| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09210836B2 |
Electronic component mounting device
An electronic component mounting device, includes a stage in which a plurality of stage portions are defined, a first heater provided in the plurality of stage portions respectively, and the first heater which can be controlled independently, a mounting head arranged over the stage, and a second heater provided in the mounting head. |
| US09210835B2 |
Graphene based structures and methods for shielding electromagnetic radiation
Electromagnetic interference shielding structures and methods of shielding an object form electromagnetic radiation at frequencies greater than a megahertz generally include providing highly doped graphene sheets about the object to be shielded. The highly doped graphene sheets may have a dopant concentration greater than >1e1013 cm−2, which is effective to reflect the electromagnetic radiation or a dopant concentration of 1e1013 cm−2>n>0 cm−2, which is effective to absorb the electromagnetic radiation. |
| US09210832B2 |
Thermal buffering element
A thermal buffering element applied to an electronic device is provided. The thermal buffering element includes a heat absorbing material and a plurality of metal particles. The heat absorbing material is disposed corresponding to a heat source of the electronic device. The metal particles are distributed in the heat absorbing material. The invention solves the problem of uneven heat dissipation of an electronic product, which makes a user feel more comfortable. |
| US09210830B2 |
Immersion-cooled and conduction-cooled method for electronic system
A method of facilitating cooling of an electronics board having a plurality of electronic components mounted to the board by providing an apparatus which includes an immersion-cooled electronic component section and a conduction-cooled electronic component section. The immersion-cooled section includes an enclosure at least partially surrounding and forming a compartment about multiple electronic components of the electronic components mounted to the electronics board, and a fluid disposed within the compartment. The multiple electronic components are, at least in part, immersed within the fluid to facilitate immersion-cooling of those components. The conduction-cooled electronic component section includes at least one electronic component of the electronic components mounted to the electronics board, and the at least one electronic component is indirectly liquid-cooled, at least in part, via conduction of heat from the at least one electronic component. |
| US09210820B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device includes an accommodating space, a fan, a cover, and a three dimensional dust extraction mesh. The fan is disposed in the accommodating space. The fan includes a first fixing portion. The cover detachably covers the accommodating space, and the cover includes a second fixing portion in accommodating space. The three dimensional dust extraction mesh includes a body, a third fixing portion, and a fourth fixing portion, and the third fixing portion and the fourth fixing portion are located at periphery of the body. The third fixing portion of the three dimensional dust extraction mesh cooperates with the first fixing portion of the fan, and the fourth fixing portion of the three dimensional dust extraction mesh cooperates with the second fixing portion of the cover to detachably fix the three dimensional dust extraction mesh between the cover and the fan. |
| US09210816B1 |
Method of manufacture of support system with fine pitch
A method of manufacture of a support system includes: forming a carrier having a detachable core and a carrier foil directly on the detachable core; forming a mask directly on the carrier foil, the mask having a mask hole through the mask; forming a bottom conductive layer within the mask hole and directly on the carrier foil; forming an interior insulation layer directly on the bottom conductive layer and the mask after the bottom conductive layer is formed within the mask hole; partially removing the interior insulation layer leaving an insulation hole through the interior insulation layer; forming a conductive connector completely within the insulation hole; and forming a bottom exterior insulation layer over the bottom conductive layer and the mask. |
| US09210814B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for compensation of carrier distortions from measurement machines
In a method for generating a pattern on a workpiece having at least one die placed thereon, positions of the at least one die and at least two global alignment marks on the workpiece are measured, pattern adjustment data is generated, pattern image data associated with the pattern to be written is adjusted based on the generated pattern adjustment data, and the pattern is generated on the workpiece based on the modified pattern adjustment data. |
| US09210813B2 |
Production method of high-density SIM card package
A high-density Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card package and a production method thereof are provided. The SIM card package includes a substrate, an Integrated Circuit (IC) chip, a bonding wire, and a mold cap. The substrate is a two-layer, a four-layer, a six-layer or an eight-layer high-density interlinked and packaged organic laminated substrate that is manufactured through an etching-back process, and a passive device and a crystal oscillator are provided on the organic laminated substrate. Two IC chips are provided side by side, or one of the IC chips is stacked with a third IC chip, the third IC chip being respectively connected to the organic laminated substrate and the IC chip under the third IC chip by the bonding wire. The IC chip, the passive device, and the crystal oscillator are adhered to the organic laminated substrate. |
| US09210811B2 |
Compact rigid-flexible printed circuit board and method for manufacturing same
A compact rigid-flexible board includes two flexible PCBs, two rigid substrates, a third trace layer and a fourth trace layer. The first flexible PCB includes a first depressing portion, a first exposed portion and a third depressing portion, and a separated second exposed portion. The second flexible PCB includes fourth and fifth depressing portions, and a second exposed portion. The first rigid substrate includes sixth, seventh, and eighth depressing portions. The second rigid substrate includes ninth and tenth depressing portions. The third trace layer, the sixth, first, fourth, and ninth depressing portions and the fourth trace layer are stacked in sequence. The third trace layer, the seven, second, fifth, and tenth depressing portions, and the fourth trace layer are stacked in sequence. The third trace layer and the eighth and third depressing portions are stacked in sequence. |
| US09210810B2 |
Method of fabricating flexible devices
Systems and methods for the design and fabrication of flexible devices, including high-performance large-area OLEDs, narrow border display panels and lighting panels are provided. Various described fabrication- and design-processes may be used to provide the necessary electrical drive to lighting and display panels. Electrical drive may be provided to one or more row- and column-signals by patterning conductive elements near the panel edge. The electrical elements may further be folded over a region near the panel edge back on itself, such that electrical traces may route around the display edge. This may allow the display active area to be substantially the same area as its viewing area, and furthermore may allow pixels go substantially all the way to the edge of the viewing area. |
| US09210808B2 |
Wiring substrate and method of manufacturing the same
A wiring substrate includes an insulating layer, a connection pad buried in the insulating layer in a state that an upper surface of the connection pad is exposed from an upper surface of the insulating layer and a lower surface and at least a part of a side surface of the connection pad contact the insulating layer, and a concave level difference portion formed in the insulating layer around an outer periphery part of the connection pad, wherein an upper surface of the connection pad and an upper surface of the insulating layer are arranged at a same height. |
| US09210806B2 |
Bondable conductive ink
A bondable conductive ink comprising carbon nanotubes, larger diameter conductive particles having at least one dimension of at least 100 nanometers which are not carbon nanotubes, a polymer, and a solvent, and a method of producing this bondable conductive ink. The ink is highly suitable for producing circuit assemblies having non-conductive substrates upon which printed conductors, formed from the bondable conductive ink, may be easily and selectively interconnected to another circuit assembly device, and/or apparatus. |
| US09210802B2 |
Optoelectronic device packaging method and chip assembly having an isolation dielectric located on both sides of a high-frequency transmission line to form a coplanar waveguide transmission line
An optoelectronic device includes a packaged part and a core component. The core component includes a chip subcarrier and an optoelectronic chip. The device also includes a connecting plate that forms a coplanar waveguide transmission line together with the ground through a high-frequency transmission line and an isolation dielectric. The coplanar waveguide transmission line and a low-frequency line are connected to the packaged part and the core component and are configured to transmit a high-frequency signal and a low-frequency signal between the packaged part and the core component. |
| US09210800B1 |
Circuit layout structure, circuit board and electronic assembly
A circuit layout structure is suitable for a circuit board and includes following components. A first differential pair and a second differential pair respectively extend from the inside of a chip area of the circuit board to the outside of the chip area through a first patterned conductive layer of the circuit board, and respectively extend between the chip area and a port area of the circuit board through a second patterned conductive layer of the circuit board. A third differential pair extends from the chip area to the port area through the first patterned conductive layer. A first ground plane is constituted by the first patterned conductive layer. Orthogonal projections of the first differential pair and the second differential pair on the second patterned conductive layer overlap the first ground plane. |
| US09210799B2 |
Apparatus and method for reproducing an audio signal
There is provided an electronic device having an audio system for reproducing audio signals. An exemplary electronic device has an analog region and a separate and non-overlapping digital region. The electronic device comprises an analog ground plane disposed within the analog region and a digital ground plane disposed within the digital region. Digital circuitry is disposed opposite the digital ground plane, wherein digital signals are routed on or over the digital ground plane. Analog circuitry is disposed opposite the analog ground plane, wherein analog signals are routed on or over the analog ground plane. At least one audio output channel disposed opposite the analog ground plane. |
| US09210797B2 |
Array substrate, manufacturing method thereof, and flat panel display device
Any one of the fan-out leads includes a first metal strip portion having a predetermined number, located on a glass substrate, disposed along an extension direction of the fan-out lead and is spaced apart; an insulation layer covering each of the first metal strip portion, and disposed with a first through hole and a second through hole; and a second metal strip portion located on the insulation layer and being contacted with each of the first metal strip portion by the first through hole and the second through hole. Wherein, the lengths of the first metal strip portions of the fan-out leads are gradually increased along the direction which is from the center to the edge of the fan shape such that impedances of the fan-out leads are consistent. |
| US09210796B2 |
Light source mount
A mount for a semiconductor device, the mount comprising: an insulating substrate having first and second parallel face surfaces, an edge surface that connects the parallel surfaces and having formed therein a recess having an opening on the first face surface; an electrically conductive plug seated in the recess and having a first exposed surface on or near the edge surface and a second exposed surface on or near the first face surface. |
| US09210791B2 |
Cooling block forming electrode
The present invention is a cooling block that forms an electrode for generating a plasma for use in a plasma process, and includes a channel for a cooling liquid, the cooling block comprising: a first base material and a second base material respectively made of aluminum, at least one of the first and second base materials having a recess for forming a channel for a cooling liquid; and a diffusion bonding layer, in which zinc is diffused in aluminum, and an anti-corrosion layer of a zinc oxide film, the layers being formed by interposing zinc between the first and second base materials, and by bonding the first and second base materials with zinc interposed therebetween in a heating atmosphere containing oxygen. |
| US09210790B2 |
Systems and methods for calibrating a switched mode ion energy distribution system
Systems, methods and apparatus for regulating ion energies and ion energy distributions along with calibrating a bias source and a plasma processing chamber are disclosed. An exemplary method includes applying a periodic voltage function to a load emulator, which emulates electrical characteristics of a plasma load and associated electronics such as an e-chuck. The load emulator can be measured for various electrical parameters and compared to expected parameters generated by the bias source. Differences between measured and expected values can be used to identify and correct faults and abnormalities in the bias supply, the chamber, or a power source used to ignite and sustain the plasma. Once the bias supply is calibrated, the chamber can be calibrated by measuring and calculating an effective capacitance comprising a series and parallel capacitance of the substrate support and optionally the substrate. |
| US09210789B2 |
Device and method for generating a plasma by means of a traveling wave resonator
A device for generating a plasma, comprises an alternating voltage source, a travelling wave resonator and coupling means that are designed to couple the alternating voltage generated by the alternating voltage source into the travelling wave resonator in such a manner that travelling electromagnetic waves are produced, wherein the travelling wave resonator is designed to increase the electric field strength of the travelling electromagnetic waves in such a manner that a plasma is ignited in a gas. The invention further relates to a method for generating a plasma, comprising the steps of: generating an alternating voltage; generating travelling electromagnetic waves in a travelling wave resonator by coupling said alternating voltage into the travelling wave resonator; and increasing the electric field strength of the travelling electromagnetic waves in the travelling wave resonator in order to ignite a plasma in a gas. |
| US09210787B2 |
Hybrid shield device for a plasma arc torch
A shield device for a plasma arc torch includes an inner shield member defining an inner auxiliary gas chamber and an outer shield member surrounding the inner shield member. An outer auxiliary gas chamber is defined between the inner shield member and outer shield member. The shield device allows an auxiliary gas flow to be split into a first flow of auxiliary gas through the inner auxiliary gas chamber and a second flow of auxiliary gas through the outer auxiliary gas chamber. The inner shield member and the outer shield member are configured to be mounted to the plasma arc torch as an integral unit. |
| US09210786B2 |
Inductive plasma torch
The invention relates to an inductive plasma torch comprising: a cylindrical metal containment cage (1); a metal element solidly connected to the containment cage (1), extending radially from the periphery of one end thereof; and an inductor (5) surrounding the containment cage (1). The aforementioned containment cage (1) and element are divided along axial planes into regularly distributed sectors, and the sectors are rigidly connected to one another alternately by: a portion of the containment cage (1) on the side opposite the element, or by a portion of the element on the side opposite the containment cage (1). |
| US09210783B2 |
Electronic ballast and startup method
An electronic ballast and startup method including an electronic ballast operably connected to a lamp having a lamp filament, the electronic ballast having a timer (110) generating an inverter control signal (112) and a preheat control signal (114); a converter (120) receiving AC power and generating DC power (122); a self-oscillating inverter (130) receiving DC power (122) and being operable to provide lamp power (132) to the lamp, the self-oscillating inverter (130) being responsive to the inverter control signal (112); and a filament preheater (140) receiving DC power (122) and being operable to provide filament power (142) to the lamp filament, the filament preheater (140) being responsive to the preheat control signal (114). When AC power is initially applied, preheat control signal (114) directs the filament preheater (140) to provide filament power (142), and inverter control signal (112) directs the self-oscillating inverter (130) not to provide lamp power (132). |
| US09210778B2 |
Integrated wireless and wired light control system
A light control system includes a wired control device, a wireless control device, a communication module, and light devices. The wired control device includes a first user interface and a first wired communication protocol interface. The wireless control device includes a second user interface and a first wireless communication protocol interface. The communication module includes a second wired communication protocol interface and a second wireless communication protocol interface. Each of the light devices includes a third wired communication protocol interface, and each of the light devices performs data exchange with the third wired communication protocol interface of another one of the light devices by a network cable connected to the third wired communication protocol interface. The first wired communication protocol interface and the first wireless communication protocol interface perform data exchange respectively with the second wired communication protocol interface and the second wireless communication protocol interface. |
| US09210769B2 |
Constant brightness LED drive communications port
A light emitting diode (LED) is driven with a plurality of pulses having controllable pulse widths and positions within clock time periods that provide for both LED light intensity control and digital information communications from a single output node of an integrated circuit (IC) device. The LED light intensity is determined by the duty cycle of the pulses where the human eye integrates these light pulses from the LED into continuous light intensity levels. The digital information contained in the light output from the LED is detected by a photo-detector that converts the light pulses into electric signals that are demodulated and read by a circuit debugger and/or manufacturing test station. The aforementioned operations allow continuous visual display and data transmission using only one output node of the IC device. This is especially advantageous when using low pin count IC devices. |
| US09210765B2 |
Electronic device and electronic equipment provided with the electronic device
An electronic device having an intermediate layer which can transfer smoothly carriers between two layers adjacent to the intermediate layer and having improved properties, and electronic equipment having high reliability are provided. An electronic device includes a pair of electrodes and laminated layers provided between the electrodes. The laminated layers include a hole transport layer (first organic semiconductor layer), a light emitting layer (second organic semiconductor layer), and an intermediate layer provided between the first and second organic semiconductor layers so as to make contact with both of the hole transport layer and the light emitting layer. The intermediate layer is constituted of a compound represented by a general formula A1-B-A2. In this formula, each of the A1 and A2 is a group including at least one of a primary amino group, a secondary amino group, a tertiary amino group, a hydroxyl group, a carbonyl group and a carboxyl group, the A1 and A2 are the same or different, and optionally simultaneously exist, and the B is a group including a fluorene ring. Molecules of the compound are oriented in a state that each group A1 and each group A2 are positioned on the side of the hole transport layer and each group B is positioned on the side of the light emitting layer. |
| US09210760B2 |
Enhancements for LED lamps for use in luminaires
One example solid state lighting type lamp for a three-way luminaire includes a power source, a controller, an output stage, switching logic circuitry and multiple sets of light emitters. The logic circuitry receives input signals from tip and ring power contacts on a lamp base. The controller provides power from the power source to the output stage which is controlled by the switch logic circuitry to selectively apply power to different ones of the sets of light emitters responsive to the input signals. Each set of light emitters emit light having different color temperatures. In another three-way luminaire example, the control circuitry is configured to control drive current in a sequence to toggle the lamp consecutively between an OFF state and ON state in response to inputs from a three-way socket. Another type of lamp includes circuitry to permanently disable the lamp on detection of an end-of-life condition. |
| US09210755B2 |
DC LED driverless lighting assembly
A lighting assembly to be primarily used in an agricultural setting to illuminate farm animals with different colors of lighting. The assembly has a circuit for emitting light with different colored light emitting diodes that are arranged in networks of LEDs. The second and third networks are arranged in parallel to a first network of LED forming three separate current paths for lighting the LEDs. Each path has controllable impedance element arranged in series with the network of LED in that particular path and is controlled by a dynamic impedance control element that is coupled to the controllable impedance element to direct current through the individual paths of the circuit. |
| US09210750B2 |
LED lighting system
The invention relates to a LED lighting system comprising a power supply circuit for supplying a LED current, equipped with input terminals (K1, K2) for connection to a supply voltage source and output terminals (K3, K4), modulation circuitry (MS, DC2), coupled between the output terminals, for alternately maintaining the voltage between the output terminals at a high level during a first time interval and a low level during a second time interval, a current sensor (R1, R2, S1) for sensing the current through the output terminals during the second time interval, and a driver circuit (DC1, DC2), coupled between the input terminals and the output terminals and coupled to the current sensor, for generating the LED current, out of a supply voltage supplied by the supply voltage source, wherein the LED current equals the current sensed by the current sensor multiplied by a predetermined constant multiplication factor and for supplying the LED current to the output terminals during each first time interval. The LED lighting system further comprises a LED module comprising LED module input terminals (K5, K6) for connection to the output terminals of the power supply circuit, a LED load (LS) coupled between the LED module input terminals with a forward voltage that is higher than the voltage that is present between the output terminals of the power supply circuit during each second time interval, and a current source (CS) coupled between the input terminals for, in case the LED module input terminals are connected to the output terminals of a power supply source, during each second time interval generating a sensor current through the current sensor that is equal to a desired LED current divided by the predetermined constant multiplication factor. |
| US09210747B2 |
Driver for driving LED backlight source, LED backlight source and LCD device
A driver for driving an LED backlight source is disclosed. The driver includes a boost converter for boosting inputted DC voltage and outputting boosted DC voltage to an LED series circuit having LEDs connected and a resistor in series, a feedback circuit for feeding back voltage across the resistor to a backlight driving circuit, and a control switch controlled by output of the backlight driving circuit depending on feedback voltage of the voltage across the resistor for keeping current flowing through the LED series circuit in a constant current. The driver drives the LED series circuit with a constant current, thereby prolonging lifetime of each LED of the LED series circuit. Furthermore, since a time period which the current flowing through the LED series circuit approaches to constant value is shorter, the driver has advantages over lower power consumption, faster response time and better operating efficiency. |
| US09210745B2 |
Driving device for illuminating device, illuminating device and luminaire, driving device having distributed inductance
A driving device for an illuminating device may include a plurality of sub illuminating units. The driving device may include a plurality of sub driving modules in series connected to an input voltage source to distributively store energy from the input voltage source. Each of the sub driving modules is allocated with and electrically connected with one sub illuminating unit so as to release the stored energy to the sub illuminating unit allocated thereto. |
| US09210743B2 |
Lighting device, lighting fixture, lamp, and sound emission prevention method
A lighting device including: a lighting circuit; a drive circuit; a dimmer control circuit; and an LPF, the drive circuit for increasing on-time as a pulse height increases when an inputted PWM signal satisfies a first condition where a pulse height is greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold greater than the first threshold, and making the on-time for which a switching element is on when the switching element turns on and off once in a burst period, constant in a second condition where the height pulse is greater than the second threshold, the LPF generating a smoothedPWM signal which has a first time period satisfying the first condition and a second time period satisfying the second condition in a signal interval indicating a duty ratio, and outputting the smoothed PWM signal to the drive circuit. |
| US09210740B2 |
Apparatus and method for improving efficiency of RF heating
An apparatus for applying RF energy to an energy application zone is disclosed. The apparatus may include: a set of receiving radiating elements, including at least first and second radiating elements sequentially interconnected. The sequential interconnection may be such that energy received by one of the receiving radiating element from the energy application zone is emitted back to the energy application zone by the next radiating element in the sequence and energy received by the last radiating element in the sequence from the energy application zone is emitted back to the energy application zone by the first radiating element in the sequence. |
| US09210734B2 |
Direct mode communication system and communication attaching method thereof
A direct-mode communication system includes a first client direct-mode communication apparatus and a first backhaul network. The first client direct-mode communication apparatus transmits a proximity notification request to a second backhaul network via the first backhaul network so that the second backhaul network returns a proximity notification acknowledgement (ACK) signal. The first backhaul network receives a piece of first client location information and a piece of second client location information from the first direct-mode communication apparatus and the second backhaul network respectively, and determines a location relationship accordingly. The first backhaul network transmits a Wi-Fi connection signal to the first client direct-mode communication apparatus according to the location relationship. The first client direct-mode communication apparatus establishes a direct-mode communication connection with a second client direct-mode communication apparatus according to the Wi-Fi connection signal. |
| US09210733B2 |
Method and apparatus to facilitate pairing between wireless devices
A method and apparatus to facilitate pairing between a first wireless device and a second wireless device includes a pairing apparatus for determining (304) an address of the second wireless device and writing the address to the first wireless device to bypass an address discovery process between the first and second wireless devices. The pairing apparatus also initiates (312) removal of an input and output capability indication in at least one of the first wireless device or the second wireless device to control an association model type that is applied during a pairing process, between the first and second wireless devices, which uses the address of the second wireless device. The removal of the input and output capability indication is reversed (318) upon confirming (316) a successful pairing between the first and second wireless devices. |
| US09210731B2 |
Direct link setup through an extended service set
In a particular embodiment, a method includes storing first channel information related to a first communication channel that a first apparatus is capable of communicating over and a second communication channel that the first apparatus is communicating over via a first access point. The method also includes receiving a direct link setup message from a second apparatus to form a direct link between the first apparatus and the second apparatus. The direct link setup message includes second channel information related to a third communication channel the second apparatus is capable of communicating over and a fourth communication channel the second apparatus is communicating over via a second access point. The method further includes selecting at least one communication channel for communication based on the first channel information and the second channel information. |
| US09210727B2 |
Wireless device pairing
Generally discussed herein are wireless systems, apparatuses, and methods for pairing a device and a base station. For example, the disclosed techniques may enable communication between a headphone base station (broadcasting an audio signal over a wireless channel) and a headphone set device (receiving an audio signal over a wireless channel) that establish communications using one or more identifiers. In some examples, a device or base station identifier maintained at the base station or device, respectfully, is validated and reprogrammed when it does not match a corresponding provided from the device or base station. In further examples, the validation and reprogramming may occur in response to a condition such as a charging event (such as the placement of the headphone set device onto a charging station provided by the headphone base station). |
| US09210724B2 |
Broadcasting method for sending signal containing predetermined information and radio apparatus
A control information extraction unit receives information on a frame that contains at least a plurality slots from an access control apparatus for controlling communications between radio apparatuses. The control information extraction unit generates a frame that contains at least a plurality of slots in such a manner as to synchronize with the frame corresponding to the received information. An estimation unit estimates empty slots in the plurality of slots generated. A selection unit selects, at random, at least one of the estimated. A modem unit and the like broadcast data using the selected slot. |
| US09210721B2 |
Communication delay time derivation method, communication terminal and communication delay time derivation program
There is provided a communication delay time derivation method for calculating a communication delay time depending on a combination of channels set between communication terminals on a communication path in the MCH/IF environment. When selecting a channel to be used for communication in each section on the communication path per section between communication terminals on the communication path, a calculation target section specification means 82 detects an inter-terminal selected channel repetitive pattern as a pattern of the selected channels cyclically appearing on the communication path, and defines a section corresponding to the inter-terminal selected channel repetitive pattern as a communication delay time calculation target section. A communication delay time derivation means 83 derives a communication delay time in the calculation target section based on the inter-terminal selected channel repetitive pattern. |
| US09210717B2 |
Methods and apparatus for LTE MAC logical channel prioritization based on control data
Aspects of the present disclosure provide methods, systems, devices and/or apparatuses for logical channel prioritization by a user equipment (UE) within a Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless communications network. The UE may have multiple logical channels each associated with one or more applications or services of the UE. The UE may identify whether a quality of service (QoS) obligation to allocate at least a portion of uplink resources to a logical channel for a time period is present, and may also identify whether the logical channel has control data to be transmitted from the UE. If a QoS obligation and/or control data are present for the logical channel, the UE may allocate at least a portion of the uplink resources to the logical channel. |
| US09210712B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling subcarrier spacing in a wireless communication system
Provided is an apparatus for controlling subcarrier spacing in a system supporting multiple frequency bands. The apparatus for controlling a subcarrier spacing comprises: an interference detection unit detecting interference over multiple frequency bands; a system parameter provision unit providing system parameters related to a subcarrier spacing between the multiple frequency bands—for example RF, FFT size, and channel bandwidth; a subcarrier spacing control unit controlling the subcarrier spacing such that the detected interference is reduced, on the basis of the system parameters. In a system operating with multiple bands, different subcarrier spacing can be applied by each band, thereby controlling interference occurring in each band. |
| US09210708B1 |
OFDMA with adaptive subcarrier-cluster configuration and selective loading
A method and apparatus for allocating subcarriers in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises allocating at least one diversity cluster of subcarriers to a first subscriber and allocating at least one coherence cluster to a second subscriber. |
| US09210702B2 |
Integrated circuit for channel allocation for wireless communication device
Disclosed is a base station in which the frequency usage efficiency can be improved when the communication bandwidths are asymmetric in the uplink line and the downlink line. A base station can communicate by using a plurality of downlink unit bands and a smaller number of uplink unit bands. A control unit allocates uplink resource allocation information and downlink resource allocation information to a PDCCH which is arranged in each of the plurality of downlink unit bands, and allocates a response signal to the uplink line data to a PHICH which is arranged in the same number of downlink unit bands from the plurality of downlink unit bands as there are uplink unit bands. A transmit RF unit transmits the resource allocation information or the response signal. |
| US09210696B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing UCI and method for transmission thereof based on MIMO system
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for processing uplink control information (UCI) and a method for transmitting the UCI based on a multiple input multiple output system, which processing method comprises: repeating ACK/NACK source bits and/or rank indicator (RI) source bits in the uplink control information to form M groups, with each group corresponding to a code word (S302), wherein M is the total number of code words; carrying out channel encoding on the ACK/NACK source bits and/or RI source bits of each code word to obtain QACK*Li output bits (S304), wherein QACK is the channel encoding output bits corresponding to each layer in a certain code word, L is the total number of layers, and the layer number corresponding to the i-th code word is Li; and multiplexing and interleaving the output bits and the data bits of the corresponding code word (S306). The present invention solves the problems of transmission and channel encoding of the ACK/NACK and/or RI in the multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system, and at the same time takes into account high load situations and backward compatibility. |
| US09210692B2 |
Scheduling request method, apparatus and system
A scheduling request method, network side device, terminal device and system, belong to the field of communications technologies. The method includes: configuring a first shared resource used for a scheduling request (SR), and sending first information to multiple terminal devices to notify of the first shared resource (101); receiving the SR on the first shared resource (102); allocating a second shared resource of uplink data to the multiple terminal devices, or allocating a dedicated resource of uplink data to at least one of the multiple terminal devices (103). The network side device includes: a configuration module, a receiving module and an allocation module. The terminal device includes: a receiving module, a request module and a sending module. The present invention avoids the waste of the uplink data resource, and improves a utilization rate of the uplink data resource and a transmission success rate of the uplink data. |
| US09210691B2 |
System and methods for cooperative network acquisition on a multi-SIM wireless device
Methods and devices are disclosed for enabling efficient service acquisition on multiple SIMs of a multi-SIM wireless communication device. After both SIMs have lost service, or after initial power up of the wireless device, the wireless device may detect radio frequency channels associated with wireless networks of all SIMs, and determine whether the strongest received radio frequency channel matches a preferred network of any SIM. Upon detecting a match, the wireless device may awaken that SIM and automatically camp that SIM on cell of the matched radio frequency channel. In this manner, the wireless device may avoid repetition typically involved in acquiring service on multiple SIMs. |
| US09210687B1 |
Management of wireless service in a dual RAN arrangement
Disclosed is a method and system to help manage wireless service in a scenario where a UE is served by a first RAN and begins being served by a second RAN. In accordance with the disclosure, a determination may then be made of whether the UE will likely engage in at least a threshold extent of scanning for coverage of the first RAN while the UE is being served by the second RAN. If the determination is affirmative, the UE may then be caused to not scan for coverage of the first RAN while the UE is being served by the second RAN. Whereas, if the determination is negative, the UE may be allowed to scan for coverage of the first RAN while the UE is being served by the second RAN. |
| US09210686B2 |
Radio communication device, base station, method for radio communication, program and radio communication system
Provided is a radio communication device including a radio communication section that communicates by radio with a base station that changes a cycle for sending a paging channel to a second cycle in a case where no response is made from the radio communication device responsive to the paging channel sent in accordance with a first cycle, a detecting section that detects a state change of the radio communication device, and a receipt control section that switches a receiving cycle for receiving the paging channel from the first cycle to the second cycle according to a detection result obtained by the detecting section. |
| US09210684B2 |
Method, mobile device and computer-readable recording medium for location-aware application
A method, a mobile device, and a computer-readable recording medium for a location-aware application are provided. In the method, at least one signal source around the mobile device and a signal strength thereof are detected by using a signal detecting module. Then, each detected signal source and the signal strength thereof are compared with a signal source and a signal strength thereof recorded in multiple system profiles, so as to find a system profile having matched signal source and signal strength, in which the system profiles include signal sources and signal strengths thereof which are recorded and detected by the mobile device at multiple different locations and a system setting of the mobile device applicable to each location. Finally, a system setting of a matched system profile is executed. |
| US09210683B2 |
Method and system for device positioning utilizing distributed transceivers with array processing
A mobile device receives signals from base stations each with multiple distributed transceivers. Each distributed transceiver may operate at different carrier frequencies. Each distributed transceiver is equipped with an independently configurable antenna array handling transmissions of the radio frequency signals to the mobile device. The mobile device generates channel measurements for the received signals, and subsequently receives a position estimate from a remote location server. The location server determines corresponding transmit diversity configurations applied to the base stations for conducting the channel measurements for the mobile device, and channel measurements at scanned locations in a location scanning region. The location server selects and utilize a signature function to calculate the position estimate for the mobile device over the transmit diversity configurations. A multi-level positioning process may be performed by adopting various signature functions, subsets of transmit configurations and/or subspaces of the location scanning region for accurate device positioning. |
| US09210676B2 |
Wireless device for multicarrier communications
A wireless device establishes a first signaling bearer with a base station on a primary cell. The establishment of the signaling bearer comprises the wireless device receiving a control message from the base station on the primary cell in a plurality of cells comprising the primary cell and at least one secondary cell. The wireless device transmits radio capability parameters to the base station on the first signaling bearer on the primary cell. The radio capability parameters comprise at least one parameter indicating whether the wireless device supports a timing advance groups. |
| US09210672B2 |
Method and apparatus for random access channel probe initialization using transmit diversity
Embodiments of the present invention may separately utilize transmit paths of a mobile transmit diversity device to initialize communication with a base station over a random access channel, particularly where the transmit paths have power amplifiers with different characteristics, e.g., different power amplification. |
| US09210670B2 |
Uplink power control in adaptively configured TDD communication systems
Methods and apparatus of a base station or a User Equipment (UE) in communication with each other are provided. The UE is configured by the base station for operation with an adapted Time Division Duplex (TDD) UpLink-DownLink (UL-DL) configuration. A process enabling UL power control for transmissions of various channels or signals from the UE in two different sets of UL Transmission Time Intervals (TTIs) and a process enabling receptions of data transport blocks by the base station in two different sets of UL TTIs are provided. |
| US09210659B2 |
Dormancy mode control method and apparatus of portable terminal
A method and an apparatus for controlling a dormancy mode of the portable terminal by minimizing the dormancy mode entry delay of the display in power-off state are provided. The method includes starting, when the application processor and the communication processor stop data communication in display power-off state, a dormancy mode timer, checking, when the dormancy mode timer expires, a dormancy mode flag indicating communication channel state, and entering, when the dormancy mode flag indicates a communication channel connection release state, the dormancy mode, wherein the dormancy mode timer counts a number of segments constituting a maximum standby time for entering the dormancy mode. |
| US09210658B2 |
Communication device, communication system, communication method, and program
An information processing device (100) stores information (hereinafter, referred to as communication network information) in advance, which information indicates whether or not a communication network (200) is compatible with a Fast Dormancy function. Then, the information processing device (100) reads the communication network information of the communication network (200) when a packet communication with an information server (220) is ended, and sets a free procedure of a communication channel based on the communication network information that is read. Then, information processing device (100) frees the communication channel according to the free procedure that is set. |
| US09210654B2 |
Telecommunications system and method
A telecommunications system including a plurality of repeater nodes, each repeater node having a transceiver unit operable to transmit and receive data to or from one or more other of the repeater nodes or a control node or a mobile device within a predetermined range. The control node operable to transmit data to and receive data from the mobile device via the repeater nodes using a time frame divided into a plurality of time slots. The time slots of the time frame are allocated to the repeater nodes to the effect that each repeater node transmits to another repeater node in one of the upstream or the downstream directions in a time slot which is a minimal time from the time slot in which the other repeater node transmits in the upstream or downstream direction. |
| US09210644B2 |
Shared media bridging
A method and device are disclosed that reduce area for storing forwarding entries. For some embodiments, an access point (AP) includes a transceiver to couple the root AP to a wired network, a WLAN port to exchange wireless signals with a number of repeater devices, a number of virtual interfaces each assigned to a corresponding one of the repeater devices, a bridging engine to selectively forward data packets to the repeater devices, and a bridging table to store forwarding information for the repeater devices and for other devices coupled to the repeater devices. |
| US09210641B2 |
Method and arrangement for supporting handover of a mobile terminal in certain scenarios
Method and arrangement in a mobile terminal in a wireless communication system, for supporting a handover from a serving cell to a target cell. The method comprises determining 104a if the mobile terminal has moved in a predefined way in relation to at least one potential target cell. The determining is based on Doppler shift measurements 102a. The method further comprise adjusting 106a at least one handover related parameter, in order to enable a fast handover, when it is determined that the mobile terminal has moved in the predefined way in relation to the at least one potential target cell. |
| US09210633B2 |
Method and apparatus for avoiding interference from closed subscriber group cells
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for avoiding interference from transmissions coming from a home Node B, a home evolved Node B (HeNB) or closed subscriber group (CSG) cells when a wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU) is moving through a dense deployment of CSG cells. |
| US09210629B2 |
Multi-carrier steering in RRC state CELL—FACH
A method for a user equipment adapted for wireless communication with a base station, comprising, when the user equipment operates in a CELL_FACH state and performs user data transmission over a first carrier: receiving from the base station a message indicative of a second carrier to be used for the user data transmission; and transferring the user data transmission from the first carrier to the second carrier, in response to the message. A method for a base station, a user equipment and base station are also described. |
| US09210627B1 |
User context aware throttling of transition attempts to connected mode
Throttling of transition attempts to connected mode based on user context. A wireless device may camp on a serving cell. A motion state of the wireless device may be monitored. One or more connected mode transition procedures on the serving cell may be attempted. If at least a threshold number of connected mode transition procedures fail on the serving cell while the wireless device is stationary, further connected mode transition attempts may be throttled for up to a certain amount of time. Alternatively, or in addition, the wireless device may bar itself from camping on that cell for up to a certain amount of time. Either or both of throttling connected mode transition attempts or barring cells may also be based on other aspects of user context, such as display state. |
| US09210624B2 |
Method and apparatus for change of primary cell during carrier aggregation
Methods for performing change of primary cell during carrier aggregation operation are described. A mobile station (MS) receives a message to change a primary cell and to perform a random access communication with a new primary cell. Upon receiving a random access response message from the new primary cell, the MS starts transmitting a control channel to the new primary cell. In one embodiment, the MS releases the configuration of an uplink control channel and transmits uplink control information through an uplink shared channel. Upon completion of the primary cell change procedure, the MS starts transmission of an uplink control channel to the new primary cell. |
| US09210621B1 |
Method and system for facilitating service level continuity
A method and corresponding system to help maintain continuity of service level for a client device, such as where the client device is being served by an access network in accordance with a set of policy rules and the client device is going to stop being served by that access network and may then be served by another network. To help provide service continuity, the serving access network may detect that the client device is going to stop being served by the access network, and, responsively but before the client device stops being served by the access network, the access network or another entity may provision the client device with one or more service policy rules that the client device itself may then apply when the client device is no longer being served by the access network, such as when the client device is being served by another network instead. |
| US09210619B2 |
Signalling mechanisms for wireless device handover
A serving base station transmits, in response to making a handover decision for a wireless device, a first message to a target base station. The serving base station receives from the target base station a second message comprising configuration parameters of a plurality of cells. The configuration parameters comprise a cell group index for a secondary cell identifying a cell group. The serving base station transmits a third message to the wireless device. The third message comprises configuration parameters and is configured to cause the wireless device to start a synchronization process with the target base station. |
| US09210618B2 |
UE-assisted management of advanced radio link features
UE-assisted management of advanced radio link feature in a wireless communication network may include a network entity determining that a mobile entity is capable of communicating with one or more base stations using a set of radio link configurations, receiving a request from the mobile entity to restrict use of at least one of the radio link configurations, and restricting use of the at least one of the radio link configurations for communicating with the mobile entity, based on the request. The request may indicate a reason for the restriction, and the network entity may determine whether to restrict based on the reason. Once a radio link configuration is restricted, it may similarly be unrestricted based on a subsequent UE request, or based on expiration of a time period. |
| US09210614B2 |
Wireless local area network coordinated data transmission method, device, and system
A WLAN coordinated data transmission method, system, and relevant device are disclosed. The WLAN coordinated data transmission method includes: detecting, by an offloading scheduling controller, whether the number of MAC SDUs buffered in a MAC SDU queue of a mobile communication module exceeds a preset threshold, and, if so, packing a part of the MAC SDUs into a MAC PDU, and sending the MAC PDU to a coordination mode management module through an interface of the mobile communication module; sending, by the coordination mode management module, the MAC PDU containing the packed part of the MAC SDUs through an LLC protocol layer to a WLAN module for transmission; and packing, by the offloading scheduling controller, a remaining part of the MAC SDUs buffered in the MAC SDU queue into a MAC PDU, and transmitting the MAC PDU through the mobile communication module. |
| US09210609B2 |
Communication system
The purpose of this invention is to provide a technique for preventing collisions between a numerous response packets generated in broadcast communication. A communication device (A1-A16) transmits a response packet (220) using a time slot corresponding to the terminal number (A1-A16) of the device, in response to a broadcast packet (210) transmitted from an information processing unit (20). The information processing unit (20) transmits a broadcast retransmission packet (230) including information representing the terminal numbers of communication devices that have succeeded in transmitting a response packet. Among communication devices that have received the broadcast retransmission packet (230), the communication devices that require retransmission transmit a retransmission response packet (240) using the time slot of another randomly selected device. |
| US09210605B2 |
Channel state information reporting for partially cancelled interference
Parameters associated with an interfering downlink transmission may be determined at the UE or may be signaled to the UE from an eNodeB. The parameters may be actual parameters or hypothetical parameters. Based on the parameters, the UE may determine a metric that reflects an amount of interference cancelled from the interfering data channel transmission. The UE determines a quasi-clean channel state information and/or interference efficiency based on the parameters. The UE may transmit the quasi-clean CSI and/or the interference efficiency to the eNodeB. |
| US09210604B2 |
Location based carrier and technology specific spectrum analysis
There is provided a network test apparatus that determines a geographic location, determines one or more carriers operating within one or more frequency bands for the determined geographic location, and displays, in response to the determined geographic location, each carrier operating at one or more frequency bands at the determined geographic location. |
| US09210603B2 |
Technique for performing physical layer measurements
The present disclosure relates to a technique for performing physical layer measurements on a frequency resource relative to other frequency resources in a telecommunications system operable to communicate over multiple frequency resources. A method aspect of this technique includes determining that a mobile terminal is to perform a physical layer measurement with regard to a first frequency resource, determining if there is data to be communicated over one or more second frequency resource(s) within a time period wherein the first frequency resource is distinct from the second frequency resources: if it is determined that there is no data to be communicated over the second frequency resource(s) within the time period, performing the physical layer measurement on the first frequency resource and forming a quality measure of the first frequency resource based on the physical layer measurement; or if it is determined that there is data to be communicated over the second frequency resource(s) within the time period, modifying the physical layer measurement and forming a quality measure of the first frequency resource based on the modified physical layer measurement. |
| US09210594B2 |
Terminal for entering coverage of small base station, small base station, network apparatus, and method
A terminal for entering a coverage of a small base station, a network apparatus, and a method for operating the same are provided. The network apparatus controls small base stations, on which the terminal is camped, to operate in an active mode in which the small base station emits radio frequency (RF) signals, and controls small base stations, accessible by the terminal but not camped on by the terminal, to operate in an inactive mode in which the small base station does not emit RF signals. |
| US09210593B2 |
System and apparatus for indicating cell identifiers
The technology described relates to cell identifiers in which a cell provides two reporting cell identifiers for user equipments (UEs) taking cell measurements. In a non-limiting example embodiment, a secondary synchronization channel (S-SCH) is used to transmit two short cell identities. In this case, a cell uses two sets of signature sequences, one corresponding to the old reporting cell identifier and one corresponding to the new reporting cell identifier. |
| US09210589B2 |
Geocast protocol for wireless sensor network
A protocol for providing location-based communication services in wireless sensor networks utilizes dynamic selection of forwarding devices, dynamic forwarding decisions, and intelligent backoff. Dynamic selection of forwarding devices limits the number of transmissions by dynamically selecting the devices that forward a message. Dynamic forwarding decisions implement different heuristics for different devices. According to intelligent backoff, devices that are closer to a destination region backoff for a shorter period of time than those which are further away from the destination region. |
| US09210588B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling output of base station in mobile communication system
A method for controlling an output of a small base station in a mobile communication system is provided. The method includes measuring Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) and receive sensitivity of at least one of a macro base station and a neighboring small base station, determining a service margin of the small base station, and determining transmission power based on the RSSI, the receive sensitivity and the service margin. The method may further include extracting the receive sensitivity of the neighboring small base station from the measured receive sensitivity, calculating the RSSI of the macro base station from total RSSIs based on a receive sensitivity ratio of the neighboring small base stations prior to determining the service margin. |
| US09210586B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating and exchanging information for coverage optimization in wireless networks
The subject specification is directed towards generating and exchanging information for coverage optimization in wireless networks. Aspects are disclosed for facilitating a distributed coverage optimization. A communication is established with at least one external entity, and a coverage-related measurement is received from the at least one external entity. A coverage parameter is then self-optimized as a function of the coverage-related measurement. |
| US09210580B2 |
Network node control for plurality of clusters for managing characteristics
Methods of controlling a network node, network nodes and a computer program product are disclosed. A method of controlling a network node includes, upon determining a proposed change to characteristics of the network node, providing a first indication of the proposed change to other network nodes within a predefined network node cluster of which the network node is a member; and, in the absence of a second indication from the other network nodes within the network node cluster rejecting the proposed change to the characteristics of the network node, making the proposed change to the characteristics of the network node. |
| US09210576B1 |
Extended trusted security zone radio modem
A cellular wireless modem. The cellular wireless modem comprises a cellular radio transceiver, a short range communication interface, a processor, wherein the processor comprises a trusted security zone, a memory, wherein the memory stores an input forwarding application, and a trusted security zone extension application stored in the memory. When executed by the processor, the extension application provisions the input forwarding application to an intelligent appliance via the short range communication interface, receives input from the input forwarding application executing on the intelligent appliance via the short range communication interface, and transmits a message based on the input via the cellular radio transceiver. |
| US09210574B2 |
Method and apparatus for verifying the authenticity of mobile device information
Methods and apparatus for verifying authenticity of device information of an end-user device are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for verifying authenticity of device information of an end-user device may include sending a request to verify device information of an end-user device receiving, responsive to the request, verification information regarding the device information sent, and performing a verification analysis on the verification information received. |
| US09210573B2 |
Method and apparatus for registering a computing device with a service provider
A method and apparatus for providing authentication of a computing device with a communications service. A subscriber identity module image is transmitted to the device and stored in a general memory of the device and soft SIM data. A secure module on the device permits access to the soft SIM data. The Soft SIM data is registered with the service provider in association with a unique identification of the device. The soft SIM data has a one to one relationship with the device. A device can have many instances of soft SIM data. |
| US09210571B1 |
Secure wireless communication
A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention may include receiving a first encryption key. A second encryption key may be generated, and a first data packet containing the second encryption key may be generated and at least part of the first data packet encrypted using the first encryption key. A second data packet may be generated and at least part of the second data packet encrypted using the second encryption key. |
| US09210570B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing bluetooth low energy communications
Systems and methods for implementing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communications are provided. In some aspects, a method includes receiving, by a first BLE device, a first advertisement packet from a second BLE device. The first advertisement packet includes a payload encrypted based on a predetermined key. The method also includes decrypting the payload of the first advertisement packet using the predetermined key. The method also includes processing, by the first BLE device, the decrypted payload. At least one of the receiving, the decrypting, or the processing is performed without a BLE connection being established between the first BLE device and the second BLE device. |
| US09210569B2 |
Femto personal proxy application client
An access point detects a presence of a first device having a device identifier in a femtozone associated with the access point. The access point matches the device identifier with an identifier associated with corresponding applications and activates a set of applications associated with the device identifier. |
| US09210567B2 |
Method for transmitting and receiving parameter update information in a wireless communication system, and device using same
A machine to Machine (M2M) device for receiving parameter update information in a wireless communication system according to the present invention includes a receiver for receiving a first message, which includes information regarding the parameter update, from a base station. The information regarding the parameter update may include information indicating that a position update of M2M devices in a specific M2M group to which the M2M device belongs is required. The receiver may be further configured to transmit a second message including a position update request to the base station and receive a third message including position updated information on the M2M devices in the specific M2M group from the base station in response to the second message. The M2M device may further include a processor for performing a position update on the basis of the updated position information in the third message. |
| US09210565B2 |
Multicast control method and apparatus
In a multicast control method, when an SSID or a BSSID of a specified VAP that will be delivered to an access point AP enables a multicast control function, an AC sends to the AP a CAPWAP multicast control message that includes multicast control enabling information, so that the AP creates a multicast control table according to the CAPWAP multicast control message that includes the multicast control enabling information and performs multicast control according to the multicast control table. With the method, the AC is responsible for delivering a multicast control policy to the AP, and the AP implements multicast replication and WLAN station rights control, which relieves the multicast control and multicast replication pressure on the AC effectively, improves the utilization of the network bandwidth, and overcomes the operator's difficulties in meeting multicast service requirements in the WLAN thoroughly. |
| US09210564B2 |
Authorization of a communication node to determine a bit rate
The present solution relates to a method in a first communication node (109,113) for enabling authorization of the first communication node (109,113) to determine a first bit rate. The first communication node (109,113) receives (302,306,401), from a second communication node (101), a message comprising at least one trigger to determine a first bit rate and obtains (303,308,402) a first rank. The node (109,113) determines (304,404) the first bit rate associated with the first rank, and transmits (305,312,405) the first bit rate associated with the first rank to the second communication node (101), enabling authorization of the first communication node (109,113) to determine the first bit rate. |
| US09210563B2 |
Context based caching of cloud data
A request from a mobile device for information is received at a local coverage device. The local coverage device includes at least one computing system having at least one data processor. Whether the information has been locally stored on the local coverage device is determined using the local coverage device and the received request. The storage being based on a determined likelihood the mobile device would request access to the information. The likelihood being determined based at least on a context of the mobile device. The requested information is provided using the local coverage device. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described. |
| US09210553B2 |
Management method and apparatus for closed subscriber group white list
A management method and apparatus for a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) white list are provided in the present invention, which can avoid the case that causes the CSG white list of a User Equipment (UE) to include a new Operator CSG List (OCL) and an old Allowed CSG List (ACL). The method includes the following steps: a User Equipment (UE) receives an updated Operator CSG List (OCL) or an Allowed CSG List (ACL) from a network side; according to the updated OCL or ACL, UE generates the CSG white list. With the present invention, when UE performs cells selection or handover according to the CSG white list which is provided to a non-access stratum by an access stratum as a basis for access control, the selected CSG identifier can not be refused by the network, the user experience can not be reduced, and unnecessary network signaling overhead can not be increased. |
| US09210547B2 |
Mobile driving condition detection
In one embodiment, user data is analyzed to determine whether a user may be in an impaired condition or demonstrating impairment related activity. The user data may reflect the location of the user or the behavior of the user. In response to the impairment related activity, a contact database is accessed for one or more other users. A communication session is initiated with the one or more other users. A poll of the one or more uses results in a sobriety assessment or a driving condition assessment of the potentially impaired user. |
| US09210546B2 |
Commenting on location information for mobile devices
Providing location information on a mobile device includes receiving signals from external devices. Each signal includes information that specifies a geographic location for the external device that has provided the signal. A geographic location for the mobile device is calculated by using the information contained in each of the received signals. A representation of the geographic location of the mobile device is generated. The representation of the geographic location is included within an electronic message that provides information describing a user of the mobile device to other users of an electronic communications system. The electronic message is transmitted to another device to provide an indication of the geographic location for the user to one of the other users of the electronic communications system. |
| US09210544B2 |
Tracking device and tracking device control method
A tracking device and a tracking device control method with intelligent safe zones are provided. The tracking device includes a positioning module, a long-range transceiver, a short-range transceiver and a microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured to provide the long-range transceiver with radio-signal information about a short-range radio signal received by the short-range transceiver. The long-range transceiver transmits the radio-signal information to a server for safe-zone identification of the tracking device and then receives a safe-zone identification result from the server. The microcontroller is further configured to operate the positioning module, the long-range transceiver and the short-range transceiver in accordance with the safe-zone identification result. |
| US09210539B2 |
Position estimating apparatus, position estimating method, and computer program product
An apparatus, method and computer program storage device cooperate to provide a quality position estimation of a mobile communication device by determining a reference area. The reference area includes the position of the mobile communication device as well as a plurality of transmitters. Transmitters that are detected as being outside of the reference area are excluded from contributing to the position estimate. The reference area is centered at a standard position, which may be a previous position or a GPS based position, for example. The range of the reference area includes a component that considers the range of a transmitter, as well as a GPS error or an estimated move distance of the mobile communication device. |
| US09210538B2 |
Method, system, and computer-readable medium for providing location-based listing services
The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method, system and computer readable medium for providing context-based listing services. The method comprises registering at least one first service provider with an second service provider wherein registering comprises that the first service provider provides the information via a communication network to the second service provider and it validates the information. Validating comprises identify the location of the first service provider and/or request to at least one predefined user located nearby the location of the first service provider. At least one user requests the second service provider for the information via the communication network. At least one user retrieves the information and provides ranking to category of services so as to update the information in the second service provider. |
| US09210536B2 |
Method for establishing device-to-device communication
A method and system establishes a peer-to-peer (P2P) communication session between user equipments (UEs) under control of a network. A proximity services (ProSe) server associated with a first controlling network receives from a first UE a communication request message indicating that at least one other UE is in close proximity with the first UE. Based on the close proximity between the UEs, the server establishes a P2P group which includes the first UE and at least one other UE. In addition, the server identifies respective P2P Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for the UEs within the established P2P group. The server then instructs the UEs to communicate within the established P2P group using respective P2P IP addresses. Following receipt of a response indicating acceptance by a second UE of an instruction to communicate within the established P2P group using a corresponding P2P IP address, the server establishes the communication session. |
| US09210533B1 |
Resource block structure and control in a wireless OFDM communication system
A wireless base station schedules allocated resource blocks from an OFDM resource block structure to a UEs and holds unallocated resource blocks from the OFDM resource block structure for machines. The base station decodes wireless OFDM signals based on the OFDM resource block structure to obtain user data from the UEs using the allocated resource blocks and to obtain machine data from the machine devices using the unallocated resource blocks. The base station processes the machine data from the unallocated resource blocks to validate authorization marks in individual resource blocks. The base station transfers portions of the machine data having the valid authorization marks for delivery. The base station inhibits the transfer of machine data not having the valid authorization marks. |
| US09210531B1 |
Server for wireless application service system
A wireless client device includes a receiver, controller, and transmitter. The receiver is configured to wirelessly receive a beacon from a wireless access point. The beacon includes an information element indicating whether the wireless access point is capable of providing a wireless application service. The controller is configured to, in response to the information element indicating that the wireless access point is capable of providing a wireless application service, generate a wireless application service request. The wireless application service request identifies a requested wireless application service, and identifies a source of an application to be obtained, installed, and executed by the wireless access point. Execution of the application enables the wireless access point to provide the requested wireless application service to the wireless client device. The transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit a packet to the wireless access point. The packet includes the wireless application service request. |
| US09210529B2 |
Location-based application program management
Methods, program products, and systems for location-based application program management are described. A mobile device can receive a first application program to be executed in an application subsystem. The first application program can be configured to be invoked or notified when the mobile device is located at a defined location. The mobile device can register the first application program to a second application program that executes in a baseband subsystem. The mobile device can set the application subsystem to a power-saving operating mode. The second application program can monitor a current location of the mobile device. When the mobile device is currently located at the defined location, the second application program can set the application subsystem to an active operating mode, and invoke the first application program. |
| US09210526B2 |
Audio localization techniques for visual effects
Techniques for improved audio localization for visual effects are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise a processor circuit and an audio management module, and the audio management module may be operable by the processor circuit to determine a position of a user interface element in a presentation area, determine an audio effect corresponding to the user interface element, determine audio location information for the audio effect based on the position of the user interface element, the audio location information defining an apparent position for the audio effect, and generate audio playback information for the audio effect based on the audio location information. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09210523B2 |
System and method for modular on-demand audio processing, amplification and distribution
The present disclosure relates to a system and method for processing, amplification and distribution of audio signals. In an embodiment, the method includes receiving at least one digital audio input signal from one or more audio sources via wireless or wired communications. In an embodiment, address information accompanying the at least one digital audio input signal is identified to determine to which modular processor/amplifier unit the audio signal is to be directed. In dependence upon identification of one or more modular processor/amplifier units, the identified one or more modular processor/amplifier units are awakened, and the processed/amplified audio signals is directed to one or more audio listening zones. |
| US09210517B2 |
Hearing assistance device with brain computer interface
The present disclosure relates to communication devices. Such devices may comprise input for receiving sound signal to be processed and presented to a user, and output for outputting the processed signal to a user perceivable as sound. Such processing may be performed by use of a processor for processing the sound signal in dependence of a setting or a set of setting to compensate a hearing loss profile. Further, the communication device may comprise a bio-signal acquisition and amplifier component in communication with a user interface for providing the bio-signals as input to the user interface, the user interface controlling the setting or set of setting for operation of the communication device. |
| US09210516B2 |
Packaged MEMS device and method of calibrating a packaged MEMS device
A packaged MEMS device and a method of calibrating a packaged MEMS device are disclosed. In one embodiment a packaged MEMS device comprises a carrier, a MEMS device disposed on the substrate, a signal processing device disposed on the carrier, a validation circuit disposed on the carrier; and an encapsulation disposed on the carrier, wherein the encapsulation encapsulates the MEMS device, the signal processing device and the memory element. |
| US09210515B2 |
Acoustic sensor
Provided are an acoustic sensor and a method of manufacturing the same. The acoustic sensor includes a substrate including an acoustic chamber, a first hole, and a second hole, penetrating the substrate, a lower electrode pad extended onto a top surface of the substrate while covering a sidewall of the first hole, a diaphragm pad extended onto the top surface of the substrate while covering a sidewall of the second hole, a lower electrode provided on the acoustic chamber and connected to the lower electrode pad, and a diaphragm above the lower electrode while being separated from the lower electrode and connected to the diaphragm pad. |
| US09210510B2 |
Display apparatus and sound control method thereof
A display apparatus connectable to a plurality of external sound output devices and a sound control method thereof. The display apparatus includes: a wireless communication section which wirelessly communicates with a plurality of external sound output devices; a sound signal processor which processes a sound signal; a first sound output section and a second sound output section which output sounds corresponding to the sound signals; and a controller which determines positions of respective sound output devices based on distances between the first sound output section and the respective sound output devices and distances between the second sound output section and the respective sound output devices, and controls the sound signal processor so that the sound signals processed corresponding to the determined positions can be respectively transmitted to the plurality of sound output devices. |
| US09210508B1 |
Active phantom-powered ribbon microphone with switchable proximity effect response filtering for voice and music applications
Novel active phantom-powered ribbon microphones that provide switchable proximity effect response filtering for voice and music applications are disclosed with unique adjustable interfaces. In one embodiment of the invention, a slider-based full frequency response vs. low frequency response and high pass filtering adjustment interface on a surface of a microphone casing provides a convenient switching between a “Music” mode and a “Voice” mode, wherein the “Voice” mode reduces the undesirable proximity effect in an active phantom-powered ribbon microphone, when a sound source is situated overly close to the active phantom-powered ribbon microphone. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the invention, a slider-based or a knob-based variable voice mode adjustment interface can also be integrated on a surface of a microphone casing to provide various preset levels of low frequency reduction and/or proximity effect response filtering when the “Voice” mode is enabled. |
| US09210505B2 |
Maintaining spatial stability utilizing common gain coefficient
In a system and method for maintaining the spatial stability of a sound field a background noise estimate may be estimated for each of a first signal and a second signal. A first gain coefficient may be calculated responsive to the first audio signal and the background noise estimate of the first audio signal. A second gain coefficient may be calculated responsive to the second signal and the background noise estimate of the second signal. The gain coefficients may be calculated using one or more gain coefficient calculators. A common gain coefficient may be selected from one of the first gain coefficient and the second gain coefficient. The selected common gain coefficient may be one that results in a least amount of audio signal modification and may be applied to each of the first signal and the second signal. |
| US09210503B2 |
Audio zoom
An audio equivalent of a video zoom feature for video recording and communication applications, as well as video post production processes. The audio zoom may operate in conjunction with a video zoom feature or independently. The audio zoom may be achieved by controlling reverberation effects of a signal, controlling a gain of the signal, as well as controlling the width of a directional beam which is used to select the particular audio component to focus on. The audio zoom may operate in response to user input, such as a user selection of a particular direction, or automatically based a current environment or other factors. |
| US09210502B2 |
Echo cancelling device
An echo cancelling device splits a low-band signal through LPFs having characteristics which do not cause aliasing during downsampling of downsamplers, and splits a high-band signal through HPFs having characteristics which do not cause aliasing during downsampling of downsamplers. The echo canceling device generates a mid-band signal by subtracting the low-band signal and the high-band signal from a pre-split signal by adder-subtractors, and cancels an echo on a band-by-band basis. |
| US09210499B2 |
Spatial interference suppression using dual-microphone arrays
Systems, processes, devices, apparatuses, algorithms and computer readable medium for suppressing spatial interference using a dual microphone array for receiving, from a first microphone and a second microphone that are separated by a predefined distance, and that are configured to receive source signals, respective first and second microphone signals based on received source signals. A phase difference between the first and the second microphone signals is calculated based on the predefined distance. An angular distance between directions of arrival of the source signals and a desired capture direction is calculated based on the phase difference. Directional-filter coefficients are calculated based on the angular distance. Undesired source signals are filtered from an output based on the directional-filter coefficients. |
| US09210494B1 |
External vibration reduction in bone-conduction speaker
This disclosure relates to bone conduction. One disclosed apparatus includes a support structure and a bone-conduction transducer (BCT). The support structure includes a front section and a side section. The side section includes a recessed structure and at least one member that extends from the recessed structure. The BCT includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is in contact with the at least one member such that at least one gap is defined between the BCT and the recessed structure. When the support structure is worn, the second portion is in contact with a wearer so as to transmit a target vibration of the second portion to a bone structure of the wearer. The at least one member is configured to transmit a vibration of the first portion of the BCT to the recessed structure. |
| US09210493B2 |
Wireless earpiece with local audio cache
A wireless earpiece may include a local memory for storing audio files that can be played back by the user. The wireless earpiece may fit entirely within the user's ear canal. Audio files, for example music files, may be loaded on the wireless earpiece by docking the wireless earpiece with a mobile device, which includes a larger memory storing the user's library of music files. The wireless earpiece may also be charged while docked with the mobile device by receiving power from the mobile device's larger battery. To provide stereo sound, two wireless earpieces may be worn by the user and docked separately with the mobile device. Each of the two wireless earpieces may store a single channel of an audio file, which is separated by the mobile device during synchronization. |
| US09210489B1 |
Off-axial audio speaker using single audio source
The present disclosure provides an off-axial audio speaker using single audio source. The audio speaker includes a bass sounding unit and a treble sounding unit. The bass sounding unit is off-axially surrounded by the treble sounding unit and includes two magnets, a single magnetic gap mechanism, a vibration sounding membrane disposed with a single sound coil, and a wiring board. A magnetic resistance ring is selectively disposed within the bass sounding unit, and the treble sounding unit is disposed in the magnetic resistance ring. The vibration audio source point of the bass sounding unit is horizontally aligned with the vibration audio source point of the treble sounding unit. Therefore, the size of the audio speaker can be reduced, and vibration audio source points are aligned for realizing a relatively broader range of electrical adjustability and enabling the audio speaker to output both bass and treble sound. |
| US09210487B1 |
Implementation of a large-scale multi-stage non-blocking optical circuit switch
Embodiments provide a methodology for designing a large-scale non-blocking OCS using a multi-stage folded CLOS switch architecture for use in datacenter networks and fiber-rich backbone network POPs. One aspect employs a folded CLOS architecture because of its ease of implementation, enabling the topology to scale arbitrarily with increasing number of stages. The fraction of ports allocated for internal switch wiring (overhead) also increases with the number of stages. Design decisions are made to carefully optimize the insertion loss per module, number of ports per module, number of stages and the total scale required. Other embodiments include folded CLOS switch architectures having at least two stages. In one example, power monitoring may be included only on the leaf switches. |
| US09210482B2 |
Method and system for providing a personal video recorder utilizing network-based digital media content
An approach provides for recording and editing digital media. A digital media stream is generated from an input signal (such as a live broadcast feed). The digital media stream is transmitted to a browser application configured to concurrently record and edit the digital media stream. |
| US09210475B2 |
Key word based media content searching
A method may include receiving, from a user device, a search query associated with identifying media content items available from a service provider. A database of key words associated with a plurality of media content items is searched to identify a set of media content items having key words associated therewith that match the search query. It is determined, for each media content item in the set of media content items, whether the matching key word is a global key word representative of the media content item in its entirety, or a local key word representative of one or more portions of the media content item. The set of media content items based on the determining. The ranked set of media content items is transmitted to the user device for display to a user. |
| US09210467B2 |
Method and system for a universal remote control
A method and system for a universal remote control used with display devices that support automatic content recognition (ACR) are described. The remote control may be paired to the display device and may receive a trigger signal from the display device that corresponds to an interactive event overlay displayed on the display device as a result of the ACR operations. The pairing may occur through the use of near field communication (NFC) signals and/or WiFi signals. A graphical user interface (GUI) may be generated for display on a screen of the remote control device that corresponds to the interactive event overlay. The screen may be a touch-screen that enables the user to interact with the remote control through the GUI. The remote control may communicate one or more signals to the display device in response to user input received by the remote control device from information provided through the GUI. |
| US09210466B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling broadcast audio volume
Viewers use remote controls to generate mute signals based on broadcast programming. Those mute signals are processed into mute messages, which are sent to viewers' television audio controls, which mute and un-mute broadcast audio based on the mute messages. Accurate mute messages are generated based in part on various mute signal statistics derived from mute signal streams. Sending mute signals can result in mute signal point credits, and receiving mute messages can result in mute point debits. Additionally, more accurate mute signals can result in greater mute point credits. |
| US09210463B2 |
Network autodiscovery as a lever to decorrelated service activation through event driven architecture
An autodiscovery system provides content credentials to customer premise equipment through an event-driven architecture. The autodiscovery system includes several modules for implementing the event-driven architecture, such as an autodiscovery front-end module, an autodiscovery back-end module, and a broadcast activation module. The autodiscovery system may also include a subscriber database that stores subscriber records that identify subscribers associated with a level of service, a customer premise equipment identifier, or both. The modules of the autodiscovery system may also communicate with a conditional access system that communicates the content credentials to a data carousel. When the content credentials are made available on the data carousel, the autodiscovery front-end module may notify the customer premise equipment that the content credentials are ready for retrieval from the data carousel. |
| US09210461B2 |
Theme-based media program discovery systems and methods
An exemplary method includes a theme-based media program discovery system 1) concurrently maintaining data representative of a first active media program curation heuristic that specifies a first set of curation parameters associated with a media program theme and a second active media program curation heuristic that specifies a second set of curation parameters associated with the media program theme, 2) curating, based on the first active media program curation heuristic, a first set of one or more media programs related to the media program theme, and 3) curating, based on the second active media program curation heuristic, a second set of one or more media programs related to the media program theme. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. |
| US09210460B2 |
Efficient on-demand streaming using multicast
A user device provides, to a content delivery system, a content request for selected media and receives, in response to the content request, a unicast link for receiving the selected media via a unicast stream and a multicast link for receiving the selected media via a multicast stream. The user device presents a first portion of the selected media via the unicast stream and buffers, in a local memory, a second portion of the selected media from the multicast stream. The second portion is later in linear sequence of the selected media than the first portion. The user device discontinues presenting the first portion of the selected media when the first portion would overlap the second portion and present the second portion of the selected media from the memory. |
| US09210459B2 |
Operation terminal, electronic unit, and electronic unit system
An operation terminal includes: a posture detection section detecting a posture of the operation terminal, a change of the posture, or both thereof; a mode selection section selecting, based on a detection result of the posture detection section, an operation mode from a plurality of operation modes including a gesture mode and a non-gesture mode; and a transmission section sending a control command corresponding to the detection result of the posture detection section to an electronic unit when the gesture mode is currently selected. |
| US09210458B2 |
Receiving audio/video content
An audio/video content receiver configured to receive media content by a broadcast data path, the media content includes a host module having a tuner configured to assign logical channel indices to media channels to allow selection, at the host module, of the media channels for reproduction by selecting the corresponding logical channel index, the host module storing channel association data associating the logical channel indices with the received media channels. A removable conditional access module (CAM) includes an access controller decoding access-controlled encoded broadcast content, the host module and the removable CAM to provide an encrypted communication link for decoded access-controlled encoded broadcast content between the CAM and the host module. The host module includes a detector configured to detect a conflict of logical channel index between the channel association data acquired by the host from the broadcast data path and the channel association data provided by the CAM. |
| US09210457B2 |
Image domain compliance
Systems and methods for generating domain-compliant image data. Domain-specific usage rights may be evaluated. The domain-specific usage rights may be associated with the transfer of particular encoded image data to a particular computing system other than the computing system. The domain-specific usage rights may specify maximum allowable spatial frequency content of the particular encoded image data. Domain-compliant image data may be generated by removing particular disallowable spatial frequency content from the encoded image data prior to transfer to the particular computing system. |
| US09210456B1 |
Method and system for detecting unauthorized use of a user device using receiver identification in a network
A system and method for determining unauthorized use of a first user device associated with a local network that includes a plurality of user devices associated with a user account. A comparison module compares a first master identifier determined within the local network and an expected master identifier generated outside the local network. A disable module generates an error signal in response to comparing. |
| US09210455B2 |
Dynamic synchronization of media streams within a social network
A method of synchronizing first and second streams of a multimedia content program is operable for determining a temporal difference indicative of a relative timing between first and second streams of the program, the first stream being provided to a first multimedia processing resource (MPR) and the second stream being provided to a second MPR. The method includes manipulating at least one of the streams to reduce the temporal difference until the temporal difference is less than a predetermined threshold and enabling a viewer of the first stream to interact with a viewer of the second stream regarding the program. Interactions are visually detectable on a first display screen corresponding to the first MPR. |
| US09210454B2 |
Methods and systems for a current channel buffer for network based personal video recording
A “pause live television” service is implemented, where in one embodiment, a continuously streaming video from a broadcast programming source is copied into a circular buffer. A set top box (“STB”) requests a trick function, such as “pause,” by sending a message to the system, which in one embodiment suspends the display of the present broadcast video in the STB. The system determines an pointer and when the user requests resumption of the broadcast video (e.g., “play”), the system uses the pointer for that particular STB to determine the appropriate resumption point in the particular buffer to resume streaming of the video for that STB. In various embodiments, the network may begin streaming of the video at the resumption point on another channel and direct the STB to then tune to that channel. Thus, the program appears to have been seamless suspended and resumed using a network based capability. |
| US09210453B1 |
Measuring quality of experience and identifying problem sources for various service types
Methods, systems, and computer readable media can provide for measuring the quality of experience levels and locating the sources of problems for service types in a network. This can be facilitated by sending one or more scout packets through the network, identifying those scout packets at the various network elements on a path within the network between a source and a destination, and compiling scout information identified by each of the various network elements to determine potential service degradation within the network. |
| US09210451B2 |
Replication decision in P2P VoD systems
Provided are systems and methods for making a replication decision in a P2P VoD architecture. A system according to the present application may comprise a plurality of peers; a plurality of videos distributed over the peers; and a server maintaining a replication indicator for each of the plurality of videos. In the system, each of the peers reports a first piece of information regarding one or more first videos of the plurality of videos which are stored in the peer and a second piece of information regarding a second video of the plurality of videos which is required to be stored in the peer to the server when the peer does not have enough space for storing the second video. The server then determines, according to the first and second pieces of information and the replication indicators for the first and the second videos, whether the peer is to replace one of the first videos with the second video. |
| US09210446B2 |
Slice priority prediction system for H.264 video
The invention relates to systems and methods for prioritizing video slices of H.264 video bitstream comprising: a memory storage and a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit operates to execute a low complexity scheme to predict the expected cumulative mean squared error (CMSE) contributed by the loss of a slice of H.264 video bitstream, wherein the processing unit operates to execute a series of actions comprising assigning each slice a predicted value according to the low complexity scheme; extracting video parameters during encoding process, said video parameters; and using a generalized linear model to model CMSE as a linear combination of the video parameters, wherein the video parameters are derived from analytical estimations by using a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) over a video database, encompassing videos of different characteristics such as high and low motion, camera panning, zooming and still videos, further comprising wherein the GLM is constructed in a training phase as follows: determining the distribution of the computed CMSE to be a Normal distribution with the Identity link function; sequentially adding covariates using the forward selection technique where by the best model is evaluated at each stage using the Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC); the training phase of the model generates regression coefficients; the final model is validated through the testing phase by predicting the CMSE for different video sequences, not in the training database; and by using the regression coefficients, the expected CMSE values are predicted for each slice. |
| US09210445B2 |
Method and apparatus for periodic structure handling for motion compensation
A motion compensated picture rate converter for determining a dominant motion vector for a block appearing in two images includes a high-pass filter and a low-pass filter, transform calculators responsive to the filters for performing transforms on at least two images to produce a frequency-domain representation of the images, estimating calculators for estimating a plurality of motion vectors based on the frequency-domain representations, and a periodic structure detection and elimination module responsive to the transform calculators and the estimating calculators for identifying a period based on the frequency-domain representation of the images and for selecting a dominant motion vector based on the estimated motion vectors and the identified period. A method of operation is also disclosed. |
| US09210440B2 |
Moving picture coding method, moving picture decoding method, moving picture coding apparatus, moving picture decoding apparatus, and moving picture coding and decoding apparatus
A moving picture coding method includes: coding, using a motion vector, a current block to be coded; generating a plurality of predictive motion vectors; and coding the motion vector using one of the predictive motion vectors, and when a co-located block included in a coded picture and co-located with the current block has two reference motion vectors and reference directions of the two reference motion vectors are the same, a first prediction vector is generated using a first reference motion vector and a second prediction vector is generated using a second reference motion vector in the generating of a plurality of predictive motion vectors. |
| US09210435B2 |
Video encoding method and apparatus for estimating a code amount based on bit string length and symbol occurrence frequency
A video encoding apparatus includes a frequency transform unit for executing an orthogonal transform on a prediction difference or an original image; a quantizing unit for quantizing transform coefficients outputted by the frequency transform unit; a variable-length coder for executing variable-length encoding on a bit string generated from the quantized transform coefficients; a rate controller for performing a rate control to control a code bit stream outputted by the variable-length coder to be maintained at a bit rate; and a code amount estimating unit for estimating a code amount to be generated by the variable-length coder based on a length of the bit string and an occurrence frequency of symbol in the bit string. The rate controller executes the rate control based on the estimated code amount. |
| US09210433B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
A specific region in each frame image input after a detection process has been completed a predetermined number of times or more is estimated from a specific region detected from a past frame before the frame. The shift between the specific region detected from a first frame image input after the detection process has been completed the predetermined number of times or more and the specific region estimated for the first frame image is obtained. When the shift falls within a predetermined range, an encoding parameter to encode the specific region estimated for a second frame image input at a point the detection process for the first frame image has been completed with a higher image quality than that of regions other than the specific region is set. |
| US09210431B2 |
Multiple thread video encoding using GOP merging and bit allocation
A method of encoding video wherein an end of scene is detected, frames are partitioned and groups of pictures (GOPs) may be merged. In the method, an end of scene in a plurality of input frames is detected. The input frames are partitioned into GOPs. If the number of frames at the end of scene GOP is below a low frame threshold, then those frames are merged with a preceding GOP. The GOPs are buffered and multiple threads of GOPs are encoded in parallel from the buffer in a single pass. |
| US09210430B2 |
Reference picture set signaling and restriction on an electronic device
A previously signaled reference picture set (RPS) corresponding to a current picture is indicated. A first flag for a picture in the previously signaled RPS is set if the picture is to be used as a reference picture for the current picture. A bitstream is sent. |
| US09210426B2 |
Image coding device, image decoding device, image coding method, and image decoding method
When removing a block distortion occurring in a local decoded image, a loop filtering part 11 of an image coding device carries out a filtering process on each of signal components (a luminance signal component and color difference signal components) after setting the intensity of a filter for removing the block distortion for each of the signal components according to a coding mode (an intra coding mode or an inter coding mode) selected by a coding controlling part 1. |
| US09210425B2 |
Signaling of temporal motion vector predictor (MVP) flag for temporal prediction
In one embodiment, a method determines whether a flag that controls whether a temporal motion vector is used for slice is present in an encoded bitstream. If the flag is present, the method determines a value for the flag, and if the flag is not present, the method infers that the value for the flag is a default value. Then, the method evaluates whether to determine a collocated reference picture in decoding the slice from the encoded bitstream based on the value of the flag. |
| US09210417B2 |
Real-time registration of a stereo depth camera array
Real-time registration of a camera array in an image capture device may be implemented in the field by adjusting a selected subset of independent parameters in a mapping function, termed registration coefficients, which have been determined to have the largest contribution to registration errors so that the array can be maintained in its initial factory-optimized calibrated state. By having to adjust only a relatively small subset of registration coefficients from within a larger set of coefficients (which are typically determined using a specialized calibration target in a factory setting), far fewer matching patterns need to be identified in respective images captured by cameras in the array in order to correct for registration errors. Such simplified pattern matching may be performed using images that are captured during normal camera array usage so that registration may be performed in real-time in the field without the need for specialized calibration targets. |
| US09210408B2 |
Stereoscopic panoramic image synthesis device, image capturing device, stereoscopic panoramic image synthesis method, recording medium, and computer program
Multiple images are acquired by continuously capturing images at high speed while panning an image capturing device (10). An optical flow between a reference image (previously captured image) and a currently captured image in a time sequence of imaging is calculated, and, based on this calculated optical flow, an image of an overlap area (i.e. area with disparity) between the images is cut out. Subsequently, the pair of cut images is stored in a memory (48) as a left image and a right image. After that, a left panoramic image is synthesized from multiple left images stored in the memory (48) and, similarly, a right panoramic image is synthesized from multiple right images. |
| US09210406B2 |
Apparatus and method for converting 2D content into 3D content
Disclosed are an apparatus and method for converting video contents, each of which converts 2D contents into 3D contents. The method includes: determining an object to be extracted from a plurality of frames which contain 2D contents; determining a respective possession degree of information about the object to be extracted, with regard to each of the plurality of frames; selecting at least one key frame from among the plurality of frames in accordance with the determined possession degrees of information about the object to be extracted; extracting an object with regard to the selected key frame; assigning depth for conversion into 3D contents to the object to be extracted; and performing tracking upon all but the key frame from among the plurality of frames. Accordingly, the 2D-3D conversion can be performed with high accuracy and reliability. |
| US09210405B2 |
System and method for real time 2D to 3D conversion of video in a digital camera
Embodiments are directed towards enabling digital cameras to digitally process captured two dimensional image sequences at a real time video rate, to convert the two dimensional image sequences into stereoscopic three dimensional image sequences. In one embodiment, using a pipelining architecture, various statistics are obtained for a captured two dimensional sequence. The statistics are used to estimate depth within each frame image within the sequence, in real time. Using the depth data a disparity map is generated that is provided to a warping component to generate a second perspective of the two dimensional image. The two images for the frame provide a three dimensional perspective for the frame within the sequence. Together the two perspective images for the frame are provided to a video encoder component to encode the stereoscopic three dimensional frame for the sequence. |
| US09210404B2 |
Calibration and registration of camera arrays using a single circular grid optical target
Methods for determining intrinsic parameters associated with a camera and for registering cameras within a camera array are described. In some embodiments, a camera may be calibrated using an optical target that is positioned at a depth outside the depth of focus of the camera. The optical target may include a grid of symmetrical shapes (e.g., a rectilinear grid of circles or tilted squares). The intrinsic parameters for the camera may be determined using an iterative calibration process in which a cost function is used to evaluate the straightness of lines intersecting rows and columns associated with centroids of the symmetrical shapes. In some embodiments, the registration of a color camera with a depth camera may include mapping centroids identified within a first color image captured by the color camera with corresponding centroids identified within an undistorted intensity image captured by the depth camera. |
| US09210394B2 |
3D video reproduction device, non-transitory computer-readable medium, 3D display device, 3D imaging device, and 3D video reproduction method
A stereoscopic video reproduction device comprising: a first acquisition unit; a second acquisition unit configured to acquire a display size of a stereoscopic display of output destination; a decision unit configured to compare the acquired display size of the stereoscopic display and the plurality of intra-interval maximum display sizes and decides whether the display size of the stereoscopic display is larger than the plurality of intra-interval maximum display sizes; a selection unit configured to select, from the viewpoint images at N viewpoints, two viewpoint images corresponding to an intra-interval maximum display size which the decision unit decides to be equal to or smaller than the display size of the stereoscopic display among the plurality of intra-interval maximum display sizes; and an output unit configured to output a stereoscopic video formed with the two viewpoint images selected by the selection unit when outputting the acquired stereoscopic video to the stereoscopic display. |
| US09210385B2 |
Method and system for metadata extraction from master-slave cameras tracking system
An embodiment of the present invention includes a master camera that may record master metadata regarding an object of interest and communicate the master metadata to a slave camera. The slave camera may zoom, pan, or tilt to isolate and record more detailed image data regarding the object of interest based on the master metadata. In addition, the slave camera may record slave metadata regarding the object of interest. The master and slave metadata may be stored associated with the recorded image data enabling a later search for the object of interest to be expedited. The recorded image data including the object of interest may be identified with greater ease as it may be guided by the master or slave metadata, or a combination thereof. According to embodiments presented herein, processing time for searching and identifying an object of interest may be reduced by enabling a search on the metadata associated with image data, rather than by searching the image data itself. |
| US09210383B2 |
Conditional access to encrypted media content
A method and apparatus for processing encrypted content distributed for end users in multiple services includes receiving entitlement information for a subset of at least two of the services separately from the encrypted content for the services and either calculating decryption key information for the subset of services from the entitlement information and storing the decryption key information in memory so that decryption key information for a selected service can subsequently be read from memory, or storing the entitlement information for the subset of services in memory so that the entitlement information for a selected service can subsequently be read from memory and decryption key information for the selected service can be calculated. |
| US09210382B2 |
Method and apparatus for protecting the transfer of data
According to one embodiment, a method of descrambling digital multimedia content starts by sending an out-of-band request for encrypted control data to a headend. A descrambler integrated circuit may then receive digital program data in a scrambled format and the encrypted control data. The encrypted control data may then be decrypted entirely within the descrambler integrated circuit using a multiple-step decryption process starting with a unique key permanently stored in the descrambler integrate circuit and using the partial decryption of control data from the previous decryption step to generate a key to decrypt subsequent encrypted control data. The scrambled digital program data may then be descrambled in the descrambler integrated circuit using the decrypted control data from the last decryption step. Other embodiments are described. |
| US09210381B2 |
Resource-adaptive video encoder sharing in multipoint control unit
Systems and methods of video conferencing, in which existing video encoders associated with a multipoint control unit (MCU) can be shared among conference participant devices, depending upon the availability of processor and/or memory resources for the MCU. In making decisions regarding the sharing of video encoders, the systems and methods take into account various parameters associated with potential conference participant devices and the total cost of the processor/memory resources for the MCU, to determine whether a video encoder of the MCU can be shared with, or allocated to, the respective conference participant devices. By determining whether to share or allocate a video encoder of the MCU, depending upon the available processor/memory resources for the MCU, the MCU can be made to operate with increased stability. The systems and methods can be applied to any application that sends the same content to multiple receivers, including announcement and video streaming applications. |
| US09210379B2 |
Displaying a presenter during a video conference
Implementations generally relate to displaying a presenter during a video conference. In some implementations, a method includes providing a user interface of a video conference between at least a first user and a second user, where the first user is associated with a first endpoint and the second user is associated with a second endpoint. The method also includes determining view rank values for each of the first endpoint and the second endpoint. The method also includes causing the user interface to display a first user video stream in a current presenter position and to display a second user video stream in a secondary presenter position based on the view rank values. |
| US09210371B2 |
Transmission terminal, transmission system and program
A transmission terminal is connected to a management apparatus, which stores information on a destination in a first communication mode associated with a plurality of transmission terminals, via a network. The transmission terminal includes a transmission unit that sends data including at least voice data; a voice input unit, that inputs the voice data; and a determination unit that determines whether the transmission terminal is in the first communication mode or not based on an input volume level of the voice data, input by the voice input unit. When the determination unit determines that the transmission terminal is in the first communication mode, the data sent by the transmission unit is relayed only to an other transmission terminal of the transmission terminals, which communicate with the transmission terminal. The other transmission terminal corresponds to the destination associated with the transmission terminal in the management apparatus. |
| US09210368B2 |
Digital video recorder for automatically recording an upcoming program that is being advertised
A method and apparatus is provided for recording a program being advertised during a broadcast of another program. The method begins by receiving a user request to record the program being advertised in an advertisement appearing in a broadcast of the other program. The other program is embodied in a video signal received from an external broadcasting source. At least one prescribed keyword is identified in a locally stored segment of the video signal that contains the advertisement. The prescribed keyword(s) pertains to a time at which the program being advertised is to be broadcast. A recording session is established in accordance with the prescribed keyword(s) to record the program being advertised. Finally, the program being advertised is recorded during the established recording session. |
| US09210364B2 |
Entertainment system mountable in a vehicle and methods for mounting and displaying same
A media system for a vehicle comprises a housing mounted to an overhead portion of the vehicle, and a media unit that is capable of being coupled to the housing, wherein the housing includes a receiving portion that pivots with respect to the housing and receives the media unit in the receiving portion. |
| US09210359B2 |
Display device, remote control device to control display device, method of controlling display device, method of controlling server and method of controlling remote control device
A display device, a remote control device for the display device, a method of controlling the display device, a method of controlling the remote control device, and a method of controlling a server includes collecting at least one piece of situation information or receiving at least one piece of situation information from a remote control device, determining a current state of a user based on the collected or received at least one piece of situation information, instructing the remote control device to output a notification signal corresponding to the current state of the user, and generating the control command according to the current state of the user and providing a sense-based image service to the user according to the control command. |
| US09210358B2 |
Dual-mode communication devices and methods for communicating with an entertainment system
Methods, systems, and techniques for dual-mode communication are provided. Example embodiments provide a an enhanced mobile device that includes a CPU, a low latency transceiver, and a high latency transceiver. The enhanced mobile device is in communication with a console via both the low latency transceiver and the high latency transceiver. The console also includes a CPU, a low latency transceiver, and a high latency transceiver. In some embodiments, the low latency communication channel is used to transmit control messages to an entertainment console whereas the high latency communication channel is used to communicate data between the mobile device and the entertainment console. The dual-mode communication may be used in different scenarios, including with an entertainment console for gaming, viewing videos, and the like. |
| US09210353B2 |
Electronic equipment, control information transmission and reception methods having bidirectional communication using predetermined lines
Electronic equipment and methods for permitting quick control of the operating state of a source equipment side from sink equipment. A television receiver (sink equipment) 100 and an amplifier (repeater equipment) 200 are interconnected over an HDMI cable 610, and the amplifier 200 and a DVD recorder (source equipment) 300 are interconnected over an HDMI cable 620. Each of the pieces of equipment includes, in addition to an HDMI receiving unit and an HDMI transmitting unit, a high-speed data line I/F included in a bidirectional communication unit that uses predetermined lines of the HDMI cable. The bidirectional communication unit is used to transmit channel selection information, a remote control code instructing recording, “theater mode” designating information, a remote control code, or the like from the television receiver 100 to the audio amplifier 200 or DVD recorder 300. |
| US09210349B2 |
A/D conversion circuit and solid-state imaging device
In an A/D conversion circuit and a solid-state imaging device, a latch circuit is in a disable state until a first timing at which an output signal of a comparison unit has been inverted, and is in an enable state until a second timing at which a delay time of the inversion delay circuit has passed from the first timing. The latch circuit is in the enable state until the second timing according to comparison start in the comparison unit. The latch circuit latches an output signal of a delay unit at the second timing. A determination unit determines whether the latch circuit accurately latches the output signal of the delay unit, and outputs a signal indicating a determination result to a delay controller. The delay controller controls the delay time of the inversion delay circuit based on the determination result. |
| US09210347B2 |
Vertical 4-way shared pixel in a single column with internal reset and no row select
A method and apparatus for reducing space and pixel circuit complexity by using a 4-way shared vertically aligned pixels in a same column. The at least four pixels in the pixel circuit share a reset transistor and a source follower transistor, can have a plurality of same colored pixels and a plurality of colors, but do not include a row select transistor. |
| US09210345B2 |
Shared readout low noise global shutter image sensor method
A method for operating a global shutter image sensor includes performing both a global shutter (image capture) operation and a rolling shutter (readout) operation. During the global shutter operation, image information (charges) are captured by photodiodes in every pixel, and then simultaneously transferred to charge coupled gate (CCG) devices provided in each pixel. The rolling shutter operation includes performing multiple correlated double sampling (CDS) readout phases utilizing readout circuits that are shared by groups of pixels (e.g., four pixels share each readout circuit) having CCG devices connected in a chain. After resetting a floating diffusion in the readout circuit, a first captured charge is transferred to floating diffusion for readout, and the remaining charges are shifted along the CCG chain. The remaining CCG devices are then sequentially read out by repeating the read-and-shift operation. The readout operation is then repeated for each row of pixel groups. |
| US09210342B2 |
Method and system for removing noise by controlling lens iris
Provided is a noise-removing system including: an iris controller configured to control a degree of openness of a lens iris; a noise image analyzer configured to perform an analysis of a noise image that is obtained in a state when the iris controller closes the iris; a normal image analyzer configured to analyze a normal image that is obtained in a state when the iris controller opens the iris; and a noise remover configured to remove noise from an image, based on a result of the analysis performed by the noise image analyzer and the analysis performed by the normal image analyzer. |
| US09210341B2 |
Image processing device, imaging device, information storage medium, and image processing method
An image processing device includes a storage section, an estimation calculation section, and an image output section. A pixel is sequentially shifted so that overlap occurs to acquire a light-receiving value of the pixel as a low-resolution frame image. The storage section stores the low-resolution frame image. The estimation calculation section estimates estimated pixel values at a pixel pitch smaller than the pixel pitch of the low-resolution frame image. The image output section outputs a high-resolution frame image that has a resolution higher than that of the low-resolution frame image based on the estimated pixel values. The estimation calculation section calculates the difference between the light-receiving value of the pixel set at a first position and the light-receiving value of the pixel set at a second position, and estimates the estimated pixel values based on the difference. |
| US09210337B2 |
Imaging device
An imaging device has a sensor chip and a signal processing chip. The sensor chip includes a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a 2-dimensional matrix and a data output terminal group made up of a plurality of data output terminals which output analog signals of pixels for each pixel column of the pixel array. The signal processing chip includes a data input terminal group electrically coupled to the data output terminal group, a plurality of A/D converters which convert analog signals of pixels received by the data input terminal group into digital signals for each pixel column of the pixel array, and a control unit which controls operation of the plurality of A/D converters. |
| US09210334B2 |
Imaging apparatus and imaging method for flare portrait scene imaging
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a main subject detecting unit, and control unit. The imaging unit includes an imaging element. The imaging unit generates image data. The main subject detecting unit detects a main subject from the image data. The control unit compares an exposure value of the image data with a predetermined appropriate value and performs an exposure control so that the exposure value for the main subject part in the image data changes to the appropriate value and the exposure value for a part excluding the main subject part in the image data changes to a value larger than the appropriate value. |
| US09210333B2 |
Image capturing apparatus for generating composite image and control method thereof
An image capturing apparatus comprising an image capturing unit is provided. A zoom control unit controls a zoom ratio during shooting. An image capture control unit controls the image capturing unit such that a plurality of images with different exposure conditions are captured in a predetermined period. A generation output unit generates a composite image from the plurality of images and outputs the generated composite image. A determination determines whether or not the zoom ratio is being changed during the predetermined period. In a case where it is determined that the zoom ratio is being changed, the generation output unit outputs one of the images captured by the image capturing unit during the predetermined period, instead of the composite image. |
| US09210330B2 |
Image sensor and electronic device including the same
An image sensor includes a sensing device including a pixel array having a plurality of unit pixels, the sensing device being configured to generate pixel data in response to an incident light signal having information of an image of an object and information of an ambient light; an image data generation unit configured to generate image data corresponding to the object based on the pixel data; and an illuminance data generation unit configured to generate illuminance data corresponding to the ambient light based on the pixel data. |
| US09210329B2 |
Imaging apparatus having framing assist control
In an imaging apparatus having framing assist control, a controller controls a change speed of the display angle of view changed by a second or a third instruction member faster than the change speed of the display angle of view changed by a first instruction member. The first instruction member is configured to issue an instruction regarding a change of a display angle of view and a change direction of the display angle of view. The second instruction member is configured to issue an instruction to change the display angle of view displayed on the monitor to a wide-angle side by a predetermined amount. The third instruction member is configured to issue an instruction to change the display angle of view displayed on the monitor to the display angle of view before the display angle of view is changed by the second instruction member. |
| US09210320B2 |
Image pickup apparatus, control method for the same, and program thereof
An image pickup apparatus including an image pickup device configured to obtain a captured image corresponding to an object image, an object detecting unit configured to detect a specific object in the captured image, an position obtaining unit configured to obtain a position at which the specific object exists in the captured image, a composition specifying unit configured to specify a recommended composition on the basis of the existence position of the specific object when the specific object is viewed as a main object, and an instruction control unit configured to instruct the execution of a predetermined operation which notifies a user of the recommended composition. |
| US09210317B2 |
Focus position estimation
A method for lens position estimation can include receiving from a lens driver a drive current value representing a current to be provided to a motor to position a camera lens of an electronic device, detecting an orientation of the electronic device using a motion sensor, determining a gravity vector based upon the orientation, and computing an estimated value of a lens position of the camera lens of the electronic device based upon the drive current value and gravity vector. |
| US09210316B2 |
Method and system for detecting and capturing focused image
The embodiments herein provide a system and method for detecting and capturing a focused image. The system comprises of an image capturing unit, edge detection unit and a focusing unit. The image capturing unit obtains plurality of images sequentially. The edge detection unit identifies region of interest in each of the obtained images and calculates edge strength value for the identified regions. The edge detection unit determines peak edge value from the edge strength values. The edge strength value quantifies degree of focus in the identified region. If the identified region is more focused, the number of edges is relatively more when compared with out-of-focus region. The peak edge value indicates that the identified region is well focused. The focusing unit causes the image capturing unit to capture focused image when the edge strength value reaches a predefined value of the peak edge value. |
| US09210311B2 |
Camera module for portable device
A camera module is provided. The camera module includes a camera device and a support ring. The camera device includes a substrate, an image sensor device on the substrate, and a holder for covering the image sensor device, wherein the holder includes a side portion placed around the image sensor device. The support ring is fixed to and laterally extends from the side portion of the holder, and is attached onto a wall portion of the chassis. A portable device with the camera module is also disclosed. |
| US09210306B1 |
Method and system for a single frame camera module active alignment tilt correction
Some embodiments include methods for correcting optical alignment of components in a camera module for a multifunction device. In some embodiments, components of a camera module for use in a multifunction device are assembled on a test station. Some embodiments include a method that includes capturing a single test image, calculating from the spatial frequency response data an optical tilt between the optical axis of a lens and an optical axis of the image sensor of the camera module, and mechanically adjusting an alignment of the lens and the optical axis of the image sensor of the camera module to reduce the optical tilt. In some embodiments, the capturing is performed using the components of the camera module, and the single test image contains visually encoded spatial frequency response data for characterizing the components of the camera module. |
| US09210304B2 |
Low light adaptive imaging device
Techniques described herein generally relate to digital imaging systems, methods and devices. In some example embodiments, a low light adaptive photoelectric imaging device may include a photoelectric transducer configured to receive and convert incident light into an electric charge that varies in response to an intensity of the received incident light. Some example imaging devices may also include circuitry coupled to the photoelectric transducer and configured to electrically float a potential at one or more terminals of the photoelectric transducer effective to cause the photoelectric transducer to amplify the electric charge according to a gain function that non-linearly varies relative to the intensity of the received incident light. |
| US09210301B2 |
Generation interpolation frames
The instant application describes a stereoscopic video processing system that includes a vector detector configured to detect a motion vector associated with frames of an input video signal; an output image generator configured to generate interpolation frames based on the frames of the input video signal and the motion vector and to arrange the frames of the input video signal and the interpolation frame along a time axis; and an output controller configured to control the output image generator to output the interpolation frames as the output video signal alternately at intervals of one frame and two frames, and output the frames of the input video signal between the one frame and the two frames of the interpolation frames. |
| US09210294B2 |
System and method to manipulate an image
A method of operating an image reader typically includes: searching a digital image for nominally straight edges; characterizing the nominally straight edges in terms of length and/or direction; determining a predominant orientation of the nominally straight edges; establishing a group of edges as a function of their proximity to the center of the image; establishing a group of edges as a function of their proximity to other remaining edge positions; and transmuting a rectangle bounding those edges into a rectified image. The rectified image is typically an image that is cropped or rotated. |
| US09210285B2 |
Image processing apparatus and control method for reducing an amount of data for a plurality of languages
This invention prevents repetitive storage of identical character string data, and efficiently uses a storage area. To accomplish this, a facsimile apparatus 8 has an NIC 1 as a network interface, and also has a display unit 4c as a display means for displaying an image as a user interface, a main body controller 3 including a memory as a storage means for storing character string data, a display controller 4b as an image generating means for generating an image to be displayed on the display means, by using the character string data stored in the memory, and an HTTP server as a display data generating means for generating an HTML file as display data described in a markup language by using the character string data stored in the memory, in accordance with a browsing request input via the network interface. |
| US09210282B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus has an image display operation device with a function selecting portion to correlate with a plurality of functions executed in the image forming apparatus, a display portion, and a display control portion. The function selecting portion includes a function selecting portion in which selectable function items are displayed in accordance with an operation mode selected in the image forming apparatus. A second function selecting portion display other function items that are simultaneously selected. The display control portion simultaneously displays the function selecting portions on the display portion. The image display operation device simultaneously makes functions selectable. When the functions according to the first function selecting portion is selected, the display control portion changes functions according to the second function selecting portion that is displayed, based on contents of the functions according to the first function selecting portion. |
| US09210280B2 |
Information processing apparatus, non-transitory computer readable medium storing program, information processing method, and information processing system
An information processing apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires data indicating duration for dispersing access to a management apparatus for each period of time, a specifying unit that specifies the duration corresponding to a time which is designated by a user on the basis of the acquired data, a selection unit that selects an access time to the management apparatus from a time range based on the designated time and the duration specified by the specifying unit according to a predetermined criterion, and a unit that accesses the management apparatus on the basis of the access time selected by the selection unit. |
| US09210276B2 |
Multi-tenant service management in a VoIP network
A system and method for aggregating services within a VoIP network. The VoIP network comprises a plurality of vendors, resellers, and users, and each reseller aggregates a plurality of services from the vendors and other resellers. Each type of service may be organized into two or more tiers, with each tier including one or more services. Each tier is presented to downstream users as a single price and is re-branded with the reseller's branding elements. Downstream users can select a desired service from a given tier, and the tier may automatically select a service that maximizes the profit for the reseller. |
| US09210274B2 |
System and method of transferring information between contact centers
When a call is received at a first contact center, information is collected about the call. The information can be information that the caller enters through an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, an Automatic Number Identification (ANI), an associated Universal Caller Identification (UCID), other information gathered from the caller, and the like. An identifier associated with a second contact center, such as a Dialed Number Identification Service (DNIS) number, is associated with the information and stored in a shared resource. The call is transferred to the second contact center using the identifier. As the transferred call comes into the second contact center, the second contact center determines if the identifier in the transferred call matches the stored identifier. If so, the information is used in the second contact center for various purposes in supporting the call, such as routing the call in the second contact center. |
| US09210271B2 |
Wireless social and safety network
This invention provides wireless safety network through the integration of mobile femto-cells (mFAP), into macro-cellular system. Such network provides safety management for students during their travel to and from school, supervision of class attendance, and special educational and social service services. |
| US09210260B2 |
Controlling communications between a mobile device and a base station
Some embodiments of a telephone system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations include establishing a communication link between a mobile device and a base station. The communication link enables an exchange of communications between the mobile device and the base station. The operations can further include detecting, at the base station via the communication link, initiation of a telephone call of the mobile device received via a mobile network. The operations can further include determining that the mobile device will be stationary during the telephone call. The operations can further include terminating location tracking of the mobile device within the mobile network during at least a portion of the telephone call in response to determination that the mobile device will be stationary during the telephone call. |
| US09210255B2 |
Social quality-of-service database
A method, computer program product, and system for a quality-of-service history database is described. Quality-of-service information associated with a first participant in a first electronic call is determined. The quality-of-service information is stored in a quality-of-service history database. A likelihood of quality-of-service issues associated with a second electronic call is determined, wherein determining the likelihood of quality-of-service issues includes mining the quality-of-service history database. |
| US09210249B2 |
Method of controlling dialing modes in a vehicle
A dialing mode of a telematics unit in a vehicle is controlled by monitoring for dialing digits from a vehicle occupant, determining whether the type of dialing digits are continuous dialing digits or discrete dialing digits, establishing a continuous mode for receiving continuous dialing digits or a discrete mode for receiving discrete dialing digits based on the determination, and if the type of dialing digits changes, switching the established mode. |
| US09210242B2 |
Device housings with hidden fasteners
A housing for a personal electronic device includes a first housing portion, a second housing portion, and a pivoting member pivotally attached to the second housing portion. The first housing portion defines a first plane and has a first support member arranged thereon at a first angle to the first plane. The first support member includes at least one through hole for engaging a fastener. The second housing portion defines a second plane and has a second support member arranged thereon at a second angle to the second plane. The second support member includes at least one retaining hole configured to align with the at least one through hole and retain the fastener. The pivoting member is configured to pivot between at least two positions to obscure the fastener. |
| US09210241B2 |
Sliding plate hinge of portable electronic device terminal
A sliding plate hinge of a portable electronic device terminal includes a fixed plate and a sliding plate. A sliding-guide groove for the sliding plate is disposed at either side of the fixed plate. A frictional component supported by an elastic component is also disposed at either side of the fixed plate respectively. The frictional components at the two sides form a compression fit with the side surface of the sliding plate or with the side surface of a component fixedly connected to the sliding plate, so as to generate side pressure against the sliding plate or the component fixedly connected to the sliding plate. The design utilizes the frictional components to generate side pressure against the sliding plate or the component fixedly connected to the sliding plate and thus generate frictional damping, ensuring that the sliding plate hinge has a comfortable hand-feel even in the absence of a drive spring. |
| US09210239B1 |
Metacodec for optimizing network data compression based on comparison of write and read rates
A method, system, and apparatus are directed towards selectively compressing data for transmission over a network. In one embodiment, a sending network device and receiving network device negotiates different compression modes to communicate data between them. An initial compression mode may be selected based on a network bandwidth. The sending network device then reads data, and compresses using the selected compression mode. The compressed data may then be written out. Ratios of compression and the write times are then employed to selectively adjust the compression mode for subsequent data compressions. In one embodiment, a compression ratio is also employed to determine whether to employ the selected compression mode, or to reduce the level of compression by using a different compression mode. The receiving network device having received information about the selected compression mode, then employs that compression mode to decompress the received data. |
| US09210238B2 |
Method and system for network data flow management
A network data flow management device including: a working packet module configured to store data related to a data flow; at least one network interface connected to the working packet module for receiving and sending data related to data flows; and a processor configured to: receive data from the working packet module and determine if the data flow matches a predetermined protocol; and if the data flow matches the predetermined protocol, send predictive acknowledgments based on the data flow via the network interface. A method for network data flow management including: monitoring a data flow for a predetermined protocol; if the data flow matches the predetermined protocol, saving data relating to the data flow; and creating and sending a predictive acknowledgement packet related to the data flow. |
| US09210237B2 |
Cached data detection
A service assigns session identifiers to usage sessions of a program on a computing device, and maintains records in a log of received page requests and associated session identifiers, as well as received cached data detection requests and associated session identifiers. This log can be used to determine how many usage sessions existed over a particular amount of time, and how many of the usage sessions used data from a local cache rather than from the service. The service also returns, in response to a received cached data detection request, a response including an indication that the response is from the service. The program can determine that the response was received from the service if the indication is included in the response, and that the response was received from a local cache of the computing device if the indication is not included in the response. |
| US09210226B2 |
Method and device for location management of group-based machine type communication MTC device
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a device for location management of a group-based machine type communication MTC device. The method includes: receiving a location update message sent by a mobility management network element, where the location update message includes a device identity and/or a group identity of a first MTC device; acquiring the group identity of the first MTC device according to the location update message, and updating subscription data of all MTC devices in a group corresponding to the group identity; and sending subscription data of the group to the mobility management network element, where the group subscription data includes the group identity and/or a device identity list of all the MTC devices in the group. An embodiment of the present invention further provides a corresponding device. |
| US09210225B2 |
Method and system for dynamically assigning a server
A method of dynamic server assignment in a VoIP network includes detecting a telecommunication device on the VoIP network and querying a geo-location server for geographic information related to the telecommunication device's location and receiving the geographic information. Based on the geographic information a server assignment is determined. A configuration file for the telecommunication device including the server assignment and location is created and the configuration is provided to the telecommunication device over the network. The configuration file may also include features related to local customs or practice. |
| US09210221B2 |
System and method for provisioning a remote resource for an electronic device
The disclosure recites a device, system and method for provisioning resources from a server in a network to a mobile electronic device. The method comprising at the server: after receiving a network registration request from the device, accessing a device registry; if the device is in the device registry, determining whether a resource is may be provisioned to the device from the server, otherwise, if not, awaiting a request from the device for the resource; determining whether the resource has already been provisioned to the device or the device has been designated to be provisioned with the resource from an alternative source, and if so, not approving the resource to be provisioned to the device, otherwise providing a data transmission to the device from the server containing text and a link to the resource that can be extracted by the device. |
| US09210216B2 |
Peer to peer subscription service
Peer-to-peer approaches to servicing subscriptions to information feeds are generally disclosed. Network nodes may exchange information about information feeds that they can provide to other nodes, and other information about information feeds to which they may be interested in subscribing. Any of a variety of techniques may then be applied to allow the nodes to negotiate for feeds to which they may be interested in subscribing. For example, each node may apply algorithms that service feed subscriptions of other nodes on a prioritized basis, prioritized for example based on which other nodes service subscriptions in return. |
| US09210214B2 |
System, method and apparatus for enabling access to applications and interactive services
The invention provides a system, a method and a computer program product that facilitate access to one or more applications by a computing device. The invention includes determining one or more contexts associated with at least one of the computing device and a user of the computing device, such that the one or more contexts describe at least one of an environment and an activity of the at least one of the user and the computing device. Thereafter at least one contextual tag corresponding to the one or more contexts is generated. Subsequently, the one or more applications associated with the at least one contextual tag are identified and the computing device is enabled to access the one or more applications. |
| US09210212B2 |
Method for host preview during a remote desktop session
Updated image views of an actively changing desktop, in a remote desktop session being shared by a Remote Desktop terminal server, are displayed on the host's logon screen. Specifically, a Microsoft Window's based computer (host), which is communicating with a network projector (client) through a remote desktop connection, provides continually updating image views of the desktop being hosted in a remote desktop session onto the host screen such that a user locally positioned near the host may preview the desktop content being provide to, and output by, the remote projector. |
| US09210208B2 |
Monitoring streaming media content
Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to monitor streaming media content are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein to monitor streaming media content comprises extracting metering data having a first format from media content to be provided to a content presentation device via a transport stream, the extracted metering data identifying at least one of the media content or a source of the media content, the extracted metering data not being decodable by a meter associated with the content presentation device, transcoding the extracted metering data to form transcoded metering data having a second format decodable by the meter associated with the content presentation device, and encoding the transcoded metering data into a metadata channel to send the transcoded metering data to the content presentation device, the metadata channel being associated with the transport stream. |
| US09210206B2 |
Messaging to provide data link integrity
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to messaging to provide data link integrity. An embodiment of a method includes transmitting a data stream over a data link from a first device to a second device, the data stream including multiple frames, the data stream being transmitted in a first mode. The method further includes determining a data transmission mode change from the first mode to a second mode for the transmission of the data stream from the first device to the second device, generating mode packets, each mode packet including fields to define a plurality of mode elements, the fields of the mode packet being set to indicate the data transmission mode change, and transmitting the mode packets to the second device prior to implementing the data transmission mode change. |
| US09210205B2 |
System and method for providing streaming data to a mobile device
Various embodiments for a system and method for providing streaming data to a device are provided herein. In one example, a method comprises receiving a request for streaming data from a mobile device, receiving settings with regards to the delivery of the streaming data to the mobile device, retrieving the streaming data from a source of the streaming data, reformatting the streaming data for the mobile device according to the settings and sending the reformatted streaming data to the mobile device in accordance with the settings. |
| US09210204B2 |
Synchronizing media presentation at multiple devices
A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device to perform operations including determining, a first playback latency of a streaming media signal at a first media processor and a second playback latency of the same signal at a second media processor. A coordinated time is determined according to a target latency not less than a greater of the first and second playback latencies. A first buffer, when adjusted by a first buffer value, causes an in-content reference to be encountered at the coordinated time during playback by the first media processor. Likewise, a second buffer, when adjusted by a second buffer value, causes the in-content reference to be encountered at the coordinated time during playback by the second media processor. The suitably adjusted buffers allow playback of the streaming media to be synchronized between the first and second media processors. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09210199B2 |
Inter-unit transfer support using mobile internet protocol
A WTRU may receive a first data flow from a source device such as a correspondence node and perform a seamless IUT such that the correspondent node is unaware that the flow has been transferred to a different WTRU. The WTRU may register with a first home agent, wherein the first home agent receives a plurality of messages addressed for a home address. The home agent may forward the messages to the WTRU at a first care-of-address. The WTRU may send a binding update to the first home agent. The binding update may comprise a second traffic selector and a second action. The second action may specify that a second message of the plurality of messages is to be forwarded to a different WTRU when the second message matches the second traffic selector. |
| US09210198B2 |
Method and apparatus for transferring active communication session streams between devices
Methods and system for routing first communication session data between a first device and at least one participant device via a first communication session are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for routing first communication session data between a first device and at least one participant device includes receiving a request to establish a second communication session with at least one discovered extension device proximate to the first device, routing at least a portion of the communication session data to the discovered extension device via the second communication session and synchronizing the communication session data routed via the first communication session, and the at least a portion of the communication session data routed via the second communication session. |
| US09210197B2 |
Packet-switched network-to-network interconnection interface
An exemplary method includes at least on network element of a first network domain exchanging signaling and media border processing information with at least one network element of a second network domain by way of a secure packet-switched connection, exchanging service policy information with the at least one network element of the second network domain by way of the secure packet-switched connection, peering sessions associated with different service types between the first network domain and the second network domain by way of a packet-switched network-to-network interconnection interface (“NNII”) in accordance with the exchanged signaling and media border processing information, and enforcing different performance threshold specified by the service policy information for peering the sessions associated with the different service types. |
| US09210196B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying an IMS service
A method of indicating the IP Multimedia Subsystem communication service(s) to which a Session Initiation Protocol message relates, the method comprising including one or more communication service identifier(s) in the Session Initiation Protocol message as a Feature Tag of the message. |
| US09210193B2 |
System and method for flexible network access control policies in a network environment
An example method includes capturing session attributes associated with a communication session initiated by a node in a network environment, querying external attributes associated with the node, deriving a response attribute according to an access control policy rule based on at least one of the session attributes and at least one of the external attributes, and applying the response attribute to the communication session. The session attributes can include remote authentication dial in user service RADIUS vendor specific attribute information from an unknown vendor. The method may further include auditing the communication session, enforcing the response attribute, or ignoring the access control policy. Enforcing the response attribute can include taking an access control action according to the response attribute. The access control action may include allowing the node to access a virtual local area network in the network environment, denying access to the network environment, etc. |
| US09210190B1 |
Leveraging digital security using intelligent proxies
A method for protecting data is disclosed that protects not only who may access data but also how it is used. This invention uses an intelligent proxy which controls access to protected data using any of a variety of already existing security measures and is also the only object capable of making use of the data so that the data may not be copied or otherwise used in any manner inconsistent with the design of a data protection scheme chosen to meet security needs. |
| US09210184B2 |
Determining the vulnerability of computer software applications to attacks
Determining the vulnerability of computer software applications to attacks by identifying a defense-related variable within a computer software application that is assigned results of a defense operation defending against a predefined type of attack, identifying a control-flow predicate dominating a security-sensitive operation within the application, identifying a data-flow dependent variable in the application that is data-flow dependent on the defense-related variable, determining whether the control-flow predicate uses the data-flow dependent variable to make a branching decision and whether a control-flow path leading to the security-sensitive operation is taken only if the data-flow dependent variable is compared against a value of a predefined type, determining that the security-sensitive operation is safe from the attack if both control-flow conditions are true, and determining that the application is safe from the attack if all security-sensitive operations in the application are determined to be safe from the attack. |
| US09210183B2 |
Detecting anomalous activity from accounts of an online service
Anomalous activity is detected using event information that is received from accounts from within an online service. Generally, anomalous activity is detected by comparing a baseline profile that includes past event information for accounts of the online service with a recent profile that includes recent event information for the accounts. Anomalous activity is detected when the recent profile shows that one or more events are occurring more frequently as compared to the occurrence of the event the associated baseline profile. The events that are recorded and used in the anomaly detection may include all or a portion of events that are monitored by the online service. One or more reports may also be automatically generated and provided to one or more users to show activity that may be considered anomalous activity. |
| US09210179B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer medium to securely transfer business transactional data between networks having different levels of network protection using barcode technology with data diode network security appliance
Embodiments of computer-implemented methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable medium having one or more computer programs stored therein are provided to transfer contents of transactional data between two or more networks configured to have different levels of network protection using barcode technology with a data diode network security appliance. Generated data barcodes can be decoded to produce contents of transactional data to be transmitted between two or more networks configured to have different levels of network security protection, and decoded contents of the transactional data can then be securely communicated back to the sender for comparison by use of a data diode unit. Generated verification barcodes can then be decoded to produce verification data. Verification data can confirm success of the transmission of contents of the transactional data encoded in the data barcodes. Decoded contents of the transactional data can then be stored responsive to an indication of successful transmission. |
| US09210175B2 |
Internet access authorization and regulation systems and methods for controlled environment of an institutional facility
Access and regulations systems to facilitate safe and secure access of web content by residents of an institutional facility such as a correctional facility includes an administrator workstation to define authorized and prohibited web content, a resident workstation displaying on a predetermined list of web content, and a server receiving and processing the authorized and prohibited web content and requests made by institutional residents. |
| US09210172B2 |
Method and system for establishing a communications pipe between a personal security device and a remote computer system
A method and a system is provided for establishing a communications path over a communications network between a personal security device (PSD) and a remote computer system without requiring the converting of high-level messages such as API-level messages to PSD-formatted messages such as APDU-formatted messages (and inversely) to be installed on a local client device in which the PSD is connected. |
| US09210165B2 |
Confidential information access via social networking web site
A server computing device for a social networking web site receives from a user, via access of the web site, confidential information regarding the user, including information that the user does not socially share on the web site. The device associates the confidential information with a user identifier that uniquely identifies the user on the web site, and with an export group identifier corresponding to a type of the confidential information. The device associates the export group identifier with a password different from a user password the user employs to access the web site. The device receives, from a third party, a purported user identifier, a purported export group identifier, and a purported password, which the device validates against the user identifier, the export group identifier, and the password. Where validation is successful, the device permits access to the confidential information by the third party. |
| US09210158B2 |
Method and system for obtaining application information of multiple websites
The present disclosure describes a method and an apparatus for obtaining application information of multiple websites. A corresponding relationship between a main account and multiple pieces of association information is saved in advance. Each piece of association information comprises application authorization information and authentication information of a third-party website. A login request carrying the main account transmitted by a user is received and authenticated. After the user logs in, the multiple pieces of association information is obtained from the corresponding relationship according to the main account carried in the login request. An application information obtaining request is transmitted to multiple third-party websites corresponding to the multiple pieces of association information. A requested result of the application information obtaining request is returned to the user. |
| US09210156B1 |
Systems and methods for multi-stage identity authentication
Certain implementations of the disclosed technology may include systems and methods for multi-stage identity authentication. A method is provided that includes receiving a set of identity information associated with a subject and querying one or more public or private databases with at least a portion of the set of identity information. The method includes receiving independent information responsive to the querying. The method includes determining zero or more first indicators of fraud risk and producing one or more identity proofing queries derived from the independent information. Based at least in part on a comparison of the one or more proofing queries and a query response, the method includes determining zero or more second indicators of fraud risk and evaluating a fraud score. Responsive to evaluating the fraud score, the method includes initiating one or more of authentication enrollment and multi-factor authentication of the subject. |
| US09210155B2 |
System and method of extending a host website
Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system for providing access control. The system may include an extension module for extending a host website; and a marketplace server that is configured to: receive a request to access the extension module from a browsing device, the browsing device is for maintaining a browsing session with the host website, and the extension module is for exchanging data with the host website; generate a first authorization token that is associated with the browsing session; and send, to the browsing device, the first authorization token. The extension module may be configured to receive a second authorization token from the browsing device. One of the extension module or the marketplace server may then be further configured to: verify that the second authorization token matches the first authorization token; and if verification is successful, the extension module can be allowed to exchange data with the host website and communicate with the browsing device. |
| US09210152B2 |
Method for detecting smart key around vehicle
A method for detecting a smart key around a vehicle includes: searching a smart key around a vehicle by emitting a registration request message at each preset emission period; when a response message to the registration request message is received from the smart key, checking whether or not the reception of the response message is maintained during a predetermined time; when the reception of the response message is maintained during the predetermined time, emitting an authentication request message containing encryption information for authenticating the smart key; and when an authentication message to the authentication request message is received from the smart key, authenticating the smart key based on the authentication message. |
| US09210151B1 |
Method, system and computer program product for the authentication of multiple users in a common session
A first information handling system O(“IHS”) receives identification information of a first user of a second IHS. The first IHS initiates a network session in response to authenticating the identification information of the first user. Within the network session, the first IHS receives identification information of a second user of the second IHS. The first IHS authenticates the identification information of the second user. |
| US09210149B2 |
Method for publicly providing protected electronic documents
The invention relates to a method for publicly providing protected electronic documents, wherein a first user, after a user authentication process, transmits a private electronic document from a data terminal via a communications network to a private storage medium of a data processing device and stores the document on said medium. Thereafter, an analysis and comparison module is activated, which analyzes and compares the private electronic document to the public electronic documents in a public storage medium, and when a second user accesses the private electronic document of the first user, a public electronic document from the public storage medium is provided by the authentication and access control module instead of the private electronic document. |
| US09210148B2 |
Trusted application migration across computer nodes
An embodiment includes a secure and stable method for sending information across a compute continuum. For example, the method may include executing an application (e.g., video player) on a first node (e.g., tablet) with a desire to perform “context migration” to a second node (e.g., desktop). This may allow a user to watch a movie on the tablet, stop watching the movie, and then resume watching the movie from the desktop. To do so in a secure and stable manner, the first node may request security and performance credentials from the second node. If both credential sets satisfy thresholds, the first node may transfer content (e.g., encrypted copy of a movie) and state information (e.g., placeholder indicating where the movie was when context transfer began). The second node may then allow the user to resume his or her movie watching from the desktop. Other embodiments are described herein. |
| US09210147B1 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product for assessing risk associated with authentication requests
There is disclosed a technique for use in providing an assessment of authentication requests. In one embodiment, the technique comprises receiving an authentication request with post-authentication feedback and an authentication request with no post-authentication feedback. In the same embodiment, the post-authentication feedback can include a marking indicating that the request is one of a genuine or fraudulent status after review by an analyst. If a request does not possess a post-authentication feedback then it is considered genuine status. The technique can then assign the status of the requests to a distinctive attribute associated with the requests before performing a computation which produces a computational result that is indicative of the risk associated with the distinctive attribute. |
| US09210146B2 |
Secure content transfer using dynamically generated optical machine readable codes
Technologies are generally described for peer-to-peer or peer-to-server-to-peer communication systems based on mobile devices, servers, and personal computers, which utilize proximity communication and optical codes such as two-dimensional barcodes, in order to securely initiate and authorize digital data, file, and multimedia transfers, as well as digital financial transactions. |
| US09210144B2 |
System and method of authentication
In a particular embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a set-top box from a server, a temporary authentication token that enables access to an account accessible by one or more devices. The temporary authentication token is generated after validation by the server of a particular authentication token received at the server from a first device. The first device is distinct from the set-top box. The method further includes initiating, at the set-top box, presentation of the temporary authentication token. |
| US09210134B2 |
Cryptographic processing method and system using a sensitive data item
A cryptographic processing method using a sensitive data item in a cryptographic processing system including in memory a test making it possible to tell a human and a computer apart and a reference value obtained by applying a cryptographic function to a pair of values P and R, where P is the sensitive data item and R is a solution to the memorized test, the method including the steps of: configuring the cryptographic processing system, including obtaining and memorizing the reference value in the cryptographic system; transmitting the memorized test to a user; obtaining the user's response to the transmitted test; a cryptographic processing step based on the sensitive data item, using the obtained response, the reference value and the cryptographic function. The reference value and memorized test are in the memory of the system and the solution is not in the memory of the system, during the transmission step. |
| US09210131B2 |
Aggressive rehandshakes on unknown session identifiers for split SSL
A traffic management device (TMD), system, and processor-readable storage medium are directed to monitoring an encrypted session between a client and a server, determining that the session identifier is unknown, and requesting a renegotiation of the session to acquire a session identifier for the renegotiated session. Determination that the session identifier is unknown may be based on interception and analysis of handshake messages sent by the client and/or the server. Following such determination, a renegotiation of the encrypted session may be triggered by sending a renegotiation request to the client, and a session identifier for the renegotiated session may be determined based on information extracted from subsequent handshake messages exchanged between the client and server during the renegotiation. Determination of the session identifier may enable decryption, encryption and modification of subsequent communications traffic, for example insertion of third party content into traffic sent to the client. |
| US09210128B2 |
Filtering of applications for access to an enterprise network
A computer-readable storage medium has embedded thereon non-transient computer-readable code for controlling access to a protected computer network, by intercepting packets that are being exchanged between a computer system and the protected network, and then, for each intercepted packet, identifying the associated application that is running on the computer system, determining whether the application is trusted, for example according to a white list or according to a black list, and disposing of the packet accordingly. |
| US09210127B2 |
System and method for limiting data leakage
System and methods for connection processing with limited data leakage. The system records state associated with a connection request in a connection state engine, records state associated with a connection acknowledgement in the connection state engine, stores data sent after the connection acknowledgement in a buffer and determines, without a proxy, whether to allow or deny a connection as a function of the data stored in the buffer. |
| US09210123B2 |
Private multimedia contents broadcasting equipment which uses ISM radio frequency band or U-NII 5GHz radio frequency band, private multimedia contents broadcasting system and method thereof
An individual multimedia contents broadcasting equipment is disclosed, which includes an individual broadcast process unit which provides a private IP through a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) to a receiving terminal, which requests a connection, and makes a connection of the receiving terminal through a radio network, and transmits a broadcast content to the connected receiving terminal; and a radio communication unit which forms a radio network and communicates data with the connected receiving terminal through the radio network. |
| US09210114B1 |
Automated delayed message redelivery
Method and system are disclosed for redelivering failed messages in asynchronous communication systems. The methods and systems automatically delay redelivery of such failed messages in order to allow required system resources to become available. In one implementation, the methods and systems provide two levels of redelivery: a micro level in which redelivery is attempted right away for a certain number of times, and a macro level in which a predefined, user-selectable delay is imposed before any additional micro level redeliveries are attempted. After a certain number of unsuccessful macro level redeliveries, the message is backed out to a backout queue for manual intervention by a system operator. Such an arrangement reduces or eliminates the burden on the system operator to manually resolve failed message deliveries. |
| US09210113B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for automatically unsuppressing threads
A method, system and apparatus for automatically unsuppressing threads are provided. A message associated with a suppressed thread is received, using a communication interface of device. The suppressed thread is automatically unsuppressed by a processor of the device when one or more of: the message is from a contact that is flagged in a contact list; and, the contact that is flagged in the contact list has been added as a recipient of the message as compared to at least a last message in the suppressed thread. |
| US09210111B2 |
Stopping and remediating outbound messaging abuse
Systems and methods are provided for allowing subscriber message sending profiles to be maintained and used in conjunction with behavior-based anomaly detection techniques and traditional content-based spam signature filtering to enable application of appropriate message disposition policies to outbound subscriber message traffic. According to one embodiment, subscriber profiles are constructed for multiple subscriber accounts associated with a service provider based on outbound message flow originated from the subscriber accounts. Then, possible subscriber account misuse may be discovered by performing behavior-based anomaly detection, including a comparison of a subscriber profile associated with the subscriber account with recent subscriber account usage information, to identify one or more behavioral anomalies in outbound message flow originated from a subscriber account, the behavior-based anomaly detection. |
| US09210110B2 |
Predictive messaging service for active voice calls
Concepts and technologies disclosed herein are for a predictive messaging service for active voice calls. A method for predictive messaging may include receiving, at a predictive messaging system, incoming audio associated with an active voice call, converting the audio into text, analyzing the text to predict a message that a user participating in the active voice call is expected to send, creating the message, and sending the message to a network element for delivery to a destination. |
| US09210108B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer program products for automatic mapping between Parlay-X short messaging service message element XML encoding and native SMPP protocol data coding scheme
Systems, methods, and computer program products are for mapping an extensible markup language (XML) encoding declarations to a short message peer-to-peer (SMPP) data coding scheme (DCS) for a mobile-terminated (MT) short messaging service (SMS). An exemplary method includes receiving a message from a short message entity (SME) for delivery to a mobile device. The message includes a payload with at least one character encoded in accordance with a first character encoding scheme. The exemplary method further includes receiving from the SME a second encoding scheme for the message, implementing a mapping table to map the first character encoding scheme to the second character encoding scheme, and performing an encoding transformation of the message from the first character encoding to the second character encoding scheme yielding a modified message comprising the payload of the message encoded in the second character encoding scheme as specified by the SME. |
| US09210107B2 |
Method and apparatus for adjusting a rate at which data is transferred, within a network device, from a media access controller to a memory connected between the media access controller and a physical-layer device
A first network device includes a host and a memory. A media access controller receives data from the host and stores the data in the memory at a first rate. A physical-layer device receives the data from the memory and transmits the data from the first network device to a second network device. The memory is connected between the media access controller and the physical-layer device. An amount of the data stored in the memory is based on the first rate and a second rate at which the physical-layer device transfers the data from the memory to the second network device. The first rate is greater than the second rate. A control circuit, based on an amount of the data stored in the memory, transmits a first frame to the media access controller. The media access controller, in response to the first frame, decreases the first rate. |
| US09210103B1 |
Policy control list keys for network devices
A packet is received at an ingress port of a network device. A set of user defined bytes corresponding to the packet are populated with data included in or associated with the packet. One or more user defined bytes are selected, from the set of user defined bytes, to be used in a key for the packet. An ordering of the selected user defined bytes to be used for generating the key is specified. The key is generated using the selected user defined bytes and according to the ordering of the selected user defined bytes specified for the key. A processing action for the packet is determined based on the key. The network device processes the packet using the processing action. |
| US09210099B2 |
Optimizing resource configurations
Systems and methods for monitoring the performance associated with fulfilling resource requests and determining optimizations for improving such performance are provided. A processing device obtains and processes performance metric information associated with processing a request corresponding to a set of resources. The processing device uses the processed performance metric information to determine a resource configuration to be associated with the set of resources. In some embodiments, in making such a determination, the processing device assesses performance metric information collected and associated with subsequent requests corresponding to the content associated with the set of resources and using each of a variety of alternative resource configurations. The processing device may also consider a number of factors. Aspects of systems and methods for generating recommendations to use a particular resource configuration to process a subsequent request corresponding to the content associated with the set of resources are also provided. |
| US09210095B2 |
Arbitration of multiple-thousands of flows for convergence enhanced ethernet
In one embodiment, a system includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being adapted to: receive a plurality of flows, each flow comprising packets of data, assign a service credit to each of the plurality of flows, assign a weight parameter to each of the plurality of flows, select a flow from a head of a first control queue unless the first control queue is empty or there is indication that the first control queue should be avoided, wherein a flow is selected from a head of a second control queue when the first control queue is empty or there is indication that the first control queue should be avoided, provide a number of units of service to the selected flow, and decrease the selected flow's service credit by an amount corresponding to the number of units of service provided thereto. |
| US09210094B1 |
Utilization of TCP segmentation offload with jumbo and non-jumbo networks
A traffic management device (TMD) is situated between a one or more network devices providing jumbo network traffic and one or more device providing non-jumbo network traffic. The TMD is configured to employ TCP segmentation offload hardware within a Network Interface Card (NIC) at the level two/four layers of the OSI stack by rewriting maximum segment size (MSS) information during initial handshake operations, such that jumbo frames may be split into digestible size frames for a non-jumbo network communications. |
| US09210092B2 |
Apparatus and method for moving a receive window in a radio access network
A method of moving a receiving window in a wireless mobile communication system, wherein the AM RLC of the transmitting side sends information of the last discarded SDU regardless of continuity of the discarded SDUs. The AM RLC of the receiving side checks whether all SDUs from the start point of the receiving window up to the last discarded SDU are successfully received, delivers the SDUs that are successfully received to an upper layer, and discard only those SDUs that are not successfully received. |
| US09210091B2 |
System and methods for distributed output packet metering using input lookups
System and methods for metering output packet traffic at network devices. Ingress packet lookups are employed in combination with egress packet meters, which can be arranged in parallel fashion, and used to meter traffic across multiple blades of a switch chassis. Also, egress packet traffic metering is accomplished while matching complex ingress rules without additional egress packet processing. The system has a first node for creating requests that contain a number of filter indicies for specifying packet forwarding criteria. The first node also specifies values for the filter and meter indicies based on a packet to be forwarded. The system also has a second node coupled to the first node and to a number of ports. The second node has at least one table for specifying which of the ports are to receive the packet based on the filter values, and at least one table for accounting for egress traffic bandwidth. |
| US09210085B2 |
Peer-to-peer streaming of non-live content
A Peer-to-Peer protocol such as BitTorrent is used to assist streaming. Peers download streaming content from the P2P network while simultaneously playing the downloaded content. As the stream plays, an end system downloads any missing pieces directly from a server or other infrastructure node. This method roughly squares server capacity and can be refined to require on average 0(1) servers regardless of the number of concurrent users. Thus BitTorrent assisted streaming scales better than traditional server-client and other infrastructure-only solutions, each of which requires a number of infrastructure nodes that scale linearly as a function of the number of users. Unlike End-System-Multicast, BitTorrent assisted streaming does not subject users to the vagaries of intermediate unreliable, potentially bandwidth-constrained end-systems; the departure of any single end-system has minimal impact on overall performance; and BitTorrent has a well-crafted incentive mechanism for encouraging users to contribute their upstream capacity. |
| US09210084B2 |
Systems and methods for optimized route caching
A method for optimized route caching includes comparing a destination address of a network packet to a first set of prefixes in a routing cache, and comparing the destination address to a second set of prefixes in a full routing table when a longest matching prefix for the destination address is not found in the routing cache. The method further includes copying the longest matching prefix and a set of sub-prefixes of the longest matching prefix from the full routing table to the routing cache, and forwarding the network packet. |
| US09210083B2 |
Sliced routing table management with replication
Techniques are provided for hash-based routing table management in a distributed network switch. A frame having a source address and a destination address is received by a switch module having bridge elements and a routing table divided into slices of buckets, each slice having a respective property and including one or more buckets. If a routing entry for the source address is found in a first slice of a first set of buckets of the routing table responsive to a lookup request for the source address, and the property of the first slice satisfies a replication condition, then the routing entry is replicated to a second set of buckets of the routing table. |
| US09210078B2 |
Predictive internet traffic steering
An Internet steering gateway includes a deep packet inspection (DPI) utility for ascertaining an indication of a destination remote application server (RAS) from a first packet of a data session, an RAS database to at least store an optimization profile for each of a multiplicity of the RASs, and a steering utility to steer the data session to one of at least one external optimization platform (EOP) and a RAS as per the optimization profile associated with the indication. A method for optimizing network service delivery, includes inspecting a first packet of a data session with a deep packet inspection (DPI) utility, identifying a destination address for an RAS from the first packet, looking up the RAS in a RAS database as per the destination address; and for a the RAS found in the RAS database, steering the data session in accordance with a profile associated with the RAS. |
| US09210076B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing data of mobile terminal
A method of processing data of a terminal device is provided. The method includes processing selected cloud data, requesting a download of the selected cloud data when selecting a function menu while processing the selected cloud data, downloading the cloud data, and automatically setting the downloaded cloud data as data of the selected function. |
| US09210075B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing end-to-end consistency of bi-directional MPLS-TP tunnels via in-band communication channel (G-ACH) protocol
A source node encapsulates, in a data plane protocol packet, a forward tunnel control message according to a control plane protocol and having an Extended Association Object, and forwards the data plane protocol packet from a source node to a destination node, through a data plane channel. The destination node extracts the Extended Association Object from the data plane protocol packet. Based, at least in part, on the extracted Extended Association Object, the destination node provisions a reverse tunnel from the destination node to the source node, and binds the forward tunnel to the reverse tunnel. |
| US09210073B2 |
System and method for message routing in a network
A system and method for message routing in a computer network. The present system establishes a routing layer between the network and transport layers in a network, for communicating routing information between end-points in the network. A route management connection for communicating route management information between two ports in the network is established between pseudo end-points in the network. A route and route set are established between end-points in the network, where the route set provides a relationship between two end-point incarnations that indicates the existence of at least one route between the end-points. A route set management connection is established between the end-points for managing connections that are established on the route set. A route between the end points is selected using a route in the route set, and an application connection is established between two applications running on respective end-points in the network, using the route set and the route set management connection. |
| US09210072B2 |
Processing of multicast traffic in computer networks
Each router in a group of routers (110R.2, 110R.3) includes an interface (P4) assigned a common virtual address for multicast (VAM). The common VAM is advertised in router advertisings for multicast traffic; other addresses are advertised for unicast. The member routers in the group share multicast forwarding databases. Increased throughput is therefore provided for multicast traffic without traffic replication. Any router in the group can service requests from end-point sources and receivers of multicast traffic, e.g. requests to join or leave a multicast group, or requests presented as multicast packets for forwarding to a multicast group. |
| US09210071B2 |
Automated traffic engineering for fat tree networks
Embodiments of a method implemented in at least one fat tree network node for improved load distribution, wherein the node is one of a plurality of fat tree network nodes in a fat tree network each of which implement a tie-breaking process to produce minimum cost trees, is described. In some embodiments, a spanning tree computation for each root node of the fat tree network in order from a lowest ranked root node to a highest ranked node is performed, a filtering database for each root node of the fat tree network, wherein the filtering database includes a set of media access control (MAC) addresses of the leaf nodes of the fat tree network generated, and link utilization for each computed tree to use as a prefix to link identifiers used for at least one tie-breaking algorithm added. |
| US09210066B2 |
Routing method, apparatus and system
A routing method and apparatus are provided. The routing method includes the following steps: sending a probe frame that carries an address of a destination node to a neighboring node(s); receiving a response message returned; selecting one neighboring node from the neighboring node(s) that returns the response message as a next-hop node to which data is sent. A neighboring node with a cost parameter which is lower than a cost parameter in a routing table of the destination node is selected as the next-hop node. In the routing method, when a routing node forwards data, the route is found in real time by broadcasting a probe frame, and data may be sent as long as any one of the neighboring nodes that may arrive at the destination node is in an active state, and thus a data transmission delay is shortened. |
| US09210064B2 |
Measuring latency over a network
A method of transmitting data over a network, wherein data is transmitted in packets from a first station to a second station, data is transmitted in packets from said second station to said first station, a first data packet transmitted from said first station is modified to measure connection latency, said modified first data packet is identified by said second station and a second data packet sent from said second station to said first station is also modified, and connection latency is determined at said first station with reference to (a) the time at which said first station transmitted said first modified packet, and (b) the time at which said second modified packet was received. |
| US09210063B2 |
Bandwidth policing apparatus and packet relay apparatus
In a packet relay apparatus or bandwidth policing apparatus, when the bandwidth of a flow having a function to respond to a congestion notification surpasses a first threshold, a congestion notification is given to rewrite a value representing the congestion state of the network out of the packet headers of the packet received by the apparatus. The packet is dropped if the bandwidth of the flow surpasses a second threshold higher than the first threshold. One of the following, including packet drop, rewriting the value representing the priority level in the network out of the packet headers and altering the priority level in the apparatus is imposed on the packet when the bandwidth of the flows surpasses a second threshold higher than the first threshold. |
| US09210062B2 |
Systems and methods for probing wired communication
Various systems and methods for probing a communication channel. These systems and methods transmit an error vector probe packet from a first transmitter while a second transmitter is active and transmitting. A network device may receive the error vector probe packet and measure an error vector magnitude based on the received error vector probe packet. Using the error vector magnitude, the network device estimates channel characteristics such as signal-to-noise ratio, data capacity, etc. The transmission can occur when more than one transmitter is active and transmitting. At least some of the other transmitters are active and transmit an analog zero signal, e.g., all digital zeros on the input to the digital-to-analog converter of a network device when an error vector probe packet is transmitted. |
| US09210057B2 |
Cross-cutting event correlation
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for cross-cutting event correlation in an enterprise computing monitoring and management system. An enterprise computing monitoring and management system can include a hierarchy of nodes, where several of the nodes are each coupled to a corresponding embedded correlation engine and an event bus. The system further can include a root node among the nodes. The root node can be coupled to the event bus and to centralized correlation logic programmed to identify a high correspondence between events from a particular event source among the nodes and a particular set of correlation rules in that correlation engine. The identification of such correspondence can be used to move to the set of correlation rules to an embedded correlation engine closer to the particular event source. |
| US09210056B1 |
Service monitoring interface
One or more processing devices cause display of a service-monitoring page having a services summary region and a services aspects region. The services summary region contains an ordered plurality of interactive summary tiles, each summary tile corresponding to a respective service and providing a character or graphical representation of at least one value for an aggregate key performance indicator (KPI) characterizing the respective service as a whole. The services aspects region contains an ordered plurality of interactive aspect tiles, each aspect tile corresponding to a respective aspect KPI and providing a character or graphical representation of one or more values for the respective aspect KPI, each aspect KPI having an associated service and typifying performance for an aspect of the associated service. Each KPI is associated with a service having a service definition, each service definition has one or more entity definitions, each entity definition having information to identity machine data related to the entity, each KPI has a definition including a search query that produces a value derived from machine data identified using one or more of the entity definitions included in the service definition, and each value is indicative of how the service in whole or part is performing at a point in time or during a period of time. |
| US09210055B2 |
Device and method for computation of channel loss rate and collision loss rate of communication link(s) in a random access network
A method is intended for computing online channel loss rate and collision loss rate of at least one communication link established between nodes (N1, N2) of a network (WN) using a random access MAC protocol. This method comprises the steps of i) dividing time in probing windows and transmitting a chosen number S of probe packets during each probing window from a transmitter node (N1) to a receiver node (N2) linked therebetween, ii) measuring a packet loss rate from probe packets lost on this communication link during a probing window, iii) scanning each probing window with smaller sliding windows, each having a size Wk smaller than S, to identify the sliding window during which only channel losses occur, and then for computing a channel loss rate on this communication link from this identified sliding window, and iv) computing a collision loss rate on this communication link by subtracting the computed channel loss rate from the measured packet loss rate. |
| US09210049B2 |
Intelligent infrastructure management user device
An infrastructure management device comprises a processor configured to obtain port status and networking device status for each of one or more physicals networking devices in a system. The device also comprises a display unit coupled to the processor and configured to display one or more virtual networking devices, and a user input element configured to provide user input to the processor. The port status indicates that a cable is inserted into the first port and the processor obtains cable data identifying one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port. The processor is configured to compare the one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port with one or more characteristics defined in the work order. The processor is configured to provide a notification to a user indicating whether the one or more characteristics of the inserted cable comply with the work order. |
| US09210048B1 |
Clustered dispersion of resource use in shared computing environments
Host machines and other devices performing synchronized operations can be dispersed across multiple racks in a data center to provide additional buffer capacity and to reduce the likelihood of congestion. The level of dispersion can depend on factors such as the level of oversubscription, as it can be undesirable in a highly connected network to push excessive host traffic into the aggregation fabric. As oversubscription levels increase, the amount of dispersion can be reduced and two or more host machines can be clustered on a given rack, or otherwise connected through the same edge switch. By clustering a portion of the machines, some of the host traffic can be redirected by the respective edge switch without entering the aggregation fabric. When provisioning hosts for a customer, application, or synchronized operation, for example, the levels of clustering and dispersion can be balanced to minimize the likelihood for congestion throughout the network. |
| US09210045B2 |
Gravitational parent selection in directed acyclic graphs
In one embodiment, a particular node in a computer network receives an indication of a number of child nodes of one or more potential parent nodes to the particular node in a primary directed acyclic graph (DAG). From this, the particular node selects a particular potential parent node with the highest number of child nodes as a secondary DAG parent for the particular node, and joins the secondary DAG at the selected secondary DAG parent (e.g., for multicast and/or broadcast message distribution). This may recursively continue, such that nodes gravitate toward parents with more children, potentially allowing parents with fewer children to relinquish their parental responsibilities. |
| US09210042B2 |
Method and system for optimizing network performances
A method for optimizing network performances, wherein the network includes one or more network nodes (1), performance parameters of the network nodes (1) being controlled by element of dedicated optimization modules (3), wherein each optimization module (3) monitors at least one performance parameter of the network node (1) to which the optimization module (3) is associated and generates a change request for the current value of the performance parameter on the basis of preset rules, is characterized in that the change requests generated by different optimization modules (3) of the network node (1) are forwarded to a shared controlling element (2), wherein the shared controlling element (2) enforces a coordination of the received change requests on the basis of a configurable algorithm. Furthermore, a corresponding system is disclosed. |
| US09210039B2 |
Generating and/or receiving at least one packet to facilitate, at least in part, network path establishment
An embodiment may include circuitry to be included, at least in part, in at least one node in a network. The circuitry may generate, at least in part, and/or receive, at least in part, at least one packet. The packet may be received, at least in part, by at least one switch node in the network. The switch node may designate, in response at least in part to the packet, at least one port of the switch node to be used to facilitate, at least in part, establishment, at least in part, of at least one path for propagation of at least one flow between at least two other nodes in the network. The packet may be generated based at least in part upon (1) at least one application classification, (2) at least one allocation request, and (3) network resource availability information. |
| US09210038B1 |
Determining locations of network failures
Generally described, systems and methods are provided for detecting locations of failures of network paths. The system collects information from a plurality of nodes and links in a network, aggregates the collected performance information across paths in the network, processes the aggregated performance information for detecting failures on the paths, and determines at least one location for network failures. In some aspects, processing the aggregated information may include determining the performance information on each of the nodes and links in the network. The performance information on each of the nodes and links may be determined by application and optimization of an objective function. |
| US09210035B2 |
System, servers, methods and computer programs for machine-to-machine equipment management
It is presented a method for machine-to-machine equipment management, executed in a subscription server arranged to provide an electronically transferable subscriber identity module. The method comprises the steps of: receiving a request for the electronically transferable subscriber identity module for a machine-to-machine equipment; obtaining a location rule; obtaining a calculated authorized area based on the location rule and a position of the machine-to-machine equipment; generating an electronically transferable subscriber identity module; sending the electronically transferable subscriber identity module to the machine-to-machine equipment; obtaining a position of the machine-to-machine equipment; determining whether the position indicates that the machine-to-machine equipment is outside of the calculated authorized area; and when the position indicates that the machine-to-machine equipment is outside of the calculated authorized area, restricting operation of the machine-to-machine equipment. It is also presented a corresponding system, subscription server, registration server, methods, computer programs and computer program products. |
| US09210034B2 |
Client addressing and roaming in a wireless network
A managed network receives client device requests for network addresses for communications over the managed network and computes a network address for a client device based on a hardware address of the client device, such as the MAC address of the client device, and returns the network address to the client device along with a predetermined gateway address for communications over the managed network with external networks. The MAC address is hashed to the network address that is assigned such that the client address will always receive the same network address whenever it accesses the managed network. |
| US09210022B2 |
Apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals, apparatus for receiving broadcast, signals, method for transmitting broadcast signals and method for receiving broadcast signals
A method and an apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals thereof are disclosed. The apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals comprises an encoder encoding service data, a time interleaver interleaving the encoded service data, a mapper mapping the interleaved service data into a plurality of OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) symbols to build at least one signal frame, a frequency interleaver interleaving data in the at least one signal frame by using a different interleaving-seed which is used for every OFDM symbol pair comprised of two sequential OFDM symbols, wherein the frequency interleaver calculates an interleaving address for the different interleaving-seed based on a main-PRBS sequence and a cyclic shifting value, a modulator modulating the frequency interleaved data by an OFDM scheme and a transmitter transmitting the broadcast signals having the modulated data, wherein an interleaving-seed is generated based on a cyclic shift value and an FFT size of the modulating. |
| US09210019B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting preamble in a wireless communication system
An apparatus and method for reducing a Peak to Average Power Ratio (PAPR) of a Secondary Advanced (SA) preamble in a wireless communication system are provided. A method for transmitting an SA preamble includes determining an SA preamble, constructed in a unit of subblocks, according to a frequency band to be used for transmitting information, determining a sequence for reducing a PAPR of the SA preamble in consideration of at least one of a frequency band, a segment IDentifier (ID), and the number of antennas transmitting the SA preamble, updating the SA preamble using the determined sequence, and transmitting the updated SA preamble to a receive end. |
| US09210018B2 |
Slicer for dynamically modulated symbols
Receivers designed to reduce decision based filter error propagation by feedback from PCS to slicer. One embodiment includes a slicer, a physical coding sublayer (PCS), and a decision based filter (DBF). The frames include symbols of at least two different modulation orders. The slicer has slicing functions suitable for the different modulations and feeds the PCS with the slicing results. The PCS identifies frame boundaries and modulation information, which are modulated according to a predetermined modulation order, uses the identified modulation information to determine the modulation of a nonempty set of dynamically modulated symbols in each frame, and provides the slicer with an indication of which slicer function output to use to feed the DBF. |
| US09210017B2 |
Reception device, reception method, and program
There is provided a reception device including a reception unit configured to receive an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) signal, an acquisition unit configured to acquire a transmission parameter concerning the OFDM signal contained in the OFDM signal, and a selection unit configured to select a demodulation mode of the OFDM signal in accordance with the acquired transmission parameter. |
| US09210014B2 |
Cross-polar interference cancellation system, wireless station device, wireless communication method
A wireless station device determines whether a carrier to noise ratio of a vertical polarization wave is lower than a first threshold value, determines that a present modulation method for the vertical polarization wave is to be changed to another modulation method having a small multilevel number when the carrier to noise ratio of the vertical polarization wave is lower than the first threshold value, and transmits modulation method information to the facing wireless station device. Further, the facing wireless station device transmits a radio signal to the wireless station device using the modulation method indicated by the received modulation method information for the vertical polarization wave. |
| US09210009B2 |
Digital pre-distortion filter system and method
A digital predistorter for improving the performance of a narrow passband filter near the output is disclosed. The digital predistorter provides amplitude correction to the signal based on the characteristics of the passband filter. A filter group delay predistorter may also be employed to correct group delay variation introduced by the narrow passband filter. |
| US09210002B2 |
Transmitter, receiver, and controlling method thereof
A receiver of a signal frame such as T2 frame used in a DVB-T2 system is provided. The receiver includes: a receiving unit configured to receive a frame including a preamble symbol in which a pseudo random noise (PN) sequence is inserted; a PN sequence detector configured to detect the PN sequence from the received frame; a controller configured to measure a start point of the preamble symbol and frequency offset of the PN sequence inserted in the preamble symbol, based on the detected PN sequence; and a preamble symbol detector configured to detect the preamble symbol according to the measured start point of the preamble symbol and the measured frequency offset of the PN sequence. Therefore, the receiver accurately measures the start point of the preamble symbol and the frequency offset and estimates a channel based on the PN sequence inserted in the preamble symbol. |
| US09209999B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for associating sessions
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, an apparatus, and a system for associating sessions, which relate to the communications technology field, and are used to solve the problem where policy control sessions cannot be correctly associated when an access network is connected to a core network through a secure gateway ePDG. The method for associating sessions in an embodiment of the present invention includes: receiving a first policy control session establishment request or a first policy control session modification request that carries a local address of a user equipment; and associating the first policy control session and a second policy control session corresponding to the first policy control session according to the local address of the user equipment; where, the local address is allocated by a non-3GPP access network. |
| US09209993B2 |
Cooperative session-based filtering
Various embodiments provide session-based filtering to filter messages in a cooperative manner between a client and a service provider. In at least some embodiments, a service provider can establish a messaging session with a client and deliver messages to the client. The client can implement various client-side techniques to filter some of the messages based on various client designated criteria. The service provider can obtain feedback from the client indicative of one or more of the delivered messages that have been filtered. The service provider can dynamically create a session-based list based on the feedback and use the list during the session to block messages on the server-side according to the client designated criteria. When the session concludes, the session-based list can be discarded. In this manner, message filtering can occur without persistent storage of state data for the filtering at the service provider. |
| US09209991B1 |
Ad hoc networking
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to ad hoc networking. An embodiment includes computing a routing score for a source node based on at least hardware capabilities of the source node, applications available to the source node, and networking capabilities of the source node. The embodiment further includes receiving at the source node, one or more routing scores from intermediate nodes directly or indirectly connected to the source node, and sending the data to the destination node based on at least the routing scores received from each intermediate node and one or more route paths associated with each intermediate node. |
| US09209989B2 |
Causation of a data read operation against a first storage system by a server associated with a second storage system according to a host generated instruction
Methods and systems of causation of a data read operation against a first storage system by a server associated with a second storage system according to a host generated instruction are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method of causing a data read operation against a first storage system, the data read operation performed by a server associated with a second storage system according to a machine-readable instruction generated by a host directly associated with the first storage system. The method further includes saving data from the host to the first storage system, creating a record of at least one data write comprising the data saved to the first storage system, and using a variable contained in the record to process a mapping scheme resulting in knowledge of at least one physical offset in the first storage system to receive the at least one data write. |
| US09209986B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting multimedia broadcast data in wireless communication system
A base station and method for use in a wireless system are provided. The method includes receiving, by a base station, one or more service data units (SDUs) from a core network node; receiving, by the base station, a control message including respective length information of the one or more SDUs from the core network node; identifying, by the base station, consecutive SDUs are not received; and muting, by the base station, one or more subframes impacted by a loss of the consecutive SDUs based on the length information included in the control message. The control message is transmitted after the one or more SDUs are transmitted from the core network node. |
| US09209980B2 |
Provisioning a shared secret to a portable electronic device and to a service entity
Systems and methods are provided for computing a secret shared with a portable electronic device and service entity. The service entity has a public key G and a private key g. A message comprising the public key G is broadcast to the portable electronic device. A public key B of the portable electronic device is obtained from a manufacturing server and used together with the private key g to compute the shared secret. The portable electronic device receives the broadcast message and computes the shared secret as a function of the public key G and the portable electronic device's private key b. The shared secret can be used to establish a trusted relationship between the portable electronic device and the service entity, to activate a service on the portable electronic device, and to generate certificates. |
| US09209975B2 |
Secure access of electronic documents and data from client terminal
An improved approach for secure access of electronic documents and data is provided. |
| US09209974B1 |
Functional encryption key management
Functional encryption keys can be selected based on a set of criteria that facilitates efficient decryption of ciphertexts. The method includes electronically storing one or more decryption key metadata parameters for a plurality of candidate decryption keys for a functional encryption ciphertext, storing a functional encryption ciphertext, extracting a scheme type of functional input from the ciphertext, extracting a functional input from the ciphertext, searching the metadata parameters to identify a set of candidate keys matching the scheme type of the ciphertext, searching the set of candidate keys to identify a key matching the extracted functional input, and selecting one of the identified candidate keys matching the scheme type and the extracted functional input as a decryption key for the functional encryption ciphertext. |
| US09209962B1 |
High-speed clock skew correction for serdes receivers
The present invention is directed to data communication. More specifically, the present invention provides a mechanism for determining an adjustment delay that minimizes skew error due to poor alignment between edge samples and data samples. The adjustment delay is determined by sampling edge samples and data samples using different test delays at a calibration frequency that is different from the sampling frequency. The test delay associated with the least average position between the data samples and edge samples is selected as the adjustment delay. The adjustment delay is used as a parameter when sampling data at the sampling frequency. There are other embodiments as well. |
| US09209960B1 |
Fast locking CDR for burst mode
A method relates generally to a receiver. In such a method, a check of a clock and data recovery block of the receiver for a metastable state is performed. A phase input to a phase interpolator of the receiver is changed to cause the clock and data recovery block of the receiver to exit the metastable state within a time limit. To check for the metastable state, a phase difference in received data is determined, and the phase difference is determined to be less than a threshold for the clock and data recovery block being in the metastable state. |
| US09209956B2 |
Segment sensitive scheduling
Systems and methods of scheduling sub-carriers in an OFDMA system in which a scheduler takes into account channel conditions experienced by the communication devices to optimize channel conditions. The scheduler can partition a set of sub-carriers spanning an operating bandwidth into a plurality of segments. The segments can include a plurality of global segments that each includes a distinct non-contiguous subset of the sub-carriers spanning substantially the entire operating bandwidth. One or more of the global segments can be further partitioned into a plurality of local segments that each has a bandwidth that is less than a channel coherence bandwidth. The scheduler determines channel characteristics experienced by each communication device via reporting or channel estimation, and allocates one or more segments to communication links for each device according to the channel characteristics. |
| US09209954B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling carrier selection in wireless communications systems
A mobile communications system including: at least one base station configured to communicate data to/from different terminal devices via respective of plural logically separate carriers of a wireless access interface; first and second terminal devices operable to camp-on to first and second carriers of plural carriers and to subsequently communicate data with the at least one base station via the first and second carriers. The first and second carriers support compatible synchronization signalling such that the first and second terminal devices both can synchronize with the first and second carriers to begin a camp-on procedure. Following synchronization with one of the first or second carriers to begin the camp-on procedure, the second terminal device is configured to determine whether or not to continue with the camp-on procedure in dependence on an aspect of physical layer signalling associated with a control channel of the carrier with which it has synchronized. |
| US09209950B2 |
Antenna time offset in multiple-input-multiple-output and coordinated multipoint transmissions
A method for wireless communication is provided which includes receiving first and second signals transmitted from first and second antennas, respectively, determining a time offset between the first and second antennas based on the first and second signals, and reporting information regarding the time offset, including information regarding the time offset as being above or below a predetermined threshold. Another method for wireless communication is provided which includes generating channel state information feedback based on an assumption that the time offset is being compensated at a transmitter side. Yet another method for wireless communication is provided which includes receiving information regarding a time offset between multiple transmit antennas, including information regarding the time offset as being above or below a predetermined threshold, and adapting downlink transmissions to account for the time offset. |
| US09209949B2 |
Method and apparatus for uplink scheduling in a communication system
A method and apparatus for uplink scheduling in a communication system are provided. The method includes determining whether a User Equipment (UE) is included in an uplink scheduling list, a buffer length of the UE is estimated, if the UE is included in the uplink scheduling list, it is determined whether a Buffer State Report (BSR) indicating the buffer length of the UE has been received from the UE, if the estimated buffer length is 0, and the UE is transitioned to a non-zero BSR reception state and maintained in the uplink scheduling list, if the BSR has not been received from the UE. The non-zero BSR reception state is a state in which a zero BSR indicating the buffer length of the UE is 0 has not been received. |
| US09209948B2 |
Testing a decision feedback equalizer (‘DFE’)
Testing a Decision Feedback Equalizer (‘DFE’), the DFE including a summing amplifier operatively coupled to a plurality of latches and an input signal line for receiving a data signal, including: preventing a differential data signal from being received by the summing amplifier; and iteratively for each tap to be tested: setting a tap coefficient for each tap to zero; setting an output of the plurality of latches to a predetermined value; setting a tap coefficient for the tap to be tested to a full scale value; and determining whether a resultant output signal from the DFE matches a predetermined expected output signal. |
| US09209947B1 |
Fault-tolerant data transmission system for networks subject to jamming conditions
A method and system are provided for data transfer in a network where jamming conditions may occur. A sender at a first endpoint of the network includes a processor that implements fault-tolerant coding of cohorts of original datagrams that are converted into corresponding chapters of transformed datagrams such that the original datagrams are recovered by a receiver at a second endpoint of the network from a subset of the transformed datagrams of each chapter transferred over the network. In the presence of jamming, chapter size and redundancy of the coding are adjusted according to the level of jamming to enable datagram recovery with a minimum of resending over the network. The sending rate may also be tuned in reaction to changing network conditions based on messages from the receiver on a separate feedback channel to keep datagram loss rates below a specified upper bound. |
| US09209945B2 |
System and method for hybrid automatic repeat request timing for device-to-device communication overlaid on a cellular network
An embodiment of a system for operating a communications controller for a group of user equipments engaged in a DMC link in a wireless communications system is provided. The communications controller is configured to allocate a set of subframes in one periodic group of subframes to the group of UEs for the DMC link, signal the set of allocated subframes to the group of UEs, and transmit parameters related to a group of HARQ processes of the DMC link. In an embodiment, the communication controller uses HARQ processes for cellular UE transmission that are determined independently from HARQ processes of the group of HARQ processes for the DMC link, and the parameters are configured to enable the group of UEs to manage the group of HARQ processes for the DMC link. |
| US09209942B2 |
Communication system and communication apparatus
In a network in which a plurality of ECUs are connected to one another with a common bus, one or more slots are allocated to each ECU in advance, and the plurality of ECUs cyclically transmit messages in an order prescribed in relation to the slots. When each ECU transmits the message related to one slot, each ECU creates and transmits a message including data to be transmitted to other ECUs, and information representing respectively a success/failure of the message reception related to other slots. Each ECU checks information of ACK field included in a message received during one cycle from message transmission related to one slot to a next message transmission related to said one slot. When the message related to one slot is not accurately received by the other ECUs, retransmits the message in the next transmission related to said one slot. |
| US09209941B2 |
Method and system for diversity processing utilizing a programmable interface suppression module
Aspects of a method and system for diversity processing utilizing a programmable interface suppression module may include one or more circuits that are operable to program an interference suppression module based on one or more interference cancellation parameters. A plurality of weighting factor values may be computed based on the one or more interference suppression parameters and a received plurality of multipath signals. A plurality of estimated signal may be generated based on the plurality of weighting factor values. A plurality of updated estimated signals may be generated based on the plurality of estimated signals. A plurality of interference suppressed signals may be generated based on the plurality of updated estimated signals. |
| US09209938B2 |
Recovery from burst packet loss in internet protocol based wireless networks using staggercasting and cross-packet forward error correction
A method and system for transmitting data are described including packetizing the data, performing forward error correction (FEC) encoding on the packetized data in order to generate at least one parity packet, appending FEC information as padding to the end of payload data of the packetized data and transmitting the packetized data and the at least one parity packet. Also described are a method and system for recovering from loss of a packet including receiving a data packet, receiving at least one parity packet, buffering the received data packet, detecting packet loss, forward error correction decoding the at least one parity packet to recover from packet loss using forward error correction information extracted from the data packet and from the at least one parity packet and forwarding the recovered packet via an internal socket. Also described is a method for staggercasting. |
| US09209937B2 |
Reliable decoding of a high-speed shared control channel
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for detecting a control channel message transmitted on one of a plurality of shared control channels and targeted to a wireless receiver. In an exemplary method, messages transmitted over a plurality of shared control channels are decoded, and at least one likelihood metric is determined for each of the decoded messages. A best candidate is selected from the decoded messages, based on the likelihood metrics, and the at least one likelihood metric for the best candidate is compared to corresponding likelihood metrics for the messages other than the best candidate to determine whether the best candidate is a valid message. Wireless communication receivers configured correspondingly are also disclosed. |
| US09209934B2 |
Enhanced block-request streaming using cooperative parallel HTTP and forward error correction
A block-request streaming system provides for improvements in the user experience and bandwidth efficiency of such systems, typically using an ingestion system that generates data in a form to be served by a conventional file server (HTTP, FTP, or the like), wherein the ingestion system intakes content and prepares it as files or data elements to be served by the file server, which might or might not include a cache. A client device can be adapted to take advantage of the ingestion process as well as including improvements that make for a better presentation independent of the ingestion process. In the block-request streaming system, the an ingestion system generates data according to erasure codes and the client device, through various selection and timing of requests for media data and redundant data, can efficiently decode media to provide for presentations. |
| US09209929B2 |
Managing quality of service for communication sessions
A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computing system is provided for managing quality of service for communication sessions. In an implementation, a method may include determining network condition associated with a communication session. The method may also include calculating one or more anticipated performance attributes for each of a plurality of error correction codes based on the network condition. The method may also include determining a quality of experience metric for each of the plurality of error correction codes based on the calculated one or more anticipate performance attributes for each of the plurality of error correction codes. The method may further include establishing one of the plurality of error correction codes for the communication session based on the quality of experience metric for each of the plurality of error correction codes. |
| US09209927B2 |
Method and apparatus for generation of frequency- and phase-locked subcarrier
We describe and demonstrate a novel and simple scheme to generate flattened optical subcarriers using only phase modulators driven by single frequency fundamental sinusoidal sources. 160.8 Gb/s PM-QPSK experiment over a single subcarrier has been demonstrated. |
| US09209925B2 |
Passive optical networking redundancy via two or more auto sensing optical line terminals
An embodiment of the invention provides communications services to Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) in a Passive Optical Network (PON) with at least two Optical Line Terminals (OLTs). The role of these OLTs is autonomously governed based on characteristics of upstream signals from the ONTs. When an OLT in a standby mode determines that upstream signal power is below a power threshold, the OLT in standby mode changes its mode and operates in the active mode. An OLT in active mode monitors the upstream signals and determines the number of upstream signals that are misaligned to a respective downstream command sent from the active OLT. When the number of misaligned signals is greater than a counts threshold, the active OLT switches its operation and operates in standby mode. Through autonomous operation, the OLTs provide redundancy for the PON without added control channel complexity. |
| US09209920B2 |
Clock synchronization using multiple network paths
A packet transmitted by a master clock via a network is received via a port of a network device. The packet includes a time stamp from the master clock. It is determined via which one of a plurality of communication path in the network the packet was received. An application layer module of the network device uses (i) the time stamp in the packet and (ii) the determination of the communication path to determine time information. |
| US09209919B2 |
Synchronization control system
According to an embodiment, the transmission processor of the master terminal includes a sending/receiving processor which sends a synchronization request demanding packet to a particular slave terminal and sends a synchronization reply packet when receiving a synchronization request packet from the slave terminal that has received the synchronization request demanding packet, and a synchronization controller which calculates a synchronization band from the time of the receipt of the data packet and from time information added to the received data packet to determine a synchronization state and which adjusts a correction amount in accordance with the synchronization state and sends an internal timing correction command to the timing generator. |
| US09209917B2 |
Methods and apparatus for metering computer-based media presentation
Methods and apparatus for metering the presentation of computer-based media presentation are disclosed. An example disclosed method performed by a computer that is configured to execute an operating system and a media presentation program comprises modifying the media presentation program to re-direct a function call made to the operating system by the media presentation program, and processing the re-directed function call to determine media presentation information. |
| US09209916B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting event data
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for transmitting event data to a display device, wherein both image sequences for displaying images of an event and supplemental data for the display of additional information relating to the event are transmitted as event data by a transmission device to the named display device. The event data are split and are transmitted over a plurality of transmission channels of differing bandwidth, with at least some of the image sequences being transmitted over at least one transmission channel of higher bandwidth and at least some of the supplemental data being transmitted over at least one transmission channel of lower bandwidth. |
| US09209913B2 |
Temperature compensation method and apparatus for received signal strength indicator
Embodiments of the present invention provide a temperature compensation method and apparatus for a received signal strength indicator. The apparatus comprises a temperature sensor configured to measure a current temperature; and a digital compensation module configured to select a temperature compensation coefficient from prestored temperature compensation coefficients corresponding to a normal temperature, a low temperature and a high temperature according to the current temperature, and perform temperature compensation on output signals of the RSSI according to the selected temperature compensation coefficient. With the method and apparatus of the embodiments of the present invention, the accurate power values of the input signals of the RSSI under any temperatures can be obtained by measuring the characteristics of the RSSI under the predefined three temperatures, and using an interpolation method to compensate for the temperature characteristics of the RSSI. In comparison with the relevant art, the size of the storage is decreased and the accuracy of temperature compensation is improved. |
| US09209908B2 |
System and method for heterodyne coherent detection with optimal offset
A heterodyne optical signal detector and method performed thereby, the signal detector including an optical signal spectrum shaper operable to modify the shape of the frequency spectrum of a received optical signal, a laser local oscillator (LO), and polarization beam splitters (PBSs) to divide the signal and the LO into orthogonal components, waveguides in which intermediate frequency (IF) signals are formed, balanced photodetectors (BPDs) arranged to receive the IF signals and operable to convert the IF signals into electric signals, and analog to digital converters (ADCs) that digitize the electric signals. In embodiments, the ADCs have a predetermined bandwidth, the received signal has a spectrum which, if not shaped, would produce IF signals with a bandwidth greater than that of the ADCs, the spectrum shaper modifies the received signal spectrum to produce IF signals that have a bandwidth substantially equal to half the bandwidth of the ADCs, the laser frequency is adjusted produce IF signals in the waveguides having a frequency spectrum centered at the midpoint of the ADCs' bandwidth. |
| US09209907B2 |
Method and system for a narrowband, non-linear optoelectronic receiver
Methods and systems for a narrowband, non-linear optoelectronic receiver are disclosed and may include amplifying a received signal, limiting a bandwidth of the received signal, and restoring the signal utilizing a level restorer, which may include a non-return to zero (NRZ) level restorer comprising two parallel inverters, with one being a feedback path for the other. The inverters may be single-ended or differential. A photogenerated signal may be amplified in the receiver utilizing a transimpedance amplifier and programmable gain amplifiers (PGAs). A received electrical signal may be amplified via PGAs. The bandwidth of the received signal may be limited utilizing one or more of: a low pass filter, a bandpass filter, a high pass filter, a differentiator, or a series capacitance on the chip. The signal may be received from a photodiode integrated on the chip, where the photodiode may be AC coupled to an amplifier for the amplifying. |
| US09209903B2 |
Optical transmitter module
Provided is an optical transmitter module. The optical transmitter module includes a package including a lower substrate and a side substrate in which a through hole is formed, and a feed-through block coupled to the side substrate in which the through hole is formed. The feed-through block includes a feed-through substrate, at least one lead pin penetrating the feed-through substrate and coupled to the feed-through substrate, a base substrate formed to extend from the feed-through substrate in a direction in which the at least one lead pin is coupled, and a dielectric substrate formed between the at least one lead pin and the base substrate protruding from the feed-through substrate. Therefore, it is possible to improve the quality of a signal transmitted by the optical transmitter module. |
| US09209896B2 |
Active network monitoring system and method thereof
An active network monitoring system for detecting an abnormality at a position between a communication office and a client includes a first monitoring module disposed on the communication office, a second monitoring module disposed on the client and an optical splitter. The first monitoring module has a first processor and a first laser diode. The second monitoring module has a second processor and a second laser diode. The first processor sends a digital signal to the first laser diode. The first laser diode modulates the digital signal into an optical signal and sends the optical signal to the second monitoring module via the optical splitter. The second laser diode converts the optical signal back to the digital signal, and sends the digital signal to the second processor to generate an identification signal of the client. The identification signal is transmitted to the communication office via the second laser diode. |
| US09209893B2 |
System and method for detecting packet synchronization
A method of providing frame synchronization for GPS signals can include performing coherent bit extraction on the GPS bits and then performing coherent frame boundary detection based on the bits of the coherent bit extraction. Concurrently, differential bit extraction on the GPS bits and differential frame boundary detection based on bits of the differential bit extraction can be performed. Whichever of the coherent frame boundary detection and the differential frame boundary detection first finds a frame boundary, then that frame boundary is used for the frame synchronization. A method of providing string synchronization for GLONASS signals includes performing coherent and differential bit extraction on the GLONASS bits. |
| US09209892B2 |
Automatic gain correction circuit with variable setpoint
An automatic gain correction circuit for radiofrequency signals applies notably to the regulation of the amplification of signals for satellite radionavigation. The automatic gain correction circuit is able to receive an input radiofrequency signal and to deliver an output radiofrequency signal of which a mean amplitude is slaved to a setpoint. It comprises means for modifying the setpoint as a function of the mean amplitude of the input signal between a minimum setpoint value and a maximum setpoint value, the minimum setpoint value corresponding to a first mean amplitude of the input signal and the maximum setpoint value corresponding to a second mean amplitude of the input signal, the first mean amplitude being lower than the second mean amplitude. |
| US09209885B2 |
Systems and methods for improved high capacity in wireless communication systems
An exemplary system comprises at least one antenna, first and second signal paths, and an N-plexer. The first antenna may be configured to receive first and second diversity received signals. The first signal path may have a first converter configured to convert the first diversity received signal to first carrier group. The second signal path may have a second converter configured to convert the second diversity received signal to a second carrier group. The N-plexer may be configured to provide the first and second diversity received signals to a first cable in communication with a first modem. |
| US09209884B2 |
Method and apparatus for closed loop transmit diversity transmission initial access
Uplink precoding in closed loop transmit diversity (CLTD). The methods and apparatus relate to precoder operations during an initial stage using default precoder tap weights, and a second stage wherein precoder weights obtained from a precoder control indicator channel information are used, provided the signal quality of the precoder control indicator channel is sufficiently reliable. The methods and apparatus also relate to procedures for responding to detection of an unreliable pre-coding control information (PCI) carried in a downlink feedback signal. |
| US09209883B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing efficient feedback in wireless communication system supporting multiple antenna
A method for transmitting channel status information (CSI) of downlink transmission via uplink in a wireless communication system includes transmitting a rank indicator (RI) and a precoder type indicator (PTI) at a first subframe, transmitting at a second subframe a first precoding matrix indicator (PMI) when the PTI has a first value and transmitting a second PMI and a wideband channel quality indicator (WB CQI) when the PTI has a second value, and transmitting at a third subframe a second PMI and a WB CQI when the PTI has a first value and transmitting a subband (SB) CQI and a second PMI when the PTI has a second value. A user equipment (UE) preferred precoding matrix is indicated by a combination of the first PMI and the second PMI. Subsampled codebooks of precoding codebooks of individual Rank-2, Rank-3 and Rank-4 are applied to the second PMI. |
| US09209881B2 |
Alternate feedback types for downlink multiple user MIMO configurations
A method in a communication network includes obtaining descriptions of a plurality of communication channels each communication channel associated with a different one of a plurality of receivers; and generating a plurality of steering vectors, one for each of the plurality of receivers, using the descriptions of the plurality of communication channels; wherein each steering vector is used to transmit data to a corresponding one of the plurality receivers via a plurality of antennas and over a corresponding one of the communication channels simultaneously and wherein each steering vector is used to communicate data on a different one of the plurality of communication channels, and wherein each steering vector is generated to reduce interference on a corresponding communication channel caused by simultaneous transmission of data on other communication channels. |
| US09209880B2 |
Uplink Transmit diversity
The present disclosure discloses a method in a wireless access network node for controlling a UE. The UE comprises at least two transmit antennas, and is capable of uplink transmit diversity. There is an antenna weight associated with each transmit antenna. First, the wireless access network node determines that the antenna weights of the user equipment may be controlled. Then, it creates a control signal that comprises control information and transmits it to the user equipment. The control information controls a UE autonomous selection of the antenna weights in the UE. |
| US09209872B2 |
MU-MIMO access point and user station including methods for multi-user group management
Embodiments of a MU-MIMO access point, user station and method for multi-user group management are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a MU-MIMO access point may assign a MU group identifier (GID) and a group member index (GMI) to each of a plurality of associated user stations. The MU-MIMO access point may transmit a MU-MIMO transmission that includes a plurality of spatial streams. The MU-MIMO transmission may be destined for the user stations of a single MU group indicated by a GID that is included within the MU-MIMO transmission. A subset of the spatial streams may be intended for each user station of the indicated MU group that is identified by the GID transmitted within the MU-MIMO transmission. A user station may use its assigned GMI along with an Nsts field in the MU-MIMO transmission to determine which of the spatial streams to demodulate. |
| US09209871B2 |
Network communication using diversity
An apparatus for generating at least one signal based on at least one aspect of at least two received signals is provided. The apparatus comprises: a diverse antennae array of M antennae, where M is greater than or equal to two; at least one multiple-input and multiple-output capable transceiver in communication with each antenna in the diverse antennae array of M antennae; encoding circuitry capable of causing first data to be encoded; decoding circuitry capable of causing second data to be decoded; and processing capable of causing diversity combining, where the processing circuitry is in communication with the multiple-input and multiple-output capable transceiver, the encoding circuitry, and the decoding circuitry. In operation, the processing circuitry is capable of causing the apparatus to: receive at least two first signals, combine at least two of the at least first two signals, generate at least two second signals based on at least one aspect of the at least two first signals, and simultaneously transmit the at least two second signals. Additionally, the apparatus is configured such that at least one of the at least two second signals is capable of being received by a multiple-input capable node. |
| US09209864B2 |
Closed-circuit power line communication system for large capacity load
The present invention relates to a power line communication system for a large capacity load which greatly improves the recognition ratio and accuracy of a communication signal even for a large capacity load in that it: includes a switch unit as a transmission means wherein a first switch made of semiconductor elements and a second switch made of relay elements are connected in parallel; and generates and transmits a communication signal by selectively using the switches. |
| US09209862B2 |
Apparatus and method for near field communication in ultra wideband (UWB)
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for near field communication in an ultra wideband (UWB). An apparatus for near field communication in an UWB may include a determiner to determine the number of repetitions of a first sequence in each of n preambles, n denoting a natural number, and a processor to generate n short preambles by repeatedly arranging the first sequence based on the determined number of repetitions, and to generate the n preambles by arranging a long preamble with respect to each of the generated n short preambles. |
| US09209860B1 |
Method of transmitting reverse link signals from multiple mobile stations to improve reception quality
A primary mobile station engaged in a communication session via a radio access network (RAN) may receive forward link communications over a forward link channel and transmit reverse link communications over a reverse link channel. If the quality of the communication session degrades, the primary mobile station may involve a secondary mobile station by establishing a short-range wireless communication link with the secondary mobile station, e.g., using Bluetooth™, IEEE 802.11, or other wireless communication protocol. The primary mobile station may then transmit reverse link communications to the RAN over the reverse link channel and also transmit the reverse link communications to the secondary mobile station, via the short-range wireless communication link, for transmission to the RAN. The RAN may receive the reverse link communications from the primary and secondary mobile stations as two distinct reverse link signals, which the RAN may combine together to achieve a diversity gain. |
| US09209858B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining uplink noise power in a wireless communication system
In one embodiment, the method includes receiving signals from user equipment, despreading the received signals by applying an unused channelization code, and determining the uplink noise power based on output of the despreading. |
| US09209856B2 |
Spread spectrum non-linear junction detector
A digital spread spectrum non-linear junction detector (NLJD) utilizes the 2.4 GHz transmission band to increase sensitivity to detect smaller electronics. The receiver chain of the NLJD pre-distorts the transmission signal and correlates the result with the response signal to differentiate between target responses and ambient interference signals. A touch screen display displays a signal strength received by the NLJDs receiver at a second harmonic frequency of the 2.4 GHz transmit signal and a signal strength received by the receiver at a third harmonic frequency of the transmit signal. A frequency swept response received by the receiver in response to the transmitted 2.4 GHz transmit signal is graphically displayed on the touch screen. The use of the 2.4 GHz band, touch screen, correlation based target differentiation and frequency swept response display improve the sensitivity and usability of the NLJD and increase the likelihood of it successfully performing its tasks. |
| US09209851B1 |
Electronic device case with antenna
A method for improving signal quality for a mobile electronic device and an apparatus embodying the method, comprising a protective case comprising a shell that encases at least a portion of the mobile electronic device; an external antenna assembly position-ably attached to the shell; a transmission line attached to the shell and electrically interconnected to the case antenna; and a near-field coupling device attached to the shell and having a feed port electrically interconnected to the transmission line, the near-field coupling device configured to near-field couple to a native antenna of the encased mobile electronic device to capture an electromagnetic signal generated by the native antenna of the mobile electronic device. |
| US09209844B2 |
Subsampling receiver using interstage off-chip RF band pass filter
The inventive concept relates to a wireless communication receiver. The wireless communication receiver includes a second off-chip RF filter, an RF-to-digital converter and a digital pre-processor processing a signal converted into a digital. The RF-to-digital converter converts an RF signal being received into a digital signal of DC frequency band or intermediate frequency band and has a dynamic range that can process a wanted RF band signal and unwanted signals near to the wanted RF band signal. The digital pre-processor digitally controls a signal gain to transmit it to a modulator/demodulator. |
| US09209841B2 |
Adaptively controlled digital pre-distortion in an RF power amplifier using an integrated signal analyzer with enhanced analog-to-digital conversion
A pre-distortion circuit for a power amplifier may include: (a) a digital interface for receiving a complex-value digital baseband signal; (b) a mixed-signal pre-distortion circuit adaptively controlled by a set of parameter values, receiving the complex-value digital baseband signal to provide a pre-distorted signal for input to the power amplifier, the mixed-signal pre-distortion circuit may include: (i) digital pre-distortion circuit that transforms the complex-value digital baseband signal to a pre-distorted complex-value digital baseband signal by applying to the complex-value digital baseband signal a memory-less non-linear gain and a polynomial function based on the complex-value digital baseband signal one or more delayed copies of the complex-value digital baseband signal; and (ii) up-converter that converts the pre-distorted complex-value digital baseband signal to the pre-distorted signal; and (c) a signal analyzer receiving an output signal from the power amplifier to provide the parameter values from time to time to the mixed-signal pre-distortion circuit. |
| US09209839B2 |
Method of antenna impedance mismatch compensation based on time-to-digital converter phase estimation
A method for an antenna mismatch compensation may include determining an amplitude ratio by measuring a ratio of amplitudes of a reflected signal and an incident signal of an antenna tuning circuit coupled to an antenna. A time difference between the reflected signal and the incident signal may be measured. The time difference may be converted to a phase difference. A topology and one or more parameters of the antenna tuning circuit may be determined based on the amplitude ratio and the phase difference so that the antenna tuning circuit compensates for the antenna mismatch. |
| US09209834B2 |
Symbol mapping for binary coding
The present disclosure presents symbol mapping for any desired error correction code (ECC) and/or uncoded modulation. A cross-shaped constellation is employed to perform symbol mapping. The cross-shaped constellation is generated from a rectangle-shaped constellation. Considering the rectangle-shaped constellation and its left hand side, a first constellation point subset located along that left hand side are moved to be along a top of the cross-shaped constellation while a second constellation point subset located along that left hand side are moved to be along a bottom of the cross-shaped constellation. For example, considering an embodiment having four constellation point subsets along the left hand side of the rectangle-shaped constellation, two of those subsets are moved to be along the top of the cross-shaped constellation while two other subsets of the constellation points along the left hand side are moved to be along the bottom of the cross-shaped constellation. |
| US09209831B2 |
Hardware compression to find backward references with multi-level hashes
Concurrently writing an uncompressed data element, if the uncompressed data element comprises an indication that it is valid, in a main hash table using a first address generated by a first hash function, and reading a first data element from the main hash table using the first address. Introducing a first pipeline delay for maintaining the uncompressed data element in a first data path until the first data element is read. Concurrently writing the first data element to a victim hash table, if the first data element comprises an indication that it is valid, using a second address generated by a second hash function, and reading a second data element from the victim hash table using a third address generated by the second hash function. Introducing a second pipeline delay for maintaining the uncompressed data element in the first data path until the second data element is read. |
| US09209827B2 |
Digital tuning engine for highly programmable delta-sigma analog-to-digital converters
An integrated circuit includes a component calculator configured to compute at least one component value of a highly programmable analog-to-digital converter (ADC) from at least one application parameter, and a mapping module configured to map the component value to a corresponding register setting of the ADC based on at least one process parameter, wherein the integrated circuit produces digital control signals capable of programming the ADC. In a specific embodiment, the component calculator uses an algebraic function of a normalized representation of the application parameter to approximately evaluate at least one normalized ADC coefficient. The component value is further calculated by decimalizing the normalized ADC coefficient. In another specific embodiment, the component calculator uses an algebraic function of the application parameter to calculate the component value. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit further includes a scaling module configured to scale the component value based on scaling parameters. |
| US09209822B2 |
A/D converter and semiconductor integrated circuit
According to one embodiment, an A/D converter includes a first delay cell column in which a plurality of delay cells, to which a first bias current corresponding to a difference voltage between an input voltage and a reference voltage is supplied, is connected in series. The converter includes a second delay cell column in which a plurality of delay cells, to which a second bias current corresponding to a negative-phase difference voltage of the difference voltage is supplied, is connected in series. The converter includes an encoder unit configured to encode a difference value, in delay time of signal propagation, between the first delay cell column and the second delay cell column. |
| US09209819B2 |
Phase locked loop with burn-in mode
A phase locked loop having a normal mode and a burn-in mode. The logic portion is coupled to a logic power supply terminal and includes a clock receiver coupled to a phase frequency detector. The analog portion has a charge pump coupled to the phase frequency detector and to an analog power supply terminal. The analog portion also has a voltage controlled oscillator coupled to the charge pump at an analog node and to the analog power supply terminal. The phase locked loop has a node control circuit that is coupled to the analog node during the burn-in mode that controls a voltage at the analog node sufficiently below a voltage at the analog power supply terminal to avoid over-stressing the charge pump and the voltage controlled oscillator during the burn-in mode. |
| US09209817B2 |
Clock generation circuit, display device drive circuit, and control method of clock generation circuit
A clock generation circuit that can reliably recover from a state in which generation of a clock is stopped even during a power-on process and a normal operation. The clock generation circuit includes a clock extraction circuit that extracts an extracted clock from an embedded signal on which a clock and data are superimposed, and a stop detection circuit that detects a stop of the extracted clock on the basis of the embedded signal and the extracted clock and outputs a reset signal that resets the clock extraction circuit to an initial state. |
| US09209814B2 |
CR oscillation circuit
In a CR oscillation circuit, resistance elements forming a series circuit include a first resistance element having a large temperature coefficient of resistance and a second resistance element having a smaller temperature coefficient of resistance than the first resistance element. At least one of a capacitor and an oscillation resistance element is trimmable. A first switching circuit connected between the series circuit and a non-inverting input terminal of a comparator is turned on when an output signal of the comparator is at a high level, and a second switching circuit is turned on when the output signal is at a low level. |
| US09209813B2 |
Coarse data aligner
An alignment circuit is disclosed. In one embodiment, the circuit includes a shift register having a plurality of serially-coupled storage elements each configured to receive a first signal on a respective clock input, wherein a data input of a first one of the serially-coupled storage elements is configured to receive a second signal. The circuit further includes a detector configured to detect a position of a logical transition based on data shifted into the shift register and an encoder configured to generate selection signals based on the position of the logical transition. A multiplexer tree configured to select a bit position of one of the plurality of serially-coupled storage elements based on the selection signals, wherein an output of the multiplexer tree is a third signal that is a version of the second signal. |
| US09209808B2 |
Asymmetrical bus keeper
Various embodiments are described herein for an asymmetrical bus keeper circuit that provides asymmetrical drive towards one logic level. The asymmetrical bus keeper circuit comprises a first inverter stage having an input node and an output node, an asymmetrical inverter stage having an input node and an output node and a feedback stage with an input node and an output node. The input node of the asymmetrical inverter stage is connected to the output node of the first inverter stage. The input node of the feedback stage connected to the output node of the asymmetrical inverter stage and the output node of the feedback stage connected to the input node of the first inverter stage. The asymmetrical stage provides asymmetrical drive towards one logic level. |
| US09209807B2 |
Differential receiver, electronic device and industrial device including the same, and method of receiving differential signal
A differential receiver for receiving differential signals including a positive signal and a negative signal and generating an output signal is provided. The differential receiver includes a first comparator configured to compare the positive signal and the negative signal and generate a first signal that is asserted when a difference between the positive signal and the negative signal is larger than a positive offset voltage; a second comparator configured to compare the positive signal and the negative signal and generate a second signal that is asserted when the difference between the positive signal and the negative signal is smaller than a negative offset voltage; a logic gate configured to generate a third signal that is asserted when the first signal and the second signal are negated; and an output circuit configured to generate the output signal based on the first to third signals. |
| US09209801B2 |
High frequency switch circuit including gate bias resistances
N (n is an integer more than one) number of transistors are connected in series in an order from a first transistor to an nth transistor from a first terminal to a second terminal. First to nth nodes are connected to gates of the first to nth transistors. N number of resistance elements are connected in series in an order from a first resistance element to an nth resistance element from a bias terminal to the nth node. The first resistance element is connected between said bias terminal and said first node, and the kth resistance element (k=2 to n) is connected between the (k−1)th node and the kth node. Thus, a high frequency switch circuit can reduce an area of the whole gate bias resistances. |
| US09209799B2 |
Switch and switch circuit using the same
A fourth n-channel MOSFET has a source terminal and a back-gate terminal connected to each other. A switch element is connected between the source terminal of the fourth n-channel MOSFET and a ground potential, and the source terminal of the fourth n-channel MOSFET is made become the ground potential when the fourth n-channel MOSFET is OFF. A protection circuit is provided between a connection node of the source terminal of the fourth n-channel MOSFET and an input terminal of the switch element, and the ground potential so that a negative inflow current from the drain terminal of the fourth n-channel MOSFET caused by electrostatic discharge flows to the ground potential. |
| US09209797B2 |
Semiconductor device
A device includes a voltage converter circuit that includes an output node, a voltage drop circuit, and a first transistor. The first transistor is electrically coupled between the output node and the voltage drop circuit. |
| US09209796B2 |
Method for operating a backup circuit and circuit therefor
In some embodiments, a reset circuit for an electronic circuit equipped with a backup power capacitor includes a first detector arranged to detect a predetermined first voltage of the backup capacitor, a second detector arranged to detect a predetermined second voltage of the backup capacitor, the second voltage being lower than the first voltage, and a controller arranged to control an output of a reset request signal based on detection results of the first detector and the second detector. The controller is configured to output the reset request signal when the first detector detects the first voltage after the second detector detected the second detector. |
| US09209791B2 |
Circuits and methods for cancelling nonlinear distortions in pulse width modulated sequences
A method of canceling nonlinear distortions in pulse width modulated signals includes receiving an input signal. A first signal that is the modulated input signal is generated. The first signal has quantized levels representing the input signal. A pulse width modulated (PWM) sequence that is representative of the first signal is generated. A second signal that is the PWM sequence mixed with a carrier signal is generated. An error signal is generated in response to the first signal and modeled from the second signal. The error signal is added to the input signal. |
| US09209788B2 |
Systems and methods for common mode level shifting
A common mode voltage level shifting circuit including: input nodes configured to receive a differential signal with a first common mode voltage, a pair of shunt capacitors coupled between the input nodes and a corresponding pair of output nodes, a threshold voltage circuit, including the output nodes, coupled to the differential signal though the shunt capacitors, the threshold voltage circuit configured to provide a second common mode voltage for the differential signal at the output nodes, and current sources that are controlled according to a level of the first common mode voltage, the current sources coupled to the output nodes to effect the second common mode voltage. |
| US09209786B1 |
Impedance tuners with position feedback
An impedance tuner includes a controller, an RF transmission line, and a movable capacitive object configured for movement commanded by the controller relative to the transmission line to alter impedance. A position sensor is configured to provide feedback position data to the controller indicative of the actual position of the capacitive object after it is moved. The controller is configured to utilize the feedback position data in a closed loop to position the capacitive object at a desired position within a tolerance. |
| US09209780B2 |
Piezoelectric oscillator
A piezoelectric oscillator includes a piezoelectric vibrating piece, an integrated circuit, and a package. The package includes a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, and a fourth layer. The ceiling surface as a portion of the inferior surface of the third layer has a rectangular shape surrounded by short sides and long sides. The ceiling surface includes a pair of frequency checking terminals electrically connected to the connecting electrodes and control terminals to control the integrated circuit. The pair of the frequency checking terminal are adjacent to one another. The respective frequency checking terminals are disposed in contact with any of the long sides and one of the short sides. The control terminals are extracted to the top surface of the third layer, and overlap the frequency checking terminals in a vertical direction on the top surface of the third layer to be connected to the mounting terminals. |
| US09209776B2 |
Method of manufacturing an electrical resonator
An electrical resonator comprises a substrate comprising a cavity. The electrical resonator comprises a resonator stack suspended over the cavity. The resonator stack comprises a first electrode; a second electrode; a piezoelectric layer; and a temperature compensating layer comprising borosilicate glass (BSG). |
| US09209774B2 |
Signal splitter for use in MoCA/CATV networks
There is provided a splitter circuit means for use with a CATV network comprising a signal input (34) in communication with a transformer or balun (32) to supply two signal outputs (36, 38), with a resistor (52) connected in parallel between the outputs (36, 38) and wherein additional capacitive, inductive and resistive elements (48, 50, 52, 54) are associated with the resistor (42), thereby to give an insertion loss in to out in the range of 3 to 10 dB and isolation 10 out to out of <17 dB for signal frequencies in the range 1125 MHz to 1700 MHz, while at the same time maintaining good RF performance in the frequency range 5 MHz to 1000 MHz. |
| US09209773B1 |
RF/microwave pressure contact interface
A controlled impedance microwave surface to surface interface utilizes compression contact technologies. |
| US09209772B2 |
Electrical filter structure
An electrical filter structure for forwarding an electrical signal from a first filter port to a second filter port in a frequency-selective manner includes a filter core structure having a working impedance, wherein the working impedance is different from a first characteristic port impedance of a first filter port, and also different from a second characteristic port impedance of a second filter port. The electrical filter structure also includes a first matching arrangement electrically coupled between the first filter port and the filter core structure and a second matching arrangement electrically coupled between the second filter port and the filter core structure. |
| US09209768B2 |
Radio frequency signal gain control
An RF receiver is described comprising a common gate common source LNA with a variable resistor in the source of the common gate transistor, a variable resistor in the source of the common source transistor, and a variable resistor in the RF input. A Smart Gain Control varies the resistance in the resistors to produce linear amplification in the LNA while maintaining input matching. Further, a broad dynamic range RSSI is described that implements a feedback control loop to maintain signal power within a sensitivity range of the power detector in the RSSI. |
| US09209766B1 |
High temperature charge amplifier for geothermal applications
An amplifier circuit in a multi-chip module includes a charge to voltage converter circuit, a voltage amplifier a low pass filter and a voltage to current converter. The charge to voltage converter receives a signal representing an electrical charge and generates a voltage signal proportional to the input signal. The voltage amplifier receives the voltage signal from the charge to voltage converter, then amplifies the voltage signal by the gain factor to output an amplified voltage signal. The lowpass filter passes low frequency components of the amplified voltage signal and attenuates frequency components greater than a cutoff frequency. The voltage to current converter receives the output signal of the lowpass filter and converts the output signal to a current output signal; wherein an amplifier circuit output is selectable between the output signal of the lowpass filter and the current output signal. |
| US09209765B2 |
Quick comparison circuit
A quick comparison circuit includes a cascaded N-stage operational amplifier, a flip-latch, a biasing circuit, and a control signal generating circuit, with N≧2, and two differential signals to be compared being inputted to an input terminal of a first stage operational amplifier, an output terminal of a Nth stage operational amplifier being connected with an input terminal of the flip-latch, the biasing circuit supplying a biasing current to each stage operational amplifier, the control signal generating circuit being connected with the N-stage operational amplifier and the flip-latch respectively to supply a working time sequence and a reset control signal for them, and each stage operational amplifier having the same structure. This circuit has high gain and improved comparison speed. |
| US09209760B2 |
High-frequency, broadband amplifier circuit
According to one embodiment, a high-frequency, broadband amplifier circuit includes two drive elements, a matching circuit, a Balun circuit, a power supply, and a power supply circuit. The matching circuit includes two pattern circuits. The pattern circuits convey, in differential mode, the high-frequency signals supplied from the two drive elements. The Balun circuit converts the high-frequency signal to a single-end mode signal. The power supply circuit is connected one of the pattern circuits, and supplies at least the output of the power supply to the other pattern circuit. |
| US09209758B2 |
RF amplifier having discrete supply voltages
A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier system or transmitter includes one or more power amplifiers and a controller that is configured to adjust amplitudes and phases of RF input signals of the one or more power amplifiers and supply voltages applied to the one or more power amplifiers. In embodiments where multiple power amplifiers are used, a combiner may be provided to combine outputs of the power amplifiers. |
| US09209757B1 |
Energy-efficient personal audio device output stage with signal polarity-dependent power supply update rate
A charge pump power supply may comprise a plurality of capacitors and a switching circuit for switching the capacitors to provide a first voltage or a second voltage in accordance with the select input. The charge pump power supply may have a signal polarity input for indicating a polarity of an output audio signal. Switches for switching one or more capacitors providing a first polarity voltage in a then-current operating mode may be configured to switch at a greater frequency than switches for switching one or more capacitors providing a second polarity voltage responsive to the signal polarity input indicating a positive polarity of the output audio signal. Switches for switching one or more capacitors providing the first polarity voltage in a then-current operating mode are configured to switch at a lesser frequency than switches for switching one or more capacitors providing the second polarity voltage responsive to the signal polarity input indicating a negative polarity of the output audio signal. |
| US09209754B2 |
Amplifier with adjustable load
A device includes a Doherty amplifier having a carrier path and a peaking path. The Doherty amplifier includes a carrier amplifier configured to amplify a signal received from the carrier path and a peaking amplifier configured to amplify a signal received from the peaking path. The device includes a variable impedance coupled to an output of the Doherty amplifier, and a controller configured to set the variable impedance to a first impedance when an output power level of the Doherty amplifier is less than a threshold and to a second impedance when the output power level of the Doherty amplifier is above the threshold. |
| US09209753B2 |
Predistortion correction method, predistortion correction apparatus, transmitter, and base station
A predistortion correction method, a predistortion correction apparatus, a transmitter, and a base station are provided. The method includes: performing, based on a digital predistortion model, non-linear processing on an input transmit signal to obtain higher-order distortion time-domain signals; and obtaining, after performing processing on the higher-order distortion time-domain signals, a predistortion signal to be input to a power amplifier, where a process of converting the higher-order distortion time-domain signals to the predistortion signal includes bandwidth limitation processing, so that the predistortion signal to be input to the power amplifier is a predistortion signal within a preset bandwidth. Embodiments of the present invention can ensure predistortion accuracy, and can also reduce a requirement for a bandwidth and a sampling rate of a feedback channel, thereby reducing a predistortion cost. |
| US09209751B2 |
Parallel correction amplifier
There is disclosed a power supply stage, and a method of controlling such, comprising: a means for generating an intermediate supply signal in dependence on a reference signal representing a desired power supply; and a plurality of adjusting means, each adapted to generate an adjusted supply signal tracking the reference signal, in dependence on the generated intermediate supply signal and the reference signal. |
| US09209749B2 |
Multiplier circuit and wireless communication apparatus using the same
A multiplier circuit and wireless communication apparatus that adjust an output level of a desired multiple wave to a desired range is provided. The multiplier circuit includes a multiple wave output unit configured to receive an input signal of a predetermined frequency, to output a multiple wave that is a predetermined multiple of the input signal, and control harmonic distortion associated with the output of the multiple wave based on a gate-source voltage; and a controller configured to adjust the gate-source voltage. |
| US09209747B1 |
Crystal oscillator with resistorless feedback biasing
An oscillator includes an amplifier and a piezoelectric crystal coupled across a portion of the amplifier. A low pass filter (LPF) passes the common-mode voltage component of the crystal output signal. An auxiliary bias circuit uses a shared LPF component to charge a crystal load capacitor during start-up of the oscillator, and to provide a DC bias operating point to the oscillator driver transistor. A buffer amplifier receives the common-mode voltage component on the non-inverting input. The buffer amplifier output is coupled to both the inverting input and the drain terminal of the oscillator driver transistor such that the gate and drain DC bias voltages of the oscillator driver transistor are substantially the same. An automatic loop control circuit receives the crystal output signal and the common-mode voltage signal, and generates a bias control signal to bias the amplifier and the auxiliary bias circuit. |
| US09209744B1 |
Laminate-based voltage-controlled oscillator
An apparatus having a substrate, a first die and a second die is disclosed. The substrate may include a circuit having an inductance. The first die may be (i) mounted on the substrate, (ii) connected to the circuit and (iii) configured to control a frequency of an oscillation of a signal in the circuit. The frequency is generally varied by adjusting a voltage in the first die. The second die may be (i) mounted on the substrate, (ii) connected to the circuit and (iii) configured to excite the signal. The apparatus generally forms a voltage-controlled oscillator. |
| US09209741B2 |
Method and system for controlling synchronous machine as generator/starter
A synchronous brushless machine having a single exciter field stator winding. The single exciter field stator winding is energized by a high frequency alternating current to provide a single excitation field to magnetically couple with the exciter field armature winding in both the starter mode and the generator mode. With a higher excitation frequency relative to the main armature current frequency, a steady main field voltage can be achieved which improves stability control while in the starter mode. In one or more configurations, the single exciter field stator winding is driven by a H-bridge converter. |
| US09209737B2 |
Power converter
A power converter includes an inverter, a contactor for connecting a battery to the inverter in order to supply DC power from the battery to the inverter and for disconnecting the battery from the inverter in order to stop an operation to supply the DC power from the battery to the inverter, a smoothing capacitor connected in parallel to the battery through the contactor, a discharge circuit that is provided with a discharge resistor and a switching device connected in series to the discharge resistor and is connected in parallel to the smoothing capacitor to discharge electric charge from the smoothing capacitor, a voltage measurement circuit, a voltage-dividing circuit for dividing the voltage across the terminals of the smoothing capacitor to generate a partial voltage to be input to the voltage measurement circuit and a control circuit of the switching device. |
| US09209728B2 |
Method for the sensorless commutation detection of electronically commutated electric motors
The invention relates to a method for the sensorless commutation detection of electronically commutated electric motors, in which the phase current is interrupted for a blanking time in order to detect the zero passage. On the basis of the profile of the mutual induction voltage, a decay time, which is characteristic for a decay of the phase current, is determined within the blanking time and the start of the blanking time is determined as a function of the time difference between the decay time and the end of the blanking time. |
| US09209726B2 |
Method for determining the speed of a synchronous machine, circuit configuration for actuating a synchronous machine, and use of such a configuration
The invention relates to a method wherein the speed of the rotor of an electronically commutated synchronous machine is determined or controlled by means of one or more rotor position sensors, in particular, three rotor position sensors that are fixed to the stator, and a time measuring device, wherein the angle traveled by the rotor and the time lapsed during the travel are measured, wherein the measured angle traveled by the rotor is corrected by means of one or more first correction constants, in particular a differential for correcting for the influence of non-uniform positioning or expansion of the position marking of the rotor, and a circuit configuration for actuating an electronically commutated synchronous machine. |
| US09209724B2 |
Reverse rotation detection and overspeed protection for power tool with brushless motor
A reverse rotation detection module is provided for a power tool having an electric motor intended to rotate in a first direction but not an opposite second direction. The reverse rotation detection module is comprised of: a switching arrangement having a plurality of motor switches; three position sensors; a first latch circuit; a second latch circuit; and a motor driver module that is configured to receive the shutdown signal from the second latch circuit and discontinue driving the motor in response to the shutdown signal. An overspeed protection module is provided for a handheld power tool. The overspeed protection module is comprised of: an electric motor; a switching arrangement having a plurality of motor switches; a diode pump circuit; a comparator circuit; and a motor driver module that is configured to receive a shutdown signal from the comparator circuit and discontinue driving the motor in response to the shutdown signal. |
| US09209721B2 |
Systems and methods for the control and operation of a parallel motor controller architecture
A method for real time power control over a plurality of motor controllers by at least one processor on a computer system may include determining a power load demand from a first set of motors, selecting a combination of motor controllers to match the power load demand, assigning a first set of system-wide priorities, configuring a power switching network to connect the first set of motors to the motor controllers, receiving from a control unit a power request for a motor, determining a priority designation for that motor, assigning a second set of system-wide priorities, determining a second power load demand from a second set of motors, wherein the second plurality of active motors comprises the first plurality of active motors and the first motor, selecting a second combination of motor controllers necessary to match the second power load demand, and configuring the power switching network in accordance with the second set of system-wide priorities. |
| US09209719B2 |
Load driving device and inverted movable body equipped with same
Provided is a load driving device capable of efficiently recovering and using regenerative power and an inverted type movable body equipped with same. The load driving device includes a battery that supplies power to a load when driving the load, and is charged with a part of regenerative power when the regenerative power equal to or higher than a first reference value is generated by the load. The load driving device also includes an internal circuit that consumes at least a part of regenerative power when the regenerative power is generated by the load. |
| US09209715B2 |
Thermoelectric converter and system comprising a thermoelectric converter
An apparatus and process are disclosed that relates to a thermoelectric converter for converting thermal energy into electric energy. The apparatus includes at least one magnetic circuit including magnetic flux; at least one electric coil coupled to the at least one magnetic circuit; a magnetic switch coupled to the at least one magnetic circuit which loads the at least one electric coil with magnetic flux of the at least one magnetic circuit depending on a temperature of the magnetic switch, wherein the magnetic switch has a ferromagnetic state below a critical temperature (Tc) and a paramagnetic state above the critical temperature (Tc). |
| US09209713B2 |
Bidirectional bipolar junction transistor operation, circuits, and systems with two base junctions clamped by default
Methods, systems, circuits, and devices for power-packet-switching power converters using bidirectional bipolar transistors (BTRANs) for switching. Four-terminal three-layer BTRANs provide substantially identical operation in either direction with forward voltages of less than a diode drop. BTRANs are fully symmetric merged double-base bidirectional bipolar opposite-faced devices which operate under conditions of high non-equilibrium carrier concentration, and which can have surprising synergies when used as bidirectional switches for power-packet-switching power converters. BTRANs are driven into a state of high carrier concentration, making the on-state voltage drop very low. |
| US09209711B2 |
Control method, control device and mobile electric power storage apparatus
The invention is a control method and a control device for determining components of a control voltage of an inverter adapted for feeding power to a grid, in the course of which a vector direction (θ*) of a voltage of the grid is determined, on the basis of active power and reactive power of the grid, current reference signal components (id,ref, iq,ref) are determined, Park vector components (ix, iy) are generated by Park transformation from components (i1, i2, i3) associated with phases of a current of the inverter, the current reference signal components (id,ref, iq ref) are transformed into the transformed current reference signal components (ix,ref, iy,ref) on the basis of the vector direction (θ*), a first error signal is generated by leading the first component (ix) of the Park vector and the first component (ix ref) of the transformed current reference signal to a first subtracting unit (77), and a second error signal is generated by leading the second component (iy) of the Park vector and the second component (iy ref) of the transformed current reference signal to a second subtracting unit (79), the error signals are guided through control blocks each comprising three parallel signal paths (81, 83, 85) and outputting summed up outputs of the signal paths (81, 83, 85), and the components (u1,inv, u2,inv, u3,inv) of the control voltage are determined on the basis of outputs (ux,inv, uy,inv) of the control blocks by inverse Park transformation. The invention is, furthermore, a mobile electric power storage apparatus comprising the control device. |
| US09209704B2 |
Harmonics suppression in a power delivery device
Embodiments described herein provide a power delivery system, as well as a method of configuring the power delivery system. The power delivery system includes two or more rectifiers electrically coupled to an AC power source and configured to generate a direct current. The power delivery system also includes two or more inverters configured to receive the direct current and generate an alternating current waveform for powering a load. Moreover, the two or more rectifiers and the two or more inverters are coupled in series with each other through an inductor. |
| US09209698B2 |
Electric power conversion device
Electric power conversion device has first and second operation modes. First operation mode is of converting DC power from a first terminal into DC power having a desired voltage to be output to second terminal. Second operation mode is of converting DC power from the second terminal into DC power having a desired voltage to be output to first terminal. Switching section is configured to, in first operation mode, be turned on to cause short-circuiting between both ends of capacitor of rectifying circuit, and, in second operation mode, be turned off. First conversion part is configured to, in first operation mode, supply DC power-from first terminal, from first winding to second conversion part through a conversion circuit, and, in second operation mode, output to first terminal a voltage obtained by adding an output voltage of rectifying circuit to an output voltage of conversion circuit. |
| US09209697B2 |
Switching power-supply device
A resonant converter circuit generates an output voltage from an input voltage by switching first and second FETs. A subsequent-stage switching control circuit alternately subjects the first and second FETs in the resonant converter circuit to on/off control with a fixed on-duty ratio and a fixed switching frequency. A boost converter circuit includes an inductor, a smoothing capacitor, and a third FET arranged to switch the energization of the inductor. A previous-stage switching control circuit subjects the third FET in the boost converter circuit to on/off control with a controlled on-duty ratio, and adjusts an output voltage to the resonant converter circuit. |
| US09209692B2 |
Hysteretic control conversion circuit and power supply system
The invention discloses a hysteretic control conversion circuit. The circuit includes a PMOS transistor and an NMOS transistor that are connected in series between a voltage input terminal and a ground terminal, a first voltage divider resistor string connected in series between a voltage output terminal and the ground terminal, a comparator, and a logic controller, where an output terminal of the comparator is connected to an input terminal of the logic controller, and two output terminals of the logic controller are respectively connected to grid electrodes of the PMOS transistor and the NMOS transistor. The hysteretic control conversion circuit also includes: a negative feedback module connected between the voltage output terminal and the input terminal of the comparator, and configured to perform negative feedback control over an output voltage of the hysteretic control conversion circuit and clamp the output voltage to a preset reference voltage. |
| US09209684B2 |
Radiation hardened charge pump
The invention is a radiation hardened charge-pump system and method of using polysilicon diodes and metal-to-metal capacitors in a standard CMOS process technology that provides boosted positive or negative voltages higher than power supply voltage levels, that reduces or eliminates field leakage, bipolar snap-back, SEL problems, and the SEGR problem. The charge-pump system is arranged as multiple parallel redundant pumps to harden the circuit so that if there is a single-event transient, or an unknown polysilicon-diode failure in a new technology, the remaining pumps will continue to operate. A diode placed at the end of each redundant pump section allows charge to be placed onto the high voltage node without removing charge due to failure of one of the sections. With the use of auxiliary circuits, such as a voltage doubler, this hardened charge pump can be used reliably at low power supply voltage levels. |
| US09209674B2 |
Method and apparatus for transferring electrical power by means of capacitive coupling
A method and an apparatus for transferring electric power to an electrical load (105); the method comprising steps of: converting a direct electric current into an electric tension wave, applying the electric tension wave in inlet to at least a couple of electric capacitors (125, 130); supplying the electrical load (105) with the electric tension in outlet from the capacitors (125, 130). |
| US09209672B2 |
Electric motor
An electric motor has a rotatable armature having two pairs of poles, including a lamination stack which has a shape which is symmetrical about its axis and which forms twenty radial teeth and twenty slots and which has, associated therewith, a commutator with twenty segments, and a distributed closed winding, the conductors of which extend into the slots and are connected to the segments of the commutator in a predetermined manner. The winding of the armature has a lap-type winding or coil section connected to two adjacent segments of the commutator and, in series therewith, a plurality of wave-type winding sections or coils. All of these sections or coils encompass a same number of slots. |
| US09209666B2 |
Brushless DC motor
A brushless DC motor, including: a rotating shaft; a rotor assembly; a stator assembly; a casing; a rear cover; and a control box. The rotating shaft is connected together with the rotor assembly. The stator assembly is sleeved outside the rotor assembly. The casing is connected together with the stator assembly. The rear cover includes a rear bearing seat in the middle for receiving a rear bearing. A plurality of support legs protrudes outwards from a wall surface on the outer side of the rear bearing seat, and is supported and installed on a flanged edge folded outwards from an end surface of the casing. One end of the rotating shaft is supported on the rear bearing. The control box is installed on the casing. |
| US09209663B2 |
Apparatus and methods for passive magnetic reduction of thrust force in rotating machines
Apparatus and methods for providing a pre-determined axial thrust force profile for use in a rotating machine that includes a magnetically permeable rotor with first and second surfaces and a generally perpendicular shaft is disclosed. One or more bearings support the shaft and a coil induces flux in the rotor. First and second pole pieces disposed adjacent to the first and second surfaces define first and second gaps. A series magnetic circuit including the pole pieces, the gaps and the rotor carries flux generated by current flowing in the coil. Pole pieces and gaps provide substantially similar reluctance in both gaps. Magnetic saturation characteristics of a series magnetic circuit may provide a pre-determined axial force profile as a function of coil current. A first magnetic saturation characteristic may provide a maximum axial force at a first current magnitude. A second magnetic saturation characteristic may provide a lower axial force at a current greater than the first current. The saturation characteristic may be formed by configuring the geometry and dimensions of the poles. The axial force profile may be formed to reduce the net axial thrust load on the bearings. |
| US09209662B2 |
Linear motor
A linear motor includes a stator module, a rotor module and an extension rod. The stator module includes a first stator unit and a second stator unit. The first stator unit includes an upper end cap including an upper holder member and an upper bobbin integrally extended from the upper holder member. The second stator unit includes a bottom end cap and a second winding. The bottom end cap includes a bottom holder member and a bottom bobbin connected to the bottom holder member and abutted against the upper bobbin. The rotor module is rotatably mounted in the stator module. The extension rod is linearly movably mounted in the stator module. The upper bobbin is integrally extended from the upper holder member. The fabrication of the linear motor is simple, ensuring a high level of precision. |
| US09209660B2 |
Electric-motor brake actuator of a motor vehicle parking brake
A particularly cost-effective electric-motor brake actuator which is useable in a highly flexible manner in respect of structural boundary conditions has an integrally formed cup which is equipped with a permanent magnet assembly and can be equipped with a separately manufactured, electromagnetic rotor assembly. In this manner, the equipment outlay is reduced as is the construction costs. |
| US09209659B2 |
Armature for rotating electric machine
An armature for a rotating electric machine includes an armature core and an armature coil. The armature core includes a substantially annular main body disposed in radial opposition to a field of the machine and teeth extending from the main body radially toward the field. The armature coil is arranged between the teeth of the armature core. For each of the teeth, there are formed a protrusion and a pair of claws at a distal end of the tooth. The protrusion protrudes from a circumferentially central part of the distal end of the tooth radially toward the field. The claws extend, respectively on opposite circumferential sides of the protrusion, from the distal end of the tooth toward the field. Each of the claws has a smaller width at its distal end than at its proximal end and is arcuate-shaped so as to engage with and thereby retain the armature coil. |
| US09209656B2 |
Brushless motor and disk drive apparatus
A brushless motor includes a stationary unit and a rotary unit rotatably supported with respect to the stationary unit. The stationary unit includes an armature and a base member arranged to support the armature. The rotary unit includes a magnet, a hub made of a magnetic material and a rotor yoke made of a magnetic material. The armature includes a plurality of coil patterns arranged along a circumferential direction. The hub includes an inner lower surface, an outer lower surface and a recess portion. The recess portion is arranged between the inner lower surface and the outer lower surface and depressed upward. At least a portion of the magnet is accommodated within the recess portion. At least one of the inner lower surface and the outer lower surface is positioned above a lower surface of the magnet. |
| US09209654B2 |
Method and apparatus for enhancing flame radiation
An apparatus for enhancing flame radiation includes a flame charging system and an electrically isolated electrode. A time-varying voltage is applied to the flame charging system and the flame charging system imparts a corresponding time-varying charge or time-varying voltage onto the flame. The flame responds to the time-varying charge or voltage by increasing its luminosity. |
| US09209653B2 |
Maximizing life of capacitors in series modules
A device (1) monitors and/or balances an ultracapacitor (3) and/or a module (4) comprising a plurality of ultracapacitors (3) connected in series, the module (4) being connectable in series or in parallel with other modules (4). The device comprises an electronic board (2) comprising digital control and/or command means, such as a microcontroller (5), executing a program for monitoring and balancing the ultracapacitor (3) and/or the module (4). The relative capacitances of the capacitors are measured, and this information is employed to determine when to carry out a controlled discharge of particular capacitors. Temperature information is also employed to determine when to carry out a controlled discharge of particular capacitors. In this way the lifetime of any particular capacitor is, desirably, extended to be no shorter than the lifetime of other longer-lived capacitors in the module. |
| US09209648B2 |
Self-contained renewable battery charger
A self-contained, portable unit for charging a battery of an electric vehicle is disclosed. The portable unit includes a moveable docking pad that has a generally flat, horizontal base and is formed with a compartment for holding at least one storage battery. The first end of a column is mounted onto the docking pad and oriented to extend upwardly from the docking pad to a second column end. A solar array is affixed to the second end of the column for deployment over the docking pad. The electric current from the solar array is fed to the storage battery using a charge management system. The battery, in turn, is connected to an EV charge station which produces a charging current to charge the battery of an electric vehicle. |
| US09209646B2 |
Wireless communication device with connection restoration and methods for use therewith
A wireless communication device includes a wireless charging circuit configurable to receive a wireless power signal from a power transmitting unit and to charge the wireless communication device under control of a processing device and in conjunction with a charging session with the power transmitting unit. A wireless interface device operates under control of the processing device to establish a wireless connection with the power transmitting unit via a connection establishment procedure, wherein the wireless connection is separate from the wireless power signal. Control data is exchanged with the power transmitting unit via the wireless connection, wherein the control data is used by the processing device to implement the charging session with the wireless charging circuit. A response is generated to a disruption event of the wireless communication device that includes implementing a restoration procedure for restoring the wireless connection, without implementing the connection establishment procedure. |
| US09209639B2 |
Storage battery system and method of controlling the same
A storage battery system includes: electric storage units; and DC-DC converters each provided between one of the electric storage units and a DC bus. Each of the DC-DC converters includes: a voltage sensor for detecting a voltage value at a connection point between the DC bus and the DC-DC converter; a second obtainment unit which obtains voltage values detected by the voltage sensors of the other DC-DC converters; and a control unit which, when a difference value between a statistic of the voltage values obtained by the second obtainment unit and the voltage value detected by the voltage sensor is not less than a predetermined threshold value, changes the voltage value detected by the voltage sensor, and controls an amount of charge in and an amount of discharge from a corresponding one of the electric storage units to approximate the changed voltage value to a predetermined target value. |
| US09209637B2 |
Battery control apparatus
According to one embodiment, a secondary battery control apparatus includes a charger/discharger and a charge/discharge controller. The charger/discharger connects a plurality of secondary batteries, and charges one secondary battery by electric power discharged by another secondary battery. The charge/discharge controller controls the charger/discharger such that charging and discharging are performed between the plurality of secondary batteries by using the charger/discharger if battery temperature information detected by temperature detector is lower than a preset threshold temperature, wherein the charging is stopped and switched to discharging or pause if voltage information detected by the voltage detector reaches the upper limit voltage of the secondary battery, and the discharging is stopped and switched to charging or pause if the voltage information detected by the voltage detector reaches the lower limit voltage of the secondary battery. |
| US09209636B2 |
Power reception control device and power reception control method for non-contact power transmission
A power reception control device provided in a power reception device of a non-contact power transmission system includes a power-reception-side control circuit that controls an operation of the power reception device, and a power supply control signal output terminal that supplies a power supply control signal to a charge control device, the power supply control signal controlling power supply to a battery. The power-reception-side control circuit controls a timing at which the power supply control signal (ICUTX) is output from the power supply control signal output terminal. The operation of the charge control device is compulsorily controlled using the power supply control signal (ICUTX). |
| US09209634B2 |
Method of improving battery recharge efficiency by statistical analysis
A system and method for using statistical analysis of information obtained during a rechargeable battery charging session, wherein the method is for optimizing one or more parameters that are used for controlling the charging of a rechargeable battery during the charging session. |
| US09209631B2 |
Charge rate modulation of metal-air cells as a function of ambient oxygen concentration
A method for charging a metal-air battery pack at the maximum possible rate while maintaining an ambient oxygen concentration below a preset concentration is provided, thereby minimizing the risks associated with generating oxygen during the charging cycle. |
| US09209624B2 |
System and method for overriding demand system management enabled functions
An energy management system for altering power consuming functions on an electrical device during specified periods of time, e.g., peak energy demand periods. The system includes an electrical device having one or more power consuming functions, a memory for storing power consuming function profiles corresponding to the one or more power consuming functions associated with the electrical device, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is programmed to access the power consuming function profiles associated with the electrical device, identify the one or more power consuming functions configured to be changed during a specified period of time, output the identified one or more power consuming functions, receive a request to not change at least one of the identified one or more power consuming functions, and prevent the requested one or more power consuming functions from being changed. |
| US09209623B1 |
Methods and systems for charging electrical devices via an electrical system
Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices that may be implemented by an energy aggregator to control, or regulate, the electric load placed on an electric grid by an aggregation of electrical devices, such as electric vehicles. Generally, the disclosed methods, and systems may provide for the modulation of the power draw of each electric vehicle around a first power draw, or scheduled power draw. Further, the disclosed methods and systems provide for the determination of a desirable scheduled power draw for a given electric vehicle. In one example, the scheduled power draw may be determined based on, among other things, the amount of time left in a given charging scenario and the state of charge of the given electric vehicle. In another example, the scheduled power draw may be determined based on, among other considerations, a maximization of the profit derived by the energy aggregator for both providing power to an aggregation of electric vehicles and for providing a regulation function to the electrical grid (at the request, for example, of an electrical-system operator). |
| US09209621B2 |
Power supply system
A power supply system includes: a switching power supply; a switching unit for switching a connection state between an AC power supply and the switching power supply; an electricity storage unit; an auxiliary power supply circuit for feeding charging current to the electricity storage unit; a driving circuit for driving the switching unit; a voltage detection circuit for detecting a voltage of the AC power supply; and a control device configured to perform: an overvoltage detection process of determining whether the AC power supply is an overvoltage based on a detection value of the voltage detection circuit; and a process of, in a case where an overvoltage is detected, keeping the switching unit at a cutoff state where the alternating current power supply and the switching power supply are disconnected. |
| US09209620B2 |
Combination ESD protection circuits and methods
Circuits, integrated circuits, apparatuses, and methods, such as those for protecting circuits against electrostatic discharge events are disclosed. In an example method, a thyristor is triggered to conduct current from a signal node to a reference voltage node using leakage currents provided by a transistor formed in a semiconductor doped well shared with the base of the thyristor. The leakage currents are responsive to a noise event (e.g., electrostatic discharge (ESD) event) at the signal node, and increase the voltage of the semiconductor doped well to forward bias the base and the collector of the thyristor. The triggered thyristor conducts the current resulting from the ESD event to the reference voltage node. |
| US09209619B2 |
ESD protection component and component comprising an ESD protection component and an LED
An ESD protection component includes a ceramic material and a BGA or LGA termination. In addition, an ESD protection component includes a basic body with a lower side. The basic body includes a ceramic material. At least one floating inner electrode is located at a distance from the lower side of two to 100 ceramic grains. Also a component includes a carrier, on which an LED and an ESD protection component are arranged. |
| US09209615B2 |
Electric wire with terminal and connector
An electric wire with terminal includes an electric wire covering an outer periphery of a core wire with an insulating coating and a female terminal. The female terminal includes: a wire barrel having a bottom plate on which the core wire is placed and crimped onto the core wire; a groove portion extending from the bottom plate in a direction in which the core wire extends and whose surface on the side where the core wire is placed is bent into a concave shape. The groove portion has a water blocking wall molded by synthetic resin. The water blocking wall is provided to fill the inside of the groove portion. A region extending from the water blocking wall to the end of the insulating coating is covered with a water blocking coating, and the inner surface of the water blocking coating is in close contact with the water blocking wall. |
| US09209612B2 |
Electrical junction box mount
Attachment of electrical junction box mounts to junction box by a single step or through a single motion. Mounts may be constructed as a single part. Electrical junction box ceiling mount includes a spanning element for traversing an acoustical ceiling tile and a support element connected to the spanning element. The support element includes a fastener adapted to engage a sidewall of an electrical junction box, including one or more faces of the sidewall. The support element may also include a bracket configured to support a portion of a rim of the front opening of the electrical junction box. The fastener may include a bracket configured for an interference fit with the sidewall of the electrical junction box. The fastener may also include a bracket adapted to engage an outside face of the sidewall on opposing sides of the electrical junction box. |
| US09209610B1 |
Retrofit outlet electrical box
A retrofit electrical outlet comprises an electrical box comprising one or more moveable braces coupled to linear brace actuators, whereby pulling on the linear brace actuator causes the brace to move toward the front end of the box to impinge a wall surface material between the brace and a front flange of the box. Releases may be included to allow for adjustment of the braces. The braces may move linearly or pivotally toward the wall surface material. The linear brace actuator may be stored within the wall for future use. |
| US09209606B2 |
Semiconductor optical amplifier
One or more input access waveguides are connected to an optical splitter arranged to divide the light into two or more output waveguides, at least two of the splitter's output access waveguides are used to form a Mach-Zehnder interferometer modulator where at least one arm of the interferometer has a phase modulator electrode and a single electrical contact is arranged to apply a common voltage simultaneously to a selected portion in each arm, or selected portions in each arm of the waveguides that are disposed after the splitter but preceding the phase modulation electrodes, or alternatively the single electrical contact is arranged to apply the voltage to a selected portion of the input access waveguide connected to the splitter and in one or more selected portions of one or both of the arms after the splitter but preceding the phase modulation electrodes to provide gain or reduced optical loss. |
| US09209605B1 |
Laser diode subassembly and method of generating light
A laser diode subassembly is disclosed, in which dichroic reflectors are disposed sequentially one after another forming an array or stack, each reflector having a sequential array index. An array of laser diode emitters is provided, each emitter having a sequential array index. Individual reflectors of the array redirect laser sub-beams from individual laser diode emitters having same array indices, to propagate via dichroic reflectors having higher array indices, so as to form a combined optical beam. A common partial reflector may be used for the laser diode emitters instead of individual wavelength selective reflectors for each laser diode emitter. |
| US09209602B2 |
Monolithically integrated tunable semiconductor laser
A monolithically integrated, tunable semiconductor laser with an optical waveguide, comprising epitaxial layers on a substrate and having first and second reflectors bounding an optical gain section and a non-driven region, wherein at least one of the reflectors is a distributed Bragg reflector section configured to have a tunable reflection spectrum, wherein control electrodes are provided to at least the optical gain section, and the distributed Bragg reflector section, and wherein the non-driven region has a length of at least 100 μm, is without an electrical contact directly contacting onto the epitaxially grown side of the non-driven region, and the non-driven region is without a reflective Bragg grating within the epitaxial layers of the non-driven region. |
| US09209600B2 |
Tunable laser, a method for making, and a method for operating such a laser
Semiconductor lasers, in particular Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs) are tuable especially in the mid-IR spectral range, e.g. in wavelengths of about 3-14 μm, by precisely controlling the laser's temperature in the vicinity of the active region. The present invention introduces a novel design for locally heating the active region, thereby allowing fast heating and thus tuning a laser. It is generally applicable for lasers across the field, e.g. to QCLs with multi-color emitters or to Vertical-Cavity Single-Emitter Lasers (VCSELs) or to Distributed Feedback (DFB) lasers. Essentially, the invention consists of structurally integrating a heating resistor as part of the laser, placed close to the component to be temperature-controlled, i.e. the active region or the grating, etc., and feeding this resistor with a variable electrical current in order to locally control the thermal dissipation. In multi-emitter lasers, a resistor can be associated with each emitter section to tune the temperature of each section and thus its emitted wavelength. Similarly, in multisection DBR lasers, with a resistor associated with each grating, the latter can be tuned and thus the associated wavelength of the optical cavity. The invention also includes a novel manufacturing process, especially for buried heterostructure lasers. |
| US09209599B2 |
Symmetrical, direct coupled laser drivers
Symmetrical, direct coupled laser drivers for high frequency applications. The laser drivers are in integrated circuit form and use a minimum of relatively small (low valued) external components for driving a laser diode coupled to the laser driver through transmission lines. An optional amplifier may be used to fix the voltage at an internal node at data frequency spectrum to improve circuit performance. Feedback to a bias input may also be used to fix the voltage at the internal node. Programmability and a burst mode capability may be included. |
| US09209595B2 |
Catalytic conversion of an optical amplifier gas medium
An extreme ultraviolet light system includes an optical amplifier system and a catalytic conversion system. Each optical amplifier of the optical amplifier system includes a gain medium in the form of a gas mixture that produces an amplified light beam. The optical amplifier system includes a fluid input and a fluid output through which the gas mixture flows. The catalytic conversion system is fluidly connected to the fluid output of the optical amplifier system and to the fluid input of the optical amplifier system. The catalytic conversion system includes a catalytic converter that includes a housing; a substrate within the housing including openings through which the gas mixture can flow; and a catalyst applied as a coating to the interior surfaces of the openings of the substrate, the catalyst including particles of metal. The particles of metal can be nanoparticles of precious metal. |
| US09209593B2 |
Method of controlling electro-optical probe gain and sensitivity
A method of controlling the gain or sensitivity of a test and measurement system. The test and measurement system includes a host, a controller with an optical transmitter and an optical receiver, optical-to-electrical converter, an accessory head, and a device under test. The method includes determining whether a gain or sensitivity adjustment of the test and measurement system is required, determining the amount of gain or sensitivity adjustment, and adjusting the output power of a laser of the optical transmitter in response to the determination of the gain or sensitivity adjustment of the test and measurement system. |
| US09209592B2 |
Optical parametric amplification, optical parametric generation, and optical pumping in optical fibers systems
Embodiments described herein include a system for producing ultrashort tunable pulses based on ultra broadband OPA or OPG in nonlinear materials. The system parameters such as the nonlinear material, pump wavelengths, quasi-phase matching periods, and temperatures can be selected to utilize the intrinsic dispersion relations for such material to produce bandwidth limited or nearly bandwidth limited pulse compression. Compact high average power sources of short optical pulses tunable in the wavelength range of 1800 to 2100 nm and after frequency doubling in the wavelength range of 900 to 1050 nm can be used as a pump for the ultra broadband OPA or OPG. In certain embodiments, these short pump pulses are obtained from an Er fiber oscillator at about 1550 nm, amplified in Er fiber, Raman-shifted to 1800 to 2100 nm, stretched in a fiber stretcher, and amplified in Tm-doped fiber. |
| US09209590B2 |
Device for amplifying a laser beam with suppression of transverse lasing
A device for amplifying a laser beam along an axis comprises: an amplifying bar structure of index nc, delimited by a surface connecting the input and output faces of the structure, having a dimension e along the axis and Φ along a perpendicular direction, with e<Φ, and intended to be pumped to become a gain medium with a maximum along a face, and a liquid of index nA which surrounds the structure in relation to its surface and which is absorbent or scattering at the fluorescence wavelength of the amplifying bar structure. The surface comprises a first tooth in the form of a chamfer at its junction with the maximum gain face, to avoid causing parasitic transverse lasing and the liquid of index nA has a heat capacity of greater than 3000 Joules per kilogram per K° to dissipate the thermal power induced by the pumping. |
| US09209589B2 |
Reducing the spectral bandwidth of lasers
A laser system for semiconductor inspection includes a fiber-based fundamental light source for generating fundamental light that is then converted/mixed by a frequency conversion module to generate UV-DUV laser light. The fundamental light source includes a nonlinear chirp element (e.g., a Bragg grating or an electro-optic modulator) that adds a nonlinear chirp to the seed light laser system prior to amplification by the fiber amplifier(s) (e.g., doped fiber or Raman amplifiers). The nonlinear chirp includes an x2 or higher nonlinearity and is configured to compensates for the Self Phase Modulation (SPM) characteristics of the fiber-based amplifiers such that fundamental light is generated that has a spectral E95 bandwidth within five times that of the seed light. When multiple series-connected amplifiers are used, either a single nonlinear chirp element is provided before the amplifier string, or a chirp elements are included before each amplifier. |
| US09209582B2 |
Connector
A connector (10) can be fit into a case-side opening (161) of a shield case (160) so that female terminals (52) in the connector (10) can be connected to male terminals (172) in a device-side connector (170) mounted in a back of the case-side opening (161). The connector (10) includes a housing (20) with a fitting (21) at one end that can fit into the case-side opening (161). Stretchable conductors (51) and wires (71) connected to the female terminals (52) are pulled out from the opposite end of the housing (20). A terminal accommodating portion (30) is formed separately from the fitting (21) and accommodates the female terminals (52) inside. The terminal accommodating portion (30) is mounted into the housing (20) loosely movably in a direction intersecting a fitting direction of the fitting (21) into the case-side opening (161) when connecting the male terminals (172) and the female terminals (52). |
| US09209575B2 |
High-voltage connector
The high-voltage connector comprises an insulating body (1, 2) with a first internal channel (3) and a second internal channel (4), configured to receive a bushing or a fixed base of a high-voltage equipment. The connector comprises at least one sensor (5, 6, 7, 8) of an electric feature at least partially embedded inside the insulating body. |
| US09209572B1 |
Pluggable connector configured to reduce electromagnetic interference leakage
Pluggable connector including a mating plug that extends along a central axis. The mating plug is configured to be inserted into a receiving cavity of a communication system. The pluggable connector also includes an electromagnetic interference (EMI) skirt that is coupled to the mating plug. The EMI skirt has a skirt wall that extends alongside an exterior surface of the mating plug. The skirt wall has a wall edge portion and a spring beam that projects from the wall edge portion. The spring beam includes first and second beam segments and an inflection area located between the first and second beam segments. The first beam segment extends from the wall edge portion to the inflection area and is angled toward the mating plug. The second beam segment extends away from the inflection area in a direction that is angled away from the mating plug. |
| US09209571B2 |
Connector assembly having multiple shield current paths
A connector assembly may include a housing that retains one or more contacts, a cable having a shield that surrounds one or more conductors that electrically connect to the one or more contacts, and a backshell that secures the housing to the cable. The backshell may include at least one wall having a backshell outer surface and a backshell inner surface, and one or more through-holes formed through the at least one wall. Each through-hole forms a current path between the backshell outer surface and the backshell inner surface. |
| US09209570B2 |
Connector, cable, transmission device, reception device, and manufacturing method of connector
To provide a connector enabling high quality signal transmission while maintaining compatibility with the current HDMI connector, in a new HDMI interface using pins assigned to a shield, as a data pair. Each of signal electrode pins is arrayed near a shell (grounding conductor) so as to couple with the shell, and differential signals are transmitted with single end. A ground plane is disposed between multiple signal electrode pins of a first stage and the plurality of signal electrode pins of a second stage within a dielectric. Also, connection conductors electrically connecting the ground plane and the grounding conductor are disposed between each of the signal electrode pins of each of the stages within the dielectric. With a pair of signal electrode pins transmitting differential signals, crosstalk from other signal electrode pins can be reduced, and high quality signal transmission is enabled. |
| US09209568B2 |
Connector assembly with anti-mismating members
A connector assembly includes a receptacle connector and a plug connector. The receptacle connector includes a receptacle insulative housing including a receiving portion, a number of mating portions extending from the receiving portion and a number of contact-receiving slots extending through the mating portions and the receiving portion. At least one of the mating portions includes an anti-mismating block at a corner thereof. The plug connector includes a plug insulative housing including a mating surface and a number of cavities extending through the mating surface for receiving the mating portions. The plug insulative housing includes an anti-mismating groove at a corner of one of the cavities to receive the anti-mismating block of the receptacle insulative housing. |
| US09209564B2 |
Card connector
A card connector includes a housing that houses a card provided with a terminal member, a connection terminal that attaches to the housing and contacts the terminal member of the card, a cover member that attaches to the housing and forms a card housing space between the housing, wherein the cover member is provided with a locking member to lock the card housed within the card housing space; the locking member is a leaf spring member with a cantilever form, and provides a locking main body part integrally connected to the cover member and which extends in the insertion direction of the card, and a locking ridged part connected to the tip of the locking main body part, and which protrudes inward toward the cover member; and the locking ridged part inserts into a recessed part formed on the edge of the card housed in the card housing space. |
| US09209562B2 |
Lever connector
A lever connector includes a housing, and a lever rotatably provided on the housing to be rotated in a locking direction to be disposed at a connection locking position. The lever includes support plate portions rotatably supported by both sides of the housing, the housing has a hump portion protruding in a direction intersecting with a rotating direction of the lever, the lever has a protrusion portion protruding in an opposite direction to the hump portion to be engaged with the hump portion, the hump portion has a tapered surface inclined in a protruding direction of the protrusion portion as extending in the locking direction from a top of the hump portion, and as the protrusion portion is slid along the tapered surface to be engaged with the tapered surface, the lever is applied with a rotating force in the locking direction. |
| US09209560B2 |
Electronic block with magnetic connection
The present invention discloses an electronic block with magnetic connection, wherein end portions of the block are provided with cavities, the cavities are embedded with radially magnetized conductive circular magnets, and the circular magnets can freely rotate about their own axes within the cavities to adjust magnetic poles; the surfaces via which each end portion is attached to other end portions are cut with notches, and the circular magnets partially protrude from the notches; the end portion of one block can be attached to and electrically connected with the end portion of any other block via the circular magnets. By adopting radially magnetized and self-rotating magnets, the present invention can realize attachment and electrical connection of any multiple surfaces and multiple angles, not only ensuring close connection between blocks, but also realizing electrical connection of components in the blocks. |
| US09209556B2 |
Technologies for high-speed communications
Method, apparatus, and electrical cable for high-speed connections. The apparatus can include an electrical cable, a wire sorter, an electrical mating paddle, and a cable assembly. The wire sorter can be coupled to an end of the electrical cable, and configured to receive wires extending from the end of the electrical cable and position the wires relative to one another in a predetermined arrangement to yield sorted wires. The electrical mating paddle card can then be coupled to the sorted wires according to the predetermined arrangement. The cable assembly can be configured to house the wire sorter and at least a portion of the wires. Moreover, the cable assembly can include a hot-melt injection chamber configured to at least partially immobilize the wires relative to the cable assembly when hot-melt is injected into the hot-melt injection chamber. |
| US09209550B2 |
Battery wiring module
A battery wiring module to be attached to a cell group includes a plurality of cells each having positive and negative electrode terminals. The battery wiring module includes a busbar connecting the electrode terminals, a voltage sensing terminal overlapped with the busbar and connected to one of the electrode terminals, and an insulation protector including a housing and a wire guiding groove. The voltage sensing terminal is configured to sense a state of the cell group. The busbar and the voltage sensing terminal are housed in the housing. The wire guiding groove is configured to guide a sensing wire that extends from the voltage sensing terminal to extend out of the housing. In the housing, a bus bar lock tab and a sensing terminal lock tab are formed on one elastic locking piece. |
| US09209549B2 |
Downhole cable termination systems
A downhole cable termination apparatus for terminating a cable that extends downhole into a downhole environment from a tubing hanger to electrical equipment is provided. |
| US09209538B2 |
Memory card connector
A memory card connector includes first and second connectors including first and second housings having first and second storage sections, respectively, and first and second contacts which connect with terminals of first and second memory cards removably-inserted into the first and second storage sections, respectively. The first and second connectors are superposed on each other in a direction of thickness thereof. Each first contact includes a first tail which is mountable to a circuit board and positioned on an outer peripheral side of a first side surface of the first housing. The second housing includes a second side surface located at a different position from the first side surface as viewed in the thickness direction. Each second contact includes a second tail which is mountable to the circuit board and positioned on an outer peripheral side of the second side surface. |
| US09209537B2 |
Electrical connector assembly between a flexible printed circuit board and a central processing unit
An electrical connector assembly for connecting a CPU with an FPC includes a first electrical connector having a first insulating housing and a plurality of first contacts retained in the first insulating housing, a second electrical connector electrically connecting the first electrical connector in a vertical direction having a second insulating housing and a plurality of second contacts retained in the second insulating housing, and a protecting cover assembled between the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector. The protecting cover includes a base and a plurality of through holes running through the base for receiving the second contacts to contact with the first contacts. The protecting cover includes a pair of buckling portions for locking the FPC and an acting portion extending upwardly from the buckling portion, the acting portion release the buckling portion off the FPC when a hand push the acting portion. |
| US09209535B2 |
Device for securing a cell battery with improved contact
The present invent concerns a portable object comprising at least a middle part and a back cover for confining an electronic module, said electronic module including a plate provided with a housing arranged for receiving an electrical energy accumulator, said electronic module including at least one circuit with at least one electrical contact area, and a connecting contact member for providing an electrical connection between said accumulator and said at least one contact area, said contact member being elastically deformable. |
| US09209533B2 |
Coaxial connector suitable for connection of a flat plate-like connection object
A coaxial connector includes a contact, a housing, and a shell. The contact includes a contact portion adapted to be connected to a mating contact of a mating connector and a connecting portion adapted to be connected to a signal conductor. The shell includes a first shell portion having a shell contact portion adapted to be connected to a mating shell of the mating connector and a second shell portion having a shell connecting portion adapted to be connected to a ground conductor. When connecting to a connection object, by sandwiching the connection object between the connecting portion of the contact and the shell connecting portion of the shell, the contact portion of the contact is connected to the signal conductor while the shell contact portion of the shell is connected to the ground conductor. |
| US09209531B2 |
Bus bar releasable bushing apparatus
A bus bar component connection apparatus including an electrically conductive bus bar having a thickness and at least one bore, the bore having a diameter, a male bushing portion including a body having two opposing planar surfaces, at least one shoulder extending from the body at a first end and including a threaded portion disposed toward a second end and spaced from the first end by an undercut portion, and an axial bore through the body and the shoulder, a female bushing portion having two opposing planar surfaces, a first end, a second end, and an inner surface including a threaded portion disposed toward the second end and spaced from the first end by a first smooth portion, and wherein the female bushing portion is configured to threadably receive the shoulder through the hole of the bus bar. |
| US09209529B2 |
Module edge grounding cable clips
A clip assembly includes a first clip comprising two opposing contact surfaces connected by a U-shaped hinge, where each of the two opposing contact surfaces has protruding flanges with teeth for engaging a surface inserted between the flanges. The clip assembly further includes a second clip comprising two opposing contact surfaces connected by a U-shaped hinge, wherein each of the two opposing contact surfaces has protruding flanges with teeth for engaging a surface inserted between the flanges. The clip assembly also includes a wire connected to the first clip at one end of the wire and to the second clip at another end of the wire. |
| US09209527B2 |
Joining method, joint structure, electronic device, method for manufacturing electronic device and electronic part
A method of joining a first metal member having at least a surface made of a first metal to a second metal member having at least a surface made of a second metal with a joining material sandwiched therebetween. The joining material includes a low melting point metal having a lower melting point than the first metal and/or the second metal. The low melting point metal composing the joining material is Sn or an alloy containing Sn. At least one of the first metal and the second metal is a metal or an alloy which forms an intermetallic compound with the low melting point metal, and which has a lattice constant difference of 50% or more from the intermetallic compound. The joining material located between the first metal member and the second metal member is heat-treated at a temperature at which the low melting point metal is melted. |
| US09209525B2 |
Directive, electrically-small UWB antenna system and method
A directive electrically small antenna (DESA) process and method employs multipole synthesis to implement directive electrically small multipole antennas with ultra-wideband (UWB) stable antenna patterns. Although lossy, embodiments have adequate efficiency to work as receive antennas in the high ambient noise environment of the HF band and below. Employing a process dubbed “antenna regeneration,” energy may be circulated within an antenna by means other than resonance. This enables multiple decade UWB response without the efficiency penalties inherent to traditional resistively-loaded antenna systems. Regenerative antennas can simultaneously achieve the performance of high Q resonant antennas and the bandwidth of resistively loaded antennas. |
| US09209515B2 |
Three-dimensional antenna and a wireless communication apparatus provided with the same
A three-dimensional antenna includes an L-shaped grounding element and an L-shaped radiating element. The grounding and radiating elements are arranged in a U shape. The grounding element includes a first grounding segment, a second grounding segment extending from the first grounding segment, and a short-circuit point disposed at the second grounding segment. The radiating element includes a first radiating segment opposite to the first grounding segment, a second radiating segment extending from the first radiating segment and adjacent to the second grounding segment, a feeding point disposed at the second radiating segment, and two radiator arms being able to generate respective resonant frequencies. |
| US09209508B2 |
Apparatus for reconfiguring an integrated waveguide
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for wirelessly communicating among integrated circuits and/or functional modules within the integrated circuits. A semiconductor device fabrication operation uses a predetermined sequence of photographic and/or chemical processing steps to form one or more functional modules onto a semiconductor substrate. The functional modules are coupled to an integrated waveguide that is formed onto the semiconductor substrate and/or attached thereto to form an integrated circuit. The functional modules communicate with each other as well as to other integrated circuits using a multiple access transmission scheme via the integrated waveguide. One or more integrated circuits may be coupled to an integrated circuit carrier to form Multichip Module. The Multichip Module may be coupled to a semiconductor package to form a packaged integrated circuit. |
| US09209504B2 |
Microwave resonator with impedance jump, notably for band-stop or band-pass microwave filters
A microwave resonator with impedance jump, comprises at least one line of high characteristic impedance of a determined length and one line of low characteristic impedance, at least the line of high characteristic impedance comprising a first line cut, a first link wire of a first determined impedance ensuring an electrical link for the passage of the signal from one side to the other of the first line cut. A method for producing a microwave resonator comprising an adjustment step is also provided. |
| US09209501B2 |
Energy storage management system with distributed wireless sensors
An energy storage system having a multiple different types of energy storage and conversion devices. Each device is equipped with one or more sensors and RFID tags to communicate sensor information wirelessly to a central electronic management system, which is used to control the operation of each device. Each device can have multiple RFID tags and sensor types. Several energy storage and conversion devices can be combined. |
| US09209500B2 |
Temperature controlling system and method of battery
A temperature controlling system for a battery includes a converter, a DC linker, and an inverter. The converter includes a plurality of converter switches and an inductor. The converter is configured to be coupled to the battery to raise or drop a voltage output of the battery. The DC linker includes a capacitor and is configured to stabilize an output voltage of the converter. The inverter includes a plurality of inverter switches, at least one inductor, and an inductor switch coupled to the at least one inductor. The inverter is configured to invert the output voltage of the converter, wherein the inductor switch and at least one of the inverter switches are configured to form a current path for a current through the at least one inductor to the battery. |
| US09209498B2 |
Electrical storage device and spacer
An electrical storage device includes electrical storage elements (11); and spacers (13) arranged alternately with the electrical storage elements (11). Each of the spacers (13) includes an opposing surface that faces the adjacent electrical storage element (11), plural ribs that form cooling medium passages for a cooling medium flowing along the opposing surface, a side surface that is located on a side of end portions of the cooling medium passages, and a leg portion that protrudes from the side surface and supports the spacer (13). An upper surface of the leg portion includes a first inclined portion that extends in a manner such that a distance between the first inclined portion and the side surface increases in a direction toward a bottom surface of the leg portion. |
| US09209496B2 |
Sorting machine of battery cell and sorting method thereof
A battery cell sorting machine includes an inserting unit into which a battery cell is inserted, a measuring unit on which the inserted battery cell is placed, an open circuit voltage (OCV) measuring unit configured to measure an OCV of the battery cell placed on the measuring unit, a loading unit configured to discharge the battery cell placed on the measuring unit, a discharge voltage measuring unit configured to measure a discharge voltage of the battery cell discharged by the loading unit, and a control unit configured to sort battery cells placed on the measuring unit into different groups, wherein the control unit is configured to calculate a voltage differential between the OCV and the discharge voltage of each of the battery cells and to sort the battery cells having corresponding voltage differential ranges between the OCV and the discharge voltage into one group. |
| US09209492B2 |
Battery pack
A battery pack includes a bare cell that includes an electrode assembly, a case for accommodating the electrode assembly, and a cap plate arranged at one side of the case, a protection circuit board assembly for controlling charge/discharge of the bare cell, a battery protection device electrically connected to the protection circuit board assembly, and a first adhesive member. At least a part of the first adhesive member is disposed on the case. The first adhesive member crosses the battery protection device in a lengthwise direction of the battery protection device. |
| US09209488B2 |
Method for manufacturing a solid electrolyte
A method for manufacturing a solid electrolyte includes dissolving first polymers and second polymers in a cosolvent including a first cosolvent and a second cosolvent to provide a preparation solution; adding a lithium solution to the preparation solution to provide a mixture solution; removing the second cosolvent from the mixture solution to prepare an electrolyte paste that exhibits thixotropy; and coating the electrolyte paste onto a substrate to form an electrolyte film, wherein the electrolyte paste in a gel state is characterized by the first polymers being aligned in parallel to one another in one direction; the second polymers randomly surrounding the first polymers and having an average molecular weight that is greater than that of the first polymers; and a lithium solution provided between the first polymers and the second polymers. |
| US09209487B2 |
Solid-state electrolytes for rechargeable lithium batteries
A lithium ion battery cell. The lithium ion battery cell includes a lithium-based anode, a cathode, and a solid-state electrolyte positioned between the lithium-based anode and the cathode. The cathode comprises alkylammonium cation lithium phthalocyanine anion complex. The solid-state electrolyte comprises an alkoxyalkylammonium cation lithium phthalocyanine anion complex. |
| US09209481B2 |
Rechargeable battery with an electrode assembly having a polymer region
A rechargeable lithium battery including an electrode assembly having a positive electrode including a positive current collector partially coated with a positive active material to form a positive coated region and a positive uncoated region, a negative electrode including a negative current collector partially coated with a negative active material to form a negative coated region and a negative uncoated region and a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The electrode assembly is spirally wound a plurality of times with the positive uncoated region and the negative uncoated region together forming a core central to the spirally-wound electrode assembly and wound from 3 to 15 times. |
| US09209477B2 |
Energy storage cell for a multi-cell energy storage device
An energy storage cell for a multi-cell energy storage device is disclosed. The energy storage cell comprises a cell information storage device adapted to store cell information regarding the energy storage cell. |
| US09209476B2 |
Fuel cells
The invention concerns the use as a redox a catalyst and/or mediator in a fuel cell catholyte solution of the compound of Formula (I) wherein: X is selected from hydrogen and from various functional groups; R1-8 are independently selected from hydrogen and various functional groups; wherein R1 and X and/or R5 and X may together form an optionally substituted ring structure; wherein R1 and R2 and/or R2 and R3 and/or R3 and R4 and/or R4 and R8 and/or R8 and R7 and/or R7 and R6 and/or R6 and R5 may together form an optionally substituted ring structure; wherein (L) indicates the optional presence of a linking bond or group between the two neighboring aromatic rings of the structure, and when present may form an optionally substituted ring structure with one or both of R4 and R8; and wherein at least one substituent group of the structure is a charge-modifying substituent. |
| US09209475B2 |
Method for microbially generating electricity and microbial power generator
To increase the power generation efficiency of a microbial power generator by using an easy and inexpensive unit. Two plate-like cation-exchange membranes 31 are disposed in parallel in a tank 30. This arrangement allows an anode chamber 32 to be formed between the cation-exchange membranes 31. Two cathode chambers 33 are separated from the anode chamber 32 by using the respective ion-permeable nonconductive membranes 31. An oxygen-containing gas is made to pass through the cathode chamber 33. An anode solution L is supplied to the anode chamber, and, preferably, the anode solution is made to circulate. A biologically treated exhaust gas is used as the oxygen-containing gas to be supplied to the cathode chamber 33. Carbon dioxide in the biologically treated exhaust gas can promote transport of Na+ and K+ ions, and water vapor can increase the ion permeability, thereby increasing the power generation efficiency. |
| US09209473B2 |
Anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell comprising a nanoporous layer having a pore gradient structure, and a production method therefor
The present invention relates to a solid oxide fuel cell having a gradient structure in which pore size becomes gradually smaller from a porous electrode to an electrolyte thin film in order to form a dense electrolyte thin film of less than about 2 microns and preferably less than 1 micron on the porous electrode. |
| US09209470B2 |
Manufacturing method and apparatus for electrolyte membrane with gaskets
There is a manufacturing apparatus for an electrolyte membrane with gaskets by laminating an electrolyte membrane having a predetermined region on which a catalyst layer is formed and a gasket formed with an opening shaped to match the shape of the region of the catalyst layer. The manufacturing apparatus for an electrolyte membrane with gaskets includes a laminating roller that abuts on the gasket to laminate the electrolyte membrane and the gasket. The laminating roller has a surface on which a protrusion is formed. The protrusion is shaped to fit in the opening of the gasket. The manufacturing apparatus for an electrolyte membrane with gaskets includes a roller controller that operates the laminating roller such that the electrolyte membrane and the gasket are laminated while the protrusion is fitted in the opening of the gasket. |
| US09209469B2 |
Solid oxide fuel cell device
To provide a solid oxide fuel cell device for preventing excess temperature rises inside a fuel cell module during the startup process. During a startup process, a control unit controls the supplied amounts of fuel gas, oxidant gas, and steam supplied to a reformer based on cell stack temperature and reformer temperature and causes transition to a generating process after transitioning to a POX process, an ATR process, and a SR process, and controls to cause a transition to the next process if in each process the cell stack temperature and reformer temperature meet transition conditions set for each; when control unit determines a temperature rise assist state, it controls to cause a transition to the generating process in a state of reduced fuel gas supply amounts compared to when it does not determine a temperature rise assist state. |
| US09209460B2 |
Cathode material for lithium ion secondary batteries, cathode member for lithium ion secondary batteries, and lithium ion secondary battery
A cathode material for a lithium ion secondary battery includes an oxide represented by a composition formula Li2+x(M,MA)(Si,MB)O4, wherein M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Mn, Co and Ni; MA and MB represent elements substituted for parts of M and Si, respectively, to compensate for an electric charge equivalent to x of Li+; and at least one of MA and MB is included. In the composition formula representing the oxide, 0 |
| US09209456B2 |
Composite structures containing high capacity porous active materials constrained in shells
Provided are novel electrode material composite structures containing high capacity active materials formed into porous base structures. The structures also include shells that encapsulate these porous base structures. During lithiation of the active material, the shell mechanically constrains the porous base structure. The shell allows lithium ions to pass through but prevents electrolyte solvents from interacting with the encapsulated active material. In certain embodiments, the shell contains carbon, while the porous base structure contains silicon. Although silicon tends to swell during lithiation, the porosity of the base structure and/or void spaces inside the shell helps to accommodate this additional volume within the shell without breaking it or substantially increasing the overall size of the composite structure. This allows integration of the composite structures into various types of battery electrodes and cycling high capacity active materials without damaging the electrodes' internal structures and deteriorating cycling characteristics of batteries. |
| US09209447B2 |
Secondary battery module
A secondary battery module including a plurality of unit batteries, each including a first terminal and a second terminal, and a plurality of bus bars, each electrically connecting the first terminal of one of the unit batteries to the second terminal of an adjacent unit battery, wherein the first terminal and second terminal each include a first contact surface and a second contact surface opposite to the first contact surface, the bus bars include a first coupling portion in contact with the first contact surface and the second contact surface of the first terminal of one of the unit batteries, a second coupling portion in contact with the first contact surface and the second contact surface of the second terminal of an adjacent unit battery and a connecting portion connecting the first and second coupling portions. |
| US09209445B2 |
Nickel-metal hydride/hydrogen hybrid battery using alkali ion conducting separator
A nickel-metal hydride (hydrogen) hybrid storage battery comprising a positive electrode containing nickel hydroxide, a combination negative electrode containing a hydrogen storage alloy electrode and a reversible hydrogen electrode, an alkaline electrolyte, and an alkali conducting separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The alkali conducting separator may be a substantially non-porous ion conducting material wherein the alkali conducted is Na, K, or Li. A method of charging and discharging such a hybrid battery is also disclosed. |
| US09209444B2 |
Polymide blend nanofiber and its use in battery separator
A polyimide blend nanofiber and its use in battery separator are disclosed. The polyimide blend nanofiber is made of two kinds of polyimide precursors by high pressure electrostatic spinning and then high temperature imidization processing, wherein one of the polyimide precursor does not melt under high temperature, and the other is meltable at a temperature of 300-400° C. The polyimide blend nanofiber of present invention has high temperature-resistance, high chemical stability, high porosity, good mechanical strength and good permeability, and can be applied as battery separator. |
| US09209443B2 |
Laser-perforated porous solid-state films and applications thereof
The disclosure relates, in one aspect, to porous solid-state films with controlled pore structures obtained by laser perforation. A thin laser-perforated film can comprise a slab defining a plurality of pores distributed in a predetermined arrangement, the plurality of pores having a distribution of sizes bound by a predetermined magnitude. In an aspect, the plurality of pores are formed in the slab with a laser having a wavelength less than about 400 nm and the slab has a transmission of the laser light of equal to or less than about 70% measured at a thickness of the slab of 100 micrometer or less. |
| US09209442B1 |
Product dispenser
Adhesive tabs having individual apertures are adhered to individual miniature products to be dispensed. The products are supported on a product carrier component having passages through which the tabs individually pass. A hook component is movable relative to the product carrier component. The hook component has a hook sized to successively enter each aperture, and to successively catch and successively remove each tab from its individual product during relative movement of the components. |
| US09209441B2 |
Method for split wire routing in a cavity for a device
Techniques for efficient routing of wires and electrical components within a cavity of a device are disclosed. A wire or group of wires can be routed in a split wire configuration, for example, in the space between two battery cells (or other components/structures). One example embodiment includes exposing a cavity between at least two electrical parts within an electrical device, and routing a first electrical component through the cavity and routing a second electrical component in a divergent path to the first electrical component, wherein the first and second electrical component have a common start and end point. In some cases, the first and second electrical components are wires. Numerous such split wire configurations will be apparent in light of this disclosure. |
| US09209435B2 |
Rechargeable battery
A rechargeable battery including an electrode assembly; a case containing the electrode assembly; a cap plate covering an opening of the case; and an external insulating member on an outer surface of the case, the external insulating member including an insulating cover on the cap plate, and an insulating tape coupled to the insulating cover on the case. |
| US09209432B2 |
Secondary battery and method for producing the same
A secondary battery has: an electrode group which includes sheet-form positive and negative electrode plates each including a metallic foil having an active material applied onto both sides of the metallic foil, and a separator disposed between the positive and negative electrode plates, wherein the positive and negative electrode plates and the separator are spirally wound together around a winding core into a flattened shape, wherein the electrode group has, at the both ends thereof as viewed in the winding core direction, respectively formed metallic foil exposed portions of the positive and negative electrode plates onto which the active material is not applied; a battery container which contains the electrode group therein, wherein the battery container has a battery casing and a battery cap; and positive and negative external terminals electrically connected to the metallic foil exposed portions of the positive and negative electrode plates, respectively. Winding end portions in the metallic foil exposed portions of the positive and negative electrode plates are arranged opposite to the inner surface of the battery container through respective conducting members. |
| US09209430B2 |
Cylindrical battery
A cylindrical battery including: a battery case having a cylindrical shape; an electrode group disposed in the battery case, including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator, and having a pair of flat outer side surfaces opposed to each other; and a spacer disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the battery case and each of the flat outer side surfaces of the electrode group. The spacer has a case contact portion that extends continuously from a first axial end to a second axial end and is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the battery case, and the case contact portion is formed with a communicating portion that communicates spaces partitioned by the case contact portion. |
| US09209426B2 |
Light-emitting element, display module, lighting module, light-emitting device, display device, electronic device, and lighting device
A light-emitting element with improved heat resistance is provided without losing its advantages such as thinness, lightness, and low power consumption. A light-emitting element is provided which includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an EL layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, in which the EL layer includes a layer containing a condensed aromatic compound or a condensed heteroaromatic compound, and a layer containing 2,9-bis(naphthalen-2-yl)-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (abbreviation: NBPhen) in contact with the layer containing the condensed aromatic compound or the condensed heteroaromatic compound. |
| US09209420B2 |
Display device
A display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a display panel. A protective window is formed on the display panel. The protective window includes a first transparent member. The first transparent member includes a plurality of protrusions. The first transparent member is made of an elastomer. A second transparent member is provided on the first transparent member. The second transparent member is made of a high-hardness polymer material. The second transparent member fills spaces between the plurality of protrusions and forms a flat surface. |
| US09209419B2 |
Organic electroluminescent device
An organic electroluminescence device of the present invention adapts a new concept in its configuration to improve its efficiency in addition to obtain a high reliability and good yielding. The organic electroluminescent device having an electroluminescent film containing an organic material capable of causing an electroluminescence and being arranged between a first electrode and a second electrode, includes: a carrier generation layer, which is a floating electrode, is embodied in the electroluminescent film; an insulting film between the first electrode and the electroluminescent film, and an insulating film between the second electrode and the electroluminescent film, wherein the organic electroluminescent device is driven by an alternating current bias. |
| US09209416B2 |
Electroluminescent element, display device and method for preparing electroluminescent element
Disclosed are an electroluminescent element, a display device and a method for preparing the electroluminescent element. The electroluminescent element comprises a substrate (101) and an anode layer (102), a light-emitting layer (103) and a cathode layer (104) that are disposed in sequence on the substrate (101). At least one insertion layer (105) for adjusting electron mobility is disposed within the light-emitting layer (103). By disposing an insertion layer (105) in the light-emitting layer (103), the effect of a voltage on the recombination of electrons and holes in the light-emitting layer (103) can be reduced, the level of the recombination of carriers such as electrons and holes in the light-emitting layer (103) can be increased, and the ratio of electrons and holes that are combined can be increased. |
| US09209410B2 |
Material for organic electroluminescence device and organic electroluminescence device utilizing the same
A material for organic electroluminescence devices of the invention which is for use in combination with at least one phosphorescent metal complex has a specific heterocyclic structure. The material for organic electroluminescence devices is used as a host material or a hole transporting material. An organic electroluminescence device having an anode, a cathode and an organic thin film layer having one or more layers which is interposed between the anode and cathode, in which at least one layer of the organic thin film layer contains the material for organic electroluminescence devices, has a high emitting efficiency, causes little pixel defects, is excellent in heat resistance, and shows a long lifetime. |
| US09209406B2 |
Aromatic heterocyclic derivative, material for organic electroluminescent element, and organic electroluminescent element
An organic EL device includes an anode, an emitting layer, an electron transporting zone and a cathode in this sequence, in which the electron transporting zone contains an aromatic heterocyclic derivative represented by a formula (1) below. In the formula (1), X1 to X3 are a nitrogen atom or CR1, and A is represented by a formula (2) below. In the formula (2), L1 is s single bond or a linking group, and HAr is represented by a formula (3) below. In the formula (3), Y1 is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or the like, and one of X11 to X18 is a carbon atom bonded to L1 by a single bond and the rest of X11 to X18 are a nitrogen atom or CR13. |
| US09209404B2 |
Macromolecular compound
The present invention provides a macromolecular compound by which the short-circuit current density and the photoelectric conversion efficiency are enhanced when the macromolecular compound is used in an organic layer contained in a photovoltaic device. Specifically, the present invention provides a macromolecular compound having a structural unit represented by Formula (1): wherein Ar1 and Ar2 are the same as or different from each other and represent a trivalent aromatic hydrocarbon group or a trivalent heterocyclic group; X1 and X2 are the same as or different from each other and represent —O—, —S—, —C(═O)—, —S(═O)—, —SO2—, —C(R50)(R51)—, —Si (R3)(R4)—, —N(R5)—, —B(R6)—, —P(R7)—, or —P(═O)(R8)—; wherein the macromolecular compound has a light absorbing terminal wavelength of 700 nm or more. |
| US09209401B2 |
Method for manufacturing organic EL element, organic EL element, organic EL display panel, organic EL display apparatus, and organic EL light-emitting apparatus
Method for manufacturing organic EL element, including: reducing internal pressure of vacuum chamber by vacuum pump connected thereto in state where substrate with applied film formed thereon is placed in vacuum chamber, applied film having been formed by applying material of organic light-emitting layer to substrate; and purifying applied film having passed through reducing the internal pressure of the vacuum chamber. Diphenylamine is used in portion of vacuum pump that is connected to inside of vacuum chamber. Reducing internal pressure of vacuum chamber is performed such that molecules of diphenylamine fly from vacuum pump into vacuum chamber and some of molecules are taken into applied film, and purifying is performed so that content of diphenylamine in applied film is in range from more than 0 nmol/cm3 to 13.8 nmol/cm3. |
| US09209398B2 |
Process for forming an electroactive layer
There is provided a process for vacuum drying. The process includes the steps of: depositing a liquid composition containing a film-forming material and at least one solvent onto a workpiece to form a wet layer; placing the wet layer on the workpiece into a vacuum chamber including a condenser; and treating the wet layer at a controlled temperature in the range of −25 to 80° C. and under an applied vacuum in the range of 10−6 to 1,000 Torr for a period of 1-100 minutes; wherein the condenser is maintained at a temperature at which the solvent will condense as a liquid at the applied vacuum. |
| US09209393B2 |
Memory arrays and associated methods of manufacturing
Memory arrays and associated methods of manufacturing are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory array includes an access line extending along a first direction and a first contact line and a second contact line extending along a second direction different from the first direction. The first and second contact lines are generally parallel to each other. The memory array also includes a memory node that includes a first memory cell electrically connected between the access line and the first contact line to form a first circuit, and a second memory cell electrically connected between the access line and the second contact line to form a second circuit different from the first circuit. |
| US09209389B2 |
Memory device and fabricating method thereof
According to one embodiment, a memory device includes first interconnects, second interconnects, and a first memory cell. The first memory cell is located in an intersection of one of the first interconnects and one of the second interconnects. The first memory cell includes a first multilayer structure and a first variable resistance layer, the first multilayer structure including a first electrode, a first selector, and a first insulator which are stacked. The first selector and the first variable resistance layer are electrically connected in series between the one of the first interconnect and the one of the second interconnect. The first variable resistance layer is formed on a portion of a side surface of the first insulator to cover the portion without covering a residual portion. |
| US09209385B2 |
Magnetic sensor integrated in a chip for detecting magnetic fields perpendicular to the chip and manufacturing process thereof
An integrated magnetic sensor formed by a semiconductor chip having a surface and accommodating a magnetic via and a sensing coil. The magnetic via is formed by a cylindrical layer of ferromagnetic material that extends perpendicular to the surface of the first chip and has in cross-section an annular shape of a circular or elliptical or curvilinear type. The sensing coil surrounds the magnetic via at a distance and is connected to an electronic circuit. |
| US09209382B2 |
Piezoelectric component
A piezo electrical component has a stack of piezo electrical layers arranged over each other and electrode layers arranged therebetween. The stack has at least one first piezo electrical layer having a first piezo electrical charge constant and, directly adjacent thereto, at least one second piezo electrical layer having a second piezo electrical charge constant. The piezo electrical charge constant describes an expansion of the piezo electrical layer perpendicular to an electrical field at a voltage 6 applied to the electrode layers. The first piezo electrical charge constant is different from the second piezo electrical charge constant. |
| US09209381B2 |
Quartz crystal unit, quartz crystal oscillator and electronic apparatus
A quartz crystal unit comprises a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator having a quartz crystal tuning fork base, and first and second quartz crystal tuning fork arms. Each of the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork arms has a first main surface and a second main surface opposite the first main surface, and at least one groove formed in at least one of the first and second main surfaces of each of the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork arms. At least one mounting arm having a width less than 0.45 mm protrudes from the quartz crystal tuning fork base, and the overall length of the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is less than 2.1 mm. |
| US09209379B2 |
Piezoelectric vibration element and piezoelectric device
A piezoelectric vibration element includes a piezoelectric piece, a pair of excitation electrodes, and a pair of extraction electrodes. The piezoelectric piece has a rectangular shape with long sides and short sides and a first principal surface and a second principal surface. The piezoelectric piece includes a mesa portion thicker than a peripheral portion at least on the first principal surface. The excitation electrode is larger than an area of the mesa portion and covers the mesa portion on the principal surface where the mesa portion is formed. The excitation electrode has a center away from a center of the piezoelectric piece toward another short side by a first distance. The mesa portion has a center away from the center of the piezoelectric piece to the other short side by a second distance. The second distance is different from the first distance. |
| US09209377B2 |
Thermoelectric module for a thermoelectric generator of a vehicle with a sealing element and vehicle having the thermoelectric module
A thermoelectric module includes an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface each being assigned to a respective hot side or cold side and forming an intermediate space therebetween, a geometric axis and at least one sealing element. The sealing element at least partially forms the inner circumferential surface or is separated from the hot side or cold side disposed there only by an electric insulation layer. The sealing element seals the intermediate space at least with respect to the cold side and has at least one electric conductor connecting at least one thermoelectric element disposed in the thermoelectric module to at least one other electric conductor disposed outside the thermoelectric module. A vehicle having the thermoelectric module is also provided. |
| US09209373B2 |
High power plastic leaded chip carrier with integrated metal reflector cup and direct heat sink
A Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier (PLCC) package is disclosed. The PLCC package includes a lead frame with an integrated reflector cup. The reflector cup is directly connected to a heat sink, which improves the ability of the PLCC package to distribute heat away from the light source that is provided in the reflector cup. |
| US09209372B2 |
Optoelectronic module and method for producing an optoelectronic module
An optoelectronic module has at least one semiconductor chip for emitting electromagnetic radiation. The semiconductor chip has a layer having a first conductivity, a layer having a second conductivity, a radiation surface and a contact surface which lies opposite the radiation surface. A contact is attached to the radiation surface. A frame made of a potting compound laterally encloses the semiconductor chip in at least some regions such that the radiation surface and the contact surface are substantially free of the potting compound. A first contact structure is arranged in at least some regions on the frame and in at least some regions on the contact surface. A second contact structure is arranged in at least some regions on the frame and in at least some regions on the contact of the radiation surface. |
| US09209370B2 |
Light emitting device and light emitting device package
A light emitting device includes a light emitting structure below a substrate, in which at least one first contact area and at least one second contact area are defined. A plurality of layers having mutually different refractive indexes is provided below the light emitting structure. |
| US09209368B2 |
Optoelectronic semi-conductor component
An optoelectronic semi-conductor component includes an optoelectronic semi-conductor chip embedded into an electrically-insulating shaped body that has an upper face and a lower face. In the shaped body, an electrical via is also embedded which forms an electrically-conductive connection between the upper face and the lower face of the shaped body. On the upper face of the shaped body, a reflective layer is arranged which forms an electrically-conductive connection between an electrical semi-conductor chip contact and the via. The reflective layer covers at least 50% of the upper face of the shaped body. |
| US09209365B2 |
Light-emitting diode module and method for operating a light-emitting diode module
A light-emitting diode module includes: at least one first light-emitting diode chip which is based on the material system AlInGaN and which emits a first radiation in the blue spectral range, at least one second light-emitting diode chip which is based on the material system InGaAlP and which emits a second radiation in the red spectral range, and a conversion element, which is disposed downstream of at least the first light-emitting diode chip and is designed for converting part of the first radiation into a third radiation in the green to green-yellow spectral range, wherein the conversion element comprises a first phosphor and a second phosphor, the first phosphor emits at a shorter wavelength than the second phosphor, the first phosphor has an absorption that decreases toward relatively long wavelengths in the long-wave blue spectral range, and the second phosphor has an absorption maximum in the middle blue spectral range. |
| US09209364B2 |
Light emitting device
A light emitting device includes a light emitting element and a substrate including a flexible base, a plurality of wiring portions, a groove portion, and a reflective layer. The flexible base extends in a first direction corresponding to a longitudinal direction of the substrate. The wiring portions are arranged on the flexible base. The groove portion is formed between the wiring portions spaced apart from each other. The groove portion includes a first groove portion extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The reflective layer is arranged on the plurality of wiring portions. The light emitting element is disposed near the reflective layer and electrically connected to the plurality of wiring portions. The light emitting element is spaced apart from the first groove portion. |
| US09209361B2 |
Nitride semiconductor light-emitting element
The present invention improves luminous efficiency of a nitride semiconductor light-emitting element. In the nitride semiconductor light-emitting element, a non-polar or semi-polar Alx2Iny2Gaz2N layer having a thickness of t1 is interposed between the Alx1Iny1Gaz1N layer included in the p-type nitride semiconductor layer and the active layer (0 |
| US09209360B2 |
Vertical topology light-emitting device
A vertical topology light emitting device comprises a metal support structure; an adhesion structure on the metal support structure, wherein the adhesion structure comprises a first adhesion layer and a second adhesion layer on the first adhesion layer; a metal layer on the adhesion structure, wherein the adhesion structure is thicker than the metal layer; a GaN-based semiconductor structure on the metal layer, wherein the GaN-based semiconductor structure has a thickness less than 5 micrometers; a multi-layered electrode structure on the GaN-based semiconductor structure; and a protective layer on a side surface and a top surface of the GaN-based semiconductor structure, wherein the protective layer is further disposed on the multi-layered electrode structure. |
| US09209358B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
Disclosed are a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same. A light emitting diode (LED) includes a conductive substrate, and a gallium nitride (GaN)-based semiconductor stack positioned on the conductive substrate. The semiconductor stack includes an active layer that is a semi-polar semiconductor layer. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an LED having improved light emitting efficiency. |
| US09209349B2 |
Method of fabricating nitride semiconductor light emitting device
A method of fabricating a nitride semiconductor light emitting device is provided. The method includes growing a first group-III-nitride semiconductor layer on a substrate, the first group-III-nitride semiconductor layer having a top surface formed as a group-III-rich surface exhibiting a group-III-polarity and a bottom surface formed as a N-rich surface exhibiting a N-polarity. The method further includes selectively etching a N-polarity region in the top surface of the first group III nitride semiconductor layer, forming a second group III nitride semiconductor layer on the first group III nitride semiconductor layer to fill the etched N-polarity region and forming a light emitting structure including first and second conductivity type nitride semiconductor layers and an active layer on the second group III nitride semiconductor layer. |
| US09209347B2 |
Laser crystallization and polycrystal efficiency improvement for thin film solar
Apparatus and methods of thermally processing semiconductor substrates are disclosed. Aspects of the apparatus include a source of intense radiation and a rotating energy distributor that distributes the intense radiation to a rectifier. The rectifier directs the radiation toward the substrate. Aspects of the method include using a rotating energy distributor to distribute pulsed energy to a substrate for processing. The rotational rate of the energy distributor is set based on the pulse repetition rate of the energy source. A substrate may be continuously translated with respect to the energy distributor at a rate set based on the pulse repetition rate of the energy source. |
| US09209346B2 |
Radiation detector having a bandgap engineered absorber
A radiation detector is provided that includes a photodiode having a radiation absorber with a graded multilayer structure. Each layer of the absorber is formed from a semiconductor material, such as HgCdTe. A first of the layers is formed to have a first predetermined wavelength cutoff. A second of the layers is disposed over the first layer and beneath the first surface of the absorber through which radiation is received. The second layer has a graded composition structure of the semiconductor material such that the wavelength cutoff of the second layer varies from a second predetermined wavelength cutoff to the first predetermined wavelength cutoff such that the second layer has a progressively smaller bandgap than the first bandgap of the first layer. The graded multilayer radiation absorber structure enables carriers to flow toward a conductor that is used for measuring the radiation being sensed by the radiation absorber. |
| US09209345B2 |
Shallow trench textured regions and associated methods
Photosensitive devices and associated methods are provided. In one aspect, for example, a photosensitive imager device can include a semiconductor layer having multiple doped regions forming a least one junction, a textured region coupled to the semiconductor layer and positioned to interact with electromagnetic radiation. The textured region can be formed from a series of shallow trench isolation features. |
| US09209342B2 |
Methods of manufacturing light to current converter devices
Processes for making light to current converter devices are provided. The processes can be used to make light to current converter devices having P-N junctions located on only the top surface of the cell, located on the top surface and symmetrically or asymmetrically along a portion of the inner surface of the via holes, located on the top surface and full inner surface of the via holes, or located on the top surface, full inner surface of the via holes, and a portion of the bottom surface of the cell. The processes may isolate the desired P-N junction by etching the emitter, forming a via hole after forming the emitter, using a barrier layer to protect portions of the emitter from etching, or using a barrier layer to prevent the emitter from being formed on portions of the substrate. |
| US09209340B2 |
Polarizing photovoltaic devices and applications in LCD displays and tandem solar cells
An electro-optic device includes a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, and an active layer of organic semiconducting material between the first electrode and the second electrode. The active layer includes a quasi-bilayer in which a first plurality molecules from a first layer of active material is interpenetrated by a second plurality of molecules from a second layer of active material formed on the first layer. The first and second pluralities of molecules provide donor-acceptor pairs such that the quasi-bilayer has at least a portion that is a bulk heterojunction active layer. Each of the first plurality of molecules has a long axis that is longer than corresponding transverse axes and the long axis is substantially aligned along a common direction such that the active layer is more sensitive to a first polarization of incident light than a second polarization of the incident light, wherein the first polarization and the second polarization are orthogonal polarization components of the light. |
| US09209339B2 |
Mechanisms for forming backside illuminated image sensor structure
Embodiments of mechanisms of a backside illuminated image sensor structure are provided. The backside illuminated image sensor structure includes a device substrate having a frontside and a backside and pixels formed at the frontside of the substrate. The backside illuminated image sensor structure further includes a metal element formed in a dielectric layer over the backside of the substrate and a color filter layer formed over the dielectric layer. In addition, the metal element is configured to form a light blocking area in the device substrate and is made of copper. |
| US09209336B2 |
Array of mutually isolated, geiger-mode, avalanche photodiodes and manufacturing method thereof
An embodiment of array of Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes, wherein each photodiode is formed by a body of semiconductor material, having a first conductivity type and housing an anode region, of a second conductivity type, facing a top surface of the body, a cathode-contact region, having the first conductivity type and a higher doping level than the body, facing a bottom surface of the body, an insulation region extending through the body and insulating an active area from the rest of the body, the active area housing the anode region and the cathode-contact region. The insulation region is formed by a first mirror region of polycrystalline silicon, a second mirror region of metal material, and a channel-stopper region of dielectric material, surrounding the first and second mirror regions. |
| US09209331B2 |
Materials, fabrication equipment, and methods for stable, sensitive photodetectors and image sensors made therefrom
Optically sensitive devices include a device comprising a first contact and a second contact, each having a work function, and an optically sensitive material between the first contact and the second contact. The optically sensitive material comprises a p-type semiconductor, and the optically sensitive material has a work function. Circuitry applies a bias voltage between the first contact and the second contact. The optically sensitive material has an electron lifetime that is greater than the electron transit time from the first contact to the second contact when the bias is applied between the first contact and the second contact. The first contact provides injection of electrons and blocking the extraction of holes. The interface between the first contact and the optically sensitive material provides a surface recombination velocity less than 1 cm/s. |
| US09209328B2 |
Optoelectronic semiconductor component
An optoelectronic semiconductor component includes an optoelectronic semiconductor chip having side areas covered by a shaped body, at least one plated-through hole including an electrically conductive material, and an electrically conductive connection electrically conductively connected to the semiconductor chip and the plated-through hole, wherein, the plated-through hole is arranged in a manner laterally spaced apart from the semiconductor chip, the plated-through hole completely penetrates through the shaped body, and the plated-through hole extends from a top side of the shaped body to an underside of the shaped body, the electrically conductive connection extends at the top side of the shaped body. |
| US09209326B2 |
Solar cell having multiple transparent conductive layers and manufacturing method thereof
A solar cell is provided that increases a rate of sunlight absorbed into a photoelectric conversion layer by forming a transparent conductive layer into a plurality of layers having different oxygen contents and different light absorption coefficients, and a manufacturing method thereof. The solar cell includes a substrate, a transparent conductive layer, and a photoelectric conversion layer. The transparent conductive layer includes a first layer having a first light absorption coefficient, and a second layer formed on the first layer and having a second light absorption coefficient higher than the first light absorption coefficient. |
| US09209325B2 |
Selective self-aligned plating of heterojunction solar cells
A method for forming contacts on a photovoltaic device includes forming a heterojunction cell including a substrate, a passivation layer and a doped layer and forming a transparent conductor on the cell. A patterned barrier layer is formed on the transparent conductor and has openings therein wherein the transparent conductor is exposed through the openings in the barrier layer. A conductive contact is grown through the openings in the patterned barrier layer by a selective plating process. |
| US09209324B2 |
Photovoltaic cell arrangements
Apparatus comprise a photovoltaic cell arrangement having a front surface and a rear surface, and first and second conductor patterns formed on different ones of the front and rear surfaces. The first conductor pattern comprises at least one loop, and the apparatus comprises at least a first terminal connected to the second conductor pattern, and second and third terminals connected to different ends of the at least one loop of the first conductor pattern. A transducer arrangement comprises a transducer body having a front surface and a rear surface, and first and second conductor patterns formed on different ones of the front and rear surfaces. The first conductor pattern comprises at least one loop. The transducer arrangement comprises at least a first terminal connected to the second conductor pattern, and second and third terminals connected to different ends of the at least one spiral loop of the first conductor pattern. The transducer body and the first and second conductor patterns together form a photovoltaic transducer arrangement and the second conductor pattern constitutes an induction transducer. |
| US09209323B2 |
Conductive paste used for solar cell electrodes and method of manufacturing the solar cell electrodes
A conductive paste used for a solar cell electrode comprising, (i) 60 wt % to 95 wt % of a conductive powder; (ii) 0.1 wt % to 5.0 wt % of a lead-tellurium-oxide powder, comprising 20 wt % to 60 wt % of PbO and 20 wt % to 60 wt % of TeO2 based on the total weight of the lead-tellurium-oxide powder; (iii) 3 wt % to 38 wt % of an organic medium; and (iv) 0.1 wt % to 1.5 wt % of an inorganic oxide powder selected from the group consisting of Ho2O3, La2O3, Sm2O3, Y2O3, Yb2O3, Gd2O3 and a mixture thereof, based on the total weight of the conductive paste. |
| US09209321B2 |
Solar cell
A solar cell includes: a passivating layer sequence having a plurality of island-like recesses from which the passivating layers have been completely removed; a thin first metal layer situated on the passivating layer sequence and situated in the recesses on the substrate surface; a thin dielectric cover layer covering the first metal layer which has a first regular arrangement of narrow line-type openings and a second regular arrangement of essentially wider line-type or extended island-type openings, the first and second opening arrangement being aligned at an angle; and a highly conductive second metal layer able to be soldered at the exposed surface in the openings of the first and second opening arrangement and contacts the first metal layer there. |
| US09209318B2 |
Vertical JFET with body diode and device regions disposed in a single compound epitaxial layer
A vertical junction field effect transistor (JFET) includes a drain, a source, a gate, a drift region, and a body diode. The source, gate, drift region, and body diode are all disposed in the same compound semiconductor epitaxial layer. The drain is vertically spaced apart from the source and the gate by the drift region. The body diode is connected between the drain and the source. |
| US09209316B2 |
ROM for constraining 2nd-bit effect
A read only memory including a substrate, a source region and a drain region, a charge storage structure, a gate, and a local extreme doping region is provided. The source region and the drain region are disposed in the substrate, the charge storage structure is located on the substrate between the source region and the drain region, and the gate is configured on the charge storage structure. The local extreme doping region is located in the substrate between the source region and the drain region and includes a low doping concentration region and at least one high doping concentration region. The high doping concentration region is disposed between the low doping concentration region and one of the source region and the drain region, and a doping concentration of the high doping concentration region is three times or more than three times a doping concentration of the low doping concentration region. |
| US09209312B2 |
Oxide semiconductor target and oxide semiconductor material, as well as semiconductor device using the same
There are provided an oxide semiconductor material, capable of attaining stability of a threshold voltage (Vth) (threshold voltage shift amount ΔVth within a range of ±3 V in PDS and NBIS) and field-effect mobility of 5 cm2/Vs or more necessary for the operation of an OLED display device. An oxide semiconductor target in which an oxide semiconductor material with one or more of oxides of W, Ta, and Hf of 5d transition metal added each by 0.07 to 3.8 at %, 0.5 to 4.7 at %, and 0.32 to 6.4 at % to a semiconductor material with Zn—Sn—O as a main ingredient is sintered; a semiconductor channel layer formed by using the target, and an oxide semiconductor material for TFT protective film, as well as a semiconductor device having the same. |
| US09209311B2 |
Thin film transistor and method for manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a thin film transistor includes a gate electrode, a semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film, and a source electrode and a drain electrode. The semiconductor layer includes an oxide including at least one of gallium and zinc, and indium. The gate insulating film is provided between the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer. The source electrode and a drain electrode are electrically connected to the semiconductor layer and spaced from each other. The semiconductor layer includes a plurality of fine crystallites dispersed three-dimensionally in the semiconductor layer and has periodicity in arrangement of atoms. |
| US09209310B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the semiconductor device
An object is to provide a thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer, in which a material used for the oxide semiconductor layer and a material used for source and drain electrode layers are prevented from reacting with each other. The source and drain electrode layers provided over a substrate having an insulating surface have a stacked structure of two or more layers. In the stack of layers, a layer which is in contact with an oxide semiconductor layer is a metal layer including a metal element other than a metal element included in the oxide semiconductor layer. An element selected from Sn, Sb, Se, Te, Pd, Ag, Ni, and Cu; an alloy containing any of these elements as a component; an alloy containing any of these elements in combination; or the like is used for a material of the metal layer used. |
| US09209304B2 |
N/P MOS FinFET performance enhancement by specific orientation surface
As will be appreciated in more detail herein, the present disclosure provides for FinFET techniques whereby a FinFET channel region has a particular orientation with respect to the crystalline lattice of the semiconductor device to provide enhanced mobility, compared to conventional FinFETs. In particular, the present disclosure provides FinFETs with a channel region whose lattice includes silicon atoms arranged on (551) lattice plane. In this configuration, the sidewalls of the channel region are particularly smooth at the atomic level, which tends to promote higher carrier mobility and higher device performance than previously achievable. |
| US09209303B2 |
Structure and method for FinFET device
The present disclosure provides a fin-like field-effect transistor (FinFET) device. The device includes a substrate having a first region, a second region and a third region. The first region includes a first fin structure, a first high-k (HK)/metal gate (MG) stack wrapping over an upper portion of the first fin structure and a first source/drain features, separated by the first HK/MG stack, over the recessed first fin structure. The second region includes a second fin structure, the first source/drain features over a portion of the recessed second fin structure. The third region includes a dummy gate stack over the second fin structure and the two first regions are separated by the second region, or by the third region. |
| US09209302B2 |
Method of reducing the heights of source-drain sidewall spacers of FinFETs through etching
A method of forming an integrated circuit device includes forming a gate stack covering a middle portion of a semiconductor fin, forming a gate spacer layer over the gate stack and the semiconductor fin, and patterning the gate spacer layer. The resulting spacers include a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack, and a fin spacer on a sidewall of an end portion of the semiconductor fin. The fin spacer is then etched. When the etching is finished, a height of the fin spacer is smaller than about a half of the height of the semiconductor fin. |
| US09209300B2 |
Fin field effect transistor
A fin field effect transistor including a first insulation region and a second insulation region over a top surface of a substrate. The first insulation region includes tapered top surfaces, and the second insulation region includes tapered top surfaces. The fin field effect transistor further includes a fin extending above the top surface between the first insulation region and the second insulation region. The fin includes a first portion having a top surface below the tapered top surfaces of the first insulation region. The fin includes a second portion having a top surface above the tapered top surfaces of the first insulation region. |
| US09209298B2 |
Metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor with extended gate dielectric layer
A metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) includes a substrate, a source and a drain in the substrate, a gate electrode disposed over the substrate between the source and drain, and a gate dielectric layer disposed between the substrate and the gate electrode. At least a portion of the gate dielectric layer is extended beyond the gate electrode toward at least one of the source or the drain. |
| US09209296B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a vertical trench gate element portion and a lateral n-channel element portion for control which includes a well diffusion region, and a junction edge termination region which surrounds the vertical trench gate element portion and the lateral n-channel element portion for control. The junction edge termination region includes an oxide layer, a sustain region in contact with a trench provided at the end, and a diffusion region in contact with the sustain region. The diffusion region is deeper than the base region and has low concentration. The sustain region is shallower than the diffusion region and has high concentration. The well diffusion region is deeper than the base region and the sustain region and has low concentration. The breakdown voltage of the junction edge termination region and the well diffusion region is higher than that of the vertical trench gate element portion. |
| US09209293B2 |
Integrated device having MOSFET cell array embedded with barrier Schottky diode
Provided is an integrated device having a MOSFET cell array embedded with a junction barrier Schottky (JBS) diode. The integrated device comprises a plurality of areas, each of which includes a plurality of MOS transistor cells and at least one JBS diode. Any two adjacent MOS transistor cells are separated by a separating line. A first MOS transistor cell and a second MOS transistor cell are adjacent in a first direction and separated by a first separating line, and the first transistor cell and a third MOS transistor cell are adjacent in a second direction and separated by a second separating line. The JBS diode is disposed at an intersection region between the first separating line and the second separating line. The JBS diode is connected in anti-parallel to the first, second and third MOS transistor cells. |