| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08972225B2 |
Method and system for constructing optimized network simulation environment
A method of constructing an optimized network simulation environment according to the present invention includes the steps of identifying communication equipment models for relaying a message to/from real equipments out of communication equipment models within a network model, as major models, calculating the order of abstraction priority for major models, performing batch-mode abstraction for non-major models, driving a simulation, determining whether a difference between a simulation execution time and an actual time spent is within an allowable delay value, performing adaptive abstraction for the major models, and evaluating a result of the simulation. If the method according to the present invention is used, a real-time simulation having fidelity and reliability for the function and operation of real equipments can be guaranteed. |
| US08972223B2 |
Platform matching systems and methods
Pursuant to some embodiments, a platform matching system, method, apparatus and means are provided which include identifying at least a first benchmark test procedure to evaluate at least a first and a second target platform for use with an application, the at least first benchmark test procedure including at least a first unit test; receiving test result data from tests performed on the at least first and second target platform using the at least first benchmark test procedure; and performing a matching analysis to determine which of the at least first and second target platform is a best fit for the application. |
| US08972221B2 |
Estimating solar irradiance components from plane of array irradiance and global horizontal irradiance
A computer implemented method of estimating at least one solar irradiance component, the method comprising: obtaining a sensor measurement from an instrument to provide a measured global horizontal irradiance (GHImeasured), wherein the measured global horizontal irradiance (GHImeasured) consists of at least an estimated diffuse horizontal irradiance (DHIestimated) and an estimated direct normal irradiance (DNIestimated); providing at least one modeled component, wherein at least one of the modeled components is a modeled global horizontal irradiance based on an atmospheric model (GHI model); calculating an irradiance estimate modifier (IMOD) in a computing device according to the measured global horizontal irradiance (GHImeasured) and the modeled global horizontal irradiance (GHI model); and providing at least one estimated solar irradiance component by a computing device according to the irradiance estimate modifier (IMOD) and at least one modeled component. |
| US08972219B2 |
Method and system of monitoring electrical brushes
Described herein are embodiments of methods and systems of monitoring electrical brushes in electrical rotating machinery. One embodiment of the method comprises continuously measuring at least one parameter associated with an electrical brush; and determining, using the at least one continuously measured parameter associated with the electrical brush, maintenance for the electrical brush. |
| US08972217B2 |
System and method for predicting temperature values in a data center
A system and method for evaluating equipment in a data center, the equipment including a plurality of equipment racks, and at least one cooling provider. In one aspect, a method includes receiving data regarding each of the plurality of equipment racks and the at least one cooling provider, the data including a layout of the equipment racks and the at least one cooling provider, and a power draw value for each of the equipment racks, storing the received data, determining air flow between the at least one cooling provider and each of the equipment racks, determining inlet and exit air temperature for the at least one cooling provider based on the layout, the power draw and the airflow, and for each equipment rack, determining inlet and exit air temperature based on the layout, the power draw and the airflow. |
| US08972216B2 |
Methods and apparatus for calibration of power converters
Methods and apparatus for a power regulator according to various aspects of the present invention may comprise a sensor adapted to generate a measurement of a voltage or a current. A memory may store a correction parameter that corresponds to the measurement, and a correction system may be adapted to adjust the measurement according to the correction parameter. |
| US08972214B2 |
Touch sense determined by characterizing impedance changes in a transmission line
A touch panel or screen has a serpentine transmission line fabricated on a substrate, e.g., printed circuit board, LCD, plasma or LED screen, etc., and has a constant impedance. Touches to the touch panel will cause changes of impedance of the transmission line at the locations of the touches. Time domain reflectometry (TDR) is used for determining the locations of the changes of impedance of the transmission line by accurately measuring the return pulse times at the source of a plurality of pulses, and then converting the return pulse times to X-Y coordinates of the touch panel or screen. |
| US08972208B2 |
Flow meter device
In a flow meter device of the present invention, a time measuring section of the flow meter device includes a first counter which starts counting at a starting point of measurement of propagation time; and a second counter which starts counting at an end point of the measurement of the propagation time, and performs counting at a higher speed than the first counter. A propagation time TO is finally obtained by subtracting time Δt which is measured by the second counter and passes from the end point until the first counter counts up, from time T which is measured by the first counter and passes from a starting point until the first counter counts up after the end point. A flow calculating section calculates a flow with high accuracy using the propagation time TO. Thus, lower electric power consumption can be achieved, and accuracy of measurement of flow can be improved. |
| US08972207B2 |
Digital flowmeter
A control and measurement system for a coriolis flowmeter having a flowtube, a driver adapted to vibrate the flowtube, and a pair of sensors adapted to generate signals indicative of movement of the flowtube when it is being vibrated by the driver, wherein the sensors are positioned relative to one another so the signals from the sensors are indicative of a mass flow rate of fluid through the flowtube. A digital drive signal generator is adapted to generate a variable digital drive signal for controlling operation of the driver. The digital drive signal generator can be adapted to cause the driver to resist motion of the flowtube during a first time period and amplify motion of the flowtube during a second time period. The digital drive signal generator can also be adapted to initiate motion of the flowtube by sending one or more square wave signals to the driver. |
| US08972205B2 |
X-ray characterization of solid small molecule organic materials
The present invention provides, inter alia, methods of characterizing a small molecule organic material, e.g., a drug or a drug product. This method includes subjecting the solid small molecule organic material to x-ray total scattering analysis at a short wavelength, collecting data generated thereby, and mathematically transforming the data to provide a refined set of data. |
| US08972204B2 |
Gas discriminating semiconductor sensors
Sensing particular gases in a mixture uses precise modulated heating. Sensor relative responses are compared at different temperatures and compared with known relative responses to identify gases and concentrations. Heater current sensors provide feedback control and microprocessor inputs. A processor controls complex impedances and varied frequencies in the sensors. Sensor responses at varied complex impedances and at varied frequencies are compared with known responses at those impedances and frequencies to determine existence and concentration of particular gases. Heater and sensor buses are separate or combined. |
| US08972203B2 |
Disaster-affected area estimation device and program
By using information collected on-site, estimation of a damage area at that time and also prediction regarding subsequent expansion of a disaster-affected area are performed. The estimation device includes a storage unit that stores an exposure calculation formula expressing an exposure amount, which is an integrated value of the concentration of a material with respect to time, at a certain time and a certain position, by using the diffusivity and flow rate of the material; an information-acquisition unit that acquires position information of disaster victims at a prescribed time as input information; and a calculation unit that obtains a critical value of the exposure amount by applying the position information of each disaster victim at the prescribed time to the exposure calculation formula and that specifies the disaster-affected area at the prescribed time on the basis of the exposure calculation formula for when the critical value is obtained. |
| US08972199B2 |
Portable evaluator of amount of exercise and the method of evaluating amount of exercise
A portable evaluator of amount of exercise detects an acceleration and angular speed of the user. After using an exercise identifying procedure to identify the exercise type, the portable evaluator finds a corresponding strength formula to evaluate the amount of exercise done by the user. The result is displayed for reference. By detecting the acceleration and angular speed, the portable evaluator identifies exercise types that involve rotations. Different formulas are used for different kinds of exercise. |
| US08972194B2 |
Method and system for pulse neutron capture sigma inversion
In some aspects of the invention, a computer-implemented method of obtaining sigma values from pulsed neutron capture decay curve is disclosed. The method can include selecting spectra collected by pulsed neutron instrument disposed down a borehole traversing a rock formation, the spectra including capture interactions and inelastic interactions; and modeling the selected spectra using a nonlinear model to obtain sigma values relating to one or more reservoir properties. |
| US08972191B2 |
Low dose single step grating based X-ray phase contrast imaging
Phase sensitive X-ray imaging methods provide substantially increased contrast over conventional absorption based imaging, and therefore new and otherwise inaccessible information. The use of gratings as optical elements in hard X-ray phase imaging overcomes some of the problems impairing the wider use of phase contrast in X-ray radiography and tomography. To separate the phase information from other contributions detected with a grating interferometer, a phase-stepping approach has been considered, which implies the acquisition of multiple radiographic projections. Here, an innovative, highly sensitive X-ray tomographic phase contrast imaging approach is presented based on grating interferometry, which extracts the phase contrast signal without the need of phase stepping. Compared to the existing phase step approach, the main advantage of this new method dubbed “reverse projection” is the significantly reduced delivered dose, without degradation of the image quality. |
| US08972190B1 |
Systems and methods for generating transit trips
Systems and methods for generating transit trips between an origin and a destination are provided. Searches can be undertaken to identify optimal departure times from a source station and/or one or more intermediate stations while maintaining a lowest cost arrival time at a destination station. In this manner, public transportation journey schedules for routes can be determined and recommendations can be provided even if different journey schedules show identical costs. |
| US08972188B2 |
Method of creating map alterations for use in a navigation device
An end-user can input a correction to a map error, directly on the device. The device is then able to use the correction without external processing of the correction. Hence, it is no longer necessary for an end-user to simply report errors to the map vendor over a web link, then wait for that map vendor to verify the error, update its maps and finally supply the end-user with updates—a cycle that can take months and sometimes years to complete. Instead, the navigation device can use the correction immediately. End-users can also share corrections with other end-users and also with a shared remote server that aggregates, validates and distributes correction. |
| US08972187B1 |
Varying the degree of precision in navigation data analysis
For a segment of a route, a navigation data gathering system and method may progressively increment the precision of data analysis in proportion to the number of people actively on a route segment. Navigation data may be anonymized to preclude the possibility of correlating navigation data with personal data to track users or infer private information. Further, the system or method may determine if information for a route segment can be used at all based on the number of users of that segment. If the number of users does not exceed a threshold, the information collected on that route may not be used for other purposes. Thus, the system and method may use navigation data related to a busy section of an interstate highway at the level of precision with which the data is gathered, but reduce the level of precision of data available for a rarely used road segment. |
| US08972186B2 |
Electronic guide system, contents server for electronic guide system, portable electronic guide device, and information processing method for electronic guide system
Tour guide contents stored in a tour guide apparatus carried by a user at a tour destination are provided with points of interest information and map data. This information includes latitude and longitude information for the site of each point of interest, and information on the providers of the information and the categories of information. The latitude and longitude information is provided for each site in relation to map data. By matching these pieces of latitude and longitude information to the map data, points of interest information can be laid out on the map and displayed. This makes it possible to select interesting site information to be displayed on the map based on the information provider, for example, points of interest information provided by provider A for restaurants and another set of information provided by provider B for hotels. |
| US08972175B2 |
Navigation using crowdsourcing data
Method, computer program product, and apparatus for providing navigation guidance to vehicles are disclosed. The method may include receiving crowdsourcing data from a plurality of vehicles, determining information corresponding to a route of interest to at least one vehicle using the crowdsourcing data, and providing navigation guidance to the at least one vehicle using the information determined. The crowdsourcing data includes on board diagnostics data (OBD) correlated with time stamps and GPS locations of a vehicle, where the on board diagnostics data includes odometer information, speedometer information, fuel consumption information, steering information, and impact data. |
| US08972172B2 |
Wireless sensor network traffic navigation analytics
A mobile sensor receives a mobile sensor location and destination. The mobile sensor determines, from a repository of road segments, a plurality of routes having a first endpoint corresponding to the mobile sensor location, and a second endpoint corresponding to the destination. The mobile sensor receives transit data from a plurality of peer mobile sensors, wherein each transit data comprises a peer mobile sensor's velocity and a peer mobile sensor's location. The mobile sensor stores at least one transit data based on the peer mobile sensor's velocity and peer mobile sensor's location corresponding to at least one of the plurality of routes, thereby forming at least one stored transit data. The mobile sensor determines that a sampling period has expired. The mobile sensor reports a route corresponding to a stored transit route having best transit data or no transit data, wherein the route is among the plurality of routes. |
| US08972171B1 |
Collective vehicle traffic routing
Systems and methods provide a route and turn-by-turn directions based on estimates of current and future traffic along the route. A client device may request turn-by-turn directions between an initial and a final location. A server may identify a plurality of routes between the locations. Each route of the plurality of routes may be divided into route segments. For each route segment of a particular route, the server may estimate a travel time. The travel time may be based on estimated vehicle volume data generated from information received from other vehicles. The server may estimate a total travel time for the particular route. The server may repeat this estimate for each of the plurality of routes between the locations and select the route with the lowest estimated travel time. Based on the selected route, the server may generate turn-by-turn directions and transmit the directions to the client device for display. |
| US08972170B2 |
Navigation system acquisition and use of cellular coverage map data
A mobile device can obtain wireless network signal strength map data that indicates, for various nearby geographical regions, the wireless network signal strength in each such region. A mobile device can transmit that data to a vehicular navigation system responsible for automatically selecting a high-quality route of vehicular travel between a specified source and destination. The system can take the wireless network signal map data into account when selecting that route. When selecting from among multiple different routes of vehicular travel between a specified source and destination, the system may employ an algorithm that considers wireless network signal strengths along those routes, in addition to the other factors. Consequently, the system can select a longer route having better signal strength over a shorter route having worse signal strength. The system can present the selected route within a set of suggested routes, potentially along with reasons for each route's suggestion. |
| US08972168B2 |
Tracking a mobile device
Embodiments for determining a route a consumer takes while traversing a retail store are disclosed. The embodiments include determining a store location of a retail store and a map corresponding to the layout of the retail store, receiving waypoint data including a plurality of positions within the map corresponding timestamps, determining a route in response to the waypoint data, and providing the route and the map for display. |
| US08972167B1 |
Enhanced geocoding
An enhanced geocoding module may be used to determine various physical addresses located on the same street. The enhanced geocoding module may create a grid around a predetermined location and request the physical addresses of various coordinate points located on the grid. Additional features of the module may include a display that displays the grid with physical addresses located on the same street, various statistics related to a user of the enhanced geocoding module, and a color-coded scheme that indicates the status of individuals/groups located at the physical addresses. |
| US08972166B2 |
Proactive mitigation of navigational uncertainty
Methods and devices for navigation and/or guidance. A device may be configured to predict an uncertainty of positioning data in the area, the prediction being based at least in part on a dynamic navigation model. The device may further be configured to guide the mobile entity based at least in part on the predicted uncertainty of the positioning data in the area. By predicting and guiding while the mobile entity is outside the area, the device may proactively mitigate an impact of the predicted uncertainty of the positioning data by initiating rerouting of the mobile entity, updating an inertial navigation system, and/or issuing an alert regarding the predicted uncertainty to of the positioning data to an operator of the mobile entity. The dynamic navigation model may comprise at least one of an environment model, a cost model, one or more positioning system models, and an excursion route model. |
| US08972165B2 |
Enhanced location information for points of interest
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for identifying a serviceable address that is associated with a street network connection point and a parcel drop-off point. For example, in one embodiment, the serviceable address may be associated with a street network connection point that is part of a digital map. The serviceable address may also be associated with a parcel drop-off point that includes parcel drop-off point information, such as a parcel drop-off point geo coordinate associated with the parcel drop-off point and street network connection point geo coordinate associated with the street network connection point. |
| US08972162B1 |
Power management systems and designs
Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for managing the power consumption of an automotive vehicle, and thereby for optimizing the power consumption of the vehicle. The devices and systems for managing the power consumption of the vehicle typically include power management logic that can calculate an applied power for the vehicle engine based on information provided from the external environment of the vehicle, the operational status of the vehicle, one or more command inputs from a driver, and one or more operational parameters of the vehicle. |
| US08972158B2 |
Semiconductor device providing a current control function and a self shut down function
Aspects of the invention are directed to an ignition semiconductor device that includes an output IGBT for ON-OFF control of a primary current in an ignition coil and a current control circuit for controlling a magnitude of the primary current in the ignition coil, the current control circuit being operated by the voltage between the gate terminal and the emitter terminal. The current control circuit can include a sense IGBT, a sense resistance, a gate resistance, a reference voltage, level shift circuits, a self shut down signal generator, a self shut down circuit, an operational amplifier, a MOSFET, a gate voltage control circuit , a pulse generation circuit, and a switching circuit. The self shut down signal generator, on detecting an abnormal state, can deliver a self shut down signal and the pulse generation circuit can generate a pulse signal to short-circuit the switching circuit. |
| US08972152B2 |
Method and system for inhibiting engine idle stop based on operating conditions
Methods and systems are provided for controlling the automatic shutdown of an idling vehicle engine. When the vehicle is parked in an enclosed space, the idling engine may be automatically shutdown, while when the vehicle is parked in an open space, the automatic shutdown may be delayed based on an ambient temperature. In this way, the vehicle cabin may be maintained at a temperature that provides enhanced driver comfort while allowing wasteful engine idling to be reduced. |
| US08972149B2 |
Control system implementing derate based on air characteristics
A control system for a machine is disclosed. The control system may have an engine configured to combust a mixture of fuel and air and generate a mechanical power output and a flow of exhaust, and a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of the machine moving between zones having different air characteristics. The control system may also have a controller in communication with the engine and the sensor. The controller may be configured to selectively adjust operation of the engine based on the signal in an amount related to the air characteristics. |
| US08972145B2 |
Systems and methods for predicting traffic signal information
Systems and methods for predicting traffic signal information are provided. An exemplary method includes obtaining data from a plurality of types of sources and analyzing the data to predict states of a plurality of traffic signals. The data include crowdsourced data. The predictive traffic signal information may be used to adjust an operation of an on-board system of a vehicle. |
| US08972139B2 |
Methods and systems for controlling an electric motor
A control system that performs control of an electric motor is described. The control system may include a rotating body inertia torque computing unit that uses a rotational state of a vehicle wheel when braking is applied to the wheel to calculate an inertia torque of rotating bodies residing within a span behind the wheel, among members that rotate by the driving force of the electric motor. The control system also may include a controller that performs control of the electric motor to cancel the inertia torque of the rotating bodies based on the calculation result from the rotating body inertia torque computing unit. |
| US08972130B2 |
Control device for vehicle
An ECU determines whether or not there is an abnormality (shift pattern abnormality) in a combination of shift signals provided from a shift position sensor. After occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, ECU determines whether or not a first condition that a shift pattern has changed into a normal pattern of a drive range, a second condition that a brake is ON and a vehicle is in a stop state is satisfied, and a third condition that an accelerator is OFF are satisfied. When occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, ECU stops generation of driving force of the vehicle and prohibits switching to the drive range. When ECU determines that the above-mentioned first to third conditions are satisfied after occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, ECU switches the shift range to the drive range indicated by the shift pattern. |
| US08972129B2 |
Determination of optimum tractor reverse speed
Machines, such as large tractors used in earthmoving, operate in a cycle of pushing forward and reversing to a starting point. The net performance of the machine is a function of the speed at which the reverse segment is performed. Generally, using the highest gear for reverse accomplishes the goal of the fastest return. However, some high slope grade conditions may result in higher speeds using lower gears. A combination of slope, track speed vs. drawbar pull, and track slip may be used to recommend a gear and track speed with the greatest ground speed for reverse operation. |
| US08972127B2 |
Control system for automatic transmission and method thereof
The control system for an automatic transmission may include, a detecting portion of driving information adapted to detect the driving information including a temperature of an engine coolant, temperature of a transmission oil, a positional change of an accelerator pedal, a current shift-speed, and driving speed. a control portion adapted to determine a virtual positional change of the accelerator pedal based on an actual positional change of the accelerator pedal and a tip-in speed transmitted from the detecting portion of driving information, to determine a target shift-speed according to the actual positional change of the accelerator pedal or the virtual positional change of the accelerator pedal and the driving speed, and to control a shift to the target shift-speed. an actuator adapted to engage the target shift-speed according to a control signal received from the control portion. |
| US08972125B1 |
Operator induced oscillation filter to prevent instability from operator
A system for controlling manual input device damping, and a related method and computer program product are disclosed. The system may comprise a manual input device mounted on a machine, a sensor that transmits to a controller an input signal indicative of the motion, acceleration, and/or deceleration of the machine, a variable damper that selectively alters the resistance of the input device to displacement based on a command signal transmitted by the controller, and a controller configured to adjust the resistance of the input device by adjusting the damping provided by the variable damper based on filtering of a historical trend of oscillation amplitudes at a frequency of concern. |
| US08972121B2 |
Electromotive drive device for construction machine
An electromotive drive device of an electric motor-driven mini-excavator, which is capable of lengthening its operating time, includes an electric power storage device, a motor-generator, a hydraulic pump, a plurality of directional control valves which respectively control the flow of pressurized fluid, and a plurality of operating devices which respectively operate the plurality of directional control valves. The electromotive drive device is provided with a bidirectional converter which decelerates the motor-generator to an idle revolution speed when X seconds have elapsed in a state in which the plurality of directional control valves are all not operated. The bidirectional converter performs regenerative control to convert an inertial force of a rotor of the motor-generator to power and charge the electric power storage device when it decelerates the motor-generator from a standard revolution speed to the idle revolution speed. |
| US08972119B2 |
System and method for heavy equipment navigation and working edge positioning
A system and method for automatically controlling working edges on a heavy equipment vehicle is provided. A GNSS/INS system determines a location of the vehicle. A vision system calculates a location of the working edge in a vision system coordinate system by obtaining images of a target connected to the working edge using a camera with a fixed field view that incorporates the relative movement of the target and determining the relative position of the target in the images. The location is then transformed to the navigation system coordinate system. The transformed location information is used by a working edge control system to control the placement of the working edge. |
| US08972115B1 |
Motor driven power steering and method for driving the same
A motor driven power steering (MDPS) may include: a vehicle speed sensor configured to sense vehicle speed; a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of a power pack; a current sensor configured to sense an amount of current applied to the MDPS; a storage unit configured to store a thermal resistance value based on the vehicle speed with respect to the temperature of the power pack; and a control unit configured to calculate an estimated temperature by reflecting the thermal resistance value based on the vehicle speed with respect to the temperature of the power pack and the current amount applied to the MDPS into a temperature estimation function, and drive a motor according to the calculated estimated temperature. |
| US08972110B2 |
Method for generating request command of wheel alignment apparatus using motor-driven power steering
The present invention relates to a method for generating a request command of a wheel alignment apparatus using a motor-drive power steering (MDPS). After a vehicle having the MDPS mounted therein is parked, a steering angle is detected, and an MDPS motor is controlled through a request command of a motor angular velocity to align a wheel with the center. Accordingly, the motor angular velocity of the motor which is actually driven may be controlled to improve the precision of motor control, regardless of external disturbance such as tire frictions or loads. |
| US08972107B2 |
Vehicle-mounted communication device and navigation device
A vehicle-mounted communication device includes wireless units 3a and 3b that switch a frequency that performs wireless communication with antennas 2a and 2b between a frequency for wireless communication for ITS and a frequency for wireless LAN communication, a parking determination unit 6 that determines whether or not a vehicle is parked, a parking position storage unit 6a that stores as a parking position a position where it is determined that the vehicle is parked by the parking determination unit 6, and a wireless control unit 4 that controls the wireless units 3a and 3b to perform the wireless communication for ITS with the antennas 2a and 2b when the vehicle is running, and switch the wireless communication for ITS or the wireless LAN communication to be performed with the antennas 2a and 2b on the basis of the parking position stored in the parking position storage unit 6a when the vehicle is parked. |
| US08972100B2 |
System and method for facilitating transportation of a vehicle involved in a crash
A system, method, and computer-readable medium to facilitate treatment of a damaged vehicle by gathering crash information, estimating an extent of vehicle damage, and requesting transport of the damaged vehicle from the crash site to a treatment facility. |
| US08972097B2 |
System and method to enhance the utility of vehicle inspection records by including route identification data in each vehicle inspection record
A handheld, portable device is used to facilitate inspection of vehicles, by generating an electronic vehicle inspection record that can be used by fleet operators to provide evidence of complying with required vehicle inspections. When the vehicle inspection record is generated, route identification data is added to the inspection record. The route identification data defines which of a plurality of predefined routes the vehicle has serviced, or will service, during a time period proximate the inspection of the vehicle. Fleet operators can thus use archived inspection records as evidence of compliance with inspection requirements, and to document what route a vehicle serviced at a particular time. |
| US08972089B2 |
Hybrid vehicle
A hybrid vehicle having a controller controls output torque of an engine and output torque of a generator motor so as to apply requested torque to a drive shaft. The controller performs engine intermittent operation to stop operation of the engine when a given engine operation stop condition is satisfied, and start the engine when a given engine start condition is satisfied. The controller makes an in-cylinder injection valve abnormality determination while causing a total amount of fuel to be injected from an in-cylinder injection valve, and makes a port injection valve abnormality determination while causing the total amount of fuel to be injected from a port injection valve. If at least one of abnormality determinations concerning the in-cylinder injection valve and the port injection valve has not been made, the engine is operated so that the load of the engine falls within a predetermined range. |
| US08972088B2 |
Location-based vehicle powertrain regulation system
A vehicle control system to control operation of a vehicle includes a powertrain system operable according to a plurality of operating modes that drive the vehicle. A sensor is mounted to the vehicle to detect a quality of air surrounding the vehicle. A vehicle control module is configured to select an operating mode of the powertrain system. The operating mode is selected to reduce at least one emission exhausted from the vehicle that contributes to a low air quality measure by the sensor. |
| US08972085B2 |
Mode selection control system for an electrically variable transmission
A mode selection control system and method for controlling an electrically variable transmission. The system and method calculate respective costs for operating the vehicle in a plurality of operating modes based on a battery discharge penalty and the costs associated with operating the electrical and mechanical portions of the transmission. The method selects an operating mode having the lowest calculated cost. |
| US08972083B2 |
System and method for aircraft thermal capacity prediction
A technique for identifying, projecting, displaying, and enhancing the thermal capacity for an aircraft is disclosed wherein the thermal capacity is defined as the amount of time or range the aircraft can continue until a thermal limit is exceeded. |
| US08972082B2 |
Aircraft flight deck displays and systems and methods for displaying integrated minimum safe altitude and minimum vectoring altitude information on a display device in an aircraft
A method is provided for displaying integrated minimum vectoring and safe altitude information on a display device in an aircraft. The method comprises displaying a graphical representation of a safe altitude sector and a vectoring altitude sector on the display device, and displaying a graphical representation of the aircraft on the display device to indicate the current location of the aircraft and a minimum altitude value associated therewith. The safe altitude sector corresponds to a first geographic area having a designated minimum safe altitude value associated therewith. The vectoring altitude sector corresponds to a second geographic area having a designated minimum vectoring altitude value associated therewith that is below the designated minimum safe altitude value. The graphical representation of the aircraft is displayed within at least one of the graphical representation of the safe altitude sector and the graphical representation of the vectoring altitude sector. |
| US08972074B2 |
System and method for optimal load planning of electric vehicle charging
A system for optimal planning of electric power demand is presented. The system includes a node comprising one or more smart charging plug-in electric vehicles (SCPEVs), a processing subsystem, wherein the processing subsystem receives relevant data from one or more sources; and determines an optimized SCPEV load and optimal charging schedule for the node by applying an operations research technique on the relevant data. |
| US08972072B2 |
Optimizing power consumption in planned projects
Automatically accesses, from a database, the rate of power consumption of each object on a displayed list and automatically calculating the power consumption of each object over a planned period time of use of the object. Then, during actual use, the actual power consumption of each object on the list is automatically tracked over the planned period of time of use and the difference between the planned and actual power consumption of each object on the list is automatically calculated. The difference for each object on the list is displayed so that the user may take action interactively. |
| US08972071B2 |
Systems and methods to predict a reduction of energy consumption
A computing device for use with a demand response system is provided. The computing device includes a communication interface for receiving customer data of a plurality of customers, wherein the customer data includes a participation history and historical consumption values for each customer for participating in at least one demand response event. A processor is coupled to the communication interface and is programmed to select at least one customer from the plurality of customers by considering the participation history and the historical consumption values for each of the customers. The processor is also programmed to estimate a future reduction in energy consumption for the customer based on the customer data and to determine whether the estimated future reduction in energy consumption is substantially accurate. |
| US08972070B2 |
Multi-interval dispatch system tools for enabling dispatchers in power grid control centers to manage changes
A system tool that provides dispatchers in power grid control centers with a capability to manage changes. Included is a user interface and a plurality of scheduler engines. Each scheduler engine is configured to look ahead at different time frames to forecast system conditions and alter generation patterns within the different time frames. A comprehensive operating plan holds schedules generated by the plurality of scheduler engines. A relational database is coupled to the comprehensive operating plan. Input data is initially received from the relational database for each scheduling engine, and thereafter the relational database receives data from the scheduling engines relative to forecast system conditions. |
| US08972065B2 |
Distribution of call-home events over time to ameliorate high communications and computation peaks in intelligent control system
The current application is directed to an intelligent control system that includes intelligent thermostats and remote servers that spread call-home events over time to avoid large peak computational and communications loads on intelligent-control-system servers. The spreading of call-home vents over time is effected by use of call-home splay values pseudorandomly generated for intelligent thermostats. |
| US08972063B2 |
Facility controlling system and method
When, in an administering device, there has been an evaluation that a user is authorized to enter into any given controlled region, the occupant counts of a movement origin controlled region and of a movement destination controlled region are updated by an occupant count updating portion and stored in a storing portion, where the occupancy statuses specified by the individual occupant counts in the storing portion are reported to an air-conditioning controlling device. In the air-conditioning controlling device, electricity-saving control parameters corresponding to the applicable occupancy statuses are obtained from an electricity-saving control information storing portion by an air-conditioning controlling portion in response to occupancy statuses reported by the administering device, to cause air-conditioning equipment, corresponding to the applicable region, to perform electricity-saving operation based on the electricity-saving control parameters. |
| US08972061B2 |
Autonomous coverage robot
A mobile floor cleaning robot includes a robot body supported by a drive system configured to maneuver the robot over a floor surface. The robot also includes a cleaning system supported by the robot body, an imaging sensor disposed on the robot body, and a controller in communicates with the drive system and the imaging sensor. The controller receives a sequence of images of the floor surface; each image has an array of pixels. For each image, the controller segments the image into color blobs by color quantizing pixels of the image, determines a spatial distribution of each color of the image based on corresponding pixel locations; and for each image color, identifies areas of the image having a threshold spatial distribution for that color. The controller then tracks a location of the color blobs with respect to the imaging sensor across the sequence of images. |
| US08972053B2 |
Universal payload abstraction
Robotic payloads are abstracted to provide a plug-and-play system in which mission specific capabilities are easily configured on a wide variety of robotic platforms. A robotic payload architecture is presented in which robotic functionalities are bifurcated into intrinsic capabilities, managed by a core module, and mission specific capabilities, addressed by mission payload module(s). By doing so the core modules manages a particular robotic platform's intrinsic functionalities while mission specific tasks are left to mission payloads. A mission specific robotic configuration can be compiled by adding multiple mission payload modules to the same platform managed by the same core module. In each case the mission payload module communicates with the core module for information about the platform on which it is being associated. |
| US08972052B2 |
Celestial navigation system for an autonomous vehicle
A navigation control system for an autonomous vehicle comprises a transmitter and an autonomous vehicle. The transmitter comprises an emitter for emitting at least one signal, a power source for powering the emitter, a device for capturing wireless energy to charge the power source, and a printed circuit board for converting the captured wireless energy to a form for charging the power source. The autonomous vehicle operates within a working area and comprises a receiver for detecting the at least one signal emitted by the emitter, and a processor for determining a relative location of the autonomous vehicle within the working area based on the signal emitted by the emitter. |
| US08972048B2 |
Self-service beverage and snack dispensing using identity-based access control
A token-based system providing self-service vending of snacks or beverages. The system includes a vending machine with a controller selectively dispensing goods. A token reader is linked to the controller. Tokens are provided to users of the system that each includes access data. During use, the token reader reads the access data and provides it to the controller. The controller dispenses a unit of the goods based on the access data read from the token. The system provides token-based vending with the token being a handheld or wearable object providing the access data, such as with an RFID tag on a bracelet or pin or with a barcode or magnetic stripe on a card or room key. The vending machine may be a beverage dispenser that dispenses a drink with a user obtaining a disposable container near the dispenser and presenting their token to the token reader. |
| US08972047B2 |
Pharmaceutical dispensing systems and graphical user interfaces associated with same
A pharmaceutical dispensing system includes a frame having first and second opposed sides, a plurality of cells configured to house pharmaceutical pills, a first touch screen display on the frame first side, and a second touch screen display on the frame second side. A plurality of dispensing shelves configured to receive filled pill containers are accessible from the second side of the frame for removal of pill containers therein. The pharmaceutical dispensing system includes a processor and memory coupled thereto. A computer program resides in the memory and is executable by the processor for displaying a cell inventory graphical user interface (GUI) within the first touch screen display, and a series of GUIs within the second touch screen display that include status information about a prescription order at a respective stage of completion by the pharmaceutical dispensing system. |
| US08972046B2 |
Feed station for feeding flat items to a processing apparatus
A feed station feeds a flow of items along a transport path, in which a path, a path point W2 is orthogonal to the position of a first transport roller, a path point W3 is orthogonal to the position of a sensor, and a path point W4 is orthogonal to a second transport roller. A distance between W3 and W4 is smaller than the minimum length of the flat items and is greater than or equal to a distance between W4 and a path end point Wend. A distance between Wend and an intake point W4-Wend of the subsequent goods processing apparatus is much smaller than the W4-Wend distance. A transport velocity distance between the separated flat items at the start of the transport path is controlled to a minimum distance and is always the same size when the items leave the feed station. |
| US08972044B2 |
Automated sample test system, and method for controlling same
A method for controlling an automated sample test system includes a samples conveyance line for conveying samples racks, each holding samples, to a plurality of processing units, and an empty-rack stock section in which to stock samples racks not holding a sample. The control method is designed to collect information on whether the processing units are in need of a supply of empty samples racks, and then supply empty samples racks from the empty-rack stock section to the processing units based on the information. Decreases in throughput can be prevented by leveling the number of empty samples racks supplied to the processing units that require empty samples racks. |
| US08972043B2 |
Network-based grocery store
The present invention is a method and system for a network-based grocery store. The invention provides for network-based order placement, fulfillment, and delivery. |
| US08972041B2 |
Package delivery kiosk including integrated robotic package lifting assembly with shelving system
Described herein is a package delivery kiosk (PDK) including an integrated robotic package lifting assembly and shelving system. The system includes a PDK, associated front end and back end package delivery management systems, including portals for the consumer, retailer, common carrier, sender, and recipient, a package inventory management system, integrated retailer access, and a real and automated retailer bidding system. The shelving system has shelves with receiving apertures and dividers configured to fit into the receiving apertures, where the dividers each have a receiving slot. A package retrieving apparatus includes a base, a vertical support interconnected with the base, and a package picker module. The package picker module is oriented to move up and down on the vertical support. The package picker module includes grippers configured to surround and grip the object. A kiosk includes a kiosk body having a package delivery slot and an interface slot. |
| US08972033B2 |
Methods and apparatus for embedding codes in compressed audio data streams
Methods and apparatus for embedding codes in compressed audio data streams are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein to embed a code in a compressed audio data stream comprises an unpacking unit to determine a plurality of transform coefficients associated with the compressed audio data stream, the plurality of transform coefficients being represented by a respective plurality of mantissas and a respective plurality of scale factors, and an embedding unit to modify a mantissa in the plurality of mantissas and a corresponding scale factor in the plurality of scale factors to embed the code in the compressed audio data stream. |
| US08972032B2 |
Method for overload protection of SMA device
A method for detecting a mechanical overload condition of an energized linear actuator to prevent commanding an activation signal to the linear actuator that may mechanically overload the linear actuator includes monitoring feedback variation of a movable element associated with the linear actuator including monitoring a present feedback signal of the movable element, monitoring a previous feedback signal of the movable element, comparing the present feedback signal and the previous feedback signal and determining the feedback variation based on the comparing. The feedback variation is compared to a feedback variation threshold. An input signal associated with the activation signal for controlling the linear actuator is monitored and the input signal compared to an input signal threshold. The electrical overload condition is detected when the feedback variation is less than the feedback variation threshold and the input signal is greater than the input signal threshold. |
| US08972031B2 |
Control method and apparatus
A higher-level controller can correct measured metrology data with residual error values as reported by a lower-level controller. This results in a more accurate process disturbance estimate. A method of control obtains, based on measurement sample definition, a first process variable of a system under control, determines a residual error using the first process variable and a first set point, controls the system using the residual error, obtains, based on the same sample definition, a second process variable, and adjusts the second process variable using the residual error. The method may also include determining, using the adjusted second process variable, one or more first set points for controlling the system by the low-level controller that may vary in correspondence with the sample definition. |
| US08972027B2 |
Implantable medical device including electrode element, anchoring element and elastic element
A device comprising: a lead extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the lead comprising, at its distal end portion, an electrode element configured for fixing in a first body tissue, the lead further comprising: an anchoring element disposed between the proximal and the distal end for anchoring the device to a second tissue; and an elastic element disposed between the anchoring element and the distal end and configured so as to permit the pulling of the distal end away from the anchoring element against the biasing force of the elastic element. |
| US08972023B2 |
Apparatus and methods for detecting position and migration of neurostimulation leads
Apparatus and methods for detecting lead migration through the use of measured artifactual data about the tissue in the vicinity of the lead. |
| US08972017B2 |
Gait modulation system and method
Methods related to an electrical stimulation orthosis are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method includes disposing a connector of a stimulation electrode assembly through an opening defined by a detachable layer. The connector of the stimulation electrode assembly is reversibly coupled to a connector disposed on an inner face of a frame. The detachable layer is coupled to the inner face of the frame. The method further includes disposing the frame about a limb segment of a body such that the detachable layer is in contact with a portion of the limb segment, and an electrical stimulation electrode of the stimulation electrode assembly is in contact with at least one stimulation point on a surface of the body associated with at least one of a nerve or a muscle. |
| US08972011B2 |
Individually adapted cardiac electro-mechanical synchronization therapy
A method of determining pacing therapy for an individual patient including determining representative electromechanical physiologic characteristics for a plurality of normal patients having a range of anatomical dimensions and developing a plurality of normal templates. Each template indicates the representative electromechanical physiologic characteristics of a group of normal patients having similar anatomical dimensions. The method can include measuring the anatomical dimensions of a dysfunctional patient, matching the dysfunctional patient with a template for normal patients having similar anatomical dimensions as the dysfunctional patient, determining the physiologic characteristics for the dysfunctional patient, determining indicated correction factors corresponding to any differences between the dysfunctional patient's physiologic characteristics and those of the matched template, and adjusting therapy delivery by any indicated correction factors to stimulate the patient in a pattern more closely matched to the physiologic characteristics of the matched template. |
| US08972010B2 |
Method and device for detecting noise
The present invention generally relates to implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers, and, in particular, to a method and an implantable medical device capable of detecting the presence of noise caused by external noise sources. Voltages and/or impedances are measured over one or several electrode configurations. Based on the measured voltages and/or impedances, noise parameters are calculated, which are compared with reference values to detect the presence of noise. In another aspect of the invention, at least two different electrode configurations with different noise pick-up areas are used in the measurement. Relations between the noise parameters of the at least two vectors are calculated and compared with reference relations to detect the presence of noise. |
| US08972007B2 |
Variable shortening of AV delay for treatment of cardiac disease
An implantable pacing device for delivering ventricular pacing may be configured to intermittently and variably reduce the AV delay interval used in an atrial triggered pacing mode in a manner that simulates exercise. The device may be programmed to intermittently switch to and from a variably shortened AV delay mode according to defined entry and exit conditions. |
| US08972005B2 |
Subthreshold lead impedance measurement for subcutaneous device
A subthreshold lead impedance technique is described for an implantable medical device. The lead impedance technique may be applicable to a subcutaneous implantable cardioversion defibrillator device and utilizes an output circuit of the device coupled between a first diode and a second diode to define a current path through two electrodes coupled to the output circuit. The second diode is further coupled to a switch to provide a current pathway from the first diode to circuit ground. A control circuit is coupled to the output circuit, the first diode, the second diode, and the switch to bias a leg of the output circuit in a conducting state while biasing the other legs of the output circuit in a non-conducting state. |
| US08972003B2 |
Perivascular leak repair system
The perivascular leak repair system, and method of using the same, of the present invention provides a sealant reservoir 102 with a repair catheter 104 operably attached; a flow control device 106 disposed between the sealant reservoir 102 and the repair catheter 104, and the flow control device 106 responsive to a flow control signal 108; a heart phase detector 114 generating a diastole phase signal 112; an injection switch 122 generating a injection signal 120; and a flow controller 110 responsive to the diastole phase signal 112 and the injection signal 120, and generating the flow control signal 108. A method of sealing a perivascular leak comprises identifying the perivascular leak 140; inserting a repair catheter to the perivascular leak 142; injecting sealant at the perivascular leak 144; and removing the repair catheter 146. The sealant can be injected when the heart is in diastole to sweep the sealant into the perivascular leak. |
| US08971990B2 |
Systems and methods for nonlinear elastography
Nonlinear elastography systems and methods are provided. The elastography system includes a data acquisition module, such as an imaging device, and associated system control circuitry. The data acquisition module is configured to acquire various data, such as displacement and/or force data, from a material. A nonlinear transfer function is applied to the acquired data to generate information about the material's stiffness. In one implementation, a map representative of the material's stiffness is generated. |
| US08971989B2 |
Magnetic field device for mapping and navigation in laparoscopic surgery
Devices, systems and methods for using those devices and systems are disclosed to facilitate mapping and navigation during a minimally invasive surgical procedure. These devices, systems and methods include implantable magnetic devices and sensing devices that facilitate locating the implantable magnetic devices such that a surgeon can accurately locate and place devices at particular points of interest during a medical procedure. |
| US08971985B2 |
Minute ventilation estimation based on depth maps
What is disclosed is a system and method for estimating minute ventilation by analyzing distortions in reflections of structured illumination patterns captured in a video of a thoracic region of a subject of interest being monitored for respiratory function. Measurement readings can be acquired in a few seconds under a diverse set of lighting conditions and provide a non-contact approach to patient respiratory function that is particularly useful for infant care in an intensive care unit (ICU), sleep studies, and can aid in the early detection of sudden deterioration of physiological conditions due to detectable changes in chest volume. The systems and methods disclosed herein provide an effective tool for non-contact minute ventilation estimation and respiratory function analysis. |
| US08971984B2 |
Hyperspectral technology for assessing and treating diabetic foot and tissue disease
This invention relates generally to an index map comprising both pressure and perfusion information from a diabetic patient foot for the purpose of treatment. The index map may also be a map of perfusion and/or metabolism of the tissue (reflecting oxygen delivery and oxygen extraction), obtained by thermal imaging, hyperspectral imaging, or duplex ultrasound, MRA, CT or laser Doppler imaging. This information aids treatment in prevention of diabetic foot ulceration and amputation and in treatment of tissue compromise to prevent tissue loss in other body regions. |
| US08971981B2 |
Device and method for facilitating infusion of therapeutic fluids and sensing of bodily analytes
Disclosed is an assembly for use with a portable therapeutic device. The assembly includes a mounting housing securable to skin of a patient, and a cannula subcutaneously insertable through a passageway provided within the housing. The cannula is configured to be inserted subsequent to securing of the housing to the skin of the patient. |
| US08971975B2 |
Case for handheld devices with one or more integral tools
An apparatus comprises a case and additional protective materials within the case for handheld devices. The additional protective materials are metals, plastics, and/or composites. The additional protective materials may be molded into a single case to form a second layer of protection on one side of the device's case. Part of the protective housing is an internal rigid tool that, when exposed, is able to be used for opening a bottle. |
| US08971965B2 |
Method for operating a color display of a mobile device
A method for operating a color display of a mobile device is provided. According to the method, a usage condition of the mobile device is detected and based on the detected usage condition a color scheme of information displayed on the color display is automatically adapted. |
| US08971958B2 |
Web-enabled portable medical device
A portable personal medical device, e.g., a wearable insulin pump, is provided with a web server and is controllable over a network by a browser equipped client, thereby enabling comprehensive and comfortable control, operation and/or configuration of the device. |
| US08971957B2 |
Provisioning interfaces for accessing virtual private branch exchange services through a mobile device
Systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating the provisioning of a single and multi-line virtual private branch exchange (PBX) including automated call distribution via a mobile device are described. In some implementations, the provisioning of the single and multi-line virtual PBX can be achieved using one or more unique provisioning interfaces. The unique provisioning interfaces can enable the setup and configuration of a virtual PBX service account instantaneously from any geographical location at any time. Changes made to the virtual PBX service account can be immediately reflected back (e.g., in real-time) to the system providing the core operating environment. |
| US08971956B2 |
Method of providing neighbor information and method of generating neighbor location information
Provided are a method of providing neighbor information and a method of generating neighbor location information. The method of providing neighbor information includes a base station broadcasting a neighbor advertisement message; and the base station transmitting a neighbor information message to a relay station connected to the base station. |
| US08971951B2 |
Method and device for resource configuration
The embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and a device for resource configuration. The method includes: determining an extra resource block existing in a wireless resource, where the extra resource block is a resource that cannot be identified by a long term evolution system; configuring transmission power of a resource element in the extra resource block according to a power configuration rule; and sending a signal on the resource element in the extra resource block according to configured transmission power. With the preceding technical solution, an extra resource block can be used for transmitting a signal, so that a resource utilization rate may be improved. |
| US08971947B2 |
Control information transmission and receiving method for group communication in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method for transmitting and receiving control information for group communications in a wireless communication system. According to one aspect of the present invention, a control information transmission method for group communication in a wireless communication system comprises the steps of, a base station: receiving a group communication request from one or more terminals; determining a plurality of terminals which will perform the group communication; allocating resources which are to be used for performing the group communication; and transmitting information on the plurality of terminals and resource allocation information on the resources which are to be used, to the one or more terminals among the plurality of terminals. |
| US08971946B2 |
Privacy control in push-to-talk
In one embodiment, a computer program product for suppressing incoming audio in a Push-To-Talk (PTT) session includes a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code including computer readable program code configured for receiving a request sent from an originator communication device to initiate a PTT session at a receiver communication device, computer readable program code configured for establishing the PTT session between the originator communication device and the receiver communication device, computer readable program code configured for notifying a user at the receiver communication device that the PTT session has been established, computer readable program code configured for determining whether to suppress or audibilize incoming audio based on a privacy setting on the receiver communication device, and computer readable program code configured for suppressing or audibilizing the incoming audio according to the privacy setting. |
| US08971945B2 |
System and method using a rate split scheme based on cooperation between receivers
Each of a first transmitter and a second transmitter uses a rate split scheme. Each of the first transmitter and the second transmitter may transmit at least four sub-messages, and different transmission powers may be allocated to the at least four sub-messages. Also, each of receivers may cooperate with each other, may share sub-messages that act as interferences, and may extract desired messages using the shared sub-messages. |
| US08971944B2 |
Method and devices of communicating physical cell identifier information to mobile stations
The present invention provides a method and system for communicating physical cell identifier information to mobile stations. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a need to change a physical cell identifier associated with a cell in a telecommunication network used for serving the mobile station. The method also includes communicating physical cell identifier information to the mobile station based on the detected need to change the physical cell identifier. The method includes employing another physical cell identifier associated with the cell based on the communicated physical cell identifier information. The physical cell identifier information is communicated in one or more modification periods such that said another physical cell identifier is employed by the base station and the mobile station at a boundary of one of the modification periods. Moreover, the method includes continue serving the mobile station based on the employed said another physical cell identifier. |
| US08971942B2 |
Assisted location-based wireless spectrum allocation
Apparatus having corresponding computer-readable media comprise: a first transceiver, wherein the first transceiver includes a receiver configured to receive a first message from a first device, wherein the first message includes a location of the first device, and a transmitter configured to transmit a second message, wherein the second message includes the location of the first device, and a request for a frequency allocation based on the location of the first device; wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a third message, wherein the third message includes the frequency allocation; and a second transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate on a frequency band indicated by the frequency allocation. |
| US08971933B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining DRX cycle used for paging
Techniques for determining a discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle used to receive paging are described. A user equipment (UE) may have (i) a first DRX cycle used by a first network (e.g., a core network) to page the UE and (ii) a second DRX cycle used by a second network (e.g., a RAN) to page the UE. In an aspect, the UE may use the longer DRX cycle and ignore the shorter DRX cycle, when allowed, to extend battery life. In one design, the UE may receive an indication of whether the second DRX cycle can be ignored or is to be considered by the UE. The UE may use the longer DRX cycle if the second DRX cycle can be ignored and may receive paging from the first network and/or the second network based on the longer DRX cycle. In another aspect, the UE may negotiate a DRX cycle with a network. |
| US08971932B2 |
Secure witness or criminal participant location or position and time recording information apparatus, systemts and methods
An apparatus, system or method for use of encrypted or confidential location or position, time, and unique identifier information (LPTI Information) comprising mobile device encoded unique identifiers (UIs), to register the presence of one or more persons in a retail or service store or outlet, vehicle, financial, educational, governmental, transportation, shipping, cargo, residential, vacation, travel, power generation or distribution, water or food supply or storage, or data storage location or position, for use in identifying potential suspects, conspirators, participants or witnesses for criminal, regulated, tort, or prohibited activity for use by law enforcement or a court, and which information is kept encrypted until authorized access is granted to law enforcement or a court by issuance or a warrant or other appropriate legal authorization. |
| US08971930B2 |
Geofencing system and method
A computer-implemented method performed by a computing device having a processor operatively coupled to a memory, the method comprising storing a plurality of geofences in the memory along with addresses of servers associated with each of the geofences, receiving current location data from a mobile device, the current location data representing a current location of the mobile device, comparing the current location data with each of the plurality of geofences to determine whether data is to be obtained from one or more of the servers associated with each of the geofences, if the data is to be obtained, obtaining the data from the one or more servers, and transmitting the data to the mobile device. |
| US08971928B2 |
Method and system for changing geographic information displayed on a mobile device
Convenient control of navigation or mapping image content on a mobile device is provided. Map and/or navigation information is displayed. Movement of the mobile device or a user associated with the mobile device is detected. The content of the display is changed as a function of the detected movement. |
| US08971925B2 |
Methods for providing enhanced telecommunication services
A method for processing a product identifying code. The product identifying code that identifies a product is received from a wireless device. A location of the wireless device is received. An item that comprises information pertaining to the product is obtained. The obtained item is transmitted to the wireless device. The information pertaining to the product includes a name of each establishment of a plurality of establishments from which the product is available and informational selected from the group consisting of a contact address for each establishment, driving instructions to each establishment, a price of the product at each establishment, a geocoded location of one establishment of the plurality of establishments relative to the location of the wireless device, descriptive information specific to the product, and combinations thereof. |
| US08971922B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring position of terminal located in indoor using wireless network
A method and apparatus for measuring the position of a terminal located in indoor using a wireless network is disclosed. The method for measuring a position of a terminal located in indoor using a wireless network includes receiving measurement result information obtained by performing measurement with respect to signals from three or more access points (APs), and calculating the position of the terminal using the measurement result information. The measurement result information includes signal strengths measured with respect to signals from a first band and a second band of each of the three APs. |
| US08971921B2 |
Method and computer system for obtaining weighted geometric dilution of precision closed form
A method utilized in a wireless communication system having a mobile device and a plurality of base stations includes obtaining a geometric matrix according to a plurality of relative distances between the mobile device and the plurality of base stations, obtaining a weighted matrix according to the mobile device and the plurality of base stations, obtaining a weighted geometric dilution of precision according to the weighted matrix and the geometric matrix, so as to obtain a weighted geometric dilution of precision closed form, and choosing a plurality of selected base stations from the plurality of base stations according to the weighted geometric dilution of precision closed form to position the mobile device. |
| US08971913B2 |
Method and apparatus for wireless network hybrid positioning
Methods and apparatuses for position determination and other operations. In one embodiment of the present invention, a mobile station uses wireless signals from a plurality of wireless networks (e.g., with different air interfaces and/or operated by different service providers) for position determination (e.g., for data communication, for obtaining time and/or frequency information, for range measurement, for sector or altitude estimation). In one embodiment of the present invention, mobile stations are used to harvest statistical data about wireless access points (e.g., the locations of mobile stations that have received signals from the wireless access points, such as from cellular base stations, wireless local area network access points, repeaters for positioning signals, or other wireless communication transmitters) and to derive location information (e.g., position and coverage area of the wireless access points) for the wireless networks from the collected statistical data. |
| US08971912B2 |
Paging process in a home cellular network
Disclosed embodiments include a method of paging one of a plurality of mobile subscribers in a wireless communication network. The method includes receiving, at a base station, an idle mode request from the one mobile subscriber and sending an idle mode notification to a control device, after receiving the idle mode request from the one mobile subscriber. The method also includes receiving a paging request from the control device and sending a paging advertisement intended for the one mobile subscriber, after receiving the paging request from the control device. |
| US08971906B2 |
Hybrid interference alignment for mixed macro-FEMTO base station downlink
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus is a first BS. The apparatus determines a first channel between a second BS and a first UE served by a third BS, determines a second channel between the first base station and the first UE, and determines a first direction vector to be used by the second base station for sending a data transmission. The apparatus transmits a set of resource blocks to a second UE served by the first base station with a second direction vector determined based on the first channel, the second channel, and the first direction vector to be used by the second base station. |
| US08971903B2 |
Techniques for managing communications resources for a mobile device
Techniques to manage communications resources for a mobile device are described. An apparatus may comprise a mobile computing device having a radio arranged to communicate information over a wireless link, a link classifier arranged to generate a class parameter for the wireless link based on signal quality measurements of the wireless link, and a data service manager arranged to receive a data service request from an application, determine whether the application may communicate information over the wireless link based on the class parameter for the wireless link, and generate a control directive for the application granting or denying the data service request. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08971898B2 |
Mobility management apparatus and methods
A wireless mobility management system including a visitor location register configured to store a visiting user profile and communicate with a mobile switching center to route a wireless call supporting a user-session, a home location register configured to store a home user profile and update a user location associated with the home user profile, and a wireless media gateway (WMG) configured to create a user-session interconnection between a first wireless network and at least one of a second wireless network, a wireline packet network and a public-switched telephone network, including providing physical resources for the user-session. A WMG controller integrated with a wireless softswitch is configured to control the WMG to allocate resources and establish connections as required by the user session. A performance-based mobility manager is configured to receive user-session performance data from the WMG and make a handoff decision based on the performance data. |
| US08971891B2 |
Methods and arrangements in a mobile telecommunication system
Methods and arrangements in a base station and a User Equipment are provided. The methods and arrangements relates to the scenario when the UE is handed over from a source base station to a target base station in a handover scenario, and wherein the target base station may not support functionalities which the source base station and the UE support. The method in the UE comprises receiving (501) a configuration message from the target base station via the source base station, configuring (502) the UE based on the received configuration message from the target base station by searching (503) for a second field in an information element of the received configuration message. The presence/non-presence or a value of the second field is indicative of how to manage a configured first functionality associated with an optional first field, wherein the configured first functionality may not be supported by the target base station. |
| US08971889B2 |
Method and apparatus for handover by calculating the distance between a mobile user equipment and an intermediate access point in a wireless communication system
A method for supporting a handover on the basis of the distance from an intermediate access point to a user equipment includes receiving uplink message set information of the user equipment from a serving base station of the user equipment; receiving the uplink message transmitted by predetermined transmitting power from the user equipment, and detecting the user equipment which has sent the uplink message on the basis of the uplink message set information; determining the receiving power by which said uplink message is received; calculating the distance between the intermediate access point and the detected user equipment by using said predetermined transmitting power and said receiving power; and performing a subsequent handover based on the distance calculated in the previous step. |
| US08971886B2 |
Service creation using mobile device
A method may be performed by a mobile device. The method may include receiving subscriber input for a temporary service account for a user associated with a portable device and creating the temporary service account. The method may also include receiving, from the portable device via a local wireless network, a registration request to use the temporary service account and assigning, to the portable device, a temporary mobile number selected from an available pool of mobile numbers. The method may also include sending, via the local wireless network, a registration confirmation to the portable device and providing, to the portable device, mobile services using both a broadband cellular network and the local wireless network. |
| US08971883B2 |
Registration timer adjustment based on wireless network quality
The disclosure is directed to managing registration of a wireless communication device (WCD) operating in a wireless network. The WCD may support registration according to a signaling protocol, such as session initiation protocol (SIP). The WCD adjusts a registration timer based on network quality experienced by the WCD. When network quality is poor, for example, the WCD reduces the length of the registration timer. Reduced network quality may indicate that the WCD is at risk of losing network coverage. By reducing the length of the registration timer when network quality is degraded, stale registrations for out-of-coverage WCDs can be reduced. In particular, the shortened registration timer will expire more quickly, permitting the registration to be cleared more quickly. Consequently, the amount of call forwarding and other resources devoted to stale registrations can be reduced. If the WCD retains network coverage, it can maintain a registration by sending another registration request. |
| US08971880B2 |
Association level indication to neighboring base stations
It is described a method of sending an association level indication to neighboring base stations by a serving base station to indicate to the neighbor base station to report a particular ranging parameter set corresponding to the association level indication for a user equipment requesting scanning of neighbor base stations. According to an embodiment, the ranging parameters of the ranging parameter set are provided to the user equipment in single message or are provided in two or more messages, e.g. in the case of network assisted association reporting. |
| US08971876B1 |
Method and system for automatically customizing a device based on the company for whom the device-user works and based on the job of the user at the company
A method of customizing a device in accordance with the company for whom the device-user works and in accordance with the job held by the user at the company. A provisioning system receives a request to provision (e.g., activate) a device and responsively determines the company at which the device-user works and the job held by the user at the company. The provisioning system then establishes customization-data usable by the device to become customized in a manner corresponding with the company and job, and the provisioning system sends the customization-data to the device to cause the device to become customized accordingly. This process can be applied to automatically customize a device so as to adopt a base user-interface, functionality, and reference data that is all related to the company at which the device-user works and that is tailored in a manner appropriate to the user's job at the company. |
| US08971874B2 |
Methods and apparatus for testing electronic devices under specified radio-frequency voltage and current stress
Test systems for characterizing devices under test (DUTs) are provided. A test system for testing a DUT in a shunt configuration may include a signal generator and a matching network that is coupled between the signal generator and the DUT and that is optimized to apply desired voltage/current stress to the DUT with reduced source power. The matching network may be configured to provide matching and desired stress levels at two or more frequency bands. In another suitable embodiment, a test system for testing a DUT in a series configuration may include a signal generator, an input matching network coupled between the DUT and a first terminal of the DUT, and an output matching network coupled between the DUT and a second terminal of the DUT. The input and output matching network may be optimized to apply desired voltage/current stress to the DUT with reduced source power. |
| US08971870B2 |
Mobile terminal device, and control method for mobile terminal device
A mobile telephone includes a communication module, and a control module configured to perform background communication with respect to an application via the communication module. The control module restricts background communication, based on an activation history of the application in foreground. The control module includes a determination module configured to determine whether background communication is unnecessary based on the activation history of the application in foreground with respect to each of the applications, and a setting switching module configured to switch communication setting of the application, of which background communication is determined to be unnecessary, from a first setting of permitting the background communication to a second setting of restricting the background communication. |
| US08971867B2 |
Remote control method and remote control system
A remote control method is provided. The method is adapted to a first terminal apparatus, and the first terminal apparatus corresponds to a first phone number. The remote control method includes the following steps. A second terminal apparatus is connected to a telecommunication server, wherein the telecommunication server corresponds to a telecommunication service provider who provides the first phone number a telecommunication service. A call diversion service is activated on the telecommunication server through the second terminal apparatus in order to divert a telecommunication signal which is to be forwarded to the first phone number to a second phone number. |
| US08971866B2 |
Automatically connecting to a best available calling device based on resource strength
A method, computer program product, and computer system for automatically connecting a calling device to a best available calling device based on resource strength. A computer system receives from a first calling device a request for a call to a second calling device and evaluates resource strength of the second calling device. The computer system determines one or more third calling devices, in response to determining that the resource strength of the second calling device is low. The computer system compares resource strength of the one or more third calling devices with that of the second calling device and determines a best available one of the one or more third calling devices. The computer system connects the call by connecting the first calling device and the best available one of the one or more third calling devices. |
| US08971863B2 |
Location-based call center filtering
A device may receive a request for a service call and location information associated with a user device, and may determine an address of a customer, associated with the user device, based on the location information. The device may determine customer information based on the address, and may filter a list of call centers, for the service call, based on the customer information and the address. The device may generate trouble ticket information for the service call, and may provide the customer information and the trouble ticket information to call centers provided in the filtered list of call centers. |
| US08971862B2 |
Location based routing and advertising for streamed media and media blocking
A location based service configured to route local advertising for streamed media and media blocking based on a location of the recipient. The method include detecting a location of a mobile user and routing streaming media of a local affiliate to a mobile device of the mobile user based on the detected location of the mobile user. |
| US08971859B2 |
Method for blocking crank calls by using cloud computing and a system thereof
The present disclosure provides a method for blocking crank calls by using cloud computing and a system thereof. In the method, a client(s) uploads a blacklist to a server; the server makes statistic according to blacklist data uploaded by the client(s) and determines a particular phone number be a crank phone number, generates an anti-crank policy and updates the generated anti-crank policy to the client(s); when receiving a call or a message from the crank phone number, the client executes the anti-crank policy. |
| US08971856B2 |
Personalizing an accessory with digital content
A distribution server is configured to receive from a web portal information about an order request for an accessory and digital content. The distribution server stores the digital content at the distribution server along with authentication information used to authenticate a retrieval request for the digital content from a mobile device. The authentication information includes a claim receipt for the digital content and a Mobile Directory Number (MDN) associated with the mobile device. The mobile device sends the retrieval request to the distribution server. Responsive to the retrieval request, the distribution server determines whether the mobile device is authorized to receive the digital content. Upon determining the mobile device is authorized to receive the digital content, the distribution server forwards the digital content over a communication network to the mobile device. |
| US08971853B2 |
Method and system to record and visualize type, time and duration of moving and idle segments
GPS signal data is converted into movement and idle indicators and is classified as a task-related or privacy event. The task data database lists personnel, location-situs, projected time-of-arrival, time-on-site and other task data. When GPS-location matches task situs, time-on-site data is generated. A movement-ON notes end-of-task. The method gathers pre-set privacy event data from the task person or the task person can, in real time, set ON a privacy block. In real time, the privacy block masks the idle ON and movement ON status until an end-of-privacy time. The method classifies, in real time, idle ON, movement ON and publishes this data on a daily calendar beyond any privacy block. The method also accepts a privacy block re-classification. In real time, status postings note traffic delays, vendor assistance, equipment needed, and co-worker needed indicator. An accounting recovery code can be assigned to the status indicators for billing and accounting purposes. |
| US08971846B2 |
Method and apparatus for translation and authentication for a virtual operator of a communication system
A virtual operator and method for performing authentication and service translation. The virtual operator assigns first and second identifiers to subscribers. The virtual operator updates the second identifier when the service provider corresponding to the second identifier changes. When the virtual operator receives a request for authentication, the virtual operator forwards the authentication request to a serving network for authentication. When the virtual operator receives a service request, the virtual operator selects, using network optimization criteria, a network to provide the requested service. The virtual operator translates network protocols when the network forwarding authentication or service request uses a network protocol different from the network performing authentication or the requested service. |
| US08971843B2 |
Communication tracking and billing system
A system for billing communications between a subscriber and a verified professional comprising a verified professional repository and a central tracking system. The central tracking system is configured to receive a communication request targeting the registered device ID, determine an applied billing rate using a value set by the verified professional, and transmit the applied billing rate to the subscriber. The central tracking system is further configured to track the connection, generate a communication data file comprising the registered device ID, the subscriber ID, the applied billing rate, the communication duration, and the billing signal. The central tracking system is further configured to obtain a billable duration by parsing the communication data file using the billing signal and the communication duration, calculate a communication charge using the applied billing rate and billable duration, and pay the verified professional a portion of the communication charge. |
| US08971841B2 |
Operating system supporting cost aware applications
A mobile computing device that supports cost-aware application components for operation over a metered network. A current basis for computing usage charges over one or more networks may be made available to the cost-aware application components through an application programming interface supported by an operating system service. That service may receive a policy for charging for data usage over a network and may also obtain information defining data usage for the mobile computing device. Based on this information, the service may determine a current basis for charging for data usage. With this information, the application component can determine a manner for executing network operations that involve data transmission over the network, such as deferring the operation or selecting an alternative network. |
| US08971840B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting emergency calls and location for FEMTO access points
Techniques for routing an emergency call originated by a mobile station via a femto access point (FAP) in a wireless network and for locating the mobile station are described. In an aspect, the emergency call may be routed to an appropriate emergency center based on location information for the FAP. In one design, the location information for the FAP may include a macro cell identity (ID) and/or a macro Mobile Switching Center (MSC) ID determined based on the FAP location. The macro cell ID and/or the macro MSC ID may be assigned to the FAP and used to access a database, which may store routing information for emergency centers versus cell IDs and MSC IDs. In another design, the location information for the FAP may include a location estimate for the FAP. The location estimate may be used to access a geographic database, which may store routing information for emergency centers for different geographic areas. |
| US08971839B2 |
In-vehicle system (IVS) control of emergency data communications
An in-vehicle system (IVS) captures data such as location data and in an emergency automatically places a call to an emergency call taker or PSAP via a wireless telecommunications network. After a voice call session is established, the IVS system transmits a predetermined control signal through the voice channel. The control signal directs the call taker system to prepare to receive data. Preferably, the control signal comprises at least one audio frequency tone. This may be done without human intervention. In this way, emergency information is transmitted accurately and with minimum delay. After transmission of essential information, the IVS system may switch on audio connections for live human voice conversation. |
| US08971834B2 |
Digital and analog IM3 product compensation circuits for an RF receiver
Third-order intermodulation products (IM3) are attenuated in RF receivers by providing a typical main signal path and a parallel auxiliary signal path in which the IM3 products are accentuated, and the output from the main signal path is adaptively filtered to attenuate the IM3 products. In one embodiment, a multirate filter bank (MRFB) with asymmetric analysis and synthesis sections is used to detect and isolate the IM3 products. In another embodiment an analog nonlinear term generator is placed at the front of the auxiliary signal path. The analog nonlinear term generator takes advantage of the nonlinearities of a differential MOSFET circuit and a multiplier to extract the IM3 products in the RF input signal. The outputs of the main signal path and the auxiliary signal path are inputs to a complex least mean squares filter to attenuate the IM3 products in the resulting signal. |
| US08971828B2 |
Predistortion device, method for predistortion, and transmitter/receiver system that reuse an analog receiving circuit in a half duplexing system and a full duplexing system, and that reduce the requirement on the analog receiving circuit
The embodiments of the present invention provide a predistortion device, method for predistortion and transmitter/receiver system. The predistortion device comprises a predistortion unit, and the predistortion device further comprises: a signal acquiring unit to process the output signals of a transmitting circuit to obtain distorted signals; a signal coupling unit to couple the distorted signals acquired by the signal acquiring unit to the receiving signals inputted to a receiving circuit; and a signal processing unit to decouple the output signals of the receiving circuit to acquire the distorted signals and the receiving signals. With the embodiments of the present invention, an analog receiving circuit may be reused in a half duplexing system and a full duplexing system, and the requirement on the analog receiving circuit is lowered, thereby reducing the cost. |
| US08971821B2 |
Robotic wireless test system
A test system may include a wireless test chamber with metal walls lined with pyramidal absorbers. A trapdoor may be provided in a wall opening to accommodate a robotic arm. The robotic arm may have grippers that grip a device under test or a support structure that is supporting a device under test. The robotic arm may move the device under test to a docking station for automatic battery charging during testing. When it is desired to perform wireless tests on a device under test, the robotic arm may move the device under test through the trapdoor into an interior portion of the test chamber. A turntable and movable test antenna may be used to rotate the device under test while varying angular orientations between test antenna and device under test. Emitted radiation levels can be measured using a liquid filled phantom and test probe on a robotic arm. |
| US08971820B2 |
Power consumption reduction in a user terminal
A data communication emulating unit (18) in a user terminal (10) or a proxy device monitors communication between an application unit (16) in the user terminal and a proxy unit of the proxy device, which communication employs requests (REQ) and responses (RES) based on a data communication protocol. The data communication emulating unit then determines a communication pattern of the monitored communication, evaluates if the communication is efficient or not based on the communication pattern and changes communication strategy if the communication pattern is found to be inefficient. Change in strategy is performed through disrupting communication between the application unit and the proxy unit using the data communication protocol and instead ensuring that communication between the proxy unit and application unit is performed based on a signalling protocol via a signalling communication unit (20). |
| US08971817B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication method, computer program, and communication system
To appropriately effect a coordination with a plurality of communication parties that perform a millimeter wave communication.Transmission and reception beams of the respective terminal stations are directed to an access point, a valid communication link based on the second communication method is utilized as a link for a high speed data transmission between the access point and the respective terminal stations. Of course, the communication link based on the first communication method between the access point and the respective terminal stations is valid and is utilized as a link for the coordination. As the transmission and reception beams are not directed between the terminal stations, the communication link based on the second communication method is invalid, but the valid communication link based on the first communication method can be utilized as the link for the coordination. |
| US08971811B2 |
Interface between object devices initiated with a master device
A master device images an object device and uses the image to identify the object device. The master device then automatically interfaces with the identified object device, for example, by pairing with the object device. The master device interfaces with a second object device and initiates an interface between the first object device and the second object device. The master device may receive broadcast data from the object device including information about the visual appearance of the object device and use the broadcast data in the identification of the object device. The master device may retrieve data related to the object device and display the related data, which may be display the data over the displayed image of the object device. The master device may provide an interface to control the object device or be used to pass data to the object device. |
| US08971807B2 |
Systems and methods for low power short range wireless device communication advertisement
The present invention relates to a system and method for improving directed connectable advertising in a low energy Bluetooth device. The host on the Bluetooth device configures an advertisement interval length, an advertisement window length, and a number of attempts. The advertisement window length is equal to or shorter than the advertisement interval length, which may be less than 1.28 seconds. Next, advertising packets are transmitted for the length of the advertising window on three advertising channels. Packets are transmitted consecutively, with no more than a 3.75 millisecond delay between packets, until the end of the advertisements window. After transmitting, a link layer of the Bluetooth device decrements the number of attempts. Once all attempts have been exhausted, the advertisements end. Otherwise, the link layer waits for the end of the advertisement interval. The link layer generates a pseudorandom delay between 0 and 10 milliseconds, and waits for this time to pass before initiating another advertisement interval with transmission during the advertisement window. If a connection is made at any point, the advertisement may be ended. |
| US08971805B2 |
Portable terminal providing environment adapted to present situation and method for operating the same
Provided is a portable terminal providing environment adapted to a current situation and a method for operating the same. The method includes the steps of: collecting current situation information of the portable terminal; searching preset situation information classified as a same situation as the current situation information; extracting function information of the portable terminal corresponding to the searched preset situation information; and constituting a Graphic User Interface (GUI) according to the extracted function information. |
| US08971804B2 |
Near field communications (NFC) device power harvesting and power supply selection
A near field RF communicator has an antenna circuit to couple with the H field of an RF magnetic field and a power supply deriver to derive a rectified auxiliary power supply from the received magnetic field. Rectification may be performed using an actively switched rectifier having a passive mode of operation. A sub regulation system is provided to regulate the auxiliary power supply to inhibit the possibility of temporally varying power requirements of the near field RF communicator or its host causing an apparent load modulation of a signal that is transmitted or received by the communicator. |
| US08971801B2 |
Self-energized wireless sensor and method using magnetic field communications
Manufacturing processes monitor forces or pressures within a machine. Metal within machines affect wireless communications within the machines for reporting monitored data. An embodiment of the present invention is a sensor that provides wireless communications unaffected by metals and with less electrical noise than slip rings. An embodiment can monitor manufacturing processes, such as by employing a piezoelectric transducer to measure forces or pressures in a machine and generate an electrical signal representing, for example, forces measured by the piezoelectric transducer. A threshold modulator circuit converts the electrical signal into a series of electrical pulses, which can be transmitted as a corresponding series of magnetic field pulses to a wireless receiver. The receiver reconstructs the original electrical signal, thereby enabling a receiver system to determine physical activities in the machine. The embodiment may be self-powered through use of power generated by the piezoelectric transducer. |
| US08971800B2 |
Methods and apparatus for improving NFC activation and data exchange reporting mechanisms
Aspects relate to improving reporting NFC RF technology usage in activation and data exchange for NFC devices. For example, with a near field communication (NFC) device a NFCC may be configured to obtain a first radio frequency (RF) technology and mode value, a second RF technology and mode value, and one or more RF specific parameters associated with a NFC device during an activation phase of a communication link using a first NFC RF technology. The one or more RF specific parameters and the first NFC RF technology may be based on the first RF technology and mode value. Further, the NFCC may be configured to configure communications to be supported by a second NFC RF technology for use during a data exchange phase of the communication link. The second NFC RF technology may be based on the second RF technology and mode value. |
| US08971797B2 |
System and/or method for providing information updates to a location server
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for acquiring signal received from satellite vehicles (SVs) in a satellite navigation system. In one example, although claimed subject matter is not so limited, information processed in acquiring a signal from a first SV may be used in acquiring a signal from a second SV. |
| US08971794B2 |
Relay and hierarchical transmission scheme
In some examples, a method of transmitting data in a radio communication system is described. The method can include dividing data intended for a communication receive node into a high priority code stream and a low priority code stream. The method can also include transmitting the high priority code stream to the communication receive node and a relay node. The method can also include transmitting the low priority code stream to the communication receive node. The relay node may be configured to receive, amplify and forward the high priority code stream to the communication receive node. The communication receive node may be configured to receive the high priority code stream substantially during first time intervals and may be further configured to receive both the low priority code stream and the amplified high priority code stream substantially during second time intervals interleaved with the first time intervals. |
| US08971791B2 |
Method for delivering music content to a smart phone
A method of distributing media content using mobile communication devices including providing media access cards which promote selected media content to users of such devices whereby a user may access a web server associated with the media access cards and download application software enabling access to selected media content via a mobile device, the media access cards including a machine readable identification number code that identifies media content associated with the card whereby the application software facilitates reading and transmitting the code to a web server via the mobile device, receiving the identification number with the web server and using the identification number to locate a table value in a database wherein a plurality of media access cards identification numbers are associated with a media content table value, using the table value to identify media codes associated with the selected content server which transmits media to the mobile device. |
| US08971788B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a sheet conveying unit, a TOD (Top of Data) control module for instructing the image forming unit to start generation of a toner image, a timing roller driving module for instructing the sheet conveying unit to start driving of the timing roller, an image synchronization module designed depending on the sheet conveying unit and the image forming unit, and a sheet information module for generating an image synchronization identifier for designating a pattern of image synchronization control related to printing of the toner image on the sheet, depending on a type of the sheet designated. The image synchronization module is activated when the formation of the toner image on the sheet has become possible, and activate each of the TOD control module and the timing roller driving module, with a relative time lag based on the image synchronization identifier. |
| US08971785B2 |
Cleaning unit and image forming device having the same
A cleaning unit includes a cleaning member, a storage case, and a transport member. The cleaning member collects waste toner on a surface of the photoconductive drum. The storage case successively stores the waste toner collected by the cleaning member through an inlet. The transport member is provided in the storage case, and rotates to transport the waste toner in the storage case in a rotary axis direction. The transport member rotates with a central portion in the rotary axis direction protruding toward the inlet further than both side portions. |
| US08971784B2 |
Water addition apparatus and image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion that fixes a toner image to a sheet by applying heat to the sheet, a conveyance path through which back and forth conveyance of the sheet conveyed from the fixing portion is performed by normally and reversely rotating a conveying roller, and a water addition portion that adds water to the sheet at a water addition position in the conveyance path on upstream in a conveying direction of the conveying roller. In addition, a controller controls the water addition portion such that the water is added to the sheet conveyed from the fixing portion to the water addition position, and the water is added to the sheet to which the reverse conveyance has been performed after an upstream end in the conveying direction of the sheet passes through the water addition position. |
| US08971783B2 |
Fixing device, and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes an irradiation section that irradiates a recording medium with light, the recording medium having thereon an image formed by an image forming material to be fixed by absorbing light and being transported along a transporting path, and a preventing member that is provided with a first hole that allows the light to pass therethrough, and prevents the image forming material irradiated with the light from adhering to the irradiation section. |
| US08971782B2 |
Fixing device, image forming apparatus incorporating same, and method for heating fixing rotary body
A fixing device includes an induction heater constructed of an exciting coil, a first pair of degaussing coils, and a second pair of degaussing coils. A controller turns off the exciting coil while the controller turns on one of the first pair of degaussing coils and the second pair of degaussing coils and at the same time turns off the other one of the first pair of degaussing coils and the second pair of degaussing coils, and then turns on the exciting coil for an extra time period corresponding to reserved power not supplied to the exciting coil while the exciting coil is turned off. |
| US08971779B2 |
Fixing device with support and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A fixing device includes a support supporting a nip formation assembly that presses against an opposed rotary body via an endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the opposed rotary body. The support includes a base contacting the nip formation assembly. An upstream projection projects from the base in a pressurization direction of the opposed rotary body at a position on the base corresponding to or upstream from an upstream edge of the fixing nip in a recording medium conveyance direction. A downstream projection projects from the base in the pressurization direction of the opposed rotary body at a position on the base corresponding to or downstream from a downstream edge of the fixing nip in the recording medium conveyance direction. The downstream projection is spaced apart from the upstream projection in the recording medium conveyance direction. |
| US08971777B2 |
Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and fixing method
A fixing device includes: a cylinder member that rotates in a circumferential direction thereof; a circulating member that circularly moves in a circumferential direction thereof and is pressed against the cylinder member; a heat source that heats a recording medium holding an unfixed toner image and nipped between the cylinder member and the circulating member; and a pressing member provided inside the circulating member, and including a nip forming portion that presses the circulating member against the cylinder member to form a nip region therebetween, and a thrusting portion that thrusts, upstream of the nip forming portion in a moving direction of the circulating member, and from inside the circulating member toward the cylinder member, the circulating member before being pressed against the cylinder member such that the thrust is greater in end portions of the circulating member than in a central portion of the circulating member. |
| US08971774B2 |
Fuser and image forming device including the same
A fuser includes a first roller that includes a first elastic layer, a belt member provided on, and rotates around, the first roller, a second roller that includes a second elastic layer and that forms a nip part by pressing, through the belt member, the first roller, and a heating member that heats the belt member. A thickness of the second elastic layer of the second roller is less than a thickness of the first elastic layer of the first roller. |
| US08971772B2 |
Developer transport member and developing apparatus
There is provided a developer transport member including a rotatable member, a main body configured to transport the developer by being rotated in accordance with rotation of the rotatable member, and a metal spring configured to bias the main body. |
| US08971770B2 |
Developer-agitating transporter, developing device, and image forming apparatus
A developer-agitating transporter includes helical blades that helically extend around a rotation shaft, the helical blades being arranged at different positions in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the rotation shaft; and a gap portion that divides each helical blade into a first blade portion and a second blade portion, which oppose each other across the gap portion, so that the helical blade is discontinuous in a direction in which the helical blade extends. The gap portion causes the first blade portion and the second blade portion to be arranged at a certain angular interval in a circumferential direction of the rotation shaft, and at least one surface of adjacent ones of the helical blades that are adjacent in the circumferential direction of the rotation shaft has a sloped area that is sloped at an angle that changes with respect to an axial direction of the rotation shaft. |
| US08971768B2 |
Developer container including an elastically deformable transporting member and image forming apparatus including the developer container
A developer container includes a developer accommodating chamber and a transporting member configured to elastically deform, to rotate, and to transport the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber. The developer accommodating chamber includes a dividing wall configured to deform the transporting member by making a sliding contact with the transporting member. The developer accommodating chamber further includes a communicating portion configured to allow the transporting member, which has been elastically deformed by the sliding portion, to restore. The developer accommodating chamber still further includes a contacting portion. The transporting member restored by the communicating portion being configured to contact with the contacting portion. |
| US08971765B2 |
Intermediate transfer member and method for manufacturing the same, intermediate transfer member unit, and image forming apparatus
Disclosed is an intermediate transfer member including, a resin layer as an outermost layer, in which plural recessed portions having a curved inner wall are scattered on the surface thereof. |
| US08971760B2 |
Process cartridge and image forming apparatus
A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum unit containing the drum, a developing unit containing the roller and being movable so the roller contacts and is spaced from the drum, and a first force receiver receiving a force from a main-assembly first force applier by movement of a door from open to closed positions when mounting the cartridge and a second force receiver movable from a stand-by position by movement of the first force receiver by a force received from the first force applier. The second force receiver takes a projected position receiving a force from the second force applier to move the developing unit so the roller moves out of contact with the drum, the projected position being higher than the stand-by position. |
| US08971757B2 |
Image forming device
A color laser printer is configured with a tray being provided above the housing cassette which houses a recording medium. The tray holds developing units and is configured to be pulled out from device main body while leaving housing cassette inside device main body. Furthermore, a sliding support element capable of supporting protrusions of the tray is provided, such that a portion of the tray downstream of the protrusions can be supported on the installation surface when the tray is pulled out from device main body. |
| US08971752B2 |
Belt device and image forming apparatus
A belt device includes: a belt that passes through a plurality of image forming units, each of the image forming units including a transfer member and an image carrier as a pair, the transfer member moves in a direction to contact with the belt and in a direction so as to be separated from the belt; a cleaning unit cleans an outer periphery of the belt after the belt passes through all the image forming units; and a pressing member is disposed between the cleaning unit and the image forming unit located on the most upstream side and that presses the outer periphery of the belt, wherein when the transfer member of at least one of the image forming units moves to be separated from the belt, the transfer member of the rest of the image forming units and the pressing member support the belt. |
| US08971751B2 |
Piezoelectric transducer driver, power supply device, and image formation apparatus
A piezoelectric transducer driver configured to drive a piezoelectric transducer for converting an inputted alternating-current voltage, includes: a drive circuit configured to generate the alternating-current voltage to be inputted into the piezoelectric transducer; a frequency controller configured to control a frequency of the alternating-current voltage as a drive frequency to be applied to the piezoelectric transducer; and a pulse generation circuit configured to generate a drive pulse having a switching frequency corresponding to the drive frequency, and to output the drive pulse to the drive circuit. The drive circuit includes a switching element configured to generate the alternating-current voltage by executing a switching operation corresponding to a pulse width of the drive pulse, and the pulse generation circuit changes the pulse width depending on the switching frequency. |
| US08971750B2 |
Image forming apparatus for discharging electric charge charged to a capacitor and discharge device for discharging electric charge charged to a capacitor
An apparatus includes a CPU, wherein, when the apparatus is currently in a power OFF state, and if an operation different from that of a power source switch is performed, the CPU connects a load to a power source by the switch to discharge a capacitor. |
| US08971749B2 |
Optical sensor and image forming apparatus
An optical sensor is disclosed. The optical sensor includes an irradiating system which irradiates a linearly polarized light; a first photodetecting system including a first photodetector which is arranged on an optical path of a light which is specularly reflected from a subject; a second photodetecting system including an optical element which is arranged on an optical path of a light which is diffuse reflected from the subject within an incident face in the subject and which separates a linearly polarized component in a second polarizing direction which is orthogonal to a first polarizing direction and a second photodetector which receives a light separated by the optical element, wherein an angle of taking in the light in the first photodetector and an angle of taking in the light in the second photodetector are mutually different. |
| US08971744B2 |
Image heating apparatus
The image heating apparatus includes an unit for spacing each of a buck-up member and a pressure roller apart from a flexible belt member which is electrified to generate heat, or heated by a source of heat at start-up, i.e. in a previous stage to heating an image, or an unit for controlling a pressure to decrease a contact area in the direction of the axis of rotation compared with the contact area for a period to heat an image. This can control, as much as possible, heat conduction from the flexible belt which is electrified to generate heat, or heated by the source of heat to the back-up member and the pressure roller at the start-up, i.e. the previous stage to heating an image. |
| US08971739B2 |
Color misalignment correction pattern detection method in image forming apparatus
A pattern detection sensor includes a light emitting element for specular reflection, a light emitting element for diffuse reflection light, and a light receiving element. When turning on the light emitting element for specular reflection to emit light, a light source switching unit keeps off the light emitting element for diffuse reflection light. When turning on the light emitting element for diffuse reflection light to emit light, the light source switching unit keeps off the light emitting element for specular reflection. An offset detection unit detects a difference between a detection timing by specular reflection light and another detection timing by diffuse reflection light as an offset value (mutual detection error). |
| US08971736B2 |
Collection device and image forming apparatus
A collection device including: an accommodation part configured to accommodate therein collected adhering substance; and a detection part configured to detect an amount of the adhering substance in the accommodation part and including, a moving member configured to move from a first position to a second position, the accommodation part being capable of accommodating therein the adhering substance when the moving member is arranged at the first position and being full of the adhering substance when the moving member is in the second position, and a restraining member configured to restrain the moving member from moving from the first position to the second position when the moving member is arranged at the first position, and restrain the moving member from moving from the second position to the first position when the moving member is arranged at the second position. |
| US08971734B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable member which is provided on and rotatable about a rotation shaft in a detachably mountable developing unit containing a developer and has flexibility so that it is flexed depending on a resistance of the developer; an electroconductive member to be detected which is provided on the rotatable member; a detecting electrode provided in a neighborhood of an outer wall surface of a bottom of the developing unit; a converting portion for detecting an electrostatic capacity between the member to be detected and the detecting electrode and for converting the electrostatic capacity into an electric signal; a measuring portion for measuring a time duration in which the electric signal converted by the converting portion exceeds a predetermined threshold; and a discriminating portion for discriminating an amount of the developer on the basis of the time duration measured by the measuring portion. |
| US08971729B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus has a sheet feeding portion which feeds a topmost sheet of sheets stacked on a sheet stacking portion and an image forming portion which forms an image to the sheet fed by the sheet feeding portion. The image forming apparatus also has a moisture-proof member set to a covering position so as to contact with and cover a topmost sheet of sheets stacked on the sheet stacking portion, a moisture-proof member detection portion which determines whether the moisture-proof member is available at the covering position, and a notification portion which notifies the presence or absence of the moisture-proof member at the covering position based on a detection result from the moisture-proof member detection portion. |
| US08971728B2 |
Image forming apparatus and cartridge therefor
An image forming apparatus and a cartridge are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a CPU as a judgment unit, and a main electrode. The cartridge accommodating a toner is attachable to and detachable from the main casing, and has a cartridge electrode electrically connectable to the main electrode. The CPU is configured to judge assembly or non-assembly of the cartridge with respect to the main casing and to judge whether or not the assembled cartridge is a new cartridge. The cartridge electrode is movable by a predetermined moving amount to permit the main electrode to be movable. As a result of a movement of the main electrode in accordance with the movement of the cartridge electrode, the CPU determines that the assembled cartridge is a new cartridge. |
| US08971725B2 |
Optical communication module and control method for optical communication module
An optical communication module includes a laser that emits laser light, and an electro-absorber that absorbs the laser light, which is emitted from the laser, according to a voltage modulated based on a modulating signal and a bias voltage. The optical communication module detects data that varies correlatively with the temperature of the electro-absorber, and sets the bias voltage, which is associated with the detected data, on the basis of relational data specifying at least the relationship between the bias voltage and the data. |
| US08971718B2 |
Down-sampling clock and data recovery circuit having selectable rate and phase output and method of operation thereof
A clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit, a method of recovering a clock and data from a received raw data stream and a BI-PON optical network transceiver (ONT) receiver front-end incorporating the CDR circuit. In one embodiment, the CDR circuit includes: (1) a line rate CDR circuit having a voltage controlled oscillator, the line rate CDR circuit configured to recover a raw data stream at a receiving line rate, (2) a fixed-rate down-sampler coupled to the line rate CDR circuit and configured to down-sample the raw data stream based on a fixed-rate and (3) a variable-rate down-sampler coupled to the fixed-rate down-sampler and configured further to down-sample the raw data sample based on a variable-rate. |
| US08971717B1 |
Optical communication systems and methods with crosstalk cancellation
An optical system has an optical emitter that transmits an optical signal through an optical fiber. An optical detector detects light from the fiber and provides an analog signal indicative of such light. A crosstalk cancellation element is configured to receive an electrical signal from the optical emitter and to adjust such signal in order to form a cancellation signal that models the optical and/or electrical crosstalk affecting the analog signal. The cancellation signal is subtracted from the analog signal thereby removing optical and/or electrical crosstalk from the analog signal. |
| US08971709B2 |
Optical transceiver apparatus and wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network system
An optical transceiver apparatus includes a gain medium, a photoelectric converter, at least one AWG, and a partial reflection mirror. The at least one AWG includes two common ports and multiple branch ports. One of the two common ports functions as a signal sending port, and the other functions as a signal receiving port, where bandwidth of the signal sending port is less than that of the signal receiving port. The gain medium and the photoelectric converter are connected to one of the branch ports of the AWG. The AWG and the partial reflection mirror are configured to cooperatively perform wavelength self-injection locking on an optical signal provided by the gain medium, and output the optical signal through the signal sending port. The AWG is further configured to demultiplex an optical signal received by the signal receiving port to a branch port. A WDM-PON system is also provided. |
| US08971705B2 |
Transient and switching event stabilization of fiber optic transport systems
A method and system for transient and switching stabilization of a fiber optic transport system. One or more data-bearing channels are coupled to an optical fiber. The data-bearing channels are distributed among a plurality of frequency sub-bands. A set of control channels is also coupled to the optical fiber. Each control channel includes a pair of signals at separate frequencies. There is at least one control channel in each of the plurality of frequency sub-bands. The pair of signals of a control channel are cross-polarized. Optical power in at least one of the plurality of sub-bands is measured. Responsive to the measured optical power, the optical power of a control channel is adjusted to maintain a substantially constant power of a sub-band that contains the adjusted control channel. |
| US08971701B2 |
Cueing system for universal optical receiver
A universal optical receiver may include an optical channel monitor configured to acquire spectral data for an optical signal on at least one selected optical channel, a tunable local oscillator configured to be tuned to a center frequency of the optical signal on the at least one selected optical channel, a storage device configured to store data associated with the optical signal responsive to acquisition of the spectral data and tuning of the tunable local oscillator, and processing circuitry configured to execute an algorithm that employs a plurality of binary distinctions based on physical characteristics of the optical signal and employs at least one calculation of figure of merit associated with a series of parameter values of the optical signal to identify a format of the optical signal. |
| US08971697B2 |
Focus detection apparatus and focus detection method
A focus detection apparatus comprises: a photoelectric converter including a pair of line sensors to output electrical signals; a selection unit constructed to select one of focus detection points; a control unit constructed to divide the pair of line sensors into a plurality of pairs of blocks in accordance with different divisional patterns which make the resultant plurality of pairs of blocks respectively corresponding to the focus detection points, and read out electrical signals from each pair of blocks when the levels of the electrical signals of the pair of blocks reach a level suitable for focus detection; frame memories, constructed to store the read out electrical signals, corresponding to the divisional patterns; and a focus detection unit constructed to detect a focus state of an imaging lens, on the basis of a phase difference between electrical signals of the pair of blocks corresponding to the selected focus detection point. |
| US08971696B2 |
Shake compensation control apparatus, optical device, image capturing apparatus, and control method of shake compensation
A rotational shake compensation calculation unit in an image capturing apparatus calculates rotational shake produced by apparatus rotation about an axis orthogonal to an optical axis of an imaging optical system, thereby calculating a compensation amount for image shake. A translational shake compensation calculation unit calculates a compensation amount for image shake resulting from translational shake produced in a travel direction of the apparatus along a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the optical system. An estimating device estimates translational shake using a vibration model. A translational shake compensation amount calculation unit calculates a translation shake compensation amount based on the estimation amount and varies the translation shake compensation amount in response to the compensation range of the shake compensation unit of the focal distance of the optical system. The compensation amounts for translational shake and rotational shakes are combined, thereby controlling shake compensation unit driving. |
| US08971695B2 |
Portable heater
A heater is provided with a heater core having a source of thermal energy in a heat exchange relationship with a heat exchanger. A fan moves air through the heater core from an air inlet to an air outlet. The heater core is thermally insulated by an air jacket from an exterior case. |
| US08971693B2 |
Apparatus and method for recording content
Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses for switching streams in response to detecting a start trigger are presented. A program's start trigger indicating that the program is upcoming may be detected on a first stream, and in response to detecting the start trigger on the first stream, a second stream containing the program may be switched to. The program may be a video program. Segment triggers may be detected and may be used to selectively record and/or delete segments of the program according to a priority scheme. Multiple start triggers may be detected at decreasing time intervals. The existence of a recording conflict may be determined based on a program's start trigger and a user may be alerted of the recording conflict. |
| US08971686B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing digital contents and method and apparatus for executing digital contents according to playback positions
Provided are a method and an apparatus for managing digital contents and a method and an apparatus for executing digital contents according to playback positions. The method for managing digital contents includes inputting digital contents from a digital contents provider, inputting playback positions of the digital contents at which at least one application will perform an operation, and generating a list of playback positions in which the playback positions are recorded, based on attribute information on the application. |
| US08971680B2 |
Waveguide with Controlled Light Collimation
A method is provided for controlling the collimation of light from a backlight top surface. A backlight device includes a first waveguide and a transparent top film overlying the first waveguide top surface. A plurality of bubble structures is formed in the top film bottom surface, having a refractive index less than a first waveguide medium. A plurality of lenses overlies the top film top surface, where each lens is aligned overlying a corresponding gap (W) between bubble structures. The method forms a maximum angle (α) of light propagation through the first waveguide medium. In response to the values W and H (bubble structure height), light, having the maximum angle (α) of light propagation, is reflected off the bubble structure sides, through total internal reflection, into the top film. The method collimates in a vertical direction, orthogonal to the horizontal direction, light exiting the top film through the lenses. |
| US08971678B2 |
Spacer resin pattern helping to reduce optical coupling loss in optical waveguide for light-emitting element or light-receiving element on semiconductor
Spacer resin pattern layer which precisely aligns a light-emitting element or a light-receiving element relative to both a waveguide pattern layer and electrical circuit pattern layer from the semiconductor wafer level. A substratum of resin having a through-hole provided for electrical communication with an electrical circuit pattern layer is formed on a semiconductor wafer. A truncated cone-shaped three-dimensional reflective surface is formed to guide the emitted light towards or received light from a waveguide pattern layer. A metal film is deposited planarly in a predetermined range from the center when positioned relative to the position of the through-hole. A truncated cone-shaped mold is stamped in the center. By modifying the direction of the light using this tapered structure, the precision tolerance is increased and optical loss is reduced. |
| US08971674B2 |
Optical device with high thermal tuning efficiency
An optical device with high thermal tuning efficiency is described. This optical device may be implemented using a tri-layer structure (silicon-on-insulator technology), including: a substrate, a buried-oxide layer and a semiconductor layer. In particular, a thermally tunable optical waveguide may be defined in the semiconductor layer. Furthermore, a portion of the substrate under the buried-oxide layer and substantially beneath a location of the thermally tunable optical waveguide is fabricated so that a portion of the buried-oxide layer is exposed. In this way, the thermal impedance between the thermally tunable optical waveguide and an external environment is increased, and power consumption associated with thermal tuning of the optical waveguide is reduced. |
| US08971671B2 |
Tunable RF filter device using optical waveguide paths with splitter and combiner pairs and related methods
A tunable Radio Frequency (RF) filter device includes a tunable optical source generating an optical carrier signal, and a modulator coupled to the tunable optical source and modulating the optical carrier signal with an RF input signal. The tunable RF filter device may include first and second optical waveguide paths coupled to the modulator and having first and second dispersion slopes of opposite sign from each other, one or more of the first and second optical waveguide paths comprising an optical splitter and combiner pair therein, and an optical-to-electrical converter coupled to the first and second optical waveguide paths and generating an RF output signal with a frequency notch therein based upon the tunable optical source. |
| US08971659B2 |
Bad pixel cluster detection
Systems and methods of bad pixel cluster detection are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a system is disclosed that includes a bad pixel correction module coupled to receive image data and adapted to perform a bad pixel cluster detection process. The bad pixel correction module includes logic to determine whether two test pixels have values that exceed a representative value of a group of surrounding pixels by more than a threshold amount. The threshold amount is determined via a table lookup. |
| US08971651B2 |
Videolens media engine
A system, method, and computer program product for automatically analyzing multimedia data are disclosed. Embodiments receive multimedia data, detect portions having specified features, and output a corresponding subset of the multimedia data. Content features from downloaded or streaming movies or video clips are identified as a human probably would do, but in essentially real time. Embodiments then generate an index or menu based on individual consumer preferences. Consumers can peruse the index, or produce customized trailers, or edit and tag content with metadata as desired. The tool can categorize and cluster content by feature, to assemble a library of scenes or scene clusters according to user-selected criteria. |
| US08971647B2 |
Image compression apparatus, image compression method, and storage medium
An image compression apparatus determines a first reduction ratio according to an available memory capacity and reduces a multivalued image by the determined first reduction ratio to generate a first reduced multivalued image, and extracts a representative color of a character region from the first reduced multivalued image. The image compression apparatus reduces the first reduced multivalued image to generate a second reduced multivalued image, and compresses the second reduced multivalued image to generate a first compressed code. The image compression apparatus compresses a partial binary image corresponding to the character region to generate a second compressed code. Then, the image compression apparatus outputs compressed data including the first compressed code, the second compressed code, positional information about the character region, and information about the representative color of the character region. |
| US08971639B2 |
Semantic theme based shape collage representation for an image collection
Examples disclosed herein relate to creating an image collage in a semantic theme based shape. For example, a processor may determine a semantic theme associated with an image collection, select a shape associated with the semantic theme, and create a collage of at least a subset of the image collection in the selected shape. The processor may output the created collage. |
| US08971637B1 |
Method and system for identifying an edge in an image
A method and system for identifying an edge in a portion of an image, the portion having an associated intensity variation. An edge candidate is detected at a local extremum of the intensity variation (i.e. at a position along the x-axis that corresponds to a peak or valley of the intensity variation). A local threshold associated with the edge candidate is computed on the basis of a slope tolerance and the slope value of the edge candidate, where this local threshold defines a boundary region for the edge candidate. If the edge candidate is determined to be a global extremum (i.e. the highest peak or lowest valley) within its respective boundary region, the edge candidate is verified as being an actual edge of the image portion. Identification of this verified edge may include determination of one or more of a plurality of characteristics of the edge. |
| US08971636B2 |
Image creating device, image creating method and recording medium
Disclosed is an image creating device including a first obtaining unit which obtains an image including a face, a first extraction unit which extracts a face component image relating to main components of the face in the image and a direction of the face, a second obtaining unit which obtains a face contour image associated to the face in the image and a second extraction unit which extracts a direction of a face contour in the face contour image. The image creating device further includes a converting unit which converts at least one of the face component image and the face contour image based on the both directions of the face and the face contour and a creating unit which creates a portrait image by using at least one of the face component image and the face contour image being converted by the converting unit. |
| US08971632B2 |
System for feature detection for low contrast images
A system for the identification of feature points in low contrast images. |
| US08971631B2 |
Data processing system, data processing method, and storage medium
According to one embodiment, a data processing system includes a touchscreen display, a recorder, and a processor. The recorder is configured to record a plurality of stroke data indicating loci handwritten on the touchscreen display and times respectively. The processor is configured to execute data processing using a first time indicated by first stroke data associated with first data and a second time indicated by second stroke data associated with second data. |
| US08971627B2 |
Template matching processing device and template matching processing program
The present invention is a template matching processing device capable of evaluating a similarity degree which supports even a case of intensive morphological change between a design image and a photographic image. In the template matching processing device, matching processing between the design image and the photographic image is performed, a partial design image is obtained by clipping a portion having the highest correlation (step 101), and processing for deforming the photographic image in accordance with the clipped design image (steps 102 to 105) is performed, so that correlation between the deformed image obtained and the design image is taken to be set as the similarity degree. |
| US08971626B1 |
Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for generating an equalized image using signature standardization from Weibull space
Systems, articles of manufacture, and methods for generating an equalized image using properties of the two-dimensional Weibull distribution. |
| US08971623B2 |
Overlaid user interface tools for applying effects to image
Some embodiments provide several on-image tools of image editing application for applying effects to an image. Some on-image tools are visible to the user and are overlaid on the image. Some on-image tools are not visible. The tools are for receiving a selection of a location of the image and for applying effects to at least an area of the image that does not include the location of the image. |
| US08971621B2 |
Toner limit processing mechanism
A method is disclosed. The method includes analyzing each tile of a sheetside image to determine if one or more color values of a tile exceeds a predetermined maximum value. |
| US08971618B2 |
Measuring translucence
A target and a method to use the target to determine the translucence of media is disclosed. The target has a first region and a second region. The first region comprises a color chart. The second region comprises a test pattern that is covered by the sample media when the sample media is loaded onto the target. The test target has a first area and a second area. An image of the target loaded with the sample media is used to determine the translucence of the sample media. The color of the media over the first and second areas of the test target are matched to the nearest color patches in the image of the color chart. The estimated actual colors of the media over the first and second areas of the test target are determined using the known colors of the nearest color patches. The translucence is determined using the difference between the estimated actual colors of the media over the first and second areas of the test target. |
| US08971615B2 |
Image type classifier for improved remote presentation session compression
An invention is disclosed for classifying a graphic—e.g. as text or non-text. In embodiments, machine learning is used to generate a solution for classifying graphics of a graphic based on providing the machine learning system a plurality of graphics that are already classified. The way to determine a classification is then used by a remote presentation session server to classify tiles of frames to be transmitted to a client in a remote presentation session. The server encodes the tiles based on their classifications and transmits the encoded tiles to the client. |
| US08971613B2 |
Image processing learning device, image processing learning method, and image processing learning program
Disclosed is an image processing learning device with which face direction estimation processing and face detection processing can be executed simultaneously and with high precision without incurring significant costs. The image processing learning device comprises: a face direction identification unit, a position estimation unit, a face identification unit, a first update quantity calculation unit, a second update quantity calculation unit, and a parameter update unit. |
| US08971611B2 |
Image process device, image process method, and image process program
A mask correcting unit corrects an externally set mask pattern. A depth map processing unit processes a depth map of an input image for each of a plurality of regions designated by a plurality of mask patterns corrected by the mask correcting unit. An image generation unit generates an image of a different viewpoint on the basis of the input image and depth maps processed by the depth map processing unit. The mask correcting unit performs a blurring process on an object boundary part of the mask pattern. |
| US08971608B2 |
Volumetric rendering of image data
A method includes obtaining image data generated by an imaging system (100), generating data indicative of a degree to which each of a plurality of voxels of the image data corresponds to one or more predetermined geometrical features, wherein each geometrical feature is assigned a different color, generating a signal indicative of a single color value for each of the plurality of voxels based on the degree and the colors, generating a volumetric rending of the image data based on the signal, generating a link between voxels of the volumetric rendering and voxels of the image data, and visually presenting the image data and the volumetric rendering concurrently. The geometrical features represent local shape features which are determined by ray casting with the rays being used for the computation of a quadric represented by a matrix and with the eigenvalues of said matrix determine the degree to which voxels correspond to some local geometric shape features (i.e. blobness, tubularness). |
| US08971602B2 |
Method for magnetic resonance elastography using transient waveforms
A dynamic magnetic resonance elastography (“MRE”) method for quantifying liver stiffness using intrinsic transient waveforms imparted on the liver by the beating heart is provided. The method includes synchronizing motion-encoding gradients in an MRE pulse sequence to the subject's cardiac cycle. |
| US08971601B2 |
Medical image diagnosis device and medical image processing method
A medical image diagnosis device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: an imaging unit that takes an image of a subject, with an X-ray generation unit which exposes the subject to X-rays and an X-ray detector which detects X-rays that have passed through the subject, being supported on a supporter; a control unit that controls so as to rotate and move the supporter with respect to the subject and take images of the subject from a plurality of viewpoints; a storage unit that stores image data taken from a plurality of the viewpoints; an image processing unit that classifies a plurality of pieces of the image data stored in the storage unit into a plurality of imaging ranges to generate thumbnail images; and a display unit that displays thumbnail images generated by the image processing unit. |
| US08971598B2 |
Image viewing window
A method for visualizing a region of interest within a viewport includes presenting tomographic image data as an image in a viewport using a set of global image processing operations, presenting a viewing window in the main viewport; and using a second, different set of image processing operations that is local to the viewing window, wherein the second, different set of image processing operations reduces image artifact with respect to a desired structure of interest in the viewing window. |
| US08971597B2 |
Efficient vision and kinematic data fusion for robotic surgical instruments and other applications
Robotic devices, systems, and methods for use in telesurgical therapies through minimally invasive apertures make use of joint-based data throughout much of the robotic kinematic chain, but selectively rely on information from an image capture device to determine location and orientation along the linkage adjacent a pivotal center at which a shaft of the robotic surgical tool enters the patient. A bias offset may be applied to a pose (including both an orientation and a location) at the pivotal center to enhance accuracy. The bias offset may be applied as a simple rigid transformation from the image-based pivotal center pose to a joint-based pivotal center pose. |
| US08971592B2 |
Method for determining eye location on a frontal face digital image to validate the frontal face and determine points of reference
A method is described for determining eye location on a frontal face digital image in order to validate the frontal face as such and determine points of reference. The method consists of the following steps: obtain a frontal face digital image that is W pixels wide and H pixels high in grayscale, where the top left vertex of the digital image is considered to be the reference source; detect each eye, starting from a search subimage of the frontal face digital image, delivering approximate coordinates if both eyes have been detected, or an arbitrary predetermined value to indicate no eye detection; locate the iris of each eye, if both eyes have been detected, starting from the approximate coordinates, validating the frontal face digital image by delivering eye positions; or, validate the frontal face digital image if one or both eyes have not been detected by submitting a search subimage defined by an area resulting from centering a square of area L in the original image, where L=0.8×W, delivering coordinates for the eyes. |
| US08971582B2 |
Method and system for recording and transferring motor vehicle information
An improved system and method for capturing and uploading pertinent information related to a motor vehicle that is accurate, simple to use, and may be implemented on a wide-array of mobile devices in a cost-effective manner. Methods are also disclosed for users of the mobile devices to send identifying information to a database, where the identifying information is compared to other motor vehicle identifying information located the database. |
| US08971576B2 |
Information processing apparatus and processing method thereof
An information processing apparatus acquires a plurality of geometric features and normals at the respective geometric features from a target object arranged at the first position. The information processing apparatus also acquires a plurality of normals corresponding to the respective geometric features of the target object from a shape model for the target object that is arranged at the second position different from the first position. The information processing apparatus calculates direction differences between the acquired normals for respective pairs of corresponding geometric features of the target object and shape model. The information processing apparatus determines whether or not occlusion occurs at each geometric feature by comparing the calculated direction differences with each other. |
| US08971569B2 |
Marker processing method, marker processing device, marker, object having a marker, and marker processing program
A marker processing method includes: (a) binarizing a shot image; (b) labeling one or more constituents of the image detected based on the image binarized in step (a); (c) obtaining a region centroid of each of the constituents corresponding to the respective labels processed in step (b); (d) obtaining a degree of overlap of the region centroids of the constituents corresponding respectively to the labels, obtained in step (c); and (e) detecting a marker based on the degree of overlap of the region centroids obtained in step (d). |
| US08971565B2 |
Human interface electronic device
According to one general aspect, an apparatus configured to facilitate user gesture-based input may include an optical sensor, a plurality of infrared sensors, and processor. In various embodiments, the optical sensor may be configured to capture image data, within the visual spectrum. In some embodiments, the plurality of infrared sensors configured capture positional information regarding gestures made by a user. In one embodiment, the processor may be configured to receive the image data captured by the optical sensor and the positional information captured by the plurality of infrared sensors. In some embodiments, the processor may be configured to process the image data captured by the optical sensor. In various embodiments, the processor may be configured to determine, for each infrared sensor, a movement vector including coordinates that represents movement associated with the respective infrared sensor. In one embodiment, the apparatus may be configured to provide signals relating to the processed image data and the plurality of movement vectors to a host apparatus configured to be controlled, at least in part, by gestures made by the user. |
| US08971559B2 |
Switching structures for hearing aid
A hearing aid is provided with a switch that automatically, non-manually switches at least one of inputs, filters, or programmable parameters in the presence of a magnetic field. |
| US08971558B2 |
Hearing device with external electrode
A hearing device has a housing and a first electrode arranged to abut the skin of the individual. The hearing device further comprises at least two different elements selected from the group comprising: a brain-wave measurement circuit receiving measurement signals from the first electrode and from a second electrode arranged to abut the skin of the individual; a communication circuit receiving communication signals from and/or transmitting communication signals to the first electrode; a touch-sensing circuit transmitting sensing signals to the first electrode; a thermoelectric generator thermally connected to the outer surface of the housing mainly through the first electrode; and a charge control circuit sinking a charging current in dependence on a voltage across the first electrode and a third electrode. |
| US08971555B2 |
Multi-mode, wearable, wireless microphone
A microphone assembly that captures audio/voice recordings and wirelessly transmits them to different desired network destinations based on an operating mode specified by the user. The microphone assembly may comprise a non-graphical-display user interface tap detection circuit, through which a user of the microphone assembly controls operation of the microphone assembly. For example, the user may tap the user interface tap detection circuit, and different tap sequences may correspond to different operating modes for the microphone assembly. The microphone assembly may also comprise a clip for clipping the microphone assembly to a garment of the user. |
| US08971552B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device capable of improving the ease of assembling a speaker and a microphone and ensuring the sound insulation for the speaker and microphone with a less number of parts. When the electronic device is assembled, a protrusion portion of the holding member and an elastic member disposed on an upper surface of the speaker are brought in close contact with an upper plate portion of a front cover, whereby a space defined by the protrusion portion, an upper surface of the microphone, and a microphone hole formed surface of the upper plate portion and a space defined by the elastic member, the upper surface of the speaker, and a speaker hole formed surface of the upper plate portion are each isolated and shielded from another space defined inside of the front cover. |
| US08971550B2 |
Signal processing device and signal processing method
A signal processing device includes: a detection unit generating a digital detection signal corresponding to motion of a diaphragm of a speaker to output the digital detection signal; a gain adjustment unit generating a digital feedback signal by multiplying the outputted digital detection signal by again coefficient to output the generated digital feedback signal; a combining unit combining the outputted digital feedback signal with a digital audio signal; a storage unit storing plural gain coefficients; and a control unit performing control so that a given gain coefficient is selected from the plural gain coefficients and that the selected gain coefficient is used for the multiplication. |
| US08971546B2 |
Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to control audio playback devices
Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to control audio playback devices are disclosed. An example audio playback device includes an audio output device to generate audio signals based on a signal source, a device interface to receive a first message from a first audio information source, and a source selector to change the signal source from a second audio information source to the first audio information source based on the first message. |
| US08971543B1 |
Voice controlled assistant with stereo sound from two speakers
A voice controlled assistant has two speakers and stereo component configured to produce high quality stereo sound. The stereo component generates a first channel signal and a second channel signal used to produce stereo sound. The first channel signal is filtered to remove a range of frequencies, such as the low frequency range. The filtered first channel signal is passed to a first transducer associated with a first speaker to output a first part of the stereo sound. The second channel signal, together with the frequency portion removed from the first channel signal, are provided to a second transducer associated with a second speaker to output a second part of the stereo sound. In this manner, the two speaker arrangement plays stereo, without distortion, while preserving all frequencies in the signals. |
| US08971540B2 |
Authentication
A method in a first entity for authenticating itself to a second entity by proving to the second entity that it is in possession of a full secret without sending the full secret to the second entity, the method comprising: receiving in the first entity an input from a user, the full secret having been divided into at least a first factor and a second factor and the input relating to the second factor of the full secret; reconstructing in the first entity the full secret from at least the first factor and the input; and carrying out a calculation in the first entity using the reconstructed full secret and sending the results of the calculation to the second entity, wherein the results provide an input to a pairing calculation in the second entity. |
| US08971536B2 |
Balanced entropy random number generator
A method of generating a number includes asynchronously updating a plurality of linear feedback shift registers, selecting a mixing function using a balanced entropy value, and determining the number from bit values selected from the plurality of linear feedback shift registers based on the selected mixing function. |
| US08971532B1 |
System and methods for protecting video content
Systems and methods for content-protecting video codecs are described. At least one embodiment of the invention comprises a system for protecting video content comprising computer memory comprising a stored set of instructions for processing video data; and at least one microprocessor configured to process the video data according to the stored set of instructions, the stored set of instructions requiring identification of data to be removed, at least a portion of which is essential to obtaining a visually acceptable reproduction of video, the stored set of instructions being further configured to replace removed data with data-hiding values, wherein the visually acceptable reproduction of video cannot be generated without a key that enables recovery of enough of the removed data from the data-hiding values that replaced the removed data. |
| US08971531B2 |
Data embedding system
A system and method for embedding data is provided. The method comprises dividing the host data set into a plurality of blocks, wherein each block comprises a plurality of elements, generating a pattern connecting the elements of each block; and embedding data on the elements of block based on the pattern. |
| US08971529B2 |
Information recording device
A data storage unit may store an encrypted medium device key Enc (Kcu, Kmd_i), and a medium device key certificate (Certmedia).A controller further includes: an information recording unit configured to store a controller key (Kc) and first controller identification information (IDcu). A key generation unit executes a one-way function calculation based on the controller key and the first controller identification information to generate a controller unique key (Kcu). An identification information generating unit executes a one-way function calculation based on on the controller key and the first controller identification information to generate second controller identification information (IDcntr). A key encryption unit encrypts the medium device key (Kmd_i) by the controller unique key (Kcu) to generate encrypted medium device key Enc (Kcu, Kmd_i). A key exchange unit executes an authentication key exchange process with a host device using the medium device key (Kmd_i) and the medium device key certificate (Certmedia). |
| US08971525B2 |
Method, module and system for providing cipher data
A method of providing cipher data during a period of time when output of a primary source of cipher data is unavailable is disclosed. The method comprises switching from a primary source of cipher data to an alternate source of cipher data at a beginning of the period of time; using the cipher data from the alternate source during the period of time; and switching back to the primary source at an end of the period of time. |
| US08971520B1 |
Method for optimizing skill assignment in call center agent applications
The present invention relates to the assignment of calls to groups of call handlers in a call center environment. According to certain aspects, the present invention achieves an optimal balance between the level of service and overall cost by assigning a “common” pool skill to all call handlers in the system and by secondarily assigning one or more additional “rare” pool skills to each call handler. In this configuration, any call handler may receive calls (or other multiple media work assignments) from the states in the common pool while also receiving calls from the states in their additional rare pool(s). According to other aspects, a method according to the invention optimizes the selection of the skills to be included in each of the pools. |
| US08971515B2 |
Method to stream compressed digital audio over circuit switched, voice networks
A system and a method for streaming audio data to a plurality of callers in a telecommunication system have been disclosed. The system facilitates streaming of audio data to a plurality of callers by establishing a single connection with an audio data publisher. The system receives the audio data from the audio data publisher over the internet or a similar network and streams the audio data to a plurality of callers over a telecommunication network. The audio data can be streamed to a caller as a ring-back tone of a callee. |
| US08971514B2 |
Avoiding failed routes
A system may include a failed route avoidance device. The failed route avoidance device may receive a notification that a record, of a call that failed to be extended to a contact agent in a customer network, is inserted into a failed call list; determine whether an identifier for the contact agent associated with the call is to be placed in an avoidance list based on a response code that a network element sends, to a call router that received the call, when the a connection from the call at the call router to the contact agent fails to be established; generate an avoidance record when the failed route avoidance device determines that the identifier for the contact agent is to be placed in the avoidance list; and send the avoidance record to a configuration device that inserts the avoidance record into the avoidance list. |
| US08971510B2 |
Mobile browsing
The present invention resides in one aspect in a system including a user operable portable radio communication device and a server. The invention includes the portable radio communication device comprising a sensor adapted to allow automatic input of data to the portable radio communication device, a controller for controlling the device, a browser adapted to download content from the server, the controller being arranged to be responsive to data input via said sensor so as control the browser to download content from a server associated with the input data, means for providing for information personal to a user, and contextualization means configured to contextualize the downloaded content with the personal information. |
| US08971509B2 |
Feature-based software system for programming of a business PBX
A system for processing phone calls comprising a network of servers in communication with telephonic communication devices, and software stored on and executable by the servers, the software being configured to receive inputs from a user, generate an ordered set of PBX Feature definitions executable by the server network in a distributed fashion to perform respective PBX Feature tasks related to telephone calls, and write the PBX Feature definitions to a distributed database system that is accessible by the servers. The ordered set may evaluate the current state of a phone call, and each PBX feature definition may perform a respective task responsive to the evaluated state. Each PBX Feature definition is executable to define and store a new state of the phone call. Each PBX Feature definition generated by the software is configured to be combined with any other PBX Feature definition generable by the software. |
| US08971508B2 |
Universal point of contact identifier system and method
A subscriber to a universal point of contact service designates a preferred point of contact at which a communication initiator, such as a telephone caller, can contact the subscriber. Such an initiator desiring to contact the subscriber uses the subscriber's email address to establish a communication session with a device associated with the subscriber's preferred point of contact. The subscriber's email address is input to an initiating device, preferably a telephone or facsimile machine, using an entry device capable of entering an email address. A requestor unit, receiving the email address, locates a repository of the subscriber's point of contact information, and requests that information. The repository sends the point of contact information the subscriber has designated as preferred, and the requestor unit uses that information to control a telephone switch to establish a communication session between the initiating device and the subscriber's preferred point of contact device. |
| US08971507B2 |
Facsimile server, facsimile system, and facsimile transmission method
A facsimile server includes: a communication section configured to receive a transmit file containing meta-information relating to a phone number and transmit information from an external device, a facsimile image generating section configured to convert the transmit information into a facsimile image, a phone number processing section configured to obtain the phone number from the meta-information, and a FAX modem processing section configured to connect to a public switched telephone network according to the phone number obtained by the phone number processing section and transmit the facsimile image to the public switched telephone network. |
| US08971504B2 |
Advanced voice and data operations in a mobile data communication device
A system and method for integrating voice and data operations into a single mobile device capable of simultaneously performing data and voice actions. The mobile device working in a network capable of exchanging both cell phone calls and data items to the mobile device. By wearing an earphone or an ear-bud device the user is capable of dealing with voice conversations while working with data centric information related to the current caller. By providing a data-centric device with voice capabilities there is a new range of features that allow incoming data events to trigger outgoing voice events. |
| US08971499B1 |
Method and apparatus of analyzing customer call data to monitor customer call behavior
A method and apparatus of processing a customer call is disclosed. The customer call may be initiated for an interactive voice response (IVR) type call system. One example method may include processing an interactive voice response (IVR) customer call. The method may include receiving customer call input to IVR call menu prompts, evaluating customer call interactions with the IVR call menu prompts, and calculating at least one usability score of the customer's interactions with the IVR call menu prompts. The method may also include displaying the results of the at least one usability scores on a user interface. |
| US08971498B2 |
Contour collimator and adaptive filter having a magnetic fluid absorbing x-ray radiation and associated method
A contour collimator or an adaptive filter for adjusting a contour of a ray path of x-ray radiation is provided. The apparatus includes a magnetic fluid that is impermeable to x-ray radiation and a number of switchable magnet elements, by which an aperture forming the contour may be formed in the magnetic fluid. |
| US08971496B2 |
X-ray waveguide
An X-ray waveguide showing a small propagation loss and having a waveguide mode with its phase controlled is provided. The X-ray waveguide including: a core for guiding an X-ray in a wavelength band that a real part of the refractive index of a material is 1 or less; and a cladding for confining the X-ray in the core, in which: the X-ray is confined in the core by total reflection at a interface between the core and the cladding; in the core multiple materials having different real parts of the refractive index are periodically arranged; and a waveguide mode of the X-ray waveguide is such that the number of antinodes or nodes of an electric field intensity distribution or a magnetic field intensity distribution of the X-ray coincides with the number of periods of the periodic structure in a direction perpendicular to a waveguiding direction of the X-ray in the core. |
| US08971494B2 |
Radiation imaging apparatus and control method thereof, and radiation imaging system
Besides normal pixels, a plurality detection pixels are arranged in an imaging surface of an FPD. In preliminary imaging, X-rays are emitted to an imaged body portion of a patient. The detection pixels receive the X-rays passed through the body portion, and output AEC detection signals. If an integral value of the AEC detection signals has reached a threshold value, X-ray emission is stopped and the preliminary imaging is completed. A main exposure condition determination unit determines a main irradiation time, being an irradiation time with the X-rays during the main imaging, based on an irradiation time with the X-rays during the preliminary imaging and the integral value of the AEC detection signals. The main imaging is performed using the main irradiation time. The normal pixels continue a charge accumulation operation over the preliminary imaging and the main imaging to produce an X-ray image for use in diagnosis. |
| US08971493B2 |
System for image scanning and acquisition with low-dose radiation
A medical imaging system adaptively acquires anatomical images using a shape adaptive collimator including multiple different portions of X-ray absorbent material automatically adjustable to alter the dimensions of a spatial cross section of an X-ray beam of radiation into a non-rectangular shape, in response to a control signal. The synchronization processor provides a heart rate related synchronization signal derived from a patient cardiac function related parameter. The synchronization signal enables adaptive variation in timing of image acquisition within an individual heart cycle and between successive heart cycles of each individual image frame of multiple sequential image frames. The X-ray image acquisition device uses the shape adaptive collimator for acquiring anatomical images of the region of interest with reduced patient X-ray exposure in response to the synchronization signal. A display processor presents resultant images. |
| US08971489B2 |
Method and system for real-time DMLC-based target tracking with optimal motion compensating leaf adaptation
A method of multileaf collimator (MLC) leaf positioning in tracking-based adaptive radiotherapy is provided. The method includes determining a radiotherapy beam pattern by transforming a treatment beam plan into radiotherapy beam coordinates, determining a dose discrepancy between the radiotherapy beam pattern and a deliverable MLC aperture, where the dose discrepancy includes a sum of an overdose cost and an underdose cost to a treatment volume, and minimizing the dose discrepancy, where the dose discrepancy minimization provides a determined deliverable MLC aperture for the radiotherapy beam. |
| US08971486B2 |
System and method for x-ray inspection
Methods and systems for x-ray inspection are provided. The system can include a source of radiant energy configured so that the radiant energy traverses a scanning volume. The system can further include a filter between the source and the scanning volume, a conveying apparatus configured to impart relative motion between an exposure-limited subject and the scanning volume, a conveyance monitor configured to generate conveyance data reflecting a conveyance state of the exposure-limited subject, a radiant energy sensing apparatus configured to sense radiant energy from the source and to generate source radiant energy data, and a dose controller configured to acquire conveyance data, source radiant energy data, and a signal related to subject dose data, and to generate a measure that a portion of the exposure-limited subject has acquired a dose of radiant energy above a dose threshold. |
| US08971484B2 |
High speed, small footprint x-ray tomography inspection systems, devices, and methods
The present subject matter relates to inspection systems, devices and methods for x-ray inspection of objects. A conveyor can move an object to be inspected through an inspection zone along a direction of travel, one or more multibeam x-ray source arrays can provide multiple collimated x-ray beams through the inspection zone along a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel, and one or more x-ray detector arrays can detect x-ray beams passing through the inspection zone from the x-ray source array. X-ray signals detected by the x-ray detector array can be recorded to form multiple x-ray projection images of the object, and the multiple x-ray projection images can be processed into three-dimensional tomographic images of the object. |
| US08971482B2 |
Anatomical imaging system with centipede belt drive and bottom notch to accommodate base of patient support
An apparatus for imaging an object comprising: an imaging device configured to image the object while the object is supported on a support, the support comprising a base for positioning on a surface, wherein the object and the support are stationary relative to the surface, and further wherein the imaging device is adapted to move relative to the surface, and hence relative to the object and to the support, during imaging; the imaging device comprising a housing having a bottom notch sized to accommodate the base of the support, whereby to allow the base of the support to extend into the housing during imaging. |
| US08971478B2 |
Shift register, signal line drive circuit, liquid crystal display device
A shift register includes a plurality of stages of unit circuits each including a flip-flop. Each of the unit circuits generates, by obtaining a sync signal in accordance with an output from the flip-flop, an output signal. The flip-flop includes a first switch and a second switch and a latch circuit for latching a signal supplied thereto and outputting the signal as the output from the flip-flop. A first shift direction signal is supplied to the latch circuit via the first switch, and the second shift direction signal is supplied to the latch circuit via the second switch. In each unit circuit other than those of the first and last stages, an output signal from a previous stage is supplied to a control terminal of the first switch, and an output signal from a subsequent stage is supplied to a control terminal of the second switch. |
| US08971477B2 |
Integral helical coil pressurized water nuclear reactor
An integral pressurized water nuclear reactor for the production of steam utilizing a helical coil steam generator, a plurality of internal circulation pumps, and an internal control rod drive mechanism structure. |
| US08971474B2 |
Automated nuclear power reactor for long-term operation
Exemplary embodiments provide automated nuclear fission reactors and methods for their operation. Exemplary embodiments and aspects include, without limitation, re-use of nuclear fission fuel, alternate fuels and fuel geometries, modular fuel cores, fast fluid cooling, variable burn-up, programmable nuclear thermostats, fast flux irradiation, temperature-driven surface area/volume ratio neutron absorption, low coolant temperature cores, refueling, and the like. |
| US08971472B2 |
Signal processing circuit and method
A signal processing circuit includes a PLL circuit configured to lock to a frequency contained in an input signal, a signal generating circuit configured to detect a direct-current component of a signal that is obtained by shifting frequencies of the input signal by a displacement equal to the locked frequency, and to generate a signal that has an amplitude responsive to the detected direct-current component and that has the same frequency and phase as a signal component of the locked frequency of the input signal, and a subtraction circuit configured to subtract the signal generated by the signal generating circuit from the input signal. |
| US08971468B1 |
Increasing the resolution of serial data recovery units (DRUs) based on interleaved free running oversamplers
The methods and apparatus disclosed herein provide an operative system for increasing the resolution of serial DRUs based on interleaved free running oversamplers. In particular, this system uses incoming data to measure and to compensate the skew between two or more free running oversamplers (e.g., SerDes), without the need for any hardware design requirement relating to the precision of the relative skew of the oversamplers. |
| US08971465B2 |
Receiver-side estimation of and compensation for signal impairments
A receiver receives a repeating or periodic signal and, based on the signal, estimates a carrier frequency offset for the receiver. Based on the signal and the estimated carrier offset, an I/Q mismatch for the receiver is estimated and compensation for the estimated I/Q mismatch is performed. After compensating for the estimated receiver I/Q mismatch, the carrier frequency offset is re-estimated. |
| US08971464B2 |
Crest factor reduction for signals with dynamic power and frequency distribution
A method to form a CFR cancellation filter for signals with dynamic power and frequency distribution by estimating the filter at the rate required by the input signal's dynamics. For mixed mode systems (for example CDMA and LTE) the CFR is computed for each stream, and combined to form the final filter. |
| US08971463B2 |
Channel estimation in a communications system
A method includes generating representative noise variance estimates based on a plurality of received symbols received in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal. The representative noise variance estimates correspond to respective frequency intervals of a plurality of frequency intervals of the OFDM channel. Individual frequency intervals of the plurality of frequency intervals include a plurality of contiguous frequency bins of the OFDM signal. |
| US08971461B2 |
CQI and rank prediction for list sphere decoding and ML MIMO receivers
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate integrating a list-sphere decoding design in a multiple input-multiple output (MIMO wireless communication environment. According to various aspects, optimal rank selection and CQI computation for an optimal rank can be performed in conjunction with a non-linear receiver, such as a maximum life (ML) MMSE receiver, a non-linear receiver with a list-sphere decoder, and the like. Optimal rank selection can be performed using a maximum rank selection protocol, a channel capacity-based protocol, or any other suitable protocol that facilitates rank selection, and CQI information can be generated based in part on effective SNRs determined with regard to a selected optimal rank. |
| US08971458B2 |
Space-time/space-frequency coding for multi-site and multi-beam transmission
The present invention relates to space-time or space-frequency coding in cellular systems. The same data is transmitted from different antennas with different coverage areas, corresponding to different cells. The different data streams have different parts of the space-time block codes applied. A mobile terminal can combine the different parts of the space-time block codes in different received signals. This provides better performance than the known techniques for single frequency networks. The invention can also be applied to antennas with different coverage areas from the same site, and different beams formed with antenna arrays. |
| US08971456B2 |
Apparatus and method for a dual watch receiver
A receiver for a wireless communication device provides a dual path receiver receiving first and second protocol-agnostic, uncorrelated receive signals simultaneously. The dual path receiver generating first and second offset IF signals from the simultaneously received first and second protocol-agnostic, uncorrelated receive signals. The receiver utilizes at least one converter for converting the first and second offset IF signals into at least one serial synchronous interface (SSI) signal representing the spectrum at IF. At least one processor receives the at least one SSI signal and applies parallel processing paths to demodulate the at least one SSI signal into separate baseband signals. The processor provides interference detection of, and level control for, the first and second offset IF signals. |
| US08971451B2 |
Efficient baseband signal processing system and method
According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a digital signal processor configured to perform a multiple antenna detection portion of a baseband signal processing process using a first floating point processing unit, and perform all other portions of the baseband signal processing process using a half-precision floating point processing unit. The first floating point processing unit has a bit width that is larger than the bit width of the half-precision floating point processing unit. |
| US08971447B1 |
Variable delay of data signals
A data signal delay system may include a delay unit and a phase interpolation unit. The delay unit may include multiple delay elements that each have an element delay. The delay unit may be configured to generate multiple delay signals by delaying a data signal using the delay elements such that each of the delay signals has a different delay. The phase interpolation unit may be coupled to the delay unit and may include a mixer. The mixer may be configured to mix two of the delay signals based on mixing weights selected for the two delay signals to generate a final delayed data signal that is the data signal delayed by a final delay. The mixing weights may be selected based on the final delay. |
| US08971443B2 |
Dynamically adjusting number of transmit antennas for MIMO systems to use greater transmit power
Techniques are presented to reduce the number of antennas used for a transmission for a given antenna configuration and data rate. At a wireless communication device having a plurality of antennas and capable of sending a transmission via one or more of the plurality of antennas, a determination is made of a data rate and antenna configuration to be used for a transmission. A comparison is made between a total transmit power for a minimum number of antennas for the data rate to be used for the transmission and a total transmit power associated with the antenna configuration for the transmission. When the total transmit power for a minimum number of antennas for the data rate is greater than the total transmit power associated with the antenna configuration for the transmission, the transmission is sent with the minimum number of antennas. |
| US08971438B2 |
Methods and apparatus for simplified beamforming
Systems, methods, and devices for simplified beamforming are provided. In one aspect, a plurality of signals from a signal transmitter are received over a wireless network on one or more receive antennas. One or more phase differences are then determined that maximize a signal to noise ratio of the plurality of received signals. Data representing the one or more phase differences is then transmitted to the signal transmitter. |
| US08971426B2 |
Adaptive multiple antenna transmission method and apparatus in accordance with antenna transmission power in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and an adaptive multiple antenna transmission method and apparatus in accordance with antenna transmission power are disclosed. A method of performing multiple antenna transmission from a terminal to a base station according to one embodiment of the present invention may include the steps of: determining a reference value for a transmission power of each of a plurality of transmit antennas of the terminal; grouping the plurality of transmit antennas into a first group of transmit antennas and a second group of transmit antennas in accordance with the determined reference value; and transmitting a signal to the base station through at least one of the first group of the transmit antennas and the second group of transmit antennas. |
| US08971423B1 |
Systems and methods for locking an oscillator to an incoming data signal
In one example, a system includes an oscillator adapted to provide an oscillator signal, a frequency divider adapted to divide the oscillator signal to provide a divided oscillator signal, and a phase-frequency detector adapted to provide phase-frequency detection signals in response to a reference clock signal and the divided oscillator signal. The system also includes a charge pump adapted to provide first output signals in response to the phase-frequency detection signals, a phase detector adapted provide second output signals in response to an incoming data signal and the oscillator signal, and one or more switches adapted to pass the first output signals during a frequency acquisition mode and pass the second output signals during a phase lock mode. The system also includes an active filter adapted to filter the passed first or second output signals. The oscillator is adapted to adjust a frequency of the oscillator signal in response to the filtered first or second output signals. |
| US08971422B2 |
Communication apparatus, integrated circuit, and communication method
In communication method for communicating via a transmission channel to which first communication apparatuses communicating based on a first communication system, second communication apparatuses communicating based on a second communication system, and third communication apparatuses communicating based on a third communication system are connected, a data transmission domain and a notification domain for notifying a data transmission within the data transmission domain are allocated to the first communication apparatuses, the second communication apparatuses, and the third communication apparatuses, respectively. In the communication method, notices of the data transmission for each of the first communication apparatuses, the second communication apparatuses and the third communication apparatuses are transmitted within the notification domain, and the data transmission domain is reallocated in accordance with the notices transmitted from the first, second and third communication apparatuses. |
| US08971415B2 |
Video communication system, device and method based on feedback reference frames
Embodiments of the invention provide a video communication system, device and method on the basis of feedback reference frame. The method includes: receiving, by a video encoding end, video frame information fed back by a video decoding end, determining a reference frame for encoding current video image according to the video frame information; encoding the current video image according to determined reference frame, and sending a video frame formed after the encoding; decoding, by the video decoding end, received video frame, and feeding back the video frame information to the video encoding end through a network and according to decoding result. By adopting embodiments of the invention, network data flow may be reduced. Meanwhile, phenomenon which may cause greater impact on the network, when it is necessary to send larger data amount since frame-loss or failed-decoding, may be avoided. |
| US08971406B2 |
Image coding method, image decoding method, image coding apparatus, image decoding apparatus, and image coding and decoding apparatus
An image coding method includes: writing, into a sequence parameter set, buffer description defining information for defining a plurality of buffer descriptions; selecting one of the buffer descriptions for each processing unit that is a picture or a slice, and writing buffer description selecting information for specifying the selected buffer description, into a first header of the processing unit which is included in the coded bitstream; and coding the processing unit using the selected buffer description, and the buffer description defining information includes long-term information for identifying, among a plurality of reference pictures indicated in the buffer descriptions, a reference picture to be assigned as a long-term reference picture. |
| US08971404B2 |
Digital broadcast receiving apparatus, digital broadcast receiving method and computer program
A digital broadcast receiving apparatus with enhanced tuning speed is provided. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus includes a data separating unit that separates the encoded stream of a tuned broadcast program and a plurality of latest tuning information from a digital broadcast stream, on the basis of stored tuning information recorded in a tuning information table, a decoding unit that performs a decoding process on the separated encoded stream, and a tuning control unit. The tuning control unit concurrently executes a first reception confirmation process to decide whether first tuning information included in the latest tuning information is consistent with the stored tuning information and a second reception confirmation process to decide whether second tuning information in the latest tuning information is consistent with the stored tuning information. The tuning control unit executes the first and second reception confirmation processes concurrently with the decoding process. |
| US08971392B2 |
Method and arrangement in a DSL vectoring system
Method and arrangement in a Vectoring Control Entity, VCE, for handling disorderly events in a Digital Subscriber Line, DSL, system. The method involves a number of actions, to be performed when a disorderly event occurs on a line m in a vectored group of DSL lines, and the transmission on line m is continued. The method comprises obtaining error samples from Customer Premises Equipments, CPEs, connected to other lines in the vectored group of DSL lines. The method further comprises—calculating an estimate of the channel coefficients changed due to the disorderly event, based on the error samples, thus providing a partial channel estimate. Further, the method comprises—modifying a downstream precoder, at least partly based on the partial channel estimate, such that retraining of the other lines in the vectored group due to the disorderly event is avoided.The arrangement is adapted to enable the performance of the above described method. |
| US08971387B2 |
System and method for providing a full fail-safe capability in signal transmission networks
Systems and methods for providing a full fail-safe capability in signal transmission networks are disclosed. For example, a system for providing a full fail-safe capability in signal transmission networks includes at least a first electronic circuit to transmit and receive signals or data, at least one driver unit coupled to the at least a first electronic circuit, and at least one receiver unit coupled to the at least a first electronic circuit and the at least one driver unit. The at least one receiver unit includes at least one offset signal generating unit, a signal comparing unit, and a switching unit to couple an offset signal from the at least one offset signal generating unit to an input of the signal comparing unit. |
| US08971383B2 |
Generating and processing of CDMA signals
Systems and methods for generating a CDMA signal s(t) comprising N components involves assigning to each of the N components one unique spreading sequence an selected from a set of M spreading sequences with M≧N, modulating the symbols dn of each component on the assigned unique spreading sequence an, and combining the N symbols dn each being spread with its own unique spreading sequence an to a CDMA signal s(t). The assigned spreading sequences an are selected such that all selected pairs within the set of N spreading sequences are orthogonal or very close to be orthogonal so that cross-correlation components between all spreading sequences an are close to zero or zero. |
| US08971377B2 |
Frequency hopping
A communications node includes data defining a division of a communications channel into a plurality of contiguous sub-bands each having N frequency resources, data defining an initial allocation of the frequency resources, a resource determination module operable to apply a frequency shift to the initially allocated frequency resources in accordance with a frequency hopping sequence to determine frequency resources to use for communicating information according to the following: y={x+a(t)N} mod NRB where NRB is the total number of frequency resources in the transmission band; N is the number of contiguous frequency resources in each sub-band; x is the initially allocated frequency resource; y is the frequency hopped resource; t is a time counter; a(t) is the frequency hopping shift applied at time point t, and is an integer value from the set {0, 1, . . . , S−1}; and S is the number of sub-bands; and a transceiver. |
| US08971374B2 |
Device for generating electromagnetic radiation
A device for generating electromagnetic radiation includes a light source (1) generating a first radiation (7) at a fundamental wavelength, an optical resonator (2) in which the first radiation (7) circulates, and a frequency multiplier (8) located in the optical resonator (2) which converts the first radiation (7) at least partly into a second radiation (9) at a second or higher harmonic wavelength. The frequency multiplier (8) includes at least one non-linear crystal (10). At least one beam splitter element (12) passed through by the first radiation (7) and the second radiation (9) is coupled to the non-linear crystal (10), wherein the first radiation (7) and the second radiation (9) leave the beam splitter element (12) each in a different spatial direction. |
| US08971372B2 |
Surface emitting laser device and atomic oscillator
A surface emitting laser device includes a substrate, a lower reflector, an active layer, an upper reflector, and surface emitting lasers configured to emit light. A second phase adjustment layer, a contact layer, a first phase adjustment layer, and a wavelength adjustment layer are successively layered from the active layer side. The total optical thickness from the active layer side of the second phase adjustment layer to the midsection of the wavelength adjustment layer is approximately (2N+1)×λ/4, where λ represents a wavelength of light, and N represents a positive integer. The optical thickness from the active layer side of the second phase adjustment layer to the midsection of the contact layer is approximately Nλ/2. At least two of the surface emitting lasers have the wavelength adjustment layer arranged at different thicknesses and are configured to emit light with different wavelengths. |
| US08971369B2 |
Quantum cascade laser structure
A quantum cascade laser structure having a plurality of cascades each of which comprises a number of alternately arranged quantum wells and barriers of different thicknesses and heights, wherein at least one of the quantum wells and at least one of the barriers is under mechanical strain and the quantum wells and the barriers are coordinated such that the existing mechanical strains are largely compensated within one cascade, wherein each of the barriers comprise one or more barrier layers, wherein each cascade comprises a thinnest quantum well, a lowest barrier, a thickest quantum well, a highest barrier, and the highest barrier is followed by alternately arranged quantum wells and barriers. |
| US08971368B1 |
Laser devices having a gallium and nitrogen containing semipolar surface orientation
Laser devices formed on a semipolar surface region of a gallium and nitrogen containing material are disclosed. The laser devices have a laser stripe configured to emit a laser beam having a cross-polarized emission state. |
| US08971359B2 |
Temperature control of a fiber laser system
Techniques and architecture are disclosed for controlling the temperature of a fiber laser system. In some embodiments, a single thermoelectric cooler (TEC) may be utilized to control the temperature of multiple system components. In some embodiments, a TEC may be physically/thermally coupled to a laser diode, which in turn may be physically/thermally coupled with a mounting plate to which one or more fiber grating holders are physically/thermally coupled, and an optical fiber that is operatively coupled with the laser diode may be physically/thermally coupled with the one or more fiber grating holders. In some embodiments, this may provide a thermal pathway/coupling between the optical fiber (e.g., its fiber grating(s)), and the TEC. In some embodiments, this may reduce/minimize the quantity of temperature control components, reduce system size/complexity, increase system dependability, and/or increase system performance/efficiency. Numerous configurations and variations will be apparent in light of this disclosure. |
| US08971358B2 |
Broadband generation of mid IR, coherent continua with optical fibers
Coherent and compact supercontinuum light sources for the mid IR spectral regime are disclosed and exemplary applications thereof. The supercontinuum generation is based on the use of highly nonlinear fibers or waveguides. In at least one embodiment the coherence of the supercontinuum sources is increased using low noise mode locked short pulse sources. Compact supercontinuum light sources can be constructed with the use of passively mode locked fiber or diode lasers. Wavelength tunable sources can be constructed using appropriate optical filters or frequency conversion sections. Highly coherent supercontinuum sources further facilitate coherent detection schemes and can improve the signal/noise ratio in lock in detection schemes. |
| US08971356B2 |
Timing over packet demarcation entity
Apparatus for monitoring a packet switched network, the apparatus comprising: at least one port for receiving and transmitting packets; a local clock; and a packet inspector that uses time from the local clock to timestamp packets received at a port of the at least one port, and additionally copies timing information from received timing distribution packets, which are transmitted from a master clock to a slave clock in order to discipline the slave clock, and forwards the received packets for transmission from a port of the at least one port; wherein the apparatus uses the timestamp of a received timing distribution packet and the copied timing information to monitor timing distribution performance of the network. |
| US08971355B2 |
Information processing apparatus, synchronization correction method and computer program
An information processing apparatus is provided which includes a transmission unit for transmitting a query request for querying another device for a count value held by such other device, a reception unit for receiving a return of the count value from such other device, a correction unit for performing, at a predetermined period, correction processing for synchronizing sampling frequency with such other device based on the received count value, and a reproduction unit for reproducing content in synchronization with such other device based on the sampling frequency. The correction unit corrects by taking into account a Round Trip Time between the transmission of the query request and the reception of the return and residual difference occurred at a previous correction time. |
| US08971354B2 |
Method for generating a carrier group and method for transmitting carrier group information
Disclosed are: a variety of methods and apparatuses for aggregating a plurality of carriers and using the carrier aggregation in a wireless connection system; and a variety of methods and apparatuses for providing information on the structure of a carrier generated by aggregating a plurality of carriers. A method for transmitting and receiving carrier group information, according to one embodiment of the present invention, includes the steps of: a mobile terminal transmitting a first message containing multi-carrier performance information of the mobile terminal to a base station; and the mobile terminal receiving, from the base station, a second message containing allocation information on the wireless resource allocated on the basis of the multi-carrier information. Here, multi-carrier performance information includes a spectral mask-type parameter for the supportable multi-carrier of the mobile terminal. |
| US08971349B2 |
Method of performing random access procedure in wireless communication system
A method and device for performing contention resolution between a mobile communication terminal and a base station. The method according to an embodiment includes initiating a random access procedure by a medium access control (MAC) layer of the mobile communication terminal, including starting a contention resolution timer; and stopping the contention resolution timer and determining that the random access procedure was successfully completed upon receipt from the base station of a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) transmission addressed to a cell-radio network temporary identity (C-RNTI) of the mobile communication terminal and containing a UL grant. |
| US08971346B2 |
System and method for reliable store-and-forward data handling by encoded information reading terminals
A data collection system for, and methods of, providing reliable store-and-forward data handling by encoded information reading terminals can utilize ad-hoc peer-to-peer (i.e., terminal-to-terminal) connections in order to store data that is normally stored on a single terminal only, in a redundant manner on two or more terminals. Each portable encoded information reading terminal can be configured so that when it captures data, a software application causes the terminal to search out nearby peer terminals that can store and/or forward the data to other peer terminals or to a data collection server, resulting in the data having been stored by one or more peer terminals that are immediately or not immediately accessible by the data-originating terminal. |
| US08971338B2 |
Expanding network functionalities for openflow based split-architecture networks
A method enables a switch in a split-architecture network to provide high speed packet processing and enhanced network functionalities that are not supported by the OpenFlow. The switch receives a packet from a network through an input port of the switch, and matches header fields in the packet against table entries in flow tables to identify an action to be taken. The flow tables are part of an OpenFlow pipeline. The identified action is to direct the packet to a designated processing unit in the switch. The OpenFlow pipeline forwards the packet to the designated processing unit via a communication channel in the switch. The designated processing unit processes the packet with the enhanced network functionalities, and injects the packet back to one of the flow tables before transmission of the packet to the network through an egress port of the switch. |
| US08971336B2 |
Circuit allocation within a communication core network
A method of seizing Time Division Multiplex terminations at a media gateway controlled by a plurality of media gateway controllers. The method comprises receiving at the media gateway from one of said media gateway controllers, a gateway control protocol request to seize a TDM termination, the request specifying a route but not a specific Time Division Multiplex termination (103). The specified route is mapped to a set of Time Division Multiplex terminations, and one termination from the set seized on behalf of the requesting media gateway controller (104). A gateway control protocol response is then sent from said media gateway to the requesting mobile switching center, the response identifying the seized termination (105). |
| US08971334B2 |
Packet broadcast mechanism in a split architecture network
A method and system is implemented in a network node that functions as a controller for a domain in a split architecture network. The domain comprises a plurality of flow switches, where the plurality of flow switches implement a data plane for the split architecture network and the controller implements a control plane for the split architecture network that is remote from the data plane. The method and system configure the plurality of flow switches to efficiently handle each type of broadcast packet in the domain of the split architecture network without flooding the domain with the broadcast packets to thereby reduce a number of broadcast packets forwarded within the domain. |
| US08971330B2 |
Quality of service and encryption over a plurality of MPLS networks
A network device may transmit a request to each of a plurality of multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) networks for a label switched path (LSP) label, wherein each LSP label provides a defined quality of service connection through a corresponding MPLS network. The network device may then receive from each of the plurality of MPLS networks a corresponding LSP label and transmit at least one LSP label to each of a plurality of network devices, wherein the defined quality of service connection is provided through each of the plurality of MPLS networks. |
| US08971329B1 |
System and method for ordering of data transferred over multiple channels
A multiple channel data transfer system (10) includes a source (12) that generates data packets with sequence numbers for transfer over multiple request channels (14). Data packets are transferred over the multiple request channels (14) through a network (16) to a destination (18). The destination (18) re-orders the data packets received over the multiple request channels (14) into a proper sequence in response to the sequence numbers to facilitate data processing. The destination (18) provides appropriate reply packets to the source (12) over multiple response channels (20) to control the flow of data packets from the source (12). |
| US08971322B2 |
Multicast interworking systems and methods
Systems and methods according to these exemplary embodiments provide for methods and systems for interworking between an Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) and a MAC address Multiple Registration Protocol (MMRP). For example, an IGMP join or leave message which is received at node (700) is translated (702) into an equivalent MMRP message for forwarding into an MMRP portion of a network (704). |
| US08971320B2 |
Control layer for multistage optical burst switching system and method
The invention provides a control layer for an Optical Burst Switch (OBS) system, said system comprising at least one stage configured with a closed optical burst switch addressing scheme and one or more ports for sending or receiving data packets. The control layer comprises a control addressing scheme independent of the closed optical addressing scheme and means to provide interconnectivity for each port with every other port. In one embodiment there is provided a closed optical burst switch ring network. The control layer encapsulates or maps the optical data at a port into an independent packet format and passes the independent packet format into a queuing system for transmission by the optical burst switch ring network to a destination port. |
| US08971316B1 |
Multi-cell signals in OFDM wireless networks
A wireless device receives control messages indicating CSI measurement resources of cells belonging to at least two base stations or belonging to at least two sectors of a base station. The wireless device measures CSI employing at least CSI measurement resources of the cells. The wireless device quantizes the measured CSI jointly across cells and encodes and transmits the jointly quantized CSI. The wireless device receives a resource assignment for data packet(s). The wireless device receives signals carrying the data packets from multiple cells. |
| US08971315B2 |
Selecting information handling system communication protocol based on network constraints
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone calls at an information handling system are managed based upon data transfer allocations associated with an information handling system wireless wide area network (WWAN) account to reduce data transfer overages at the WWAN account. If data transfer associated with a WWAN account approaches an allocation threshold, VoIP telephone calls associated with the information handling system that would use WWAN data transfer are instead configured to proceed through a WWAN telephone call with a WWAN telephone number that does not use data transfer. |
| US08971313B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for updating location information of an IP address
A method, apparatus and system for updating location information of an IP address are disclosed. The method includes: receiving an incoming call; searching a pre-stored location database for a location corresponding to the incoming call; searching a pre-stored log database for an IP address corresponding to the incoming call; and updating location information of the IP address stored in an IP database by the location searched out. The present disclosure may be applied when a service provider updates the location information of the IP address in the IP database. Thus, the problem that the location information in the IP database cannot be updated accurately in the prior art is solved. |
| US08971312B2 |
Universal communications identifier
An approach is provided for supporting a plurality of communication modes through universal identification. A core identifier is generated for uniquely identifying a user among a plurality of users within the communication system. One or more specific identifiers are derived based upon the core identifier, wherein the specific identifiers serve as addressing information to the respective communication modes. The specific identifiers and the core identifier are designated as a suite of identifiers allocated to the user. |
| US08971310B2 |
Apparatus and method for end-to-end adaptive frame packing and redundancy in a heterogeneous network environment
A mobile station having a Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol client sends a message proposing a frame packing and frame repeating parameter set (1001). The called client may either accept the proposal or offer a revision (1003). If accepted the VoIP call is established (1009). If a revised proposal is received, it is determined whether the parameters are acceptable (1005). If not the call is declined (1007). If acceptable the call may proceed (1011). Both clients may then monitor network conditions (1013) and propose revisions to the parameters as conditions change. In this way, the VoIP application layer compensates for physical and Medium Access Control (MAC) layer inefficiencies in transporting the small frames used for audio data transfer for VoIP. |
| US08971301B2 |
Fast round-trip delay delivery of datagrams over a wireless network
An entity, such as a base station or a Radio Network Controller, of a wireless telecommunications network having a mobile station and a remote server includes a network interface which receives a datagram from the mobile station. The entity includes a memory in communication with the network interface. The entity includes a processing unit in communication with the memory which stores in the memory the mobile station location, and which sends a response received from the remote server regarding the datagram to the mobile station from the network interface using the mobile station's location in the memory prior to a wireless connection with the mobile station being established. The entity may include a processing unit that recognizes the received datagram is for Machine-to-Machine Applications and requiring Sub 100 Millisecond Datagram and Response Delivery. |
| US08971300B2 |
System and method of wirelessly communicating with mobile devices
Systems and methods for providing network access to mobile devices that travel with a vehicle, such as a train, a bus, a boat, etc. along or adjacent to a relatively fixed path that may extend over a large geographic area. Mobile devices access the network through stationary access points arranged along or adjacent to the path and communicate with a communication network. The communication network may be arranged as an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) local area network emulation (LANE) network. One of the mobile devices may be a mobile access point which can couple other mobile devices to the network and record authentication information of other mobile devices so that fast transitions can be made from one stationary access point to another as the vehicle moves along the path. |
| US08971299B2 |
Uplink transmission power control in multi-carrier communication systems
In a communication system wherein a User Equipment (UE) transmits at least two data channels in at least two respective component carriers, a method and apparatus for reducing a transmission power allocated to each of the least two data channels relative to each of a respective nominal transmission power, when a total nominal transmission power for the at least two data channels exceeds a predetermined value are provided. The method includes reducing a transmission power of the first data channel by a first amount; and reducing a transmission power of the second data channel by a second amount, wherein the first amount and the second amount have different values. |
| US08971298B2 |
Wireless device connection to an application server
A base station transmits a first message to a wireless device over a primary cell group. The first message comprises a content descriptor and originates from an application server. The base station transmits to the wireless device over the primary cell group: first content packets; a control message configuring a secondary cell group; and an activation command activating one or more secondary cells in the secondary cell group. The base station transmits second content packets over the primary cell group and the secondary cell group. |
| US08971297B2 |
Broadcasting method, access control apparatus, and terminal apparatus
A processing unit generates the timing information on the timing with which each of radio apparatuses is to synchronize in communications between the radio apparatuses when each of radio apparatuses broadcasts a signal. A modem unit, an RF unit and an antenna broadcast the generated timing information. The processing unit further generates the cycle information on a broadcast cycle in which each radio apparatus broadcasts the signal in communication between the radio apparatuses. The modem unit, the RF unit and the antenna broadcast the cycle information together with the timing information. |
| US08971296B2 |
Base station apparatus and resource allocation method
A wireless communication terminal apparatus wherein even when a SC-FDMA signal is divided into a plurality of clusters and the plurality of clusters are then mapped to respective discontinuous frequency bands (when C-SC-FDMA is used), the improvement effect of system throughput can be maintained, while the user throughput can be improved. In the apparatus, a DFT unit (210) subjects a symbol sequence of time domain to a DFT process, thereby generating signals of frequency domain. A setting unit (211) divides the signals input from the DFT unit (210) into a plurality of clusters according to a cluster pattern that is in accordance with an MCS set, an encoding size, or the number of Ranks occurring during MIMO transmissions, which is indicated in those signals input, and then maps the plurality of clusters to the respective ones of a plurality of discontinuous frequency resources, thereby setting a constellation of the plurality of clusters in the frequency domain. |
| US08971294B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for reporting MDT log result
A method, a device and a system for reporting a Minimization Drive Test (MDT) log result are disclosed by the present invention for ensuring that the MDT log result can be reported in time. The method includes: after a User Equipment (UE) is re-accessed to a target cell from a original cell, if the UE still stores locally an unreported MDT log result, a log available indication can be sent to the target cell by the UE itself or by an Evolved Node Base station (eNB) managing the original cell, and a managing device of the target cell is notified to request the unreported MDT log result from UE. Therefore, the MDT log result is continued reporting in the target cell, and the target cell obtains the log available indication of the UE in time, initiates an acquiring request for the MDT log result to the UE timely and obtains the reported MDT log result in time, thus the collection for the environment information of a network is completed and the environment information is obtained exactly. |
| US08971293B2 |
Method and system for station location based neighbor determination and handover probability estimation
The present invention is a method and system for station location based neighbor determination and handover probability estimation. A serving access point determines the location and movement measurements of a station (STA). Neighboring access points report coordinates of cell fringes of the neighboring access points. The STA sends a request for system information to the current access point along with current location of the STA. The current access point provides the system information, and the STA utilizes the system information to determine best handover candidate from among neighboring access points and an estimate of the time for handover. |
| US08971291B2 |
P-CSCF fast handoff for IMS/MMS architecture
A mechanism by which handoff delay can be minimized while not compromising the IMS/MMD security and also protecting the media if required by certain applications is presented. One proactive method includes proactive authentication. Another proactive method includes proactive security association, such as transferring SA keys from old proxy to new proxy, or transferring keys through serving signal entities. Reactive methods include transferring SA keys from old proxy to new proxy, using either push or pull technology. Other reactive methods include transferring keys through serving signal entities using either push or pull technology. |
| US08971287B2 |
Method for wireless communication between a motor vehicle and at least one other communication partner and motor vehicle
A method performs wireless communication between a motor vehicle and at least one other communication partner, especially a further motor vehicle and/or a stationary communication partner. A predetermined transmission frequency is used via which the motor vehicle and/or the communication partner transmit a communication-partner-specific identification signal cyclically between transmission breaks. |
| US08971286B2 |
Mobile terminal apparatus and radio base station apparatus for use in multiple mobile communication systems
A mobile terminal apparatus and radio base station apparatus supporting each of a plurality of mobile communication systems when the plurality of mobile communication systems coexists, where the mobile terminal apparatus performs a cell search using an SCH signal included in one downlink CC among a plurality of downlink CCs, and where the radio base station apparatus broadcasts a DBCH signal including information of an uplink CC paired with an initial downlink CC including the SCH signal obtained by the cell search, and transmits a response signal of an RACH signal from the mobile terminal apparatus to the mobile terminal apparatus in the initial downlink CC, and where the mobile terminal apparatus transmits a shared channel signal including information of a transmission/reception bandwidth of the mobile terminal apparatus to the radio base station apparatus in the uplink CC, and where the radio base station apparatus transmits a control signal including assignment information of a downlink CC and an uplink CC based on the information of the transmission and reception bandwidth of the mobile terminal apparatus to the mobile terminal apparatus, and where the radio base station apparatus and the mobile terminal apparatus communicate with each other in the downlink CC and the uplink CC based on the assignment information after random access. |
| US08971280B2 |
Uplink transmissions in a wireless device
A wireless device receives a control command causing the wireless device to transmit a random access preamble on a random access channel of a first cell. The wireless device transmits, overlapping in time with transmission of the random access preamble, an uplink packet on a first subframe of the first cell. Transmission power of the uplink packet is calculated considering a maximum allowable transmission power in the first subframe of the first cell and the transmission power of the random access preamble. |
| US08971275B2 |
Almost blank subframe indication in wireless networks
A base station transmits a first unicast control message configuring transmission parameters of a first carrier for a wireless device. The base station transmits at least one second unicast message configuring measurement parameters of a second carrier. The measurement configuration comprises a first and a second measurement subframe allocation bitmap for the second carrier. The base station receives first and second channel state information from the wireless device. The base station transmits data packets to the wireless device. The data packets are encoded and modulated based on the first and second channel state information. |
| US08971270B2 |
Group-based paging for machine-type-communication (MTC) devices
The invention relates to a method for paging a group of MTC devices, and for transmitting parameter information to the MTC devices using the paging mechanism. MTC devices are grouped together and a different group ID per group to which the MTC device belongs is assigned to the MTC device. A specific group paging resource indication is determined for each group wherein each MTC device is assigned one of the group paging resource indications. The network pages MTC devices of a group by transmitting a paging message at the corresponding channel resources and including the corresponding group ID. Additionally, the group paging resource indications of several groups of MTC devices can be aligned in such a way with the transmissions and re-transmissions by the network, that the different groups respectively receive the transmission and re-transmissions of the paging message. |
| US08971268B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting uplink data associated with MTC device trigger function
A method and apparatus for small packet transmission in response to machine type communication (MTC) device trigger indication are provided. For uplink (UL) transmission of small packet from MTC device in idle state, a tracking area update (TAU) complete non-access stratum (NAS) message is used to protect integrity and confidentiality of UL small packet transmission without attach/service request procedure during idle state. For downlink (DL) transmission of small packet from MTC device in idle state, a TAU accept NAS message is used to protect integrity & confidentiality of DL small packet reception without attach/service request procedure during idle state. |
| US08971267B2 |
Method and apparatus for compressing and decompressing IP data packet
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for compressing and decompressing an IP data packet. The method includes: performing, by a first device, compression processing on IP data in an IP data packet according to a first compression algorithm; and encapsulating, by the first device, the IP data after the compression processing into a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) data packet, where header information of the PDCP data packet includes identifier information, where the identifier information is used to indicate the first compression algorithm or indicate that the IP data is compressed. |
| US08971265B2 |
Communication system, communication method and base station
In a communication system including a mobile station that transmits a data signal and a plurality of base stations receiving the data signal transmitted by the mobile station, the communication system includes: as the base stations, at least, one first base station having a first signal detector detecting the data signal transmitted by the mobile station; and, at least, one second base station having a second signal detector that detects the data signal received by the station per se, using the detection result which the first base station has detected from the data signal transmitted by the mobile station. As a result, it is possible to provide a communication system and the like capable of providing good transmission characteristics in the uplink cooperative communication without addition of CPs having a longer length than usual. |
| US08971260B2 |
Base station, terminal, band allocation method, and downlink data communication method
Provided are a base station, a terminal, a band allocation method, and a downlink data communication method in which a mapping method for synchronization signals and report signals is implemented with high resource usage efficiency when a first system in which an independent single communication is allocated to a unit band co-exists with a second system in which a plurality of unit bands can be allocated to a single communication. In a base station (200), an OFDM signal generation unit (225) maps primary synchronization channel (P-SCH), secondary synchronization channel (S-SCH), primary broadcast channel (P-BCH), and dynamic broadcast channel (D-BCH), which can be decoded by both an LTE terminal and an LTE+ terminal, to some of a plurality of unit bands available to the station itself. The OFDM signal generation unit (225) also maps D-BCH+, which can be decoded only by an LTE+ terminal, to all of the plurality of unit bands to produce a multiplexed transmission signal. When the terminal which has transmitted terminal capability information is an LTE+ terminal, a control unit (265) transmits a band movement indication which indicates changes in the reception band to that terminal. |
| US08971259B2 |
Packet aware scheduler in wireless communication systems
Apparatuses and methodologies are described that facilitate packet aware scheduling are provided. In some embodiments, if all of the information of a packet cannot be scheduled in a single transmission period, additional resources may be assigned to transmission of the contents of the packet based upon latency requirements and/or transmission constraints of the packet. |
| US08971257B2 |
PCFICH design for multicarrier operation
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitates communicating Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH) information to a user equipment (UE) in which the PCFICH information is specific to a particular component carrier. The PCFICH information for each component carrier can be communicated via an anchor component carrier in order to reduce decoding each PCFICH information for each component carrier. In particular, the PCFICH information can be decoded for an anchor component carrier and PCFICH information for additional carriers can be included in a Multi-Carrier (MC) grant of the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH). |
| US08971252B2 |
Wireless gateway apparatus, communication system, and wireless communication method
A wireless gateway apparatus that forms a wireless communication network with wireless field devices includes a first wireless communication unit and a display unit. The first wireless communication unit is configured to communicate wirelessly with wireless field devices that have joined the wireless communication network. The display unit is configured to display at least one of device information of the wireless field devices, which is acquired by communicating with the wireless field devices, and connection information, which indicates a condition of connection with the wireless field devices. |
| US08971250B2 |
Special subframe allocation
A first base station provides overlapping coverage area with each of a plurality of second base stations. The first base station is of a different base station type than the plurality of second base stations. Each of the plurality of second base stations transmits a message to a plurality of wireless devices in connected mode. The message comprises a subframe allocation bitmap indicating a plurality of subframes. The plurality of subframes comprises a plurality of special subframes. Base stations in the plurality of second base stations configure the same set of subframes as the plurality of special subframes. |
| US08971249B2 |
Terminal device and data transmission/reception method
An application execution unit executes an application, and a communication ID acquisition unit acquires a communication identifier set for the application. When a packet generation unit generates a packet including a communication identifier and data, a transmission unit transmits the packet in an IBSS identified by an SSID stored in a SSID storing unit. When a reception unit receives a packet from another terminal device, a determination unit determines whether the communication identifier acquired by the communication ID acquisition unit matches a communication identifier included in the received packet. When the determination unit determines that the acquired communication identifier matches the communication identifier included in the received packet, a data supply unit provides data included in the received packet to the application. |
| US08971247B2 |
Methods, devices, and systems for efficient retransmission communications
Methods, devices, and systems for retransmitting Media Access Control (MAC) protocol data units (MPDUs) in a multi-user multiple-input and multiple-output (MU-MIMO) communication system are disclosed. Concurrent data streams within a first transmission window are transmitted. Each concurrent data stream is associated with a different recipient and includes an equal number of MPDUs. An indication of a retransmission subset of the MPDUs to be retransmitted for each concurrent data stream may be obtained if errors are present. The retransmission subset for each concurrent data stream is retransmitted within a second transmission window. A length of the second transmission window is as long as the longest of the retransmission subsets of the concurrent data streams. One or more new MPDUs may be added to the concurrent data streams in the second transmission window so that each concurrent data stream in the second transmission window carries a same number of MPDUs. |
| US08971246B2 |
Packet radio network and method
A packet radio network provides a facility for communicating internet packets to and/or from a mobile user equipment. In response to a packet data protocol activation request message requesting a common packet data protocol context, the serving support node is operable in combination with the gateway support node to establish a common packet data protocol context in association with a common packet communications bearer. The common packet data protocol context is established to communicate internet protocol packets via the common packet communications bearer. The common packet communications bearer is shared with at least one other communications session and is formed by the gateway support node and the serving support node using a common tunnelling protocol bearer. Therefore a packet radio network is provided which can provide a common communications bearer which can be shared between different communications sessions. |
| US08971245B2 |
Latency-insensitive RAN—high-capacity/latency-tolerant session management
A telecommunications network receives an indication that a user device, communicatively coupled to the telecommunications network, is a latency-insensitive device; receives connection information associated with a connection between the user device and the telecommunications network; stores, based on the indication that the user device is a latency-insensitive device, at least a portion of the connection information, associated with the connection between the user device and the telecommunications network, in a virtual memory of the server device; receives an indication that the connection is to become active; and places, based on receiving the indication that the connection is to become active, at least the portion of the connection information, associated with the connection between the user device and the telecommunications network, in a physical memory of the server device. |
| US08971239B2 |
PLMN selection and inter-system mobility policy conflict resolution for multi-interface user
A mobile device includes: multiple interfaces that are configured to support a various access technology such as 3G or Wi-Fi etc. A public land mobile network (PLMN) selector that generates a list for each of the PLMN networks that provide coverage to the mobile device. A PLMN selection policy parameter that is set to True or False to allow or prohibit the selection of PLMN networks by the mobile device based on the generated list where the generated list includes information as to different access technologies and selection priorities supported on the PLMN access networks providing coverage to the mobile device. In particular, when the PLMN selection policy parameter is set to True, multiple PLMN registrations are allowed; and when the A PLMN selection policy parameter is set to False, multiple PLMN registrations are prohibited. |
| US08971238B2 |
Method for controlling wireless router and wireless router
A method for controlling a wireless router and a wireless router includes: detecting whether the wireless router has a connection with a terminal; and if the wireless router has no connection with any terminal, turning off the wireless router. By using the method for controlling a wireless router and the wireless router provided in embodiments of the present invention, whether the wireless router has a connection with a terminal may be detected; and the wireless router is turned off when the wireless router has no connection with any terminal. In this way, the wireless router may be automatically turned off in an idle state, which saves energy resources and avoids unnecessary consumption. |
| US08971232B2 |
Apparatus and method for supporting heterogeneous systems in multi-hop relay broadband wireless communication system
An apparatus and method for supporting heterogeneous systems in a multi-hop relay wireless communication system are provided. In a method of transmitting and receiving a DownLink (DL) frame of a Base Station (BS) in a multi-hop relay wireless communication system employing heterogeneous systems, the DL frame of the BS includes a legacy zone for communication with a legacy Mobile Station (MS), an access zone of a new zone for communication with a new MS, and a relay zone of the new zone for communication with a new Relay Station (RS). The method includes transmitting DL data to the legacy MS in the legacy zone, transmitting the DL data to the new MS in the access zone of the new zone, and transmitting the DL data to the new RS in the relay zone of the new zone. |
| US08971230B2 |
Mobile communication method, radio base station apparatus and mobile station
A radio base station apparatus (10) according to the present invention includes: an uplink resource assignor unit (13) configured to assign an uplink resource to a mobile station (01) in response to a random access signal which the mobile station (01) transmits by use of a random access preamble; a random access response signal transmitter unit (14) configured to notify the mobile station (01) of the uplink resource by using a random access response signal; and an uplink scramble decoder unit (16) configured to perform descrambling processing on an uplink signal transmitted from the mobile station (01) by use of the uplink resource, by using an uplink scrambling sequence corresponding to the uplink resource. |
| US08971226B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamic and adjustable energy savings in a communication network
In one aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus and method for improving energy saving procedures in a wireless communication network, wherein one or more cells in the network are selectively inactivated for energy savings and reactivated as needed. More particularly, the present invention provides improved control for transitioning a cell to or from a power savings mode, including dynamic, adjustable power control and handover parameter control, based on the involved cells exchanging status and/or control information. The dynamic control results in gradual rather than abrupt changes to cell coverage area, as a cell is transitioned to or from the power savings mode. |
| US08971223B2 |
Wireless personal area network coordinator
Systems and methods for saving power by a personal area network (PAN) coordinator are described herein. A PAN coordinator is provided to form a wireless PAN with one or more devices. Further, the PAN coordinator enters a sleep state to save power. The wireless PAN is available when the PAN coordinator enters an active state. |
| US08971220B2 |
Dual mode base station
A base station including at least a transceiver switch is provided enabling the base station to transmit and receive data in either FDD or TDD mode from an antenna. The base station may be provided with a synthesizer which can be retuned from FDD to TDD mode or alternatively, an FDD and a TDD synthesizer and a switch enabling the transmitter and receiver of the base station to process FDD or TDD mode data respectively. |
| US08971219B2 |
Hybrid transformer based integrated duplexer for multi-band/multi-mode radio frequency (RF) front end
An integrated duplexer based on electrical balance is described. The duplexer module includes a hybrid transformer. The hybrid transformer includes a primary coil and a secondary coil. The primary coil is coupled between an output of a power amplifier and an antenna. The secondary coil is coupled between an input of a low noise amplifier and ground. The duplexer also includes a balancing impedance that is coupled between the primary coil and the secondary coil. |
| US08971216B2 |
Method for routing transactions between internal and external partners in a communication center
In a multimedia call center (MMCC) operating through an operating system, a client-specific self-help wizard is provided for active clients and updated periodically with information related to client transaction history with the MMCC. A connected client is presented by the wizard with a selective media function through which the client may a select a media type for interaction and help, and the MMCC will then re-contact the client through the selected media. The client, for example, may select IP or COST telephony, and the MMCC will place a call to the client to a number or IP address listed for the client, and interactivity will then be through an interactive voice response unit. Help information specific to a client is updated in the client's wizard periodically according to ongoing transaction history with the MMCC. The wizard may also monitor client activity with the wizard and make reports available to various persons. |
| US08971213B1 |
Partial association identifier computation in wireless networks
In one embodiment, a method includes generating for a client device associated with an access point, a partial association identifier based on an association identifier assigned to the client device and a hash of a basic service set identifier the client device is associated with, and transmitting a packet to the client device, the packet comprising the partial association identifier. The partial association identifier indicates that the packet is intended for the client device. An apparatus is also disclosed. |
| US08971212B2 |
Identifying a resource geographically associated with one or more transceivers
A method for discovering resources includes identifying one or more geographically fixed transceivers with which a mobile device is in communication and through which the mobile device can communicate with other devices. A resource geographically associated with the identified one or more transceivers is identified. Identification occurs without regard to a signal strength or strengths experienced between the mobile device and the one or more transceivers. The mobile device is caused to display data corresponding to the identified resource. |
| US08971210B1 |
Reconfigurable multi-stream processor for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless networks
A configurable network adapter has N analog front ends, each generating a receiver output and a transmitter input. In a first mode of operation, the analog front end receiver outputs are coupled to a MIMO equalizer, which is coupled to an outer receiver and to a first MAC input, with the first MAC having an output coupled to an outer transmitter, a MIMO modulator, and to the analog front end transmitter inputs. In a second mode of operation, one or more of the analog front ends is directed to a SISO modulator fed by a second outer transmitter coupled to a second MAC transmitter output. An associated one or more of the analog front end receivers is coupled to a SISO equalizer, and thereafter to an outer receiver and to the second lower MAC, thereby providing a first mode for a single MIMO adapter and a second mode for a MIMO plus independent PAN interface. |
| US08971207B2 |
Method and device for maintaining the performance quality of a communication system in the presence of narrow band interference
A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for analyzing a wide frequency band with respect to signal power levels in specified narrow frequency bands, detecting narrow band signal power levels received in the specified narrow frequency bands, determining an average composite wideband power level from the narrow band signal power levels, determining an adaptive threshold from the average composite wideband power level, detecting narrow band interference according to the adaptive threshold, and configuring a filter to substantially suppress the detected narrow band interference. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08971205B2 |
Multi-streaming communication session
A communication session between a first communication device and a second communication device is hosted in an Internet Protocol (IP) based packet data network. A contact server functions as a bridge service between the first communication device and the second communication device. A communication link between the first communication device and the contact server or the second communication device and the contact server is initially a voice-over IP (VoIP) communication link over a wireless data network comprised of a first packet data media stream. The contact server receives the first packet data media stream and at least one other packet data media stream from the first communication device and combines them into a single packet data media stream before transmitting the combined single packet data media stream to the second communication device. |
| US08971204B2 |
Implicit reject response
A wireless communication network having received priority access requests on an access channel issues an implicit reject response on a grant channel, such as a flag or other value embedded in an explicit access grant or explicit access reject response. The implicit reject response applies to some or all outstanding low-priority access requests. At the expiration of a terminal's grant channel monitoring window, if it has detected an applicable implicit reject response but not an explicit response, the terminal will refrain from transmitting another access request for a predetermined or configurable duration. The implicit reject response may comprise a flag, or a value that implicitly rejects only a fraction of the outstanding low-priority access requests. The implicit reject response may comprise a duration that the terminal must wait prior to transmitting another access request, and may direct the terminal to directly monitor the grant channel without transmitting a subsequent access request. |
| US08971202B2 |
Cellular radio network
To avoid reference symbol collision, between reference symbols used by neighboring cells in an OFDM based cellular telecommunications network, the transmission symbols on a given subcarrier used by respective neighboring base stations are compared and where both transmission symbols are determined to be reference symbols the start time of the frame timing period of one of the base stations is adjusted. |
| US08971201B2 |
Planning allocation of time-frequency resources in wireless OFDMA communication systems
A time-frequency resource allocation planner for planning allocation of time-frequency resources to sustain communication links from a common transmitter (TX) to multiple receivers (RX1, . . . , RXK) in a wireless OFDMA communication system includes a resource block selector configured to select a set (RBS) of time-frequency resource blocks (RB) for transmission of one packet for each communication link. A communication link quality measure provider is configured to determine a gain-to-interference-plus-noise ratio measure (Gk) for each communication link. A transmit power and transmit rate estimator, connected to the resource block selector and the communication link quality measure provider, is configured to jointly estimate, within the selected set of time-frequency resource blocks, transmit power (Pk) and transmit rate (Rk) of the packets as functions of determined gain-to-interference-plus-noise ratio measures, to at least approximately minimize expected transmitter energy consumption. |
| US08971198B2 |
Method of controlling a communications link
The present invention is directed to a method of controlling a communications link and apparatus configured to perform this method. This invention is particularly related to but in no way limited to MIMO (multiple inputs multiple outputs) wireless communications systems. The method comprises the steps of determining at the receiver the quality of the communications link and based on this, selecting a group of transmission parameters and an element from this group. These selections are then communicated to the transmitter. The transmission parameter may be the transmission configuration such as the modulation and coding scheme. The invention minimises the required feedback signalling from the receiver to the transmitter by exploiting temporal correlation of the parameter being controlled, whilst allowing rapid selection of the parameter. |
| US08971197B2 |
Method for reporting uplink control information and wireless communication device using the same
A method for reporting uplink control information and a wireless communication device using the same are disclosed. The wireless communication device supports multiple component carriers (CC), and the proposed method includes following steps. When a base station requests the wireless communication device to transmit aperiodic channel state information (CSI) report of one or more downlink CC to the base station, but the CSI of the downlink CCs may be invalid, following steps are executed on the downlink CC. Full payloads of channel quality indicator (CQI)/precoding matrix indicator (PMI) corresponding to a plurality of selectable RI values of the downlink CC are respectively calculated. Additionally, an RI value of the downlink CC is selected according to the full payloads of the CQI/PMI corresponding to the selectable RI values. |
| US08971188B2 |
Selective topology routing for distributed data collection
In one embodiment, a device, such as a network management server, determines a traffic matrix of a mesh network, where the traffic matrix indicates an amount of traffic per type of traffic transitioning between the mesh network and a global computer network via one or more current root devices. One or more optimized root devices may then be selected for corresponding directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) based on the amount of traffic and type of traffic. As such, a DAG formation request may be transmitted to the selected root devices, carrying a characteristic for a corresponding DAG to form by the respective selected root devices that indicates which one or more types of traffic correspond to the corresponding DAG. |
| US08971183B1 |
Control signal traffic profile based mobile application access management
A computer implemented method and system manages selective access of a mobile application to one of multiple networks based on a control signal traffic profile of the mobile application created by a profile creation component. A mobile application access component (MAAC) processes a control signal request transmitted by the mobile application to a service provider. The MAAC receives threshold limits for different modes of operation of the mobile application from a service entity. The MAAC accesses control signal traffic profile parameters defining the control signal traffic profile, embedded in the mobile application. The MAAC normalizes and compares the control signal traffic profile parameters of the mobile application with the threshold limits. The MAAC grants, terminates, or switches access of the mobile application to a network based on the comparison of the control signal traffic profile parameters with the threshold limits for associated modes of operation of the mobile application. |
| US08971181B2 |
Compressed mode operation and power control with discontinuous transmission and/or reception
Techniques to support operation in a compressed mode and/or a continuous packet connectivity (CPC) mode are described. In an aspect, a user equipment (UE) may obtain an assignment of enabled subframes for the CPC mode and an assignment of transmission gaps for the compressed mode. The transmission gaps may be aligned with idle times between the enabled subframes. The UE may exchange data during enabled subframes not overlapping the transmission gaps and may skip data exchanges during enabled subframes overlapping the transmission gaps. The UE may make cell measurements during the transmission gaps. In another aspect, the UE may obtain enabled subframes and skipped subframes, exchange data during enabled subframes not corresponding to the skipped subframes, and skip data exchanges during the skipped subframes. In yet another aspect, the UE may receive orders on a shared control channel to quickly enable and disable the compressed mode. |
| US08971178B1 |
Calibration correction for implicit beamformer using an explicit beamforming technique in a wireless MIMO communication system
A transmitter beamforming technique for use in a MIMO wireless communication system determines (i) a partial description of a reverse channel without determining a full dimensional description of the reverse channel and (ii) a partial description of a forward channel without determining a full dimensional description of the forward channel. A correction matrix is developed from the partial description of the reverse channel and a partial description of the forward channel. The correction matrix is used to process signals to be transmitted via the forward channel, and a steering matrix is used to perform beamforming in the forward channel. |
| US08971177B1 |
Event trigger and management system for providing automatic repeat requests by single timer and method thereof
An event trigger and management system for providing automatic repeat requests (ARQs) by a single timer and a method thereof are provided. Various type timers for providing an ARQ are integrated into a single timer. Through a data structure of a timer node of automatic repeat requests time series, the automatic repeat request time series can be managed only by a single timer. Therefore, the efficiency of controlling and managing a timer associated with Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) may be achieved. |
| US08971174B2 |
Restart method and node device
A restart method that performs restart in a label transfer network, the restart method includes: selecting, by a restart node, one or more adjacent nodes based on a processing capacity of the restart node, setting a selected adjacent node as a restart group and notifying the selected adjacent node of restart; restoring, based on a label value of a path notified by the selected adjacent node, an entry corresponding to the path using a label table that associates the path with the label; and repeating a notification of restart and a restoration of an entry to restore the label table. |
| US08971169B2 |
Scattered pilot pattern and channel estimation method for MIMO-OFDM systems
A method and apparatus are provided for reducing the number of pilot symbols within a MIMO-OFDM communication system, and for improving channel estimation within such a system. For each transmitting antenna in an OFDM transmitter, pilot symbols are encoded so as to be unique to the transmitting antenna. The encoded pilot symbols are then inserted into an OFDM frame to form a diamond lattice, the diamond lattices for the different transmitting antennae using the same frequencies but being offset from each other by a single symbol in the time domain. At the OFDM receiver, a channel response is estimated for a symbol central to each diamond of the diamond lattice using a two-dimensional interpolation. The estimated channel responses are smoothed in the frequency domain. The channel responses of remaining symbols are then estimated by interpolation in the frequency domain. |
| US08971167B1 |
Data encoding methods in a communication system
A physical layer (PHY) data unit is generated for transmission via a communication channel in accordance with a transmission configuration. The transmission configuration corresponds to at least one of (i) one or more particular numbers of spatial streams, and (ii) one or more particular channel bandwidths. A number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols to be included in a payload of the PHY data unit is determined based on (i) determining the number of OFDM symbols according to a first technique when using a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) from a set of MCSs allowed for the transmission configuration, and (ii) determining the number of OFDM symbols according to a second technique when using an MCS excluded from the set of MCSs allowed for the transmission configuration. |
| US08971165B2 |
Information storage medium, reproducing method, and recording method
A machine readable information storage medium, a reproducing method and apparatus which reproduces data from the storage medium, and a recording method and apparatus for recording data on the storage medium. The information storage medium includes a control area which stores within a data structure information usable by the recording or reproducing apparatus to record or reproduce the data on or from the storage medium. The information stored within the data structure includes a version corresponding to a specification, a revision number of recording speed, and an extended part version field. |
| US08971163B2 |
Optical disc device, optical disc and testing method of optical disc
An optical disc device uses an optical disc (6) capable of super-resolution reproduction, and includes a semiconductor laser (1), a laser driving circuit (21) that supplies a driving current to the semiconductor laser, a light receiving element (8) that detects return light from the optical disc (6) and obtains reproduction signal of recording data of the optical disc (6), and a light emission amount control means (22) that controls a light emission amount of the semiconductor laser (1) by the laser driving circuit (21) so as to keep a peak intensity of a focused light spot formed on an information recording layer of the optical disc 6 to be greater than or equal to a peak intensity at which a super-resolution effect is obtained. The light emission amount control means (22) controls a light emission amount of the semiconductor laser (1) by the laser driving circuit (21) based on a decrease rate D of a peak intensity of a focused light spot on an information recording layer of the optical disc (1) determined by an assumed disc tilt and a comatic aberration according to a thickness of a light transmitting layer of the optical disc (1), and a lower limit value Pld_L of a light emission amount at which a predetermined reproduction performance is obtained. |
| US08971162B1 |
Optical disc device and method for driving the same
Provided is an optical disc device including: an optical pickup which includes an objective lens and a receiver unit which receives light reflected off an optical disc; a signal processing unit which generates a main push-pull signal and sub push-pull signals from signals from the receiver unit, and obtains a signal obtained by subtracting the main push-pull signal from the sub push-pull signal multiplied K times, to generate a tracking-error signal; and a control unit which performs a midpoint servo process, an offset process of adding an offset value to a lens-error signal indicating displacement of the objective lens, a stabilization awaiting process of waiting for oscillation of the optical disc to stabilize, a measurement process of measuring the tracking-error signal, and a K value adjusting process of adjusting a value of K in response to a result of the measurement process. |
| US08971160B1 |
Near field transducer with high refractive index pin for heat assisted magnetic recording
An HAMR NFT pin and main body structure comprising a pin material with high index of refraction and low absorption coefficient is disclosed. The disclosed NFT pin provides a comparable media absorption efficiency to the conventional Au pin while improving on overall NFT reliability. The protrusion of the NFT pin is reduced and overall life of the writer is prolonged. The main body may comprise any noble metal or metal alloy suitable for achieving optical resonance in an HAMR NFT. The cladding material may be selected such that its coefficient of thermal expansion closely matches the coefficient of thermal expansion of the pin material. |
| US08971156B2 |
Device for controlling a time function or non-time-related function and timepiece including the same
The invention concerns a device for controlling a time function or a non-time related function including at least two push-buttons (28A, 28B) each provided with a stem (30A, 30B) and a head (32A, 32B), said push-buttons (28A, 28B) being able to move axially between a first inactive rest position and a second position in which they control the function, characterized in that the stems (30A, 30B) of the two push-buttons (28A, 28b) extend side by side and parallel to each other. The invention also concerns a timepiece fitted with this control device. |
| US08971149B2 |
Method, device and processing algorithm for multiple and noise elimination from marine seismic data
Computing device, computer instructions and method for simultaneously denoizing and attenuating multiples in seismic data recorded with seismic receivers. The method includes receiving the seismic data, wherein the seismic data includes a pressure P component and a vertical Z component; separating the seismic data into up-going U wave-fields and down-going D wave-fields; calculating an up-down deconvolution R based on the up-going U and the down-going D wave-fields; generating a multiple model M based on the up-down deconvolution R; and adaptively subtracting the multiple model M from the pressure P component to obtain a corrected pressure Pfree component from which simultaneously the noise and the multiples were removed. A multiple is a wave-field that propagates from a source to a receiver and experiences more than one reflection. |
| US08971145B2 |
Synchronous multiple port memory with asynchronous ports
A memory system includes a multi-port memory having a first port and a second port. First registers and second registers provide first and second addresses, respectively, to the first and second ports. An access controller controls the multi-port memory to launch an access for the valid address provided by the first input registers in response to the first edge of the master clock unless an immediately preceding first edge of the master clock has occurred more recently than the most recent occurrence of the first edge of the first clock and to launch an access for the valid address provided by the second input registers in response to the first edge of the master clock unless an immediately preceding first edge of the master clock has occurred more recently than the most recent occurrence of the first edge of the second clock. |
| US08971143B2 |
Semiconductor device periodically updating delay locked loop circuit
Such a device is disclosed that includes a control circuit outputting a first clock signal having a first clock cycle in response to a first command signal and outputting a second clock signal having a second clock cycle in response to a second command signal, a first circuit controlled based on the first clock signal, and a second circuit controlled based on the second clock signal. |
| US08971141B2 |
Compact high speed sense amplifier for non-volatile memory and hybrid lockout
A compact and versatile high speed sense amplifier suitable for use in non-volatile memory circuits is presented. The sense amp circuit uses one power supply level for the bit line driving path and a second supply level for a data latch of the sense amp. The latch's supply level is of a high level that used for driving the bit lines and can be provided by a charge pump. The sense amp need use only NMOS devices for its analog path. For balancing performance and current consumption, the sense amp also includes an additional latch to support a “hybrid lockout” sensing mode, where in a verify operation a read-lockout is used between different data states, but not between the low and high quick pass write (QPW) verifies. |
| US08971140B2 |
Semiconductor device and data processing system comprising semiconductor device
A semiconductor device comprises a sense amplifier circuit amplifying a signal transmitted through the bit line, first/second data lines transmitting the signal amplified by the sense amplifier circuit, a read amplifier circuit driven by a first voltage and amplifying the signal; first/second switch circuits controlling connection between the above components, first/second voltage setting circuits setting the second/third data lines to a second voltage lower than the first voltage. A predetermined voltage obtained by adding the second voltage to a threshold voltage of a transistor in the second/third switch circuit is applied to the gate terminal thereof, and ends of the data lines are connected to the source and drain terminals thereof. |
| US08971138B2 |
Method of screening static random access memory cells for positive bias temperature instability
A method of screening complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor CMOS integrated circuits, such as integrated circuits including CMOS static random access memory (SRAM) cells, for n-channel transistors susceptible to transistor characteristic shifts over operating time. For the example of SRAM cells formed of cross-coupled CMOS inverters, static noise margin and writeability (Vtrip) screens are provided. Each of the n-channel transistors in the CMOS SRAM cells are formed within p-wells that are isolated from p-type semiconductor material in peripheral circuitry of the memory and other functions in the integrated circuit. Forward and reverse body node bias voltages are applied to the isolated p-wells of the SRAM cells under test to determine whether such operations as read disturb, or write cycles, disrupt the cells under such bias. Cells that are vulnerable to threshold voltage shift over time can thus be identified. |
| US08971131B2 |
Data circuit
A circuit includes a first plurality of memory cells coupled with a first data line and a first data transfer circuit coupled with the first data line and a second data line. In a first operation mode of the circuit, the first data line is left floating and is caused to have a first logical value by a current in at least one memory cell of the first plurality of memory cells. In a second operation mode of the circuit, the first data line is configured to reflect data stored in a memory cell of the plurality of memory cells, and the second data line is configured to reflect the data on the first data line through the first data transfer circuit. |
| US08971130B2 |
Semiconductor memory device capable of shortening erase time
In a memory cell array, a plurality of memory cells connected to a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines are arranged in a matrix. A control circuit controls the potentials of said plurality of word lines and said plurality of bit lines. In an erase operation, the control circuit erases an n number of memory cells (n is a natural number equal to or larger than 2) of said plurality of memory cells at the same time using a first erase voltage, carries out a verify operation using a first verify level, finds the number of cells k (k≦n) exceeding the first verify level, determines a second erase voltage according to the number k, and carries out an erase operation again using the second erase voltage. |
| US08971129B2 |
NROM device with reduced power unit
A method includes minimizing current leaking through a virtual ground pipe during access of NROM memory cells. The minimizing includes operating two neighboring memory cells generally together, which includes connecting an operation voltage to a shared local bit line of the two neighboring memory cells and connecting the external local bit lines of two neighboring memory cells to a receiving unit, such as a ground supply or two sense amplifiers. Also included is an array performing the method. |
| US08971127B2 |
NAND flash memory programming
A method of charging a floating gate in a nonvolatile memory cell comprises bringing a substrate channel within the memory cell to a first voltage, bringing a control gate to a programming voltage, and floating the substrate channel voltage while the control gate is at the programming voltage. Memory devices include state machines or controllers operable to perform the described method, and operation of such a state machine, memory device, and information handling system are described. |
| US08971122B1 |
Group based read reference voltage management in flash memory
Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with group based read reference voltage management in flash memory are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a partition logic, a Vref memory, and a Vref logic. The partition logic is configured to assign respective cells in a flash memory device to respective groups of cells. The Vref memory is configured to store respective Vref values mapped to respective groups of cells. The read logic is configured to read a cell in the flash memory by determining a group to which the cell is assigned; determining a Vref mapped to the group; and using the Vref value to read the cell. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an adaptation logic configured to selectively adapt respective Vref values mapped to the respective groups of cells. |
| US08971120B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes memory cells, word lines, a driver circuit, and a control circuit. The memory cells are stacked above a semiconductor substrate, and each includes a charge accumulation layer and control gate. The word lines are coupled to the control gates. The driver circuit repeats a programming operation to write data in a memory cell coupled to a selected word line. In the programming operation, a first voltage is applied to the selected word line, a second voltage to a first unselected word line, and a third voltage to a second unselected word line. The control circuit steps up the first voltage and steps down the second voltage in repeating the programming. |
| US08971118B2 |
Methods of forming non-volatile memory devices including vertical NAND strings
A NAND based non-volatile memory device can include a plurality of memory cells vertically arranged as a NAND string and a plurality of word line plates each electrically connected to a respective gate of the memory cells in the NAND string. A plurality of word line contacts can each be electrically connected to a respective word line plate, where the plurality of word line contacts are aligned to a bit line direction in the device. |
| US08971117B2 |
Apparatus and methods for applying a non-zero voltage differential across a memory cell not involved in an access operation
Apparatus and methods for applying a non-zero voltage differential across a memory cell not involved in an access operation can facilitate improved data retention characteristics. |
| US08971116B1 |
Semiconductor device and method of operating the same
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of page buffers coupled to bit lines and suitable for performing a verification operation to output a verification signal to a verification terminal, wherein a predetermined number of page buffers are grouped into a sub-page buffer group; and verification signal control units, wherein each of the verification signal control units is coupled to the page buffers included in the corresponding sub-page buffer group and suitable for controlling to output the verification signals from the page buffers included in the corresponding sub-page buffer group to a verification terminal based on fail column data. |
| US08971114B2 |
Nonvolatile memory devices and driving methods thereof
Nonvolatile memory devices including memory cell arrays with a plurality of cell strings connected between a substrate and a plurality of bit lines and selected by selection lines, and a gating circuit configured to drive the selection lines in at least two directions. |
| US08971109B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of operating the same
A semiconductor memory device and a method of operating the same are provided. The method includes performing an overall erase operation such that each threshold voltage of all memory cells connected to even word lines and odd word lines in a selected memory cell block are lower than a first target level, performing an erase operation such that each threshold voltage of the memory cells connected to the even word lines are lower than a second target level which is lower than the first target level, and performing an erase operation such that each threshold voltage of the memory cells connected to the odd word lines are lower than the second target level. |
| US08971108B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method for driving the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a first semiconductor chip including a first pad group configured to input/output first data and a second pad group configured to input/output second data; and a second semiconductor chip in a stack with the first semiconductor chip and configured to be electrically connected to the first semiconductor chip by at least one chip through via, wherein the second semiconductor chip includes a first unit bank group including at least one first upper bank group and at least one first lower bank group, a second unit bank group including at least one second upper bank group and at least one second lower bank group, and a data path selector configured to electrically connect one among the first and second upper bank groups and the first and second lower bank groups with the chip through via. |
| US08971106B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device including variable resistance element
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array and a control circuit. The memory cell array include the memory cells each including a variable resistance element in which a reset current flowing in a reset operation is smaller than a set current flowing in a set operation by not less than one order of magnitude. The control circuit performs the reset operation and the set operation for the memory cells. The control circuit performs the reset operation for all memory cells being in the low resistance state and connected to selected first interconnections and selected second interconnections. |
| US08971105B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for controlling memory write sequences
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to memory operations regarding changing an order of program bits to be programmed into a memory array. |
| US08971099B1 |
Method of measuring threshold voltage of MOS transistor in SRAM array
Methods of measuring threshold voltages of MOS transistors in a SRAM array are provided. The SRAM array includes array-arranged cells having a first pass NMOS transistor, a second pass NMOS transistor, a first pull-down NMOS transistor, a second pull-down NMOS transistor, a first pull-up PMOS transistor, and a second pull-up transistor. A cell is selected from the SRAM array by a row decoding and a column decoding. A voltage is applied to a word line, a first bit line, a second bit line, a first power line, a second power line, a first substrate terminal, and/or a second substrate terminal, that are connected to the selected cell. A bit line current of the selected cell is measured to obtain a threshold voltage of a MOS transistor in the selected cell. Threshold voltages of a large number of MOS transistors in a SRAM array can be measured. |
| US08971097B2 |
SRAM bit-line and write assist apparatus and method for lowering dynamic power and peak current, and a dual input level-shifter
Described is an apparatus comprising a plurality of memory arrays, local write assist logic units, and read/write local column multiplexers coupled together in a group such that area occupied by the local write assist logic units and the read/write local column multiplexers in the group is smaller than it would be when global write assist logic units and the read/write global column multiplexers are used. Described is a dual input level-shifter with integrated latch. Described is an apparatus which comprises: a write assist pulse generator operating on a first power supply; one or more pull-up devices coupled to the write assist pulse generator, the one or more pull-up devices operating on a second power supply different from the first power supply; and an output node to provide power supply to a memory cell. |
| US08971095B2 |
Memory architecture
A write circuit in a memory array includes a global data line, a switching circuit, and a first local data line coupled with the switching circuit and with a first plurality of memory cells. The global data line is configured to receive data to be written to the memory cell from outside of the memory array. The switching circuit is configured to electrically couple the global data line with the first local data line to transfer the data to be written to a memory cell of the first plurality of memory cells to the first local data line. The memory cell of the first plurality of memory cells is configured to receive data on the first local data line. |
| US08971092B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A memory cell array includes first wiring lines, and second wiring lines, the first and second wiring lines intersecting, and memory cells disposed in the intersections of the first and second wiring lines, the memory cells including a variable resistance element. A control circuit controls voltages of selected first and second wiring lines. The first wiring lines are arranged at a first pitch in a first direction perpendicular to a substrate and extend in a second direction parallel to the substrate. The second wiring lines are arranged at a second pitch in the second direction and extend in the first direction. The control circuit is configured to change voltages applied to a selected first wiring line according to the positions of the selected first wiring lines in the first direction. |
| US08971091B2 |
Method and circuit for switching a memristive device in an array
A method of switching a memristive device in a two-dimensional array senses a leakage current through the two-dimensional array when a voltage of half of a switching voltage is applied to a row line of the memristive device. A leakage compensation current is generated according to the sensed leakage current, and a switching current ramp is also generated. The leakage compensation current and the switching current ramp are combined to form a combined switching current, which is applied to the row line of the memristive device. When a resistance of the memristive device reaches a target value, the combined switching current is removed from the row line. |
| US08971088B1 |
Multi-level cell operation using zinc oxide switching material in non-volatile memory device
A method for programming a non-volatile memory device includes providing an as-fabricated state-change device having an aluminum doped zinc oxide material first electrode, a p++ polysilicon material second electrode, and a zinc oxide (ZnO) material state-change material there between. A first amplitude bias voltage is applied to the first electrode of the as-fabricated state-change device causing the ZnO material to change form an as-fabricated state to a first state. A second amplitude bias voltage having an opposite polarity having an amplitude similar to the first amplitude is applied to cause the ZnO to change from the first state to a second state substantially similar as the as-fabricated state. A third amplitude bias voltage having a same polarity to the first bias voltage and having an amplitude dissimilar to the first bias voltage is applied to cause the ZnO to change from the second state to a third state. |
| US08971087B2 |
Stacked memory with interface providing offset interconnects
Dynamic operations for operations for a stacked memory with interface providing offset interconnects. An embodiment of memory device includes a system element and a memory stack coupled with the system element, the memory stack including one or more memory die layers. Each memory die layer includes first face and a second face, the second face of each memory die layer including an interface for coupling data interface pins of the memory die layer with data interface pins of a first face of a coupled element. The interface of each memory die layer includes connections that provide an offset between each of the data interface pins of the memory die layer and a corresponding data interface pin of the data interface pins of the coupled element. |
| US08971083B1 |
Recreational vehicle transformer
A transformer for connecting a 50 A RV normally wired for 110 volts of electricity to foreign receptacles providing 220 volts of electricity. The transformer employs two cords on the input side of the transformer that can be connected to the two receptacles normally provided between side-by-side campsites in a campground. The transformer also employs a separate circuit breaker in each hot lead on the secondary side of the circuit employed in the transformer. |
| US08971077B2 |
Power supply circuit, mobile terminals using the same, and control method of the same
A power supply circuit includes: a first switch and a second switch that are connected in series between an input voltage terminal and a reference power supply; a controller that controls the first and second switches to be turned on and off by turns; a comparator that has an inverting input terminal connected to a voltage supply and that has a non-inverting input terminal connected to a first terminal of a capacitor; a third switch that is provided between an output terminal and the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator; a fourth switch that is provided between a connection node of the first and second switches, and a second terminal of the capacitor; and a latch circuit that detects change of output of the output terminal of the comparator and controls the second switch to be turned off. |
| US08971076B2 |
Power factor correction circuit
A first error amplification circuit amplifies a difference between a predetermined reference voltage and a first detection voltage that corresponds to the output voltage of a DC/DC converter, so as to generate a second voltage. A voltage level judgment circuit generates a third voltage having a discrete level that corresponds to the amplitude of a first voltage. A multiplying/dividing circuit multiplies the first voltage by the second voltage, and divides the resulting product by the third voltage, so as to generate a fourth voltage. A comparator compares the fourth voltage with a second detection voltage that corresponds to a current that flows through a switching transistor included in the DC/DC comparator. A driving circuit turns on the switching transistor for each predetermined period, and turns off the switching transistor according to the output of the comparator every time the second detection voltage becomes higher than the fourth voltage. |
| US08971072B2 |
Electromagnetic connector for an industrial control system
An electromagnetic connector is disclosed that is configured to form a first magnetic circuit portion comprising a first core member and a first coil disposed of the first core member. The electromagnetic connector is configured to mate with a second electromagnetic connector, where the second electromagnetic connector is configured to form a second magnetic circuit portion comprising a second core member and a second coil disposed of the second core member. The first core member and the second core member are configured to couple the first coil to the second coil with a magnetic circuit formed from the first magnetic circuit portion and the second magnetic circuit portion when the electromagnetic connector is mated with the second electromagnetic connector. The magnetic circuit is configured to induce a signal in the first coil when the second coil is energized. |
| US08971070B2 |
Interface arrangement between AC and DC systems for reliable opening of the circuit breaker in time
An interface arrangement for coupling between an AC system and a DC system. The arrangement includes a converter for conversion between AC and DC and having a DC side with a first and a second terminal for connection to the DC system and an AC side with a group of terminals for being coupled to the AC system, a transformer having a primary side with a first set of primary windings for being coupled to the AC system and a secondary side with a second set of secondary windings coupled to the converter, where the transformer is equipped with a third set of auxiliary windings and a short-circuiting device is connected between the third set of auxiliary windings and ground. |
| US08971064B2 |
Electricity generating installation provided with means for storage of energy and control process for an installation of this type
An electricity generating installation includes an electricity generation unit of a gas turbine, steam turbine or combined-cycle type, wherein the electricity generation unit is coupled to a generator and is connected to a distribution network, an energy storage unit configured to store kinetic energy and electrical energy, and a standby electricity generation unit. The installation further includes a controller configured to manage the operation of the energy storage unit and configured to manage the connection of the energy storage unit to the electricity generation unit and to the network. The controller receives a series of information originating from the network, the energy storage unit, the electricity generation unit and a network operator in order to control the generation of electricity to be delivered to the network and to auxiliary systems of the installation from the energy storage unit. |
| US08971062B2 |
Systems and methods for constant voltage mode and constant current mode in flyback power converters with primary-side sensing and regulation
System and method for regulating a power converter. The system includes a first signal generator configured to receive at least an input signal and generate at least a first output signal associated with demagnetization and a second output signal associated with sampling. Additionally, the system includes a sampling component configured to receive at least the input signal and the second output signal, sample the input signal based on at least information associated with the second output signal, and generate at least a third output signal associated with one or more sampled magnitudes. Moreover, the system includes an error amplifier configured to receive at least the third output signal and a first threshold voltage and generate at least a fourth output signal with a capacitor, the capacitor being coupled to the error amplifier. |
| US08971058B2 |
High-efficiency high step-up ratio direct current converter with interleaved soft-switching mechanism
A high-efficiency high step-up ratio direct current converter with an interleaved soft-switching mechanism is provided. The direct current converter includes a voltage-multiplier circuit and an active clamping circuit. The voltage-multiplier circuit includes two isolating transformers, two main switches disposed on a primary side of the two isolating transformers, four diodes disposed on a secondary side of the two isolating transformers and four capacitors disposed on the secondary side of two isolating transformers, configured to boost a voltage of a direct-current power to a desired voltage value. The active clamping circuit, electrically connected to the voltage-multiplier circuit, includes two active clamp switches and a clamp capacitor to lower a voltage surge of the two main switches so that the two main switches and the two active clamp switches can be soft switched on. |
| US08971057B2 |
Bidirectional energy converter with controllable filter stage
The invention provides a bidirectional converter that operates under an AC generation mode or a charge mode. The bidirectional converter may be a single component or circuit, which may include a DC-DC conversion stage using a unique “Smith 2 Stage conversion” technique and a DC-AC conversion stage or AC-DC conversion stage using a switchable filter depending on the mode. During the charge mode, the converter may be able to control the voltage and current of the DC output using a software algorithm, to match the battery being charged, or the DC receiver. This may enable the converter to control the nature of the DC output so it can be adapted to any energy storage technology. The controllable output voltage and synchronizable frequency may allow the converter to be used in series combinations to achieve a variety of high voltage outputs from simpler building blocks. |
| US08971056B2 |
Hermetically sealed radio-frequency front end
A hermetically sealed HF front end (e.g. a transmission/reception module) in a multilayer structure that includes electronic components is provided. The multilayer structure contains a plurality of substrates stacked one above the other and carrying the components. Grooves are formed in the substrates and sealing elements are provided between the substrates, which sealing elements engage in the grooves, and the substrates are soldered together. |
| US08971055B2 |
Residential circuit breaker with flexible printed circuit boards
A circuit breaker includes a housing, a rigid circuit board, and a flexible circuit board. The rigid circuit board is enclosed within the housing and has a main surface for supporting an electronic component. The flexible circuit board has a first end that is directly attached to an edge of the rigid circuit board. |
| US08971052B2 |
Fixing apparatus for expansion card
A fixing apparatus is used to parallel mount an expansion card to a motherboard. The fixing apparatus includes a mounting bracket fixed to the motherboard, and a retaining member rotatably connected to the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket includes a supporting board supporting the expansion card. The retaining member includes an abutting arm and a locking portion. When the retaining member is rotated to a locking position, the abutting arm abuts against a top of the expansion card to sandwich the expansion card with the supporting board, and the locking portion engages with the mounting bracket to prevent a rotation of the retaining member. When the retaining member is rotated to a releasing position, the abutting arm will move away from the expansion card. |
| US08971051B2 |
Portable electronic device with chip card ejecting mechanism
A chip card ejecting mechanism includes a base body, a push member, a rotating member and an elastic member resisting between the base body and the rotating member. The base body includes a guiding member defining a hole and having a number of guiding rails. Each guiding rail includes a resisting surface and a guiding surface. The push member includes a push rod extending through the hole and a number of active gears. Each active gear defines an active cooperative surface. The rotating member includes a number of the passive gears. Each passive gear includes a passive cooperative surface. When the push member is pressed toward the rotating member by a transient external force, the rotating member compresses the elastic member until the active cooperative surface arrives at the guiding surface, the elastic member releases and drives the passive cooperative gears to slide along the first sliding slot. |
| US08971048B2 |
Self-locating electronics package precursor structure, method for configuring an electronics package, and electronics package
An electronics package comprising a plurality of mutually parallel, vertically spaced circuit boards of generally circular configuration and electrically connected by a flex circuit comprising a trunk extending circumferentially around the circuit boards and having a branch extending to each circuit board. An electronics package precursor structure and a method of configuring the electronics package from the precursor structure is also disclosed. |
| US08971045B1 |
Module having at least one thermally conductive layer between printed circuit boards
A module is electrically connectable to a computer system. The module includes an edge connector with a plurality of electrical contacts electrically connectable to the computer system, at least one layer of thermally conductive material thermally coupled to the edge connector, and first and second printed circuit boards each having a plurality of integrated circuit components that are electrically coupled to the edge connector and thermally coupled to the at least one layer of thermally conductive material. The at least one layer of thermally conductive material are disposed between the first and second printed circuit boards. |
| US08971044B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a first output unit configured to output a first phase; a second output unit configured to output a second phase different from the first phase, the second output unit being disposed to be stacked on the first output unit; and a controller configured to control the output units. |
| US08971043B2 |
Management of exterior temperatures encountered by user of a portable electronic device in response to an inferred user contact with the portable electronic device
Described embodiments include a portable electronic device. The device includes a shell housing components of the portable electronic device having a heat-generating component. The device includes a heat-rejection element located at an exterior surface of the shell. The heat-rejection element is configured to reject heat received from the heat-generating component into an environment in thermal contact with the heat-rejection element. The device includes a controllable thermal coupler configured to regulate heat transfer to the heat-rejection element. The device includes an activity monitor configured to infer a user touch to the shell in response to a detected activity of the portable electronic device. The device includes a thermal manager configured to regulate heat transfer by the controllable thermal coupler to the heat-rejection element in response to the inferred user touch. |
| US08971037B2 |
Cooling apparatus and display device having the same
Provided herein are a display device and a cooling apparatus, the cooling apparatus including an impeller which sucks a fluid in an axial direction, and which discharges the fluid in a radial direction; a pair of radiation blocks, which are respectively disposed at each side of the impeller, wherein each of the radiation blocks includes a plurality of radiation fins; and a plurality of scroll units which guide the fluid discharged from the impeller to the pair of radiation blocks, wherein each of the scroll units includes a first scroll part which guides the fluid based on a rotating direction of the impeller, and a second scroll part which guides the fluid so in a direction opposite to the rotating direction of the impeller. |
| US08971036B1 |
Hard disk drive retention
The systems and methods described herein include, among other things, a hard disk drive (HDD) retention system that has an HDD carrier assembly into which an HDD is positioned, and which allows an HDD to be inserted and ejected quickly. The carrier assembly includes spring elements, which, upon insertion of the HDD into the carrier assembly, compress, and exert a force on the HDD, retaining it within the assembly, in addition to reducing vibration transmission between the HDD and the carrier assembly. |
| US08971035B2 |
Electronic apparatus and hard-disc holder mounted thereto
Provided is an electronic apparatus capable of reducing dependence of a connection state between a hard disc device and a connector on degree of fastening of a screw. A hard-disc-insertion opening serving as an opening through which a hard disc device is inserted into a housing is formed in a front plate portion of the housing. A connector of a circuit board is arranged facing the hard-disc-insertion opening on a back side of the hard-disc-insertion opening. A fastener for fixing the hard disc device to an electronic apparatus is inserted into the housing through a bottom plate portion of the housing. |
| US08971032B2 |
Support for a flexible display
A device includes: a housing having a first component and a second component coupled to one another by a pivot member and movable relative to one another between an open position in which the first component and the second component are in the same plane and a folded position; a first slider slidably received in the first component and a second slider slidably received in the second component, the first slider and the second slider being movable toward the pivot member when the first component and the second component move from the open position to the folded position; and a flexible membrane coupled to the first slider, the second slider and the pivot member; wherein, in the folded position, the flexible membrane is located between the first component and the second component. |
| US08971030B2 |
Standable electronic device
The disclosure relates to a standable electronic device, which comprises an electronic device body, a supporting member, and a base. The supporting member is disposed on the electronic device body. The supporting member is disposed on the base. A spreading angle is produced between the electronic device body and the supporting member, so that the bottom of the electronic device rests against the base and hence making the electronic device stand on a surface of object. According to the disclosure, no extra supporting frame is required for making the electronic device stand on a surface of object. Thereby, the portability and utility can be enhanced effectively. |
| US08971029B2 |
Multi-display hinge assembly
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a multi-display hinge assembly. According to one embodiment, the multi-display hinge assembly includes a first housing and second housing in addition to a hinge that rotatably connects the first housing with the second housing. Still further, a coupling element is configured to join an edge of the first housing with an edge of the second housing when the first housing and the second housing are placed along the same plane. |
| US08971027B2 |
Display device cabinet
In a display device cabinet, a fixing assembly to join a front panel and a rear panel include a first fixing mechanism that uses attachment screws and a second fixing mechanism that uses no attachment screws, which have a structure that prevents the application of excessive force to engaging openings and protrusions during the assembly process and disassembly process. The second fixing mechanism includes protrusions on an edge frame of the front panel, a mating piece provided on the rear panel, engaging openings provided in the mating piece, and rib-shaped plates defining stopper elements between the edge frame and the outer frame of the display module. The stopper elements prevent the protrusions from slipping out of the engaging openings by contacting the outer frame. The stopper elements are shaped to prevent interference between the stopper elements and the outer frame during cabinet assembly. |
| US08971020B2 |
Wet capacitor cathode containing a conductive copolymer
A wet electrolytic capacitor that contains an anodically oxidized porous anode body, a cathode containing a metal substrate coated with a conductive coating, and a working electrolyte that wets the dielectric on the anode. The conductive coating contains a conductive copolymer having at least one thiophene repeating unit, as well as a pyrrole repeating unit and/or aniline repeating unit. |
| US08971019B2 |
Wet capacitor cathode containing an alkyl-substituted poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)
A wet electrolytic capacitor that contains an anodically oxidized porous anode body, a cathode containing a metal substrate coated with a conductive coating, and a working electrolyte that wets the dielectric on the anode. The conductive coating contains an alkyl-substituted poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) having a certain structure. Such polymers can result in a higher degree of capacitance than many conventional types of coating materials. Further, because the polymers are generally semi-crystalline or amorphous, they can dissipate and/or absorb the heat associated with the high voltage. The degree of surface contact between the conductive coating and the surface of the metal substrate may also be enhanced in the present invention by selectively controlling the manner in which the conductive coating is formed. |
| US08971017B1 |
Multilayer ceramic capacitor
A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a ceramic multilayer body including dielectric layers and inner electrodes stacked on top of one another with the dielectric layers interposed between a corresponding pair of the inner electrodes. The dielectric layers each include a perovskite-type compound including Ba and Ti. A boundary layer including Mg and Mn is located at an interface between an outermost inner electrode and an outermost dielectric layer. The outermost inner electrode is located at an outermost position of the inner electrodes in a direction in which the inner electrodes are stacked. The outermost dielectric layer is located outside the outermost inner electrode. A proportion in which the boundary layer is present at the interface is about 69% or more. A continuity of the outermost inner electrode is about 60% or more. |
| US08971016B1 |
Monolithic ceramic capacitor
A monolithic ceramic capacitor includes an outer electrode arranged on a ceramic element body including inner electrodes, and a dielectric layer present between a pair of the inner electrodes adjacent in a stacking direction and extending to one of a pair of end surfaces of the ceramic element body that defines an inter-electrode dielectric layer. A gap extending in a direction connecting the inner electrodes sandwiching the inter-electrode dielectric layer is present in about 5% to about 90% of inter-electrode dielectric layers in the ceramic element body at a position near or adjacent to at least one of the pair of end surfaces of the ceramic element body. |
| US08971014B2 |
Protection structure for metal-oxide-metal capacitor
A capacitor structure includes first and second sets of electrodes and a plurality of line plugs. The first set of electrodes has a first electrode and a second electrode formed in a first metallization layer among a plurality of metallization layers, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are separated by an insulation material. The second set of electrodes has a third electrode and a fourth electrode formed in a second metallization layer among the plurality of metallization layers, wherein the third electrode and the fourth electrode are separated by the insulation material. The line plugs connect the second set of electrodes to the first set of electrodes. |
| US08971012B2 |
Variable-area capacitor structure, comb grid capacitor accelerometer and comb grid capacitor gyroscope
The present invention relates to a variable-area capacitor for a micromechanical sensor, a micromechanical comb grid capacitor accelerometer and a micromechanical comb grid capacitor gyroscope. Among them, the variable-area capacitor structure comprises of a movable and a fixed electrodes in each capacitor unit; a front surface of aforesaid movable electrode is parallel to that of aforesaid fixed electrode; the front surface of aforesaid movable electrode is in a rectangular shape, and the front surface of the fixed electrode is in a triangular or sawteeth shape or the front surface of the movable electrode is in a triangular or sawteeth shape, and the front surface of the fixed electrode is in a rectangular form; the triangular front surface is only overlapped with one long side of aforesaid rectangular front surface. Micromechanical sensors with variable-area capacitor structures of the invention can adjust elasticity coefficient as compared with present technology. |
| US08971007B2 |
Electrical energy saving system
A system for conditioning the three-phase alternating current electric power, including a first phase, a second phase, a third phase, and a neutral line, supplied to a load includes a plurality of first surge arresters, a plurality of second surge arresters, a plurality of third surge arresters, a three-phase surge suppressor, and a plurality of capacitors. The surge arresters minimize the amount by which the voltage between two phases and the neutral line exceeds a rated value. The three-phase surge suppressor minimizes the amount by which the voltage between the three phases and the neutral line exceeds a rated value. The capacitors minimize the amount by which the voltage between two phases falls below a rated value. |
| US08971006B2 |
Electronic control device including interrupt wire
An electronic control device includes a substrate, a plurality of component-mounted wires, a plurality of electronic components, a common wire, an interrupt wire and a protective layer. The component-mounted wires and the common wire are disposed on the substrate. The electronic components are mounted on the respective component-mounted wires and are coupled with the common wire. The interrupt wire is coupled between one component-mounted wire and the common wire, and is configured to melt in accordance with heat generated by an overcurrent to interrupt a coupling between the component-mounted wire and the common wire. The protective layer covers a surface of the substrate including the interrupt wire and defines an opening portion so that at least a portion of the interrupt wire is exposed. |
| US08971005B2 |
Over temperature protection circuit
The present invention provides an over temperature protection circuit. The over temperature protection circuit includes a reference circuit and a hysteretic comparator. The reference circuit is used for generating a reference voltage and a changeable voltage. The changeable voltage is varied by temperature. The hysteretic comparator compares the reference voltage with the changeable voltage to output a power down signal. |
| US08971002B1 |
System and method of providing isolated power to gate driving circuits in solid state fault current limiters
A system and method for providing isolated power to the gate driving circuits used in solid state switching devices is disclosed. Rather than using expensive isolated AC/DC power supplies, an isolation transformer is used to provide isolated AC voltage. In one embodiment, the primary winding of the isolation transformer is disposed across an independent AC source. In another embodiment, the primary winding of the isolation transformer is disposed across two phases of the AC power line. Isolated AC voltage is then generated across the secondary winding of the isolation transformer. This isolated AC voltage is then used by a non-isolated DC power supply, which generates the power for the gate driving circuit. |
| US08971001B2 |
Overvoltage protection circuit
In general terms, embodiments of the present invention relate to an overvoltage protection circuit. In some embodiments, the overvoltage protection circuit includes: (a) an input receiving node configured to receive an input voltage; (b) an input transmitting node; (c) an input switch formed between the input receiving node and the input transmitting node, and configured to selectively electrically connect the input receiving node to the input transmitting node based on a switch control signal, where the input switch is configured to cut off an electrical connection between the input receiving node and the input transmitting node when the switch control signal is in an inactive state (e.g., a logic low state “L”); and (d) a control signal generation block configured to sense a transmission voltage of the input transmitting node and generate the switch control signal in the inactive state when the transmission voltage rises to a reference voltage or higher. |
| US08970997B2 |
ESD protection circuit
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit is provided. The ESD protection circuit includes an impedance device coupled between a pad and a power line and a clamp unit coupled between the pad and a ground line. |
| US08970996B2 |
Spin-torque oscillator for microwave assisted magnetic recording
A microwave assisted magnetic recording write head having a spin torque oscillator capable of producing high strength high frequency magnetic oscillations with reduced applied current. The spin torque oscillator uses a magnetic field generation layer with a high moment material including such as Fe and Co that is formed on an interlayer having a face centered cubic (fcc) crystal structure, that functions as an under-layer. The high moment magnetic field generation layer has also reduced magnetic damping. |
| US08970995B2 |
Magnetoresistance effect element having layer containing Zn at the interface between magnetic layer and non-magnetic intermediate layer
A thin film magnetic head includes a magnetoresistive effect (MR) laminated body that has the following structure: first and second magnetic layers in which the magnetization direction of at least one of the magnetic layers changes according to an external magnetic field; the first magnetic layer is provided at a lower side of a laminated direction; the second magnetic layer is provided at an upper side of the laminated direction; a non-magnetic intermediate layer made of ZnO sandwiched between the first and the second magnetic layers; a first intermediate interface layer is provided at the interface between the first magnetic layer and the non-magnetic intermediate layer; and a second intermediate interface layer is provided at the interface between the non-magnetic intermediate layer and the second magnetic layer. At least the first intermediate interface layer contains Ag and Zn, or Au and Zn. |
| US08970994B2 |
Reader with decoupled magnetic seed layer
An apparatus comprising a base shield and a sensor stack, wherein the base shield is separated from the sensor stack via a first soft magnetic layer that is magnetically decoupled form the base shield. |
| US08970991B2 |
Coupling feature in a magnetoresistive trilayer lamination
A data storage device may be generally directed to a data transducing head capable of magnetoresistive data reading. Such a data transducing head may be configured with at least a trilayer reader that contacts and is biased by a coupling feature. The coupling feature may have a smaller extent from an air bearing surface (ABS) than the trilayer reader. |
| US08970987B2 |
Fluid dynamic bearing unit and disk drive device including the same
A first sleeve rotatably extends around a shaft. First and second flanges are fixed to the shaft. A second sleeve extending around the first sleeve is fixed thereto. A first annular member fixed to the second sleeve surrounds the first flange. A second annular member fixed to the second flange surrounds a portion of the second sleeve. A first capillary seal includes a clearance between the first flange and the first annular member. A second capillary seal includes a clearance between the second annular member and the second sleeve. Lubricant is provided in the clearances in the first and second capillary seals. The second annular member and the second sleeve are designed so that the lubricant in the clearance in the second capillary seal can be viewed from a point in a radial position which is outward of the second sleeve as seen in an axial direction. |
| US08970984B1 |
Grooved cylindrical seal with increased radial clearance for reduced cost disk drive spindle
A spindle includes a fixed member, a hub rotatably attached to the fixed member, and a bearing between the rotatable hub and the fixed member. The bearing including a bearing lubricant. A seal reduces migration of the bearing lubricant away from the bearing. The seal includes an immobile cylindrical surface of the fixed member, and a rotatable cylindrical surface of the hub. One of these surfaces includes a plurality of grooves. The immobile cylindrical surface and the rotatable cylindrical surface are concentric about the hub rotation axis. The rotatable cylindrical surface faces and is separated from the immobile cylindrical surface by a gas-filled radial clearance of not less than 50 microns. |
| US08970979B1 |
Disk drive determining frequency response of actuator near servo sample frequency
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a servo control system configured to control an actuator for actuating a head over a disk. Servo sectors are sampled at a servo sample frequency fs to generate a position error signal PES(k) that is filtered with a compensator to generate a first control signal u1(k). A first discrete-time sinusoid comprising a sinusoid frequency of fs+Δf is added to the first control signal u1(k) to generate a second control signal u2(k). The second control signal u2(k) is applied to the actuator, and a frequency response of the actuator is determined at the frequency |Δf|. The frequency response of the actuator is determined at the frequency fs+Δf based at least in part on the frequency response of the actuator at the frequency |Δf| and a measured signal of the servo control system when applying the second control signal u2(k) to the actuator. |
| US08970978B1 |
Disk drive detecting head touchdown by applying DC+AC control signal to fly height actuator
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, and a dynamic fly height (DFH) actuator operable to control a fly height of the head over the disk. A DFH control signal is applied to the DFH actuator to decrease the fly height of the head, wherein the DFH control signal comprises a DC component and an AC component comprising an excitation frequency. A touchdown metric is measured over an interval, and the head contacting the disk is detected in response to a frequency component of the touchdown metric at the excitation frequency. |
| US08970977B1 |
Disk drive logging failure analysis data when performing an emergency unload
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, a spindle motor operable to rotate the disk, and a ramp near an outer periphery of the disk. When an emergency condition is detected, the head is unloaded onto the ramp, and failure analysis data identifying a cause of the emergency condition is logged. |
| US08970976B1 |
Systems and methods for data dependent inter-track interference cancellation
Systems, methods, devices, circuits for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for reducing inter-track interference in relation to processing data retrieved from a storage medium. |
| US08970971B2 |
Lens barrel
A lens barrel includes a plurality of lens groups including a retractable lens group, a plurality of lens retaining frames to retain the plurality of lens groups, a movable lens barrel to retain the plurality of lens retaining frames therein, and a fixed cylinder portion to retain the movable lens barrel therein. The plurality of lens retaining frames, the movable lens barrel and the fixed cylinder portion are configured to move the plurality of lens groups between a collapsed state with at least one portion of the plurality of lens groups collapsed and a photographing state. The plurality of lens retaining frames include a retractable lens retaining frame configured to movably retain the retractable lens group so as to position the plurality of lens groups in photographing positions on a single optical axis in the photographing state and to retract the retractable lens group to a retracted position outside an inside diameter position of the fixed cylinder portion in the collapsed state. The retractable lens retaining frame moves the retractable lens group between the photographing position and the retracted position by a driving force to drive the movable lens barrel relative to the fixed cylinder portion. |
| US08970966B2 |
Optical system and optical apparatus having the same
An optical system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit of a positive refractive power, an aperture diaphragm, and a second lens unit of a positive refractive power. The first lens unit includes, in order from the object side to the image side, a cemented lens Lp1 made by joining a first lens of a positive refractive power and a second lens of a negative refractive power with each other, and a third lens of a positive refractive power which has a meniscus shape. The predetermined conditions are satisfied. |
| US08970959B2 |
Stereoscopic beam splitter
According to certain embodiments, a system includes beamsplitter sets, where each beamsplitter set comprises a first beamsplitter module and a second beamsplitter module aligned with the first beamsplitter module. The first beamsplitter module receives a first beam traveling along a first optical path. The first beamsplitter module splits the first beam into a first output beam transmitted along the first optical path and a first split beam transmitted to the second beamsplitter module along a reflected beam path. The second beamsplitter module receives the first split beam. The second beamsplitter module splits the first split beam into a second output beam transmitted substantially parallel to the reflected beam path and a second split beam transmitted substantially perpendicular to the reflected beam path. |
| US08970957B2 |
Tunable interference filter, optical module, and electronic device
An etalon (tunable interference filter) includes a fixed substrate, a movable substrate facing the fixed substrate, a fixed reflection film disposed on the fixed substrate, a movable reflection film disposed on the movable substrate and facing the fixed reflection film via a gap, a fixed electrode disposed on the fixed substrate, and a movable electrode disposed on the movable substrate and facing the fixed electrode. A movable insulating film is stacked on a surface of the movable electrode on the side of the fixed electrode, the movable electrode has a compressive stress, and the movable insulating film has a tensile stress. |
| US08970955B2 |
Zero-order diffractive filter and method for manufacturing thereof
The present invention discloses a method for manufacturing a zero-order diffractive filter comprising a high-index material having an upper surface and a lower surface. The high-index material is positioned between a first low-index matter and a second low-index matter; the lower surface is adjacent to said first low-index matter and the upper surface is adjacent to the second low-index matter. Moreover, the high-index material has an index of refraction that is higher than the index of refraction of both said first low-index matter and said second low-index matter. The method comprises at least the following procedure: selectively providing, by employing at least one wet-coating technique, at least one of the following at least partially: the high-index material onto said first low-index matter. |
| US08970952B2 |
Sample holder for a microscope
A sample retainer for a microscope is described, comprising a sample stage (32), a holder (34) arranged on the sample stage (32), a sample carrier (36), couplable to the holder (34), to which a sample is attachable, and an adjusting apparatus (44), engaging on the holder (34), with which with the sample carrier (36), together with the holder (34) to which the sample carrier (36) is coupled, is displaceable on the sample stage (32), relative to the objective (46), into a target position. A decoupling apparatus that decouples the sample carrier (36), arranged in the target position, from the holder (34) upon imaging of the sample through the objective (46) is provided. |
| US08970948B2 |
Method and system for operating semiconductor optical amplifiers
Disclosed are systems and methods for using a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) as an optical modulator for pulsed signals. In accordance with the principles of the invention, the SOA can be biased with a negative voltage to suppress transmission and improve modulator extinction and biased with a positive pulsed signal with sufficient amplitude to forward bias the amplifier (SOA), both transmitting the carrier and increasing its amplitude by means of a gain provided by the SOA under forward biased conditions. In addition, the forward bias voltage may be selected to compensate for losses within the SOA. |
| US08970945B2 |
Modulation averaging reflectors
Embodiments generally relate to an optical waveguide component configured for operation with amplitude modulated optical signals at a line rate. The optical waveguide component includes a first optical waveguide segment having a first port and a second port; and a plurality of second optical waveguides each forming a closed loop. Each of the second optical waveguides is electromagnetically coupled to the first optical waveguide exactly once, and each of the closed loops has a round trip time. A product of the line rate and each of the round-trip times is equal to or greater than unity. |
| US08970943B2 |
Composite film for preventing forgery, and composite method for preventing forgery
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a composite film comprising an indication area for preventing forgery is provided. The indication area comprises a magnetic solution distributed in a cured medium. The magnetic solution is a colloidal solution in which a plurality of magnetic particles charged in the same polarity are dispersed in a fluid, at least one of reflective light and transmittance of the magnetic solution changing when a magnetic field is applied, and an expressive material, of which a predetermined characteristic is expressed when specific energy is applied, is present separately from the magnetic solution in the cured medium. |
| US08970942B2 |
Electrophoretic display device and method of fabricating the same
An electrophoretic display device includes a switching element on a substrate including a display area having a pixel region and a non-display area at a periphery of the display area, a passivation layer covering the switching element, a pixel electrode on the passivation layer and connected to the switching element, an electrophoresis film on the pixel electrode and including an ink layer and a base film, wherein the ink layer includes a plurality of charged particles, and the base film is formed of polyethylene terephthalate, a common electrode for generating an electric field with the pixel electrode to drive the electrophoresis film, and a color filter layer directly on the electrophoresis film, wherein the color filter layer is formed under temperatures of less than 100 degrees of Celsius. |
| US08970935B2 |
High energy fiber laser modulator
A laser device includes a seed laser, a polarizer, a pseudorandom bit sequence (PRBS) pattern generator, and a phase modulator. The polarizer may be optically coupled to receive an output of the seed laser and may generate a polarization filtered output. The PRBS pattern generator may be configured to generate a PRBS pattern. The phase modulator may be configured to apply a PRBS modulation scheme to the polarization filtered output based on the PRBS pattern. The PRBS pattern may be generated to have a length above a first threshold for avoiding an occurrence of backward propagation being in phase with forward propagation in an active fiber receiving an output of the phase modulator when the pattern repeats and below a second threshold for phase mismatch in the active fiber. |
| US08970931B2 |
Image reading device employing calibration plate, apparatus including image reading device, image reading controlling method, and recording medium storing image reading control program
An image reading device includes an imaging device including a plurality of imaging elements, a color measuring unit that detects color of an object at a color measurement area, a calibration plate having a surface on which a plurality of color patches is formed, and a processor that causes the color measuring unit to read the plurality of color patches while changing a relative position between the plurality of color patches and the plurality of imaging elements to output color measurement results of the plurality of color patches, and generates a set of reference values for the plurality of color patches based on the color measurement results of the plurality of colors. The set of reference values are compared with the reading results of the plurality of color patches to generate a set of correction values for correcting the reading results of the plurality of color patches. |
| US08970929B2 |
Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes a housing, a tray, a conveyer, an image reader, a position detector, and a controller. The housing has a first introduction opening, a first discharge opening, a second introduction opening, and a second discharge opening. The tray is configured to connect to the housing movably between an open position and a close position relative to the housing. The tray is configured to cover the first introduction opening and to expose the second introduction opening and the second discharge opening at the close position. The conveyer is configured to convey the second medium from the second introduction opening to the second discharge opening. The conveyer is provided in the housing. The controller is configured to drive the conveyer when the tray is located at the close position. |
| US08970925B2 |
Scanner for automatically detecting object to be scanned and scanning method using same
A scanner for automatically detecting a scan target includes a transparent scan region configured to support the target, an image sensor including a light source for irradiating light toward the scan region and a light receiving element array for sensing the incident light through the scan region, a drive unit configured to linearly move the sensor across the scan region, and a control unit that controls the sensor and the drive unit. The control unit controls the light source of the sensor and the drive unit such that the sensor moves to a detection position and then the array senses the incident light through the scan region with the light source turned on and off. The control unit compares output signals of the array obtained by turning on and off the light source and automatically determines, based on the comparison, whether the target is placed in the scan region. |
| US08970924B2 |
Image reading device and image forming apparatus
Provided is an image reading device including: a light source member including light source portions emitting light; a light guide member including: an input section to which the light emitted from the light source portions is input; and an output section from which the input light is output; a support member supporting the light source member and the light guide member and having higher rigidity than the light source member and the light guide member; a retaining member configured to press the light guide member toward the support member and configured to retain the light guide member in a supported state by the support member; and a protrusion-shaped contact section provided on the light guide member and contacting the retaining member, the contact section protruding in a direction perpendicular from the predetermined main scanning direction from the light guide member toward the retaining member. |
| US08970919B2 |
Display/input device and image forming apparatus including display/input device
A display/input device includes a storage section, a display section, a touch panel, a control section, and a recognition section. The storage section is configured to store destination data indicating address information. The display section is configured to display a screen. The touch panel is configured to detect user's touched point. The control section is configured to allow the display section to display a list for specifying a destination name on the basis of the destination data. The recognition section is configured to recognize a moving direction in which the touched point moves. When the recognition section recognizes the moving direction of the touched point, the control section allows the display section to display the list in plural pages in the moving direction. |
| US08970918B2 |
Document management system and method thereof
A document management system including a two dimensional code region detection portion that detects a two dimensional code region included in image data, obtained by scanning a document to be managed; a two dimensional code decoding portion that decodes document management information included in the two dimensional code; a layout analysis portion that analyzes a layout of the document; a low resolution portion that obtains data in which a background image becomes low resolution; a two dimensional code character and background processing portion that changes the content of the document; a two dimensional code character encoding portion that encodes the two dimensional code; a background encoding portion that encodes data of the background image; a document filing portion that generates a document file; and a file management portion that adds document management information, decoded by the two dimensional decoding portion, to the document file formed by the document filing portion. |
| US08970915B2 |
Communication device, facsimile machine, and non-transitory computer readable medium
A communication device includes: a first transmitting unit that transmits pattern information specifying a pattern of an offer and an answer in Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to a called side machine corresponding to a pattern transmitting the offer from the called side machine; a presenting unit that presents called side machine information when the offer transmitted from the called side machine according to the pattern specified in the pattern information and the called side machine information to identify the called side machine are received; and a second transmitting unit that establishes a session with the called side machine by transmitting the answer to the called side machine when a predefined condition is satisfied after the presenting unit presents the called side machine information. |
| US08970914B2 |
Image reading device capable of detecting abnormal pixels in white reference data
An image reading device includes a white reference member, reading device, and processor. The reading device includes lenses and light-receiving elements. The light-receiving elements output a plurality of pixel values based on a light reflected from the white reference member. Each lens corresponds to at least two light-receiving elements. Each light-receiving element is configured to receive a light reflected from the white reference member and passing through the corresponding lens and to output one pixel value. The processor acquires the pixel values by using the reading device, sets a target pixel, and determines that the target pixel is an abnormal pixel when an absolute value of difference between a pixel value of the target pixel and a pixel value of a first pixel is greater than a prescribed threshold. The first pixel is separated from the target pixel by an integer multiple of the predetermined lens-to-lens distance. |
| US08970912B2 |
Image forming apparatus which performs tone correction
An image forming apparatus includes: a holding unit configured to hold image processing coefficients, each of which representing a relationship between an input density and an output density of an image signal output to an image forming unit; and an updating unit configured to update an image processing coefficient based on the relationship between densities of measurement images and densities of image signals for forming the measurement images. The updating unit is further configured to, when a maximum value of an output density of the image processing coefficients is smaller than a maximum value of the density of the image signal, form at least one first measurement image in accordance with an image signal indicating a density higher than the maximum value of the output density of the image processing coefficients. |
| US08970910B2 |
Visible and invisible watermarking of printed images via 2nd generation stochastic seed frequency modulation
As set forth herein, computer-implemented methods and systems facilitate watermarking documents and/or images using 2nd generation stochastic halftoning. The watermark is used to spatially vary the gray level at which a frequency modulation-to-amplitude modulation transition occurs. The encoding algorithm uses as inputs a contone image and a watermark. The visibility of the watermark is controlled by the magnitude of the difference between the AM-to-FM transition threshold values. |
| US08970907B2 |
Image inspection device, program product, and method comparing target print page data and display page data to create differential page image attribute information
When a differential page image is created by comparing a target inspection page image and an inspection page image, differential page image attribute information which is an inspection result is created by acquiring attribute information of an image region of the target inspection page image and an image region of the inspection page image corresponding to the differential page image, from target inspection page image data and inspection page image data. |
| US08970906B2 |
Information processing apparatus, recording medium, and control method
An information processing apparatus ignores a second setting in a despooling process and generates a print command based on a first setting even if a change from the first setting to the second setting is received. |
| US08970901B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image data transmission method, program, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus that can transmit an image outputted after the execution of a workflow as well as an attribute information file including attribute information suitable for an external system as a transmission destination to the external system. An attribute information management unit manages attributes required by the external system when the image data is transmitted to the external system. A workflow execution unit executes a workflow as a sequential processing in which a plurality of functions of the image processing apparatus are combined. An attribute value setting unit sets attribute values for the attributes required by the external system when the communication unit transmits the image data to the external system. An external system interconnection unit causes the communication unit to transmit the image data output from the workflow execution unit to the external system with reference to the attribute values set by the attribute value setting unit. |
| US08970900B2 |
Automated layout and design for recording text and images in any of disparate three-dimensional objects
Systems and methods for providing automated layouts and designs for recording text and images on any of a plurality of disparate three-dimensional objects. Server-based processing engine for automatically imposing designs and text onto consumer electronic devices and method for delivering the same to consumers. |
| US08970897B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program performing color material reduction processing on objects
An image processing apparatus and an image processing method are provided for allowing a user to achieve a desired image quality while controlling toner consumptions. An amount of toner reduced is calculated based on a set toner reduction rate. For objects other than an object specified as an excluded object to which toner reduction is not applied, a toner reduction rate for achieving the calculated amount of toner saved is calculated. |
| US08970892B2 |
Memory control device and image forming apparatus
Disclosed is a memory control device, including: an address mapping unit configured to assign a main scanning address and a sub-scanning address to a column address, a row address and a bank address of an SDRAM, to assign lower N bit(s) (N is a positive integer) for indicating an address corresponding to a burst size of a burst transfer among the main scanning address, to lower bit(s) of the column address, and to assign predetermined number of bit(s) arranged successively to an upper bit side of the lower N bit(s) among the main scanning address, to the bank address; and an access executing unit configured to read or write one line of image data in the main scanning direction by carrying out the burst transfer successively multiple times in a multibank operation while the sub-scanning address is changed at an end of the burst transfer. |
| US08970891B2 |
Multi-core processor based image data rotating processing system for high-speed digital textile printer and method
The present invention discloses a multi-core processor based image data rotating processing system for high-speed digital textile printers, including a data receiving equipment, a data analysis and processing equipment, a data transmission channel and data output equipment. The present invention also discloses a multi-core processor based image data rotating processing method for high-speed printers; it aims to receive data via the Ethernet interface, use numerous cores of the processor for parallel data processing, and implement data output via FPGA. As compared with prior arts, the system and method of the present invention can significantly improve the data gyration efficiency and output, and implement high yield of digital textile printers. |
| US08970890B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method for adjusting image quality
An image forming apparatus includes a level selecting unit, an image quality adjusting unit, and an image forming unit. The level selecting unit selects one of a plurality of levels each distributed to one of a plurality of adjustment items affecting an image quality determining factor that determines image quality. The plurality of adjustment items are different from each other. The image quality adjusting unit adjusts a value of each of the adjustment items belonging to the level selected by the level selecting unit and any other level shallower than the selected level such that the image quality corresponding to the image quality determining factor approaches predetermined image quality. The image forming unit forms an image having image quality according to the value adjusted by the image quality adjusting unit. |
| US08970888B2 |
File management technique
An image processing system includes an image capturing apparatus and a server apparatus. The image capturing apparatus includes: an image capturing unit that captures an image of a printout produced by printing print data; an extracting unit that extracts identification information by decoding encoded information extracted from the captured image; a transmitting unit that transmits the extracted identification information to the server apparatus, and a display control unit that causes a display unit to display the captured image and related information transmitted from the server apparatus. The server apparatus includes: an identifying unit that identifies the print data stored in the storage unit in a manner associated with the identification information received from the image capturing apparatus; and a transmitting unit that transmits the related information related to the identified print data to the image capturing apparatus. |
| US08970886B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting user's operation of image reading apparatus
A write operation supporting apparatus 1 includes a camera 3 that images a placed document 10 as a reading target within an imaging area 6 and a projector 4 that displays information toward the imaging area 6. A control device 5 of the write operation supporting apparatus 1 displays, by the projector 4, operation supporting information for supporting an information writing operation using the document 10 toward the imaging area 6, based on positional information of the document 10 on the imaging area 6 acquired by the camera 3, with relative position relation with the medium 10 on the imaging area 6 maintained. |
| US08970884B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus of the present disclosure includes a first processing unit; a second processing unit configured to perform a process different from a process performed by the first processing unit; and a non volatile memory device in which a shared root file system has been stored, the shared root file system mounted by a kernel for the first processing unit and a kernel for the second processing unit. |
| US08970879B2 |
Printing system, printing method, and computer-readable medium for designating and executing printing via the internet
A print server in a printing system including a print server, at least one mediation apparatus, and at least one image forming apparatus, comprises: a unit configured to establish a connection with the at least one mediation apparatus and to maintain the established connection to be able to transmit data from the print server serving as a source; a unit configured to manage a mediation apparatus and an image forming apparatus in association with each other as a group; a unit configured, upon receiving a print instruction, to determine, among the at least one mediation apparatus, a mediation apparatus to which a print request transfer instruction is to be transmitted, and to transmit the print request transfer instruction to the determined mediation apparatus via the maintained connection; and a unit configured to transmit a print job in response to the print job acquisition request. |
| US08970875B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method for producing e-book contents
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a function unit which performs a function of the image forming apparatus, a user interface which receives a selection of job data processed by the function unit and a selection of a layout for the job data, a contents production unit which produces electronic book (e-book) contents for the selected job data based on the selected layout, and a communication interface which transmits the produced e-book contents to an external device. |
| US08970873B2 |
System and method for managing printer resources on an internal network
A system and method are provided for routing print requests and managing internal printer resource data on an internal network with global printer resource data stored on an external network. Print requests are received for printer resources and it is determined whether the request may be served with printer resource data stored on the internal network. If the printer resource data is invalid or stale, then printer resource data is requested from the global server and the internal printer resource data is updated. The print request is then routed to the appropriate printer resource based on location information in the printer resource data associated with the requested printer resource. Network client devices may also be configured to connect to a print traffic server when connected to an internal network, and to the global server otherwise. |
| US08970870B2 |
Delivery of scan services over a device service port
Delivery of scan services of a networked scanning device over a device service port interfaced to the network. An extended XML schema is comprised of an extension to a baseline XML schema which defines baseline functions exposed by the scanning device via the device service port together with baseline parameters for such functions. The extension defines an additional parameter for a predesignated one of the plural baseline functions. A scan job is created by transmission of a request to create a scan job over the device service port. A request for scanner functionality defined by the predesignated function is transmitted to the scanning device via the device service port, with a non-null value specifying a device command for the additional parameter. Data responsive to execution of the device command by the scanning device is transmitted to the client via the device service port. |
| US08970869B2 |
Method of attaching and sending file through webmail from image forming apparatus, and image forming apparatus to perform the method
An image forming apparatus which logs into an external webmail server by using a web browser included in the image forming apparatus, the webmail is written on a webpage of the webmail server, a file to be attached to the webmail is selected, and the selected file is attached to the webmail so as to send the webmail to the webmail server. |
| US08970868B2 |
Print system, program, and printer
A print system, computer readable media, and printer are provided. The print system includes a printer and a computer. The printer includes a print unit that generates an image on a sheet from output data; a generation unit that generates correction data for correcting print data; and a transmission unit that transmits the correction data to the computer. The computer includes a correction unit that corrects the print data using the correction data transmitted from the transmission unit, thereby generating the output data; and an output unit that outputs the output data to the printer. The printer system also includes a wait state maintain unit that is configured to maintain a wait state so as not to start a printing of the output data corrected in accordance with the correction data generated during a period from a time at which generation of the correction data is commenced by the generation unit until a time at which the transmission unit transmits the correction data. |
| US08970865B2 |
Printing control device, storage medium storing printing control program, and printing control method
The printing control device of the present invention inquires whether or not an actual output printer driver supports the function of the items regarding drawing processing in step SC1503. If it is found as a result of inquiry in step SC1504 that the printer driver does not support the function, the printing control device processes print data in step SC1506. On the other hand, if the printer driver supports the function in step SC1504, the printing control device determines whether or not the print setting corresponding to the function is enabled in step SC1505. If the printing control device determines that the print setting is disabled, the process advances to step SC1506 and the printing control device processes print data. |
| US08970863B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method, equipped with image-input-to-box function and box-to-image-output function
An image forming apparatus processing a plurality of jobs in parallel includes an auxiliary storage device that includes a box, a memory, a PDL-to-box unit, and a box-to-print unit. In response to a request to store a document file in the box, the PDL-to-box unit stores, as an ensured memory size, a size of the memory used in the image-input-to-box function, in the auxiliary storage device by associating the size of the memory with a document file in the box. In response to a request to image-output the document file within the box, the box-to-print unit reads out the ensured memory size, secures an area of the ensured memory size in the memory, and image-outputs the content of the document file. |
| US08970862B2 |
Function expansion method using print data, and function expansion device
A method of expanding the function of an application in a computer that operates under an operating system and executes specific processes by an application has a step that acquires and sends print data that is output from the application to a driver to a communication port before the print data is received by the driver; a step that acquires and relays the transmitted print data, or the print data that is output from the application to the communication port, before the print data is received by the communication port; and a step that expands the function of the relayed print data on the application layer, and outputs the processed data to a communication port. |
| US08970857B2 |
System, image forming apparatus, and method for extracting data from a set of electronic data based on a predetermined condition
Information about a user is sent to a server from a device to perform authentication. A scan document generated by scanning a paper document is sent to the server from the device to request registration thereof. If the scan document, the registration of which has been requested from the device, has a size that exceeds free space in a contract area, the server extracts a document that meets a save condition from documents that should be stored in the contract area. The server then moves the extracted document from the contract area into a temporary area so as to register in the contract area the scan document the registration of which has been requested from the device. The server notifies a predetermined destination of information about the document moved into the temporary area. |
| US08970855B2 |
Sheet conveying device, image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus provided with same
A sheet conveying device includes a sheet stacking portion on which sheets are to be stacked, a sheet conveyance path, a sheet feeding member, a driving unit, a stopper and an interlocking unit. The sheet is conveyed from the sheet stacking portion in a predetermined conveying direction in the sheet conveyance path. The sheet feeding member is arranged at an entrance side of the sheet conveyance path and conveys the sheet by being driven and rotated. The stopper is projectable into and retractable from the sheet conveyance path at a side upstream of the sheet feeding member in the conveying direction and prevents the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking portion from coming into contact with the sheet feeding member in a projecting state. The interlocking unit causes the stopper to project into and retract from the sheet conveyance path in accordance with rotational movements of the sheet feeding member. |
| US08970854B2 |
Document management system, document management apparatus, computer-readable medium and computer data signal
A document management system includes a storage section, a reference electronic manuscript acquisition section, an edit part identification section and a document editing processing section. The storage section stores at least one of an electronic manuscript and an electronic document generated by combining plural electronic manuscripts. The reference electronic manuscript acquisition section acquires a reference electronic manuscript used for identifying a reference position of an edit part in an edit electronic document that is an electronic document to be edited and is read from the storage section. The edit part identification section identifies the edit part in the edit electronic document based on the reference electronic manuscript. The document editing processing section performs editing processing for the edit part identified by the edit part identification section, in units of electronic manuscripts. |
| US08970844B2 |
Signal amplifier by triple Mach-Zehnder interferometers
A signal amplifier is provided via a triple Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) apparatus for determining intensity distribution at either a first port or a second port by a photon from a source. The first and second ports correspond to respective first and second directions. The MZI apparatus includes four beam-splitters disposed co-linearly in parallel between the source and the ports, six parallel mirrors, and first and second path projectors. Three of these mirrors are displaced along the first direction from the beam-splitters, while the remaining mirrors are displaced along the second direction. The path projectors conduct weak measurement of a photon occupation number and are disposed between the second beam-splitter and an adjacent downstream mirror. The output port is disposed beyond the fourth beam-splitter in the first direction. The intensity distribution at the output port is positive in response to one of the first measurement being positive and the second measurement being negative. |
| US08970843B2 |
Optical assembly and method for determining analyte concentration
An optical assembly and method for the non-invasive determination of a concentration of an analyte in a tissue sample is disclosed. The assembly comprises an optical arrangement comprising a first optical interface for reflecting light incident thereon and a second optical interface for reflecting light incident thereon. The second interface comprises an interface between an optical element of the arrangement and the tissue sample under investigation. The light reflected from the first and second interfaces is arranged to combine to generate an interference pattern characteristic of a difference in phase between light reflected from the first interface with the light reflected from the second interface. |
| US08970840B2 |
Method and apparatus for aerosol analysis using optical spectroscopy
Particles of a flow of aerosol are collected and analyzed by passing them through a housing having an inlet area, an outlet area, and a collection and analysis area interconnecting the inlet and outlet areas. A collection electrode has a tip disposed in the collection and analysis area and particles are collected thereon. After collection, the particles are ablated and atomic emissions are collected for analysis of the particles. |
| US08970839B2 |
Detection device
A detection device includes an optical device, a suction section adapted to suck the fluid sample in the optical device, a light source adapted to irradiate the optical device with light, a light detection section adapted to detect light emitted from the optical device, and a control section adapted to perform drive control on the suction section. The optical device emits light reflecting the fluid sample to be adsorbed. The control section sets a suction flow velocity of the fluid sample on the optical device to V1 in a first mode including a period of performing detection by the light detection section, sets the suction flow velocity of the fluid sample on the optical device to V2 (V2>V1) in a second mode, and switches between the first mode and the second mode based on a signal from the light detection section. |
| US08970833B2 |
Method and system of detecting tilt angle of object surface and method and system of compensating the same
A method and a system of detecting a tilt angle of an object surface and a method and a system of compensating the same are provided. The detecting method includes the following steps. Light beams are projected by a light source device to the object surface. An image of the object surface is captured so as to obtain light spots on the object surface. A focus program is executed by adjusting a vertical distance between the light source device and the object surface, so as to gather the light spots in a focal point on the object surface. The vertical distance is adjusted, and a correction angle between the light beams and the object surface is calculated according to the light spots. |
| US08970832B2 |
Optical testing method and system for 3D display product
An optical testing method and system for 3D display products are disclosed, the method comprising: the 3D display product to be tested displaying white light and/or black light, a left eye lens and a right eye lens receiving white light signals and/or black light signals of left eye pixels and right eye pixels respectively and transmitting them to a data processor for processing, obtaining test results for brightness difference; the 3D display product to be tested displaying primary colors, the left eye lens and the right eye lens receiving light signals of the left eye pixels and the right eye pixels respectively and transmitting them to the data processor for processing, and obtaining test results for color difference. |
| US08970831B2 |
Optical constant measuring apparatus and method thereof
Disclosed is an optical constant measuring method which includes applying light to a sample including a target material; measuring a first optical signal from light reflected from the sample; grasping a structure of the sample based on the first optical signal; measuring a second optical signal from light penetrating the sample; grasping an overall optical property of the sample based on the second optical signal; and measuring an optical constant of the target material based on the measured structure and optical property of the sample. |
| US08970828B1 |
Authentication method and system
A method for authenticating an object, comprising determining a physical dispersion pattern of a set of elements, determining a physical characteristic of the set of elements which is distinct from a physical characteristic producible by a transfer printing technology, determining a digital code associated with the object defining the physical dispersion pattern, and authenticating the object by verifying a correspondence of the digital code with the physical dispersion pattern, and verifying the physical characteristic. |
| US08970827B2 |
Structured light and time of flight depth capture with a MEMS ribbon linear array spatial light modulator
A fast spatial light modulator based on a linear MEMS ribbon array enables a depth capture system to operate in structured light and time-of-flight modes. Time-of-flight depth information may be used to phase unwrap structured light depth information. Combined structured light and time-of-flight systems offer precise depth resolution over a wide range of distances. |
| US08970826B2 |
Automatic focusing apparatus and method
An automatic focusing apparatus and a method thereof are provided. The apparatus includes a light source, an optical imaging unit, a photo-sensor and a focusing regulation unit. The optical imaging unit includes an object lens and a beam splitter. The beam splitter divides a reflecting beam into a first sub-beam and a second sub-beam. The optical imaging unit has a first imaging optical path and a second imaging optical path with different imaging precisions corresponding to the first sub-beam and the second sub-beam, respectively. The photo-sensor detects a defocus position of the object. The focusing regulation unit adjusts the distance between the object and the object lens and selects an imaging precision, so that the defocus position of the object is placed within the imaging precision of the first optical path and the imaging precision of the second optical path in sequence. |
| US08970825B2 |
Manual distance measuring apparatus
A manual distance measuring apparatus includes at least one computing unit, an image acquisition means and a laser measuring device, which determines a distance of a measurement point on a measurement object in a measurement direction during a measuring process. The computing unit is configured to control, at least by open-loop control, the measurement direction depending at least on an output characteristic variable of the image acquisition means. |
| US08970824B2 |
Rangefinder
A rangefinder for measuring a distance of an object includes a case, in which a refractor, a measuring light source, a light receiver, a receiving lens, a reference light source, and a reflector are provided. The measuring light source emits measuring light to the refractor, and the refractor refracts the measuring light to the object. The measuring light reflected by the object emits to the light receiver through the receiving lens. The reference light emits reference light to the reflector, and the reflector reflects the reference light to the light receiver. The refractor and the reflector may be turned for calibration. |
| US08970818B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and component with repeating structure having increased thermal accommodation coefficient
A lithographic apparatus includes a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate, and a projection system configured to project a patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate. A surface of a component of the lithographic apparatus that is in a vacuum environment in use is provided with a repeating structure configured to increase the effective thermal accommodation coefficient of the surface. |
| US08970817B2 |
Display panel
A display panel includes a fiber reinforced plastic substrate having a first lattice pattern with a first lattice period P, and a pixel layer disposed on the substrate having a second lattice pattern having a second lattice period H, in which if H>P, P and H satisfy P = 2 H 2 n + 1 , where n is a natural number, and if H>P, P and H satisfy P = ( 2 n + 1 ) H 2 . |
| US08970816B2 |
Display device
In a liquid crystal display device it is desirable to test in the state of TFT substrates, without reducing the number of TFT substrates to be obtained from one mother TFT substrate, and without increasing the overall size of the TFT substrates. Test terminals are formed on the outside of terminals for driving the liquid crystal display device. The test terminals of the specific TFT substrate are formed in another TFT substrate just below the specific TFT substrate. The area in which the test lines are formed is a space in which a sealing material is formed, between the display area and an end of the lower TFT substrate. Thus, the size of the TFT substrates is not actually increased. A test line area is not separately formed and not discarded, so that the number of TFT substrates to be obtained from one mother TFT substrate is not reduced. |
| US08970812B2 |
Circular polarising plate and a reflective liquid-crystal display device comprising the same
Provided are a circular polarizer and a reflective liquid crystal display including the same. The circular polarizer includes a polarizer comprising a polarizing film in which an absorption axis has an angle of about 85° to about 95° with respect to a liquid crystal alignment direction of a liquid crystal cell, where, in CIE coordinates, a color “a” is about −1 to about −0.6 and a color “b” is about 0.3 to about 2.5 and a ¼ wavelength plate in which an optical axis has an angle of about 130° to about 140° with respect to the liquid crystal alignment direction of the light crystal cell. When the circular polarizer is used, the visibility and color tone of the reflective liquid crystal display may be improved. |
| US08970809B2 |
Image display apparatus and method of driving the same
An image display apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a plurality of panels arranged in a matrix form, each panel having, on its display surface, a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form; a first junction portion provided between the panels adjacent to each other in a horizontal direction; a second junction portion provided between the panels adjacent to each other in a vertical direction; a first optical member covering the first junction portion, and magnifying or diffusing the pixels of the panels in the vicinity of the first junction portion with an anisotropy in a first direction; and a second optical member covering the second junction portion, and magnifying and diffusing the pixels of the panels in the vicinity of the second junction portion with an anisotropy in a second direction. |
| US08970808B2 |
Display with temperature sensors
A display may be provided with display layers such as a thin-film-transistor layer and a color filter layer. Liquid crystal material may be interposed between the thin-film-transistor layer and the color filter layer. Due to temperature fluctuations during operation, the optical properties of the liquid crystal material may be altered. To prevent color casts from developing in the display, the display may include temperature sensors. The temperature sensors may run along the left and right edges of the thin-film-transistor layer or may be mounted to other portions of the display. A signal bus may be used to gather temperature sensor data from the temperature sensors. Control circuitry may use temperature data from the temperature sensors to make display color cast adjustments that compensate for temperature fluctuations in different regions of the display. |
| US08970805B2 |
Display device and method of manufacturing the same
A display device includes a display panel including an upper substrate and a lower substrate facing-coupled to a rear surface of the upper substrate, a backlight unit supplying light to the display panel, a cover member receiving the display panel and covering a side surface of the display panel, a guide frame supporting the display panel and guiding a position of the display panel and a position of the backlight unit, and an adhesive member injected between the guide frame and the display panel and coupling the guide frame and the display panel. The guide frame includes a horizontal part and a first prevention jaw formed to protrude from one end of the horizontal part, and preventing the adhesive member from being injected into the backlight unit when injecting the adhesive member. |
| US08970804B2 |
Liquid crystal panel and liquid crystal display device using the same
A liquid crystal panel and a liquid crystal display device using the same are disclosed, in which an alignment layer the same as that of a display area is formed in a light-transmitting portion of a non-display area, the light-transmitting portion being provided with a through hole. The liquid crystal panel comprises a color filter substrate; a driving device array substrate; a seal surrounding the outside of the light-transmitting portion and the display area; and a liquid crystal injected into the display area and the light-transmitting portion, which are surrounded by the seal, in a state that the driving device array substrate and the color filter array substrate are bonded to each other by the seal. |
| US08970803B2 |
Slim bezel liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a slim bezel liquid crystal display device, which includes a rear enclosure, a front enclosure mating the rear enclosure, and a liquid crystal display module arranged inside the rear enclosure. The rear enclosure forms a retention plate. The retention plate functions to retain a lower end of the liquid crystal display module so as to fix the liquid crystal display module in the rear enclosure. The slim bezel liquid crystal display device uses an inverted L-shaped retention plate mounted at a lower end portion of a rear enclosure to retain a liquid crystal display module in position so as to fix the liquid crystal display module in the rear enclosure. The structure is simple and assembling is easy so as to effectively achieve bezel slimming and device thinning of a liquid crystal display device. |
| US08970801B2 |
Back frame and backlight system
The present invention provides a back frame of flat panel display device and a backlight system. The back frame includes primary assembling pieces, secondary assembling pieces, and a bracing piece for fixing a circuit board. The primary assembling pieces are connected through joining. Further, the primary assembling piece includes a joint section that forms a reinforcement structure and a circuit board is mountable and position adjustable through a bracing piece. The present invention also provides a backlight system. The back frame and the backlight system of the present invention have a back frame of simple structure, reduce the expenditure of a back frame mold, allow strength of the back frame to meet a desired requirement, improve fixing of circuit board, and save the material used for back frame so as to lower down the manufacturing cost of flat panel display device. |
| US08970800B2 |
Backplane, backlight module and LCD device
The present invention discloses a backplane, a backlight module, and an LCD device. A backplane comprises a heatsink plate and a supporting plate connected with the heatsink plate; the heat conductivity of the heatsink plate is larger than that of the supporting plate; the heatsink plate or the supporting plate is provided with reinforcing ribs in the joint. In the present invention, metal with good heat dispersion and common material with low cost are respectively adopted and joined according to different radiating areas of the backlight module; then, the heat dispersion is ensured and meanwhile, the cost is reduced. The reinforcing ribs are added in the joint so that the strength of the joint is enhanced and the backplane is tightened and durable. |
| US08970799B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display device includes a pair of transparent substrates facing each other through a liquid crystal layer disposed therebetween; a gate insulating film formed so as to cover a gate electrode formed in the pixel regions, disposed closer to the liquid crystal layer, of one of the transparent substrates; a semiconductor film provided on the gate insulating film, for forming a thin-film transistor; a first electrode provided on the semiconductor film through the first insulating film and the second insulating film; a second electrode provided on the first electrode through a third insulating film; and a contact hole formed collectively in the first insulating film, the second insulating film, and the third insulating film on the first electrode, where a second electrode is formed on the contact hole. A floating electrode is formed in the peripheral region of the contact hole. |
| US08970797B2 |
Liquid crystal display adopting structure of liquid crystal lens
According to the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid crystal display, comprising: a color filter substrate; an array substrate, disposed to face the color filter substrate; and a liquid crystal lens structure, disposed between the array substrate and the color filter substrate, the liquid crystal lens structure comprising in sequence along a direction from the color filter substrate to the array substrate: a first surface alignment layer, a liquid crystal layer and a second surface alignment layer. |
| US08970794B2 |
Portable video enhancement apparatus
A Portable Video Enhancement Apparatus. The apparatus includes a magnification lens, a video device holder and a collapsible housing. In operational mode configuration, the collapsible housing is designed to provide a viewing cavity and a stable medium for the magnification lens and the video device holder. In portable mode configuration, the collapsible housing is designed to have a relatively small volume. The collapsible housing comprises a plurality of support members. The magnification lens and video device holder are situated within the collapsible housing. The magnification lens and video device holder are designed to have different positions within the collapsible housing depending on whether the apparatus is in operational mode configuration or portable mode configuration. |
| US08970793B2 |
Display device, and television device
This display device (100) includes a display panel (2) including a substrate mounting member (5) covering a backlight source (4b) and a cover member (6) arranged to partially cover the rear surface of the substrate mounting member and to expose a region in the periphery of at least an outer peripheral portion (51) of the rear surface of the substrate mounting member. The substrate mounting member has a side surface portion (51a, 51b, 51c, 51d), while a corner portion (51e, 51f, 51g, 51h) of the outer peripheral portion formed by the side surface portion of the substrate mounting member has such a shape that adjacent ones of the side surface portion are bonded to each other without a clearance. |
| US08970791B2 |
Circuit board
Provided a circuit board including an input terminal to which a high-frequency signal is input, a high-frequency amplifier for amplifying the high-frequency signal input to the input terminal, at least one distributor distributing the high-frequency signal, a plurality of high-frequency processing circuits of which transmission path lengths for inputting each of the high-frequency signals distributed by the distributor into signal inputting sections of the plurality of high-frequency processing circuits are different from one another, and a plurality of attenuating devices which are mounted at previous stages of each of the plurality of high-frequency processing circuits and possess amounts of attenuation which increase with decrease of the transmission path lengths. |
| US08970787B2 |
Image quality improvement device and method thereof
Disclosed are an image quality improvement device and method. The image quality improvement device includes a filter which separates an input video signal into a luminance signal and a chrominance signal, and a noise reduction unit which detects a motion in the input video signal by using the luminance signal separated by the filter, and thereby performing different filtering operations according to the existence of the motion. |
| US08970786B2 |
Ambient light effects based on video via home automation
A system for controlling ambient light effects comprises a receiving device including at least one processor programmed to parse incoming video content to detect at least one portion of the incoming video content and determine at least one ambient light effect to be associated with the portion of the video content. The system further comprises a home automation controller in communication with the processor and at least one lighting device in communication with the receiving device and the home automation controller. The processor of the receiving device is programmed to send a command to the home automation controller specifying the ambient light effect determined by the processor to be associated with the portion of the video content. The lighting device generates the ambient light effect specified in the command when the portion of the video content is displayed to a user. |
| US08970783B2 |
Image processing apparatus and control method therefor
An image processing apparatus obtains information of an effective pixel of an image pickup element and information of a pixel on the periphery thereof, sets a position where image data of the peripheral pixel is multiplexed in accordance with a transmission method, generates a data stream by multiplexing image data of the effective pixel and the image data of the peripheral pixel in accordance with the set multiplexing position and the transmission method, and multiplexes information on the set multiplexing position and information on the peripheral pixel area to the data stream. |
| US08970779B2 |
Camera system, camera body, and interchangeable lens
According to an aspect of the present invention, the camera body can switch the present version, which is an original version, to specifications of an older version. Thus, even if the present versions of the camera body and the interchangeable lens doe not have compatibility, if an old version has compatibility, a minimum operation can be ensured by the specifications of the old version without updating the firmware, although the functions may have possibility of being restricted. |
| US08970774B2 |
Imaging system and control method for imaging system
An imaging system of the present invention comprises a lens unit having a barrel section that contains a photographing optical system, and an operating section provided on the barrel section, and a camera body having an imaging section for converting a subject image formed by the photographing optical system into electrical signals, and a display section for displaying the subject image based on the electrical signals, wherein the lens unit has a transmission section for transmitting information relating to the operation section, and the camera body has a receiving section for receiving information relating to the operating section that has been transmitted from the transmission section, and an association section for displaying the information relating to the operation section that has been received by the receiving section on the display section, and associating information relating to the operating section with functions of the camera body. |
| US08970771B2 |
Waterproof camera having a semi-underwater photographing mode
A waterproof camera includes an image pickup section, a display section that displays image data, a mode setting section that sets a semi-underwater mode in which both objects under water and above water are simultaneously photographed, and a display control section that limits a display range of the display section when the semi-underwater mode is set, wherein the mode setting section controls the position of a photographing lens or the like to adjust a focus balance of at least one of under water and above water, and the display control section displays both object images under water and above water within a limited display range of the display section. |
| US08970770B2 |
Continuous autofocus based on face detection and tracking
An autofocus method includes acquiring an image of a scene that includes one or more out of focus faces and/or partial faces. The method includes detecting one or more of the out of focus faces and/or partial faces within the digital image by applying one or more sets of classifiers trained on faces that are out of focus. One or more sizes of the one of more respective out of focus faces and/or partial faces is/are determined within the digital image. One or more respective depths is/are determined to the one or more out of focus faces and/or partial faces based on the one or more sizes of the one of more faces and/or partial faces within the digital image. One or more respective focus positions of the lens is/are adjusted to focus approximately at the determined one or more respective depths. |
| US08970767B2 |
Imaging method and system with angle-discrimination layer
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for an imaging system that includes a light guide having light-turning features that are configured to receive ambient light incident on the light guide, including light scattered from a scene to be imaged, and to direct the received ambient light towards an image sensor. The light-turning features may have angle-discriminating properties so that some light-turning features capture light incident upon the light guide at certain angles of incidence, but not others. Light scattered from multiple parts of a scene to be imaged may then be directed to correlated locations on an image sensor, which provides electronic data representing an image. |
| US08970765B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method and program
An image processing device may include a control unit. The control unit may be operable, in a first mode, to control display on a display screen of a representative image of a group of images and, in a second mode, to control display on the display screen of an image of the group of images corresponding to a posture of the device. In addition, the control unit may be operable to switch between operation in the first mode and the second mode. |
| US08970761B2 |
Method and apparatus for correcting aspect ratio in a camera graphical user interface
A device and method are provided that retrieves a plurality of thumbnails corresponding to a plurality of images captured by the digital camera and rotates each thumbnail of the plurality of thumbnails into an upright position. The method and device also crops each thumbnail of the plurality of thumbnails to a uniform size which is an overlap of a portrait and landscape image and displays each thumbnail of the plurality of thumbnails having the uniform size such that the plurality of thumbnails has a uniform appearance while the digital camera is in a review mode. |
| US08970760B2 |
Portable terminal having touch screen and method for processing image therein
A portable terminal having a touch screen and a method for processing an image therein are provided. The portable terminal includes a camera unit for photographing an image, a touch screen for displaying the photographed image, a controller for generating, if a substantially continuous drawing motion is detected on the touch screen, a partial area in the displayed image according to the drawing motion, and a memory unit for storing the partial area of the displayed image. Accordingly, the portable terminal may more easily perform image photographing and editing, thereby increasing user convenience. |
| US08970752B2 |
Imaging device
An imaging device includes: an imaging sensor 110 configured to capture an optical image of an object and generate image data; a main circuit substrate 120 configured to perform signal processing of the image data generated by the imaging sensor 110; a mounting component 130 configured to mount the imaging sensor 110; a metal plate 150 disposed between the mounting component 130 and the main circuit substrate 120; and an electrically-conductive section 190 configured to electrically connect between a ground conductor of the main circuit substrate 120 and the metal plate 150. The electrically-conductive section 190 is positioned in an area where the metal plate 150 and the imaging sensor 110 overlap each other in the case of a back surface of the metal plate 150 being viewed in a direction orthogonal thereto. |
| US08970751B2 |
Solid-state imaging device
According to one embodiment, an image sensor, which is a solid imaging device, includes a photoelectric conversion element array, a condensing optical element array, filter and reflector units, and a reflective unit. The reflective unit further reflects a light reflected by the filter and reflector units. The condensing optical element is arranged so that it contains a first photoelectric conversion element and a portion of a second or a third photoelectric conversion element, which are adjacent to the first photoelectric conversion element. The arrangement of the photoelectric conversion elements may comprise a cell. The reflective unit includes at least a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface. The first reflective surface is opposite to the filter and reflector units. The second reflective surface surrounds the filter and reflector units and the first reflective surface for each cell. |
| US08970747B2 |
Imaging device
In a color filter array of a color imaging element 26, a G filter 34G to which other G filters 34G are adjacent in horizontal and vertical directions and a G filter 34G to which another G filter 34G is not adjacent are determined as dense and sparse G filters, respectively. Defective information on a sparse G defective pixel corresponding to the sparse G filter is more preferentially registered than defective information on a dense G defective pixel corresponding to the dense G filter. Thereby, interpolation processing for a pixel value of the sparse G defective pixel is more preferentially performed than interpolation processing for a pixel value of the dense G defective pixel. |
| US08970743B1 |
Fixed pattern noise correction with compressed gain and offset
A method of pixel correction is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) calibrating a per-pixel correction model of a sensor at a plurality of different illumination levels, (B) generating a plurality of pixel values from the sensor in response to an optical signal and (C) generating a plurality of corrected values by applying the per-pixel correction model to the pixel values. |
| US08970739B2 |
Devices and methods for creating structure histograms for use in image enhancement
Systems, methods, and computer readable media expounding “Structure Histograms” and their use are presented. Structure Histograms may be described as histograms whose individual entries (values) express a functional relationship between a given pixel (or group of pixels) and its neighboring pixels. As such, Structure Histograms capture information about the structure of an image in so far as they record information related to the relative placement of pixels within an image (e.g., are pixels of a common value closely spaced or spaced far apart). Structure Histograms may be generated from tonal pixel values (e.g., red, green and blue values), luminance pixel values (e.g., gray scale pixel values) or cross-channel pixel values (e.g., red-luminance, green-blue, or green-blue-luminance pixel values). Structure Histograms may be used in a number of image processing contexts such as, for example, automated image enhancement operations. |
| US08970736B2 |
Digital camera
A digital camera, which photographs a subject, generates image data, and records the image data on a recording medium, includes: an image processing device that performs a plurality of image processing to the recorded image data, in response to a user's operation; a history creating device that creates, for each image data, history information that indicates a history of image processing performed by the image processing device; and a display unit that displays the history information thus created. |