| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08885722B2 |
Moving picture coding method, moving picture coding apparatus, moving picture decoding method, moving picture decoding apparatus, and moving picture coding and decoding apparatus
A moving picture coding apparatus includes an intra-inter prediction unit which calculates a second motion vector by performing a scaling process on a first motion vector of a temporally neighboring corresponding block, when selectively adding, to a list, a motion vector of each of one or more corresponding blocks each of which is either a block included in a current picture to be coded and spatially neighboring a current block to be coded or a block included in a picture other than the current picture and temporally neighboring the current block, determines whether the second motion vector has a magnitude that is within a predetermined magnitude or not within the predetermined magnitude, and adds the second motion vector to the list when the intra-inter prediction unit determines that the second motion vector has a magnitude that is within the predetermined magnitude range. |
| US08885721B2 |
Encoder optimization of stereoscopic video delivery systems
Controlling a feature of an encoding process for regions of an image pattern representing more than one image when the regions include an amount of disparity in the represented images that would result in cross-contamination between the represented images if encoded with the feature. The control may be, for example, any of, turning the encoding feature off, using the encoding feature less often than when encoding an image pattern representing a single image, negatively biasing the encoding feature, and enabling the encoding feature for regions determined to have zero or near zero disparity and disabling the feature for all other regions. The represented images comprise, for example, any of a stereoscopic view, multiple stereoscopic views, multiple views of a same scene, and multiple unrelated views. |
| US08885720B2 |
Motion vector coding method and motion vector decoding method
A motion vector coding unit executes processing including a neighboring block specification step of specifying a neighboring block which is located in the neighborhood of a current block; a judgment step of judging whether or not the neighboring block has been coded using a motion vector of another block; a prediction step of deriving a predictive motion vector of the current block using a motion vector calculated from the motion vector of the other block as a motion vector of the neighboring block; and a coding step of coding the motion vector of the current block using the predictive motion vector. |
| US08885713B2 |
Moving picture prediction method, moving picture coding method and apparatus, and moving picture decoding method and apparatus
An image decoding method is provided which includes a time information determination step of determining time information of a current picture, a first reference picture referred to by the current picture and a second reference picture referred to by the current picture; a scaling parameter calculation step of calculating a scaling parameter based on a time distance between the first reference picture and a second reference picture; a weighting coefficient determination step of determining two weighting coefficients based on the scaling parameter; a predictive pixel value generation step of generating a predictive pixel value of the current picture by scaling a pixel value of the first reference picture and a pixel value of the second reference picture using the two weighting coefficients determined in the weighting coefficient determination step; and a decoding step of decoding the current picture using the predictive pixel value. |
| US08885710B2 |
Method and device for encoding/decoding video signals using base layer
The present invention relates to encoding and decoding a video signal by motion compensated temporal filtering. In one embodiment, a first sequence of frames are decoded by inverse motion compensated temporal filtering by selectively adding to a first image block in the first sequence image information, the image information being based on at least one of (1) a second image block from the first sequence and (2) a third image block from an auxiliary sequence of frames. |
| US08885709B2 |
Image decoding device, image coding device, image decoding method, image coding method, and program
An image decoding device decodes views coded using inter-view prediction even when decoding is not instantly completed. The image decoding device includes a decoding processing unit which decodes a second view coded with reference to a first view; and a buffer memory provided upstream of the decoding processing unit. When the first view and the second view are assigned with an identical decoding point in time, the decoding processing unit decodes a picture of the second view at a point in time determined by adding a delay time which has a length required to complete decoding of a picture of the first view, to the decoding point in time assigned to the picture of the second view. |
| US08885707B2 |
Image decoding apparatus and image decoding method
An image decoding apparatus and an image decoding method capable of generating a decoded image even in the case where a pixel in a block is necessary as a reference pixel, the block where an intra prediction mode specified in a stream is unavailable according to a standard, due to a transmission error, a coding-method error, or the like. An image decoding apparatus determines whether or not a reference block necessary for a specified intra prediction mode is available, based on intra-prediction mode information extracted by an intra-prediction mode extraction unit and peripheral block pixel information stored in a line memory. The image decoding apparatus includes a reference pixel determination unit which controls a switch unit; and a substitute intra-prediction image generation unit which generates a substitute intra-prediction image in the case where a reference block necessary for a specified intra prediction mode is unavailable. |
| US08885702B2 |
Rate-distortion-complexity optimization of video encoding guided by video description length
A system and method provide a video description length (VDL) guided constant quality video encoding strategy with bitrate constraint and a video coding system for optimizing encoding bitrate, distortion and complexity of an input video. The method obtains an overall VDL, temporal VDL and spatial VDL of the input video and compares the overall VDL, temporal VDL and spatial VDL of the input video with a reference VDL, temporal VDL and spatial VDL. Based on the comparison, the method adjusts the encoding bitrate, the overall encoding complexity, temporal encoding complexity and spatial encoding complexity of the input video and encodes the input video with the adjusted encoding bitrate, overall encoding complexity, temporal encoding complexity and spatial encoding complexity of the input video. |
| US08885683B2 |
Process for forming microstructure of nitride semiconductor, surface emitting laser using two-dimensional photonic crystal and production process thereof
A process for forming a microstructure of a nitride semiconductor including (1) preparing a semiconductor structure which has a second semiconductor layer formed of a group III nitride semiconductor containing at least Al formed on a principal plane of a first semiconductor layer formed of a group III nitride semiconductor containing no Al, and which has a hole that penetrates through the second semiconductor layer and is formed in the first semiconductor layer; (2) subjecting the semiconductor structure to heat treatment under a gas atmosphere including a nitrogen element after step (1) to form a crystal plane of the group III nitride semiconductor containing no Al, on at least a part of a side wall of the hole; and (3) forming a third semiconductor layer formed of a group III nitride semiconductor on the second semiconductor layer after step (2) to cover the upper part of the hole. |
| US08885681B2 |
Semiconductor laser device
A semiconductor laser device generates blue-violet light with an emission wavelength of 400 to 410 nm. The device includes an n-type group III nitride semiconductor layer, an active layer laminated on the n-type semiconductor layer and having an InGaN quantum well layer, a p-type group III nitride semiconductor layer laminated on the active layer, and a transparent electrode contacting the p-type semiconductor layer and serving as a clad. The n-type semiconductor layer includes an n-type clad layer and an n-type guide layer disposed between the clad layer and the active layer. The guide layer includes a superlattice layer in which an InGaN layer and an AlxGa1-xN layer (0≦x<1) are laminated periodically, the superlattice layer contacting the active layer and having an average refractive index of 2.6 or lower. The In composition of the InGaN layer is lower than that of the InGaN quantum well layer. |
| US08885679B1 |
Mode-hop free athermal laser
Embodiments of the invention describe integrating a phase shifting component into a cavity of a laser. Said phase shifter is capable of a continuous phase shift at a single wavelength over a large range (where the maximum energy consumption of the phase shifting component does not scale with the phase shifting range). In other words, said phase shifter is used to form a configurable optical cavity length for a laser. Embodiments of the invention thus utilize a plurality of optical cavity lengths—including one or more optical cavity lengths to potentially shift the phase of the output optical signal, to maintain a laser cavity's output wavelength and avoid spatial mode-hops in the presence of fluctuations such as temperature drift or changes to the drive current of the laser. |
| US08885676B2 |
Infrared laser
Laser devices are presented in which a graphene saturable absorber and an optical amplifier are disposed in a resonant optical cavity with an optical or electrical pump providing energy to the optical amplifier. |
| US08885670B2 |
Compression device wherein compression is adapted as a function of the transport medium, and associated decompression device, for communication equipments
A device (D1) for compression of streams of packets of data, for a communication equipment (E1) constituting a transmission end point in an Internet Protocol communication network (R), the packets of a stream each comprising, in particular, an IP header including a destination end point (E2) identifier, a session identifier and stream attributes, and said packets being intended to be transmitted after decomposition into cells. This compression device (D1) comprises processing means (MT1) responsible, if they receive a packet of a stream, for determining if the IP header of the packet can be compressed as a function of at least one chosen criterion, and for determining if the compression can lead to a reduction in the number of cells having to result from the decomposition of that packet. |
| US08885666B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing a user interface for facilitating communications between devices
An apparatus and method for providing a user interface for facilitating communications between devices are provided. According to one aspect, an interface device provides communications between a first device and a second device. The interface device has an input for receiving data in a first format from the first device. Logic within the interface device is configured to receive a request to interact with the interface device and to provide a user interface in response to receiving the request. The logic identifies a second device for receiving the data from the first device. The logic identifies a second format that is compatible with the second device and translates the data to the second format. The interface device further has an output for transmitting the translated data to the second device. |
| US08885664B1 |
Multi-rate media independent interface over a physical coding sublayer
A method for converting a data stream from a first rate to a second rate NA times greater than the first rate, such that the converted data stream conforms to a coding requirement that symbols be arranged in units of symbol length M, includes receiving, at the first rate, a data packet, and an inter-packet gap containing Y1 idle symbols, generating NA repetitions of each data symbol of the data packet, determining whether replicating each symbol of the inter-packet gap NA times would violate the coding requirement, and, at least partially in response to determining that replicating each symbol of the inter-packet gap NA times would violate the requirement, generating greater than or less than Y1*NA idle symbols. The method also includes outputting, at the second rate, the generated NA repetitions of each data symbol and the generated idle symbols. |
| US08885662B2 |
Controlling activation of electronic circuitry of data ports of a communication system
An apparatus and method of controlling activation of electronic circuitry of data ports of a communication system is disclosed. One method includes a first data port detecting a lack of data for transmission to a second data port. At least one of the first data port and a second data port deactivate electronic circuitry of at least one of the first and second data ports upon detection of the lack of data. The first and second data ports maintain synchronization with each other while the electronic circuitry is deactivated by periodically exchanging synchronization test patterns. At least one of the first data port and the second data port transmit an alert to the other of the first and second data port when data for communication is detected. The other of the first data port and the second data port activate electronic circuitry upon receiving the alert. At least one of the first data port and the second data port transmit data. |
| US08885660B2 |
Local area network of serial intelligent cells
A serial intelligent cell (SIC) and a connection topology for local area networks using Electrically-conducting media. A local area network can be configured from a plurality of SIC's interconnected so that all communications between two adjacent SIC's is both point-to-point and bidirectional. Each SIC can be connected to one or more other SIC's to allow redundant communication paths. Communications in different areas of a SIC network are independent of one another, so that there is no fundamental limit on the size or extent of a SIC network. Each SIC can optionally be connected to one or more data terminals, computers, telephones, sensors, actuators, etc., to facilitate interconnectivity among such devices. Networks according to the present invention can be configured for a variety of applications, including a local telephone system, remote computer bus extender, multiplexers, PABX/PBX functionality, security systems, and local broadcasting services. |
| US08885655B2 |
Switching matrix for interconnecting an access network and operator networks
A switching matrix connects to an access network and a set of at least two operator networks. A controller performs a method of establishing new connections across the switching matrix in response to new connection requests. The new connection requests involve a sub-set of the set of operator networks. The controller determines if the new connections can be established across the switching matrix by rearranging only existing connections across the switching matrix to the sub-set of operator networks and, in response, establishes the at least one new connection. Otherwise, the controller rearranges existing connections across the switching matrix to at least one other of the set of operator networks to establish the new connections. The controller minimizes the number of other operator networks which are involved when rearranging existing connections. The switching matrix can be a Clos switching matrix. |
| US08885649B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for implementing private network traversal
A method, an apparatus, and a system for implementing private network traversal are disclosed, where a message exchanged between a TURN server in a public network and a communications terminal in a local area network is transmitted through a pre-established websocket connection. The method includes: receiving, by the TURN server, a resource allocate request sent by the communications terminal, allocating a relay address and a resource port for the communications terminal; receiving a TURN data packet sent by the communications terminal, where the TURN data packet includes communication data and a multiplexing identifier, and sending the communication data to the remote node through the communications channel identified by the multiplexing identifier, thereby solving a problem in an existing TURN technology that in case that a firewall only opening an HTTP port is deployed, communication between a communications terminal in a local area network and a remote node cannot be implemented. |
| US08885648B2 |
Redirection of message from mobile station based on identity of mobile station
An application service utilizes a single short code for messaging service through a mobile network, even though the one service is actually supported by multiple servers or the like, typically operated by different service providers. In the examples, a third party application service type platform is associated with the common short code of the application service. The third party platform performs intelligent routing/address changes to re-direct mobile station originated messages among the equipment of the service providers. The platform may also provide short code translations of source addresses, during processing of messages directed to mobile stations from the various application servers. |
| US08885647B2 |
Method and system for domain based packet forwarding
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for swapping headers for authenticating policy based domains and tracing paths at the time of high-reliable data plane transmission. The method includes receiving packets forwarded through predetermined paths, confirming whether the received packets are normal packets, determining whether the path identification information corresponding to the paths of the received packets is present in a header information storage unit of a domain receiving the packets, swapping the headers included in the packets to swapping headers of the header information storage unit by using the identification information if it is determined that the path identification information is present, and correcting the path tracing information. By this configuration, degradation in data plane performance due to the lengths of headers can be solved. |
| US08885646B2 |
Apparatus and method for balancing load across multiple packet processing engines
A distributed packet processing apparatus capable of distributing packet load across a plurality of packet processing engines is provided. The distributed packet processing apparatus includes a plurality of processing engines each configured to process allocated packets, a first tag generating unit configured to allocate an input packet to a processing engine, which has a processing engine index corresponding to a tag index for the input packet, among the plurality of processing engines, a second tag generating unit configured to calculate a tag index for an output packet, and an index conversion unit configure to convert the tag index for the output packet to one processing engine index among a plurality of processing indexes for the plurality of the processing engines and allocates the output packet to a processing engine having the one processing engine index such that loads are distributed among the plurality of processing engines. |
| US08885640B2 |
Path control method, communication system, and communication apparatus
A path control method for controlling paths among edge nodes on a network wherein a plurality of nodes, including relay nodes and multiple edge nodes, are connected via links, the method including determining paths in a specified plurality of edge nodes, path information indicating the paths determined by an edge node that determines paths earlier is transmitted to an edge node that determines paths subsequently, each edge node that determines paths subsequently determines additional paths by prioritizing the use of paths indicated by the path information, and conducting path control on the network by using the path information obtained as a result of paths being determined by the last edge node from among the specified plurality of edge nodes. |
| US08885634B2 |
Systems and methods for carrier ethernet using referential tables for forwarding decisions
The present invention utilizes specific referential tables for forwarding decisions while maintaining current mechanisms of Ethernet addressing and QoS marking. The referential tables are utilized for forwarding decisions based on any and/or multiple fields within the packets simultaneously, such as, for example, incoming port number, incoming MAC, incoming VLAN, outgoing MAC, outgoing VLAN, P-bits, DSCP, MPLS label, TCP/UDP port numbers, IP, SIP, HTTP, and the like. A user can define the forwarding criteria based on any combination/permutation fields in the packet. Advantageously, the present invention removes the need to introduce explicit tunnel labels in the Ethernet frame in order to maintain the desired QoS within the network removing explicit labeling requirements. |
| US08885631B2 |
Multiuser detection enabled medium access control in mobile ad hoc networks
A method of providing medium access control for a wireless mobile ad hoc network includes defining a TDMA network timing frame including a data (DATA) zone having one or more time slots structured to support multiuser detection (MUD) of concurrent transmissions during each slot, a negative acknowledgment (NACK) zone during which nodes transmit requests for retransmission of packets destined to but not successfully received by the nodes, a broadcast (BC) zone during which network management messages are broadcast to the nodes, and a control (CTRL) zone. A primary master (PM) node is selected and operates as a source of network time for all the nodes. Each node synchronizes its time to that of the PM node during the CTRL zone in a distributed manner, by exchanging control messages with the PM node or other nodes located one or more hops from the PM node. |
| US08885625B2 |
Networked mobile router
A method for operating a wireless mobile router comprises the steps of storing information comprising configuration information and main server information utilizable to identify a main network server; establishing initial communication via a wireless link to a network comprising a main server and a plurality of group servers; directing the initial communication to the main server; uploading the configuration information to the main server via said network; establishing a second communication to the main server; receiving group server identification information from said main server during the second communication; storing the group server identification information comprising information identifying one or more servers corresponding with a predetermined group assigned by the main server; and utilizing the group server identification information for subsequent communication via the network. |
| US08885617B2 |
Methods and devices for employing a modulation and coding scheme for a data block
Access terminals are adapted to employing a modulation and coding scheme for a data block in various circumstances. For instance, an access terminal may determine that there is a conflict with at least some transmission timeslots of a radio block on which a data block is to be transmitted. In response to the determined conflict, the access terminal can employ a modulation and coding scheme for the data block. In some instances, the modulation and coding scheme may be changed from a previously selected scheme in response to the conflict. In other instances, the modulation and coding scheme may be initially selected in response to the conflict. With the modulation and coding scheme employed, some of the RF bursts of the data block can be transmitted during transmission timeslots of the radio block that are not conflicted. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described. |
| US08885616B2 |
Enhancing sounding reference signals (SRS)
A method for enhancing a sounding reference signal (SRS) in a non-root wireless communication device is disclosed. The method determines that all SRS transmissions for the wireless communication device are to occur in an uplink pilot time slot (UpPTS) portion of a transition subframe. The method also determines whether available uplink bandwidth for the UpPTS portion is greater than available uplink bandwidth for a normal uplink subframe. A current SRS is transmitted using the available uplink bandwidth for UpPTS portion when the available uplink bandwidth for the UpPTS portion is greater than available uplink bandwidth for the normal uplink subframe. |
| US08885611B2 |
Apparatus, method and computer program product providing uplink gain factor for high speed uplink packet access
Apparatus, methods and computer program products operate a radio network controller in a wireless communications system to determine a factor to be used by user equipment operative in the wireless communications network to determine a gain factor for an E-TFC based on the gain factor of a reference E-TFC; and to signal the factor to the user equipment. The radio network controller may select the factor based on at least one criterion. In another aspect, apparatus, methods and computer program products operate user equipment to receive a factor from a wireless communications network, and to use the factor transmitted by the wireless communications network to determine a gain factor that relates a data signal to be transmitted by the user equipment in a data channel and a control signal transmitted by the electronic device in a control channel, where the control signal transmitted in the control channel carries information for use in receiving the data signal. In additional aspects, the user equipment is further configured to select a formula for use in determining the gain factor in dependence on signaling received from the wireless communications network. |
| US08885609B2 |
Efficient handover of media communications in heterogeneous IP networks
An example method may involve using a first IP:port number to receive from a second IP:port number a first media control channel stream including quality information indicative of a quality of transmission of a first media stream being sent through a network; sending from the first IP:port number to the second IP:port number a second media control channel stream including quality information indicative of a quality of transmission of a second media stream; based on a network handover request, sending from a third IP:port number to the second IP:port number a third media control channel stream including quality information indicative of a quality of transmission of a third media stream being received through an alternate network; and using the third IP:port number to receive from the second IP:port number a fourth media control channel stream including quality information indicative of a quality of transmission of a fourth media stream. |
| US08885605B2 |
Method and apparatus for explicit signaling of baton handover in TD-SCDMA systems
Physical layer bits in a Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) system control a baton handover. A method for enabling a baton handover from a source cell to a target cell includes tuning an uplink from a source channel of the source cell to a target channel of the target cell. The method also includes receiving a physical layer downlink switch command to switch a downlink from the source cell to the target cell. The method further includes tuning the downlink from the source channel of the source cell to the target channel of the target cell, in response to the physical layer downlink switch command, thus implementing the handover from the source cell to the target cell. |
| US08885604B2 |
Method for transmitting packet switched data in a cellular radio communicaton system during cell change
A first base station associated with a first radio cell is used to transmit data packets in a second sequence to at least one subscriber station by at least one first radio channel. The subscriber station sorts out the received data packets into a first sequence in an intermediate storage unit and the base station associated with the first radio cell is used to derive and/or represent status information relating to the content of the intermediate storage unit in a status memory unit. Transmission of the data packets is relayed from the first to the second radio cell and data packets are transmitted by a base station associated with the second radio cell to the subscriber station by at least one other radio channel. The status information is transferred from the base station associated with the first radio cell to the base station associated with the second radio cell. |
| US08885599B2 |
Handover of circuit-switched call to packet-switched call, and vice versa
A method includes, during an ongoing call of a wireless user terminal in one of a circuit switched domain or a packet switched domain, initiating a handover procedure; setting parameters allowing the other domain to determine the actual resources needed to continue the call in the other domain, sending an indication of these parameters towards a network element of the other domain and completing the handover procedure. When the ongoing call is in the circuit switched domain completing the handover procedure results in handing over the ongoing call to the packet switched domain, and when the ongoing call is in the packet switched domain completing the handover procedure results in handing over the ongoing call to the circuit switched domain. For example, the circuit switched domain may be a GERAN network and the packet switched domain may be an E-UTRAN (LTE) network. In the GERAN network the handover procedure may be accomplished at least in part through a Gs interface between a mobile switching center and a serving general packet radio system support node and/or through a Gb interface between a base station system and the serving general packet radio system support node. The handover procedure is accomplished at least in part by signaling conducted over an S3 interface between the serving general packet radio system support node of the GERAN network and the mobility management entity of the E-UTRAN network. |
| US08885598B2 |
Radio terminal and communication terminal
A radio terminal 10 includes a radio communication unit 11 configured to receive packets at predetermined intervals through a first network 100 or a second network 200, a buffer 15 configured to temporarily store packets received by the radio communication unit 11, another radio communication unit 11 configured to transmit a preparation request for handover from the first network 100 to the second network 200, and an application processor 16 configured to reproduce the packets stored in the buffer 15 at a predetermined rate determined according to the predetermined interval. The application processor 16 stops the adaptive buffer control in response to the transmission of the handover preparation request. |
| US08885597B2 |
Radio communication system and communication method
A radio communication system includes a plurality of base stations with supporting a plurality of radio access schemes. Two or more base stations support a predetermined radio access scheme in common. A mobile station makes initial connection to one of the two or more base stations according to the predetermined radio access scheme, to allow communication with the one base station. |
| US08885595B2 |
Method and device for control information transmission 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 through a PUCCH in a wireless system and to a device therefore. |
| US08885587B2 |
Method, base station, and user equipment for feeding back ACK/NACK information for carrier aggregation
The present invention provides a method, a base station, and a user equipment for feeding back ACK/NACK information for carrier aggregation. The method includes: configuring a common field preset in DCI as at least one type of command field related to ACK/NACK feedback of at least two types of command fields related to ACK/NACK feedback, where the common field can be configured as the command fields related to ACK/NACK feedback; and sending the DCI to a user equipment, so that the user equipment feeds back ACK/NACK information according to the DCI. The present invention may realize backward compatibility of the ACK/NACK information feedback with an LTE system in carrier aggregation. |
| US08885585B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for triggering resource configuration
A method, apparatus, and system for triggering resource configuration are disclosed. The method includes: if user equipment (UE) in Cell_Paging Channel (Cell_PCH) state figures out that the total amount of buffer occupancy at the radio link control (RLC) layer or the Transport Channel Traffic Volume is larger than configured threshold, the UE carries an indication in a MEASUREMENT REPORT message and transmit the message to the network side, wherein the indication is used to trigger the network side to configure resources for the UE. With the present invention, the resource configuration is quickly triggered, and the delay of the UE in the data transmission is minimized. |
| US08885576B2 |
Method for multiplexing data and control information
A method for multiplexing a data information stream and two types of control information streams in a wireless mobile communication system is described. The method includes mapping first control information in units of resource elements onto a matrix for generating input information mapped to a resource block, and mapping second control information onto the matrix so as to map the second control information to resource elements adjacent in a time axis to resource elements allocated for a reference signal in the resource block. The first control information is mapped downwards starting from the first row so as not to overwrite the resource element allocated for the reference signal. |
| US08885575B2 |
Relay link control channel design
A method for wireless communication is provided. The method comprises transmitting a relay downlink control information (R-DCI) block in a plurality of resource blocks. |
| US08885574B2 |
Communication control method and communication system for starting secondary usage of an assigned spectrum
There is provided a communication control method comprising the steps of: providing an instruction for determining availability of usage of a second communication service using a part or whole of a spectrum assigned to a first communication service from a first communication device to a second communication device; providing an instruction for sensing a communication environment from the second communication device to a communication device located nearby; transmitting sensed data obtained by sensing a communication environment from a third communication device located near the second communication device to the second communication device; determining availability of usage of the second communication service based on the sensed data by the second communication device; transmitting a determination result on availability of usage of the second communication service from the second communication device to the first communication device; and permitting usage of the second communication service in accordance with the determination result received from the second communication device by the first communication device. |
| US08885573B2 |
Method and apparatus for control of common control channel transmission over common enhanced dedicated channel resources in CELL—FACH state
A method and apparatus provide for the control of wireless communication signals over an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) resource while operating in the CELL_FACH state with an allocated E-DCH radio network temporary identifier (E-RNTI). A determination is made that a periodic cell update timer is expired. In response to the periodic cell update timer expiring, a determination is made whether the WTRU has an allocated E-DCH resource. If the WTRU has an allocated E-DCH resource, the periodic cell update timer is re-started without performing a periodic cell update. |
| US08885568B2 |
Policy application method for machine type communication, and policy and charging enforcement function
A policy application method for Machine Type Communication (MTC) and a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) are provided by the disclosure. The method comprises that in a course in which an MTC device attached to a PCEF establishes an Internet Protocol-Connectivity Access Network (IP-CAN) session, the PCEF locally obtains a group policy corresponding to a device group to which the MTC device belongs (S302); the group policy is applied in the IP-CAN session (S304). The technical solution of the disclosure reduces the time required by applying the MTC policy by the PCEF, saves network resources, and increases utilization of the network resources. |
| US08885567B2 |
Reducing complexity for implementing interference cancellation applied to physical channels of a wireless network
A system for wireless communication reduces implementation complexity for symbol level interference cancellation as applied to physical control and data channels, such as the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). A user equipment (UE) categorizes tones of a signal into tone groups. A different noise whitening matrix is applied to each tone group for demodulation and decoding of the signal. |
| US08885566B2 |
Mobile communication system, controller and method
A controller in a mobile communication system includes a management unit (151) configured to manage a resource usage condition in the mobile communication system and a determination unit (152) configured to determine a timer value for determining a frequency of transmitting a state transition request signal for causing a user equipment to transition to a power saving state after completion of communication of a data signal depending on the resource usage condition, and the timer value determined by the determination unit (152) is broadcast to the user equipment. |
| US08885560B2 |
Cellular communication system support for limited bandwidth communication devices
A communication system node transmits first control channel information on a control channel that extends over a first bandwidth of a radiofrequency resource. The first control channel information is necessary to enable a first type of communication device, capable of receiving a signal having the first bandwidth, to establish a connection with a host cell. A MIB, occupying a second bandwidth-size part of the first bandwidth, is transmitted. The second bandwidth is smaller than the first bandwidth and is receivable by a second type of communication device having reduced receive bandwidth capabilities. The MIB has a first part comprising first part information necessary to enable the first type of communication device to establish the connection with the host cell, and a second part comprising second part information directly or indirectly enabling the second type of communication device to obtain parameters that enable connection establishment with the host cell. |
| US08885558B2 |
System and method for multiple access sensor networks
A method enables a radio receiver to distinguish sensor probes supplying data to the receiver over a long period of time. The method includes each probe generating a random number sent to the receiver to identify the probe. Each probe and the receiver also uses a pseudo-random process to identify a time of transmission for each probe. The pseudo-random process helps keep the transmission times for the probes separate in the presence of oscillator drift. If a transmission collision occurs, the receiver ignores all probes in the collision and waits until the pseudo-random process separates the probe transmissions. |
| US08885553B2 |
Packet routing method, proxy server and apparatus
A method is described of routing a packet comprising routing information between a mobile host and a correspondent host in respective first and further network domains, at least the first network domain comprising a plurality of subnets, said mobile host being attached to one of said subnets. The method comprises registering the mobile host with the first network domain, said registration including assigning a global IP address and a local IP address to said mobile host, said local IP address being associated with the subnet to which the mobile host is attached; communicating said local IP address to said mobile host; using the global IP address as the routing information between the domains; reformatting said packet by replacing the global IP address with the local IP address upon receipt of the packet in the first network domain; and communicating the reformatted request to the mobile host via the associated subnet. A proxy server and apparatus for use in this method are also disclosed. |
| US08885549B2 |
Bandwidth and burst rate allocation in very small aperture terminal (VSAT) networks
A device receives bandwidth information associated with a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) network. The device calculates burstable and allocated bandwidths for VSAT carriers of the VSAT network to ensure that the VSAT carriers have bandwidth available for traffic that exceeds a minimum target burstable bandwidth. The device also implements the burstable and allocated bandwidths in the VSAT network. |
| US08885548B2 |
Apparatus and method for admitting new devices in a self-healing, self-organizing mesh network
Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for admitting new devices in a self-healing, self-organizing mesh network. An example embodiment is configured to listen on a dynamically-determined frequency for the network management message; to send jamming messages to neighbor nodes in the wireless mesh network, if the network management message is not received; to receive the network management message from a neighbor node in response to the jamming messages; to synchronize a node timer to the received network management message; and to begin data communications with neighbor sensors using the synchronized node timer. |
| US08885546B2 |
Control station apparatus and control method thereof, communication apparatus and control method thereof, and wireless communication system
A control station apparatus performs wireless communication with a plurality of communication apparatuses and sends data to the communication apparatuses. The control station apparatus receives, from each of the communication apparatuses, identification information of other communication apparatuses with which the communication apparatus is capable of wireless communication; selects, from among the plurality of communication apparatuses, at least one relay apparatus that relays transmission of the data, based on the received identification information; determines a communication timing for the relaying performed by the selected relay apparatus; and notifies the selected relay apparatus of an instruction to perform data relay and the communication timing. The control station selects the relay apparatus so that a communication apparatus that receives the data from the control station apparatus via two or more transmission paths is present. |
| US08885543B2 |
Mobile communication method and relay node
Interference to a reception circuit of a relay node itself is reduced, which occurs when transmission-and-reception process in a Un radio bearer and transmission-and-reception process in a Uu radio bearer are simultaneously performed. A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes a step of determining, by a relay node RN, whether it is necessary to perform the scheduling of a second timing such that the second timing does not overlap a first timing in a time direction, based on a first operating frequency f1 used in a radio zone between the relay node RN and a mobile station UE and a second operating frequency f2 used in a radio zone between a radio base station DeNB and the relay node RN, and a step of notifying, by the relay node RN, the radio base station DeNB of the determination result. |
| US08885542B2 |
Quality of service control in a relay
A method in a communications system in which a plurality of user equipments are transmitting data to a donor node via a relay node, the plurality of user equipments each storing the data in its own UE buffer prior to transmission to the relay node, the relay node storing the data received from the plurality of user equipments in a relay buffer prior to transmission to the donor node. The method comprises at the relay node, sending a relay buffer status report from the relay node to the donor node when a buffered data value passes a threshold value. The buffered data value representing either data stored in the UE buffers or data stored in the relay buffer. |
| US08885541B2 |
Extension of UE-RS to DWPTS
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate sending and/or receiving user equipment specific reference signals (UE-RSs) in a wireless communication environment. A UE-RS pattern can be selected, yielded, etc. based upon a number of symbols from a subframe utilized for downlink transmission. At least one time domain component of the UE-RS pattern can vary based upon the number of symbols from the subframe utilized for the downlink transmission. For instance, the at least one time domain component can be punctured, time-shifted, and so forth. Further, UE-RSs can be mapped to resource elements of the subframe as a function of the UE-RS pattern. Moreover, a UE can utilize the UE-RS pattern to detect UE-RSs on the resource elements of the subframe. Further, the UE can estimate a channel based upon the UE-RSs. |
| US08885538B2 |
Method and apparatus for ascynchronous direct link setup in WLAN system
The present invention provides a Direct Link Setup (DLS) method performed by an Access Point (AP) in a Wireless Local Access Network (WLAN) system. The method includes receiving a DLS request frame, requesting to set up a Direct Link (DL) from a DLS initiator, transmitting an Async-DLS request frame including information about a channel on which the DL is scheduled to set up to a DLS responder indicated by the DLS request frame, receiving a DLS response frame from the DLS responder in response to the Async-DLS request frame, and transmitting an Async-DLS response frame, including the information about the channel for which the DLS will be performed in the DLS response frame, to the DLS initiator. |
| US08885533B2 |
Enhancement of slotted mode operation for wireless communication
Methods, apparatus and systems for enhanced slotted mode operation for wireless communication are disclosed. A first control message indicative of a first sleep cycle duration is received. When the first control message includes a first message field, a second control message that includes a second field indicative of a second sleep cycle duration that is greater than the first sleep cycle duration is transmitted. |
| US08885532B2 |
Method and device for controlling MBMS receiving in a wireless communication system
The present invention provides a method of receiving a multimedia broadcast/multicast service in a user equipment of a wireless communication system based on MBSFN transmission and a method of assisting the user equipment to receive the service in the corresponding base station; wherein the user equipment receives a transport block from the base station in a predefined period; and then judges whether a notification indicator in the transport block is activated, if so, then judges whether a service identification of a multimedia broadcast/multicast service subscribed to by the user equipment is included in a transport block including a control signaling in the transport block, if so, then receives the multimedia broadcast/multicast service. By implementing the present invention, a user terminal in IDLE mode only needs a predefined period such as a DRX period to wake up to receive the notification indicator to judge whether a new service will start without waking up at extra time. |
| US08885531B1 |
Power save schemes for access point solutions
Apparatus having corresponding computer-readable media comprise: a host device comprising a first network interface configured to communicate over a wired local-area network, and a first processor; and a wireless network device comprising a second network interface configured to communicate over a wireless local-area network, and a second processor configured to cause the second network interface to transmit IEEE 802.11 beacon frames and IEEE 802.11 probe response frames over the wireless local-area network without communicating with the first processor of the host device. |
| US08885530B2 |
Method and system for power management in an ad hoc network
A method and system may transmit during a traffic indication window, such as an ATIM window, a frame indicating a power management mode and may then transition to the power management mode, possibly before the end of the traffic indication window. Another method and system may receive or transmit during a beacon interval an indicator of a desire to enter a sleep state, then transmit or receive an indicator of a desire to enter the sleep state, and then enter the sleep state prior to the end of the beacon interval. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08885522B2 |
Flexible alerting for integrated cellular and VoIP
An integrated cellular/Voice over IP (VoIP) telephone system including a flexible alerting system, which in response to an inbound call placed to a pilot telephone number, routes a first call leg to a cellular telephone assigned to the pilot telephone number and a second call leg to a telephone number. The telephone system includes a VoIP server configured to establish an inbound call to a VoIP client and establish an outbound call setting caller identification data corresponding to the pilot telephone number, responsive to an outbound call by the VoIP client. An outbound call from the VoIP client to the pilot telephone number is automatically routed to a voice mail system unless otherwise indicated. Based on an indication to not use a pilot telephone number for caller identification, an outbound call is established from the VoIP client to the cellular telephone, without being automatically directed to the voice mail system. |
| US08885515B2 |
Wireless access point
An electronic assembly includes a power supply, a wireless access point, and wired network connectivity. Power for the wireless access point may come from the power supply, or alternatively, from power through the wired network. The power supply can also provide removable power to a portable information device. The wireless access point may optionally be configured to communicate wirelessly only with one particular wireless client. |
| US08885514B2 |
Assigning source nodes to a select group in a wireless communication network
Implementations and techniques for assigning source nodes to a select group in a wireless communication network are generally disclosed. |
| US08885511B2 |
Method for self organizing network operation
The present invention relates to wireless cellular telecommunication networks and, in particular, to control and management of self organizing wireless cellular telecommunication network. A method for network planning and frequency optimization in LTE networks by determining the optimal base station configuration parameters, comprises a base station initialization, an initial base station configuration, an iterative measurement procedure, an optimization process, a verification of operation, and a periodical maintenance procedure. |
| US08885506B2 |
Energy efficiency ethernet with assymetric low power idle
Energy efficient Ethernet with asymmetric low power idle. Low power idle mode is typically leveraged when both direction of a link do not have data traffic to transmit. Such a requirement reduces the application of low power idle due to the frequent existence of data traffic in only one direction. An asymmetric low power idle mode enables reduction in power consumption and signal emissions even when one direction has data traffic to transmit. |
| US08885504B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for bandwidth aggregation of mobile internet access node
The embodiment of the disclosure discloses a method, apparatus and system for bandwidth aggregation of a MiAN. The method is applied in an aggregation system. The aggregation system comprises a master MiAN and one or more slave MiANs, the master MiAN and the one or more slave MiANs are connected to a WAN via WAN links respectively corresponding to the master MiAN and the one or more slave MiANs, the master MiAN establishes communication link with the one or more slave MiANs via a proximity interface. |
| US08885503B2 |
Multi-carrier satellite network supporting heterogeneous terminals
In a satellite communication system, comprising a hub and a plurality of heterogeneous terminals, the hub may split a bandwidth segment designated for a forward channel into at least two carriers, wherein some of the terminals may listen on a first carrier and some other terminals may listen on the at least second carrier. In this system, the hub may re-arrange the split of the bandwidth segment between the various carriers populating it in real-time or substantially in real-time, while the carriers are actively transmitted, and without causing loss of service and/or loss of data to terminals listening on those carriers. The terminals may be configured to track the carriers as they are re-arranged and to maintain seamless service to the end user throughout the re-arrangement process. |
| US08885502B2 |
Feedback protocol for end-to-end multiple path network systems
A method, system, and computer program product for providing feedback over a multiple path network is provided. A first device sends a transmissions to a second device over at least two different paths of the network. Using information collected as a result of receiving the transmissions, the second device aggregates data regarding the performance of each of the paths together into a feedback message. The second device then sends this feedback message to the first device over one path of the network. The first device uses the data in the feedback message in its calculations for determining the relative performance of each path. The amount of traffic sent along each path is adjusted as appropriate, based on these calculations. |
| US08885497B2 |
Congestion avoidance for link capacity adjustment scheme (LCAS)
A device determines a high watermark threshold for a subrate service, compares a traffic demand to the high watermark threshold, and adds a temporary bandwidth to an original bandwidth available to the subrate service if the traffic demand is greater than or equal to the high watermark threshold. |
| US08885495B1 |
Method and apparatus for facilitating transmission of large frames
A minimum modulation and coding scheme (MCS) is determined based on a physical layer (PIHY) data unit size or media access control layer (MAC) data unit size. Data units are transmitted according to an MCS that is equal to or exceeds the minimum MCS. |
| US08885492B2 |
Methods and apparatus for analyzing network traffic in a network including a plurality of network analyzers
Methods and apparatus for analyzing network traffic in a network are disclosed herein. The network may include a plurality of network analyzers. An method for analyzing network traffic may include: receiving a data packet at a first network element including a first header that indicates a destination address of a second network element; generating a new data packet including a copy of at least a portion of the received data packet and a second header that indicates a destination address of a plurality of network elements that are configured to monitor the network traffic; transmitting the received data packet to the second network element; and separately transmitting the new data packet. The new data packet may be replicated by one or more network elements along transmission paths between the first network element and the plurality of network elements that are configured to monitor the network traffic. |
| US08885490B2 |
Failure notification in a network having serially connected nodes
Multicast capabilities of a link state protocol controlled network are used to accelerate the flooding advertisement of topology change notifications within portions of the network. This flooding mechanism may be particularly efficient in a network with a large number of two-connected nodes such as a ring network architecture. A control plane specific multicast group address is used when flooding topology change notifications, and a process such as reverse path forwarding check is used as an additional control on forwarding of the notification to prevent looping of control plane packets. Two-connected nodes insert a forwarding entry into their FIB to enable frames containing the control message to be forwarded via the data plane on to the downstream node so that propagation of the control message along a chain of two-connected nodes may occur at data plane speeds. |
| US08885489B2 |
Method and system for audio/video connection maintenance
Embodiments of the invention provide connection maintenance for communication of audio/video (AV) information. One implementation comprises transmitting audio/video (AV) information as multiple spatial streams from a wireless transmitter to at least one wireless receiver over a wireless link, wherein each spatial stream is targeted to one of multiple AV devices connected to the wireless receiver. Receiving the AV information at the wireless receiver and providing the AV information from each spatial stream to a target AV device connected to the wireless receiver via a communication link, wherein each communication link corresponds to a spatial stream. Detecting connection status information for the wireless link and the communication links. Transmitting the connection status information from the wireless receiver to the wireless transmitter. |
| US08885484B2 |
Bootstrapping fault detection sessions over a P2MP tunnel
A method for detecting faults associated with a tunnel delivering multicast traffic from a source provider edge router (PE) to each of a plurality of destination PEs, the method using a routing protocol such as BGP to communicate route information to destination PEs, and a fault detection protocol such as BFD to detect tunnel faults. |
| US08885483B2 |
System and method for testing a data packet signal transceiver
A system and method for testing signal reception by a data packet signal transceiver. By monitoring signals provided to and returning from a device under test (DUT), e.g., stimulus and response signals, respectively, it can be determined whether and when the DUT has received a faulty data packet or received a valid data packet in a faulty manner. When such events occur, appropriate control signals are provided for instructing the test signal reception and analysis subsystem (e.g., a vector signal analyzer) to capture and retain for analysis such faulty data packet or valid data packet received in a faulty manner. This enables the data packet reception test results to identify the number of data packets correctly received within the prescribed time interval and identify which data packet reception faults are due to reception of a faulty data packet or reception of a valid data packet in a faulty manner. |
| US08885481B2 |
System and method for hybrid telecommunication
A hybrid telecommunication system for providing data to a requesting mobile device has been disclosed. The system includes a base station server adapted to receive the data request signals. The base station server is adapted to sense the density of current data signals on the conventional wireless network and subsequently redirect at least some of the received data request signals from the conventional wireless network to the hybrid data server connected to a wireline network in the event that the density of data signals present on the conventional wireless network exceeds a pre-determined threshold value. Once the data request signals are redirected to the hybrid data server, the rest of the communication to and from the requesting mobile device takes place through a private, wireless communication bandwidth. |
| US08885480B2 |
Packet priority in a network processor
In a network processor, a “port-kind” identifier (ID) is assigned to each port. Parsing circuitry employs the port-kind ID to select the configuration information associate with a received packet. The port kind ID can also be stored at a data structure presented to software, along with a larger port number (indicating an interface and/or channel). Based on the port kind ID and extracted information about the packet, a backpressure ID is calculated for the packet. The backpressure ID is implemented to assign a priority to the packet, as well as determine whether a traffic threshold is exceeded, thereby enabling a backpressure signal to limit packet traffic associated with the particular backpressure ID. |
| US08885474B2 |
Method for reverse link congestion overload control in wireless high speed data applications
The number of Reverse Activity Bits (RABs) equal to “1” per frame is a Congestion Overload (CO) metric used to determine whether the reverse link in a wireless communications system is in a congestion overload state due to a reverse link RF overload. When the value of the CO metric exceeds a first predetermined threshold that is indicative of a congestion overload condition, the system enters a block state where all new connection requests are blocked. Once in the block state, if the value of the CO metric does not decrease but continues to increase and exceeds a second higher threshold, the system enters a mute state. In the mute state a predetermined large percentage of existing active calls are muted. Specifically, a message is sent downlink to specific ATs instructing them to reduce their transmission rates to zero but to still maintain their active connections. |
| US08885463B1 |
Path computation element communication protocol (PCEP) extensions for stateful label switched path management
In general, techniques are described for extending a path computation element (PCE) communication protocol (PCEP) to support messages that enable PCEs to actively modify Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) for Traffic Engineering Label Switched Paths (TE LSPs) in and across network domains. In one example, an LSP database of a router includes configuration data for one or more LSPs configured in the router and further includes LSP state information specifying a current state of all LSPs of the router. A path computation client (PCC) of a router establishes an extended PCEP session and synchronizes LSP state information to a stateful PCE using the extended PCEP session. Subsequently, the stateful PCE sends an LSP update request to the PCC in the extended PCEP session, wherein the LSP update request includes one or more updated parameters for the LSP. The PCC then re-signals the LSP through the network according to the updated parameters. |
| US08885462B2 |
Fast repair of a bundled link interface using packet replication
In one embodiment, a packet switching device sends packets to be sent from a single link of a bundled link interface to multiple egress network processing units (on a same or different line cards). A single one of these multiple egress network processing units is configured to be in the active mode sending particular sets of packets. The other egress network processing units are configured for these particular sets of packets to be in the non-active mode, and hence, will correspondingly drop these particular sets of packets. In case of failure, an egress network processing unit can quickly (e.g., changing a flag) be changed to the active mode to quickly reduce or eliminate loss of packets. |
| US08885449B2 |
Polarization rotator for thermally assisted magnetic recording
A process sequence for forming a waveguide structure with a light polarization rotator section that converts transverse electric light from a TE light source to transverse magnetic light which is subsequently coupled to a plasmon generator (PG) is disclosed. The light polarization rotator section has a length determined by TE LD light wavelength, and the effective mode index of the two orthogonal fundamental modes, and a slope is formed in one side of the symmetric structure with a 45 degree angle with respect to a bottom surface. Offsets that narrow the cross-track width may be formed on the two sides of the light polarization rotator section to improve symmetry for higher TE to TM polarization conversion efficiency. |
| US08885446B2 |
Electronic timepiece
An electronic timepiece has a case of which at least part is conductive; a clock chip that keeps and displays time on a time display means; a receiver chip that receives a radio signal through a GPS antenna; a storage battery; a timekeeping voltage conversion unit that converts output voltage from the storage battery to drive voltage for the clock chip; and a receiver voltage conversion unit that converts output voltage from the storage battery to drive voltage for the receiver chip. The output terminal of the timekeeping voltage conversion unit is connected to the clock chip and the case, and the output terminal of the receiver voltage conversion unit is connected to the receiver chip. |
| US08885441B1 |
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. |
| US08885433B2 |
Semiconductor device having fuse circuit
A semiconductor device includes a pulse generation circuit configured to generate an enable pulse signal, which is activated in response to an active command signal and deactivated in response to a column command signal, and a plurality of fuse circuits configured to store repair addresses for a column repair and to output stored repair addresses in response to the enable pulse signal. |
| US08885432B2 |
Semiconductor device that performs refresh operation
A method for refreshing memory cells in a DRAM includes receiving a refresh command, receiving a refresh mode specifying signal in synchronization with the refresh command, refreshing a first quantity of memory cells when the refresh mode specifying signal has a first value, and refreshing a second quantity of memory cells, at least double the first quantity, when the refresh mode specifying signal has a second value. |
| US08885417B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
In writing, a first write operation to a first memory cell is executed; and a second write operation for providing a first threshold-voltage distribution to a second memory cell adjacent to the first one, is executed. The first threshold voltage distribution is a lowest threshold-voltage distribution among the positive threshold voltage distributions. It is verified whether a desired threshold voltage distribution has been obtained in the first memory cell or not (first write verify operation), moreover, it is verified whether a first threshold voltage distribution or a threshold voltage distribution having a voltage level larger than the first threshold-voltage distribution has been obtained in the second memory cell or not (second write verify operation). A control circuit outputs results of the first write verify operation and the second write verify operation. |
| US08885414B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device of an embodiment includes a p-type semiconductor substrate, a first P-well formed in the semiconductor substrate, and on which a plurality of memory cells is formed, an first N-well surrounding the first P-well and electrically separating the first P-well from the semiconductor substrate, a first negative voltage generation unit configured to generate a first negative voltage, a boost unit configured to boost a voltage and generate a boosted voltage, and a well voltage transmission unit connected to the first negative voltage generation unit, the boost unit, and the first P-well, and configured to switch a voltage between the first negative voltage and the boosted voltage, the voltage being applied to the first P-well. |
| US08885412B2 |
Erase operation with controlled select gate voltage for 3D non-volatile memory
An erase process for a 3D stacked memory device controls a drain-side select gate (SGD) and a source-side select gate (SGS) of a NAND string. In one approach, SGD and SGS are driven to provide a predictable drain-to-gate voltage across the select gates while an erase voltage is applied to a bit line or source line. A more consistent gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL) at the select gates can be generated to charge up the body of the NAND string. Further, the select gate voltage can be stepped up with the erase voltage to avoid an excessive drain-to-gate voltage across the select gates which causes degradation. The step up in the select gate voltage can begin with the first erase-verify iteration of an erase operation, or at a predetermined or adaptively determined erase-verify iteration, such as based on a number of program-erase cycles. |
| US08885409B2 |
Non-volatile memory, method of operating the same, memory system including the same, and method of operating the system
A nonvolatile memory device includes an array of nonvolatile memory cells and a plurality of page buffers configured to receive a plurality of pages of data read from the same page in the array using different read voltage conditions. A control circuit is provided, which is electrically coupled to the plurality of page buffers. The control circuit is configured to perform a test operation by driving the plurality of page buffers with control signals that cause generation within the nonvolatile memory device of a string of XOR data bits, which are derived from a comparison of at least two of the multiple pages of data read from the same page of nonvolatile memory cells using the different read voltage conditions. An input/output device is provided, which is configured to output test data derived from the string of XOR data bits to another device located external to the nonvolatile memory device. |
| US08885403B2 |
Programming a split gate bit cell
A method of programming a split gate memory applies voltages differently to the terminals of the selected cells and the deselected cells. For cells being programming by being coupled to a selected row and a selected column, coupling the control gate to a first voltage, coupling the select gate to a second voltage, programming is achieved by coupling the drain terminal to a current sink that causes the split gate memory cell to be conductive, and coupling the source terminal to a third voltage. For cells not being programmed by not being coupled to a selected row, non-programming is maintained by coupling the control gate to the first voltage, coupling the select gate to a fourth voltage which is greater than a voltage applied to the select gate during a read in which the split gate memory cells are deselected but sufficiently low to prevent programming. |
| US08885402B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit system and method for driving the same
A semiconductor integrated circuit system includes a phase-change line including a first phase-change area constituting a first memory cell and a second phase-change area constituting a second memory cell, a write current providing unit configured to phase-change a selected one of the first and second phase-change areas, and a phase-change compensation unit configured to restore the other of the first and second phase-change areas by compensating for a dummy phase-change caused in the other phase-change area due to a phase-change of the selected phase-change area. |
| US08885398B2 |
Spin current generator for STT-MRAM or other spintronics applications
Spin current generators and systems and methods for employing spin current generators. A spin current generator may be configured to generate a spin current polarized in one direction, or a spin current selectively polarized in two directions. The spin current generator may by employed in spintronics applications, wherein a spin current is desired. |
| US08885396B2 |
Memory device and method for manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a memory device includes: a first signal line; a second signal line; a transistor; a memory region; and a conductive region. The transistor controls a conduction of each of a current in a first direction flowing between the first line and the second line and a current in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The memory region has a first magnetic tunnel junction element which is connected between the first line and one end of the transistor, a magnetization direction of which becomes parallel when a current not less than a first parallel threshold value flows in the first direction, and the magnetization direction of which becomes antiparallel when a current not less than a first antiparallel threshold value flows in the second direction. The conductive region is connected between the second line and the other end of the transistor. |
| US08885394B2 |
Semiconductor device with complementary global bit lines, operating method, and memory system
A memory device includes sections arranged between a global bit line and a complementary global bit line, and having a section control unit disposed between first and second memory cell groups and connected between the global bit line and the complementary global bit line to provide a first read signal and a second read signal. A signal converter receives the first and second read signals and generates a stable controlled read signal indicative of a data value stored in the memory cell. A latch unit receives and latches the controlled read signal provided by the signal converter to generate a latched read signal. |
| US08885393B2 |
Memory array voltage source controller for retention and write assist
A voltage source controller for a memory array includes an input coupled to a voltage source, an output coupled to one or more memory cells of a memory array, where the output is configured to provide a cell source voltage to the memory cells. The controller also includes a switch circuit configured to: receive a retention enable signal, a write assist enable signal, and a standard mode enable signal; and based on the retention enable signal, write assist enable signal, and standard mode enable signal, selectively set the cell source voltage for one or more of the memory cells to one of: a retention voltage, a write assist voltage, or a standard mode voltage, where the retention voltage and the write assist voltage are less than the standard mode voltage. |
| US08885390B2 |
Resistor thin film MTP memory
An integrated circuit is formed having an array of memory cells located in the dielectric stack above a semiconductor substrate. Each memory cell has two adjustable resistors and two heating elements. A dielectric material separates the heating elements from the adjustable resistors. One heating element alters the resistance of one of the resistors by applying heat thereto to write data to the memory cell. The other heating element alters the resistance of the other resistor by applying heat thereto to erase data from the memory cell. |
| US08885389B2 |
Continuous mesh three dimensional non-volatile storage with vertical select devices
A three-dimensional array adapted for memory elements that reversibly change a level of electrical conductance in response to a voltage difference being applied across them. Memory elements are formed across a plurality of planes positioned different distances above a semiconductor substrate. Bit lines to which the memory elements of all planes are connected are oriented vertically from the substrate and through the plurality of planes. |
| US08885381B2 |
Three dimensional non-volatile storage with dual gated vertical select devices
A three-dimensional array adapted for memory elements that reversibly change a level of electrical conductance in response to a voltage difference being applied across them. Memory elements are formed across a plurality of planes positioned different distances above a semiconductor substrate. Bit lines to which the memory elements of all planes are connected are oriented vertically from the substrate and through the plurality of planes. |
| US08885376B2 |
Switching regulator with integrated resonant circuit for ripple filtering
A switching regulator IC contains both switching regulator circuitry and an inductor and a capacitor connected in parallel to form a resonant circuit having an associated notch filter frequency response arranged such that, when connected to receive the regulated output voltage, the resonant circuit attenuates the ripple component. This is accomplished by matching the resonant notch to the ripple's fundamental frequency, either manually or automatically. In addition, the resonant circuit's inductor and capacitor can act in concert with decoupling capacitors coupled to the load to form a low pass filter which attenuates harmonics of the ripple's fundamental frequency. |
| US08885373B1 |
Earth leakage current control for a multi-level grounded inverter
An energy conversion system and method perform active control of leakage current in multi-level grounded inverters. First and second subsystems each include positive and negative DC source terminals, at least first and second capacitors coupled between the positive and negative terminals to define a common bulk node for the respective subsystem, a DC/DC converter for regulating voltages across the capacitors, and an inverter. The inverters are coupled in parallel to an AC load. First and second grounding branches are homogenously coupled to terminals in the first and second subsystems, respectively, and to the same ground terminal. Control circuitry detects a leakage current value through the ground terminal, generates leakage current control signals for the respective DC/DC converters based at least in part on the detected leakage current value and a reference current value, and communicates the control signals to the DC/DC converters. |
| US08885372B1 |
Low harmonic content AC to DC power conversion
An AC power conversion system includes a first AC/DC converter to be coupled to a multi-phase AC power supply, a second AC/DC converter coupled in parallel with the first AC/DC converter to the multi-phase AC power supply, a first DC load in series with a first inductor coupled to a first positive DC terminal of the first AC/DC converter and a second negative DC terminal of the second AC/DC converter, and a second DC load in series with a second inductor coupled to a first negative DC terminal of the first AC/DC converter and a second positive DC terminal of the second AC/DC converter. |
| US08885363B2 |
Dual-mode switching power control device
A dual-mode switching power control device includes an electric transformer, a PWM driving controller, a switching transistor, an isolation element, an output diode and an output capacitor. The PWM driving controller is connected to the switching transistor coupled to the electric transformer. The first side inductor of the electric transformer and the switching transistor are coupled to an input power, and the second side inductor of the electric transformer is coupled to the output diode. The output capacitor and a load are connected in series. The output power is converted into a feedback signal by the isolation element. The PWM driving controller determines to perform DCM or CCM based on the feedback signal to control the current flowing through the electric transformer, and the output power is generated. Therefore, the efficiency of power conversion is improved and is suitable for high power applications. |
| US08885361B2 |
Low power switch mode power supply
A device and a method for operating a low power switch mode power supply, where DC input power is converted to AC power by an oscillator, which AC power is transformed to an AC voltage and AC current, which output power is converted into DC power, where the DC voltage is used as a feedback signal for controlling the oscillator. It is the objective of the invention to reduce a standby power consumption of power consuming devices. The oscillator comprises a first and a second current loop, which first current loop generates an activation current for the second current loop, where the primary coil of a transformer is part of the second current loop, and where the second loop comprises a current/voltage measuring system and generates increasing current in the second current loop and closes the current flow in the second current loop. |
| US08885360B2 |
Charger assembly and electromagnetic interference shield assembly
An electromagnetic interference shield assembly is provided with a first housing formed of a first conductive polymer. The first housing has a cavity sized to receive an electronic sub-assembly therein. A second housing is formed of a second conductive polymer. The second housing has a cavity sized to receive the first housing therein. |
| US08885359B2 |
Guide bracket and electronic device adopting the guide bracket
According to an example, a guide bracket and an electronic device adopting the guide bracket are provided. A free end of a resilient sheet installed in a wall of the guide bracket is to be held by a snap-fit part set in a chassis beyond the external surface of the wall where the resilient sheet is located to implement position limiting of the guide bracket in the forward-backward direction. The free end of the resilient sheet is to retreat inwards with the bending of the resilient sheet towards the interior of the wall where the resilient sheet is located to avoid the snap-fit part. |
| US08885347B2 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal includes a first member disposed on an inner or outer surface of a terminal body, a second member adjacent to the first member and having a gap formed between the first and second members, a filler configured to fill the gap so as to block the gap, and a cover layer configured to cover the first member, the second member and the filler. |
| US08885345B2 |
Electronic device with heat sink
An electronic device includes a circuit board, a tray abutting a bottom surface of the circuit board, and a heat sink attached to a top surface of the circuit board. The circuit board includes a heat generating chip, and a number of through holes defined in the circuit board. The tray includes a number of clipping members. A number of elastic members are attached to the heat sink. The number of clipping members extend through the number of through holes and engaged with the plurality of elastic members, and the number of elastic members are deformable to disengage from the number of clipping members. |
| US08885343B2 |
Heat dissipation from a control unit
A control unit, in particular for a motor vehicle, the control unit having a housing, which has at least one heat dissipating area in which at least one electrical and/or electronic module having at least one heat dissipating element is situated, it being provided that the heat dissipating element is heat conductively connected to the heat dissipating area via a heat conducting medium which is introduced into the interior of the housing through at least one housing opening and which has a paste-like consistency, at least when introduced. A corresponding method for manufacturing a control unit is also described. |
| US08885342B2 |
Thermal management for electronic device housing
The present invention relates to a cage for thermal management and for housing an electronic module. The cage includes top, bottom and side walls joined to form an interior cavity. The side walls form an enclosure having a first panel. A thermally conductive pathway is disposed on the first panel. The enclosure receives an electronic device such as a transceiver module and a heat sink mounted on the first panel. The thermally conductive pathway is disposed between the electronic device and the heat sink so that heat from the electronic device is transmitted via the thermally conductive pathway to the heat sink. |
| US08885341B2 |
Compact front to back horizontal cooling for rack mounted chassis
An improved electronic communications system and process 100 with front to back cooling can be provided in which the flow of influent cooling air can be directed horizontally through an intake cooling plenum chamber 145-146 positioned above or below line cards 127-129 and then passed downwardly through an inlet side cooling plenum 139-141. The cooling air can thereafter be propelled sideways, laterally and horizontally across passageways 138 between the line cards to remove heat generated by the line cards. The effluent heated air can be passed upwardly through an outlet side cooling plenum 142-144 and can be discharged through an exhaust cooling plenum to chamber 147-148 which can be diagonally separated from the intake cooling plenum chamber 145-146 by a fluid-impermeable plate 149-151. |
| US08885340B2 |
Dual-performance low noise amplifier for satellite-based radiofrequency communication
A low noise amplifier device for receiving a radio frequency signal from a satellite contains an amplifier kept in a sealed chamber in a cryostat, and a cryogenic cooler mounted on the outside of the cryostat. The amplifier is: maintained in the sealed chamber attached to a cold finger of the cryogenic cooler, made of a material with good heat conductivity and without direct contact with the wall of the cryostat; connected to the input and output coupler, each traversing the wall of the cryostat; functional at room temperature and at least one cryogenic temperature well below room temperature; and the sealed chamber of the cryostat contains a gas at a pressure between a pressure close to the pressure outside the cryostat and 0.1 millibar. |
| US08885335B2 |
Server cooling by airflow throttling
In a data center including hot and cold aisles, the flow rate of airflow from the cold aisle through servers to the hot aisle depends on the flow resistance of different servers. As servers may have different cooling needs, an airflow throttling mechanism is coupled to each server to individually adjust the flow resistance through each server based on the amount of cooling airflow needed by a server. Hence, servers use the amount of cooling airflow they need, reducing the overall airflow needs, which reduces the central fan requirements, of the data center. |
| US08885334B1 |
Computing system with network attached processors
A processor module can include a circuit board, a first programmable circuitry coupled to the circuit board, wherein the first programmable circuitry is configurable to implement different physical circuits, and a processor configured to execute program code. The processor can be coupled to the circuit board and to the first programmable circuitry. The processor module also can include random access memory (RAM) devices coupled to the circuit board and electrically coupled to the first programmable circuitry. The RAM devices can be coupled to the first programmable circuitry to form parallel channels of the RAM devices. The processor module further can include an interface coupled to the circuit board and electrically coupled to the first programmable circuitry for coupling input and output between the first programmable circuitry and external circuitry. |
| US08885333B2 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal includes a terminal body, a case defining an appearance of the terminal body, the case formed of a non-metal, and a metal frame formed of a metal, at least part of the metal frame extending through the case from inside to outside of the terminal body so as to be externally exposed, wherein the case and the metal frame are integrally formed with each other. Accordingly, a specific pattern can be realized at the appearance of the terminal body to arouse distinctive attraction to the appearance, thereby providing a terminal with such attractive appearance. |
| US08885330B2 |
Portable electronic device with support function
A portable electronic device includes a lower cover, a keyboard disposed on the lower cover, an upper cover pivotally connected to a side of the lower cover, a support target member disposed on the upper cover, a support frame, and a first driving part. The support frame has at least one first inclined surface structure. A second inclined surface structure is formed at a position of the first driving part corresponding to the first inclined surface structure. When the first driving part moves in a first direction to drive the support frame to a support position in a second direction, the second inclined surface structure supports the first inclined surface structure so that the support frame can support the support target member when the upper cover covers the lower cover. |
| US08885326B2 |
Solid electrolytic capacitor and method for manufacturing the same
A solid electrolytic capacitor includes: a porous sintered body; an anode wire extending in a first direction and connected to the porous sintered body such that one end portion of the anode wire in the first direction is exposed; a resin package covering the porous sintered body and the anode wire; and a lead including a terminal exposed from the resin package and a lead side connector connected to the terminal. The anode wire includes a base and a connector placed at one side of the base in the first direction, a sectional area of the connector is smaller than that of the base, and the connector and the lead side connector are welded together. |
| US08885322B2 |
Ceramic capacitor and methods of manufacture
A capacitor includes a pair of electrodes and a metalized dielectric layer disposed between the pair of electrodes, in which the metalized dielectric layer has a plurality of metal aggregates distributed within a dielectric material. The distribution is such that a volume fraction of metal in the metalized dielectric layer is at least about 30%. Meanwhile, the plurality of metal aggregates are separated from one another by the dielectric material. A method for forming a metal-dielectric composite may include coating a plurality of dielectric particles with a metal to form a plurality of metal-coated dielectric particles and sintering the plurality of metal-coated dielectric particles at a temperature of at least about 750° C. to about 950° C. to transform the metal coatings into discrete, separated metal aggregates. Contrary to conventional techniques of separating electrodes by a dielectric tape, this inventive system and method demonstrates that a metalized dielectric layer may be formed in-situ during sintering. |
| US08885321B2 |
Laminated ceramic electronic component
Provided is a laminated ceramic electronic component which has excellent mechanical characteristics, internal electrode corrosion resistance, high degree of freedom in ceramic material design, low cost, low defective rate, and various properties. The laminated ceramic electronic component includes a laminate which has a plurality of laminated ceramic layers and internal electrodes formed along at a plurality of specific interface between the ceramic layers and having an Al/Ti alloy as a component; and an external electrode formed on the outer surface of the laminate. The Al/Ti ratio of the Al/Ti alloy is 91/9 or more. |
| US08885320B2 |
Laminated ceramic electronic component
Provided is a laminated ceramic electronic component which has excellent mechanical characteristics, internal electrode corrosion resistance, high degree of freedom in ceramic material design, low cost, low defective rate, and various properties. The laminated ceramic electronic component includes: a laminate which has a plurality of laminated ceramic layers and Al/Mn alloy internal electrodes at a plurality of specific interfaces between the ceramic layers and an external electrode formed on the outer surface of the laminate, wherein the Al/Mn ratio of the Al/Mn alloy is 80/20 or more. |
| US08885317B2 |
Micropulse bipolar corona ionizer and method
A solution for static charge neutralization that includes providing at least one pulse train pair to an emitter of an ionizer is disclosed. The pulse train pair is disposed to include a positive pulse train and a negative pulse train that alternate in sequence. The positive pulse train includes an ionizing positive voltage waveform, while the negative pulse train includes an ionizing negative voltage waveform. These ionizing positive and negative voltage waveforms alternately create voltage gradients across the emitter and a reference electrode of the ionizer, generating by corona discharge an ion cloud that includes positive and negative ions. |
| US08885313B2 |
Circuit breaker including an electronic trip circuit, a number of temperature sensors and an over-temperature trip routine
A circuit breaker includes first and second terminals, separable contacts, conductors electrically connecting the contacts between the terminals, and an operating mechanism to open and close the contacts. A current sensor senses current flowing through the contacts and outputs a current value. A number of temperature sensors output a number of temperature values corresponding to a number of the conductors. An electronic trip circuit cooperates with the operating mechanism to trip open the contacts, and includes a processor having a first input inputting the current value, a first routine inputting the current value from the first input and causing the operating mechanism to trip open the contacts responsive to over-current, a number of second inputs inputting the number of temperature values, and a second routine comparing the number of temperature values to a number of limits and causing the operating mechanism to trip open the contacts responsive to over-temperature. |
| US08885311B2 |
Dual voltage hot swap module power control
A module hot swap circuit includes a low voltage-drop rectifier adapted to receive either positive or negative voltages of different absolute values. The rectifier is coupled to a power manager that provides dual startup/shutdown voltage thresholds and inrush current limiting. A detector prevents reverse current flow allowing the module to hold up during input voltage drop-outs. |
| US08885310B2 |
Gate driver with desaturation detection and active clamping
Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for protecting a switching device using a gate driver device. An exemplary gate driver system includes an interface for coupling to a switching device, a desaturation detection arrangement coupled to the interface to detect a desaturation condition based on an electrical characteristic at the interface, and a deactivation arrangement coupled to the interface to deactivate the switching device in a manner that is influenced by the electrical characteristic at the interface. In one embodiment, the switching device is deactivated by providing a deactivation current to a control terminal of the switching device and adjusting the deactivation current based on an electrical characteristic at the interface. |
| US08885308B2 |
Input control apparatus and method with inrush current, under and over voltage handling
Control circuitry handles inrush current, and may provide under voltage and/or over voltage monitoring and handling, as well as remote enable handling. The circuitry may advantageously employ a sense capacitor in parallel with an input capacitor (e.g., bulk input filter capacitor), and a current mirror to produce a signal proportional to input current. A clamp circuit may control a series pass device to regulate current in response to the proportional signal, or to interrupt current flow in response to an under voltage or over voltage condition or receipt of a signal indicative of a disable state. An enable signal may be summed into a comparator that handles under voltage condition determination. |
| US08885303B2 |
Electronic device of preventing poor heat dissipation and having ESD protection and protection method for the same
An electronic device of preventing poor heat dissipation and having ESD protection and a protection method for the electronic device are disclosed, in which the electronic device includes a main body, an outer covering, a processing unit and a protective device. The processing unit and the protective device are disposed in the main body. The protective device is coupled to the processing unit. When the outer covering and the main body are closed tightly, the protective device can send a warning signal to the processing unit. |
| US08885299B1 |
Low resistance ground joints for dual stage actuation disk drive suspensions
Stable, low resistance conductive adhesive ground connections between motor contacts and a gold-plated contact area on a stainless steel component of a dual stage actuated suspension. The stainless steel component can be a baseplate, load beam, hinge, motor plate, add-on feature or flexure. |
| US08885298B2 |
Conference roll call
A facility is described for providing conference roll calls that identify participants in electronically facilitated conferences. In various embodiments, the facility receives identifiers of participants in an electronically facilitated conference and displays a list of the participants in a roll call. The list can include indications of which participant is speaking, whether participants are authenticated, and other information associated with the participant, such as the participant's name. |
| US08885296B2 |
Current drive type magnetic head and disk drive with the same
According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a magnetic core including a main pole, and a return pole opposed to the main pole with a magnetic gap therebetween, and configured to return magnetic flux from the main pole and form a magnetic circuit in conjunction with the main pole, a coil configured to excite magnetic flux in the magnetic circuit, and a nonmagnetic electrically conductive layer formed by disposing only a nonmagnetic material in the magnetic gap between the return pole and an end portion of the main pole on the recording medium side, and configured to electrically connect the main pole and the return pole. The main pole, the nonmagnetic electrically conductive layer, and the return pole are configured to constitute a series electrical circuit. |
| US08885295B2 |
Undulating disk clamp
Provided herein is an apparatus, including a plurality of teeth extending from an outer perimeter of an annular disk clamp to an inner perimeter of the annular disk clamp and an annular groove in an outer perimeter of a hub, wherein the plurality of teeth do not engage the annular groove of the hub when the disk clamp is unlocked into an unlocked form, and wherein the plurality of teeth engage the annular groove of the hub when the annular disk clamp is locked into a locked form, clamping at least one disk onto the hub at a mounting point for the at least one disk. |
| US08885292B1 |
Insulating member and disk device with the same
According to one embodiment, a disk device includes a disk recording medium, a drive motor, an actuator, a housing which accommodates the recording medium, the drive motor, and the actuator, a printed circuit board opposed to an outer surface of the housing, and an insulating sheet interposed between the printed circuit board and the outer surface of the housing. The insulating sheet has rigidity and elasticity and includes a convex portion. The convex portion has a height not smaller than a clearance between the printed circuit board and the outer surface of the housing and is sandwiched between the printed circuit board and the outer surface of the housing. |
| US08885286B2 |
Magnetic disk device and control method of magnetic disk device
A magnetic disk device includes a magnetic disk, a head and a control section. The head writes data to the magnetic disk. The control section controls the head to move along a virtual circular orbit of the magnetic disk that includes a first servo sector region and a second servo sector region. The second servo sector region has a larger servo interval than the first servo sector region, and stores a larger number of write bits than the first servo sector region. |
| US08885284B2 |
Information write apparatus and information write method
According to one embodiment, an information write apparatus writes a track on a magnetic disk by a shingled write recording method. The information write apparatus calculates a write target position of the track based on a pitch. The information write apparatus calculates a positioning error. The information write apparatus stores the calculated positioning error. The information write apparatus integrates positioning errors of tracks written before the predetermined track is written, and corrects a write target position based on the integrated positioning error. The information write apparatus controls the position of the write head based on the corrected write target position. |
| US08885282B2 |
Library device and control method thereof
A cell stores a plurality of magnetic tapes. A conveyance mechanism manages movement of the magnetic tapes stored in the cell. An interlock switch cam moves in a predetermined direction when a pressing force from an inner door claw is removed. An interlock switch shuts off power supply to the conveyance mechanism when the interlock switch cam moves in the predetermined direction. A disabling button moves on a moving path of the interlock switch cam by receiving an instruction from an operator and prevents the interlock switch cam from moving in the predetermined direction. |
| US08885281B2 |
Electrical device having a reducing harddisk vibration function and reducing harddisk vibration method
The present application discloses a method to reduce hard-disk vibrations. The method to reduce hard-disk vibrations is for an electrical device having a hard-disk and a speaker, and the method to reduce hard-disk vibrations includes: determining a vibration value of the hard-disk when the speaker outputs an audio signal; determining whether the vibration value exceeds a predetermined vibration value; when the vibration value exceeds the predetermined vibration value, adjusting the audio signal into an adjusted audio signal via a reducing vibration equalizer; and outputting the adjusted audio signal by the speaker, wherein an amplitude of a predetermined frequency of the adjusted audio signal is smaller than an amplitude of the predetermined frequency of the audio signal. |
| US08885271B2 |
Adjustable and replaceable lens structure for portable electronic devices
A movable and replaceable lens structure for electronic devices has a lens-mounting body mounted on and electrically connected with a electronic device, and a movable lens module mounted on the lens-mounting body and having a movable mechanism mounted on the lens-mounting body or a housing of the electronic device. The movable lens module has a movable mechanism mounted on the lens-mounting body or the housing of the electronic device. A lens is connected with the movable mechanism. An operation part is connected with the movable mechanism. The movable mechanism can be operated to move along a straight line, rotate or pivot, thereby moving the lens to align with an optical axis of the movable lens module and varying the focus of field of view of the movable lens module. Accordingly, the lens with different picture-taking effect can be provided, such as a wide-angle, microscopic or telescopic lens. |
| US08885270B2 |
Imaging lens system, imaging optical device, and digital appliance
A single-focal-length imaging lens system achieves focusing by, while keeping first and third lens groups stationary relative to the image plane, moving a second lens group along the optical axis. The second lens group includes a positive lens element. The third lens group includes an aspherically shaped lens element having an inflection point at a position other than the intersection with the optical axis. The first and second air lenses formed by the intervals between the first and second and between the second and third lens groups have negative and positive refractive powers respectively. The conditional formula 0≦|Fi1/Fi2|−|Fm1/Fm2|≦10 is fulfilled (Fi1 and Fi2 representing the focal lengths of the first and second air lenses, respectively, when focusing on the infinite object distance; Fm1 and Fm2 representing the focal lengths of the first and second air lenses, respectively, when focusing on the closest object distance). |
| US08885267B2 |
Lens barrel and image pickup apparatus
A lens barrel capable of keeping a stable zoom operation, increasing magnification of an image pickup apparatus with a simple configuration, and decreasing a camera thickness. A lens barrel is moved in an optical axis direction between a taking position and a retracted position to change magnification. A lens holding member holds a lens and has a follower part. A rectilinear movement regulating member regulates relative rotation of the lens holding member and has a convex part at an outside and a rectilinear rib at an image surface side than the convex part. A cam barrel has a cam groove for engaging the follower part and a groove for engaging the convex part formed on an inner surface. The cam barrel has a cam piece extended to the image surface side, a part of the cam groove is formed on an inner surface of the cam piece. |
| US08885266B2 |
Lens barrel
A lens barrel comprises a first frame, a barrier mechanism, and a second frame. The barrier mechanism is fixed to the first frame and blocks an opening. The second frame uses a cam mechanism to guide the first frame in the optical axis direction. The second frame has a cylindrical cam mechanism part that constitutes a cam mechanism. The cam mechanism part is provided with a thin-wall part that is partially thinner in the radial direction. A fixing portion of the barrier mechanism goes into spaces between the thin-wall part and the first frame. |
| US08885264B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
A zoom lens including, in order from object side to image side: a first positive lens unit which does not move for zooming; a second negative lens unit which moves during zooming; a third positive lens unit which moves during zooming; a fourth lens unit which moves during zooming; and a fifth positive lens unit which does not move for zooming. The second unit passes through a point at which magnification of the second unit becomes −1 during zooming from wide-angle end to telephoto end, and −1<β34<−0.3, and 4.0<|m2/m3|<15 are satisfied where β34 represents a magnification of a combined unit including the third and fourth units at a zoom position fz at which the magnification of the second unit becomes −1, and m2 and m3 respectively represent displacements of the second and third units on optical axis at the zoom position fz with reference to the wide-angle end. |
| US08885261B2 |
Optical element array, method of forming optical element array, display device and electronic apparatus
An optical element array includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, a plurality of first walls which is provided upright on an inner surface facing the second substrate of the first substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode which are respectively provided on facing wall surfaces of the adjacent first walls, a third electrode which is provided on an inner surface facing the first substrate of the second substrate, a second wall which partially covers the inner surface of the first substrate and the first walls to partially or entirely surround at least a part of a space which is interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a polar liquid and a nonpolar liquid which are sealed in the space surrounded by the first substrate, the second substrate and the second wall and have different refractive indices. |
| US08885260B2 |
Head-up display device
A headup display device includes a driving mirror configured to reflect a display light irradiated from an indicator to guide the reflected display light to a windshield of a vehicle. The driving mirror includes a base plate fixed to a bottom surface of a casing, a pair of opposite support plates which are upright on the base plate, a holder pivotally supported by the opposite support plates, a reflective mirror held by the holder, a driving motor configured to pivot the holder to change an angle of the reflective mirror, and a positioning projection provided on the support plate and protruding in a mounting direction of the base plate to the bottom surface of the casing. A holding recessed portion is formed on the casing to allow an insertion of the positioning projection therein and hold the positioning projection at a predetermined position. |
| US08885258B2 |
Stack-type lens array and lens module
Provided is a stack-type lens array capable of preventing a lens from peeling off due to stress during dicing or vibration and impact when used. The stack-type lens array is formed by stacking and bonding two lens sheets in which micro lenses are arranged on a flat portion at predetermined intervals. Antireflection films are vapor-deposited on a convex surface and a concave surface of the lens and a light shielding film is vapor-deposited such that a circular opening is formed at the center of the concave surface. The opening serves as a diaphragm aperture of the lens. An exposed surface in which neither the antireflection film nor the light shielding film is vapor-deposited is provided outside the light shielding film between adjacent lenses. A dicing line is set at the center of the exposed surface. An adhesive layer is formed in a predetermined pattern on the exposed surface. |
| US08885250B2 |
Surgical microscope system
Only a front end part 16 of a surgical microscope 15 is turned in a left-right direction X around a main axis S, so that an observation angle of a surgical site T is freely changed in the left-right direction. Even if the observation angle is changed, the orientation of eyepieces 22 is unchanged, and therefore, an operator does not need to bend his or her neck and no burden is imposed on the neck of the operator even if the operator must conduct an operation that takes a long time. |
| US08885247B2 |
Device for controlling optical frequency, method of manufacturing such a device
The present invention relates to a device for controlling optical frequency (F1, F2) about a central working frequency (F0). This device comprises a vertical cavity (2) formed of two parallel and partially reflecting walls (3a, 3b), and a membrane (6) comprising at least one layer (7a, 7b) structured in the form of a photonic crystal. In this device, the two walls (3a, 3b) are separated by an optical distance substantially proportional to half the wavelength (λ0) corresponding to the central working frequency (F0). The membrane (6) is integrated between the walls (3a, 3b) of the cavity (2) and devised in such a way as to exhibit a mode of optical resonance at this central working wavelength (λ0). At least one layer of the device is made up of at least one portion of a material exhibiting nonlinear optical properties. The present invention also relates to various systems implementing means of optical pumping and such a device for controlling optical frequency, as well as to a method of manufacturing such a device for controlling optical frequency. |
| US08885246B2 |
Device for extending the service life of a non-linear optical system subjected to the radiation of an intense laser beam and non-linear optical source including said device
A device for extending the lifetime of a frequency-converting non-linear optical system (19) subjected to the radiation of an intense laser beam includes two plates (2, 3) with flat and parallel surfaces angled on the beam and elements for transverse rotation of the plates (2, 3) suitable for changing the angle of inclination of the first plate in an angular range (i20±δi2) to move the incident beam relative to the optical system (19), while minimizing the amplitude of movement of the output beam (37, 47) on the angular inclination range (i20±δi2) of the first plate. The application of the device in a non-linear optical source including one or more non-linear crystals (1, 16) is also described. |
| US08885240B2 |
Rearview assembly for a vehicle
A rearview assembly for a vehicle includes a housing. A carrier is operably connected with the housing and supports a display. A circuit board is disposed in the housing. A sensing system is disposed proximate the display and is connected with the circuit board. A switching assembly is operably connected with the circuit board. Actuation of the switching assembly when the sensing system has been activated enables a function of the rearview assembly. |
| US08885235B2 |
Scanner calibration correcting for foreign matter debris
Devices and methods calibrate an optical scanner by having the scanner scan a calibration surface. The scanner includes a lens causing a distortion of items scanned. During the calibration process, such devices and methods perform a compensation process to remove the distortion from signals output by the scanner when performing the scanning to identify at least one surface irregularity on the calibration surface. After performing the compensation process, the devices and methods adjust the calibration process (using the processor) to apply correction for pixels affected by the surface irregularity. Then, after adjusting the calibration settings, such devices and methods finalize the calibration process and store the scanner settings, again using the processor. |
| US08885230B2 |
Image sensor unit and image reading apparartus
A configuration is adopted in which an image sensor unit includes: a sensor substrate on which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are mounted; a light source that includes light-emitting elements and is for illuminating a document; a light guide that guides light from the light source from one end face in a longitudinal direction and linearly illuminates the document; a rod lens array imaging reflected light from the document on the sensor substrate; and a frame attaching each of these, and in which the frame detachably includes a spacer provided in proximity to the light source, and the spacer includes a light shielding roof elongated so as to cover the light source and the end of the light guide. |
| US08885224B2 |
Information embedding method, its program and information embedding device
There are used a first information embedding method that is used for embedding first information and specified by a first information expression rule and a second information embedding method that is used for embedding second information and specified by a second information expression rule different from the first information expression rule. The first information and the second information are so embedded that at least parts of the first and second information overlap with each other in an identical area. This makes it possible to provide an information embedding method, its program, and an information embedding device capable of generating an embedded image that is beautiful in appearance because the boundary between the first and second information is inconspicuous and is also safe because it is difficult to decipher the embedded information. |
| US08885219B2 |
Printing system color validation swatch methods and systems
Disclosed are methods, apparatus and systems of characterizing a color rendering performance of a printing system. According to one exemplary method, a user operated UI provides instructions to a printing system to automatically execute a color validation swatch process during the execution of a print job. The user provided instructions provide the parameters necessary to configure the execution of the color validation process. |
| US08885216B2 |
Printing method and printing processor for color images
A specific gamut of colors extending a reproduction range of colors in a color space is set to make for any ink color belonging to the specific gamut a conversion from CMYK dot pattern data into numbers of ink drops to be discharged from an inkjet head, using as a lookup table an extended pattern table having a maximal drop number ‘7’. For ink colors belonging to a gamut of colors outside the specific gamut, a default pattern table having a maximal drop number ‘5’ is used as a lookup table for the conversion from CMYK dot pattern data into ink drop numbers. |
| US08885215B2 |
Color calibration
A method of calibrating a printer is disclosed. The printer prints a plurality of patches using know color values. At least two patches of each color are printed. The patches are measured to determine a measured color value for each patch. The measured color values are checked for validity. The printer is calibrated using only the valid measured color values. |
| US08885213B2 |
Imaging forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus for forming images at a plurality of resolution levels including at least one low resolution level and one high resolution level includes a photoconductor, onto which a beam size is set for the low resolution level; and an adjustment unit to conduct an exposure time-based density adjustment using a plurality of half-tone patterns prepared by changing an exposure time per pixel at a timing when a resolution level shifts from the low resolution level to the high resolution level and before actually shifting to an image forming operation executed at the high resolution level. |
| US08885211B1 |
Method and apparatus for generating print jobs for multiple types of media
A document is prepared for printing by creating a base image and supplemental image data corresponding to different types of print media. When printing, the current media type is detected and the corresponding supplemental image data is used in conjunction with the base image to create media-specific image data for printing on the current media type. |
| US08885209B2 |
Printer control device, method and computer-readable storage medium for controlling proxy printing using low power at low print speed
A printer control device for performing control such that a second printer serves as a proxy to execute a print job to be executed by a first printer is provided. The printer control device includes a speed determination portion configured to determine whether or not a second speed is higher than a first speed, the second speed being a print speed set in the second printer, the first speed being a print speed set in the first printer; and a control unit configured to control, when the speed determination portion determines that the second speed is higher than the first speed, the second printer to execute the print job at a third speed lower than the second speed. |
| US08885207B2 |
Printing apparatus for printing on envelope
The printing apparatus for printing at least an address on an envelope that is set to a paper tray includes an envelope size detection portion for scanning an address print side of an envelope set to the paper tray to detect a size of the envelope based on a read image of the address print side; a print position setting portion for setting a print position of an address corresponding to the read size of the envelope; and a data synthesis processing portion for synthesizing the read image of the address print side and an image of the address at a position set by the print position setting portion and previews the synthesized address print image of the envelope on a display device. |
| US08885204B1 |
Method of producing an ordered stack of bound product information sheets for a store from planogram or ordered data
An ordered stack of bound sheets may comprise a set of printed product information sheets. An individual bound sheet may comprise a single printed product information sheet or may comprise a plurality of printed product information sheets. Each of the individual printed product information sheets may be detached from the ordered stack of bound sheets in the order in which the printed product information sheets are presented. The individual printed product information sheets (which are detached from the ordered stack in order) may be connected to structures in the stores based on a planogram for a set of products for display in the store. The order of the printed product information sheets may match an order in which the sheets are positioned based on the planogram. |
| US08885200B2 |
Image forming system including a first image forming apparatus for controlling a second image forming apparatus to shift into a sleep mode
A first image forming apparatus includes a first communication unit to communicate with a second image forming apparatus with a communication scheme without using a network; a monitoring unit to monitor a print job amount; a first control unit to, when the print job amount is not larger than a first threshold, perform control so that a first control signal for causing the second image forming apparatus to shift into a first mode is transmitted to the second image forming apparatus; and a second control unit to, when the second image forming apparatus is in the first mode and the print job amount for the first image forming apparatus is larger than a second threshold, perform control so that a second control signal for causing the second image forming apparatus to shift into a second mode is transmitted to the second image forming apparatus through the first communication unit. |
| US08885195B2 |
Image forming system for accessing image data from a plurality of image forming devices based on device facsimile capability or device power-on time
An image forming system includes plural image forming devices, a determining unit determining an image forming device in which image data corresponding to user information is stored among the plural image forming devices, a first storage unit storing the user information and device information in a correlated manner, a transmitting device in which the user information is preset, a transmitting unit transmitting image data corresponding to the preset user information to the determined image forming device with respect to the user information, a second storage unit storing the transmitted image data, a receiving unit receiving an input of the user information, a first acquiring unit acquiring image data from an image forming device correlated with the input user information, and an image forming unit forming an image acquired by the first acquiring unit. |
| US08885194B2 |
Image forming system, image forming apparatus, transmission apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable medium for transmitting information between network printing devices
An image forming system includes at least one transmission apparatus, and plural image forming apparatuses, wherein the transmission apparatus includes a transmission section that transmits printing data to a first image forming apparatus of the plural image forming apparatuses, wherein the first image forming apparatus includes a receiving section that receives printing data from the transmission apparatus or other image forming apparatuses, and a printing data transmission section that transmits the printing data or substantially identical printing data generated on the basis of the printing data, to the image forming apparatuses other than the own apparatus among the plural image forming apparatuses, when printing data which is substantially identical to the printing data received by the receiving section cannot be acquired from the image forming apparatuses corresponding to the predefined reference number among the plural image forming apparatuses. |
| US08885193B2 |
Braille-to-Braille facsimile machine using image processing
A Braille-to-Braille facsimile machine implemented process scans an original Braille document, obtaining an image of the original Braille document. The image of the original Braille document is processed, producing an extracted Braille image and duplicating formatting of the original Braille document to produce a copy of the original Braille document. The copy of the original Braille document is sent, via a communications link and received. The copy of the original Braille document is then printed. |
| US08885187B2 |
Image processing system
An image processing system includes a server computer and a plurality of image processing apparatuses communicable with the server computer. The server computer has a function of causing the plurality of image processing apparatuses to execute one job in a shared manner, and if power supply/demand situation is good, it causes the plurality of image processing apparatuses to execute one job in a shared manner, and if the power supply/demand situation is tight, it excludes at least one of the image processing apparatuses and causes the remaining image processing apparatuses to execute one job in a shared manner. This reduces power consumption of the image processing system while it is possible to cause a plurality of image processing apparatuses to execute one job such as a cluster printing job. |
| US08885185B2 |
Image forming system, controller and rasterization accelerator
An image forming system comprising: a controller, provided with a list creation means to create a display list by analyzing PDL data, a decompression means to decompress compressed image data, a drawing means to execute drawing based on the image data, and a print data creation means to create the print data based on the image data, for sending the print data to a printer; and a rasterization accelerator, provided with a second drawing means to execute drawing processing based on the display list, and a compression means to compress the image data drawn by the second drawing unit, for sending the image data to the controller, wherein the rasterization accelerator comprises a determination means for determining, based on the information of the display list, whether to execute or not the compression of the image data, and a compression method in case of executing the compression. |
| US08885183B2 |
Image forming system with an air cleaner that displays an operating state of the image forming apparatus
An image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an air cleaner for cleaning air, an image forming apparatus that is settable to a mode for economizing power, and a control unit that causes a display unit of the air cleaner to display an operating state of the image forming apparatus when the image forming apparatus is set to the mode for economizing power.An image forming system according to another embodiment of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus that prints an image on recording paper, an air cleaner that is for cleaning air, and is integrally attached to the image forming apparatus via a support member, and supported above the image forming apparatus by the support member, and a control unit that causes a display unit of the air cleaner to display an operating state of the image forming apparatus. |
| US08885180B2 |
Portable handheld device with multi-core image processor
A portable handheld device includes an image sensor for capturing an image; an orientation sensor for determining a rotation of the image sensor; and a system-on-chip processor having integrated on a common wafer a CPU for processing a script language, a multi-core processor for processing an image captured by the image sensor, and a common synchronization register. The multi-core processor includes multiple processing units connected in parallel by a crossbar switch. Each processing unit stores one or more synchronization bits for identifying which of the other processing units are functioning as a single process therewith. The common synchronization register contains therein synchronization bits from each of the processing units. |
| US08885179B2 |
Portable handheld device with multi-core image processor
According to an aspect of the disclosure, a portable handheld device includes a CPU for processing a script; a multi-core processor for processing an image, and a DRAM for storing image data. The CPU and the multi-core processor are integrated on one chip and share a data cache provided on the same chip. The DRAM is provided external to the chip. The portable handheld device further comprises a DRAM interface for receiving and sending data to the DRAM, the DRAM interface being provided on the same chip and sharing the data cache with the CPU and the multi-core processor. |
| US08885178B2 |
Position detecting sensor and position detector
A position detecting sensor includes a grid structure composed of plural electrodes extending in a first direction and plural electrodes extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The electrodes have light permeability. In a rectangular area defined by four cross-points, where two adjacent electrodes extending in the first direction and two adjacent electrodes extending in the second direction cross each other, a dummy pattern is disposed so as to provide uniform optical characteristics for the sensor. At least some of the electrodes extending in the first direction are shaped to include inclinations relative to the first direction, so as to minimize the Moire effect that may develop between the electrodes and an array of pixels in an overlaid display device. Also, at least some of the electrodes extending in the first direction are shaped to be line-symmetric about a straight line extending in the first direction. |
| US08885169B2 |
Fixing system for the optical block of a laser gyroscope
In a laser gyroscope, an activation wheel has a polygonal cylindrical hub formed by continuous assembly of vertical walls, wherein two adjacent walls of the cylindrical hub between them form a dihedron. Each radial plate of the activation wheel is connected to the cylindrical hub along the edge of a dihedron. The walls are formed with bulging portions, serving for plane-to-plane fixing of one face of the tulip to an optical block, and thin parts allowing a radial displacement degree of freedom of the fixing parts relative to the rim when there is a differential thermal expansion between the tulip and activation wheel. The activation wheel may be produced in a material having a thermal expansion coefficient higher than the tulip, for example steel, with plane-to-plane fixing of the tulip to the activation wheel hub, advantageously by screws, the assembly effectively accommodating the thermal expansion differential between the two materials. |
| US08885165B2 |
Fluorescence detecting device and fluorescence detecting method
A fluorescence detecting device receives fluorescence emitted by n kinds of measurement objects within wavelength bands FLk (k is an integer of 1 to n) set so that the fluorescence intensity of fluorescence emitted by a measurement object k becomes higher than that of fluorescence emitted by the other one or more measurement objects, and acquires fluorescent signals corresponding to the wavelength bands FLk (k is an integer of 1 to n). Each of the fluorescent signals is subjected to frequency-down conversion by mixing it with a modulation signal for modulating the intensity of a laser beam Lk (k=1) corresponding to at least one of the wavelength bands FLk to produce fluorescence data including the phase delay and intensity amplitude of the fluorescent signal. The fluorescence data is corrected to calculate the phase delay and a fluorescence relaxation time is calculated using the phase delay. |
| US08885164B2 |
Exposure method, exposure apparatus, and method of manufacturing device
An exposure method comprises: a first detection step of detecting a position of a first mark by a first scope; a second detection step of detecting a position of a second mark by a second scope having a magnification higher than the first scope; a first calculation step of calculating a first correction value based on the detection results obtained in the first and second detection steps; a third detection step of detecting a position of a third mark by the second scope after the substrate is aligned based on the first correction value calculated in the first calculation step; a second calculation step of calculating a second correction value based on the detection results obtained in the second and third detection steps; and an exposure step of exposing the substrate after the substrate is aligned based on the second correction value calculated in the second calculation step. |
| US08885163B2 |
Interferometry-based downhole analysis tool
Various systems and methods for performing optical analysis downhole with an interferogram (a light beam having frequency components with a time variation that identifies those frequency components. The interferogram is produced by introducing an interferometer into the light path, with the two arms of the interferometer having a propagation time difference that varies as a function of time. Before or after the interferometer, the light encounters a material to be analyzed, such as a fluid sample from the formation, a borehole fluid sample, a core sample, or a portion of the borehole wall. The spectral characteristics of the material are imprinted on the light beam and can be readily analyzed by processing electronics that perform a Fourier Transform to obtain the spectrum or that enable a comparison with one or more templates. An interferometer designed to perform well in the hostile environments downhole is expected to enable laboratory-quality measurements. |
| US08885161B2 |
Energy dispersion device
The invention provides an energy dispersion device, spectrograph and method that can be used to evaluate the composition of matter on site without the need for specialized training or expensive equipment. The energy dispersion device or spectrograph can be used with a digital camera or cell phone. A device of the invention includes a stack of single- or double-dispersion diffraction gratings that are rotated about their normal giving rise to a multiplicity of diffraction orders from which meaningful measurements and determinations can be made with respect to the qualitative or quantitative characteristics of matter. |
| US08885158B2 |
Surface scanning inspection system with adjustable scan pitch
A surface scanning wafer inspection system with independently adjustable scan pitch and associated methods of operation are presented. The scan pitch may be adjusted independently from an illumination area on the surface of a wafer. In some embodiments, scan pitch is adjusted while the illumination area remains constant. For example, defect sensitivity is adjusted by adjusting the rate of translation of a wafer relative to the rate of rotation of the wafer without additional optical adjustments. In some examples, the scan pitch is adjusted to achieve a desired defect sensitivity over an entire wafer. In other examples, the scan pitch is adjusted during wafer inspection to optimize defect sensitivity and throughput. In other examples, the scan pitch is adjusted to maximize defect sensitivity within the damage limit of a wafer under inspection. |
| US08885156B2 |
Apparatus and method for determination of tear osmolarity
An apparatus comprises a spectrophotometer system configured to measure light absorbance by a tear sample, a refractometer system configured to measure refractive index of the tear sample, and an evaluation unit programmed to calculate an osmolarity of the tear sample based on the measured absorbance and refractive index and stored calibration curves. The spectrophotometer and refractometer systems may share a common prism contacted by the tear sample during measurement. The evaluation unit may be programmed to carry out steps of a method for determining osmolarity of the tear sample in accordance with the invention. The osmolarity of the tear sample may be used as an indicator in diagnosing dry eye. |
| US08885155B2 |
Combined light source photoacoustic system
A physiological monitoring system may use photoacoustic sensing to determine one or more physiological parameters of a subject. The photoacoustic system may use two light sources (e.g., a high power pulsed laser diode and a continuous wave laser diode) to generate acoustic pressure signals in a subject. One or more light sources (e.g., the high powered pulsed laser diode) may provide a high signal-to-noise ratio. The high signal-to-noise ratio signals may provide high sensitivity for physiological measurements (e.g., cardiac output and temperature measurements). The photoacoustic system may use high powered light sources in combination with other light sources to improve physiological measurements. |
| US08885150B2 |
Inspection method and apparatus, lithographic apparatus, lithographic processing cell and device manufacturing method
A scatterometer, configured to measure a property of a substrate, includes a radiation source which produces a radiation spot on a target formed on the surface of the substrate, the size of the radiation spot being smaller than the target in one direction along the target, the position of the radiation spot being moved along the surface in a series of discrete steps. A detector detects a spectrum of the radiation beam reflected from the target and produces measurement signals representative of the spectrum corresponding to each position of the radiation spot. A processor processes the measurement signals produced by the detector corresponding to each position of the radiation spot and derives a single value for the property. |
| US08885147B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A lithographic apparatus includes a support constructed to support a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting a radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam; a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate on a central area; and a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate in a first direction. The apparatus further includes a positioning device to position the substrate table, wherein the positioning device includes a plurality of actuators arranged to, in use, exert forces to position the substrate table, the forces substantially being directed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first direction and wherein the plurality of actuators are arranged outside a central volume of the substrate table, the central volume being obtained by projecting the central area along the first direction. |
| US08885145B2 |
Image reading and writing using a complex two-dimensional interlace scheme
The current invention relates to writing or reading a pattern on a surface, such as in microlithography or inspection of mircrolithographic patterns. In particular, Applicant discloses systems recording or reading images by scanning sparse 2D point arrays or grids across the surface, e.g., multiple optical, electron or particle beams modulated in parallel. The scanning and repeated reading or writing creates a dense pixel or spot grid on the workpiece. The grid may be created by various arrays: arrays of light sources, e.g., laser or LED arrays, by lenslet arrays where each lenslet has its own modulator, by aperture plates for particle beams, or arrays of near-field emitters or mechanical probes. For reading systems, the point grid may be created by a sparse point matrix illumination and/or a detector array where each detector element sees only one spot. The idea behind the use of large arrays is to improve throughput. However, the throughput does not scale with the array size, since above a certain size of arrays, previously known schemes fall into in their own tracks and start repeating the same data over and over again. This application discloses methods to scan workpieces with large arrays while preserving the scaling of throughput proportional to array size, even for very large arrays, in fact essentially without limits. |
| US08885143B2 |
Projection exposure apparatus for microlithography for the production of semiconductor components
A projection exposure apparatus for microlithography for the production of semiconductor components includes at least one optical assembly with at least one optical element which can be actuated in a mechanically controlled manner is mounted in a structure. For carrying out the mechanical actuation, a control signal transmission device and/or an energy transmission device are/is provided, which introduce(s) no parasitic mechanical effects into the optical assembly at least during specific operating states of the projection exposure apparatus. |
| US08885134B2 |
Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal device includes a positive potential connection line as a first connection line layer to which a first potential lower than a common potential is applied, between a pixel area and a seal member in the plan view, and a peripheral electrode as a second connection line layer that is provided between the positive potential connection line and a liquid crystal layer, is provided to overlap with at least a part of the positive potential connection line in the plan view, and to which a second potential higher than the common potential is applied. |
| US08885131B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device (100) according to the present invention includes a color display pixel D including pixels PA through PD arrayed in a matrix. The pixels PA through PD respectively include sub pixels SA1 through SD1and sub pixels SA2 through SD2. At least at an intermediate gray scale level, the luminance of the sub pixels SA2 through SD2 is higher than the luminance of the sub pixels SA1through SD1. The plurality of sub pixels S included in the pixels PA through PD are arrayed in a matrix. The sub pixel SA2 is adjacent to the sub pixel SB2 in the row direction, is adjacent to the sub pixel SC2 in the column direction, and is adjacent to the sub pixel SD2 in an oblique direction. |
| US08885129B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate including an organic insulation film including a first contact hole penetrating to the switching element, an island-shaped relay electrode and a common electrode which are formed on the organic insulation film, an interlayer insulation film including a second contact hole at a position different from a position of the first contact hole, a pixel electrode which is formed on the interlayer insulation film and includes a slit which is opposed to the common electrode, and an alignment film covering the pixel electrode and the interlayer insulation film. |
| US08885128B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for fabricating the same
Disclosed are a liquid crystal display device which reduces the number of masks and improves an aperture ratio, and a method for fabricating the same. The liquid crystal display device includes gate and data lines perpendicularly intersecting on a substrate having pixel and pad parts; a thin film transistor on the substrate at the intersection of the gate and data lines; a pixel electrode on the substrate at the pixel part and connected directly to a drain electrode of the thin film transistor; an insulating film on the overall surface of the substrate including the pixel electrode and the thin film transistor; an organic film on the insulating film over the thin film transistor and the data line; and a common electrode of slit shapes overlapping the pixel electrode such that the insulating film is interposed between the common electrode and the pixel electrode. |
| US08885125B2 |
LCD including a color filter substrate with first and second electrode lines corresponding to a black matrix
An embodiment provides a liquid crystal display (LCD) color filter substrate comprises a transparent substrate and a black matrix, which comprises a plurality of horizontal bars and vertical bars. Electrode lines are provide on the horizontal bars or vertical bars of the black matrix, and are used to eliminate charges accumulated on the transparent substrate. |
| US08885119B2 |
Display device comprising a light-sourcing unit fixing frame with a lateral extension portion and a fixing protrusion which interlocks the light-sourcing unit fixing frame to a housing
A backlight assembly of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is provided with improved heat dissipation capabilities. The improved dissipation capabilities come from one or more light-sourcing unit fixing frames that have extensions which protrude to outside a housing that houses light sourcing units of the LCD. The light-sourcing unit fixing frames mechanically interlock with the housing. |
| US08885114B2 |
Display device and manufacturing method thereof
It is an object of the present invention to form a pixel electrode and a metal film using one resist mask in manufacturing a stacked structure by forming the metal film over the pixel electrode. A conductive film to be a pixel electrode and a metal film are stacked. A resist pattern having a thick region and a region thinner than the thick region is formed over the metal film using an exposure mask having a semi light-transmitting portion. The pixel electrode, and the metal film formed over part of the pixel electrode to be in contact therewith are formed using the resist pattern. Accordingly, a pixel electrode and a metal film can be formed using one resist mask. |
| US08885113B2 |
Display device, barrier device, and method of manufacturing barrier device
A display device includes a display section displaying an image; and a barrier section including a plurality of liquid crystal barriers, the liquid crystal barriers each being configured to be switched between an open state and a closed state. The barrier section includes a barrier electrode being arranged in a region corresponding to the liquid crystal barrier, the barrier electrode including a plurality of sub-electrodes each of which includes a projection portion, a common electrode being commonly formed on an entire surface of a region corresponding to the plurality of liquid crystal barriers, and a liquid crystal layer being provided between the barrier electrode and the common electrode. |
| US08885112B2 |
Compact holographic edge illuminated eyeglass display
There is provided a wearable display comprising at least one Switchable Bragg Grating (SBG) device recorded in at least one Holographic Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (HPDLC) layer. Each HPDLC layer is sandwiched between first and second transparent plates to which transparent electrodes have been applied. Each SBG device is characterized in that it provides a grating in a separate switchable region and is clear elsewhere. Each SBG device has a diffracting state and a non diffracting state. The transparent plates and HPDLC layers form a laminar structure which functions as a light guide. In one embodiment of the invention the display magnifies and forms a virtual image of information provided by an external image generator. In one embodiment of the invention the display and forms a virtual image of an image of information encoded in the SBG device. |
| US08885110B1 |
Flat screen monitor protective panel
A protective device for a flat display monitor comprises a thin transparent protective shielding covering the entire front viewing area of the display monitor. The device is removably attached and secured to the frame of the display monitor using brackets and adjustable clamping members. Once installed, the display monitor is protected from environmental threats or other incidental damage. |
| US08885105B1 |
Systems and methods for performing region-based local contrast enhancement
Local contrast enhancement comprises obtaining a first frame as a reference frame and a second frame as a current frame. The reference frame is partitioned into a plurality of reference regions, and a first color mapping function is derived for at least one of the reference regions in the reference frame according to the corresponding color distribution. The first color mapping function comprises, for at least one of a predetermined set of colors, a first source color value and a first contrast-enhanced color value. The current frame is partitioned into a plurality of regions, and a second color mapping function is derived for at least one of the regions in the current frame according to the first color mapping functions of at least two of the reference regions in the reference frame. The second color mapping function is applied to generate a contrast-enhanced frame. |
| US08885103B2 |
Display device and television receiver
The present display device is a display device in which a display unit is provided with a first area (MAR) that displays a first picture and a second area (SAR) that displays a second picture, and is equipped with a first illumination unit that illuminates the first area with light and a second illumination unit that illuminates the second area with light, wherein power supply to the first illumination unit and power supply to the second illumination unit are controlled separately. Thus, it is possible to reduce power consumption. |
| US08885100B2 |
Video display apparatus, video output apparatus, control methods thereof, and video display system
Compatible video signal information having first information indicating a pixel number of a video signal displayable by a video display apparatus and second information that is setting information required in order for the video display apparatus to display a video signal having the pixel number is transmitted to a video output apparatus. In the case where a video signal received from the video output apparatus after the compatible video signal information is transmitted is a video signal having a pixel number displayable by the video display apparatus but not being displayable, the compatible video signal information is updated so that setting information for the pixel number of that video signal is included in the second information. |
| US08885092B2 |
Camera device, exposure control method, and program
A camera device (1) includes an imaging unit (2) which outputs a long exposure signal and a short exposure signal in one field period. A face detection unit (8) detects a face area from an image captured by the imaging unit (2). The weighting processing unit (12) applies a weighting process to luminance data of the long exposure signal in the detected face area using a weighting constant for reducing the luminance level of the long exposure signal. If the luminance level of the weighting-processed long exposure signal rises to a predetermined saturation level or higher, an exposure control unit (15) performs exposure control using the long exposure signal and the short exposure signal. This can suppress occurrence of a noise due to a short exposure signal (flickering) in the face area, thereby improving visibility in the face area. |
| US08885091B2 |
Imaging device and distance information detecting method
An imaging device is provided that comprises an imaging processor, a distance information detector, a primary image capturing processor and an image processor. The imaging processor captures a plurality of secondary images of the same object at different in-focus positions by driving a photographing lens. The distance information detector detects distance information of the object for each of the areas of an image based on the contrast in each of the areas in each of the secondary images. The primary image capturing processor captures the same image of the object as a primary image. The image processor carries out image processing on the primary image based on the distance information. |
| US08885087B2 |
Lens system that is communicable wirelessly
A lens system has a lens apparatus with a first wireless communication unit that communicates with a second wireless communication unit of a command apparatus, which wirelessly communicates with the lens apparatus to control the lens apparatus. The lens apparatus has a first setting unit that sets the first wireless communication as slave when the lens apparatus is initialized. The command apparatus has a second setting unit that sets the second wireless communication unit as master when the commanding apparatus is initialized, and the lens apparatus includes a data reduction unit that reduces data sent from the first to the second wireless unit. |
| US08885084B2 |
Solid-state imaging device
According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array unit where pixels are disposed in a matrix and a column amplifying circuit that is disposed at an end of the pixel array unit and amplifies a unit signal of a unit pixel read from each pixel with at least first and second amplification factors, and outputs a plurality of amplified signals. |
| US08885083B2 |
Solid state imaging device and electronic apparatus
Provided is a solid state imaging device including: a pixel portion where pixel sharing units are disposed in an array shape and where another one pixel transistor group excluding transfer transistors is shared by a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions; transfer wiring lines which are connected to the transfer gate electrodes of the transfer transistors of the pixel sharing unit and which are disposed to extend in a horizontal direction and to be in parallel in a vertical direction as seen from the top plane; and parallel wiring lines which are disposed to be adjacent to the necessary transfer wiring lines in the pixel sharing unit and which are disposed to be in parallel to the transfer wiring lines as seen from the top plane, wherein voltages which are used to suppress potential change of the transfer gate electrodes are supplied to the parallel wiring lines. |
| US08885082B2 |
Solid-state image sensor and camera
A solid-state image sensor has a plurality of pixel units, each pixel unit including a plurality of pixels, and a charge-voltage converter shared by the plurality of pixels. The sensor includes a structural portion including a plurality of wiring layers, an interlayer insulating film, and light waveguides configured by embedding, in portions of the interlayer insulating film located above the photoelectric converters, a material having a refractive index higher than that of the interlayer insulating film. A dummy pattern is formed in the structural portion to reduce a difference between a sensitivity of a first pixel and that of a second pixel, which is produced by a difference between a structure in a periphery of the light waveguide arranged above the photoelectric converter of the first pixel and that of the second pixel. |
| US08885081B2 |
A/D converter and solid-state imaging apparatus
In an A/D converter, a ramp unit generates a reference signal that increases or decreases over time. A comparison unit starts a comparison process of comparing an analog signal to the reference signal at a timing related to input of the analog signal and ends the comparison process at a timing at which the reference signal satisfies a predetermined condition with respect to the analog signal. A VCO includes a plurality of delay units having the same configuration and starts a transition process at a timing related to the start of the comparison process. A count unit counts a clock from the VCO. A low-order latch unit latches a low-order logic state, which is a logic state of the plurality of delay units, at a first timing related to the end of the comparison process. A high-order latch unit latches a high-order logic state. |
| US08885077B2 |
Dynamic, local edge preserving defect pixel correction for image sensors
Various technologies described herein pertain to defect pixel correction for image data collected by a pixel array of an image sensor. Neighborhood statistics for a given pixel from the image data are computed based on values of neighbor pixels of the given pixel from the image data. Whether the value of the given pixel is defective is detected based on the neighborhood statistics. The value of the given pixel is replaced when detected to be defective to output modified image data. Correction of the given pixel is a function of whether the given pixel is in a flat region or a non-flat region. When the given pixel is defective and in a non-flat region, a minimum edge across the given pixel is identified and the value of the given pixel is replaced with an average of values of neighbor pixels that belong to the minimum edge. |
| US08885076B2 |
Camera sensor defect correction and noise reduction
Systems and methods for camera sensor defect correction and noise reduction are disclosed. In an exemplary implementation, a method may include comparing a pixel in a digital image to neighboring pixels to identify an anomaly. The method may also include ignoring the anomaly if the anomaly occurs in at least one neighboring pixel, and marking the pixel as defective if the anomaly does not occur in any neighboring pixels. |
| US08885075B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and solid-state imaging device
According to embodiment, an image processing device includes a black level correcting section. The black level correcting section includes a first input restricting unit and a second input restricting unit. The second input restricting unit performs a second input restriction, having a second signal level range including a moving average as a reference, on a black level signal subjected to a first input restriction by the first input restricting unit. A correction amount calculation unit calculates a difference of an average of signal values subjected to the second input restriction and a black level standard value as a correction value to apply on an effective pixel signal. |
| US08885074B2 |
Red-eye filter method and apparatus
A digital image acquisition system having no photographic film, such as a digital camera, has a flash unit for providing illumination during image capture and a red-eye filter for detecting a region within a captured image indicative of a red-eye phenomenon, the detection being based upon a comparison of the captured image and a reference image of nominally the same scene taken without flash. In the embodiment the reference image is a preview image of lower pixel resolution than the captured image, the filter matching the pixel resolutions of the captured and reference images by up-sampling the preview image and/or sub-sampling the captured image. The filter also aligns at least portions of the captured image and reference image prior to comparison to allow for, e.g. movement in the subject. |
| US08885072B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, imaging method, and camera module
According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes an output level determining unit, a random number data generating unit, and an output selecting unit. The output level determining unit performs a level determination of a digital output signal by comparing a level of the digital output signal with a threshold value. The random number data generating unit generates random number data by random number processing on the level of the digital output signal. The output selecting unit selects any of: the digital output signal subjected to an addition of the random number data, and the digital output signal not subjected to the addition of the random number data corresponding to a result of the level determination. |
| US08885071B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and control method for flash distribution
An image pickup apparatus arranged so that an optical image of an object obtained by emitting a flash is converted into an electric signal to obtain a first image regarding photographing of the object, the same optical image of the object is converted into an electric signal to obtain a second image, a distance from the object is measured for each image area of the first image on the basis of the second image, and the first image is corrected on the basis of the distance from the object measured for each image area and light distribution characteristic data of a flash stored beforehand corresponding to the distance of the object. |
| US08885066B2 |
System and method for differentiating subjects using a virtual green screen
There is provided a method for capturing images of subjects having a first subject placed a distance in front of a second subject, comprising shining a first light on the subjects during a first period of time, wherein the first light is shone with more intensity on the first subject than the second subject; capturing a first image of the subjects during the first period of time; terminating the shining of the first light on the subjects after the capturing of the first image; shining a second light on the subjects during a second period of time after the terminating, wherein the second light is shone with more intensity on the second subject than the first subject; and capturing a second image of the subjects during the second period of time. |
| US08885063B2 |
Digital photographing apparatus and method of controlling the same
A digital photographing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. A method of controlling a digital photographing apparatus, the method including determining whether a condition for changing an environment setup of the digital photographing apparatus is satisfied; if the condition is satisfied, searching for an environment setup to be changed according to the condition; and changing the environment setup according to the condition. |
| US08885052B2 |
Unevenness inspection apparatus and unevenness inspection method
An unevenness inspection apparatus including: an image pickup section obtaining a pickup image of a test object; an image generating section generating each of a color unevenness inspection image and a luminance unevenness inspection image based on the pickup image; a calculating section calculating an evaluation parameter using both of the color unevenness inspection image and the luminance unevenness inspection image; and an inspecting section performing unevenness inspection using the calculated evaluation parameter. The calculating section calculates the evaluation parameter in consideration of unevenness visibility for both color and luminance. |
| US08885051B2 |
Camera calibration method and camera calibration apparatus
With the distance between a reference plane and a line light source (13) maintained at a first distance, the line light source (13) is translated in two different directions, and the position of the line light source (13) for each individual pixel where the pixel has been photographed from an incident ray radiated from the line light source (13) is stored (STEP 3, 4). With the distance between the reference plane and the line light source (13) maintained at a second distance different from the first distance, the line light source (13) is translated in two different directions, and the position of the line light source (13) for each individual pixel where the pixel has been photographed from an incident ray radiated from the line light source (13) is stored (STEP 6, 7). A straight line with the minimum distance to the positions of the four line light sources is deduced as the trajectory (S) of the incident ray to each pixel (STEP 8, 9). |
| US08885050B2 |
Video quality monitoring
Systems and methods of perceptual quality monitoring of video information, communications, and entertainment that can estimate the perceptual quality of video with high accuracy, and can be used to produce quality scores that better correlate with subjective quality scores of an end user. The systems and methods of perceptual quality monitoring of video can generate, from an encoded input video bitstream, estimates of one or more quality parameters relating to the video, such as the coding bit rate parameter, the video frame rate parameter, and the packet loss rate parameter, and provide these video quality parameter estimates to a predetermined video quality estimation model. Because the estimates of the video quality parameters are generated from the encoded input video bitstream as it is being received, the systems and methods are suitable for use as QoE monitoring tools. |
| US08885046B1 |
Semi-trailer with external switch
A semi-trailer has a surveillance system located within a hidden compartment of the semi-trailer. At least one external switch is located on an exterior of the semi-trailer and is electrically coupled to at least one subsystem of the surveillance system for controlling the at least one subsystem without controlling the entire surveillance system at once. |
| US08885043B2 |
Monitoring system and image reconstruction method for planting bed
An image reconstruction method adapted to use with a planting bed is provided. The planting bed is constituted by a work platform disposed on a work plane and for supporting a plurality of plants thereon. The image reconstruction method includes steps of: capturing a plurality of images of the work platform from different positions on a monitoring plane to obtain a plurality of image data, wherein the monitoring plane is opposite to the work plane, the monitoring and work planes are parallel to each other in a visible range and have a predetermined distance therebetween; and performing an image stitching algorithm to stitch the image data into a two-dimensional image of the planting bed. A monitoring system of a planting bed is also provided. |
| US08885042B2 |
System and method for measuring flight parameters of a spherical object
A system and a method for measuring flight parameters of a spherical object are disclosed. A trigger signal-generating unit generates and outputs a first trigger signal upon detection of a spherical object, and generates and outputs a second trigger signal when a reference time interval which is set on the basis of the maximum flight speed and the maximum rotating speed of the spherical object has elapsed from the point in time when the first trigger signal was generated. A photographing unit photographs images in a first image acquiring region having a predetermined region in which the spherical object exists, in accordance with the first trigger signal and the second trigger signal. An image-acquiring unit provides the photographing unit with the first trigger signal and the second trigger signal inputted by the trigger signal generating unit, and converts a plurality of images inputted by the photographing unit in accordance with the first and second trigger signals into digital images, and stores the digital images. A parameter-measuring unit calculates flight parameters including the flight speed, flight angle, rotating speed, and rotational axis of the spherical object from the plurality of digital images. |
| US08885033B2 |
Endoscope system
Provided is an endoscope system including: a light source apparatus detecting which color LED fails by a color sensor; a scope that irradiates a subject with illuminating light and takes in an optical image of the subject; a CCD that picks up an image of the optical image of the subject; a video processor that processes the picked up image; and a monitor that displays a processed image, wherein if a failure of any of the LEDs is detected by the color sensor, the light source apparatus generates illuminating light using LEDs of colors other than a color of the light-emitting device for which the failure is detected, and wherein the video processor switches image processing to image processing according to a color of the LED for which the failure is detected. |
| US08885029B2 |
Stereoscopic image display
A stereoscopic image display is discussed. The stereoscopic image display includes a display panel including data lines, gate lines crossing the data lines, thin film transistors (TFTs) that are turned on in response to gate pulses from the gate lines, and a plurality of pixels, a data driving circuit that converts digital video data into a data voltage and supplies the data voltage to the data lines, a gate driving circuit sequentially supplying the gate pulses synchronized with the data voltage to the gate lines, and a timing controller that receives a timing signal, 2D image data, and 3D image data from an external host system, supplies the digital video data to the data driving circuit, and controls an operation timing of the data driving circuit and an operation timing of the gate driving circuit. |
| US08885027B2 |
Stereoscopic display device and control method therefor
For example, display image input units 131R, 131L detect additional information indicating left and right directionality from images for display. Then, in a stereoscopic display device having a display device for the right eye and a display device for the left eye, a switcher 132 capable of switching the connections between input and output input-output is controlled so that the correct image for display is provided to the correct display device. With such a configuration, even when the cables are connected incorrectly, it is still possible to input stereoscopic images to the stereoscopic display device so that such images are always displayed in the correct left-right relation. |
| US08885026B2 |
Imaging device and imaging method
An imaging device, comprising: an imaging unit having first pixels configured to photoelectrically convert a subject image which is imaged with a photographic lens and to output a first image signal, and second pixels configured to be placed discretely between the first pixels so as to photoelectrically convert each of a plurality of subject images which come from divided pupil regions formed by dividing a pupil region of the photographic lens and to output second image signals having a phase difference; an imaging control unit; a parallax information calculation unit; a plane image generation unit; and a blurring processing unit configured to determine target pixels in the plane image which are to be subjected to blurring processing, based on the parallax information calculated by the parallax information calculation unit, and to perform blurring processing on the determined target pixels in the plane image. |
| US08885025B2 |
Processor
A processor includes: an imaging control unit which causes an imaging unit for capturing an image with changing a focused object distance, to change the focused object distance with a first change width in the case of a first focused object distance, and to change the focused object distance with a second change width that is smaller than the first change width in the case of a second focused object distance that is shorter than the first focused object distance; and an image processing unit which extracts focused object image data from captured image data for each of the focused object distances, and generates image data by shifting the extracted object image data by parallax amounts corresponding to the respective focused object distances, and by synthesizing the extracted object image data. |
| US08885024B2 |
Stereo imagers and projectors, and method
Apparatus and systems, as well as methods and articles, may operate to capture a portion of an omniscopic or omni-stereo image using one or more image capture media. The media may be located substantially perpendicular to a converging ray originating at a viewpoint on an inter-ocular circle and having a convergence angle between zero and ninety degrees from a parallel viewpoint baseline position that includes a non-converging ray originating at the viewpoint. The media may also be located so as to be substantially perpendicular to a non-converging ray originating at a first viewpoint at a first endpoint of a diameter defining an inter-ocular circle, wherein the origin of the non-converging ray gravitates toward the center of the inter-ocular circle as spherical imagery is acquired. |
| US08885018B2 |
Display device configured to simultaneously exhibit multiple display modes
A display comprises a parallax optic (2), such as a combined parallax barrier and lens array, and a pixellated display device (1). The pixels of the display device (1) are arranged as groups cooperating with a parallax element (4) of the parallax optic (2). Each group comprises a first pixel (A) aligned with the centre of the parallax element (4), second and third pixels (B, C) on either side of the first pixel (A), and fourth pixels (D) shared with adjacent groups and disposed outside the second pixels (B, C). The parallax elements (4) make the different pixels of each group visible in different viewing regions. A control arrangement selects regions of the display and selects different combinations of the pixels of each group for image display within respective regions so as to provide simultaneously-present different viewing modes having different viewing range characteristics. |
| US08885017B2 |
Real-time process and technology using image processing to maintain and ensure viewer comfort during capture, live transmission, and post-production of stereoscopic 3D imagery
A system for real-time image processing to maintain viewer comfort during capture, live transmission, and post-production of stereoscopic 3D imagery system comprising a) a stereoscopic 3D camera; b) an image capture processor operably connected to the stereoscopic 3D camera; c) one or more than one alarm operably connected to the image capture processor and the image display processor; d) one or more than one video switch operably connected to the display image processor; and e) a 3D display apparatus connected to the one or more than one video switch. |
| US08885014B2 |
Appearance matching for videoconferencing
Methods and systems for presenting video images generated by multiple endpoints in a videoconference such that the displayed images have consistent appearance, for example consistent brightness levels are disclosed. Sampling methods and algorithms are used to calculate an appropriate amount of correction for each video image and the images are adjusted accordingly. Brightness correction may implement one or more brightness sampling and analyzing logical modules (BSAM) and one or more transforming logical module (TLM). The brightness matching methods may be implemented in centralized architecture, for example, as part of a multipoint control unit (MCU). Alternatively, the methods may be implemented using a distributed architecture. |
| US08885012B2 |
System and method for providing anonymity in a video/multimedia communications session over a network
In one example embodiment, a method for facilitating an anonymous video/multimedia communication session in a communications environment over a network is provided that includes receiving, from a first endpoint, a request for a communication session involving a second endpoint. The method also includes identifying end user data associated with both endpoints. The data associated with the first endpoint is mapped to an identity of the first endpoint. The second endpoint can be shown the identity of the first endpoint and not the end user data associated with the first endpoint. Also, the data associated with the second endpoint can be mapped to an identity of the second endpoint. The first endpoint is shown the identity of the second endpoint and not the end user data associated with the second endpoint. |
| US08885011B2 |
Method for implementing video call with bluetooth-based headset and video communication terminal for the same
Disclosed are a method for implementing a video call with a Bluetooth-based headset and a video communication terminal. The method includes: looking up a Bluetooth headset; starting a VTCALL unit of the AP module and an AG unit; sending a VTCALL command and an AG command to the audio module; switching an audio channel to a BTVTCALL channel; starting a recording and playing mode of the video communication terminal, collecting uplink and downlink audio data, and transmitting the uplink and the downlink audio data to the Bluetooth module; transmitting the uplink and the downlink audio data to the Bluetooth headset; executing the data exchange with the Bluetooth headset for implementing a Bluetooth video call. The present invention implements the Bluetooth video call by modifying software, thereby using the current hardware resources and decreasing the cost. |
| US08885009B2 |
Method for switching video calls between devices
A method for switching a call with video or at least one image between a first communication device and a display device is disclosed. The method includes the first communication device determining whether the display device is within a predetermined distance from the first communication device; if the display device is within the predetermined distance from the first communication device, the first communication device obtaining functional information from the display device; the first communication device transmitting communication information corresponding to a second communication device to the display device; and the display device launching network communication software and making a first call to the second communication device according to the communication information. |
| US08885008B2 |
Transmission management system, transmission system, computer program product, program providing system, and maintenance system
A transmission management system includes: a relay device management unit that manages relay device-specifying information for specifying each relay device on a communication network, for every piece of relay device-identification information for identifying each relay device; a terminal management unit that manages terminal-specifying information for specifying each transmission terminal on the communication network; a receiving unit that receives, from a transmission terminal as a predetermined request source, terminal-identification information for the request source and terminal-identification information for a transmission terminal as a destination; an extracting unit that extracts the terminal-specifying information of a corresponding transmission terminal based on the terminal-identification information for the request source; and a primary selecting unit that selects two or more pieces of relay device-identification information of relay devices, to which relay device-specifying information representing top two or more IP addresses closest to the IP address represented by the extracted terminal-specifying information, is allocated. |
| US08885007B2 |
Method and system for initiating communication via a communication network
A method of communicating between a first user and a second user comprises using a first system to transmit, from the first user, a first signal for delivery to the second user. In particular, the first signal is transmitted via a first communication application. At least one of video, audio, and image analytics of electronically sensed data is performed to determine a presence of the second user at a third system. When the second user is determined to be present at the third system, the second user is provided with a first indication indicative of the first signal, the first indication being provided via a pervasive communication application in execution on the third system and other than the first communication application. |
| US08885006B2 |
Laser printer with reduced banding artifacts
A laser scanning assembly generates a laser beam and scans the laser beam through a plurality of scan lines to form desired dots. Each scan line is positioned to overlap an adjacent scan line and each dot includes a plurality of segments. The scanning assembly scans the laser beam through multiple scan lines to fully discharge each segment of each dot. The laser scanner assembly would typically be part of a laser printer. |
| US08885000B2 |
Display panel driving method, display device driving circuit, and display device
The present invention relates to a method of driving a liquid crystal panel 40 including a first display area 42 and a second display area 44. The first display area 42 includes a middle portion of the display panel and the second display area 44 includes an outer portion around the first display area 42. The method including the following steps: (1) supplying image data to the display areas through a supply circuit 12 to display the image therein; and (2) correcting only the image data for the second display area 44 in a first correction circuit 20 when the supply circuit 12 supplies the image data. In this driving method, the image data for the second display area 44 is corrected, but the image data for the first display area 42 is not corrected. As a result, the deterioration of brightness and gradation characteristics can be suppressed while the unevenness in the liquid crystal panel 40 is reduced. |
| US08884996B2 |
Display device and electronic unit having a plurality of potential lines maintained at gray-scale potentials
A display device includes: pixels each including a display element; potential lines maintained at respective gray-scale potentials different from one another, the potential lines including first potential lines each maintained at a first gray-scale potential level allowing a luminance gradient to be relatively steep and second potential lines each maintained at a second gray-scale potential level allowing a luminance gradient to be relatively gentle, the luminance gradient representing a magnitude of a display luminance variation caused by a variation in a voltage or current applied to the display element; and a driving section performing display drive on the pixels based on an image signal, through supplying the display element of each of the pixels with a gray-scale potential level of selected one of the plurality of potential lines. A resistance of the first potential line is lower than a resistance of the second potential line. |
| US08884994B2 |
Method and apparatus for blending display modes
A method of blending image data that includes displaying a first portion of an image from a first set of pixels according to a first mode in which color values of sub-pixels of the first set of the pixels are determined according to time-averaged colors of the corresponding backlight emitters. The method also includes displaying a second portion of the image from a second set of the pixels according to a second mode in which color values of sub-pixels of a second set of the pixels are determined independently for each of the colors of the corresponding backlight emitters. At an interface between the first portion and the second portion, the first portion and the second portion are generally linearly blended so as to form a blended portion of the image, and the blended portion is displayed. |
| US08884988B1 |
Portable device displaying an augmented reality image and method of controlling therefor
A portable device according to one embodiment of the present specification includes a camera unit configured to capture a surrounding image located in a front direction of the portable device, a display unit configured to display an image, and a processor configured to control the camera unit and the display unit, the processor is further configured to detect at least one of a predefined stationary object and a predefined moving object, if the moving object is detected, display a second augmented reality image corresponding to the moving object and countdown a second timer corresponding to the second augmented reality image, detect a movement of the moving object, if the movement of the moving object is detected before the second setting time of the second timer elapses, adjust the second timer. |
| US08884987B2 |
Storage medium having stored thereon display control program, display control apparatus, display control system, and display control method for setting and controlling display of a virtual object using a real world image
Captured image acquisition means acquires a captured image captured by a real camera. Color detection means, in the captured image acquired by the captured image acquisition means, detects at least one pixel having specific range color information in color information including at least one selected from the group including RGB values, a hue, a saturation, and a brightness. Image generation means, on the basis of the specific range color information of the at least one pixel detected by the color detection means, generates an image of an object to be placed in a virtual world. Image display control means displays the image generated by the image generation means on a display device. |
| US08884982B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying speakers and emphasizing selected objects in picture and video messages
A method for emphasizing selected objects in digital data of at least one of pictures and video that is stored in digital messages, the messages including sender addresses and being stored in a memory system of a digital messaging system for a plurality of users, includes the step of identifying picture regions including at least one of faces and persons in the digital data of the messages on the digital messaging system having the same sender address. Sender-relevant picture regions in the identified picture regions that represent a sender of the message are determined based on at least one of: a) a comparison with a reference picture of the sender stored on the memory system; b) a comparison of speech data in the digital data with reference speech data using at least one of speaker recognition methods, speaker verification methods and speaker identification methods, taking into account picture data and speech data in the message; and c) a frequency of occurrence of the identified picture regions in the messages that have the same sender address. The digital data of the messages is then modified so as to emphasize the sender-relevant picture region. |
| US08884981B2 |
Dynamically reconfigurable graphics layer system and method
A method of displaying a user interface in a portable electronic device is provided. The method includes displaying a user interface via a graphics layer attached to a software renderer, detaching the graphics layer from the software renderer, and attaching the graphics layer to one or more of a plurality of hardware layers, such that the display of the graphics layer is facilitated by one or more features of at least one of the hardware layers. An electronic device is provided that includes a display, a processor coupled to the display and configured to provide a plurality of hardware layers, and a user interface comprising a graphics layer, wherein the display of the graphics layer is facilitated by one or more features of at least one of the hardware layers, wherein the graphics layer dynamically attaches to or detaches from one or more of the plurality of hardware layers. |
| US08884974B2 |
Managing multiple GPU-based rendering contexts
Content is rendered for display using a plurality of rendering contexts. Rendering is performed, at least in part, using a graphics processing unit (GPU). The plurality of rendering contexts can comprise a lower priority rendering context and a higher priority rendering context. One or more components can be associated with each of the lower priority rendering context and the higher priority rendering context. Different restrictions can be imposed on each rendering context. Restrictions can include a restriction on block size, prioritization of requests for each context, and a restriction on the number of requests in a GPU queue at a time. |
| US08884973B2 |
Systems and methods for rendering graphics from multiple hosts
A system is provided for rendering graphics. The system comprises a plurality or render nodes configured to collectively render a graphics image in response to graphics information supplied from a selected host, at least two hosts operatively coupled to the plurality of render nodes, the at least two hosts comprising the selected host, and logic for selectively configuring the plurality of render nodes to render a graphics image based on content supplied by the selected host. |
| US08884972B2 |
Graphics processor with arithmetic and elementary function units
A graphics processor capable of efficiently performing arithmetic operations and computing elementary functions is described. The graphics processor has at least one arithmetic logic unit (ALU) that can perform arithmetic operations and at least one elementary function unit that can compute elementary functions. The ALU(s) and elementary function unit(s) may be arranged such that they can operate in parallel to improve throughput. The graphics processor may also include fewer elementary function units than ALUs, e.g., four ALUs and a single elementary function unit. The four ALUs may perform an arithmetic operation on (1) four components of an attribute for one pixel or (2) one component of an attribute for four pixels. The single elementary function unit may operate on one component of one pixel at a time. The use of a single elementary function unit may reduce cost while still providing good performance. |
| US08884970B2 |
Aligning script animations with display refresh
Various embodiments align callbacks to a scripting component that enable the scripting component to update animation, with a system's refresh notifications. Specifically, an application program interface (API) is provided and implemented in a manner that generates and issues a callback to the scripting component when the system receives a refresh notification. This provides the scripting component with a desirable amount of time to run before the next refresh notification. |
| US08884964B2 |
Functional-based knowledge analysis in a 2D and 3D visual environment
A method of creating a visual display based on a plurality of data sources is provided. An exemplary embodiment of the method comprises extracting a set of extracted data from the plurality of data sources and processing at least a portion of the extracted data with a set of knowledge agents according to specific criteria to create at least one data assemblage. The exemplary method also comprises providing an integrated two-dimensional/three-dimensional (2D/3D) visual display in which at least one 2D element of the at least one data assemblage is integrated into a 3D visual representation using a mapping identifier and a criteria identifier. |
| US08884963B2 |
Low resolution buffer based pixel culling
Aspects of this disclosure are directed to updating a low resolution buffer during a binning pass of an image surface by a graphics processing unit (GPU). For example, during the binning pass of the image surface, the GPU may divide the image surface into a plurality of blocks of surface pixels of the image surface. The GPU may then store a surface identifier of the image surface within storage locations of the low resolution buffer to correspond to each of the blocks of the surface pixels of the image surface. |
| US08884962B2 |
Computer arrangement for and method of matching location data of different sources
A computer arrangement is disclosed, including a processor and a memory that stores a computer program, object data originating from a first source and including object location data, and laser samples originating from a second source, including a sub-set of laser samples relating to the object and including laser sample location data as to each laser sample. In at least one embodiment, the processor compares the object location data and the laser sample location data of the sub-set of laser samples, and matches the object location data to the laser sample location data of the sub-set of laser samples based on this comparison, and thereby corrects for relative positional errors between the first and second sources of location data. The object may be a building façade, for example. |
| US08884955B1 |
Surface simplification based on offset tiles
An exemplary method for simplifying the geometry of a three-dimensional mesh includes dividing a first three-dimensional mesh into a first plurality of tiles along initial boundary lines. The method also includes for at least one tile of the first plurality of tiles, reducing the vertices toward a center of the tile while maintaining vertices along a perimeter of the tile, and assembling the first plurality of tiles to determine a second three-dimensional mesh. The method also includes dividing the second three-dimensional mesh into a second plurality of tiles along boundary lines offset from the initial boundary lines. The method further includes for at least one tile of the second plurality of tiles, reducing the vertices toward a center of the tile while maintaining vertices along a perimeter of the tile, and assembling the second plurality of tiles to determine a simplified three-dimensional mesh. |
| US08884953B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding 3D mesh models, and method and apparatus for decoding encoded 3D mesh models
3D mesh models are widely used in various applications for representing 3D objects. These models are made of vertices and corresponding triangles, which can be compressed based on prediction and residuals. The present invention improves the accuracy of parallelogram prediction, particularly near sharp features. The proposed 3D mesh model encoding comprises analyzing the spatial or dihedral angles between triangles, clustering triangles with similar or equal dihedral angles, and defining a representative dihedral angle for each cluster. Triangles of each cluster are then encoded relative to individual prediction triangles having the representative dihedral angle according to the cluster. Additionally, the prediction triangle may be mirrored. An indication of the encoding mode is inserted into each vertex of the encoded bitstream. A decoder extracts the encoding mode indication, reconstructs the individual prediction triangles based on the respective representative dihedral angles and performs triangle prediction and reconstruction. |
| US08884948B2 |
Method and system for creating depth and volume in a 2-D planar image
Implementations of the present disclosure involve methods and systems for creating depth and volume in a 2-D image by utilizing a plurality of layers of the 2-D image, where each layer comprises one or more portions of the 2-D image. Each layer may be reproduced into a corresponding left eye and right eye layers that include a depth pixel offset corresponding to a perceived depth. Further, a volume effect may also be applied to one or more objects of the 2-D image by associating a volume pixel offset to one or more pixels of the image. Thus, any pixel of the 2-D image may have a depth pixel offset to provide a perceived depth as well as a volume pixel offset to provide a stereoscopic 3-D volume effect. In this manner, the 2-D image may be converted to a corresponding stereoscopic 3-D image with perceived depth and volume effects applied. |
| US08884938B2 |
Data driving apparatus and operation method thereof and display using the same
A data driving apparatus includes two data driving circuits, each including a timing controller with a clock generator and configured to receive a specific portion of data corresponding to a row of pixel in an image frame, and, after receiving the specific portion of the data, process the portion of the data; wherein the two timing controllers have different data operation times. One timing controller outputs an enable command to another one once the processing of the respective portion of the data is complete. Then, another timing controller starts to process the respective portion of the data and output an output command to the first data driving circuit in response to a finish of the processing of the second portion of the data and thereby controlling the two data driving circuits to output the processed data. An operation method thereof and a display using the same are also provided. |
| US08884936B2 |
Display control device, display control method, and non-transitory computer readable medium storing program
A display control device includes: a detecting unit that detects whether an external storage device is inserted into an image forming apparatus; an analyzing unit that analyzes the type of file stored in the external storage device when the detecting unit detects that the external storage device is inserted; and a display control unit that specifies a function related to the type of file among the functions of the image forming apparatus on the basis of the analysis result of the analyzing unit and displays a display screen to which the specified function is allocated on a display unit. |
| US08884935B2 |
Flexible printed circuit board, backlight unit using the same, and liquid crystal display device comprising the same
A flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) capable of improving strength is disclosed, the FPCB comprising a base film; a copper layer on the base film, the copper layer including a circuit pattern, and a strength-reinforcing pattern in an area without the circuit pattern; and a coverlay film on the copper layer. |
| US08884931B2 |
Handwriting input apparatus
A handwriting input apparatus used with an electromagnetic pen is disclosed. The handwriting input apparatus comprises a controller, an electromagnetic antenna board, a signal processing circuit and a charging circuit. The signal processing circuit processes the electromagnetic signals received by the electromagnetic antenna board. The charging circuit used to charge the electromagnetic pen includes a first device which is used to output a first voltage to charge the electromagnetic pen after a voltage of the handwriting input apparatus being inputted. The charging circuit further includes a programmable voltage device connecting to the first device. The programmable voltage device is controlled by the controller to change the first voltage according to the detection of the first voltage by the controller. |
| US08884930B2 |
Graphical display with optical pen input
Methods and apparatuses of obtaining user input. A display of an optical tracking grid is initiated on an electronic graphical display. Changes are determined among images of at least a portion of the optical tracking grid that are captured by a tracking pen device. Based on the determined changes in the images, a movement of a portion of the tracking pen device is determined. A data set characterizing movement is produced in response to determining the movement. |
| US08884929B2 |
Stylus auxiliary core for reducing the scratching of panels
A stylus for reducing the scratching of a panel includes a stylus holder body and a stylus core. The stylus core can be removably installed into the stylus holder body, and also provided with a core head made of soft fiber used for touching the panel. The present invention allows users to replace the dirty stylus core and keep the touch panel free of dust. As the core head of the stylus core for touching the touch panel is made of soft fiber, it is possible to prevent any scratching when the core head touches or slides on the touch panel. |
| US08884924B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, information recording medium, and program
To provide an information processing apparatus having a user interface for enabling a user to readily give an instruction. A distance distribution image obtaining unit obtains a distance distribution image produced based a measured result output from a distance distribution measuring unit for measuring distance distribution to an object within a predetermined view field. An instruction content data producing unit produces instruction content data, based on the distance distribution image. An information processing execution unit obtains the instruction content data produced by the instruction content data producing unit, and carries out information processing based on the instruction content data. |
| US08884922B2 |
Display device including touch panel and parallax barrier sharing single board
A display device includes a touch panel and displays stereoscopic images with reducing its thickness and weight. The display device includes a liquid crystal display panel 20, a switching liquid crystal panel 30 and a touch panel 50. The switching liquid crystal panel 30 is provided on a display surface side of the display panel 20 and switches a display mode between two-dimensional display and three-dimensional display. The touch panel 50 is provided on the display surface side of the display panel 20. The touch panel 50 and the switching liquid crystal panel 30 commonly include one common board 32 and are configured as one component. A touch panel transparent electrode 51 and a switching liquid crystal panel transparent electrode 33 are provided on the common board 32. The switching liquid crystal panel transparent electrode 33 applies a voltage to liquid crystals of the switching liquid crystal panel 30. |
| US08884920B1 |
Programmatic sensing of capacitive sensors
The present disclosure describes apparatuses and techniques for programmatic sensing of capacitive sensors. In some aspects, a first set of instructions are executed that drive an output to a predetermined state for a duration of time effective to charge a capacitive sense element, a second set of instructions are executed that monitor a voltage level of the capacitive sense element, the second set of instructions executed for a number of iterations until the voltage level of the capacitive sense element crosses a predefined threshold, and user interaction with the capacitive sense element is determined based on the number of iterations that the second set of instructions execute. |
| US08884918B2 |
Electronic device having metallic micro-wires
An electronic device includes a support having greater than 80% transmittance to light at 550 nm; and a transparent conductor area provided over at least a portion of one side of the support. The transparent conductor area includes: first metallic micro-wires provided in a first pattern, the first conductive micro-wires having a first height and a width in a range from 0.5 um to 20 um; second metallic micro-wires provided in a second pattern having a second height that is greater than the first height and a width in a range from 0.5 um to 20. The metallic micro-wires occupy an area less than 15% of the transparent conductor area. |
| US08884915B2 |
Method and driving apparatus for identifying sensing value of touch panel
A method and a driving apparatus for identifying a sensing value of a touch panel are provided. The method includes sensing a plurality of electrodes of the touch panel to obtain raw data and baseline data of each electrode, wherein an electrode Si denotes an ith electrode of the electrodes in the touch panel. A sensing value of the electrode Si is calculated in accordance with the raw data and the baseline data of the electrode Si. When sensing values of all electrodes Si are smaller than a threshold value, the baseline data of the electrode Si is updated in accordance with the raw data of the electrode Si. When a sensing value of any one electrode Si of the electrodes is larger than the threshold value, the baseline data of the electrodes is suspended from being updated. |
| US08884911B2 |
Resistive touch controlling system and sensing method
A resistive touch controlling system includes a first sensing module, a second sensing module and a processing circuit. The first sensing module includes a plurality of sensing line groups. The processing circuit is electrically coupled to the first sensing module and the second sensing modules. When the first sensing module senses at least two touch points, the processing circuit takes a combination of touch points sensed by the first and second sensing modules as a first candidate list. After that, the processing circuit turns off some of the sensing line groups of the first sensing module sensing one of the sensed touch points, and takes a touch point(s) sensed by the first sensing module and the second sensing module as the second candidate list. Finally, the processing circuit compares the first candidate list with the second candidate list to determine a current touch sensing result. |
| US08884907B2 |
Multi-touch manipulation of application objects
The manipulation system described herein provides a common platform and application-programming interface (API) for applications to communicate with various multi-touch hardware devices, and facilitates the interpretation of multi-touch input as one or more manipulations. Manipulations map more directly to user intentions than do individual touch inputs and add support for basic transformation of objects using multiple touch contacts. An application can use manipulations to support rotating, resizing, and translating multiple objects at the same time. The manipulation system outputs two-dimensional (2D) affine transforms that contain rotation, scale, and translation information. Thus, using the manipulation system the application author can focus more on building touch-capable applications and let the manipulation system handle the underlying transformations and communication with the multi-touch hardware. |
| US08884905B2 |
Method and apparatus for on-top writing
A handwriting recognition apparatus facilitates user entry of strokes one on top of another. The apparatus, which includes a processor and a display integrated with a touch sensitive screen, receives a series of strokes via the screen. Each stroke is defined by contact, trace, and lift occurrences. Each stroke appears on the display until occurrence of a prescribed event, and then disappears. The apparatus accumulates strokes into a buffer and interprets all accumulated strokes collectively against a character database and optionally a linguistic database, to identify multiple candidate strings that could be represented by the accumulated strokes. The apparatus displays candidate strings for user selection after all strokes have faded, or after receiving a user submitted delimiter, or after a given delay has elapsed following user entry of the latest stroke. Alternatively, candidate strings are displayed after each stroke without waiting for timeout or explicit delimiter. |
| US08884903B2 |
Remote controller for multiple navigation devices
Embodiments related to controlling one or more controllable marine electronics devices are provided. One example embodiment provides a remote control device comprising a touch-sensitive display. The remote control device is configured to receive device information from each of the one or more controllable marine electronics devices via the computer network, and display a selection graphical user interface (GUI) including a plurality of graphical selectors each associated with a respective one of the controllable marine electronics devices. The remote control device is further configured to display a remote control user interface for a target controllable marine electronics device corresponding to a selected graphical selector on the touch sensitive display. |
| US08884902B2 |
Decorative structure for touch sensing device and fabrication method thereof
A decorative structure for a touch sensing device is provided. The structure comprises a transparent substrate, a low diffusivity material layer and a protective layer. The transparent substrate has a non-touch surface having a non-image display area. The low diffusivity material layer is disposed on the non-touch surface of the transparent substrate and corresponds to the non-image display area, wherein the low diffusivity material layer has a reflectivity of less than 10%. The protective layer is disposed on the low diffusivity material layer and has at least a first opening pattern to allow a light to sequentially pass through the low diffusivity material layer and the transparent substrate from the first opening pattern. |
| US08884899B2 |
Three-dimensional interactive display
Provided is a thin three-dimensional interactive display which enables multi-touch sensing and three-dimensional gesture recognition. The three-dimensional interactive display includes a light source for irradiating an object to be detected with a light, a light modulation layer, into which a scattered light generated by irradiating the object with the light from the light source enters, at least for modulating an intensity of the scattered light, a transparent light-receiving layer for receiving the light transmitted through the light modulation layer, and a display panel or a back light panel disposed on the opposite side of the transparent light-receiving layer from the light modulation layer. The transparent light-receiving layer has a two-dimensional array of light-receiving elements. |
| US08884896B2 |
Computing device user presence detection
A computing device may detect the presence of a user after the user has not interacted with the computing device for a predetermined time period. The user may leave the device powered up, but after the predetermined time period has expired, the device enters a user detection mode from a normal operation mode such that nonessential components are powered down. A trackpad may be used to detect the presence of the user in the user detection mode. An electric field is generated by conductive plates of the trackpad. When the user extends his hand over the trackpad, sense lines in the track pad detect the interference with the electric field caused by the hand. A processor is signaled to return the device normal operation mode and restore full power to the device. A camera may be also used to detect the user's presence during the user detection mode. |
| US08884893B2 |
Mobile terminal and method for controlling the same
A mobile terminal and a method for controlling the same are provided. The mobile terminal may include a touchscreen that displays at least one content item on a screen and that receives an area touch motion corresponding to a particular area of the screen, and a controller that analyzes the area touch motion and controls a specific content item and content control operation corresponding to the received area touch motion accordingly. Control of such a mobile terminal may include displaying an execution screen of an application, receiving an area touch motion corresponding to one area of the execution screen, analyzing the area touch motion, and controlling an application corresponding to the received area touch motion accordingly. |
| US08884890B2 |
Double-sided touch-sensitive panel with shield and drive combined layer
A multi-touch capacitive touch sensor panel can be created using a substrate with column and row traces formed on either side of the substrate. To shield the column (sense) traces from the effects of capacitive coupling from a modulated Vcom layer in an adjacent liquid crystal display (LCD) or any source of capacitive coupling, the row traces can be widened to shield the column traces, and the row traces can be placed closer to the LCD. In particular, the rows can be widened so that there is spacing of about 30 microns between adjacent row traces. In this manner, the row traces can serve the dual functions of driving the touch sensor panel, and also the function of shielding the more sensitive column (sense) traces from the effects of capacitive coupling. |
| US08884888B2 |
Accelerometer determined input velocity
The disclosed technology relates to an electronic apparatus including a processor, a touch-sensitive display, and an accelerometer. An exemplary method includes receiving in the processor an acceleration value outputted by the accelerometer in response to a user touching a position on the touch-sensitive display with a given velocity. The method includes associating the acceleration value with a function, such as the output of a musical note, indicated by a touched location on the touch-sensitive display. The method includes modifying the function, such as audible volume of the musical note, in accordance with the acceleration value. |
| US08884887B2 |
Electronic device with touch panel and method for controlling the same
The invention discloses an electronic device with a touch panel and the method for controlling the same. The method includes the steps of: determining that the electronic device is operated in a stylus mode or a general mode; determining that the touch point is an effective touch point when the electronic device is in a stylus mode and the touch point on the touch panel is determined to be the first-type touch point; determining that the touch point is an ineffective touch point when the electronic device is in a stylus mode and the touch point on the touch panel is determined to be a second-type touch point; and determining that the touch point on the touch panel is an effective touch point when the electronic device is in a general mode. |
| US08884886B2 |
Touch sensitive video signal display for a programmable multimedia controller
The forgoing method, system, and apparatus relates to a touch sensitive display for use with a programmable multimedia controller. In the illustrative system, the user may select and designate a video input device to be implemented on a video output display device within the user's network of devices. The media input devices and output devices are selected by the user touching a touch sensitive button located on the display screen. To initiate an action the user touches, drags and drops a media input device button onto one or more video output display device buttons. Furthermore, when the user selects a media input device to be implemented on a video output display device, the user may also select a video signal source to apply to that media input device for a transaction. A live stream of what is playing on a given channel is provided on the screen. |
| US08884884B2 |
Haptic effect generation with an eccentric rotating mass actuator
A haptically-enabled system includes a touch sensitive surface and an eccentric rotating mass (“ERM”) actuator coupled to the touch sensitive surface. The ERM actuator includes a motor, a housing and a constrained mass. The system further includes a drive circuit that creates a haptic effect on the touch sensitive surface by coupling an alternating current signal to the ERM actuator. |
| US08884882B2 |
Mobile equipment with display function
A piece of mobile equipment has a display processor that displays an image and at least one icon on a screen, and a touch-sensitive device disposed on said screen. The display processor displays input information in accordance with an input operation to said touch-sensitive device, and removes the icon on the screen in accordance with the input operation. |
| US08884880B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing visual-haptic information, and terminal having the same
A terminal for providing visual-haptic information includes a visual-haptic keypad that displays and provides the visual-haptic information. The visual-haptic keypad includes: a button frame of a plurality of buttons provided in the visual-haptic keypad; a visual display layer positioned under the button frame in a vertical direction on a basis of the button frame; and a haptic display layer positioned under the visual display layer in the vertical direction on the basis of the button frame. The button frame and the visual display layer are fixedly bonded to boundary portions of the plurality of buttons. |
| US08884879B2 |
Input device with adjustable holding angle and an angle adjusting device thereof
An input device with adjustable holding angle and an angle adjusting device thereof are provided. The input device includes a top housing unit, a bottom shell and an angle adjusting device. The angle adjusting device includes a pitching unit and a rolling unit. The pitching unit has a liftable erecting rod, which has a top end connected to the top housing unit. The rolling unit has a transverse rod which is arranged along a lateral direction. The erecting rod has a portion adjacent to its top end, which is rotatably disposed under the top housing unit, and a portion adjacent to its bottom end, which is movably connected to the transverse rod along a transverse direction. Thus, user can adjust the erecting rod to adjust a pitching angle of the top housing unit, or rotate the transverse rod to adjust a rolling angle of the top housing unit. |
| US08884874B1 |
Digital device and control method thereof
Discussed are a digital device and a control method thereof. The digital device includes a communication unit configured to transmit/receive a signal with an external device; a gesture sensor unit configured to sense a gesture with respect to the digital device; and a processor configured to control the communication unit and the gesture sensor unit, wherein the processor is further configured to: provide a first mode corresponding to a first event when occurrence of the first event is detected; transmit a first signal, commanding provision of a second mode corresponding to a second event, to the external device when occurrence of the second event is detected during provision of the first mode; and switch from the first mode to the second mode when detecting a first gesture with respect to the digital device after transmission of the first signal. |
| US08884871B2 |
Adjunct device for use with a handheld wireless communication device as a screen pointer
An adjunct device includes a case for enclosing at least a portion of a handheld wireless communication device. A plug coupled to a communication port of the handheld wireless communication device. A plurality of infrared emitters emits a corresponding plurality of infrared signals to a sensor coupled to a screen for use in generating a screen pointer graphic on the display screen. |
| US08884869B2 |
Court border module using display apparatus
A court border module using a display apparatus is disclosed, which uses piezoelectric elements to drive the display apparatus. When a ball hits a court border, which is defined by the display apparatus, a force is applied to the piezoelectric elements which then generate power to drive the corresponding part of the display apparatus. The color of the part of the display apparatus hit by the ball is switched. Therefore the change in the color of the court border can be observed by officials and others to instantly and objectively determine whether the ball has hit the court border. |
| US08884868B2 |
Display device and manufacturing method thereof
A display panel which can be applied to a display device comprises a first substrate, a second substrate and a display element layer. The first substrate has a structure in which a device layer is stacked on an insulating substrate via a first conductive layer. A device layer has at least, a pixel electrode and a wiring that are connected to a pixel switch. The second substrate includes a second conductive layer that is provided so as to face the pixel electrode arranged on the above first substrate. A display element layer is interposed between the above first substrate and the above second substrate. |
| US08884867B2 |
Efficient backlight short circuit protection
Systems, methods, and devices are provided for detecting short circuits in a backlight assembly without a resistor-based current sensor. For example, an electronic display according to the present disclosure may include a display panel and a backlight assembly to illuminate the display panel. The backlight assembly may drive a backlight element to illuminate the display panel and may include backlight short-circuit detection circuitry. The backlight short-circuit protection circuitry may detect a feedback voltage associated with the backlight element and determine when a short circuit has occurred based at least in part on the feedback voltage. |
| US08884866B2 |
Electronic apparatus and backlight brightness control method thereof
An electronic apparatus and a backlight brightness control method thereof are provided. The control method includes the following steps. Detection of an ambient brightness for the electronic apparatus is made to output an ambient brightness signal. Next, whether to adjust the backlight brightness for the display is determined according to a comparison between the ambient brightness signal and a current backlight brightness. If the comparison result indicates that the ambient brightness decrement is lower than a decrement threshold, then an adjustment value is selected from a plurality of step sizes according to the current backlight brightness to decrease the backlight brightness gradually, so that the backlight brightness changes towards a target backlight brightness corresponding to the ambient brightness signal. The step sizes include a first step size and a second step size. The backlight brightness for the display is adjusted according to the current backlight brightness and the adjustment value. |
| US08884865B2 |
Scanning line driving circuit, display device, and scanning line driving method
A scanning line driving circuit includes a first transistor having a source electrode connected to a power supply and a drain electrode to a scanning line and a second transistor having a source electrode connected to the scanning line and a drain electrode connected to a clock signal line. The conductivity type of the second transistor is identical to that of the first transistor. A bias can be supplied, so that the first and second transistors are caused to be in an off-state simultaneously. |
| US08884859B2 |
Liquid crystal display driving apparatus and method thereof
A liquid crystal display (LCD) driving apparatus and the method thereof is disclosed. The method receives a pixel and drives a pixel of the LCD according to the pixel value in a frame period, wherein the frame period is divided into a precharge field and a compensation field. Firstly, a precharge pixel value is decided according to the pixel and a reference value. A compensation pixel value is decided according to the precharge pixel. Next, a precharge driving voltage is determined according to the precharge pixel value. Afterwards, a compensation driving voltage is determined according to the compensation pixel value. Finally, the pixel is driven according to the precharge driving voltage and the compensation driving voltage respectively during the precharge field and the compensation field. |
| US08884853B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display device and method for driving the same
The present invention an organic light emitting diode display device includes a display panel having a plurality of pixel regions, a gate driving unit for driving gate lines and light emitting control lines of the display panel, a data driving unit for driving data lines of the display panel, a power supply unit for supplying first and second power signals to power lines of the display panel as well as a compensating voltage to a compensating power line, and a timing controller for controlling the gate and data driving units for displaying an image with a data voltage compensated with the compensating voltage and controlling the power supply unit to supply the compensating voltage after converting a level of the compensating voltage just before display of a first image on the display panel at an initial driving. |
| US08884851B2 |
Display apparatus, method of driving a display, and electronic device
In a display apparatus including a switching transistor, a correction voltage for eliminating an effect of a variation in a characteristic of a driving transistor is stored in a storage capacitor. The switching transistor is disposed between one current terminal of the driving transistor and a light emitting element. The switching transistor turns off during the non-light emission period thereby to electrically disconnect the light emitting element from the one current terminal of the driving transistor thereby preventing a leakage current from flowing through the light emitting element during the period in which the correction unit operates, and thus preventing the correction voltage from having an error due to the leakage current. |
| US08884850B2 |
Display apparatus, method of driving display apparatus, and electronic apparatus
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus including a pixel array and a driver, the pixel array including rows of scanning lines, rows of feeding lines, columns of signal lines, and a matrix of pixels disposed at the crossings of the scanning lines and the signal lines, the driver including a write scanner for supplying a control signal successively to the scanning lines, a power supply scanner for switching each of the feeding lines between a high potential, a low potential, and an intermediate potential between the high potential and the low potential, and a signal selector for supplying a video signal, which alternately switches between a signal potential and a reference potential, to each of the signal lines. |
| US08884848B2 |
Driver for an OLED device
A driver (30) for driving an OLED (20) comprises: output terminals (31, 32); —a current sensor (35) sensing the output current; —a sensor input (33) coupled to the current sensor; —a reference signal source (36) providing a reference signal (Sref) indicating a threshold current level (Ith). In a normal operating state (N), a normal operating voltage (VN) and a normal operating current (IN) are generated. In a measuring state (M), a measuring voltage (VM) lower than the normal operating voltage is generated, the sensor signal is compared with the reference signal, and it is determined whether the OLED current is higher than said threshold current level. In a healing state (H), a healing voltage signal (VH) is generated. If it is determined that the OLED current is higher than said threshold current level, the driver is designed to briefly operate in the healing state. |
| US08884847B2 |
Display apparatus and driving method therefor
A display apparatus disclosed herein includes a plurality of pixel circuits, each having a plurality of switches configured to receive a driving signal of a predetermined period and to be controlled for opening and closing operation by the driving signal, a drive circuit configured to control the open/closed state of the switches, being operable to scan the pixel circuits and open and close the switches in periods independent of each other. |
| US08884843B2 |
Image display system and control method therefor
An image display system is constituted by a server and a client apparatus. The server includes a storage unit that stores a plurality of illumination spectrum data after associating the data with values of adjustment parameters, an acquisition unit that acquires the present set value of an adjustment parameter of the client apparatus, a selection unit that selects, from among a plurality of illumination spectrum data stored in the storage unit, illumination spectrum data with a smallest difference between a value of the corresponding adjustment parameter and a value of the adjustment parameter acquired by the acquisition unit, a generation unit that generates image data representing appearance of an image pick-up object under illumination corresponding to the illumination spectrum data selected by the selection unit, and a delivery unit that delivers image data generated by the generation unit to the client apparatus. |
| US08884841B2 |
Smartpad screen management
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 device. Therefore, for example, information from one or more of the displays on the multi-screen device is displayable on the smartpad. |
| US08884838B2 |
Multi-band subscriber antenna for portable two-way radios
An antenna (100) having an antenna structure is provided. The antenna structure is formed of a rolled conductive strip having a first section (112) with overlap between successive turns and a second section (114) with no overlap between successive turns. The first section (112) has an insulating layer to prevent shorts between the successive overlapping turns. The antenna (100) provides multi-band capability. |
| US08884832B2 |
Indoor ceiling-mount omnidirectional antenna and a method for manufacturing the same
A ceiling-mount omni-directional antenna for indoor distribution system of mobile communication network and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The antenna includes: a monopole consisting of a cone part and a columnar part, and a reflecting plate consisting of a cone part and a platform part, and a feed connector. The monopole and the reflecting plate are arranged in such that the tips of cone parts are opposite to each other. The signal is fed into the antenna through the feed connector and radiated outward by the monopole and the reflecting plate. In high frequency band, the maximal gain appears at about 70°, so that the signal power focuses at radiating angles of 60°-85°. The gain of the antenna increases 4.22 dB at a radiating angle of 85° and decreases IOdB at a radiating angle of 30°. |
| US08884825B2 |
Multi-slot antenna and mobile device
A mobile communications device having a patch antenna which has defined therein at least two slots each having two or more parts. The at least two slots may include an L-shaped slot and a C-shaped slot, wherein the slots can be open or closed. The L-shaped slot may be an open-slot projecting into the patch antenna from the edge. Ground and signal connections may be at the edge of the patch on either side of the L-shaped slot. The C-shaped slot may be nested within the L-shaped slot. |
| US08884824B2 |
Planar inverted-F antenna
The planar inverted-F antenna for multi-band operation is compact while achieving good decoupling performance between feed ports for different frequency bands. The antenna has a ground plane (100); a radiating element having substantially a U-shape; first and second shorting elements (31, 32) located at a first corner (10s) of the radiating element (10) or adjacent area thereof; and first and second feed ports (P1, P2) electrically connected to the radiating element. |
| US08884823B2 |
Antenna with via fence
An antenna includes: a dielectric resonator surrounded by a via fence within a multilayered substrate; a patch antenna formed on an opening surface of the dielectric resonator; a coupling aperture formed on an internal ground surface within the multilayered substrate; and a feeding line for transferring a signal applied from the outside. |
| US08884820B2 |
Receiving station and methods for determining an angle-of-arrival of short-duration signals using surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) devices
Embodiments of a system and method for determining an angle-of-arrival (AOA) of signals received from a transmitting device are shown. Signals from the transmitting device are received through two or more pairs of spatially-diverse antennas. A non-inverted version of the signals received through a first antenna of a pair is injected into a first input of a surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) device. An inverted version of the signals received through a second antenna of the pair is injected into a second input of the SAW device. Signals present at tap outputs are processed to determine a time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) between the signals received through each pair of antennas. The AOA may be calculated from the TDOAs determined from two or more pairs of antennas. |
| US08884813B2 |
Surveillance of stress conditions of persons using micro-impulse radar
One or more computers are configured to determine a human stress condition corresponding to one or more physical or physiological parameters extracted from one or more micro-impulse radar (MIR) signals. |
| US08884812B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting vehicle wheels
Method for detecting wheels of a vehicle that is traveling on a roadway in a travel direction and the wheels of which are at least partially exposed laterally. The method including: emitting an electromagnetic measurement beam lobe with a known temporal progression of frequency from the side of the roadway onto an area of the roadway and at a slant with respect to the travel direction, receiving the measurement beam lobe reflected by a passing vehicle and recording the temporal progression, relative to the known progression, of all of its frequencies, and during the passage of a vehicle, detecting a frequency spread appearing in the recorded progression and exceeding a predetermined spread magnitude, as a wheel. |
| US08884810B2 |
Compact beacon radar and full ATC services system
A system and method for a single site beacon transceiver including an omni-directional transceiver, a plurality of directional receiving antennas for receiving a signal, and a digital receiver for processing the signal to determine an azimuth to the source of the received signal. The digital receiver includes a plurality of receiver channels that are calibrated periodically and at least one processor that estimates a coarse signal azimuth for the signal by calculating an amplitude monopulse ratio for the signal using the two directional receiving antennas receiving the highest amplitude signal, and estimates a final signal azimuth for the signal using an interferometer baseline between the two directional receiving antennas or, alternately, subtracts the complex ratio of the measurements from the complex ratio of the antenna array RF model to determine the angle corresponding to the minimum of the absolute value of the difference. |
| US08884808B2 |
System and method for detecting and determining remote atmospheric anomalies
A system for detecting and determining remote atmospheric anomalies is furnished with a movable-beam anemometry probe for measuring the orthogonal projection onto the sighting axis, named the radial component, of a relative velocity remotely, with respect to a remote air mass by Doppler frequency shift. The system comprises means for determining wind heterogeneities remotely, on the basis of at least two successive measurements, at one and the same remote point, of the radial component of the relative velocity of the system with respect to the remote air mass, by said anemometry probe, the line of sight of said anemometry probe comprising said remote point during said successive measurements. |
| US08884806B2 |
Subterranean radar system and method
A subterranean radar array system and method for imaging a subterranean target area. In one example, the subterranean radar array includes a plurality of radar chains disposed in a plurality of underground columns, each radar chain including a plurality of radar units forming the plurality of radar chains and at least one processor coupled to a corresponding at least one of the plurality of radar chains and configured to generate an image of a subterranean target area from signals received from the at least one radar chain. |
| US08884801B1 |
High-speed analog-to-digital conversion system with flash assisted parallel SAR architecture
The present invention is directed to signal processing systems and methods thereof. In various embodiments, the present invention provides an analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) system that includes a flash ADC portion and a time-interleaved parallel SAR portion. For an n-bit ADC process, the flash ADC portion converts k MSBs of the n bits during a single cycle, and the SAR portion converts n−k LSBs in m number of cycles. The SAR portion includes a number of SAR channels that perform A/D conversion in parallel, and the k MSB from the course flash converter is verified for errors by the SAR portion and allows a net saving of the power consumption by reducing the number of fine resolution SARs. There are other embodiments as well. |
| US08884800B1 |
Method and apparatus for performing analog-to-digital conversion on multiple input signals
A method, computer-readable storage medium, and signal processing apparatus for processing a plurality of input signals. The method includes receiving or generating a first intermediate signal and a second intermediate signal. The first and second intermediate signals are summed and the summed signals are output to a signal analog-to-digital converter having a predetermined sampling frequency. |
| US08884799B2 |
Dual-string digital-to-analog converters (DACs), and related circuits, systems, and methods
Dual-string digital-to-analog converters (DACs), and related circuits, systems, and methods are disclosed. In embodiments disclosed herein, a primary voltage divider of the dual string-DAC is comprised of at least one adjusting circuit. The adjusting circuit is configured to maintain the ideal voltage of a selected resistor node pair across a secondary voltage divider circuit in response to a primary switch unit selecting a selected resistor node pair. In this manner, impedance isolation is not required between a primary voltage divider and the secondary voltage divider circuit of the dual-string DAC. As a result, as non-limiting examples, the area on an integrated circuit (IC) for a dual-string DAC may be decreased, power consumption of the DAC may be decreased, and/or the dual-string DAC may have increased performance by not requiring a settling time. |
| US08884798B2 |
Binary divarication digital-to-analog conversion
Systems and techniques for performing binary divarication digital-to-analog conversion are described. A described converter includes voltage range adjusters arranged in series to convert a digital sequence to an analog representation, each of the adjusters being responsive to a respective bit of the digital sequence, and a combiner. The first adjuster produces first high and low output voltages based on first high and low input voltages and a most significant bit value of the digital sequence. The last adjuster produces last high and low output voltages based on last high and low input voltages and a least significant bit value of the digital sequence. The last high and low input voltages are responsive to the first high and low output voltages as modified by any of zero or more intermediate voltage range adjusters. The combiner produces an analog output signal based on the last high and low output voltages. |
| US08884796B2 |
Delta-sigma modulator with feedback signal modification
A delta-sigma modulator (1) for converting a delta-sigma modulator input signal into a sequence of delta-sigma modulator output values comprising an actual delta-sigma modulator output value and at least one preceding delta-sigma modulator output value preceding the actual delta-sigma modulator output value is presented. At least one feedback signal modifier for modifying a at least one first feedback signal in dependence of the actual delta-sigma modulator output value and the at least one preceding delta-sigma modulator output value is provided. By means of the at least one first feedback signal modifier the signal quality of a subsequent final stage (7) can be improved. |
| US08884792B2 |
Variable length code decoding device and decoding method
Variable length code decoding device for decoding variable length code data, including: decoding process tables each including at least two kinds of formats consisting a first format storing identification information for designating a subsequent table to be referred to in a subsequent decoding process, and a second format that stores a decoded value obtained by repeating the decoding process and a significant bit length to be referred to with respect to variable length code data. The device utilizes first, second, third and fourth formats and relative addresses. |
| US08884791B2 |
Keypad scanning with radio event isolation
Apparatus and methods for scanning a keypad of a communications device in a manner that tends to minimize interference with transceiver operation, such as a RF transceiver. In one embodiment, a controller receives a periodic signal of the communications device and provides a scan signal to cause the keypad to be scanned. In a sleep mode a keypad scan is performed only subsequent to a keypad activation. However, if the communications device is in use a keypad scan is performed once per frame at predetermined intervals, in one embodiment. |
| US08884790B2 |
Matrix keyboarding system
A data input system and method utilize a keyboard including a first keypad having at least five keys and a second keypad having at least five keys. With the at least ten keys of the first and second keypads, at least twenty-five two-key combinations including one key from each of the first and second keypads are established, where the two-key combinations each represent characters. Additionally, at least twenty chord combinations including multiple keys from the first keypad and multiple keys from the second keypad are established, where the chord combinations each represent special characters and commands. A matrix of characters may be selected, and one of the two-key combinations corresponding to a selected one of the characters in the selected matrix of characters is activated to effect input of the character; or one of the chord combinations corresponding to a selected special character or a selected command is activated to effect input of the selected special character or activation of the selected command, respectively. The activations are repeated until data entry is complete. |
| US08884785B2 |
Enhancements to meterless remote parking monitoring systems
A remote meterless parking monitoring system including a plurality of individual parking spaces, a plurality of vehicle detector/RFID units for monitoring the status of the individual parking spaces; at least one Gateway device responsive to the plurality of vehicle detector/RFID units; a Command and Control Server for employing numerous security provisions at least including encryption of data, Virtual Privacy Networks, firewalls and authenticated connections and responsive to data from said Cellular gateway via the internet; and the Command and Control Server uses the status of each space and the ID from the motorist's RFID tag to cross reference data according to a Policy database and identifying the motorist through a Motorist Database including information about the motorist's mailing address, vehicle payment account balance or other information. |
| US08884783B2 |
Systems and method for controlling preemption of a traffic signal
A priority control unit is provided for use with light-based and GPS-based traffic control priority systems. The priority control unit includes a light emitter subsystem that is configured to emit pulses of light. The pulses of light encode a priority request for activating preemption of a traffic signal by a light-based traffic control priority system. The priority control unit also includes a GPS-based subsystem that is configured to transmit a priority request by radio waves. The priority request from the GPS-based subsystem is for activating preemption of a traffic signal by a GPS-based traffic control priority system. A switch is coupled to the light emitter subsystem and to the GPS-based subsystem. The switch simultaneously activates both the light emitter subsystem and the GPS-based subsystem for transmitting priority requests in response to user control. In another embodiment, the priority control unit further includes a broadcast based subsystem for transmitting priority requests. |
| US08884782B2 |
Lane mapping in a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system
Device, system and method, in a vehicle communication system, of generating lane maps. Embodiments use a plurality of location points to build up a lane, then record that lane in memory. Location points may be locations over which a first vehicle generating the lane map passes, or may be location points broadcast by a second vehicle to the first vehicle. Methods are described to wirelessly share lane information and lane maps between vehicles. Embodiments use a “confidence value” describing the confidence that the lane parameters are valid. Algorithms are described for creating and updating the confidence values. Methods of compressing and storing lane information and lane maps are described. Embodiments include geographic height in lane information. |
| US08884777B2 |
Mobile device including a solar battery
A mobile device including a solar battery having a light-receiving surface provided on a casing of the mobile device, an illuminance detector that detects an illuminance of light incident on the casing, an output section that outputs a state of light incident on the light-receiving surface of the solar battery, and a controller that controls the output section based on the illuminance detected by the illuminance detector. |
| US08884776B2 |
Electronic device and its production process
An electronic device, in particular of the sensor or detector type, includes a housing having first and second longitudinal opposite and sealed ends. The housing contains an electronic card and with its inside volume being filled by an insulating filler material that coats the card, its components, and the end of a connecting cable connected to the card, the housing including an opening at its second end, which is sealed by a connected piece that is equipped with a passage opening for the connecting cable. The sealing piece includes at least a second through opening for injecting filler material (5), this or each second opening being sealed by a plug (9) made of a material that conducts and diffuses light, of which a portion is positioned in the vicinity of, and even in contact with, at least one light signaling element (10) or light indicator carried by the card (4). |
| US08884774B2 |
Universal software defined home gateway
A system and method for communicating energy or water consumption related information from a plurality of RF enabled peripheral devices in a home, such as utility meters, thermostats, appliances and load controllers. The system includes a home gateway that enables wireless RF peripheral devices in a home to communicate to a WAN network, such as the internet. The home gateway contains a RF multi-band software defined radio that is fully programmable and configurable so that it is capable of emulating, transmitting, and receiving any of a plurality of RF protocols over multiple RF channels. The home gateway supports commonly used interfaces for communicating to the public WAN network. The system also supports future peripherals that do not exist today due to the flexibility of the home gateway. |
| US08884770B2 |
Compact dryer exhaust duct and chimney manometer
A cost effective manometer is realized for accurately measuring back pressure in all types of vents and ducts. Common back pressure can be caused by restrictions, such as lint or soot buildup. The manometer consists of a main body having two reservoirs for storage of measuring fluid. The first reservoir contains measuring fluid during transit eliminating the need for end user to manually fill manometer prior to first use. Measuring fluid is transferred to second main reservoir prior to initial use. The second reservoir contains an adjustable bladder or plunger for obtaining a zero reading prior to measurement. The manometer can be used on all types of vents and ducts where positive or negative pressure exists. The manometer can be used for measuring positive or negative pressures as well as differential pressures. |
| US08884761B2 |
Theft detection device and method for controlling
A merchandise tag and a method of controlling a merchandise tag are provided. The merchandise tag may be used to deter theft of retail products. |
| US08884756B2 |
Monitoring device for use with protective headgear
A monitoring device includes a device interface that, when coupled to the protective headgear, receives event data that includes power data that represents power imparted at impact to the protective headgear. A processing device executes an event simulation module that processes the event data to generate simulation display data that animates the impact to the protective headgear. A user interface includes a display device that displays the simulation display data. |
| US08884746B1 |
Apparatus for generating tactile sensation by using magnetic field
An apparatus for generating tactile sensation by using a magnetic field, includes: a first magnet and a second one which are placed across a target as a subject to provide tactile sensation; and a first electromagnet placed between the target and the first magnet; wherein a strength of the whole magnetic field between the first and the second magnets is allowed to be adjusted by adjusting at least either of a direction and a strength of a magnetic field arising from the first electromagnet to control the strength of the force with which the target is pressed by the first and the second magnets. Because a magnet itself that generates a magnetic field without any complicated mechanical components may perform a function as an actuator that generates tactile sensation, the apparatus for generating tactile sensation may become simple, light and compact. |
| US08884745B2 |
Twist remote control with keyboard
A remote control includes a top portion with programming receiver functionality selection members and a bottom portion with a keyboard. The two portions are rotatable between a closed position (where the top portion covers the keyboard) and an open position (where portions of the keyboard project laterally out from under the top portion). When the two portions are in the open position, the selection members and the keyboard share an orientation. The remote control may transmit signals to a programming receiver. The programming receiver may update a display based on signals received from the remote control device. In some implementations, the updated display transmitted by the programming receiver may be based at least in part on a context of a previous display. In various implementations, the remote control may provide indicators to a user. These indicators may be based on signals received from a programming receiver. |
| US08884742B2 |
Identifying locations within a building using a mobile device
In one embodiment, a method includes displaying on a mobile device, a real time view of a user's environment within a building, communicating wirelessly in the building with a location tracking system operable to identify a location of the mobile device relative to one or more elements in the real time view, and displaying a computer generated overlay on the real time view, the overlay including location information associated with the elements. |
| US08884740B2 |
Method for actuating a function of a vehicle from a large distance
A method for activating a function of a vehicle, which is associated with a key which wirelessly interchanges data with the vehicle, is carried out with the aid of a telecommunications device which is different from the key. However, the telecommunications device attempts to communicate with the key in order to make the method safe. During communication with the key, an item of information is obtained and is compared with an item of comparative information. |
| US08884738B2 |
Identifying and/or locking system for identifying and/or unblocking a technical system, and method for the operation thereof
The invention relates to an identifying and/or locking system for identifying and/or unblocking a technical system comprising at least one controlling receiver unit which executes at least one control function in accordance with a received signal, said technical system further comprising a mobile transmitter unit suitable for transmitting a signal that causes the controlling receiver unit to execute the control function. The controlling receiver unit is provided with means for testing whether a received signal is to trigger execution of a control function while the mobile transmitter unit is fitted with means which allow the signal that is to be transmitted to the controlling receiver unit to be defined, modified, and stored. Such an inventive system makes it possible especially to digitally transmit and temporally limit keys. |
| US08884736B1 |
Multiple system and presence-based call processing
Processing communications to and from multiple communications systems based on user preferences and based on presence information for one or more users of the communications systems is provided. A user who operates multiple communications systems may set preferences with each of the systems individually or through a centralized communications management system to control call processing to each of the systems based on prescribed user preferences and based on presence information for the user. In addition, communications applications associated with one or more communications systems may be automatically activated or functionally modified based on user preferences and/or user presence information. |
| US08884735B2 |
Vision protection method and system thereof
The vision protection method and system thereof is provided to ensure a viewer to rest his/her eyes after viewing on an electronic device for a certain period, wherein the eyesight protection method includes the steps of detecting one of more working parameters of the viewer in responsive to a preset working threshold in a working mode of the electronic device during the viewer is working on a current work displaying by the electronic device; switching the working mode of the electronic device to a resting mode; and switching the electronic device from the resting mode back to the working mode to resume the display of the current work of the electronic device. Therefore, the viewer is enforced to rest his/her eyes after every certain period. |
| US08884730B2 |
Multi-peek mode tablet device
A magnetic attachment mechanism and method is described. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach at least two objects together in a preferred configuration without fasteners and without external intervention. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach an accessory device to an electronic device. The accessory device can be used to augment the functionality of usefulness of the electronic device. |
| US08884727B2 |
Electromagnetic relay
Provided is an electromagnetic relay which can sufficiently dissipate heat generated from a coil to secure desired attracting force even when the electromagnetic relay is miniaturized. The electromagnetic relay includes an electromagnet block and a contact switching mechanism. A movable contact piece of the contact switching mechanism includes a contact attaching portion to which a movable contact is attached, and a first fixed portion attached to a first movable iron piece of the electromagnet block. The first fixed portion is in surface contact with the movable iron piece and is substantially equal in width dimension to the movable iron piece. |
| US08884726B2 |
Contact structure for electromechanical switch
A contact structure for electromechanical switch includes a static contact and a moving contact to allow many kinds of actuations and provide great switch characteristics, such as high isolation and low insertion loss, for using in the applicable range from DC to high frequency microwave. In the contact structure, there is a gap disposed between the static contact and the moving contact so that the static contact and the moving contact are parallel with each other. |
| US08884722B2 |
Inductive coupling in transverse electromagnetic mode
Among other things, a circuit includes a first and a second electromagnetic resonator, each configured to operate in a transverse electromagnetic mode, and a coupling device configured to operate in the transverse electromagnetic mode, wherein the coupling device is connected to the first and second electromagnetic resonators and inductively couples the first and second electromagnetic resonators. |
| US08884719B2 |
Noise filter device
A noise filter includes a first substrate on which a filter input terminal, an input-side capacitor, a common-mode choke coil, and a filter output terminal are mounted and a second substrate on which an output-side capacitor and a ground capacitor are mounted. The first substrate is selected from a plurality of first substrates including a substrate in which a characteristic of at least one of an input-side capacitor and a common-mode choke coil is different, the second substrate is selected from a plurality of second substrates including a substrate in which a characteristic of at least one of an output-side capacitor and a ground capacitor is different, and the second substrate is attached to an end of the first substrate so that the filter output terminal is electrically connected to the output-side capacitor and to be substantially vertical to the first substrate. |
| US08884718B2 |
Method and apparatus to control the LC tank temperature null characteristic in a highly stable LC oscillator
A substantially temperature-independent LC-based oscillator uses bias control techniques. Temperature independence may be achieved by controlling the harmonic frequency content of the output of the oscillator by controlling the amplitude. Amplitude control may be achieved by inserting a control mechanism in the feedback loop of the oscillator. |
| US08884716B2 |
Feeding structure for cavity resonators
A feeding structure including a carrier substrate, a top conductor plane of a cavity formed in the carrier substrate, a feedline substrate covering the top conductor plane, a signal conductor of a feedline, the signal conductor being formed in or on the feedline substrate opposite the top conductor plane, a via probe connected to the signal conductor and leading through the feedline substrate and the top conductor plane into the cavity, a ring-shaped aperture formed in the top conductor plane around the via probe, and at least one slot-shaped aperture formed in the top conductor plane starting at the ring-shaped aperture and leading away from the via probe. |
| US08884715B2 |
Imbalance detection and reduction for wideband balun
A circuit converts a single-ended signal to differential signals that are balanced to have the same amplitudes and opposite phases relative to a reference point of the differential signals. The circuit includes a balance tunable balun, a detector, and a controller. The balance tunable balun has a primary winding, a secondary winding, a control input, and a switched resistor-capacitor (RC) network. The primary winding receives the single-ended signal and the secondary winding outputs the differential signals. The control input receives a control signal and the switched RC network controls the reference point of the differential signals responsive to this control signal. The detector detects the output imbalance and the controller generates the control signal to control the switched RC network to effectively adjust the reference point as needed to reduce that output imbalance. The circuit produces well balanced differential signals over a wide range of signal frequencies. |
| US08884714B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for digital base modulation of power amplifier in polar transmitter
An amplifier receives an amplitude signal of a polar modulated signal at a base terminal of a transistor and receives a phase modulated carrier signal of the polar modulated signal at the base terminal of the transistor. The amplifier combines the amplitude signal and the phase modulated signal to produce a full complex waveform at a collector terminal of the transistor. |
| US08884713B2 |
Method and apparatus of cancelling inductor coupling
This invention compensates for the unintentional magnetic coupling between a first and second inductor of two different closely spaced inductors separated by a conversion circuit. A cancellation circuit formed from transistors senses the magnetic coupling in the first inductor and feeds a current opposite to the induced magnetic coupling captured by the second inductor such that the coupled magnetic coupling can be compensated and allows the first and second inductors to behave independently with regards to the coupled magnetic coupling between the first and second inductors. This allows the distance between the first and second inductors to be minimized which saves silicon area. In addition, the performance is improved since the overall capacitance in both circuits can be decreased. This cancellation technique to reduce the magnetic coupling between two closed placed inductively loaded circuits allows the design of a more compact and faster performing circuit. |
| US08884710B2 |
Gyroscope with phase and duty-cycle locked loop
A system and method in accordance with the present invention provides a gyroscope incorporating an improved PLL technique. The improved PLL auto-corrects its own reference low-frequency noise, thereby eliminating this source of noise, improving the noise performance of the gyroscope and allowing a compact implementation. The net result is a gyroscope with improved bias stability that can meet noise requirements with a smaller footprint. |
| US08884709B2 |
Double-point modulator with accurate and fast gain calibration
A phase-locked loop double-point modulator may include a frequency divider having a ratio which can be changed by a first modulation signal, and an oscillator, a frequency of which can be changed by a second modulation signal correlated to the first modulation signal. A calibration circuit may be configured, in a calibration mode, to match the gains of the first and second modulation signals based on frequency measurements of the oscillator for two different calibration values of the second modulation signal. The phase-locked double-point modulator may also include an attenuator having a constant ratio greater than 1 and placed in the path of the second modulation signal, and a selector switch configured to be controlled by the calibration circuit to reduce the ratio of the attenuator in the calibration mode. |
| US08884708B2 |
Digitally controlled oscillator device and high frequency signal processing device
The present invention provides a digitally controlled oscillator device capable of realizing a reduction in DNL. The digitally controlled oscillator device includes, for example, an amplifier circuit block, coil elements and a plurality of unitary capacitor units coupled in parallel between oscillation output nodes. Each of the unitary capacitor units is provided with capacitive elements, and a switch which selects whether the capacitive elements should be allowed to contribute as set parameters for an oscillation frequency. The switch is driven by an on/off control line extending from a decoder circuit. The on/off control line is shielded between the oscillation output nodes by a shield section. |
| US08884706B2 |
System and method for built in self test for timing module holdover
Embodiments of the invention include a method for use in a device having a local oscillator. The method includes performing, for the local oscillator that is disciplined by an external reference signal, while locked to the external reference signal, training at least two mathematical models of the oscillator to determine a predicted correction signal for each mathematical model based at least in part on a correction signal that is a function of the external reference signal and which is used to discipline drift in the oscillator. The method also includes selecting a mathematical model of the at least two mathematical models that results in a smallest time error when disciplining the oscillator to use when the external reference signal is unavailable and an alternative correction signal is to be used to discipline drift in the oscillator. The method further includes testing the selected mathematical model using a sampled version of the correction signal such that the selected mathematical model can be used without the need for a testing duration that is in addition to a period of time used for the training. |
| US08884704B2 |
Feedback-based linearization of voltage controlled oscillator
Embodiments of the present invention enable a feedback-based VCO linearization technique. Embodiments include a frequency locked loop formed by feeding back a VCO's output into the VCO's input in negative phase by means of a frequency-to-voltage (F/V) converter. Embodiments enable constant VCO gain over a wide input tuning range and across PVT variations. Further, embodiments can be nested within a PLL, for example, with negligible area and power consumption overhead. |
| US08884703B2 |
VRAMP limiting using resistors
Power amplification devices are described, which are configured to amplify a radio frequency (RF) transmission signal. The power amplification device includes a voltage regulation circuit and a power amplification circuit. The voltage regulation circuit is configured to generate a regulated voltage for the power amplification device from a supply voltage and to adjust a regulated voltage level of the regulated voltage in accordance with a voltage adjustment gain. The voltage adjustment gain of the voltage regulation circuit is set by a feedback resistance. To help prevent the voltage regulation circuit from saturating, the voltage regulation circuit adjusts the feedback resistance to reduce the voltage regulation gain. |
| US08884698B2 |
Transformer and CMOS power amplifier including the same
Disclosed herein is a transformer including: a primary coil formed of a first conductor having a predetermined length and including a first end and second end for receiving a signal, wherein the first conductor is formed as a first loop; and a secondary coil that is coupled to the primary coil in an electromagnetic coupling, and is formed of a second conductor having a predetermined length and including a first end and a second end for outputting a signal, wherein the second conductor is formed as a second loop, wherein the primary coil and the secondary coil are stacked while crossing each other. Accordingly, power transformer efficiency may be increased. |
| US08884697B2 |
Amplifying device
An efficient amplifying device is achieved. An amplifying device that amplifies a signal subject to amplification is configured as follows. That is, an amplifier (PA 5) that amplifies a signal is provided. Level control means 1 converts a level of the signal subject to amplification according to the level of this signal. Power supply control means 6 and 8 supply the amplifier (PA 5) with a power supply voltage determined according to the level of the signal subject to amplification. The amplifier (PA 5) amplifies a signal at the level converted by the level control means 1 with the power supply voltage supplied from the power supply control means 6 and 8. |
| US08884694B2 |
Systems and methods of RF power transmission, modulation, and amplification
Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion. |
| US08884692B2 |
Multi-band power amplifier
Disclosed is a multi-band power amplifier capable of operating at multiple frequency bands. The multi-band power amplifier includes: a power amplification unit which amplifies an input signal; a matching network circuit which provides impedance matching between the power amplification unit and a load; and an auxiliary amplification unit which additionally supplies a certain magnitude of electric current to the load. |
| US08884690B2 |
High performance input receiver circuit for reduced-swing inputs
An input buffer receiver circuit for electronic devices (e.g., memory chips) to receive reduced-swing and high bandwidth inputs to provide “buffered” output signals having symmetrical rising and falling delays, and without additional current dissipation over previous receiver circuits, is disclosed. The receiver circuit may include two differential amplifier pair stages (i.e., 4 total differential amplifiers). The first stage of differential amplifiers convert the single-ended input signal to a full-differential signal, which is converted back to a single-ended output signal by the second stage of differential amplifiers. The output of a P-diff first stage may be connected to the input of an N-diff second stage and the output of an N-diff first stage may be connected to the input of a P-diff second stage thereby creating a “cross coupled” structure. Various current saving and biasing methods may also be employed to keep operating current the same or lower than previous designs. |
| US08884688B1 |
Higher-order load circuit
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for filtering. In some example embodiments, there is provided an apparatus including a first differential amplifier including a first positive input, a first negative input, and a first output, wherein the first positive input is connected to the first output via at least a first capacitor, and wherein the first negative input is connected to the first output via at least a first resistor; and a second differential amplifier including a second input, a third input, and a second output, wherein the second input is connected to the second output via at least a third resistor, wherein the third input is connected to the second output via at least a second capacitor, and wherein an input is connected to the first positive input and the second input via at least a third capacitor. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described. |
| US08884682B2 |
Power semiconductor device
A power semiconductor device includes an output transistor, a control circuit connected with a gate of the output transistor, a first discharge route from a first node to a ground terminal, and a second discharge route from the first node to the ground terminal. In a usual turn-off, only the first discharge route is used. When a load abnormality occurs, both of the first and second discharge routes are used. The second discharge route contains a discharge transistor and a countercurrent prevention device. The discharge transistor is connected between the first node and the second node. The countercurrent prevention device prevents a flow of current from the third node to the second node. At least, in an OFF period, the control circuit sets the gate voltage of the discharge transistor to a high level. |
| US08884681B2 |
Gate driving devices capable of providing bi-directional scan functionality
A gate driving device includes a gate driving unit, a first control unit, a second control unit and a switch unit. The first control unit includes an input terminal receiving a first output signal and a first clock input terminal receiving a first clock signal. The second control unit includes an input terminal receiving a second output signal and a first clock input terminal receiving a second clock signal. The switch unit, the first control unit and the second control unit are coupled to a carryout signal output node for generating a carryout signal at the carryout signal output node which indicates whether the gate driving unit is functioning correctly. The first output signal and the second output signal of the gate driving unit are respectively one signal generated by any two different stages of shift register in the gate driving unit. |
| US08884679B2 |
Apparatus and method for high voltage switches
Apparatus and method for coupling high voltages for a semiconductor device via high voltage switches are disclosed. A high voltage switch includes a switch and a level shifter. The switch is defined between a voltage source and a voltage output. An enable line is coupled to a first transistor of the switch. The level shifter includes an input and an output. A characterization line is coupled to the input of the level shifter and the output of the level shifter is coupled to a second transistor of the switch. The level shifter further includes a power rail that is coupled to the switch between the first transistor and the second transistor. |
| US08884678B2 |
Power line carrier communication reception circuit
A power line carrier communication reception circuit which can precisely receive a signal to be superimposed at such a signal level that leakage of an electromagnetic wave does not cause a problem while employing a simplified configuration is provided.The power line carrier communication reception circuit may include an amplifier which is connected to a power line and amplifies a received signal to be superimposed on the power line; two capacitors which are connected in series between both power sources of the amplifier; and a clipper circuit which connects connection points of these capacitors to the power line and limits the received signal in a predetermined range of a reference voltage between the capacitors, and in which the amplifier compares the signal limited by the clipper circuit and the reference voltage and amplifies the signal. |
| US08884677B1 |
Gamma operational amplifier circuit, source driver and method for eliminating voltage offset
A gamma operational amplifier circuit, a source driver, and a method for eliminating voltage offset are disclosed. The gamma operational amplifier circuit includes a first switch circuit, a second switch circuit, a first operational amplifier and a second operational amplifier. The source driver includes the gamma operational amplifier circuit, a resistor string and a digital-to-analog converter. The method for eliminating voltage offset includes a positive polarity control stage and a negative polarity control stage. In the method for eliminating voltage offset, the positive polarity control stage and the negative polarity control stage control the first switch circuit and the second switch circuit to change paths at which a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage pass through to enable the first reference voltage and a second reference voltage to pass different operational amplifiers in different polarity control stage. |
| US08884676B2 |
Clock generator with duty cycle control and method
A clock generator circuit for producing a clock output having a controlled duty cycle is disclosed. A bi-stable circuit provides the clock output which is switchable to a first state in response to an edge of the input clock signal and to a second state in response to a feedback signal. A duty cycle detection circuit is configured to source a current to a node and to sink a current from the node depending upon the output clock state. A capacitor is connected to receive a duty cycle current relating to the current at the node, with a comparator circuit being configured to sense a voltage on the capacitor and to produce the feedback signal when the voltage is at a selected level. |
| US08884673B1 |
Clock trimming apparatus and associated clock trimming method
A clock trimming apparatus includes an oscillator, a judging unit, a latching unit, and a tracking unit. The oscillator has an input terminal receiving a bias signal and an output terminal generating a clock signal. After a frequency division is performed on the clock signal, the judging unit generates a frequency-divided signal. If the frequency-divided signal matches the reference signal, a pass signal generated by the judging unit is activated. The latching unit is used for generating a trimming completion signal. After the pass signal is activated, the trimming completion signal is activated. The tracking unit is used for counting a pulse number of the reference signal and providing the bias signal to the oscillator according to a trimming code. After the trimming completion signal is activated, the trimming code is stopped being adjusted. |
| US08884672B2 |
Configurable digital-analog phase locked loop
A phase locked loop (PLL) device is configurable in an analog phase locked loop and a hybrid analog-digital phase locked loop. In an analog mode, at least a phase detector, an analog loop filter, and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), are connected to form an analog loop. In a digital mode, at least the phase detector, the voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a time to digital converter (TDC), a digital loop filter and a digital to analog converter (DAC) are connected to form the hybrid digital-analog loop. |
| US08884671B2 |
Phase-locked loop system and operation
A phase-locked loop system has a controlled oscillator that provides an output clock signal based on a oscillator control signal, a feedback path configured to provide a feedback signal based on the output clock signal, a phase detector configured to provide a phase dependent signal based on the feedback signal and a reference clock signal, a phase evaluation block configured to provide the oscillator control signal based on the phase dependent signal, a frequency detector that determines whether the frequency ratio between the output clock signal and the reference clock signal has a desired value, and a control logic. The control logic is configured to, during a start-up period, disable the phase evaluation block upon determination of the desired value of the frequency ratio; detect, after disabling the phase evaluation block, a subsequent clock edge of the reference clock signal; and enable, in response to the detection of the subsequent clock edge, the phase evaluation block. |
| US08884670B2 |
Phase locked loop (PLL) with multi-phase time-to-digital converter (TDC)
One or more techniques or systems for locking a phase locked loop (PLL) are provided herein. In some embodiments, a multi-phase time-to-digital converter (TDC) includes a first phase finder, a phase predictor, a second phase finder, and a phase switch. For example, the first phase finder is configured to generate a first fractional phase signal based on a multi-phase variable clock (CKV) signal. For example, the phase predictor is configured to generate a phase select (QSEL) signal or a multi-phase CKV select (CKVSEL) signal based on a frequency command word (FCW) signal or the multi-phase CKV signal. For example, the second phase finder is configured to generate a second fractional phase signal based on the CKVSEL signal or the QSEL signal. For example, the phase switch is configured to select the first or second fractional phase signal based on a phase error (PHE) signal. |
| US08884666B2 |
Clock generator
Disclosed herein is a device comprising a first terminal for a first clock signal, a second terminal for a second clock signal substantially complementary to the first clock signal, a third terminal for a third clock signal, a fourth terminal for a fourth clock signal substantially complementary to the third clock signal, a first logic gate to produce a first intermediate signal, a second logic gate to produce a second intermediate signal, a first delay circuit to produce a third intermediate signal, and a second delay circuit to produce a fourth intermediate signal, and a first output circuit coupled to the first and second delay circuits to produce the third and fourth clock signals respectively at the third and fourth terminals. |
| US08884661B2 |
Driver circuit
A driver circuit has a detector circuit including a high side detection transistor, a resistor, and a low side detection transistor connected to a high side output transistor and a low side output transistor. A clamping circuit converts a high voltage amplitude change signal generated at a connection point of the high side detection transistor and resistor to a signal clamped to a voltage range applied on the low side. An OR circuit outputs a signal taking the logical sum of an inverted control signal and an output of a low side first stage drive circuit. A level shifter circuit outputs a level-shifted signal of the OR circuit to a high side first stage drive circuit. A second OR circuit outputs a signal wherein the logical sum of an output signal of the clamping circuit and the control signal is inverted to the low side first stage drive circuit. |
| US08884655B2 |
Low-power voltage mode high speed driver
Differential voltage mode signal driver circuitry is presented in which a differential current mode amplifier input stage provides a differential signal, and an output stage includes a pair of bipolar transistors receiving the differential signal and being connected in series with a pair of cross-coupled field effect transistors that are coupled to corresponding current sources, where a negative impedance circuit is connected between the field effect transistors to substantially cancel a parasitic capacitance of a driven output circuit. |
| US08884652B2 |
Level translator circuit, driving circuit for driving high-voltage device and method thereof
The present invention provides a level translator circuit, a driving circuit for driving a high-voltage device and a corresponding method. The driving circuit for driving a high-voltage device comprises: a zener diode whose cathode is connected to a high-voltage power supply voltage and whose anode is connected to a ground potential of a low-voltage domain through a resistor; a high-voltage PMOS transistor whose gate is connected to an anode of the resistor, whose drain is connected to the ground potential of the low-voltage domain, and whose source is operable to supply a ground potential of a high-voltage domain; a level translator operable to convert a first signal in the low-voltage domain as received to a second signal in the high-voltage domain and output the second signal; and a low-voltage driving circuit operable to receive the second signal and adapt the second signal as a third signal which can drive the high-voltage device. The present invention allows for use of the low-voltage device to drive the high-voltage device to achieve the drive of the high-voltage device in a simple and efficient manner. |
| US08884648B2 |
Programmable logic switch
One embodiment provides a programmable logic switch in which a first nonvolatile memory and a second nonvolatile memory are formed in the same well, and in which to change the first nonvolatile memory from an erased state to a written state and leave the second nonvolatile memory being in the erased state, a first write voltage is applied to a first line connected with gate electrodes of the first and second nonvolatile memories, a second write voltage is applied to a second line connected to a source in the first nonvolatile memory, and a third write voltage lower than the second write voltage is applied to a fourth line connected to a source of the second nonvolatile memory. |
| US08884644B1 |
Impedance discontinuity compensator for electronic packages
The present disclosure provides for a circuit package that can include a signal input port that receives an electronic signal that includes multiple frequency components and a signal output port that outputs the electronic signal. The circuit package can include a trace having multiple portions that have a portion-dependent impedance. The trace can transfer the electronic signal from the signal input port to the signal output port. The present disclosure provides an apparatus to compensate a package trace parasitics, such as parasitic capacitance, to improve signal fidelity over a predetermined frequency range. The apparatus can provide a broadband impedance matching structure that matches the impedance of an I/O cell to the impedance of a printed circuit board and can compensates for the parasitic effects of both the I/O cell, terminals, and other discontinuities that may be present within the package. |
| US08884641B2 |
Methods and system for electrostatic discharge protection of thin-film transistor backplane arrays
The present invention provides devices and methods for testing the electrical performance of thin-film transistor backplane arrays and protecting thin-films during testing and handling. |
| US08884640B2 |
Integrated high-speed probe system
An integrated high-speed probe system is provided. The integrated high-speed probe system includes a circuit substrate for transmitting low-frequency testing signals from a tester through a first probe of the probe assembly to a DUT, and a high-speed substrate for transmitting high-frequency testing signals from the tester to the DUT. The high-speed substrate extends from the upper surface of the circuit substrate in the testing area to the lower surface of the circuit substrate in the probe area for being adjacent to the probe assembly and electrically connecting the second probe. In this way, the tester can transmit testing signals of different frequencies through the integrated high-speed probe system. |
| US08884637B2 |
Method and apparatus for testing a memory device
In a particular embodiment, a method includes receiving a testing activation signal at a controller coupled to a semiconductor device. The method further includes biasing a well of at least one transistor of the semiconductor device in response to the received testing activation signal. The bias is provided by a biasing circuit that is responsive to the controller. While the well is biased, a test of the semiconductor device is performed to generate testing data. |
| US08884633B2 |
Obscured feature detector with pattern matching
A surface-conforming obscured feature detector includes a plurality of sensor plates, each having a capacitance that varies based on the dielectric constant of the materials that compose the surrounding objects and the proximity of those objects. A sensing circuit is coupled to the sensor plates 32 to measure the capacitances of the sensor plates. A controller is coupled to the sensing circuit to analyze the capacitances measured by the sensing circuit. One or a plurality of indicators are coupled to the controller, and are selectively activated to identify the location of an obscured feature behind a surface. |
| US08884631B2 |
Method and device for automatically calibrating touch detection
A method and device for automatically calibrating touch detection is disclosed. The present invention includes providing a sensing layer including a plurality of sensors, and each sensor senses a sensing range, and the sensing ranges of the sensors intersecting each other to form a crossing array; continuously detecting signals of the sensors as a detection signal set; performing update of an initial signal set based on the detection signal set; and when a default signal set does not match the initial signal set and the default signal set matches the detection signal set, performing update of the initial signal set. |
| US08884630B2 |
Active pin connection monitoring system and method
A system for monitoring a connection to an active pin of an integrated circuit (IC) die, includes an input/output (I/O) cell of an IC die, where the I/O cell is bonded to a bonding pad on a ball grid array (BGA) substrate. The system includes a test point on a printed circuit board (PCB) coupled to the bonding pad which forms an electrical/conductive pathway between the test point and the I/O cell. The system includes a clock waveform injected through a resistor into the test point. |
| US08884626B2 |
Device calibration for battery type identification
Some embodiments provide a system that facilitates use of an electronic device. The electronic device may be a keyboard, a mouse, a trackpad, a remote control, a wireless phone, a toy, a battery charger, and/or a camera. During operation, the system measures a loaded voltage of a calibrated voltage source connected to the electronic device. To measure the loaded voltage, the calibrated voltage source is connected to a known load in the electronic device, and a voltage measurement for the calibrated voltage source is obtained using an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in the electronic device. |
| US08884622B2 |
3D dipole antenna of spiral segments
A three dimensional (3D) dipole antenna system with spiral leg is described used to measure oscillatory electric field strengths. The system relies on spiral dipole leg segments of limited length attached to a cylinder. It is designed to improve the sensitivity to oscillatory electric signals in the range of 0.01 Hz to 10,000 Hz. The antenna system is connected to an object (a survey platform) that is stationary or moving in an area of interest in air, over land, on water or under water. Such antenna system is generally used as part of a prospecting survey system for water, minerals or hydrocarbons. |
| US08884620B2 |
RF body coil for reduced acoustic noise in an MR system
An RF body coil having enhanced acoustic deadening properties for an MR scanning apparatus is disclosed. The RF body coil includes an RF support form and RF electronics affixed to the RF support form, with the RF electronics comprising a plurality of RF legs. The RF support form further includes an inner structural layer, an outer structural layer, and a middle layer sandwiched between the inner structural layer and the outer structural layer, the middle layer comprising a layer of viscoelastic material configured to increase the mechanical damping of the RF body coil so as to reduce RF body coil vibration. |
| US08884617B2 |
Magnetic particle imaging devices and methods
A magnetic particle imaging device is provided. The device includes a magnetic field source configured to produce a magnetic field having a non-saturating magnetic field region, an excitation signal source configured to produce an excitation signal in the non-saturating magnetic field region that produces a detectable signal from magnetic particles in the non-saturating magnetic field region, and a signal processor configured to convert a detected signal into an image of the magnetic particles. Aspects of the present disclosure also include methods of imaging magnetic particles in a sample, and methods of producing an image of magnetic particles in a subject. The subject devices and methods find use in a variety of applications, such as medical imaging applications. |
| US08884615B2 |
Magnetoresistive sensor arrangement for current measurement
A sensor unit for the measurement of a current in a conductor (1) comprising at least one magnetoresistive sensor (5, 6) located at a radial distance from the outer surface of the conductor (1) is disclosed, wherein the conductor (1) has a circular cross-section, and wherein it comprises at least one auxiliary coil (7) for the generation of a bias magnetic field (Hbias) to the magnetoresistive sensor (5, 6) strong enough for inducing magnetic saturation in the magnetoresistive sensor (5, 6) continuously during the whole current measurement process. Further the use of such a sensor and a method for measuring the current in the conductor using such a sensor unit are disclosed. |
| US08884614B2 |
Eddy current array probe
Present embodiments include eddy current array probes having differential coils capable of detecting both long and short flaws in a test specimen and, additionally or alternatively, multiplexed drive coils. For example, an eddy current array probe may include a first plurality of eddy current channels disposed in a first row and a second plurality of eddy current channels disposed in a second row. The first plurality and second plurality of eddy current channels overlap in a first direction but do not overlap in a second direction. The probe also includes a semi-circular drive coil disposed proximate to the first plurality and second plurality of eddy current channels and configured to generate a probing magnetic field for each sense coil of the eddy current channels. |
| US08884611B2 |
Angle sensor and method for determining an angle between a sensor system and a magnetic field
An angle sensor for determining an angle between a sensor system and a magnetic field has a magnet which generates the magnetic field and is adjustable in different rotational positions relative to the sensor system with regard to a rotation axis. The sensor system has a first magnetic field sensor for detecting a first magnetic field component oriented transversely to the rotation axis and a second magnetic field sensor for detecting a second magnetic field component, which is situated transversely to a plane extending from the rotation axis and the first magnetic field component. A third magnetic field sensor of the sensor system detects a third magnetic field component, which is oriented in the direction of the rotation axis. The sensor system is positioned relative to the magnet in such a way that the third magnetic field component is largely independent of the rotational position. |
| US08884608B2 |
AFM-coupled microscale radiofrequency probe for magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy
The present disclosure is discloses the development of a new device, system, and method that combines advantages of magnetic resonance and atomic force microscopy technologies, and the utility of the new device, system, and method for a wide range of biomedical and clinical researchers. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device for micro-scale spectroscopy is disclosed. The micro-scale spectroscopy device includes a beam having a distal end, a proximal end, a top surface and a bottom surface, where the beam is attached to an anchor at the proximal end and further includes a tip extending substantially perpendicular from the bottom surface at or near the distal end, and a coil having at least one turn mounted to the top surface of the beam at or near the distal end opposite the tip, where the coil is capable of both transmitting and sensing electromagnetic radiation. |
| US08884601B2 |
System and method for a low voltage bandgap reference
In accordance with an embodiment, a reference voltage generator includes a first current generator and a second current generator. The first current generator is configured to produce a first current proportional to a current through a first diode connected in series with the first resistance coupled between a first voltage and a second voltage, such that the first current is produced according to a first proportionality constant. The second current generator is configured to produce a second current proportional to a current through a second diode connected in series with the second resistance coupled between the first voltage and the second voltage, such that the second current is produced according to a second proportionality constant. The reference voltage generator further includes a reference resistor coupled to the first and second current generators and to and output of the reference voltage generator. |
| US08884600B2 |
Average inductor current control using variable reference voltage
A variable reference voltage generation unit used in DC/DC converter includes a sample-hold valley inductor current unit electrically connected to a reference voltage generation unit. The sample-hold valley inductor current unit receives the valley inductor current and converts it into the valley voltage. The reference voltage generation unit receives and converts a current signal two times of a designated current into a voltage signal two times of a designated voltage. The voltage signal two times of reference voltage is then subtracted by the valley voltage to produce the new reference voltage to compare with an inductor voltage for controlling the switching of a switching transistor of the DC/DC convertor. |
| US08884590B2 |
Electricity generation device and permanent-magnet electric generator
An electricity generation device includes a permanent-magnet electric generator with three or more phase windings each having an output terminal and connected to a neutral point, and bidirectional semiconductor switching circuits capable of interrupting connections between the respective phase windings and the neutral point. Each switching circuit allows current to flow in both directions. A gate signal generation circuit outputs to one of the switching circuits during a period including the time at which the AC voltage excited in the corresponding phase winding turns from positive to negative and during a period including the time at which the AC voltage excited in the corresponding phase winding turns from negative to positive. A startup gate signal output circuit outputs a startup gate signal to all of the bidirectional semiconductor switching circuits when the permanent-magnet electric generator is to be started. |
| US08884587B2 |
Protocols for reporting power status over multiple buses
An automated power reporting system is provided in one aspect. The system includes one or more devices that can report or transmit power status information over a bus or network. A protocol component utilizes a generalized protocol to process or convert the power status information over the network in order to facilitate power management operations for a plurality of devices. In this manner, devices that send power information can interact and exploit personal computing resources in order to better help users manage limited power resources for their respective devices. |
| US08884577B2 |
Control apparatus for rotary electric machines
In a control apparatus for a rotary electric machine receiving power from a DC power supply, a DC-AC converting circuit is provided with serially connected circuits each having high-potential-side and low-potential-side switching elements. When a short-circuit occurs at the switching elements, all the switching elements are turned OFF for failsafe and a path connecting the machine and the battery is opened. In such a case, a switching element belonging to part of the switching elements is turned ON, with potential at all the terminals of the rotary electric machine being the same. A location of the short-circuit occurs is identified, based on changes in current passing through the machine and being detected in response to turning ON the switching element. The changes are at least one of a reduction change in deviation of the current from a zero point and a reduction change in an absolute value of the current. |
| US08884569B2 |
Secure motor starter
According to an embodiment of the invention, a motor starter includes a connection module, which includes a second and third interface, wherein the second interface is electrically conductively connected to the third interface. The security evaluation unit can be mechanically coupled to the connection module so that an electrically conductive connection is produced between the first and second interfaces. The secure switch unit can be mechanically coupled to the connection module so that an electrically conductive connection between the third and fourth interfaces is produced, so that, in the coupled state of the security evaluation unit and the secure switch unit to the connection module; there is an electrically conductive connection between the first and fourth interfaces via the connection module, so that the control command can be transmitted from the security evaluation unit via the connection module to the secure switch unit. |
| US08884565B2 |
Motor driving device comprising maximum output calculation unit of direct current conversion unit
A motor driving device comprises: a single DC conversion unit that converts input AC into DC; a plurality of AC conversion units that convert DC output from the DC conversion unit into AC supplied to a plurality of motor units as driving electric power; an electric power consumption calculation unit of the DC conversion unit that calculates electric power consumption of the DC conversion unit from the input voltage and input current to the DC conversion unit every predetermined time period; and a maximum output calculation unit of the DC conversion unit that extracts a maximum value from the electric power consumption of the DC conversion unit calculated every predetermined time period and outputs it as a maximum output of the DC conversion unit. |
| US08884563B2 |
System and method for supplementing a generated DC power supply
A renewable energy source is converted into a desired DC voltage that is delivered to a DC motor controller of a permanent magnet motor. A micro controller monitors the amount of supplied renewable DC having the desired DC voltage, which is delivered to each phase of the motor by turning on FET switches on demand. If the renewable DC available at a given instant is not adequate to power a particular phase of the motor, then the micro controller turns on backup FET switches that are part of an independent drive circuit that is in parallel with drive circuits of the renewable DC power circuit, to deliver to the motor line DC, which is produced from an AC supply that has gone through an AC to DC converter. Once charged, the renewable DC power will power the next available phase of the motor. |
| US08884561B2 |
AC motor driving apparatus
In the case where DC power from a DC power supply is converted to AC power by an inverter and supplied to an AC motor, a power compensator is connected in parallel with a DC power input portion of the inverter, and a control device of the power compensator charges/discharges a power storage device to perform a power compensation process A when power demand for the AC motor exceeds a predetermined value, and takes into account power allowance which can be inputted and outputted from the DC power supply to the power storage device and performs a power storage adjustment process B of performing auxiliary charge of the power storage device within the range of the power allowance when the power compensation process A is unnecessary. |
| US08884560B2 |
Inverter device and air conditioner including the same
An inverter device includes a plurality of switching circuits in which first switching elements including Si semiconductors and second switching element including WBG semiconductors having ON resistance smaller than that of the first switching elements and having switching speed higher than that of the first switching elements are connected in parallel. The inverter device includes a converting circuit that converts a direct-current voltage into a desired alternating-current voltage and a driving unit that generates a plurality of driving signals for respectively turning on and off the switching circuits. The inverter device includes, for each of the switching circuits, a gate circuit that, based on the driving signals, turns on the second switching element later than the first switching element and turns off the first switching element later than the second switching element. |
| US08884552B2 |
Illumination system comprising a light source and a control unit and an illumination control system for controlling a light source by multiple user interface surfaces
An Illumination system comprising a light source (1010) and a control unit (CU1) for controlling the light source is described. The control unit is arranged to operate in a first state to control a first illumination parameter of the light source and in a second state to control a second illumination parameter, a transition from the first state to the second state is obtained by providing a pulling force to a control element of the control unit. |
| US08884550B2 |
Method for driving LED
Method and means for driving one or more LEDs. The method includes turning a power switch on to provide current through an inductor and the power switch, measuring voltseconds of the LEDs at a cycle time, comparing the measured voltseconds to a reference signal at an end of the cycle time, generating a signed discrete logical signal based on a difference between the measured voltseconds and the reference signal, and generating a control signal using the signed discrete logical signal to regulate a peak current through the power switch by keeping the cycle time voltseconds substantially constant. The reference signal may be proportional to a set average LED voltage. |
| US08884549B2 |
Illumination device and fixture
Technologies are described herein for an illumination device and a corresponding fixture device. The illumination device includes a luminary module for the emission of light and an identification circuit containing identifying data, while the fixture device includes a driver module for supplying power to the illumination device and a controller module. When the illumination device is connected to the fixture device, the controller module communicates with the identification circuit of the illumination device to retrieve the identifying data and causes the driver module to supply the appropriate power to the luminary module of the illumination device. |
| US08884547B2 |
Current regulating circuit of light emitting diode (LED) string and LED illumination device
An exemplary current regulating circuit of LED string includes a capacitor, an inductor, a diode, a switch and a detection circuit. First and second terminals of the capacitor respectively are connected to a low voltage and a preset voltage. A first terminal of the inductor is connected to the low voltage. Positive and negative terminals of the diode are respectively connected to a second terminal of the inductor and a high voltage. First and second terminals of the switch are respectively connected to the second terminal of the inductor and the preset voltage. The detection circuit detects the low voltage to thereby switch ON-OFF states of the switch in demand. Moreover, a LED illumination device using the current regulating circuit also is provided. |
| US08884544B2 |
Method for operating a lamp and electronic ballast
A method for operating a lamp may include: Connecting a device to a pair of input connections of an electronic ballast and by this means determining a respective dimming duration for at least one predetermined situation; and Activating the lamp by the electronic ballast in at least one predetermined situation such that the lamp emits light with a reduced intensity compared with the normal intensity at which the lamp otherwise emits light over a period of a dimming duration determined for this situation. |
| US08884543B2 |
Light source device, projector, and method of driving discharge lamp
A light source device includes a discharge lamp having a light emitting case and a pair of electrodes, a drive device, a voltage detector, and a time measurement device, the drive device alternately repeats a first alternating current supply interval and a second alternating current supply interval, measures a period of the first and the second alternating current supply interval with the time measurement device, performs a change from the first alternating current supply interval to the second alternating current supply interval when the period of the first alternating current supply interval reaches a predetermined period A, and performs a change from the second alternating current supply interval to the first alternating current supply interval when the period of the second alternating current supply interval reaches a predetermined period B, or when an absolute value of an inter-electrode voltage of the pair of electrodes reaches a threshold value. |
| US08884541B2 |
Dimming for constant current LED driver circuit
An illustrative LED driver circuit includes dimming control of the LED lamp. The circuit uses flyback converter topology, a power factor correction (PFC) primary side controller, a secondary side controller that includes current control and voltage control regulation, and an dimming control circuit. The dimming control circuit includes a selectable dimming control signal added together with a sensed current output signal to provide a control signal supplied to the secondary controller for output current control. |
| US08884535B2 |
Light emitting diode control system using modulated signals
A light emitting diode control system includes a power conversion circuit, a control circuit, and a light emitting diode emission circuit. The control circuit is configured to modulate a data signal to a modulated signal. The light emitting diode emission circuit is electrically connected in series to the control circuit through a transmission line. The light emitting diode emission circuit is adapted to receive the modulated signal outputted from the control circuit. Moreover, the light emitting diode emission circuit includes an addressing unit. The type of the addressing unit could be a pin-selection type or a burning-code type. |
| US08884532B2 |
Photo control for a luminaire
An improved lighting control for a luminaire operates an LED luminaire so that its relay opens and closes at or very near the zero current cross-over point so as to reduce the in-rush current to the luminaire, and, if the relay contacts do become stuck, the photo control senses the sticking and electronically vibrates the relay to free its contacts. |
| US08884531B1 |
Intelligent solar lighting system
An area lighting system having a distributed lighting network is provided. The distributed lighting network comprises two main units and multiple secondary units. Both main units are configured to receive a signal from a motion sensor, activate a wireless transceiver and send out a radio frequency signal. In addition, both main units are capable of receiving a radio frequency signal from a wireless transceiver from another main unit. Each secondary units is configured to receive a radio frequency signal from the transceivers of the main units and change the illumination state of the LEDs of the secondary unit. |
| US08884528B2 |
Vase-shaped device, light wall device, and system
An objective is to provide a vase-shaped device, a light wall device, and a system which accentuate the beauty of flowers by implementing “interactive flower arrangement” in which the color of the vase-shaped device and that of a space around the vase-shaped device change according to the color of the arranged flowers so as to entertain users. To achieve the above objective, provided is a vase-shaped device including light-emitting devices as an output unit configured to output a signal as controlled. |
| US08884527B2 |
Lamps
An embodiment of the invention provides a lamp comprising a control circuit and a light emitting device. The light emitting device comprises a plurality of light emitting units with different wavelengths. The control circuit calibrates a control signal according to an environment light to adjust a light spectrum of the light emitting device by controlling the luminance of each light emitting unit. |
| US08884526B2 |
Coherent multiple side electromagnets
In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a plasma processing system that generates a magnetic field having a maximum strength that is independent of workpiece size. The plasma processing system has a plurality of side electromagnets that have a size which is independent of the workpiece size. The side electromagnets are located around a perimeter of a processing chamber configured to house a semiconductor workpiece. When a current is provided to the side electromagnets, separate magnetic fields emanate from separate positions around the workpiece. The separate magnetic fields contribute to the formation of an overall magnetic field that controls the distribution of plasma within the processing chamber. Because the size of the plurality of separate side magnets is independent of the workpiece size, the plurality of side magnets can generate a magnetic field having a maximum field strength that is independent of workpiece size. |
| US08884524B2 |
Apparatus and methods for improving reliability of RF grounding
Embodiments of the present invention provide an RF conducting rod comprising a hollow portion. Particularly, the RF conducting rod comprises an elongated hollow body having a sidewall enclosing an inner volume, a first solid connector extending from a first end of the elongated hollow body, and a second solid connector extending from a second end of the elongated hollow body. Each of the elongated hollow body, the first solid connector and the second solid connector is formed from an electrically conductive material. |
| US08884523B2 |
Driving at least two high frequency-power generators
For driving at least two HF power generators that supply a plasma process with HF power, at least one drive signal is generated and at least one pulse signal is generated. Then, based on the at least one drive signal and the at least one pulse signal, a pulsed HF power signal is generated by each of the at least two HF power generator. |
| US08884522B2 |
Headlamp light distribution control device
An extraction unit extracts a forward vehicle from an acquired image of the forward area image. A judgment unit extracts a lamp of the forward vehicle from the image of the extracted forward vehicle if a distance to the forward vehicle is less than a predetermined value, and judges whether the extracted lamp is actually two lamps or a single lamp. A control unit controls an irradiation direction of a headlamp such that a first shielded area is set in an irradiation area to prevent an area including the lamp of the forward vehicle from being irradiated if judged that the extracted lamp is actually two lamps, and such that a second shielded area is set in the irradiation area to have a margin in right and left directions larger than the first shielded area if judged that the extracted lamp is really only a single lamp. |
| US08884521B2 |
Motor vehicle headlight element
A motor vehicle headlight element is specified which has at least one light-emitting diode and at least one control apparatus. The control apparatus is suitable for processing a signal which is dependent on a measurement variable and for applying a current, corresponding to the signal, to the light-emitting diode. The control apparatus and the light-emitting diode are arranged on a common mount. |
| US08884519B2 |
High frequency helical amplifier and oscillator
Disclosed herein is a class of mm and sub mm wavelength amplifiers and oscillators operating with miniature helical slow wave circuits manufactured using micro fabrication technology. The helices are supported by diamond dielectric support rods. Diamond is the best possible thermal conductor, and it can be bonded to the helix. The electron beam is transmitted, not through the center of the helix, but around the outside. In some configurations the RF power produced may be radiated directly from the slow wave circuit. The method of fabrication, which is applicable above 60 GHz, is compatible with mass production. |
| US08884516B2 |
Traveling wave electron device with membrane-supported slow wave circuit
A traveling wave device includes a slow wave circuit supported by a dielectric membrane. The dielectric membrane can have a thickness substantially smaller than a wavelength of operation of the traveling wave device. |
| US08884515B2 |
Organic light emitting display apparatus
An organic light emitting display apparatus that includes a substrate, an organic light emitting unit formed on the substrate, a reflection member disposed on a non-light emitting region of the organic light emitting unit, and a sealing member that seals the organic light emitting unit. The organic light emitting display apparatus can function as a display apparatus or a mirror. |
| US08884513B2 |
Red fluorescent material, method for producing red fluorescent material, white light source, illuminating device, and liquid crystal display
The present invention provides an efficient red fluorescent material and a method for producing the same, provides a white light source and an illuminating device each of which uses this red fluorescent material to achieve snow-white lighting, and furthermore provides a liquid crystal display having excellent color reproduction. The red fluorescent material contains an element A, europium, silicon, carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen, at an atomic ratio of the following composition formula (1), and, in a Photo Luminescence Excitation spectrum of the red fluorescent material, a relative value of a luminescence intensity of 550 nm excitation wavelength when a luminescence intensity of 400 nm excitation wavelength is defined as 1 is not more than 0.85 and not less than 0.55. [A(m-x)Eux][Si(9-y)Cy]OnN[12-2(n-m)/3] wherein element A is at least one selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium; and m, x, y, and n satisfy 3 |
| US08884512B2 |
White light emitting lamp and white LED lighting apparatus including the same
An object is to provide a white light emitting lamp in which a BGR phosphor containing blue, green and red phosphor is combined with a semiconductor light emitting element such as an LED, a deep red phosphor having a main emission peak in a longer wavelength region than a main emission peak of the red phosphor is further added so as to enhance characteristics, whereby both high luminance and high color rendering properties can be obtained. This invention provides a white light emitting lamp 1 comprising: a semiconductor light emitting element 2 that is placed on a board 3 and emits ultraviolet light or blue light; and a light emitting portion that is formed so as to cover a light emitting surface of the semiconductor light emitting element 2, the light emitting portion containing a blue phosphor B, a green phosphor G, and a red phosphor R that are excited by the light emitted from the semiconductor light emitting element 2 to respectively emit blue light, green light, and red light, the white light emitting lamp 1 emitting white light by mixing light emission colors from the blue phosphor B, the green phosphor G, and the red phosphor R with one another, wherein the light emitting portion further contains a deep red phosphor DR having a main emission peak in a longer wavelength region than a main emission peak of the red phosphor. |
| US08884511B2 |
Luminescent materials having nanocrystals exhibiting multi-modal energy level distributions
Luminescent materials include a plurality of nanocrystals. At least some of the nanocrystals may be configured to emit electromagnetic radiation upon stimulation, and the plurality of nanocrystals may exhibit a multi-modal energy level distribution. The distribution of the nanocrystals may be selectively configured to enhance the luminescence efficiency of a fraction of the plurality of nanocrystals that exhibits one energy level mode of the multi-modal energy level distribution. Light-emitting diodes and electronic devices include such luminescent materials. |
| US08884508B2 |
Solid state lighting device including multiple wavelength conversion materials
A solid state lighting device includes a solid state light emitter combined with a lumiphor to form a solid state light emitting component, at least one lumiphor spatially segregated from the light emitting component, and another lumiphor and/or solid state light emitter. The solid state light emitting component may include a blue shifted yellow component with a higher color temperature, but in combination with the other elements the aggregated emissions from the lighting device have a lower color temperature. Multiple white or near-white components may be provided and arranged to stimulate one or more lumiphors spatially segregated therefrom. |
| US08884506B2 |
Light emitting device capable of preventing breakage during high drive voltage and light emitting device package including the same
A light emitting device includes a light emitting structure divided into a plurality of light emitting cells and a boundary region, the light emitting cells including a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive type semiconductor layer, respectively; a first electrode disposed on each of the light emitting cells; first conductive layers disposed under the light emitting cells; at least one second conductive layer disposed under the first conductive layers; a first insulation layer disposed between each of the first conductive layers, and between the first conductive layers and the at least one second conductive layer; and a connecting electrode connecting the first electrode on one light emitting cell with the at least one second conductive layer under another light emitting cell. The at least one second conductive layer is connected with one of the first conductive layers through the first insulation layer. |
| US08884503B2 |
Spark plug
A spark plug has a metal shell and a ground electrode joined at a base end portion thereof to the metal shell and includes a surface layer and a core higher in thermal conductivity than the surface layer. The surface layer has a thickness of 0.2 to 0.4 mm at a specific position that is located 1 mm from the base end portion. The spark plug satisfies the following condition: W1≧W2×1.55−(W3+0.25) where W1 (mm) is a width of the metal shell at a weld region of the metal shell joined with the base end portion in a specific direction that extends perpendicular to the axis direction through a center line of the ground electrode; W2 (mm) is a thickness of the ground electrode at the specific position in the specific direction; and W3 (mm) is a thickness of the surface layer at the specific position in the specific direction. |
| US08884497B2 |
Piezoelectric actuator and a method of manufacturing the same
A piezoelectric actuator including first and second piezoelectric cantilevers is disclosed. Wirings are provided on an upper surface of a support body on which the first and second piezoelectric cantilevers are formed. The wirings are formed of patterned metal films. |
| US08884495B2 |
Piezoelectric sensor
The present invention provides a piezoelectric sensor that can reduce spurious vibration of a transducer. The piezoelectric sensor includes a transducer which has a piezoelectric body and a vibration plate and which transmits/receives ultrasound, and a mount supporting the transducer near nodes of mechanical vibration generated to the transducer. The mount includes ribs that contact the transducer near the nodes of vibration in a point by point, line by line or partially plane by plane contact manner to support the transducer, and retract portions which are provided side by side to respective ribs near the nodes of vibration and which are distant from the transducer so as not to support the transducer. |
| US08884488B2 |
Stator for electric rotating machine and manufacturing method of the same
A stator for an electric rotating machine includes a stator core which has a plurality of slots and a stator winding which is provided at the stator core. The stator winding has a plurality of conductor segments each of which includes an inner conducting body accommodated in the slot of the stator core and coil ends exposed from the slot, and weld portions which are connected with each other by welding the conductor segments at at least one of the coil ends. The weld portions are annularly disposed with an interval therebetween. The weld portions are coated with an insulating resin material. The resin material is formed of a plurality of layered insulating films. |
| US08884487B2 |
Stator for electric rotating machine
A stator for an electric rotating machine is equipped with a stator winding made up of a plurality of conductor segments. Each of the conductor segments has a head and two legs. The legs are inserted through their respective slots formed in a stator core, so that each of the conductor segments has leg ends protruding from either one of opposed end surfaces of the stator core and the head thereof protruding from the other end surface. Radially adjacent two of the leg ends are provided as a coil end pair to be welded. At least one of the heads is interposed between adjacent two of the coil end pairs, thereby ensuring a distance between the two adjacent coil end pairs which is great enough to provide a required degree of electric insulation between the coil end pairs when the leg ends of the conductor segments are welded electrically. |
| US08884485B2 |
Axially asymmetric permanent magnet machine
A permanent magnet machine is provided with a rotor positioned at least partially within a stator. The rotor includes first and second ring segments oriented axially around a central axis. The rotor defines first and second configurations in the first and second ring segments, respectively. The first configuration is sufficiently different from the second configuration such that torque ripple may be minimized. A first layer of slots, defining a slot outer edge, may be formed in the rotor. In one embodiment, a stator-to-slot gap varies between the first and second ring segments. In another embodiment, a stator-rotor gap varies between the first and second ring segments. In another embodiment, a bridge thickness varies between the first and second ring segments. Thus the rotor exhibits axial asymmetry. |
| US08884484B2 |
DC motor having a unique winding structure
The invention relates to a DC motor 1 comprising a cylindrical coil carrier 7; 17 comprising wire guide element 9; 10, 12 for guiding a first winding wire 80; 180 and a second winding wire 81; 181 of an air-gap winding on both side end sections, wherein the first winding wire 80; 180 and the second winding wire 81; 181 each comprise rectangular winding segments 20; 120, wherein the rectangular winding segments 20; 120 of the second winding wire 81; 181 are disposed overlapping on the cylindrical coil carrier 7; 17 and the wire guide elements 9; 10, 12 are designed for guiding the first winding wire 80; 180 and the second winding wire 81; 181 past each other. |
| US08884482B2 |
Centrifugal switch actuator and motor comprising the same
A centrifugal switch actuator including a junction box, a cover, a first static and dynamic contact combination, a second static and dynamic contact combination, an outer swing arm, an inner swing arm, and a reset elastic element. The first static and dynamic contact combination, the second static and dynamic contact combination, and the reset elastic element are located in the junction box. The outer swing arm includes a first outer swing arm and a second outer swing arm. The inner swing arm includes a first inner swing arm and a second inner swing arm. The length of the first static and dynamic contact combination is different from that of the second static and dynamic contact combination. |
| US08884480B2 |
Motor with cooled rotor
A fan includes an air movement implement including a blade and a motor that drives the air movement implement. The motor includes a rotor that includes an internal diameter heat exchanger and a heat pipe having a first end and a second end, the first end in thermal contact with the internal diameter heat exchanger and the second end in thermal contact with the blade. |
| US08884475B2 |
Plastic commutator brush boxes and bearing seat
The invention reduces vibration in a plastic element used in an electrical drive. The plastic element has a baseplate, at least two commutator brush boxes leading to a shaft passage channel which passes through the baseplate, and a bearing seat which is connected to the baseplate via at least one supporting arm for holding a shaft bearing. The invention provides for the entire contact area of the supporting arm with the baseplate to be arranged at a lateral distance from the commutator brush boxes. |
| US08884466B2 |
High voltage power supply
A high voltage power supply (HVPS) including first and second high voltage output controllers controlling output of a high voltage output signal; and a plurality of transformers transforming an output signal provided from the first and second high voltage output controller, disposed outside of the first and second high voltage controllers on the substrate, wherein output terminals in the secondary sides of the plurality of transformers are disposed along the edge of the substrate. Therefore, the volume of a system can be minimized by arranging circuits in each component for high voltage output in parallel, and spark and discharge can be reduced by minimizing interference between the primary sides and the secondary sides of the components for high voltage output, thereby preventing damage to a product. |
| US08884465B2 |
System and method for over-voltage protection in a photovoltaic system
A photovoltaic array for use in an electrical power system includes multiple photovoltaic modules and a voltage converter coupled to at least one of the photovoltaic modules. The photovoltaic array also includes an over-voltage protection circuit. The over-voltage protection circuit includes an interface adapted to couple to an output of the voltage converter. The over-voltage protection circuit also includes a spike detector configured to detect a voltage spike in an output voltage of the voltage converter. The over-voltage protection circuit further includes a voltage control module configured to regulate an output voltage slew rate of the voltage converter in response to an over-voltage signal received from the spike detector. |
| US08884462B2 |
Power flow regulator including a plurality of DC-DC converters
A power flow regulator includes a plurality of bi-directional DC-DC converters, each of said converters comprising a first input, a second input, a first output and a second output; and a capacitor electrically connected between the first and second inputs of each of said converters. Either the first output of each of said converters is electrically connected to a corresponding DC source and the second output of each of said converters is electrically connected to a common DC load, or the first output of each of said converters is electrically connected to a corresponding DC load and the second output of each of said converters is electrically connected to a common DC source. |
| US08884459B2 |
Safety arrangement for a motor vehicle
A safety arrangement for a motor vehicle includes an electrical energy storage unit. The arrangement is particularly intended for use in a motor vehicle configured to be powered electrically, or by a so-called hybrid motor, and which hence comprises a high voltage electrical storage unit such as a battery or capacitor. The safety arrangement is configured to cool the storage unit in response to a signal indicative of an accident situation or battery malfunction, and comprises: a source of compressed inert gas and a flow-release actuator, the flow-release actuator being actuable upon receipt of an actuation signal so as to release a flow of inert gas from said source, the arrangement being configured such that said flow is directed substantially onto said storage unit so as to cool the unit. |
| US08884456B2 |
Turbine unit and assembly
A turbine unit (11) adapted to be placed in a flowing fluid. The turbine unit (11) comprises a first turbine set (13) and a second turbine set (15) mounted within a passage (21) of a housing (19). The first turbine blade set (13) and a second turbine blade set (15) are set in opposed relation such that in operation a region between the two turbine blade sets (13, 15) has a lower pressure than the fluid pressure at an opening of the passage (21). The turbine unit (11) being used to generate power. The turbine units (FIGS. 8 to 11) can be abutted with each other such that they define a passage and each turbine unit comprises a driving turbine blade set before fluid passes to a pumping turbine blade set. |
| US08884453B2 |
Generator system for reusing exhaust air
Briefly stated, in accordance with the present subject matter, a generator system is provided. The assembly includes a turbine to be driven by exhaust air and a casing surrounding the turbine. The exhaust air issues from an exhaust structure. The turbine and the casing are each supported independently of the exhaust structure by a support structure. A generator is mechanically coupled to the turbine. The support structure is proportioned to mount the generator system in a selected juxtaposition with a preselected exhaust structure. A generator provides power to an output conductor. Power conditioning apparatus may be included in the system or may be located remotely. |
| US08884448B2 |
Flip chip interconnection with double post
A microelectronic assembly includes a substrate having a first surface, a plurality of first conductive pads exposed thereon, and a plurality of first metal posts. Each metal post defines a base having an outer periphery and is connected to one of the conductive pads. Each metal post extends along a side wall from the base to ends remote from the conductive pad. The assembly further includes a dielectric material layer having a plurality of openings and extending along the first surface of the substrate. The first metal posts project through the openings such that the dielectric material layer contacts at least the outside peripheries thereof. Fusible metal masses contact the ends of some of first metal posts and extend along side walls towards the outer surface of the dielectric material layer. A microelectronic element is carried on the substrate and is electronically can be connected the conductive pads. |
| US08884447B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
To increase the manufacturing yield of semiconductor devices by improving a joint failure of a bump electrode.In a semiconductor device in which a plurality of boding pads 4 formed on a front surface of a semiconductor chip 3 and a plurality of leads 2 are connected via a plurality of bump electrodes 5, respectively, the upper surface of the leads 2 is formed into a semi-glossy surface having a roughness a maximum height (Ry) of which is in a range greater than 0 μm and not greater than 20 μm (0 μm |
| US08884445B2 |
Semiconductor chip and stacked semiconductor package having the same
A semiconductor chip includes a substrate having one surface and an other surface which substantially faces away from the one surface; at least two alignment bumps formed on the one surface of the substrate and having different diameters; and at least two alignment grooves defined on the other surface of the substrate and having different diameters. |
| US08884441B2 |
Process of ultra thick trench etch with multi-slope profile
The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip (IC) having an ultra-thick metal layer formed in a metal layer trench having a rounded shape that reduces stress between an inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer and an adjacent metal layer, and a related method of formation. In some embodiments, the IC has an inter-level dielectric layer disposed above a semiconductor substrate. The ILD layer has a cavity with a sidewall having a plurality of sections, wherein respective sections have different slopes that cause the cavity to have a rounded shape. A metal layer is disposed within the cavity. The rounded shape of the cavity reduces stress between the ILD layer and the metal layer to prevent cracks from forming along an interface between the ILD layer and the metal layer. |
| US08884440B2 |
Integrated circuit device including through-silicon via structure having offset interface
An integrated circuit device includes a substrate through which a first through-hole extends, and an interlayer insulating film on the substrate, the interlayer insulating film having a second through-hole communicating with the first through-hole. A Through-Silicon Via (TSV) structure is provided in the first through-hole and the second through-hole. The TSV structure extends to pass through the substrate and the interlayer insulating film. The TSV structure comprises a first through-electrode portion having a top surface located in the first through-hole, and a second through-electrode portion having a bottom surface contacting with the top surface of the first through-electrode portion and extending from the bottom surface to at least the second through-hole. Related fabrication methods are also described. |
| US08884439B2 |
Joining electrode, method of manufacturing the same, semiconductor device, and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein is a joining electrode including: an insulating layer; a recessed portion formed in the insulating layer; a covering layer formed on a side surface and a bottom surface of the recessed portion; and a joining metallic layer formed on the covering layer and having an upper surface protruding from a surface of the insulating layer. |
| US08884434B2 |
Method and system for improving reliability of a semiconductor device
A method and a system for improving reliability of a semiconductor device are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device is provided comprising a semiconductor chip, a metallization layer comprising a metallic material disposed over a surface of the semiconductor chip, and an alloy layer comprising the metallic material disposed over the metallization layer. |
| US08884431B2 |
Packaging methods and structures for semiconductor devices
Packaging methods and structures for semiconductor devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a packaged semiconductor device includes a redistribution layer (RDL) having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. At least one integrated circuit is coupled to the first surface of the RDL, and a plurality of metal bumps is coupled to the second surface of the RDL. A molding compound is disposed over the at least one integrated circuit and the first surface of the RDL. |
| US08884430B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of confining conductive bump material during reflow with solder mask patch
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die with die bump pads and substrate with trace lines having integrated bump pads. A solder mask patch is formed interstitially between the die bump pads or integrated bump pads. The solder mask patch contains non-wettable material. Conductive bump material is deposited over the integrated bump pads or die bump pads. The semiconductor die is mounted over the substrate so that the conductive bump material is disposed between the die bump pads and integrated bump pads. The bump material is reflowed without a solder mask around the integrated bump pads to form an interconnect between the semiconductor die and substrate. The solder mask patch confines the conductive bump material within a footprint of the die bump pads or integrated bump pads during reflow. The interconnect can have a non-fusible base and fusible cap. |
| US08884426B2 |
Semiconductor device including cooler
A semiconductor device includes a package and a cooler. The semiconductor package includes a semiconductor element, a metal member, and a molding member for encapsulating the semiconductor element and the metal member. The metal member has a metal portion thermally connected to the semiconductor element, an insulating layer on the metal portion, and a conducting layer on the insulating layer. The conducting layer is at least partially exposed outside the molding member and serves as a radiation surface for radiating heat of the semiconductor element. The cooler has a coolant passage through which a coolant circulates to cool the conducting layer. The conducting layer and the cooler are electrically connected together. |
| US08884423B2 |
Image forming apparatus, chip, and chip package
An image forming apparatus including an engine unit to perform an image forming operation, and a board unit to control the engine unit. The board unit includes at least one chip package that includes a chip. The chip includes first pads to transmit a first type of signal, a second pad to transmit a second type of signal, and a third pad interposed between the first and second pads, to reduce cross-talk between the first and second types of signals. |
| US08884422B2 |
Flip-chip fan-out wafer level package for package-on-package applications, and method of manufacture
A flip-chip fan-out wafer level package for package-on-package applications includes a semiconductor die with solder bumps on an upper surface in a flip chip configuration. The die is inverted, with an upper surface facing an upper side of a redistribution layer, with the solder bumps in electrical contact with respective chip contact pads of the redistribution layer. The redistribution layer includes conductive traces that place each of the solder bumps in electrical contact with one or both of one of a plurality of upper redistribution contact pads and one of a plurality of lower redistribution contact pads. Each of the plurality of upper redistribution contact pads has an upper solder ball in electrical contact therewith. The die and the upper solder balls are at least partially encapsulated in a layer of mold compound positioned on the upper surface of the redistribution layer, and whose lateral dimensions are defined by the lateral dimensions of the redistribution layer. The layer of mold compound has a back-ground surface at which a portion of each of the upper solder balls is exposed, for electrical contact with an upper package. Each of the lower redistribution contact pads has a lower solder ball a coupled thereto. |
| US08884419B1 |
Integrated circuit packaging configurations
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a substrate, one of either a semiconductor die or an interposer disposed on the substrate, the semiconductor die or the interposer having a first surface attached to the substrate and a second surface that is opposite to the first surface, one or more interconnect structures formed on the second surface of the semiconductor die or the interposer, a mold compound formed to substantially encapsulate the semiconductor die or the interposer, and one or more vias formed in the mold compound to facilitate coupling the one or more interconnect structures with another component. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. |
| US08884417B2 |
Wireless communicating among vertically arranged integrated circuits (ICs) in a semiconductor package
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for wirelessly communicating among integrated circuits and/or functional modules within the integrated circuits. A semiconductor device fabrication operation uses a predetermined sequence of photographic and/or chemical processing steps to form one or more functional modules onto a semiconductor substrate. The functional modules are coupled to an integrated waveguide that is formed onto the semiconductor substrate and/or attached thereto to form an integrated circuit. The functional modules communicate with each other as well as to other integrated circuits using a multiple access transmission scheme via the integrated waveguide. One or more integrated circuits may be coupled to an integrated circuit carrier to form Multichip Module. The Multichip Module may be coupled to a semiconductor package to form a packaged integrated circuit. |
| US08884415B2 |
IC package with stainless steel leadframe
Various aspects of the disclosure are directed to integrated circuit (IC) die leadframe packages. In accordance with one or more embodiments, a stainless steel leadframe apparatus has a polymer-based layer that adheres to both stainless steel and IC die encapsulation, with the stainless steel conducting signals/data between respective surfaces for communicating with the packaged IC die. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes the IC die adhered to the polymer-based layer via an adhesive, wire bonds coupled to the stainless steel leadframe for passing the signals/data, and an encapsulation epoxy that encapsulates the IC die and wire bonds. |
| US08884414B2 |
Integrated circuit module with dual leadframe
An integrated circuit module including a generally flat die attachment pad (DAP) positioned substantially in a first plane; and a generally flat lead bar positioned substantially in a second plane above and parallel to said first plane and having at least one downwardly and outwardly extending lead bar lead projecting therefrom and terminating substantially in the first plane; a top leadframe having a plurality of generally flat contact pads positioned substantially in a third plane above and parallel to the second plane and a plurality of leads having proximal end portions connected to the pad portions and having downwardly and outwardly extending distal end portions terminating substantially in said first plane; an IC die connected to the top leadframe, and the DAP; and encapsulation material encapsulating at least portions of the DAP, the lead bar, the top lead frame, and the IC die. |
| US08884413B2 |
Leadframes, air-cavity packages, and electronic devices with offset vent holes, and methods of their manufacture
A leadframe (e.g., incorporated in a device package) includes a feature (e.g., a die pad or lead) with a vent hole formed between first and second opposed surfaces. The cross-sectional area of the vent hole varies substantially between the surfaces (e.g., the vent hole has a constricted portion). The vent hole may be formed from a first opening extending from the first surface toward the second surface to a first depth that is less than a thickness of the leadframe feature, and a second opening extending from the second surface toward the first surface to a second depth that is less than the thickness of the leadframe feature, but that is large enough for the second opening to intersect the first opening. Vertical central axes of the openings are horizontally offset from each other, and the constricted portion of the vent hole corresponds to the intersection of the openings. |
| US08884412B2 |
Multiple die packaging interposer structure and method
System and method for providing a multiple die interposer structure. An embodiment comprises a plurality of interposer studs in a molded interposer, with a redirection layer on each side of the interposer. Additionally, the interposer studs may be initially attached to a conductive mounting plate by soldering or wirebond welding prior to molding the interposer, with the mounting plate etched to form one of the redirection layers. Integrated circuit dies may be attached to the redirection layers on each side of the interposer, and interlevel connection structures used to mount and electrically connect a top package having a third integrated circuit to the interposer assembly. |
| US08884409B2 |
Wafer backside doping for thermal neutron shielding
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and at least one integrated circuit formed on a frontside of the semiconductor substrate. A shielding layer is formed on a backside of the semiconductor substrate. The shielding layer includes one or more elements having a high thermal neutron absorption cross section. |
| US08884404B2 |
Mechanism of patterning a semiconductor device and product resulting therefrom
The description relates to a method of patterning a semiconductor device to create a through substrate via. The method produces a through substrate via having no photoresist material therein. An intermediate layer deposited over an interlayer dielectric prevents etching solutions from etching interlayer dielectric sidewalls to prevent peeling. The description relates to a semiconductor apparatus including a semiconductor substrate having a through substrate via therein. The semiconductor apparatus further includes an interlayer dielectric over the semiconductor substrate and an intermediate layer over semiconductor substrate and over sidewalls of the interlayer dielectric. |
| US08884402B2 |
Circuit layout structure
A circuit layout structure includes a wafer having at least a cell region and a scribe line region defined thereon, a metal pattern formed in a first insulating layer in the scribe line region, a second insulating layer and a hard mask layer formed on the metal pattern and the first insulating layer, and at least a dummy pattern formed in the second insulating layer and the hard mask layer in the scribe line region. The dummy pattern has a transmission rate between 0% and 1%. |
| US08884399B2 |
Inductor device and fabrication method
Various embodiments provide inductor devices and fabrication methods. An exemplary inductor device can include a plurality of planar spiral wirings isolated by a dielectric layer. The planar spiral wirings can be connected by conductive pads formed over the dielectric layer and by conductive plugs formed in the dielectric layer. In one embodiment, a third planar spiral wiring can be formed over a second planar spiral wirings that is formed over a first planar spiral wiring. The third planar spiral wiring can be configured in parallel with the first third planar spiral wiring. The second planar spiral wiring can be configured in series with the first and third planar spiral wirings configured in parallel. |
| US08884398B2 |
Anti-fuse structure and programming method thereof
A method of programming an anti-fuse includes steps as follows. First, an insulating layer is provided. An anti-fuse region is defined on the insulating layer. An anti-fuse is embedded within the anti-fuse region of the insulating layer. The anti-fuse includes at least a first conductor and a second conductor. Then, part of the insulating layer is removed by a laser to form an anti-fuse opening in the insulating layer. Part of the first conductor and part of the second conductor are exposed through the anti-fuse opening. After that, a under bump metallurgy layer is formed in the anti-fuse opening to connect the first conductor and the second conductor electrically. |
| US08884397B2 |
Memory device and storage apparatus
A memory device 10 having an arrangement in which a memory thin film is sandwiched between first and second electrodes, the memory thin film contains at least rare earth elements, the memory thin film 4 or a layer in contact with the memory thin film contains any one of elements selected from Cu, Ag, Zn and the memory thin film or the layer in contact with the memory thin film contains any one of elements selected from Te, S, Se. |
| US08884393B2 |
Nitride compound semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A nitride compound semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a buffer layer formed on the substrate and including a plurality of composite layers each layered of: a first layer formed of a nitride compound semiconductor; and a second layer formed of a nitride compound semiconductor containing aluminum and having a lattice constant smaller than a lattice constant of the first layer; a semiconductor operating layer formed on the buffer layer; and a plurality of electrodes formed on the semiconductor operating layer. At least one of the second layers has oxygen added therein. |
| US08884392B2 |
Method of manufacturing solid state imaging device, and solid state imaging device
Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a solid state imaging device, including the steps of: forming a light receiving portion in a light receiving area of a semiconductor substrate; forming a pad portion in a pad area of the semiconductor substrate; forming a microlens material layer over the light receiving portion and the pad portion; providing the microlens material layer with a microlens corresponding to the light receiving portion; forming a low-reflection material layer on the microlens material layer; etching the microlens material layer and the low-reflection material layer over the pad portion to form an opening; and imparting hydrophilicity to a surface of the low-reflection material layer and an inside portion of the opening by a normal temperature oxygen radical treatment. |
| US08884391B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device and photoelectric conversion system with boundary region
One of disclosed embodiments provides a photoelectric conversion device, comprising a member including a first surface configured to receive light, and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions aligned inside the member in a depth direction from the first surface, wherein at least one of the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions other than the photoelectric conversion portion positioned closest to the first surface includes, on a boundary surface thereof with the member, unevenness having a difference in level larger than a difference in level of unevenness of the photoelectric conversion portion positioned closest to the first surface, and wherein the boundary surface having the unevenness is configured to localize or resonate light incident on the member from a side of the first surface around the boundary surface having the unevenness. |
| US08884390B2 |
Backside illumination image sensor chips and methods for forming the same
A die includes a first plurality of edges, and a semiconductor substrate in the die. The semiconductor substrate includes a first portion including a second plurality of edges misaligned with respective ones of the first plurality of edges. The semiconductor substrate further includes a second portion extending from one of the second plurality of edges to one of the first plurality of edges of the die. The second portion includes a first end connected to the one of the second plurality of edges, and a second end having an edge aligned to the one of the first plurality of edges of the die. |
| US08884386B2 |
MRAM device and fabrication method thereof
A magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) device and a method of manufacture are provided. The MRAM device comprises a magnetic pinned layer, a compound GMR structure acting as a free layer, and a non-magnetic barrier layer separating the pinned and GMR layers. The barrier layer is provided to reduce the magnetic coupling of the free layer and GMR structure, as well as provide a resistive state (high or low) for retaining binary data (0 or 1) in the device. The GMR structure provides physical electrode connectivity for set/clear memory functionality which is separated from the physical electrode connectivity for the read functionality for the memory device. |
| US08884384B2 |
Micromachine and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor element of the electric circuit includes a semiconductor layer over a gate electrode. The semiconductor layer of the semiconductor element is formed of a layer including polycrystalline silicon which is obtained by crystallizing amorphous silicon by heat treatment or laser irradiation, over a substrate. The obtained layer including polycrystalline silicon is also used for a structure layer such as a movable electrode of a structure body. Therefore, the structure body and the electric circuit for controlling the structure body can be formed over one substrate. As a result, a micromachine can be miniaturized. Further, assembly and packaging are unnecessary, so that manufacturing cost can be reduced. |
| US08884381B2 |
Guard trench
A device may comprise a substrate formed of a first semiconductor material, a first trench formed in the substrate, a second trench formed in the substrate proximate the first trench, an oxide layer formed in the first trench and the second trench, and a second semiconductor material formed upon the oxide layer. The oxide layer in the second trench may be adapted to mitigate undercut of the oxide layer in the first trench during an etching process. |
| US08884380B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device which provides compactness and enhanced drain withstand voltage. The semiconductor device includes: a gate electrode; a source electrode spaced from the gate electrode; a drain electrode located opposite to the source electrode with respect to the gate electrode in a plan view and spaced from the gate electrode; at least one field plate electrode located between the gate and drain electrodes in a plan view, provided over the semiconductor substrate through an insulating film and spaced from the gate electrode, source electrode and drain electrode; and at least one field plate contact provided in the insulating film, coupling the field plate electrode to the semiconductor substrate. The field plate electrode extends from the field plate contact at least either toward the source electrode or toward the drain electrode in a plan view. |
| US08884376B2 |
Large bit-per-cell three-dimensional mask-programmable read-only memory
A large bit-per-cell three-dimensional mask-programmable read-only memory (3D-MPROMB) is disclosed. It can achieve large bit-per-cell (e.g. 4-bpc or more). 3D-MPROMB can be realized by adding resistive layer(s) or resistive element(s) to the memory cells. |
| US08884375B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device
A disclosed semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate; and multiple semiconductor elements disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor elements include an n-channel MOS transistor and a p-channel MOS transistor. The n-channel MOS transistor is covered by a tensile stress film, and the p-channel MOS transistor is covered by a compressive stress film. A dummy region, the entire surface of which is covered by a combination of the tensile stress film and the compressive stress film, is disposed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US08884373B2 |
Semiconductor device
A first dual-gate electrode includes a gate electrode located on a first active region and having a first silicon film of a first conductivity type and a gate electrode located on a second active region and having a first silicon film of a second conductivity type. A second dual-gate electrode includes a gate electrode located on a third active region and having a second silicon film of the first conductivity type and a gate electrode located on a fourth active region and having a second silicon film of the second conductivity type. At least a portion of the first silicon film of the first conductivity type has a first-conductivity-type impurity concentration higher than that of a portion of the second silicon film of the first conductivity type located on the third active region. |
| US08884371B2 |
SOI substrate and manufacturing method thereof
An object is to provide an SOI substrate provided with a semiconductor layer which can be used practically even when a glass substrate is used as a base substrate. Another object is to provide a semiconductor device having high reliability using such an SOI substrate. An altered layer is formed on at least one surface of a glass substrate used as a base substrate of an SOI substrate to form the SOI substrate. The altered layer is formed on at least the one surface of the glass substrate by cleaning the glass substrate with solution including hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid or nitric acid. The altered layer has a higher proportion of silicon oxide in its composition and a lower density than the glass substrate. |
| US08884368B1 |
Transistors having features which preclude straight-line lateral conductive paths from a channel region to a source/drain region
Some embodiments include transistors having a channel region under a gate, having a source/drain region laterally spaced from the channel region by an active region, and having one or more dielectric features extending through the active region in a configuration which precludes any straight-line lateral conductive path from the channel region to the source/drain region. The dielectric features may be spaced-apart islands in some configurations. The dielectric features may be multi-branched interlocking structures in some configurations. |
| US08884363B2 |
System and method for integrated circuits with cylindrical gate structures
A system and method for integrated circuits with surrounding gate structures are disclosed. The integrated circuits system includes a transistor having a gate all around cylindrical (GAAC) nanowire channel with an interposed dielectric layer. The cylindrical nanowire channel being in a middle section of a semiconductor wire pattern connects the source and drain region positioned at the two opposite end sections of the same wire pattern. A method is provided for manufacturing the integrate circuits system with a GAAC transistor including forming an SOI layer wire pattern on the buried oxide layer of an SOI wafer; forming a cavity underneath the middle section of the wire pattern and shaping the middle section to cylindrically shaped channel; forming a gate electrode surrounding the cylindrical channel region with an interposed gate dielectric layer, the gate electrode being positioned on the buried oxide layer vertically towards the wire pattern; forming the source/drain regions at the two opposite end sections of the wire pattern on either sides of the gate electrode and channel. |
| US08884360B2 |
Semiconductor device with improved robustness
A semiconductor device includes a first contact in low Ohmic contact with a source region of the device and a first portion of a body region of the device formed in an active area of the device, and a second contact in low Ohmic contact with a second portion of the body region formed in a peripheral area of the device. The minimum width of the second contact at a first surface of the device is larger than the minimum width of the first contact at the first surface so that maximum current density during commutating the semiconductor device is reduced and thus the risk of device damage during hard commutating is also reduced. |
| US08884354B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and production method for the same
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate; an element isolation insulating film buried in the semiconductor substrate so as to isolate adjacent element; a memory cell having a first insulating film and a charge accumulation film; a second insulating film formed on the charge accumulation films of the memory cells and the element isolation insulating film; and a control electrode film formed on the second insulating film. An upper surface of the element isolation insulating film is lower than an upper surface of the charge accumulation film, the second insulating film is provided with a cell upper portion on the charge accumulation film and an inter-cell portion on the element isolation insulating film, and a dielectric constant of the cell upper portion is lower than a dielectric constant of the inter-cell portion. |
| US08884351B2 |
Hybrid electrical contacts
Devices having hybrid-vertical contacts. In certain embodiments, a substrate includes a lower patterned layer that has a target conductor. A hybrid-vertical contact may be disposed directly on the target conductor. The hybrid vertical contact may include a lower-vertical contact directly on the target conductor and an upper-vertical contact directly on the lower-vertical contact. The upper-vertical contact may have an upper width that is greater than a lower width of the lower-vertical contact. |
| US08884350B2 |
Semiconductor device
This semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a plurality of cylindrical lower electrodes aligned densely in a memory array region; a plate-like support which is contacted on the side surface of the cylindrical lower electrodes, and links to support the plurality of the cylindrical lower electrodes; a pore portion provided in the plate-like support; a dielectric film covering the entire surface of the cylindrical lower electrodes and the plate-like support in which the pore portion is formed; and an upper electrode formed on the surface of the dielectric film, wherein the boundary length of the part on the side surface of the cylindrical lower electrode which is exposed on the pore portion is shorter than the boundary length of the part on the side surface of the cylindrical lower electrode which is not exposed on the pore portion. |
| US08884348B2 |
Solid-state imaging device which can expand dynamic range
According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes an area and color filters. The area includes pixels. Each of the pixels includes a first photodiode, a first read transistor, a second photodiode, a second read transistor, a floating diffusion, a reset transistor, and an amplifying transistor. The first photodiode performs photoelectric conversion. The first read transistor reads a signal charge. The second photodiode has a photosensitivity lower than the first photodiode. The second read transistor reads a signal charge. The floating diffusion stores the signal charges. The reset transistor resets a potential of the floating diffusion. The amplifying transistor amplifies the potential of the floating diffusion. The color filters include a first and a second filters. The relationship QSAT1>QSAT2 is satisfied. When a saturation level of the first filter is denoted by QSAT1 and a saturation level of the second filter is denoted by QSAT2. |
| US08884343B2 |
System in package and method for manufacturing the same
A system in package and a method for manufacturing the same is provided. The system in package comprises a laminate body having a substrate arranged inside a laminate body. A semiconductor die is embedded in the laminate body and the semiconductor is bonded to contact pads of the substrate by help of a sintered bonding layer, which is made from a sinter paste. Lamination of the substrate and further layers providing the laminate body and sintering of the sinter paste may be performed in a single and common curing step. |
| US08884333B2 |
Nitride semiconductor device
A nitride semiconductor device includes a semiconductor multilayer formed on a substrate, a first ohmic electrode and a Schottky electrode spaced apart from each other on the semiconductor multilayer; and a passivation film covering a top of the semiconductor multilayer. The semiconductor multilayer 102 includes a first nitride semiconductor layer, a second nitride semiconductor layer, and a p-type third nitride semiconductor layer 124 sequentially formed on the substrate. The third nitride semiconductor layer contains p-type impurities, and is selectively formed between the first ohmic electrode and the Schottky electrode in contact with the Schottky electrode. |
| US08884331B2 |
Structure for hermetic encapsulation of a device and an electronic component
An encapsulation structure including at least one hermetically sealed cavity in which a device, an electronic component produced on a first substrate, and a getter material layer covering the electronic component in order to block the gases capable of being degassed by the electronic component, are enclosed. A top surface of the device is free of contact with the getter material layer. |
| US08884323B2 |
Semiconductor light-emitting device
A semiconductor light-emitting device is provided. The semiconductor light-emitting device includes a buffer layer, a light-emitting layer, a first-conductivity semiconductor layer, a first light reflecting layer, a protective structure, and an adhesive layer. The first-conductivity semiconductor layer is disposed between the buffer layer and a first side of the light-emitting layer. The first light reflecting layer is disposed between the first-conductivity semiconductor layer and the buffer layer. The protective structure is disposed between the first reflecting layer and the buffer layer. The adhesive layer is disposed between the first-conductivity semiconductor layer and the protective structure. |
| US08884322B2 |
Light-emitting device
A light-emitting device includes a first electrode area on a substrate and a functional light-emitting layer on the first electrode area. A second electrode area is disposed on the functional light-emitting layer. A light outlet layer is disposed in a radiation path of the functional light-emitting layer. The light outlet layer incorporates a number of optical elements whose distribution and/or geometrical shape vary across a surface of the light outlet layer. |
| US08884318B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device having multi-cell array, light emitting module, and illumination apparatus
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a substrate; a plurality of light emitting cells disposed on the top surface of the substrate, the light emitting cells each having an active layer; a plurality of connection parts formed on the substrate with the light emitting cells formed thereon to connect the light emitting cells in a parallel or series-parallel configuration; and an insulation layer formed on the surface of the light emitting cell to prevent an undesired connection between the connection parts and the light emitting cell. The light emitting cells comprise at least one defective light emitting cell, and at least one of the connection parts related to the defective light emitting cell is disconnected. |
| US08884307B2 |
Nitride semiconductor wafer including different lattice constants
According to one embodiment, a nitride semiconductor wafer includes a silicon substrate, a lower strain relaxation layer provided on the silicon substrate, an intermediate layer provided on the lower strain relaxation layer, an upper strain relaxation layer provided on the intermediate layer, and a functional layer provided on the upper strain relaxation layer. The intermediate layer includes a first lower layer, a first doped layer provided on the first lower layer, and a first upper layer provided on the first doped layer. The first doped layer has a lattice constant larger than or equal to that of the first lower layer and contains an impurity of 1×1018 cm−3 or more and less than 1×1021 cm−3. The first upper layer has a lattice constant larger than or equal to that of the first doped layer and larger than that of the first lower layer. |
| US08884304B2 |
Thin film transistor array substrate having polysilicon
A thin film transistor array substrate includes a substrate, a plurality of poly-silicon islands and a plurality of gates. The substrate has a display region, a gate driver region and a source driver region. Each poly-silicon island disposed on the substrate has a source region, a drain region and a channel region disposed therebetween. The poly-silicon islands include several first poly-silicon islands and several second poly-silicon islands. The first poly-silicon islands having main grain boundaries and sub grain boundaries are only disposed within the display region and the gate driver region. The main grain boundaries of the first poly-silicon islands are only disposed within the source regions and/or the drain regions. The second poly-silicon islands are disposed in the source driver region. Grain sizes of the first poly-silicon islands are substantially different from those of the second poly-silicon islands. Gates corresponding to the channel regions are disposed on the substrate. |
| US08884302B2 |
Display device
A semiconductor device including a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode formed apart from each other over an insulating surface, an oxide semiconductor film including a region overlapping with the first gate electrode with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween, a region overlapping with the second gate electrode with the gate insulating film interposed therebetween, and a region overlapping with neither the first gate electrode nor the second gate electrode, and an insulating film covering the gate insulating film, the first gate electrode, the second gate electrode, and the oxide semiconductor film, and being in direct contact with the oxide semiconductor film is provided. |
| US08884300B2 |
Semiconductor device comprising a transistor including an even number of channel formation regions
A semiconductor element is operated without being affected even when the substrate is largely affected by heat shrink such as a large substrate. Furthermore, a thin film semiconductor circuit and a thin film semiconductor device each having the semiconductor element. Also, a semiconductor element is operated without being affected even if there is slight mask deviation. In view of them, a plurality of gate electrodes formed so as to overlap a lower concentration impurity region of a semiconductor layer than drain regions on a drain region side. Also, source regions and the drain regions corresponding to the respective gate electrodes are formed so that current flows in opposite directions each other through channel regions corresponding to the gate electrodes. Further, the number of the channel regions in which a current flows in a first direction is equal to the number of the channel regions in which a current flows in a direction opposite to the first direction. |
| US08884298B2 |
Semiconductor device having embedded strain-inducing pattern and method of forming the same
A semiconductor device can include an active region having a fin portion providing a channel region between opposing source and drain regions. A gate electrode can cross over the channel region between the opposing source and drain regions and first and second strain inducing structures can be on opposing sides of the gate electrode and can be configured to induce strain on the channel region, where each of the first and second strain inducing structures including a respective facing side having a pair of {111} crystallographically oriented facets. |
| US08884295B2 |
Thin film transistor including an active layer pattern, method of manufacturing the same, and organic light emitting display apparatus
A thin film transistor (TFT) having an active layer pattern, the active layer pattern including a first active layer pattern extending in a first direction; a second active layer pattern extending in the first direction and parallel to the first active layer pattern; and a third active layer pattern connecting a first end of the first active layer pattern to a first end of the second active layer pattern. |
| US08884294B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to manufacture a highly-reliable semiconductor device comprising a transistor including an oxide semiconductor, in which change of electrical characteristics is small. In the transistor including an oxide semiconductor, oxygen-excess silicon oxide (SiOX (X>2)) is used for a base insulating layer of a top-gate structure or for a protective insulating layer of a bottom-gate structure. By using the oxygen-excess silicon oxide, oxygen is discharged from the insulating layer, and oxygen deficiency of an oxide semiconductor layer and the interface state density between the oxide semiconductor layer and the base insulating layer or the protective insulating layer can be reduced, so that the highly-reliable semiconductor device in which change of electrical characteristics is small can be manufactured. |
| US08884290B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel, display device including the panel, and method for manufacturing the display device
A thin film transistor array panel, a display device including the thin film transistor array panel, and a method for manufacturing the display device. The thin film transistor array panel includes a substrate having first and second surfaces, a first thin film form formed on the first surface and including a first electrode, and a second thin film form formed on the second surface and including a second electrode, to thereby improve the viewing angle and contrast ratio of the display device. |
| US08884288B1 |
Semiconductor structure with means for testing metal-insulator-metal capacitors
The present invention provides a semiconductor structure for testing MIM capacitors. The semiconductor structure comprises: a first metal layer comprising at least a first circuit area and a second circuit area; a second metal layer located below the first metal layer with a first dielectric layer lying therebetween and connected with the second circuit area; a top plate located within the first dielectric layer closer to the first metal layer and connected with the first circuit area; a bottom plate located within the first dielectric layer closer to the second metal layer and separated from the top plate with an insulation layer therebetween and connected with the second circuit area. The second metal layer is connected with the substrate through a first electric pathway so as to form a second electric pathway from the top plate to the substrate when an electric leakage region exists in the insulation layer. |
| US08884285B2 |
Multifunctional zinc oxide nano-structure-based circuit building blocks for re-configurable electronics and optoelectronics
A vertically integrated reconfigurable and programmable diode/memory resistor (1D1R) and thin film transistor/memory resistor (1T1R) structures built on substrates are disclosed. |
| US08884283B2 |
Memory semiconductor device having aligned side surfaces
An object is to provide a semiconductor device having a novel structure with a high degree of integration. A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer having a channel formation region, a source electrode and a drain electrode electrically connected to the channel formation region, a gate electrode overlapping with the channel formation region, and a gate insulating layer between the channel formation region and the gate electrode. A portion of a side surface of the gate insulating layer and a portion of a side surface of the source electrode or the drain electrode are substantially aligned with each other when seen from a planar direction. |
| US08884278B2 |
Organic electroluminescent device
According to one embodiment, an organic electroluminescence device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a first organic layer and a second organic layer. The second electrode includes a metal. The first organic layer is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first organic layer is configured to emit light. The second organic layer is provided between the first organic layer and the second electrode. A refractive index of the second organic layer in a thickness direction for the light is lower than a refractive index of the first organic layer for the light. |
| US08884272B2 |
Amorphous oxide semiconductor material, field-effect transistor, and display device
There is provided an amorphous oxide semiconductor material including an amorphous oxide semiconductor including In, Ga and Zn, wherein when In:Ga:Zn=a:b:c denotes an element composition ratio of the oxide semiconductor, the element composition ratio is defined by the range of a+b=2 and b<2 and c<4b−3.2 and c>−5b+8 and 1≦c≦2. |
| US08884271B2 |
Photodetection device
The present invention relates to a photodetector for detecting an infrared-light emission having a given wavelength (λ) comprising a multilayer with: a layer (11) of a partially absorbent semiconductor; a spacer layer (12) made of a material that is transparent to said wavelength; and a structured metallic mirror (13), the distance (g) between the top of said mirror and said spacer layer being smaller than λ and said mirror comprising a network of holes defining an array of metallic reliefs with a pitch P of between 0.5 λ/nSC and 1.5 λ/nSC, where nSC is the real part of the refractive index of the semiconductor, a relief width L of between 9P/10 and P/2 and a hole depth h of between λ/100 and λ/15. |
| US08884268B2 |
Diffusion barrier layer for group III nitride on silicon substrate
The present disclosure is directed to an integrated circuit and its formation. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit includes a diffusion barrier layer. The diffusion barrier layer can be arranged to prevent diffusion of the Si and O2 from a Si substrate into a Group III nitride layer. The diffusion barrier layer can comprise Al2O3. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit further comprises a lattice-matching structure disposed between the silicon substrate and a Group III nitride layer. |
| US08884261B2 |
Device switching using layered device structure
A resistive switching device. The device includes a first electrode comprising a first metal material overlying the first dielectric material and a switching material comprising an amorphous silicon material. The device includes a second electrode comprising at least a second metal material. In a specific embodiment, the device includes a buffer material disposed between the first electrode and the switching material. The buffer material provides a blocking region between the switching material and the first electrode so that the blocking region is substantially free from metal particles from the second metal material when a first voltage is applied to the second electrode. |
| US08884257B2 |
Chamber apparatus and extreme ultraviolet light generation system
A chamber apparatus, which may be used with an external apparatus having an obscuration region, may include: a chamber in which EUV light is generated; a collector mirror having a first through-hole formed in a region aside from the center thereof and configured to collect the EUV light generated inside the chamber, the collector mirror being positioned such that the first through-hole is located in a region substantially corresponding to the obscuration region; and an etching gas supply unit provided in the first through-hole and configured to supply an etching gas into the chamber. |
| US08884256B2 |
Septum magnet and particle beam therapy system
A septum magnet includes a yoke that can be separated at the approximately center portion thereof in the axis direction; a septum coil; a return coil; and a vacuum duct that is inserted between the septum coil and the return coil. The septum coil is formed in such a way as to be able to be separated into a first portion and a second portion in response to separation of the yoke; and in a space between the septum coil and the vacuum duct, there is provided an auxiliary coil, in two portions of which, corresponding to the first portion and the second portion of the septum coil, electric currents flow in opposite direction to each other in a circumferential direction. |
| US08884255B2 |
Data path for lithography apparatus
A maskless charged particle lithography system comprises an electron-optical column and a data path. The column includes a blanker array including blanker elements. The data path comprises a preprocessing system, transmission channels, and a pattern streaming system. The lithography system is configured for exposing a target field in two passes by allocating a first beamlet subset for exposing a first field subset during a first pass and a second beamlet subset for exposing a second field subset during a second pass. A first beam selector selects a first pattern data subset containing exposure data for the first beamlet subset and a second pattern data subset containing exposure data for the second beamlet subset. Second beam selectors connect transmission channels assigned for transmitting the first pattern data subset to a first blanker elements subset, and transmission channels assigned for transmitting the second pattern data subset to a second blanker elements subset. |
| US08884250B2 |
Biofuel degradation sensor based on fluorescence measurements
A sensor that detects a fuel property of a mixed fuel of a biofuel and a hydrocarbon fuel includes: a light emitting device that emits light with a wavelength of 250 nm to 400 nm onto the mixed fuel; and a light receiving device that receives light emitted by the mixed fuel under the effect of light from the light emitting device and generates an output corresponding to the received light. When the fuel property is determined, in a case where the mixed fuel is irradiated by light with a predetermined wavelength generated due to voltage application to the light emitting device, the light emitted by the mixed fuel is detected by the light receiving device. The fuel property of the mixed fuel is detected according to the detected light. |
| US08884248B2 |
Forming a vitrified sample for electron microscopy
The invention relates to a method of forming a vitrified sample on a sample holder for inspection in an electron microscope. It is known to spray a solution on a grid and then immerse the grid in a cryogenic liquid, such as ethane or liquid nitrogen. The invention proposes to spray small droplets of the liquid on a cryogenic surface, such as a grid or a sample holder in vacuum. The liquid forms vitrified sample material when hitting the surface due to the low temperature of the grid or sample holder.A lamella may be excavated from the thus formed sample material, to be studied in a TEM, or the vitrified sample material may be directly observed in a SEM. In an embodiment the material may be sprayed on a cryogenic liquid, to be scooped from the liquid and placed on a grid. |
| US08884246B2 |
Charged particle optical system and scribing apparatus
An optical system for a charged particle includes a first member though which a charged particle beam is transmitted and a second member to control optically the charged particle beam transmitted through the first member. The second member has a fixing portion fixed to the first member. A slit is arranged between a part of the second member and the fixing portion to separate the part of the second member from the fixing portion, such that the part of the second member is a cantilever beam structure pivotal in relation to the fixing portion. |
| US08884243B2 |
Radiation phantom
A radiation phantom device includes at least one movement device for moving at least one first sub-region of the radiation phantom device. The radiation phantom device has, at least one of at times or in regions, radiation properties which are in conformity with a radiation phantom model. |
| US08884242B2 |
Method and system for analyzing physical conditions using digital images
Systems and methods are provided for analyzing conditions associated with a physical feature using digital images. The method comprises acquiring a white-light image and an ultraviolet (“UV”) image of at least a portion of a body surface, such as a person's face, each of the white-light and UV images including a plurality of pixels and each pixel in the UV image corresponding to a respective pixel in the white-light image. The method further comprises identifying feature pixels in the white-light and UV images, and obtaining results associated with at least one physical condition using information in the feature pixels in the first white light and UV images. |
| US08884239B2 |
High resolution medical imaging detector
A detector arrangement providing imaging information at the edge of the scintillator is provided. The detector arrangement provides complete information and improved spatial resolution. SiPMs can be used in place of PMTs in order to provide the geometrical coverage of the scintillator and improved spatial resolution. With such detector arrangements, the spatial resolution can be under 2 mm. Furthermore, the overall thickness of the detector can be substantially reduced and depth of interaction resolution is also improved. |
| US08884235B2 |
System and method for collimation in diagnostic imaging systems
A system and method for collimation in diagnostic imaging systems is provided. One collimator includes a plurality of parallel hole segments and a plurality of collimator bores within each of the plurality of parallel hole segments. Additionally, all of the plurality of collimator bores in at least one of the plurality of parallel hole segments have a first pointing direction and all of the plurality of collimator bores in at least one other of the plurality of parallel hole segments have a second pointing direction, wherein the plurality of parallel hole segments are arranged in a fanbeam collimation configuration. Further, the first pointing direction is different than the second pointing direction. |
| US08884234B2 |
Portable directional device for locating neutron emitting sources
An apparatus for determining a direction of travel of a neutron emitted from a source includes: a chamber containing (i) nuclei that recoil upon interaction with an incoming neutron and (ii) atoms capable of being ionized by the recoiled nuclei thereby releasing electrons; an electron-interaction material disposed at the chamber and configured to receive electrons released by the ionized atoms and to emit photons upon the interaction with the received electrons; an imager configured to form an image of photons emitted by the electron-interaction material, wherein the image comprises a path having the direction of travel of the incoming neutron; and an orientation sensor configured to sense an orientation of the imager in order to relate the direction of travel of the incoming neutron to the orientation of the imager. |