such pair of touches. Then, starting with the pair of touches having the smallest separation, each pair is validated until a pairing is attempted between touches for which the touch in the second time frame has already been paired. At this point, the as-yet unpaired touches from the first and second touch data sets are re-processed by re-applying the computations but only including the as-yet unpaired touches. This re-processing is iterated until no further pairings need to be made. The method avoids complex algebra and floating point operations, and has little memory requirement. As such it is ideally suited to implementation on a microcontroller. |
| US08866789B2 |
System and method for calibration of a capacitive touch digitizer system
A method for calibration of a capacitive touch digitizer system comprises detecting patterns of signals from a plurality of different events over a course of user interaction with the digitizer system, wherein the patterns of signals are outputs from a digitizer sensor of the system, determining a number of times that a pattern of signals is repeated over the different events, and defining a map of offset values as a pattern of signals that is repeated above a pre-defined repetition threshold. |
| US08866788B1 |
Interactivity model for shared feedback on mobile devices
A system that produces a dynamic haptic effect and generates a drive signal that includes a gesture signal and a real or virtual device sensor signal. The haptic effect is modified dynamically based on both the gesture signal and the real or virtual device sensor signal such as from an accelerometer or gyroscope, or by a signal created from processing data such as still images, video or sound. The haptic effect may optionally be modified dynamically by using the gesture signal and the real or virtual device sensor signal and a physical model, or may optionally be applied concurrently to multiple devices which are connected via a communication link. The haptic effect may optionally be encoded into a data file on a first device. The data file is then communicated to a second device and the haptic effect is read from the data file and applied to the second device. |
| US08866787B2 |
Integrated touch panel for a TFT display
This relates to displays for which the use of dual function capacitive elements does not result in any decreases of the aperture of the display. Thus, touch sensitive displays that have aperture ratios that are no worse than similar non-touch sensing displays can be manufactured. More specifically, this relates to placing touch sensing opaque elements so as to ensure that they are substantially overlapped by display related opaque elements, thus ensuring that the addition of the touch sensing elements does not substantially reduce the aperture ratio. The touch sensing display elements can be, for example, common lines that connect various capacitive elements that are configured to operate collectively as an element of the touch sensing system. |
| US08866785B2 |
Sensor array touchscreen recognizing finger flick gesture
Touchscreen user interfaces configured to detect a finger flick touch gesture for controlling software applications, computers, devices, machinery, and process environments. Such user interfaces can be manipulated by users and provide a wide range of uses with computer applications, assistance to the disabled, and control of electronic devices, machines, and processes. Enhancements can include velocity and pressure sensing capabilities. The touchscreen can be realized with a transparent touch sensor array positioned over a visual display. Dynamically assigned labels can be provided by the visual display. Multitouch capabilities can be included that are responsive to additional contact, for example by other parts of a user hand. Displayed visual content, including visual content selection, motion, and sizing, can be controlled by a finger flick gesture. Finger movement trajectories can be tracked, and pluralities of control parameters can be associated with the finger flick gesture. |
| US08866780B2 |
Multi-dimensional scroll wheel
A multi-dimensional scroll wheel is disclosed. Scroll wheel circuitry is provided to detect input gestures that traverse the center of the scroll wheel and to detect multi-touch input. The scroll wheel can include a first plurality of sensor elements arranged in a first closed loop and a second plurality of sensor elements arranged in a second closed loop, the first and second closed loops being concentrically arranged about the center of the scroll wheel. |
| US08866779B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a display panel and a touch panel built in the display panel. The touch panel includes a sensitivity correcting unit configured to correct the sensitivity of the touch panel. The sensitivity correcting unit includes a difference acquiring unit configured to acquire a signal difference (S1−S2) between a detection signal S1 acquired by detection electrodes when a driving signal V1 is input to scanning electrodes from a driving-signal supplying unit and a detection signal S2 (S1>S2) acquired by the detection electrodes when a driving signal V2 (V1>V2) different from the driving signal V1 is input to the scanning electrodes from the driving-signal supplying unit and a parameter changing unit configured to change parameters of at least one of the driving-signal supplying unit and a detecting unit when the signal difference (S1−S2) is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold. |
| US08866778B2 |
Method of detecting floating mode of a touch panel
A method of detecting floating mode of a touch panel has steps of reading a sensing cluster and presetting a detection window; taking each sensing point of the sensing cluster as a center point of the detection window; after determining that the center point has a negative sensing value qualifying to be generated under a floating mode, further determining a count of the sensing points other than the center point having the sensing values generated under a grounding mode and incrementing an accumulative number by one if the count exceeds a first critical value; keeping incrementing the accumulative number until each sensing point in the sensing cluster has been taken as the center point of the detection window for scanning; and determining if the accumulative number exceeds a second critical value, and if positive, further determining that the current sensing cluster is generated under the floating mode. |
| US08866776B2 |
Information processing device adapted to receiving an input for user control using a touch pad and information processing method thereof
A device with a display is provided with a first touch pad on the front face of the device and a second touch pad on the rear face. When an operation is performed only on the first touch pad, the process allocated to the point of contact or the pattern of movement thereof is identified and executed. When both the first and second touch pads are used for operation, the process defined to correspond to a combination of modes of movement of the points of contact is identified and executed. When an operation is performed only on the second touch pad, only the component of the movement of the point of contact in a limited direction is extracted to calculate the amount of scrolling, and a scroll process is performed accordingly. |
| US08866775B2 |
Touch panel
The present disclosure relates to an input interface and particularly to a novel touch panel which includes a plurality of first axial electrodes and a plurality of second axial electrodes. Each of the first axial electrodes is extended in a first direction. Each of the first axial electrodes includes a plurality of first inductive electrodes, a plurality of second inductive electrodes, and a plurality of first connecting lines. The first inductive electrodes and the second inductive electrodes are disposed alternatively along a first direction. Each of the first connecting lines is disposed between the first inductive electrodes and the second inductive electrodes. Each of the second axial electrodes is extended in a second direction. Each of the second axial electrodes has a plurality of hollow areas arranged along the second direction, and each of the first inductive electrodes is disposed within said hollow areas. |
| US08866770B2 |
Method, device, and computer-readable medium for changing size of touch permissible region of touch screen
An embodiment provides a method of controlling a touch screen. The touch screen displays an interactive frame within a touch permissible region. Under the method, the touch screen can be switched from a normal state into a shrunk state. When the touch screen is in the shrunk state, the touch permissible region is confined to a sub-region of the touch screen. In contrast, when the touch screen is in the normal state, the touch permissible region extends beyond the sub-region. |
| US08866768B2 |
Touch tracking device and method for a touch screen
A touch tracking method for the touch screen is provided. A touch tracking method for a touch track on a touch screen comprises the steps of: defining a touch track function by information of detected touch points; calculating a predicted touch point by said touch track function; determining if a next detected touch point is located in a preset scope of said predicted touch point; and if the next detected touch point is located in the preset scope of the predicted touch point, outputting the predicted touch point as an output touch point. A touch tracking device for a touch track on a touch screen is also provided. The touch tracking device for the touch screen can, not only determine relationship between detected touch points at different detected times to draw the touch tracks, but can also make the touch track smooth and help eliminate noise point effectively. |
| US08866767B2 |
Active stylus with high voltage
In one embodiment, a stylus has one or more electrodes and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for transmitting signals wirelessly to a device through a touch sensor of the device. At least some of the signals comprise substantially high voltage. The stylus has one or more electrodes in or on a tip of the stylus which transmit the high-voltage signals to the device. |
| US08866766B2 |
Individually controlling a tactile area of an image displayed on a multi-touch display
A mobile electronic device that substantially individually controls tactile areas on a multi-touch display is disclosed. An image is associated with a tactile area. The tactile area may have a substantially individually programmable tactile vibration pattern. Subsequent to a rotation, the image may be automatically associated by the mobile electronic device with the substantially individually programmable tactile vibration pattern in a new tactile area. |
| US08866762B2 |
Method and apparatus for arbitrating among contiguous buttons on a capacitive touchscreen
Various embodiments of a capacitive touchscreen system and corresponding methods are described. A touchscreen controller is operably connected to a first plurality of drive electrodes, a second plurality of sense electrodes, and a host processor. The touchscreen controller has computer-readable button group programming instructions and data loaded into a first memory portion thereof from the host processor that comprise steps for sensing and arbitrating among touches occurring on and within a first plurality of buttons. Firmware instructions and data are loaded into a second portion of the memory of the touchscreen controller. The first plurality of buttons is arranged in a first group on the touchscreen, and the first group is located within a first portion of the touchscreen. Capacitive sensing of touches occurring on and within at least second portions of the touchscreen that are located outside the first portion of the touchscreen are controlled by the firmware instructions. |
| US08866760B2 |
User identification based on body-coupled communication
A secure identification system is proposed in which a user gets access through an identification device or badge or tag (51) worn on his/her body, which applies the techniques of body coupled communication (BCC) to create a kind of aura around the user. An identification (ID) is communicated to a user interface of the secure identification system through BCC communication, and the user is authenticated by the system through an authentication procedure checking the identity of the user on the basis of an assumed secure BCC communication of the ID. |
| US08866758B2 |
Resistive touch screen displays and systems
A touch screen display and touch screen system is provided. The display and system include a rigid substrate having a top face, a plurality of parallel conductive scan lines located on the top face of the rigid substrate, a plurality of parallel conductive sense lines located on the top face of the rigid substrate, a plurality of dielectric pads located at junctions of the plurality of scan lines and plurality of sense lines electrically isolating the plurality of scan lines from the plurality of sense lines, a flexible substrate having a bottom face oriented above the top face of the rigid substrate and a plurality of conductive features located on the bottom face of the flexible substrate and electrically isolated from each other. |
| US08866752B2 |
Contact tracking and identification module for touch sensing
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device. |
| US08866749B2 |
Backlight module and related manufacturing method and operation interface
A backlight module for an operation interface of a portable electronic device is disclosed. The operation interface includes at least one keypad. The backlight module includes a light guide film including at least one hole corresponding to the at least one keypad, a backlight board installed in the bottom of the light guide film for reflecting light, and a light emitting unit installed in a side of the light guide film for generating light source to inside of the light guide film, wherein the at least one hole of the light guide film is filled with a phosphor material. |
| US08866748B2 |
Desktop reveal
A multi-display device is adapted to be dockable or otherwise associatable with an additional device. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the multi-display device is dockable with a smartpad. The exemplary smartpad can include a screen, a touch sensitive display, a configurable area, a gesture capture region(s) and a camera. The smartpad can also include a port adapted to receive the device. The exemplary smartpad is able to cooperate with the device such that information displayable on the device is also displayable on the smartpad. Furthermore, any one or more of the functions on the device are extendable to the smartpad, with the smartpad capable of acting as an input/output interface or extension of the smartpad. Therefore, for example, information from one or more of the displays on the multi-screen device is displayable on the smartpad. |
| US08866734B2 |
Motion input device for portable terminal and operation method using the same
The present invention relates to a motion input device for portable terminal and an operation method using the same. A motion input device of a portable terminal of the present invention includes a sensor unit configured to collect a sensor signal from at least one sensor; an operation recognition unit configured to generate a motion signal corresponding to an operation of portable terminal based on the sensor signal; a scenario preparation unit configured to generate an input scenario based on at least one motion signal; and a scenario mapping unit configured to detect, in a scenario database, a standards scenario corresponding to the input scenario, and to generate an input signal corresponding to the standards scenario. |
| US08866729B2 |
Method for driving liquid crystal display device
A method of driving a light source unit of a liquid crystal display panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes the steps of calculating average and maximum values of image signals applied to the liquid crystal panel; calculating a representative value of the image signals using the average and maximum values; determining the luminance of the light source unit according to the representative value and driving the light source unit accordingly. The representative value may be calculated from Lrep=(1−β)×Lavg+β×Lmax, where Lrep is a representative value, Lavg is an average value, Lmax is the maximum value, and β is a value that decreases as a difference between the maximum and average image signal values increases, and has a range between 0 and 1. |
| US08866727B2 |
Method for driving a light source apparatus with varying luminance and a display apparatus having the light source apparatus
A method for driving a light source and maintaining its target white color coordinates despite of varied and decreased light source luminance includes detecting an amount of colored light generated from a plurality of colored light sources, comparing detected colored light to reference data and verifying that colored light source has the correct preset duty cycle. If the colored light source is driven by the preset duty cycle, the method includes modifying the reference data based on the detected light from the colored light source and adjusting the amount of colored light by controlling a driving signal to the colored light sources based on the modified reference data. |
| US08866723B2 |
Display device
A display device according to an embodiment comprises: a display panel; a data driver that supplies a data signal to the display panel; a gate driver that supplies a gate signal to the display panel; and a timing driver that controls the data driver and the gate driver and comprises a voltage controlled oscillator of which frequency is varied according to a control signal generated in the timing driver. |
| US08866721B2 |
Driving apparatus
A driving apparatus applied in a liquid crystal display are disclosed. Its first channel includes a first latching module, a first level-shifting module, a P-type digital/analog converting module, and a first R2R module, the second channel includes a second latching module, a second level-shifting module, a N-type digital/analog converting module, and a second R2R module. The P-type digital/analog converting module and N-type digital/analog converting module are selectively coupled to the first R2R module or the second R2R module. The first latching module receives a first digital signal and the first latching module outputs a first analog signal corresponding to the first digital signal. The second latching module receives a second digital signal and the second latching module outputs a second analog signal corresponding to the second digital signal. |
| US08866715B2 |
Active matrix substrate, liquid crystal panel, liquid crystal display device, liquid crystal display unit, and television receiver
Each pixel includes two pixel electrodes connected to each other via a capacitor, and in respect to a pixel (101) that belongs to the column of pixels and to the row of pixels, a transistor (12a) connected to one of the two scanning signal lines (16a, 16b) is electrically connected to one of two pixel electrodes (17a, 17b) included in the pixel (101), a transistor (12b) connected to the other one of the two scanning signal lines is electrically connected to the other one of the two pixel electrodes, and each of these transistors (12a, 12b) is electrically connected to an identical data signal line (15x) that is one of the two data signal lines (15x, 15y). |
| US08866714B2 |
Semiconductor device and display device utilizing the same
A source-drain voltage of one of two transistors connected in series becomes quite small in a set operation (write signal), thus the set operation is performed to the other transistor. In an output operation, two transistors operate as a multi-gate transistor, therefore, a current value can be small in the output operation. In other words, a current can be large in the set operation. Therefore, the set operation can be performed rapidly without being easily influenced by an intersection capacitance and a wiring resistance which are parasitic on a wiring and the like. Further, an influence of variations between adjacent ones can be small as one same transistor is used in the set operation and the output operation. |
| US08866710B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and electronic device
An LCD panel having analog display mode and memory display mode includes a capacitive element and first to third switch elements. The first switch element turns ON during a first operation for writing pixel potential from a signal line to the capacitive element, and turns OFF during a second operation. The second and third switch elements turn OFF during the first operation. The second switch element turns ON during a readout period of a second operation, to read out the pixel potential from the capacitive element. The third switch element turns ON during a write period in the second operation, to rewrite the pixel potential into the capacitive element. |
| US08866708B2 |
Light emitting diode switch device and array
An LED switch device and a matrix thereof are disclosed. There is an electroluminescent semiconductor element with a first polarity contact and a second polarity contact. There is also a first polarity LED lead frame, to which the electroluminescent semiconductor element is mounted. The first polarity contact of the electroluminescent semiconductor element is electrically connected to the first polarity LED lead frame. The LED switch device has a second polarity LED lead frame electrically connected to the second polarity contact of the electroluminescent semiconductor element. The LED switch device also has a touch sensor lead frame that is electrically connected to a touch sensor lead. |
| US08866705B2 |
Voltage compensation type pixel circuit of active matrix organic light emitting diode display device
A voltage compensation type pixel circuit of an AMOLED display device includes a driving transistor serially connected to a light emitting element between high-potential and low-potential power lines to drive the light emitting element in response to a voltage supplied to a first node, a first program transistor for supplying a data voltage of a data line to a second node in response to a scan signal of a scan line, a second program transistor for supplying a reference voltage from a reference voltage supply line to the first node in response to the scan signal of the scan line, a merge transistor for connecting the first and second nodes in response to a merge signal of a merge line, a storage capacitor connected between a third node and the second node interposed between the driving transistor and the light emitting element to store a voltage which corresponds to the data voltage in which the threshold voltage is compensated, and first and second reset transistors for initializing at least two of the first, second, and third nodes to an initialization voltage of an initialization voltage line in response to a reset signal of a reset line. |
| US08866704B2 |
Light-emitting apparatus
In a light-emitting apparatus including a cap layer disposed on a second electrode and a contact portion, which is disposed in an external region outside the light-emitting region and which electrically connects the second electrode to the drive circuit, the formation end of the cap layer is located in the side nearer to the light-emitting region than is the formation end of the second electrode. |
| US08866701B2 |
Transparent user interface integration between local and remote computing environments
Methods and systems for transparent user interface integration between remote (“published”) applications and their local counterparts are described, providing a seamless, unified user experience, and allowing integration of a start menu, dock, taskbar, desktop shortcuts, windows, window and application switching, system tray elements, client-to-host and host-to-client file type association, URL redirection, browser cookie redirection, token redirection, status message interception and redirection, and other elements. These methods and systems further enhance theme-integration between a client and remote desktop or virtual machine by remoting all UI elements to a recipient for generation, including text controls, buttons, progress bars, radio buttons, list boxes, or other elements; presenting them with the receiver's product and OS-specific UI; and returning status back to the sender. This may achieve a more unified and transparent UI integration. Furthermore, international text may be correctly received in cross-language environments, or translated into the language of the presenting environment. |
| US08866699B2 |
Systems and methods for interacting with mobile devices using external displays
A system and method for interacting with a mobile device using an external display is disclosed, where a mobile device provides representations of an object and action to an external display for a user to select and then input back to the mobile device. An application on a mobile device provides representation data of an object and an action to a host system driving an external display. The host system arranges the representation data into a representation on the external display and allows the user to interact with the representations. The user then selects a representation and inputs the selected representation into the mobile device, where the application processes the representation to carry out the appropriate actions on the appropriate objects. The representation may be inputted to the mobile device using a photo of the representation taken by a mobile device camera, or by inputting a code provided with each representation on the external display. |
| US08866695B2 |
Alignment stable adjustable antenna mount
An antenna mount is provided with a pivot base and a pivot saddle rotatably coupled to the pivot base by a pivot connection and at least one pivot arm connection. The pivot connection is provided with dual opposing conical countersunk head pivot connection bolts seated within conical countersunk pivot connection bolt holes of the pivot saddle, the conical countersunk head pivot connection bolts extending through the conical countersunk pivot connection bolt holes of the pivot saddle to couple with the pivot base about a pivot axis. |
| US08866690B2 |
Antenna suitable in hand-held device
This invention provides an antenna structure, especially relates to an antenna structure in hand-held device. The antenna structure of the present invention is formed by a continue transmission line, and forming an annular shape. It is featured that the antenna structure has two end points, the first end point is a floating point, and the second end point connected to a ground. A signal input point is connected to the continue transmission line for inputting an antenna signal into the antenna structure. The signal input point keeps two-thirds of wavelength distance from the second end point. According to present invention, a small antenna structure is provided and fitting in with operation in ultra wide bandwidth frequency, furthermore the multi-frequency signal can be transceived. The antenna structure has lower signal intensity of high order harmonic signals, therefore the structure can reduce the antenna signal interferences with the high order harmonic signals. |
| US08866684B2 |
Reflector-backed RFID slot antenna with a cosecant-squared-like radiation pattern
An antenna method and apparatus includes a slot antenna configured within a ground plane and a conductive reflector backing the slot antenna and configured to reflect RF energy. The slot antenna, ground plane, and the reflector cooperatively form a reflector-backed slot antenna and a radial-mode waveguide providing an inverse, mirrored, substantially cosecant-squared radiation pattern. |
| US08866682B1 |
Composite forward coldplate for a phased array radar assembly
A coldplate assembly for a phased array antenna has a first coldplate having one or more internal coolant channels and one or more interlocking members disposed at side edges thereof; and a second coldplate having one or more internal coolant channels and one or more interlocking members disposed at side edges thereof. The one or more interlocking members of the first coldplate interlock with the one or more interlocking members of the second coldplate. |
| US08866677B2 |
Broadband planar inverted-F antenna
A broadband planar inverted-F antenna includes a first radiation conductor, a second radiation conductor and a third radiation conductor. The first radiation conductor includes a first inclined-plane portion and a feeding point. The feeding point is located at one end of the first inclined-plane portion. The second radiation conductor is connected to the first radiation conductor at the feeding point. The third radiation conductor is connected to the first radiation conductor, and includes a second inclined-plane portion and a ground point. The second inclined-plane portion is separated from and facing to the first inclined-plane portion. The ground point is located at one end of the second inclined-plane portion and facing to the feeding point, wherein the distance between the first inclined-plane portion and the second inclined-plane portion is gradually increased from the part near the feeding point along a direction departing from the feeding point. |
| US08866675B2 |
Spatial structure with a transponder and method for the manufacture thereof
A spatial structure having a transponder comprising a planar antenna (6) and a chip (3) connected to the antenna (6), wherein the antenna (6) is at least partially embedded in a planar thermoplastic material (5) of the spatial structure, and a cavity is provided in the thermoplastic material (5) for partial holding the chip (3), wherein a planar module (1) is provided having a non-conducting substrate (2) that cannot be laminated with the thermoplastic material, the chip (3) being able to be connected to said module by way of an electrically conducting film, wherein the film forms contact areas (4a, 4b) for connecting the ends (7, 8) of the antennas (6) to the chip (3) on the module (1), and wherein the thermoplastic material (5) is laminated together with the module (1) and the antenna (6) between two cover layers (9, 10) in sandwich fashion, the contact areas (4a, 4b) of said module being aligned with the ends (7, 8) of the antenna (6). |
| US08866672B2 |
Cooperative systems and methods for TDOA-based emitter location
Systems and methods that may be implemented to determine the location of an emitter of electromagnetic radiation having an unknown location, using a cooperative TDOA-based location methodology. The cooperative TDOA-based location methodology (e.g., such as TDOA/TDOA, TDOA/FDOA, etc.) may be implemented using at least one cooperative transmitter that transmits a cooperative electromagnetic (EM) signal from a known location that is received at multiple different EM sensing platforms that are also each of known location. The known geolocation of the cooperative transmitter may be used to resolve the signal arrival timing relationships between the different sensing platforms that is utilized to determine the location of another EM transmitter of unknown location. |
| US08866671B2 |
Methods and apparatuses using mixed navigation system constellation sources for time setting
Methods and apparatuses are provided that may be implemented in various electronic devices to possibly reduce a first-time-to-fix and/or otherwise increase the performance or efficiency of a device by using portions of system time identifiers from different systems to determine at least one navigation system time. |
| US08866668B2 |
Radar apparatus with different operation modes
In a radar apparatus, a peak extractor performs frequency analysis on a beat signal to obtain a frequency spectrum for each of first and second detection modes based on the beat signal for a corresponding one of the first and second detection modes. The peak extractor extracts a plurality of first peak-signal components from the frequency spectrum obtained for the first detection mode, and a plurality of second peak-signal components from the frequency spectrum obtained for the second detection mode. A determiner compares each of the plurality of first peak-signal components with a corresponding one of the plurality of second peak-signal components to deter mine whether a noise is included in the beat signal according to a result of the comparison. |
| US08866659B2 |
Data acquisition device with real time digital trigger
A data acquisition device incorporates a front end analog-to-digital converter (ADC), which is responsive to an applied analog input signal, sample that signal and provide digital data representative of the sampled signal. The digital data is applied to a data channel connected to a data acquisition memory, which stores data values representative of the sampled analog input signal. The digital data from the ADC is also applied to a real time a trigger channel connected to a composite function trigger equalizer and filter, a trigger processor and to a trigger memory. The trigger channel operates in real time to identify trigger events and store real-time trigger event occurrence signals in the trigger memory. A controller reads out the stored data values from the data acquisition memory by way of a data equalizer, in synchronism with corresponding real-time trigger event occurrence signals from the trigger memory. |
| US08866658B2 |
Digital-to-analog converter
A resistor string digital-to-analog converter includes a high-order resistor string, first high-order switches, a high-order decoder, a low-order decoder, and a conversion unit. The high-order resistor string includes a plurality of voltage acquisition points that are coupled through unit resistors. The high-order decoder generates a first high-order control signal in accordance with a high-order bit value, and operates in accordance with the first high-order control signal to bring into conduction a first high-order switch coupled to a pair of voltage acquisition points adjacent to each other through one or more voltage acquisition points. The low-order decoder generates a low-order control signal for controlling the conversion unit. The conversion unit divides a pair of high-order analog voltages output from a pair of voltage acquisition points. |
| US08866652B2 |
Apparatus and method for reducing sampling circuit timing mismatch
An example apparatus, system, and method for sampling in an interleaved sampling circuit having multiple channels. In an embodiment, an input clock is used to synchronize the transitions of sampling clocks from a first to second voltage level, relative to one another. The sampling clocks are input to a sampling circuit. The input clock switches a common switch that pulls each sampling clock to the second voltage level through a common path on input clock transitions from a first to a second clock state. The transition from the first to a second voltage level of each sampling clock triggers a sample taken on one of the channels. The first voltage level may be boosted to drive switches on in the sampling circuit. Synchronizing transitions of the outputs through the common switch and common path reduces timing mismatch between the sampling clocks controlling the channels. |
| US08866651B2 |
Analog-to-digital converter and self-diagnosis method for analog-to-digital converter
An analog-to-digital converter includes an input terminal to which an analog input voltage is input, a digital-to-analog converter unit, a comparator that compares the analog input voltage and an output voltage of the digital-to-analog converter unit with each other, a successive approximation register that stores a conversion result output from the comparator, a generator unit that generates added digital data and subtracted digital data, the added digital data and the subtracted digital data being obtained by adding and subtracting the conversion result to and from the conversion result retained by the successive approximation register, respectively, and a determination unit that determines whether or not a failure is occurring, by using a result of the comparison between the analog input voltage and output levels obtained by the digital-to-analog converter unit converting the added digital data and the subtracted digital data. |
| US08866650B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for for digital testing of ADC/DAC combination
A circuit for testing digital-to-analog (DAC) and analog-to-digital converters (ADC) is provided. The circuit applies a code pattern having a plurality of sequential values to the digital to analog converter. A plurality of built-in test switches (BTS) couple at least one tap voltage from the DAC to a test bus and to the ADC as a variable reference input voltage. In one form, the circuit uses incremental digital codes to test for defects in a resistor string, a switch array, and a decode logic that form part of the DAC. In another form, the circuit uses the tap voltages from the DAC to test the comparators that form part of the ADC. Instead of performing time-consuming analog to digital conversions, the functionality of the above mentioned circuitry is tested by varying the code pattern around a reference point and by selecting the appropriate combination of BTS switches. |
| US08866649B2 |
Method and system for using non-variable compression group size in partial cloning
Method and system for partially cloning a data container with compression is provided. A storage operating system determines if a portion of a source data container that is to be cloned includes a plurality of compressed blocks that are compressed using a non-variable compression group size. The operating system clones the plurality compressed blocks with the non-variable compression group size and de-compresses a plurality of blocks of the data container that are not within the non-variable compression group size. The plurality of compressed blocks and the plurality of blocks that are not within the non-variable compression group size are then stored as a partially cloned copy of the source data container. |
| US08866647B2 |
Computer product, information processing apparatus, and information search apparatus
A recording medium stores an information processing program that causes a computer to execute storing a compression symbol map group having a bit string indicating for each character code, presence or absence of the character code in a file group, and a Huffman tree whose leaf corresponding to the character code has a pointer to a compression symbol map of the character code, the Huffman tree converting the character code into a compression symbol of the character code; compressing sequentially and according to the Huffman tree, a character code to be compressed and described in a file of the file group; detecting access to the leaf at the compressing; identifying by a pointer in the accessed leaf, a compression symbol map of the character code to be compressed; and updating a bit that indicates presence or absence of the character code to be compressed, in the identified compression symbol map. |
| US08866646B2 |
Memory compression technique with low latency per pixel
In an embodiment, a compression unit is provided which may perform compression of images with low latency and relatively little hardware. Similarly, a decompression unit may be provided which may decompress the images with low latency and hardware. In an embodiment, the transmission of compressed coefficients may be performed using less than two passes through the list of coefficients. During the first pass, the most significant coefficients may be transmitted and other significance groups may be identified as linked lists. The linked lists may then be traverse to send the other significance groups. In an embodiment, a color space conversion may be made to permit filtering of fewer color components than might be possible in the source color space. |
| US08866644B2 |
Detecting whether an arbitrary-length bit string input matches one of a plurality of known arbitrary-length bit strings using a hierarchical data structure
Generating and using a high-speed, scalable, and easily updateable data structure are described. The proposed data structure provides minimal perfect hashing functionality while intrinsically supporting low-cost set-membership queries. In other words, in some embodiments, it provides at most one match candidate in a set of known arbitrary-length bit strings that is used to match the query. |
| US08866642B2 |
Uniquely identifiable keys for electronic keyboards
An electronic keyboard including a plurality of keys arranged as a matrix, each key including a plunger, and a conductive element on the bottom of the plunger, the conductive element having a characteristic resistance, an electronic circuit having an input current source, and mounted on a surface beneath the plurality of keys such that when a key is pressed its conductive element closes a switch in the circuit, an analog-to-digital convertor for converting an output voltage of the circuit to a digital signal, and a controller for determining from the digital signal when a key is pressed, and for identifying the key that is pressed. |
| US08866641B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a keypad of a device
A device (2600) includes a controllable skin texture (2606) defining a keypad (2610), a sensor (2602), and control logic (200). The sensor senses a proximity of a pointing element (2900) to a particular key (2800, 2808, 2902, 2908) of the keypad based on a user input. The control logic adjusts a height of the particular key with respect to another key of the keypad in response to the sensor sensing the proximity of the pointing element to the particular key. In one example, the device includes a display (2700) for displaying a plurality of keys (2612). The control logic adjusts visual characteristics of the particular key (2800, 2808, 2902, 2908) and an adjacent key (2802, 2810, 2904, 2910) with respect to each other and with respect to other keys of the plurality of keys in response to the sensor sensing the proximity of the pointing element to the particular key. |
| US08866640B2 |
Prioritizing user input devices
An apparatus, method and program storage device are provided for preventing inadvertent inputs from a user while utilizing an electronic device having multiple user input devices. The instant invention broadly contemplates prioritizing an input device to the exclusion of other input devices available to the user based upon an intelligently designed prioritization scheme. The prioritization scheme disables the other input devices for a period of time to permit the user to provide inputs from a prioritized user input device. |
| US08866639B2 |
Key unit for a lock system of a vehicle
A key unit for a lock system of a vehicle includes a device for opening and closing a lock system, in particular having a transmitter for the remote control of the lock system and/or a mechanical key. The key unit has a modular design, which includes a key case and an attachment. The key case accommodates the device for opening and closing the lock system. The attachment is releasably joined to the key case and permits various embodiments of the key unit. |
| US08866637B1 |
Data collection process for optical leak detection
Method for collecting video files of one or more Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) components, including receiving information pertaining to the one or more LDAR components within a specified area, recording a video of the LDAR components for a predetermined amount of time using a camera, associating the video with the information, and storing the video along with the information to a memory located in a computer. |
| US08866635B2 |
Smart meter evaluation device and smart meter evaluation method
[Task] To provide a smart meter evaluation device and a smart meter evaluation method capable of evaluating the operating state of a smart meter.[Means for Resolution] A smart meter evaluation device includes a demodulating unit that converts a baseband signal into digital data and outputs demodulated data, a communication information acquiring unit that acquires communication information included in the demodulated data, a signal waveform acquiring unit that acquires the waveform of the baseband signal, a signal level measuring unit that measures the level of the baseband signal, a smart meter management unit that specifies a smart meter, which is a transmission source of the demodulated data, a signal type specifying unit that specifies the signal type of the demodulated data, and a display unit that displays data, such as the communication information, the signal waveform, the signal level, smart meter specification information, and the signal type. |
| US08866633B2 |
Synchronization between devices
The present disclosure relates to a method to determine a clock signal when separate clocks are used. In one embodiment, a disciplined clock system comprising an update subsystem and a synthesis subsystem is provided. A first clock phase estimate is provided to the update subsystem and used, along with the update subsystem, to determine a frequency offset estimate and a phase offset estimate. The clock signal is determining using the frequency offset estimate, the phase offset estimate, and the synthesis subsystem. Alternatively, two clocks can be synchronized by generating a signal associated with a first clock; modulating the signal; transmitting the modulated signal; receiving the modulated signal by a receiver associated with a second clock; correlating the received signal; determining the time of arrival of the received signal; determining the time difference between the two clocks; and synchronizing the two clocks. |
| US08866631B2 |
System and method for remotely controlling down-hole operations
A system for remote control of operation control elements that are arranged in a well to control recovery of gas and/or oil from the well. A first system part is located outside the well and connected to a second system part that is located in the well and operatively connected to the operation control elements. All semiconductor components are housed in the first system part. The second system part houses electromechanical components that actuate the operation control elements upon command from the first system part. A method for remote control of down-hole operation control elements in an oil and/or a gas well completion. A first system part located outside the well is equipped with all semiconductor components that are included in the system. A second down-hole system part is equipped with electromechanical components that are actuated from the first system part for actuation of the operation control elements. |
| US08866628B2 |
Communication system and method
A remote control unit for controlling a media device, comprising: a first wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a first power source; a second wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a second power source; a processor coupled to the first and second wireless transmitters, wherein the processor is configured to control the first and second wireless transmitters and is arranged to be powered from the first power; and monitoring means arranged to monitor power levels of the second power source and provide power level information to the processor. |
| US08866626B2 |
System and method for detecting generator incipient failures
A method, system and computer software for detecting an incipient failure of a generator in a power system including the steps of ascertaining one or more generator reference parameter of the generator for use as a baseline reference; measuring one or more operating parameter values of the generator; using the one or more operating parameter values to solve for an estimated present value of the one or more of the generator's current performance parameters using particle swarm optimization technique; and determining whether the estimated present values of the one or more of the generator's current performance parameters are outside of an acceptable limit. |
| US08866621B2 |
Sudden infant death prevention clothing
A health sensing device is described for placement on a user. The device may include a sensor, a filter, and a transmitter. The sensor is configured to sense one or more factors relating to an indicator of a health related condition or occurrence. The filter is configured to evaluate a signal from the sensor and determine if the indicator has been detected. The transmitter is arranged for initiating a transmission based on a signal from the filter. The sensor can include one or more microphone devices, accelerometers, and/or MEMs devices. A method of monitoring a user for a health related condition is also described. |
| US08866618B2 |
Mine personnel carrier integrated information display
In certain embodiments, a mine personnel carrier includes an integrated information display and one or more processing units. The processing units may access life support data from devices associated with a life support subsystem of a mine personnel carrier. The life support subsystem provides breathable air to passengers of the mine personnel carrier, and the life support data indicates a remaining level of air available via at least a portion of the life support subsystem. The processing units access guidance data from guidance devices associated with a guidance subsystem of the mine personnel carrier. Each guidance device can detect entities within a detection range of the guidance device. The processing units initiate display in the integrated information display of at least a portion of the life support data and the guidance data. The integrated information display comprises a unified electronic display of the mine personnel carrier. |
| US08866616B2 |
RFID tag having antenna with co-planar radiation pattern
An radio frequency identification (“RFID”) system and RFID tag that include a substrate body having a surface where the substrate body defines a plane of the tag, an RFID integrated circuit disposed on the surface of the substrate body, and an antenna that has an antenna pattern, which is disposed on the substrate body and in electrical communication with the RFID integrated circuit, the antenna generating a radiation pattern with maximum gain along an axis that is substantially coplanar with the tag. The antenna can include a first antenna portion and a second antenna portion, the first antenna portion having a first antenna end and a second antenna end, the first antenna end of the first antenna portion in electrical communication with the RFID integrated circuit and the first antenna portion forming an antenna pattern in a counterclockwise direction, and the second antenna portion having a first antenna end and a second antenna end, the first antenna end of the second antenna portion in electrical communication with the RFID integrated circuit and the second antenna portion forming an antenna pattern in a clockwise direction. |
| US08866614B2 |
Active circuit for RFID
An RFID card includes a smartcard controller that receives power from a host device. The RFID card also includes a small inductive device capable of inductive coupling with an RFID reader. The small inductive device is small enough to fit in the form factor of a memory card or SIM card. Enhancement circuits enhance the usable read and write distance of the RFID card. |
| US08866613B2 |
Ball separation device for a golf range target
A ball separation device for a golf range target system is described. The ball separation device comprises a golf range target having a golf ball delivery shaft. A ball isolation system within the golf ball delivery shaft is configured to temporarily trap the ball within the shaft. A gate is configured to control the routing of a golf ball released from the ball isolation system. A control system queries the RFID reader while a ball is trapped in the ball isolation system. If the RFID reader receives a signal that identifies the golf ball as an RFID golf ball, the ball separation control system routes the ball to an RFID ball collector, otherwise, the ball is routed to a secondary location. After the determination is made as to where the trapped golf ball is to be routed, the ball isolation system releases the ball. |
| US08866608B2 |
Facility sanitization management
Facility sanitization management includes receiving a condition of an individual and determining the condition is on a pre-defined list of conditions, and receiving tracking information indicative of locations in a facility traversed by the individual. The facility sanitization management also includes retrieving, from a first database, at least one solution for eliminating elements of the condition, and retrieving, from a second database, pre-defined structures and materials disposed in the locations, and identifying prescribed cleaning methods for the pre-defined structures and materials. The facility sanitization management further includes creating a clean-up job for each of the locations using the solution and based on the prescribed cleaning methods. |
| US08866603B2 |
Method for communicating a deviation of a vehicle parameter
A method, a device and a system for communicating in a vehicle at least one deviation of a measured actual vehicle parameter value from its predetermined value to a driver involve determining an amount of the deviation, color-coding the amount of deviation, and communicating the amount of deviation to the driver by using the color-code. Determining the amount of deviation includes weighting a calculated difference between the measured actual vehicle parameter value and the predetermined vehicle parameter value with a weighting factor. A vehicle or more particularly a truck may include such a device and such a system and a computer programmed for performing such a method and computer readable medium comprising a program for performing such a method can be provided. |
| US08866591B2 |
Identification device for a pneumatic spring
An identification device (1) for a pneumatic spring (2) includes an RFID transponder (8), which is completely embedded into the elastomer matrix (13) of the flexible member (4). An electromagnetic field is generated by a read device (9), wherein the energy necessary for supplying the RFID transponder (8) is taken from the electromagnetic field generated by the read device (9). When the read device (9) is active, information can be exchanged between the RFID transponder (8) and the read device (9). The RFID transponder (8) operates completely without an internal energy supply. The RFID transponder (8) may also be configured as a read/write transponder including a memory chip, wherein data may be stored on the memory chip in a safe and permanent manner. By retrieving data from the RFID transponder (8), an identification of the pneumatic spring (2) is possible even without any internal power supply of the RFID transponder. |
| US08866590B2 |
Insulating glass unit with an electronic device and process for its production
A sealed insulating glass unit comprises two glass sheets held apart by a spacer, optionally with a sealant between the edges of the glass sheets outside the spacer. The insulating glass unit contains an electronic device, having information relating to the origin, manufacture and/or properties of the insulating glass unit capable of being read from the device by means actuated from outside the insulating glass unit. The device is embedded within the spacer or sealant so that it is concealed within the insulating glass unit. |
| US08866588B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer program products for refreshing data
A method performs an update for a first device that consumes information with a known expiration time. The first device operates within a network that accommodates other devices also consuming the information. The method includes setting a time for the first device to refresh the information, the time to refresh being based on a pseudorandom time offset. The method also includes sending a refresh request to a resource for the data during the set time. |
| US08866586B2 |
Authentication system
[PROBLEMS] To provide an authentication system improving authentication accuracy of existence of a registered person and easily find an unauthorized act to improve the security in a system by performing authentication using coincidence/non-coincidence of biometrics information and temporal/spatial authentication when performing individual authentication via a network by using electronic information which is easily tampered, easily leaks out, and is easily stolen. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] An authentication server (1) includes a database for managing individual information on a registered person to be authenticated. Moreover, the authentication server (1) is connected to a plurality of management servers (2) via a communication network and correlates the individual information transmitted from an individual information input device (3) via the management server (2) with the individual information in the database, thereby authenticating the existence of the registered person. |
| US08866581B1 |
Securing content using a wireless authentication factor
A mobile device is described that stores and renders content. Access to certain content is predicated at least upon receiving a particular wireless signal from an external or separate device that has previously been associated with the mobile device or with content stored on the mobile device. |
| US08866580B2 |
Power converting apparatus
A power converting apparatus makes reduction of power loss possible and operates in a two-phase mode. A power converting apparatus of the inventive concept includes I-shaped block cores, each being made of a magnetic material; and E-shaped cores, each being produced by combining two L-shaped magnetic materials to each of the I-shaped cores. In each of the E-shaped cores, the block core is defined as a central leg, the other two legs are defined as a first outside leg and a second outside leg, respectively, and a closed magnetic path is configured by two E-shaped cores combined such that one of respective central legs in the two E-shaped cores, one of respective first outside legs therein, and one of respective second outside legs therein are caused to face the other of the central legs, the other of the first outside legs, and the other of the second outside legs. |
| US08866578B2 |
Magnetic element and bobbin thereof
A bobbin includes a first lateral plate, a second lateral plate, a winding section, a channel, a plurality of first pins and a plurality of second pins. A plurality of first protrusion structures are protruded externally from an edge of the second lateral plate. Each of the first protrusion structures includes an inner wall and a first notch. The inner walls of two adjacent first protrusion structures face each other and are separated from each other by a specified distance. The first notches of the first protrusion structures are respectively formed in the corresponding inner walls and staggered relative to each other. The first pins are disposed on the first protrusion structures, respectively. The second pins are disposed on the first protrusion structures, respectively. The first pins and the second pins are perpendicular to bottom surfaces of respective first protrusion structures. |
| US08866571B2 |
Enclosed proximity switch assembly
An enclosed proximity switch assembly includes a top enclosure and a bottom enclosure that are coupled to form an interior volume. A shaft protrusion upwardly extends from a top surface of the top enclosure, and an interior bore portion having an enclosed volume is defined within the shaft protrusion to form a portion of the interior volume. A first end of a vertical shaft is rotatably disposed within the interior bore portion such that the shaft rotates relative to the top and bottom enclosures. A samarium cobalt target magnet is coupled to the shaft, and the target magnet interacts with a samarium cobalt driver magnet within a proximity switch when the target magnet is rotated within a predetermined distance of a top portion of the proximity switch. The interaction causes a switch to move from a first state to a second state, or vice versa. |
| US08866567B2 |
Quartz crystal unit, quartz crystal oscillator and electronic apparatus
A quartz crystal unit has a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator having a thickness within a range of 0.05 mm to 0.18 mm, and at least one groove formed in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of first and second tuning fork tines so that a length of the at least one groove is within a range of 20% to 78% of an overall length of the resonator and less than 1.29 mm. An electrode is disposed on at least one of a base portion and a surface of the at least one groove so that the electrode of the first tuning fork tine has an electrical polarity opposite to an electrical polarity of the electrode of the second tuning fork tine. The capacitance ratio r2 of a second overtone mode of vibration of the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is greater than 1500. The quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is housed in a case having an open end, and a lid is connected to the case. |
| US08866565B2 |
Systems and methods for providing an electric choke
Systems and methods for an electric choke are provided. The choke may be provided as part of a power transmission arrangement that includes a cable for electrically coupling a power source and a powered device having a ground node and a wire separate from the cable providing a path for a common-mode current through the ground node. The power transmission arrangement also includes an unbalanced choke coupled between the power source and the powered device, wherein a number of turns of the cable in the choke is different than a number of turns of the wire in the choke. |
| US08866562B2 |
Signal converter including a conductive patch for converting signals between a hollow waveguide and a dielectric waveguide and method of manufacture
A signal converter configured to convert a signal between a substrate unit and a hollow waveguide includes a substrate unit, including a first conductor layer formed on one face of a dielectric substrate, and a second conductor layer formed on another face of the dielectric substrate, a plurality of conduction units that penetrate the dielectric substrate and provide conduction between the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer, an dielectric waveguide formed by the dielectric substrate, the first and second conductor layers, and the conduction units, and a conversion unit that converts the signal between the hollow waveguide and the dielectric waveguide, the conversion unit including a conductor patch having a separator region between itself and the first conductor layer, with the conductor patch being disposed on the substrate unit within an aperture of the hollow waveguide. |
| US08866560B2 |
Systems and methods for a stacked waveguide circulator
Systems and methods for a stacked waveguide circulator are described. The stacked waveguide circulator may comprise a first side and a second side. The stacked waveguide circulator may also comprise a top and a bottom opposite the top. The top and the bottom may be adjacent to the first and second sides. The stacked waveguide circulator may also comprise a a first port and a second port on the first side. The first port may be vertically above the second port on the first side. Further, the stacked waveguide circulator may comprise a third port on the second side. The stacked waveguide circulator may comprise a first magnet on the top. The first magnet may be configured to assist in directing signals between the first, second, and third ports. |
| US08866553B2 |
Output stage with fast feedback for driving ADC
A driver for an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) has an overall feedback loop between its input and its output for maintaining overall accuracy, and a much faster feedback loop in its output stage that quickly compensates for output transients before the overall feedback loop can substantially react to the transients. Output voltage transients are created by the intermittent capacitive load of the ADC. The fast feedback loop can be made very fast since there are only a few components in the fast feedback path. The fast reduction of the output transients enables a shorter sampling time, leading to more accurate analog-to-digital conversion. The overall gain of the driver can be set to be greater than unity while still providing good output transient suppression. |
| US08866552B2 |
Current-mode line driver
Disclosed are various embodiments of a current-mode line driver that may facilitate transmitting signals to a load. The current-mode line driver may comprise a common-mode current sense element that provides a signal corresponding to the common-mode output current of the line driver. A transconductance element receives the signal from the common-mode current sense element and provides a compensating current that is based at least in part on the signal. The compensating current may reduce the common-mode output current of the line driver. |
| US08866551B2 |
Impedance compensation for operational amplifiers used in variable environments
A dual compensation operational amplifier is suitable for use in an environment that experiences fluctuations in ambient energy levels. A dual compensation impedance can be determined to nullify or compensate for effects of an input offset voltage or an input bias current or both. Adjustments to the dual compensation impedance can be made based on calibration data for various environmental conditions so that the dual compensation impedance can be either pre-set for anticipated conditions in different target operational environments, or automatically adjusted in-situ. Target operational environments that may benefit from such a dual compensation impedance include remote areas that experience extreme or variable temperatures, high altitudes, space, or high radiation environments. |
| US08866550B2 |
Amplifier circuit with overshoot suppression
An amplifier circuit with overshoot suppress scheme including an input amplifier, an output amplifier, and a diode is provided. A first and a second input ends of the output amplifier are coupled to a differential output pair of the input amplifier. The diode is coupled between an output end and the first input end of the output amplifier. When the voltage difference between the output and the input ends of the output amplifier is greater then the barrier voltage of the diode, the diode is turned on, so that the output end of the output amplifier is coupled to the input end of the output amplifier. In the transient state, it rapidly smoothes the overshoot signal. In the steady state, the diode is cut off to maintain the normal operation of the operational amplifier. |
| US08866534B2 |
Matrix-stages solid state ultrafast switch
A semiconductor switching device for switching high voltage and high current. The semiconductor switching device includes a control-triggered stage and one or more auto-triggered stages. The control-triggered stage includes a plurality of semiconductor switches, a breakover switch, a control switch, a turn-off circuit, and a capacitor. The control-triggered stage is connected in series to the one or more auto-triggered stages. Each auto-triggered stage includes a plurality of semiconductor switches connected in parallel, a breakover switch, and a capacitor. The control switch provides for selective turn-on of the control-triggered stage. When the control-triggered stage turns on, the capacitor of the control-triggered stage discharges into the gates of the plurality of semiconductor switches of the next highest stage to turn it on. Each auto-triggered stage turns on in a cascade fashion as the capacitor of the adjacent lower stage discharges or as the breakover switches of the auto-triggered stages turn on. |
| US08866533B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling device in electronic equipment
A method and apparatus for controlling a device in electronic equipment having a plurality of devices are provided. The apparatus includes a power supply for supplying power, a slave device including a driving circuit operated according to the supplied power for transmitting and receiving data to and from another device, a switching circuit for connecting the driving circuit to a ground terminal when the switching circuit is turned-on and for opening the driving circuit from the ground terminal when the switching circuit is turned-off, and a host device for transmitting a control signal for turning-on the switching circuit when driving the slave device and for turning-off the switching circuit when not driving the slave device. When the device is not driven, the switching circuit may open a driving circuit from a ground terminal, thereby cutting-off leakage of an electric current through the device. |
| US08866515B2 |
Drive unit for driving voltage-driven element
A drive unit comprises a switching circuit and an abnormal signal generating circuit. The switching circuit is configured to be connected to an external time generating circuit, and is configured to switch a driving condition relating to a driving voltage of a voltage-driven element in a transitional period between a driving state and a non-driving state of the voltage-driven element based on a measurement time which is measured by using of the time generating circuit. The abnormal signal generating circuit is configured to generate an abnormal signal when an accurate measurement of the time using the time generating circuit is not executed. |
| US08866513B2 |
Circuit arrangement and method for generating a drive signal for a transistor
Disclosed is a circuit arrangement for generating a drive signal for a transistor. In one embodiment, the circuit arrangement includes a control circuit that receives a switching signal, a driver circuit that outputs a drive signal, and at least one transmission channel. The control circuit transmits, depending on the switching signal for each switching operation of the transistor, switching information and switching parameter information via the transmission channel to the driver circuit. The driver circuit generates the drive signal depending on the switching information and depending on the switching parameter information. |
| US08866511B2 |
Matrix phase detector
A method and a system are provided for clock phase detection. A first set of delayed versions of a first clock signal is generated and a second set of delayed versions of a second clock signal is generated. The second set of delayed versions of the second clock signal is sampled using the first set of delayed versions of the first clock signal to produce an array of clock samples in a domain corresponding to the first clock signal. At least one edge indication is located within the array of clock samples. |
| US08866509B1 |
Flip-flop array with option to ignore control signals
Integrated circuits having groups of flip-flops with the option to ignore control signals are disclosed. For example, an integrated circuit comprises a first group and a second group of flip-flops that share a common reset signal, and a first selection unit for selecting a first output from among the common reset signal and a logical low signal to be sent to the second group of flop-flops. A selection of the logical low signal is for preventing the common reset signal from being applied to the flip-flops in the second group. The integrated circuit may also include a second selection unit for selecting a second output from among the common reset signal and a logical low signal to be sent to the first group of flop-flops. A selection of the logical low signal is for preventing the common reset signal from being applied to the flip-flops in the first group. |
| US08866506B2 |
Contact structure for inspection
A contact structure for inspection that is installed on a bottom surface of a circuit board includes a ground conductor that is grounded; an elastic contact member that is brought into contact with an inspection target object; and a conductive line that electrically connects the circuit board and the elastic contact member. Here, the elastic contact member may be provided on a bottom surface of the ground conductor that is grounded. The elastic contact member may include an insulating layer, a wiring layer, a contactor and an elastic body provided at a position corresponding to the contactor. The elastic body provides the elastic contact member with elasticity when the contactor is brought into contact with an electrode. The elastic contact member is provided in parallel with the ground conductor. The wiring layer and the ground conductor form a microstrip line. |
| US08866502B2 |
Simultaneously tagging of semiconductor components on a wafer
Methods and apparatus are disclosed to simultaneously, wirelessly test semiconductor components formed on a semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor components transmit respective outcomes of a self-contained testing operation to wireless automatic test equipment via a common communication channel. Multiple receiving antennas observe the outcomes from multiple directions in three dimensional space. The wireless automatic test equipment determines whether one or more of the semiconductor components operate as expected and, optionally, may use properties of the three dimensional space to determine a location of one or more of the semiconductor components. The wireless testing equipment may additionally determine performance of the semiconductor components by detecting infrared energy emitted, transmitted, and/or reflected by the semiconductor wafer before, during, and/or after a self-contained testing operation. |
| US08866495B2 |
Spatial tracking system and method
The specification discloses a simple and effective system for tracking position and rotation of an object or portable device located within an electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic field may be produced by a primary coil, which inductively couples with one or more secondary coils located within a portable device. The relative strength of this inductive coupling may be used to determine the position, rotation, or both of the portable device relative to the primary coil. |
| US08866494B2 |
Attenuator circuit of a capacitance-sensing circuit
Apparatuses and methods of input attenuator circuits are described. One sensing circuit includes an attenuator circuit to receive a signal from an electrode of a sense array. The attenuator circuit is configured to attenuate input current of the signal. The attenuator circuit includes an attenuation matrix including an input terminal to receive the signal and multiple resistors. The attenuation matrix is configured to split the input current into an output current of the attenuation signal on a first output terminal and a second output current on a second output terminal. The attenuation matrix is to output the attenuated signal on the first output terminal to an integrator of the sensing circuit. The attenuator circuit also includes a buffer coupled between the attenuation matrix and the integrator. The buffer is configured to maintain a substantially same voltage at the first output terminal and the second output terminal. |
| US08866491B2 |
Tail effect correction for SLIM pattern touch panels
Techniques for correcting tail effect are described herein. In an example embodiment, a device comprises a sensor coupled with a processing logic. The sensor is configured to measure a plurality of measurements from a sensor array, where the measurements are representative of a conductive object that is in contact with or proximate to the sensor array. The sensor array comprises RX electrodes and TX electrodes that are interleaved without intersecting each other in a single layer on a substrate of the sensor array. The processing logic is configured to determine a set of adjustment values that correspond to a tail effect associated with the measurements, and to generate adjusted measurements based on the set of adjustment values, where the adjusted measurements correct a parasitic signal change of the tail effect. |
| US08866489B2 |
Test apparatus with power cutoff section having variable maximum and minimum thresholds
A test apparatus that tests a device under test, including a power supply section that supplies the device under test with power, a comparing section that detects a characteristic value indicating a state of the device under test and compares the characteristic value to a predetermined threshold value, a cutoff section that cuts off the power supplied from the power supply section to the device under test, based on a result of the comparison by the comparing section, and a control section that changes at least one of the threshold value of the comparing section and a detection timing at which the characteristic value is detected. |
| US08866488B2 |
Power compensation in 3DIC testing
A device, such as a 3DIC stacked device includes a first device under test (DUT) connected to a first force pad by a first through substrate via (TSV) stack and connected to a first sense pad by a second TSV stack. The device further includes a second DUT stacked above the first DUT and connected to a second force pad and a second force pad by a second third TSV and connected to a second sense pad by a fourth TSV. Functional blocks on either the first or second blocks can be accessed for testing by way of the TSVs. In some applications the TSVs are vertically aligned to form TSV stacks. |
| US08866485B1 |
Combination receptacle and plug circuit tester
An electrical circuit tester includes a first testing device and a second testing device provided in a hand-held housing, each being electrically isolated from the other. Multiple light sources are electrically coupled to one of the first and second testing devices to provide a visual indication of the testing result. The first testing device includes a conventional three-prong plug extending out from the surface of the housing and configured to be inserted into a standard electrical receptacle. The second testing device includes one or more keyed cavities, each being designed to receive all or a portion of a plug into the cavity in only one orientation. Each cavity can include at least one blade prong that makes electrical contact with the plug when inserted into the cavity. Both the first and second testing devices can be operated simultaneously with separate sets of light sources providing separate testing indications for each. |
| US08866476B2 |
MR imaging using parallel signal acquisition
The invention relates to a method of MR imaging of at least a portion of a body (10) of a patient placed in an examination volume of an MR device (1). The object of the invention is to provide an improved, i.e. faster, parallel imaging technique. The invention proposes to acquire a survey signal data set (21, 22) at a low image resolution, which survey signal data set (21, 22) includes MR signals received in parallel or successively via a volume RF coil (9) and via a set of array RF coils (11, 12, 13). Spatial sensitivity profiles (23) of the array RF coils (11, 12, 13) are determined from the low resolution data. As a next step, a reference scan is performed in which a reference signal data set (25) is acquired at intermediate resolution solely via the array RF coils (11, 12, 13). The spatial sensitivity profiles (27) of the array RF coils (11, 12, 13) are determined from the data acquired at intermediate resolution and from the spatial sensitivity profiles (23) determined before at low resolution. Finally, a diagnostic scan is performed, in which a diagnostic signal data set (29) is acquired in parallel via the array RF coils (11, 12, 13) at high resolution. The diagnostic signal data set (29) may be acquired in a sub-sampled fashion. A diagnostic MR image (30) is then reconstructed from the diagnostic signal data set (29) and from the spatial sensitivity profiles (27) determined at the intermediate resolution, for example by using the SENSE or SMASH algorithm. |
| US08866473B2 |
Magnetic field sensor device, corresponding production method, and magnetic field measuring method
A magnetic field sensor device and a corresponding production method are described. The magnetic field sensor device includes a substrate, which has a trench, a ferromagnetic nanowire formed in the trench, a first electrical connection for the electrical connection of a first end of the ferromagnetic nanowire, a second electrical connection for the electrical connection of a second end of the ferromagnetic nanowire, and a magnetic field detection device for detecting a magnetic field in the region of the nanowire. |
| US08866469B2 |
Electric field monitoring system and method
Several systems and methods for monitoring the proximity of a device to a power line are disclosed. Electric field monitoring systems are mounted to the device and include a plurality of electric field sensors and a monitoring system base unit. Each electric field monitoring sensor senses the strength of a magnetic field in which the sensor is positioned and transmits a corresponding magnitude output signal to the base unit when polled by the base unit. If a sensor reports a magnetic field exceeding a threshold, the frequency of polling for that sensor may be increased. If a sensor reports a magnetic field exceeding another (possibly identical) threshold, an alarm may be activated, movement of the device may be limited or stopped or another action or a combination of actions may be taken. |
| US08866466B2 |
Power generating circuit and switching circuit
The power generating circuit includes: a first transistor having a control terminal to which a second control signal is applied and one end to which a first control signal is applied; and a second transistor having a control terminal to which the first control signal is applied and one end to which the second control signal is applied, wherein the other ends of the first transistor and the second transistor are connected to an output terminal. |
| US08866463B2 |
Non-linear PWM controller
A switching power supply includes a circuit having at least two reactive components to provide an output voltage and capable of being switched from a first output state to a second output state. A switching component switches the circuit between at least two switching states including the first output state and the second output state. A pulse width modulator receives a duty cycle and drives the switching component to cause switching between two of the at least two switching states. A nonlinear controller component provides a duty cycle to the pulse width modulator. The duty cycle corresponds to at least one predetermined power supply state variable. The nonlinear controller component includes a processor to apply an optimization technique to minimize a predetermined function of the duty cycle and internal states of the power supply and to obtain a relationship between the duty cycle and at least one predetermined state variable. |
| US08866454B2 |
DC-DC converter arrangement
ADC-DC converter, for a solar charger, is disclosed. The converter is based on a buck-boost converter, and is operable both in a boost mode, and in a buck mode. The converter differs from known converters, in that during buck mode operation, the boost mode is disabled, thereby reducing or eliminating the losses associated with buck mode operation. Methods of operating such a reconfigurable buck-boost converter are also disclosed as is a computer programme product for controlling a reconfigurable buck-boost converter. |
| US08866446B2 |
End-of-discharge voltage correction device and end-of-discharge voltage correction method
An end-of-discharge voltage correction section subtracts, from an end-of-discharge open voltage, the product I×RO of a discharge current I of a block and an ohmic resistance RO of the block and the product ITD×RP of a discharge current ITD obtained by performing a time delay process on the discharge current and a polarization resistance RP of the block. Then, a resulting value is set as an end-of-discharge voltage VL. The ohmic resistance RO is increased as an equivalent cycle count CY increases, and is increased as a healthy parallel number NPH decreases. An increment ΔCY of the equivalent cycle count CY in each charge/discharge cycle becomes greater as a discharge depth DD increases. The healthy parallel number NPH is derived by multiplying a healthy parallel number NPHR of a reference block by the ratio of a capacity CPR of the reference block to a capacity CPS of a target block. |
| US08866443B2 |
Lead acid storage battery and lead acid storage battery system for natural energy utilization system
The life of a lead acid storage battery is extended by changing an over-frequency equalized charge interval performed on a lead acid storage battery, in accordance with a transition situation of a state of charge (SOC) of the lead acid storage battery. The lead acid storage battery is also made to be advantageous in terms of cost by reducing the equalized charge with a low degree of urgency to reduce the power and cost for equalized charge, and by reducing the number of stops of a natural energy storage system. A lead acid storage battery and a lead acid storage battery system whose operational management can be easily performed are achieved by a method in which the future timing when the equalized charge is performed can be grasped by people operating the lead acid storage battery. |
| US08866442B2 |
Method and device for charging rechargeable batteries
Rechargeable batteries are used as a power supply in the most varied electrical devices. Parallel to this, connections with other energy sources are frequently available, at least for part of the time, in order to charge the rechargeable batteries during this time. Particularly efficient lithium ion batteries have the problem that short charging/discharging cycles cause them to age just as much as long cycles, during which the user can derive greater benefit from them. It is the task of the invention to ensure particularly effective use of rechargeable batteries during charging/discharging cycles of the most varied duration. This is achieved in that the rechargeable battery is divided into cells, of which only one is charged, in each instance, and the others stand ready to provide energy. If the network voltage stops, charging of the cell just being charged is completed from the other cells. |
| US08866441B2 |
Interlock mechanism for a multiple battery pack
A method for operating a battery system having multiple battery packs. The method includes decoupling the output of a discharged battery pack from the vehicle load, reducing the voltage between an output of a charged battery pack and the vehicle load prior to coupling the output of the charged battery pack to the vehicle load. |
| US08866439B2 |
Electromechanical lock and its operation method using mechanical power from normal operation for setting electromechanical lock in a mechanically openable state
Electromechanical lock and its operation method are provided. The lock includes a threshold device configured to control the power transmission mechanism so that the amount of the received mechanical power in the form of the electric power is sufficient for powering the electronic circuit and the actuator, and so that a normal operation of the electromechanical lock, including an insertion of the key into the electromechanical lock, is sufficient for power the electronic circuit and the actuator. |
| US08866435B2 |
Control device and control method for power control unit
A control device controls an inverter controlling an output of a motor by PWM control. The control device calculates a reference frequency based on a torque and a rotation speed of the motor, calculates a random coefficient using two data tables, and calculates, as a random frequency, a value obtained by adding, to a reference frequency, a value obtained by multiplying a prescribed width by the random coefficient. The control device calculates control limit lines based on the rotation speed of the motor, and corrects the random frequency so as to fall within a range that is higher than the control limit line and lower than the control limit line. The control device generates a carrier signal having a random frequency as a carrier frequency. |
| US08866431B2 |
Motor drive control apparatus
A host apparatus includes a command-pattern changing unit. A detector includes a detector-communication-parameter changing unit. A motor drive control apparatus includes a communication-parameter changing unit and a control-gain changing unit. The command-pattern changing unit, the detector-communication-parameter changing unit, and the communication-parameter changing unit change, based on determination of detector communication by a communication-abnormality determining unit, plural communication parameters, control gains, and command patterns, which are determined in advance, in synchronization with one another to control drive of a motor. |
| US08866430B2 |
Apparatus for controlling boost converter
An apparatus for controlling a boost converter is provided with: an operating device provided with a proportional element, an integral element and a derivative element, the derivative element being configured as a bandpass filter, the operating device calculating a PID controlled variable; a controlling device for controlling the output voltage of the boost converter on the basis of the calculated PID controlled variable; a judging device for judging whether or not loss suppression on the direct current power supply is to be prioritized; and a switching device for switching an operation mode of the operating device from a variation suppression mode to a loss suppression mode if it is judged that the loss suppression is to be prioritized. In the loss suppression mode, a cutoff frequency of the bandpass filter is corrected to a lower frequency side at a lower rotational speed of the three-phase alternating current motor. |
| US08866429B2 |
Device and method for power-saving driving of device having same load pattern
A power-saving driving device is provided for a same load pattern device 23 that is driven by a motor 21 receiving electric power from an inverter 19 and repeatedly operated in a same load pattern. The power-saving driving device includes: an electric power amount calculator 81 that calculates an electric power amount W received by the inverter in the same load pattern; and a parameter selection and command device 83 that makes a parameter of the inverter change to a plurality of values, compares the received electric power amounts corresponding to the values of the parameter, selects the parameter value minimizing the received electric power amount and issues the selected value as a command to the inverter. |
| US08866428B2 |
Method and apparatus for thermally monitoring a permanent magnet electric motor
A method for determining a temperature of an electric motor including stator windings includes injecting an AC current into a D-axis current of a stator winding at a frequency that is synchronized with a control frequency of the electric motor, determining a DC-phase current, determining a resistance of the stator winding corresponding to the DC-phase current and an applied voltage, and determining a temperature of the electric motor as a function of the resistance of the stator winding. |
| US08866427B2 |
Motor control apparatus and method
When it is determined that the number of times that motor rotation-indicative quantity has been detected has exceeded a measurement interval, a feedback speed value is calculated from a motor rotation-indicative quantity detected immediately before, a motor rotation-indicative quantity detected immediately before the last time a measurement interval determination means determined that the number of times had exceeded the measurement interval, and time that has elapsed since the last time the measurement interval determination means determined that the number of times had exceeded the measurement interval, and the measurement interval having a length calculated from a greater one between the calculated feedback speed value and a speed command value is set for the measurement interval determination means to refer to. |
| US08866425B2 |
System for driving elongated electric machines
Complete drive system, called motor-drive unit, for use in remote locations with limited radial space like downhole, narrow tunnels, pipelines and other applications with similar conditions. Given the spatial limitations the unit must have elongated shape. It includes a number of motors connected mechanically in series and a lower number of inverters, driving groups of the motors so that load is equally distributed along axis of the unit. Motors within each group can be electrically connected in series or in parallel. The motor-drive unit is supposed to be fed by DC voltage via a cable with length up to several km; therefore, it includes a buck converter for stabilization of voltage inside the unit and a power-line communication module to be controllable from the surface. |
| US08866424B2 |
Motor driving device
Provided is a motor driving device. The motor driving device includes a drive signal generating unit, a current control unit, and a driving unit. The drive signal generating unit generates a motor drive signal for driving a motor. The current control unit is disposed at a front of the drive signal generating unit and controls a current of the drive signal generating unit so as to prevent noise and vibration of a motor caused by electromagnetic interference generated when a switch of the drive signal generating unit is turned on/off. The driving unit drives the motor based on the motor drive signal outputted from the drive signal generating unit. |
| US08866423B2 |
PMSM field weakening for appliance motors
An electric motor in an appliance and a method of controlling the motor to achieve speeds greater than a base speed of the motor is provided. To achieve speeds above the base speed of the motor, field weakening can be implemented by applying a field weakening angle to a phase advance angle between a desired stator flux and a rotor flux. The field weakening angle can be based on the current speed of the motor. The field weakening angle can be a fixed angle and can be determined by comparing the current speed of the motor with a predetermined threshold. In addition, the magnitude of the electrical signal applied to the motor can be adjusted during field weakening based on a desired speed of the motor where the electrical signal can be a voltage. |
| US08866420B2 |
Electric power consumption control system
Disclosed is an electric power consumption control system for a factory where a plurality of machine tools (Mi, Mp1, Mp2) are installed. A machine tool (Mi) is provided with a control device (10) whereby either the rotational acceleration/deceleration (Pi) for the motor for the machine tool and/or the rotational speed (Si) thereof is controlled on the basis of information regarding electric power consumption (Wt) in the factory so that electric power consumption will not exceed a specified value (We). This electric power consumption control system is also provided with electric power detection instruments (11, 12, 13) and an electric power monitoring instrument (20) which measure the electric power consumption of all the machine tools installed in the factory, thereby obtaining the electric power consumption of the factory, and provide information regarding the electric power consumption to the control device of the machine tool equipped with the control device. |
| US08866415B2 |
Driver arrangement with division circuit
Driver arrangements (1) comprise division circuits (100) with division inputs (101-102) for receiving input signals and division outputs (111-118) for supplying output signals to light sources (301-308). The division circuits (100) convert respective first and second input signals of a plurality of input signals into respective first and second parts of a further plurality of output signals. The driver arrangements (1) further comprise driver circuits (200) for driving the light sources (301-308) via the division circuits (100). The driver circuits (200) have driver outputs (201-202) for supplying the input signals to the division inputs (101-102). Such driver arrangements (1) no longer require a switch per light source (301-308). The plurality is preferably equal to or larger than two and smaller than the further plurality, and at least some of the first and the second parts are mutually different in size, amplitude or absolute value. The driver circuits (200) comprise controllable couplers (221-222) or controllable sources (211-212). |
| US08866414B2 |
Tunable LED lamp for producing biologically-adjusted light
A tunable LED lamp for producing biologically-adjusted light having a housing, a power circuit, a driver circuit disposed within the housing and electrically coupled with the power circuit, and a plurality of LED dies electrically coupled to and driven by the driver circuit. The driver circuit may drive the plurality of LED dies to emit a phase-shift light having a first spectral power distribution, a general illuminating light having a second spectral power distribution, and a pre-sleep light having a third spectral power distribution. The phase-shift light may be configured to affect a first biological effect in an observer, and the pre-sleep light may be configured to affect a second biological effect in an observer. The LED lamp may include an intermediate base to couple the lamp to an Edison screw base. The LED lamp may be configured to operate responsive to a three-way switch. |
| US08866413B2 |
LED drive circuit
An LED drive circuit, which comprises a transformer, an MOS tube, a power regulating resistor, a direct current isolation circuit, a rectifying circuit, and a voltage control circuit; when the voltage of the control terminal of the voltage control circuit is higher than the threshold voltage of the MOS tube, the MOS tube is on, a current from an external power supply flows through the first winding of the transformer, the MOS tube and the power regulating resistor successively; when the voltage of the power regulating resistor is close to the voltage of the reference terminal of the voltage control circuit, the MOS tube is cut off, the second winding of the transformer charges the capacitor of the MOS tube via the direct current isolation circuit, the rectifying circuit is on, and the first winding of the transformer supplies power to the LED load via the rectifying circuit. |
| US08866410B2 |
Solid state lighting devices and methods of manufacturing the same
Lighting devices comprising first, second and third strings of solid state lighting devices. One aspect further comprises means for supplying first fixed current through the first string, means for supplying second fixed current through the second string, and means for supplying current through the third string. In a second aspect, the first and second strings emit light within a specific area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram, and the third string emits light of dominant wavelength 600-640 nm. A third aspect further comprises a power line and a power supply configured to supply a first and second fixed currents through the first and second strings, respectively, and supply a current to the third string. A method of making a lighting device, comprising measuring color output, adjusting current to first, second and/or third strings, and permanently setting currents to the first and second strings. |
| US08866409B2 |
Constant-current LED driver circuit and output voltage adjustable circuit and method thereof
A constant-current Light Emitting Diode (LED) driver circuit is provided, and the circuit includes: an output voltage adjustable circuit and at least one path of LED load, wherein the output voltage adjustable circuit comprises: a switch converting main circuit, an output characteristic parameter sampling circuit, and an output voltage controller. The output voltage controller is used to adjust the output voltage of the switch converting main circuit according to the variation relationship between the sampling signal output by the output characteristic parameter sampling circuit and the output voltage, determine the adjustive direction of the output voltage magnitude of the switch converting main circuit according to the change of the sampling signal, adjust the magnitude of the output voltage of the switch converting main circuit according to the preset step, and finally make the output voltage equal to the voltage of one path of LED load with the highest voltage or the difference between the output voltage and the voltage of one path of LED load voltage with the highest voltage within the predetermined range. The present solution implements reducing the connection complexity and power dissipation on the base of controlling the multi-path constant-current LED. |
| US08866408B2 |
Methods, apparatus, and systems for automatic power adjustment based on energy demand information
In embodiments of the present invention, a method and system is provided for designing improved intelligent, LED-based lighting systems. The LED based lighting systems may include fixtures with one or more of rotatable LED light bars, integrated sensors, onboard intelligence to receive signals from the LED light bars and control the LED light bars, and a mesh network connectivity to other fixtures. |
| US08866407B2 |
Lighting device
A lighting device whose power conversion efficiency is improved by suppression of fluctuation in luminance of a light-emitting element and deterioration of the light-emitting element due to a change in temperature and a change over time and whose power consumption is reduced is provided. The disclosed invention is a lighting device that has a function of correcting a change in temperature and a change over time and includes at least one switching regulator in a driver portion. Constant current drive is performed on light-emitting elements and monitor light-emitting elements are used, so that highly-efficient output voltage which is corrected to have an optimal level is applied to the light-emitting elements and stable drive is performed for a long time. Power conversion efficiency is improved by a switching regulator, so that the total power consumption of the lighting device is reduced. |
| US08866404B2 |
Backlight module and display apparatus
The present invention provides a driving circuit, a backlight module and a display apparatus using the same. The driving circuit comprises a first inductor, a second inductor, a first power switch, a second power switch, a driving circuit unit and a push-pull circuit. The first inductor and the second inductor are connected between the light-emitting diodes and a power supply. The first power switch is connected between the first inductor and the light-emitting diodes. The second power switch is connected between the second inductor and the light-emitting diodes. The push-pull circuit is connected to the first power switch and the second power switch. The driving circuit unit is connected to the push-pull circuit. An electrolytic capacitor or a capacitor having high capacitance can be omitted in this invention. |
| US08866403B2 |
3-way, phase-cut dimmable LED driver
An LED driver is presented with a sensing circuit and attenuator circuits to provide three-way switched dimming as well as phase-cut dimming to control the output power driving an LED load allowing installation into conventional three-way switched lamp sockets or in sockets wired to a wall or table mounted phase-cutting dimmer control. When installed in a three way socket, the circuit senses the position of the three way switch and changes the lamp current accordingly. The lamp can also be dimmed by a table-top dimmer or a wall dimmer (in a three-way socket or in a conventional dual contact socket) by applying a phase-cut power input, with the driver circuit including circuitry to sense the average value of a phase-cut power line to adjust lamp current. |
| US08866402B2 |
Current regulator drive circuit shunting current by voltage-dividing load
The present invention is through the power control unit, which is connected with the voltage-dividing load in parallel, to perform shunt regulation for the current passing through the voltage-dividing load; in which the methods of the shunt regulation by the power control unit includes using the power control unit to perform shunt regulation of PWM, shunt regulation of conductive phase angle, or shunt regulation of switch type turn-on or cut-off, or regulating the impedance of the power control unit. |
| US08866397B2 |
Lighting battery
A lighting battery relates to a cylindrical rechargeable battery. The lighting battery comprises a battery body, a driving circuit, a switch and light-emitting diodes, wherein the switch is an inching switch, and the driving circuit has a trigger pin which is connected to the switch whereby a trigger signal is acquired to control the driving circuit operate or stop. The power pin and grounding pin of the driving circuit is respectively connected to the positive pole and the negative pole of the battery body, as well as the output pin of the driving circuit is connected to the light-emitting diodes. |
| US08866393B2 |
Low voltage system and method
Low voltage systems and methods, as well as a light assembly and LED driver are provided. In one aspect, a low voltage system is provided that is capable of drawing power from a power source having a first voltage, the system having at least one low voltage power supply connectable to the power source and having an output providing a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage. The system further has at least one low voltage load and circuit means connecting the output of the power supply to the at least one low voltage load. The at least one load can be a light assembly, and the light assembly can comprise one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). Also provided is an LED driver that provides for one or more improved dimming characteristics. A light assembly employing the LED driver is also provided. |
| US08866388B2 |
Vehicle lamp controller
A vehicle lamp controller includes a lamp control unit that performs lamp control, in which light amount or light distribution of each of a plurality of lamps to be provided on a vehicle that runs on electric power from a battery, is controlled, according to a priority that is assigned to each of the plurality of lamps, wherein the priorities are determined based on degrees of necessity of the plurality of lamps in securing safety for the vehicle. The vehicle lamp controller may further include a remaining battery charge detecting device for detecting a remaining charge of a battery, and the lamp control unit may be configured to perform the lamp control according to the priorities when the remaining charge becomes lower than a predetermined threshold. |
| US08866384B2 |
OLED display
An OLED display is provided, which includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first micro-structure layer, a second micro-structure layer and an OLED. The second substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate. The OLED is disposed at the second substrate. The first micro-structure layer is located between the first and second substrates and includes a plurality first protrusions are disposed in positions corresponding to a peripheral region of the first substrate. The second micro-structure layer includes a plurality of second protrusions, wherein the first and second protrusions are arranged alternatively. |
| US08866382B2 |
Light-emitting device
A purpose of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting device having a high heat dissipation property.The light-emitting device of the present invention includes: a supporting substrate; an organic EL element including a first electrode, an organic EL layer and a second electrode being stacked in this order on the supporting substrate; a first extracting electrode for electrically connecting to an external electric power supply, that is extended from the first electrode on the supporting substrate; a second extracting electrode for electrically connecting to an external electric power supply, that is arranged on the supporting substrate to be away from the first electrode and the first extracting electrode; a connecting electrode that is extended from the second electrode and is connected to the second extracting electrode, on the supporting substrate; and a first heat-dissipating member that is extended from the second electrode and is electrically insulated from the first electrode and the first extracting electrode, on the supporting substrate. |
| US08866379B2 |
Display device and method of manufacturing the same
A display device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The display device includes: a display panel; a cover on the display panel; an adhesive on at least one of the cover or the display panel to attach the cover to the display panel; and a flow prevention member on at least one of the display panel or the cover, wherein the adhesive member is arranged at an inner space of the flow prevention member. |
| US08866376B2 |
Light emitting device package and manufacturing method thereof
A light emitting device (LED) package and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The LED package includes a circuit board comprising at least one device region, a plurality of electrode regions, at least one first thermal via exposed through upper and lower surfaces of the at least one device region, and a plurality of second thermal vias exposed through upper and lower surfaces of the plurality of electrode regions; at least one first thermal pad bonded to the upper surface of the at least one device region and connected to the first thermal via; at least one LED mounted on the at least one first thermal pad; a plurality of first electrode pads bonded to the upper surface of the electrode region and connected to the second thermal vias; and a plurality of wires to connect the at least one LED with the plurality of first electrode pads. |
| US08866371B2 |
Electric field discharge-type electron source
Increasing the volume or weight of zirconia which is a diffusion and supply source, to extend the life of a field-emission type electron source causes a problem that the diffusion and supply source itself or a tungsten needle is easily subjected to damage. As another problem, although it is considered to form the diffusion and supply source using a thin film to avoid the above-described problem, it is difficult to stably obtain practical life exceeding 8,000 hours. It has been found that practical life exceeding 8,000 hours is stably obtained by providing a field-emission type electron source that has no chips or cracks in a diffusion and supply source and that can extend life with a little bit of an increase in the amount of the diffusion and supply source. |
| US08866363B2 |
Electrostatic actuator having urging members with varying rigidities
According to one embodiment, an electrostatic actuator includes a substrate, an electrode unit, a film body unit, and an urging unit. The electrode unit is provided on the substrate. The film body unit is provided to oppose the electrode unit and is conductive. The urging unit is configured to support the film body unit and includes a connection unit connected to the substrate and an elastic unit provided between the connection unit and the film body unit. A contacting state and a separated state are possible for the electrode unit and the film body unit according to a voltage applied to the electrode unit. The elastic unit has a branch portion between one end of the elastic unit connected to the connection unit and multiple one other ends of the elastic unit connected to the film body unit. |
| US08866362B2 |
Lamination stack for an electrical machine stator
An electrical machine stator is disclosed that includes a stack of laminations configured to be assembled together so as to define at least one stator tooth. The stack of laminations may include a plurality of nesting laminations and a plurality of shim laminations. Each nesting lamination may include a first edge section, a second edge section and a middle section extending between the first and second edge sections. At least one of the first edge section and the second edge section of each nesting lamination may be configured to be engaged against at least one of the first edge section and the second edge section of an adjacent nesting lamination when the stack of laminations is assembled together. Additionally, at least one shim lamination may be disposed between each pair of adjacent nesting laminations. |
| US08866361B2 |
Bar conductor shapes for electric machines
A conductor is provided for an electric machine having an axis, a radial direction extending outward from the axis, and a tangential direction perpendicular to the radial direction. The conductor includes a solid core, having radial faces substantially perpendicular to the radial direction of the electric machine and tangential faces substantially perpendicular to the tangential direction of the electric machine. At least one tangential depression is formed on at least one of the tangential faces. The tangential depression creates a tangential void within a rectangular envelope defined by the solid core. Therefore, the surface area of the solid core is greater than the surface area of the rectangular envelope. |
| US08866360B2 |
Rotor barrier shaping for demagnetization mitigation in an internal permanent magnet machine
A rotor core for an Internal Permanent Magnet (IPM) machine includes a cavity having a magnet disposed therein. The cavity defines an air slot adjacent a radially outermost edge of the magnet disposed therein. A leakage flux path extends across the air slot and connects opposing sides of the cavity. The leakage flux path is oriented in an approximate tangential relationship relative to an axis of rotation of the rotor core, and is angled relative to the radially outermost edge of the magnet disposed within the cavity to direct flux away from the magnet. The cavity further includes an air pocket disposed along a radial inner surface of the magnet relative to the axis of rotation, adjacent the air slot of the cavity. |
| US08866359B2 |
Brushless motor having V-shaped permanent magnets
A brushless motor has a stator and a rotor. The stator has a stator core with a plurality of inwardly extending salient poles and windings wound about the salient poles. The rotor has a shaft, a rotor core fixed onto the shaft, and magnets inserted in the rotor core for forming magnetic poles of the rotor. Each of the salient poles has a pole shoe with a pole face that extends along a circumferential direction confronting the rotor core and being spaced from the rotor core by an air gap. In a radial cross section of the motor, each of the magnetic poles of the rotor has an effective dimension (W) which is about 0.85 times to 1.2 times of the chord length (L) of each pole face. |
| US08866357B2 |
Drive device
A drive device includes a motor, a control unit, a first fastener, and a second fastener. The control unit is arranged on a side of the motor in an axis direction of the motor. The first fastener is arranged in a wall part of a cylindrical motor case of the motor opposing to the control unit, on an inner side of a peripheral wall of the motor case in a radial direction. The second fastener is tightened with the first fastener so as to connect the motor and the control unit with each other. |
| US08866353B2 |
Inverter-integrated driving module
A first inverter ventilation aperture is disposed so as to pass through a portion of a fin base that faces a bearing, a first rotor ventilation aperture is disposed so as to pass through a portion of a bottom surface portion that faces the bearing, and a first cooling airflow ventilation channel is formed in which a cooling airflow flows radially inward through radiating fins, then flows toward a first surface side of a mount portion through the first inverter ventilation aperture, flows axially through an interior portion of a stator core, and then flows out between the bottom surface portion and a base portion through the first rotor ventilation aperture, and subsequently flows radially outward between the bottom surface portion and the base portion due to rotational driving of a centrifugal fan. |
| US08866344B2 |
System and method of paralleling engine-generators on a common bus
A system parallels engine-generators on a common bus and includes circuit breakers and automatic voltage regulators. Each engine-generator includes an output having an alternating current voltage. Each breaker is between the output of a corresponding engine-generator and the bus. Each regulator includes a first mode controlling field excitation for a corresponding engine-generator and a second mode automatically controlling the AC voltage. A processor for the regulators starts the engine-generators, closes the breakers, causes the regulators to increase the field excitation for the corresponding engine-generator in the first mode as long as less than a predetermined current flows through a corresponding breaker until the field excitation is equal to a rated voltage, and responsively causes the regulators to automatically control the AC voltage of the output of the corresponding engine-generator in the second mode, and, otherwise, decreases the field excitation of the corresponding engine-generator in the first mode. |
| US08866343B2 |
Dynamic keypad for controlling energy-savings modes of a load control system
A load control system for a building having a lighting load, a window, and a heating and cooling system comprises a lighting control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to the lighting load, a motorized window treatment comprising a window treatment fabric for covering the window, a temperature control device for controlling a setpoint temperature of the heating and cooling system to thus control a present temperature in the building, and a dynamic keypad comprising a visual display and operable to receive a user input. The dynamic keypad allows a user to select, adjust, and monitor a plurality of energy-savings modes of the load control system. For example, the dynamic keypad allows the user to enable and adjust a setback temperature of the temperature control device on-the-fly. |
| US08866341B2 |
Voltage regulator
A voltage regulator circuit for providing a regulated output voltage is provided. The voltage regulator circuit includes an error amplifier configured to provide a control signal based on at least a portion of a fed-back output voltage and a reference voltage. A first output stage is configured to operate at a first supply voltage and provide the regulated output voltage based on the control signal. At least one second output stage configured to operate at a second supply voltage different from the first supply voltage and provide the regulated output voltage based on the control signal. A switch-over unit is configured to switch over the control signal between the first output stage and the second output stage. |
| US08866339B2 |
Power management circuit
A power management circuit includes an input, a switch circuit, a first control unit, a second control unit, and a voltage conversion circuit. The input is connected to a load and receives a first direct current (DC) voltage from an external power circuit. The switch circuit is connected between the load and a battery. The first control unit is configured to control whether the switch circuit is switched on or off, based on the first DC voltage and an output voltage of the battery. The voltage conversion circuit is configured to convert the first DC voltage into a second DC voltage and output the second DC voltage to charge the battery. The second control unit is configured to control whether the voltage conversion circuit converts the first DC voltage into the second DC voltage for charging the battery, based on the first DC voltage and the output voltage. |
| US08866337B2 |
Inline power multiplexer device
Techniques are provided for providing power onto multiple power distribution paths. Power controller devices receive power from a power source device and are coupled to first and second multiplexer units. The multiplexer units receive power from the power source devices via the power controller devices for first and second power distribution paths. A multiplexer control unit controls the multiplexer units to output power from the first power distribution path, the second power distribution path or both of the paths. Power subsystems are provided comprising first and second power transistor units. The first transistor unit receives power from the first multiplexer unit over the first path and the second transistor unit receives power from the second multiplexer unit over the second path. Ports are provided and are coupled to a powered device. The multiplexer control unit controls the multiplexer units to supply power to the respective ports according to the type of powered device detected at a port. |
| US08866334B2 |
Dispatchable power from a renewable energy facility
The placement of fully available prime movers having a DC output at a location inside or adjacent to an inverter-based intermittently available renewable energy site is disclosed. The fully available prime movers add reliability to an unreliable energy asset that is reaching its maximum penetration within the grid due to its unpredictability and the requirement for additional spinning reserves in other parts of the grid. The present invention can provide a portion or all of the power to an intermittently available renewable power generating facility so that the power output to the power grid is dispatchable power. In particular, a method and means are disclosed to utilize high-efficiency engines operated on various fuels some of which may be non-fossil fuels to maintain a constant power output from an otherwise intermittent power generating facility. |
| US08866331B2 |
Power supply device and power supply system for fuel cell vehicle
A power supply device includes: a first line, a second line, and a third line, each having a different electric potential from one another; a battery circuit in which a fuel cell stack and an electric storage device are connected in series; and a first DC-DC converter, wherein both ends of the battery circuit are connected to the first line and the third line, a connection point of the electric storage device and the fuel cell stack of the battery circuit is connected to the second line, a primary side of the first DC-DC converter is connected to the second line and the third line, a secondary side of the first DC-DC converter is connected to the first line and the third line, and electric power is outputted from the first line and the third line. |
| US08866329B2 |
Tidal power generating device
A tidal power generating device having a large area to receive pressure of a tidal current and can be used in a water surface region. The tidal power generating device includes a cylindrical body that floats by itself and a blade that is continuously provided from a front portion to a rear portion on an outer periphery of the cylindrical body and has torsion in a single direction. The cylindrical body has an interior space through which a power generating nonrotary shaft, a connecting pipe, and a mooring nonrotary shaft pass. The power generating nonrotary shaft is provided with a fan-shaped weight and a power generator. The rear portion of the cylindrical body is sunk when the tidal power generating device is placed on water. |
| US08866328B1 |
System and method for generated power from wave action
Wave energy conversion systems are provided utilizing a mass of water entrained in a collapsible water mass enclosure that is suspended beneath a float (e.g., a vehicle, buoy, platform, etc.) to provide an inertial force in opposition to the rising heave-induced acceleration of the float. The water mass enclosure is in communication with a generator, such as by tethering one end of a tethering component to the generator and the other to the enclosure. The enclosure may be placed in communication with an intermediary hydraulic system, which is also in communication with the generator. In certain embodiments, the system will include a reel system for deploying and retrieving the water masse enclosure. |
| US08866325B2 |
Looped Airfoil turbine
A turbine with a basic system of a triangular structure (14) utilizing both lift and drag aerodynamic forces produced by fluid flow energy. The entire triangular structure (14) could either yaw to always face the wind direction (W) or stay in a fixed position. The system (10) uses airfoil blades (12) shaped like an airplane wing, traveling linearly on travel wheels (22) riding on travel tracks (50, 52, 54). While traveling up, the wings are powered by a positive lift force and drag force while using negative lift force and drag force when traveling downward. All wings (12) are connected by a segmented chain (16) which transfers the kinetic power of wheeled wing carriages (18) directly to multiple generators (26), requiring no gears. |
| US08866322B2 |
Atmospheric measurement system
A magnitude and direction, or a measure responsive thereto, of a velocity (V) of a first portion (17) of an atmosphere (20) are determined from at least first and second portions of scattered light (30) generated along a common beam of light (28) within the first portion (17) of the atmosphere (20) and received along linearly independent directions at locations that are relatively remote with respect to one another, at least one of which is relatively remote from a source (11) of the beam of light (28). |
| US08866320B2 |
Integrated generator device for producing energy from zero-emission renewable alternative sources respecting and preserving the environment
An energy generator for generating energy from renewable alternative sources, includes: a flotable platform adapted to be partially immersed in a fluid; a tower element arranged on the platform and including at least one wind generator for collecting wind energy and converting the same into electric energy, at least one first energy accumulator and at least one inverter. The energy generator further includes at least one system for storing and converting mechanical energy; the system for storing and converting mechanical energy including at least one charge mechanical accumulator, at least one flywheel balance coupled with the charge mechanical accumulator and a device for converting mechanical energy into electric energy. The wave motion or the stream of fluid where the platform is immersed determines an oscillating movement of the platform, of the tower element and of the at least one balance to charge the mechanical accumulator, which in turn releases the energy produced by its movement to the device for converting mechanical energy. |
| US08866319B1 |
Buoyancy assisted motor-generator
A pair of reverse-scissoring arms are configured to be rotatable and reverse-scissorable about a common central axis point. A volume expandable and volume contractible truck is operably disposed at each of the distal ends of the reverse-scissoring arms. Actuation of the arms simultaneously expands one of the trucks, increasing its volume, while contracting the other of the trucks, decreasing its volume. Operably coupled to each of the reverse-scissoring arms is an energy-supplied electric motor-generator. Energization of the motors actuates the arms, whereas actuation of the arms without energization of the motors generates electrical power in the motors. When submersed in liquid, the simultaneous expansion and contraction of the volume in the trucks generates positive and negative buoyancy, respectively, enhancing the dynamics of the truck expansion/contraction motion and the reverse scissorable arm actuation. |
| US08866317B2 |
Broadband vibrational energy harvesting
A system that converts environmental vibrational energy into electrical energy includes a transducer that undergoes oscillating movement in response to the vibrational energy in order to produce an oscillating electrical signal. Power electronics process the oscillating electrical signal. A control system (including at least one control element of the power electronics, at least one sensor and control electronics) carries out a control scheme that dynamically varies the dampening of the oscillating movement of the transducer over time. The control scheme is based upon a predetermined parametric relation involving a plurality of variables derived from the properties measured by the at least one sensor. In several embodiments, the plurality of variables includes a first variable representing excitation frequency of the transducer. In another embodiment, the predetermined parametric relation represents relative phase between two variables derived from the properties measured by the at least one sensor. |
| US08866314B2 |
Method for operating a power rotary actuator and a power plant for carrying out said method
The invention relates to inertial systems for the accumulation and conversion of energy, and can be used as a power unit to drive various machines and vehicles. According to the disclosed method, a source of mechanical oscillations is used to generate an alternating rotational torque which is applied to the working train made capable of unidirectional rotational motion. An inertial vibrator disposed axially on the working train is used as the oscillation source. The power unit putting the method into practice comprises an electrical generator, a control device and a power drive, including a base on which a first assembly is disposed, with the capability of unidirectional rotation and including a driving train for the transmission of operating torque and a motor with the capability of free rotation of at least one member with unbalanced mass on a shaft disposed on the first assembly axially relative to the rotation of the driving train, in so doing the kinematic linkage between it and the final driven train contains a second assembly having the capability to transmit the operating torque. The invention makes it possible to eliminate the negative feedback effect of the mechanical load on the motor. |
| US08866312B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus, method for manufacturing the same and electric device
A semiconductor apparatus includes: a semiconductor device including a first electrode; a substrate including a second electrode and a recess; and a heat-dissipating adhesive material to set the semiconductor device in the recess so as to arrange the first electrode close to the second electrode, wherein the first electrode is coupled to the second electrode and the heat-dissipating adhesive material covers a bottom surface and at least part of a side surface of the semiconductor device. |
| US08866311B2 |
Semiconductor package substrates having pillars and related methods
The substrate includes a first dielectric layer, a first circuit pattern, a plurality of pillars and a second circuit pattern. The first dielectric layer has opposing first and second dielectric surfaces. The first circuit pattern is embedded in the first dielectric layer and defines a plurality of curved trace surfaces. Each of the pillars has an exterior surface adapted for making external electrical connection and a curved base surface abutting a corresponding one of the trace surfaces. The second circuit pattern is on the second dielectric surface of the first dielectric layer and electrically connected to the first circuit pattern. |
| US08866308B2 |
High density interconnect device and method
Embodiments that allow both high density and low density interconnection between microelectronic die and motherboard via Direct Chip Attach (DCA) are described. In some embodiments, microelectronic die have a high density interconnect with a small bump pitch located along one edge and a lower density connection region with a larger bump pitch located in other regions of the die. The high density interconnect regions between die are interconnected using an interconnecting bridge made out of a material that can support high density interconnect manufactured into it, such as silicon. The lower density connection regions are used to attach interconnected die directly to a board using DCA. The high density interconnect can utilize current Controlled Collapsed Chip Connection (C4) spacing when interconnecting die with an interconnecting bridge, while allowing much larger spacing on circuit boards. |
| US08866306B2 |
Signal path and method of manufacturing a multiple-patterned semiconductor device
A multiple-patterned semiconductor device and a method of manufacture are provided. The semiconductor device includes one or more layers with signal tracks. The signal tracks have a quality characteristic. The semiconductor device also includes repeater banks to repower signals. The method of manufacture includes defining portions of layers with photomasks having signal track patterns, determining a quality characteristic of the signal track patterns, and selecting a photomask for etching vias. |
| US08866304B2 |
Integrated circuit device with stitched interposer
Systems, methods, and devices are provided to enable an integrated circuit device of relatively higher capacity. Such an integrated circuit device may include at least two component integrated circuits that communicate with one another. Specifically, the component integrated circuits may communicate through a “stitched silicon interposer” that is larger than a reticle limit of the lithography system used to manufacture the interposer. To achieve this larger size, the stitched silicon interposer may be composed of at least two component interposers, each sized within the reticle limit and each separated from one another by a die seal structure. |
| US08866301B2 |
Package systems having interposers with interconnection structures
A package system includes a first integrated circuit disposed over an interposer. The interposer includes at least one molding compound layer including a plurality of electrical connection structures through the at least one molding compound layer. A first interconnect structure is disposed over a first surface of the at least one molding compound layer and electrically coupled with the plurality of electrical connection structures. The first integrated circuit is electrically coupled with the first interconnect structure. |
| US08866300B1 |
Devices and methods for solder flow control in three-dimensional microstructures
Structures, materials, and methods to control the spread of a solder material or other flowable conductive material in electronic and/or electromagnetic devices are provided. |
| US08866299B2 |
Backside processing of semiconductor devices
A semiconductor device includes a workpiece having a bottom surface opposite the top surface. Metallization layers are disposed over the top surface and a protective layer is disposed over the metallization layers. The semiconductor device further includes a metal silicide layer disposed on the bottom surface. The metal silicide layer is less than about five atomic layers in thickness. A first metal layer is disposed over the metal silicide layer such that a metal of the first metal layer is the same as a metal of the metal silicide layer. |
| US08866292B2 |
Semiconductor packages with integrated antenna and methods of forming thereof
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor package includes a substrate having a first major surface and an opposite second major surface. A first chip is disposed in the substrate. The first chip includes a plurality of contact pads at the first major surface. A via bar is disposed in the substrate. An antenna structure is disposed within the via bar. |
| US08866286B2 |
Single layer coreless substrate
An electronic chip package comprising at least one chip bonded to a routing layer of an interposer comprising a routing layer and a via post layer that is surrounded by a dielectric material comprising glass fibers in a polymer matrix, wherein the electronic chip package further comprises a second layer of a dielectric material encapsulating the at least one chip, the routing layer and the wires, and methods of fabricating such electronic chip packages. |
| US08866285B2 |
Fan-out package comprising bulk metal
A device includes a polymer, a device die in the polymer, and a plurality of Through Assembly Vias (TAVs) extending from a top surface to a bottom surface of the polymer. A bulk metal feature is located in the polymer and having a top-view size greater than a top-view size of each of the plurality of TAVs. The bulk metal feature is electrically floating. The polymer, the device die, the plurality of TAVs, and the bulk metal feature are portions of a package. |
| US08866283B2 |
Chip package structure and method of making the same
Methods and structures related to packaging a chip are disclosed. In one embodiment, a chip package structure includes: (i) a chip having a plurality of first and second contact pads thereon; (ii) a lead frame having a plurality of pins for external connection to the package structure, where the chip is disposed on the lead frame; (iii) a plurality of first bonding wires for connecting the first contact pads to the lead frame; and (iv) a plurality of second bonding wires for connecting the second contact pads to the plurality of pins on the lead frame. |
| US08866277B2 |
Package substrate, module and electric/electronic devices using the same
A package substrate includes: a first conductive layer having plural first terminal pattern portions connected to a semiconductor part loaded on a first principal surface through plural first external connection conductors, which is formed on the first principal surface; a second conductive layer having plural second terminal patterns connected to a system substrate mounted on a second principal surface opposite to the first principal surface through a second external connection conductor, which is formed on the second principal surface; an intermediate conductive layer formed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer; interlayer insulating layers formed between the first conductive layer and the intermediate conductive layer as well as between the second conductive layer and the intermediate conductive layer; and plural interlayer connection conductors stacked for connecting between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer so as to pierce through the interlayer insulating layers. |
| US08866276B2 |
Semiconductor chip device with polymeric filler trench
A method of manufacturing is provided that includes providing a semiconductor chip with an insulating layer. The insulating layer includes a trench. A second semiconductor chip is stacked on the first semiconductor chip to leave a gap. A polymeric filler is placed in the gap wherein a portion of the polymeric filler is drawn into the trench. |
| US08866267B2 |
Semiconductor device with substrate-side exposed device-side electrode and method of fabrication
A semiconductor device with substrate-side exposed device-side electrode (SEDE) is disclosed. The semiconductor device has semiconductor substrate (SCS) with device-side, substrate-side and semiconductor device region (SDR) at device-side. Device-side electrodes (DSE) are formed for device operation. A through substrate trench (TST) is extended through SCS, reaching a DSE turning it into an SEDE. The SEDE can be interconnected via conductive interconnector through TST. A substrate-side electrode (SSE) and a windowed substrate-side passivation (SSPV) atop SSE can be included. The SSPV defines an area of SSE for spreading solder material during device packaging. A device-side passivation (DSPV) beneath thus covering the device-side of SEDE can be included. A DSE can also include an extended support ledge, stacked below an SEDE, for structurally supporting it during post-wafer processing packaging. The projected footprint of extended support ledge onto the major SCS plane can essentially enclose the correspondingly projected footprint of SEDE. |
| US08866266B2 |
Silicon nanotube MOSFET
A nanotubular MOSFET device extends a scaling roadmap while maintaining good short channel effects and providing competitive drive current. The nanotubular MOSFET device includes a concentric tubular inner and outer gate separated from each other by a tubular shaped epitaxially grown silicon layer, and a source and drain respectively separated by spacers surrounding the tubular inner and outer gates. |
| US08866263B2 |
Emitter ballasting by contact area segmentation in ESD bipolar based semiconductor component
Integrated circuits (ICs) utilize bipolar transistors in electro-static discharge (ESD) protection circuits to shunt discharge currents during ESD events to protect the components in the ICs. Bipolar transistors are subject to non-uniform current crowding across the emitter-base junction during ESD events, which results in less protection for the IC components and degradation of the bipolar transistor. This invention comprises multiple contact islands (126) on the emitter (116) of a bipolar transistor, which act to spread current uniformly across the emitter-base junction. Also included in this invention is segmentation of the emitter diffused region to further improve current uniformity and biasing of the transistor. This invention can be combined with drift region ballasting or back-end ballasting to optimize an ESD protection circuit. |
| US08866262B2 |
Vertical semiconductor device having silicon carbide substrate
A silicon carbide substrate includes: an n type drift layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other; a p type body region provided in the first surface of the n type drift layer; and an n type emitter region provided on the p type body region and separated from the n type drift layer by the p type body region. A gate insulating film is provided on the p type body region so as to connect the n type drift layer and the n type emitter region to each other. A p type Si collector layer is directly provided on the silicon carbide substrate to face the second surface of the n type drift layer. |
| US08866259B2 |
Inductor device and fabrication method
Various embodiments provide inductor devices and fabrication methods. In one embodiment, an inductor device can include a first dielectric layer disposed on a semiconductor substrate; a first planar spiral wiring disposed on the first dielectric layer, and optionally one or more second planar spiral wirings disposed over the first planar spiral wiring. Each of the first and the optional second planar spiral wirings can include a first spiral metal wiring and a second spiral metal wiring connected to the first spiral metal wiring. The second spiral metal wiring can include at least two sub-metal-lines isolated with one another. |
| US08866258B2 |
Interposer structure with passive component and method for fabricating same
According to an exemplary embodiment, an interposer structure for electrically coupling a semiconductor die to a support substrate in a semiconductor package includes at least one through-wafer via extending through a semiconductor substrate, where the at least one through-wafer via provides an electrical connection between the semiconductor die and the support substrate. The interposer structure further includes a passive component including a trench conductor, where the trench conductor extends through the semiconductor substrate. The passive component further includes a dielectric liner situated between the trench conductor and the semiconductor substrate. The passive component can further include at least one conductive pad for electrically coupling the trench conductor to the semiconductor die. The passive component can be, for example, an inductor or an antenna. |
| US08866254B2 |
Devices including fin transistors robust to gate shorts and methods of making the same
Disclosed are methods, systems and devices, including a method that includes the acts of etching an inter-row trench in a substrate, substantially or entirely filling the inter-row trench with a dielectric material, and forming a fin and a insulating projection at least in part by etching a gate trench in the substrate. In some embodiments, the insulating projection includes at least some of the dielectric material in the inter-row trench. |
| US08866251B2 |
Solid-state imaging element having optical waveguide with insulating layer
The present invention provides a solid-state imaging element including: a silicon layer having a photodiode formed therein and a positive charge accumulation region formed on the surface thereof; and an optical waveguide formed above the photodiode to guide incident light into the photodiode, wherein an insulating layer is formed in the optical waveguide, and the insulating layer has a dielectric constant of 5 or greater and negative fixed charge. |
| US08866247B2 |
Photonic device with a conductive shunt layer
Described are embodiments of apparatuses and systems including photonic devices having a conductive shunt layer, and methods for making such apparatuses and systems. A photonic device may include a device substrate, a photo-active region disposed on a first region of the device substrate, an isolation region in the device substrate, a contact disposed on a second region of the substrate such that the isolation region is located between the contact and the photo-active region, and a conductive material overlying the isolation region to shunt the first region with the second region. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. |
| US08866245B2 |
Nuclear batteries
We introduce a new technology for Manufactureable, High Power Density, High Volume Utilization Nuclear Batteries. Betavoltaic batteries are an excellent choice for battery applications which require long life, high power density, or the ability to operate in harsh environments. In order to optimize the performance of betavoltaic batteries for these applications or any other application, it is desirable to maximize the efficiency of beta particle energy conversion into power, while at the same time increasing the power density of an overall device. Various devices and methods to solve the current industry problems and limitations are presented here. |
| US08866244B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a spin torque written in-plane magnetization magnetoresistive element, placed over the main surface of a semiconductor substrate, whose magnetization state can be changed according to the direction of a current flow; and a first wiring electrically coupled with the magnetoresistive element and extended toward the direction along the main surface. The aspect ratio of the magnetoresistive element as viewed in a plane is a value other than 1. In a memory cell area where multiple memory cells in which the magnetoresistive element and a switching element are electrically coupled with each other are arranged, the following measure is taken: multiple magnetoresistive elements adjoining to each other in the direction of length of each magnetoresistive element as viewed in a plane are so arranged that they are not on an identical straight line extended in the direction of length. |
| US08866241B2 |
Pressure sensing device having contacts opposite a membrane
Pressure sensors that may be used in harsh or corrosive environments. One example may provide a pressure sensor having membrane with a top surface that may be free of components or electrical connections. Instead, components and electrical connections may be located under the membrane. By providing a top surface free of components and electrical connections, the top surface of the pressure sensor may be placed in harsh or corrosive environments, while components and electrical connections under the membrane may remain protected. |
| US08866235B2 |
Source and drain dislocation fabrication in FinFETs
A device includes a semiconductor fin over a substrate, a gate dielectric on sidewalls of the semiconductor fin, and a gate electrode over the gate dielectric. A source/drain region is on a side of the gate electrode. A dislocation plane is in the source/drain region. |
| US08866234B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. A recess gate structure is formed between an overlapping region between a gate and a source/drain so as to suppress increase in gate induced drain leakage (GIDL), and a gate insulation film is more thickly deposited in a region having weak GIDL, thereby reducing GIDL and thus improving refresh characteristics due to leakage current. |
| US08866228B2 |
Diode and electrostatic discharge protection circuit including the same
A diode includes a first region having a first conductive type impurity and formed in a first well having the first conductive type impurity, a second region formed in the first well and having a second conductive type impurity, and a semiconductor pattern disposed above the first well and including a first portion having the first conductive type impurity and a second portion having the second conductive type impurity. The first region and the first portion are coupled with an anode, and the second region and the second portion are coupled with a cathode. |
| US08866227B2 |
Thin semiconductor-on-insulator MOSFET with co-integrated silicon, silicon germanium and silicon doped with carbon channels
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device that may begin with providing a semiconductor substrate including a first device region including a silicon layer in direct contact with a buried dielectric layer, a second device region including a silicon germanium layer in direct contact with the buried dielectric layer, and a third device region with a silicon doped with carbon layer. At least one low power semiconductor device may then be formed on the silicon layer within the first device region of the semiconductor substrate. At least one p-type semiconductor device may be formed on the silicon germanium layer of the second device region of the semiconductor substrate. At least one n-type semiconductor device may be formed on the silicon doped with carbon layer of the third device region of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US08866225B2 |
Field effect transistor with alternate electrical contacts
A field effect transistor including: a support layer, a plurality of active zones based on a semiconductor, each active zone configured to form a channel and arranged between two gates adjacent to each other and consecutive, the active zones and the gates being arranged on the support layer, each gate including a first face on the side of the support layer and a second face opposite the first face. The second face of a first of the two gates is electrically connected to a first electrical contact made on the second face of the first of the two gates, and the first face of a second of the two gates is electrically connected to a second electrical contact passing through the support layer. The gates of the transistor are not electrically connected to each other. |
| US08866218B2 |
Wafer level MOSFET metallization
In one general aspect, a system can include a through-silicon-via (TSV) coupling a drain region associated with a vertical transistor to a back metal disposed on a second side of the substrate opposite the first side. The system can include a first metal layer, and a second metal layer aligned orthogonal to the first metal layer. The system can define a conduction path extending substantially vertically through the TSV to the substrate and laterally through the substrate. |
| US08866216B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating a semiconductor memory device includes defining an active region having a shape protruding upward by forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate; forming an open region obtained by selectively exposing a lower side portion of the active region while forming a sidewall layer along the shape of the active region; covering the open region with a silicon layer; forming an impurity region in the lower side portion of the active region; forming a barrier metal layer on the silicon layer and the active region; forming a bit line metal layer buried in the entire active region; and forming a buried bit line having the barrier metal layer, the bit line metal layer and a silicide metal layer formed between the silicon layer and the barrier metal layer by etching the bit line metal layer up to a portion at which the impurity region is formed. |
| US08866213B2 |
Non-Volatile memory with silicided bit line contacts
An approach to use silicided bit line contacts that do not short to the underlying substrate in memory devices. The approach provides for silicide formation in the bit line contact area, using a process that benefits from being self-aligned to the oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) nitride edges. A further benefit of the approach is that the bit line contact implant and rapid temperature anneal process can be eliminated. This approach is applicable to embedded flash, integrating high density devices and advanced logic processes. |
| US08866210B2 |
Charge trapping dielectric structures
A dielectric structure may be arranged having a thin nitrided surface of an insulator with a charge blocking insulator over the nitrided surface. The insulator may be formed of a number of different insulating materials such as a metal oxide, a metal oxycarbide, a semiconductor oxide, or oxycarbide. In an embodiment, the dielectric structure may be formed by nitridation of a surface of an insulator using ammonia and deposition of a blocking insulator having a larger band gap than the insulator. The dielectric structure may form part of a memory device, as well as other devices and systems. |
| US08866205B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device and image sensing
A photoelectric conversion device is disclosed. The photoelectric conversion device includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of photoelectric converters, a multilayer wiring structure arranged on the semiconductor substrate, and a planarized layer arranged on the multilayer wiring structure. The multilayer wiring structure includes a first wiring layer, an interlayer insulation film arranged to cover the first wiring layer, and a second wiring layer serving as a top wiring layer arranged on the interlayer insulation film. The planarized layer covers the interlayer insulation film and the second wiring layer. The second wiring layer is thinner than the first wiring layer. |