| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09445534B2 |
Compute device casing that doubles as packaging and shipping container for the compute device
An information handling system (IHS) when operational has compute components held by a lightweight server (LWS) chassis. For both shipping and operational support, the LWS chassis is inserted into a casing that is laterally sized to prevent lateral movement of the server chassis. The casing is formed of an impact tolerant material to protect the server chassis and any functional compute components inserted within the server chassis. In addition, the casing has sealable flaps that enable the server chassis to be fully enclosed within the casing. Thereby, the casing can be utilized as an external shipping carton in which the IHS can be physically shipped to a destination. |
| US09445532B2 |
Integrated electrical and thermal solution for inverter DC-link capacitor packaging
An improved capacitor packaging solution is presented that incorporates both thermal and electrical considerations. A package can include capacitor elements electrically coupled to a bus bar, and a thermally enhanced isolation layer between the bus bar and a case. The isolation layer can be provided adjacent a case base and sidewall portions. The bus bar can be disposed adjacent the isolation layer and be configured to extend along the package side and along the package length below the capacitor elements to provide an extended path for heat dissipation from the bus bar prior to its contact with capacitor elements. The enhanced isolation layer is configured to conduct heat away from the bus bar to the case to avoid the hotspot temperature of the capacitor. Reduced capacitor temperature allows use of smaller, cheaper capacitors, reducing inverter costs without compromising performance. |
| US09445531B1 |
Air washing for open air cooling of data centers
A data center system includes a housing to house servers arranged in electronic racks and an air supply system to receive contaminated air from an external environment of the housing. The datacenter system further includes a misting and cooling system to clean and cool the contaminated air. The misting and cooling system includes a cooling and cleaning chamber to receive the contaminated air and nozzles to spray liquid droplets into the contaminated air within the cooling and cleaning chamber. The liquid droplets collect and remove at least a portion of the particles contained in the contaminated air to generate non-contaminated air. The data center system further includes an airflow delivery system to generate an airflow from the non-contaminated air to cause the airflow to travel through the servers of the electronic racks to exchange heat generated by the servers due to operations of the servers. |
| US09445530B2 |
Real-time individual electronic enclosure cooling system
This discloses apparatuses for cooling individual server racks or electrical enclosures. These devices maintain target enclosure temperatures within plus or minus 1 or 2 degrees F. The devices employ industrial cooling using staged cooling towers to evaporatively reach temperatures below the wet bulb temperature of the ambient air. Methods for using such apparatuses are disclosed as well. |
| US09445526B2 |
Modular jet impingement assemblies with passive and active flow control for electronics cooling
Power electronics modules having modular jet impingement assembly utilized to cool heat generating devices are disclosed. The modular jet impingement assemblies include a modular manifold having a distribution recess, one or more angled inlet connection tubes positioned at an inlet end of the modular manifold that fluidly couple the inlet tube to the distribution recess and one or more outlet connection tubes positioned at an outlet end of the modular manifold that fluidly coupling the outlet tube to the distribution recess. The modular jet impingement assemblies include a manifold insert removably positioned within the distribution recess and include one or more inlet branch channels each including an impinging slot and one or more outlet branch channels each including a collecting slot. Further a heat transfer plate coupled to the modular manifold, the heat transfer plate comprising an impingement surface including an array of fins that extend toward the manifold insert. |
| US09445525B2 |
Power supply device
In a power supply device 1, a first space R1 and a second space R2 are delimited, a coil component 20 is arranged in the first space R1, and heat-generating components and components having weak resistance to heat are arranged in the second space R2. The power supply device 1 is configured to contain the coil component 20 in the first space R1 so that ambient air of the coil component 20 can contact a first side wall 72, which constitutes the first space R1, making it possible to expect discharge of heat to coolant in a coolant channel W via the first side wall 72. Therefore, heat can be discharged from the ambient air of the coil component, the temperature of which has been raised by heat generation, towards the coolant efficiently. |
| US09445524B2 |
Systems and methods for thermoelectrically cooling inductive charging stations
In some embodiments, a cooling system for an induction charger includes a thermal conditioning module in fluid communication with an induction charging assembly, which includes a dock and an induction charging module. The dock can be configured to receive a portable electronic device, such as a cell phone, that is configured to accept inductive charging from the induction charging module. The thermal conditioning module can include a fan or other fluid encouraging assembly, ducting, and a thermoelectric device (e.g., a Peltier device). A fluid, such as air, can flow from the fan and across and/or through the thermoelectric device, thereby conditioning the fluid. The conditioned fluid can be provided to the dock to at least partially offset the heat generated by the inductive charging and/or the portable electronic device. |
| US09445520B2 |
Systems for ejecting removable modules from electronic devices
An electronic device may be provided with an ejectable component assembly having a connector that can receive and retain a removable module within a housing of the electronic device. The ejectable component assembly may also be provided with an ejector mechanism for at least partially ejecting the removable module from the connector. The ejector mechanism may receive a user input force at an ejector user interface, translate that user input force into an ejection force, and apply that ejection force onto the removable module for ejecting the module. The ejector user interface may be provided at any suitable position of the housing that may not interfere with other functions of the device. The path along which the ejector mechanism translates the user input force into the ejection force between the ejector user interface and the removable module may be provided in any suitable way throughout the device. |
| US09445519B2 |
Method of manufacturing thick-film electrode
A method of manufacturing a thick-film electrode comprising steps of: (a) applying a conductive paste onto a substrate comprising, (i) 100 parts by weight of a conductive powder, wherein the conductive powder is 16 to 49 weight percent based on the weight of the conductive paste; (ii) 0.5 to 10 parts by weight of a metal additive comprising bismuth (Bi); (iii) 1 to 25 parts by weight of a glass frit; and (iv) 50 to 300 parts by weight of an organic medium; and (b) firing the applied conductive paste to form the thick-film electrode, wherein thickness of the thick-film electrode is 0.5 to 15 μm. |
| US09445514B2 |
Handle and display device equipped with handle
A display device (10) includes a display (12) used to display an image, and a handle (14) attached to a recess (13) formed in a rear face (12a) of the display (12). The handle having a Z-shape in a side view connects between a first holder (17) and a second holder (18) via a connecting part (19). The second holder (18) is projected outside the display device so as to achieve an easy-to-hold ability when the first mounting face (17a) of the first holder (17) is fixed to the recess (13) of the display device (10). The first holder (17) is kept inside the thickness of the display device (10) when the second mounting face (18a) of the second holder (18) is fixed to the recess (13). |
| US09445510B2 |
Galvanic process for filling through-holes with metals, in particular of printed circuit boards with copper
The present invention relates to a galvanic process for filling through-holes with metals. The process is particularly suitable for filling through-holes of printed circuit boards with copper. The process comprises the following steps: (i) formation of a narrow part in the center of a through-hole by electroplating; and (ii) filling the through-hole obtained in step (i) with metal by electroplating. |
| US09445505B2 |
Rotary conveying equipment for exposing substrate
Disclosed is a rotary conveying equipment for exposing a substrate. The rotary conveying equipment includes a carrying device and a rotary moving device. The carrying device carries the substrate by fastening the substrate thereon. The rotary moving device includes a rotating means, and the rotating means is connected to the carrying device and is moved together while rotated. And the efficiency of the exposure process is improved. |
| US09445496B2 |
Glass clad microelectronic substrate
Embodiments of the present description relate to the field of fabricating microelectronic substrates. The microelectronic substrate may include a trace routing structure disposed between opposing glass layers. The trace routing structure may comprise one or more dielectric layers having conductive traces formed thereon and therethrough. Also disclosed are embodiments of a microelectronic package including a microelectronic device disposed proximate one glass layer of the microelectronic substrate and coupled with the microelectronic substrate by a plurality of interconnects. |
| US09445495B2 |
Capacitance touch panel module and fabrication method thereof
A method of fabricating a capacitance touch panel module includes forming a plurality of first conductive patterns on a substrate comprising a touching area and a peripheral area along a first orientation, a plurality of second conductive patterns along a second orientation, and a plurality of connecting portions in the touching area; forming a plurality of insulated protrusions, in which each insulated protrusion covering one connecting portion, and forming an insulated frame on the peripheral area; and forming a bridging member on each insulated protrusion. |
| US09445493B2 |
Signal line and manufacturing method therefor
A signal line that is easily inflected includes a laminated body including at least insulator layers that include flexible material and are laminated from a positive direction side in a z axis direction to a negative direction side therein in this order. A ground conductor is securely fixed to a main surface on the positive direction side of the insulation sheet in the z axis direction. A signal line is securely fixed to a main surface on the positive direction side of the insulator layer in the z axis direction. A ground conductor is securely fixed to a main surface on the positive direction side of the insulator layer in the z axis direction. The ground conductors and the signal line define a stripline structure. The laminated body is inflected so that the insulator layer is located on an inner periphery side, compared with a location of the insulator layer. |
| US09445486B2 |
Energy dissipative tubes
One aspect of the invention provides an energy dissipative tube including: a length of corrugated stainless steel tubing; a conductive resin layer adjacent to the outside of the tubing; and an insulative resin layer adjacent to the conductive layer. Another aspect of the invention provides an energy dissipative tube consisting of: a length of corrugated stainless steel tubing; a conductive thermoplastic polymer layer adjacent to the outside of the tubing, the conductive thermoplastic polymer layer having a volume resistivity of less than about 106 ohm-cm; and an insulative resin layer adjacent to the conductive layer. |
| US09445484B2 |
Multi-screen display apparatus and luminance control method
In the case where luminance of light to be irradiated onto a multi-screen is not homogenized over the entire multi-screen, each of an image display apparatus and image display apparatuses carries out a homogenizing process of light to be irradiated onto a multi-screen over the entire multi-screen. |
| US09445475B1 |
Buck regulator for LED lighting color mixing and/or current compensation
A light emitting diode (LED) lighting system includes a first string of first LEDs emitting light having a first color. A second string of second LEDs emits light having a second color and connected in series with the first string of first LEDs; A first switch and a second switch are connected in series. A regulator module is configured to modulate the first switch and the second switch to provide a desired current ratio. The desired current ratio corresponds to a ratio of a first current through the first string of first LEDs to a second current through the second string of second LEDs. |
| US09445474B2 |
Two-level LED security light with motion sensor
A two-level LED security light with a motion sensor. At night, the LED is turned on for a low level illumination. When the motion sensor detects any intrusion, the LED is switched from the low level illumination to a high level illumination for a short duration time. After the short duration time, the LED security light returns to the low level illumination for saving energy. The LED security light includes a power supply unit, a light sensing control unit, a motion sensing unit, a loading and power control unit, and a lighting-emitting unit. The lighting-emitting unit includes one or a plurality of LEDs which may be turned-on or turned-off according to the sensing results from the light sensing control unit. When the motion sensing unit detects an intrusion, the illumination of the LED security light can be immediately turned on to the high level to scare away the intruder. |
| US09445468B1 |
Voltage converting device
A voltage converting device includes an input circuit to rectify an AC input voltage, a voltage converter receiving the rectified input voltage, a specific connection of a switch, an inductor, a capacitor and two discharging diodes coupled between the input circuit and a primary-side winding of the voltage converter, and an output circuit coupled to a secondary-side winding of the voltage converter to output a DC output voltage. Through proper operation of the switch, the AC input voltage may be converted into the DC output voltage. |
| US09445464B2 |
Method and circuit arrangement for operating light-emitting means with a sudden load variation
An operating circuit for light-emitting means (18), in particular an LED string, contains an actively clocked power factor correction circuit (11), which produces a regulated output voltage (UBUS), by means of which the light-emitting means (18) are supplied directly or indirectly via at least one further converter stage (17). The regulation is performed by means of a control unit (16), which, as manipulated variable (tON), actuates clocking of a switch of the power factor correction circuit (11). The operating circuit is designed, in the event of the presence of a predefined event, for example a rapid or sudden change in the energy demand of the light-emitting means (18), selectively: —to change suddenly the value of the manipulated variable (tON) using feedforward control, and/or —to vary the time constant of the control loop of the output voltage (UBUS). |
| US09445462B2 |
Light emitting device for AC power operation
Disclosed is an improved light-emitting device for an AC power operation. A conventional light emitting device employs an AC light-emitting diode having arrays of light emitting cells connected in reverse parallel. The arrays in the prior art alternately repeat on/off in response to a phase change of an AC power source, resulting in short light emission time during a ½ cycle and the occurrence of a flicker effect. An AC light-emitting device according to the present invention employs a variety of means by which light emission time is prolonged daring a ½ cycle in response to a phase change of an AC power source and a flicker effect can be reduced. For example, the means may be switching blocks respectively connected to nodes between the light emitting cells, switching blocks connected to a plurality of arrays, or a delay phosphor. Further, there is provided an AC light-emitting device, wherein a plurality of arrays having the different numbers of light emitting cells are employed to increase light emission time and to reduce a flicker effect. |
| US09445459B2 |
Slotted shot sleeve for induction melting of material
Disclosed are embodiments of a vessel configured to contain a secondary magnetic induction field therein for melting materials, and methods of use thereof. The vessel can be used in an injection molding apparatus having an induction coil positioned along a horizontal axis and adjacent to the vessel. The vessel can have a tubular body configured to substantially surround and receive a plunger tip. At least one longitudinal slot extends through the thickness of the body to allow and/or direct eddy currents into the vessel during application of an RF induction field from the coil. The body also includes temperature regulating lines configured to flow a liquid within. The temperature regulating lines can be provided to run longitudinally within the wall(s) of the body between its inner bore and outer surface(s). A flange may be provided at one end of the body to secure the body within an injection molding apparatus. |
| US09445457B2 |
Heater and image heating apparatus including the same
To provide a heater that can reduce fixing failure in a paper passing area while suppressing a temperature rise in a sheet non-passing area, and a fixing apparatus including the heater.Resistors are connected in parallel between two conductive patterns that are provided on a heater substrate along the longitudinal direction of the substrate, and resistors are arranged so that the shortest current path of each of the resistors can overlap the shortest current path of an adjacent resistor in the longitudinal direction of the substrate. |
| US09445456B2 |
Dual heating element of a cooking appliance
A cooking appliance including a plurality of separately controlled cooking areas, a first heating element positioned below one of the plurality of separately controlled cooking areas, a second heating element positioned below the same separately controlled cooking area as the first heating element, and an infinite switch electrically coupled with the first heating element and operable to energize the first heating element to supply heat to the separately controlled cooking area when the infinite switch is located at a first position. The switch has an operational tolerance, and the first heating element is sized such that the separately controlled cooking area is maintained below a target cooking temperature when the infinite switch is located at the first position and is operating at an upper limit of the operational tolerance. |
| US09445449B2 |
Method and devices for pairing within a group of wireless devices
System for wireless communication comprises a group of wireless devices (110,120,130,140) that include at least one wireless host device (100) securely connected based on first secret data (240) shared by the group. A second secure connection is set-up between a portable wireless device (200) and a wireless host device based on second secret data (250). At least one of the wireless devices is instructed to apply a third secret data for setting up a direct wireless secure connection with the portable wireless device (200). Also the portable wireless device is instructed via the second secure connection to apply the third secret data for setting up the direct secure connections with the wireless devices based on the third secret data. Finally a respective direct wireless secure connection is set-up between the second device and a respective wireless device based on the third secret data. Advantageously latency is reduced in a secure wireless docking system. |
| US09445447B2 |
Pairing a wireless devices within a vehicle
A system and a method for establishing short range wireless communication between two vehicle modules. The system determines the availability of a first vehicle module and a second vehicle module to establish a short range wireless communication connection. The determination may be based upon whether the first vehicle module is storing pairing data. The system validates the pairing data at the second vehicle module using a wired connection. If the pairing data is validated, the first and second vehicle modules may establish a wireless connection using at least a portion of the pairing data. When the wireless connection ends, the system may re-determine the availability and revalidate any pairing data via the wired connection before establishing a wireless connection. |
| US09445446B2 |
Method and apparatus for device to device communication
This disclosure proposes a method to achieve D2D (device to device) communication in LTE system. Traditional communication in LTE systems is based on eNB. UEs (User Equipment) need to connect to eNB to send uplink and downlink transmission. Device to device communication is different from the traditional LTE scheme. UEs may directly connect to other UEs, sending data to each other. The disclosure provides the signaling process, based on LTE network entry procedure, to establish D2D communication in LTE system. D2D UEs send Msg1 to another D2D UE, and the recipient respond with Msg2. After the negotiation between D2D UEs, Msg3 and Msg4 are exchanged between UEs and eNB. Several embodiments are provided for the signaling of Msg3 and Msg4. The D2D data transmission may be enabled after the Msg4 or explicit data session initialization. |
| US09445445B2 |
Systems and methods for processing and transmitting sensor data
Systems and methods for processing, transmitting and displaying data received from an analyte sensor, such as a glucose sensor, are provided. In an embodiment, a method for transmitting data between a first communication device associated with an analyte sensor and a second communication device configured to provide user access to sensor-related information comprises: activating a transceiver of a first communication device associated with an analyte sensor at a first time; and establishing a two-way communication channel with the second communication device; wherein the activating comprises waking the transceiver from a low power sleep mode using a forced wakeup from the second communication device. |
| US09445441B2 |
System and method for processing trigger messages of a terminal
A method and system for processing trigger message of a terminal, wherein, the method includes: after receiving trigger message which is transmitted from a machine type communication server to the terminal, a control network element in a core network storing the trigger message of the terminal, and removing the trigger message of the terminal before a validity timer for the trigger message of the terminal expires. The control network element in the present scheme removes the stored trigger message in time before the validity timer for the trigger message of the terminal expires, thus saving the storage resources of the network. |
| US09445439B2 |
System and method for providing a push to talk over cellular service
Systems, methods, and apparatuses (including, but not limited to, User Equipment (UE) and servers) that provide Push to Talk (PTT) over Cellular (PoC) service are described. Whether a PoC group call is established and/or released depends on the priority of any currently connected PoC groups and the number of current PoC connections. |
| US09445432B2 |
Fine-grained channel access in wireless networks
A fine-grained channel access system and method to facilitate fine-grained channel access in a high-data rate wide-band wireless local-area network (WLAN). Embodiments of the system and method divide an entire wireless channel into proper size subchannels commensurate with the physical layer data rate and typical frame size. Once the subchannels are defined, each node on the WLAN contends independently for each of the fine-grained subchannels. A first orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) technique is used to signal an access point on the WLAN that the node desires one or more of the subchannels. A second OFDM technique (which is different from the first OFDM technique) is used for data transmission. Sometimes there is contention between nodes that want the same subchannel. The access point resolves any contention between the nodes using a frequency domain contention technique that includes a frequency domain backoff technique. |
| US09445429B2 |
Control signaling optimization for LTE communications
The disclosure describes procedures for including downlink control information (DCI) within a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) communication to reduce power consumption for a user equipment (UE) operating in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. A network apparatus can be configured to identify an expected DCI change for the UE, determine whether an LTE subframe location for the DCI change is known, generate either a general or a specific DCI change indicator, and send the corresponding DCI change indicator to the UE on the PDSCH. The specific DCI change indicator can include a bitmap identifying a particular upcoming LTE subframe where the UE is required to decode the PDCCH for DCI, and the general DCI change indicator can include a bit flag identifying a time associated with one or more upcoming LTE subframes when the UE should decode the PDCCH for DCI. |
| US09445428B2 |
System and method for signaling control information in a mobile communication network
A method of operating a wireless communication terminal includes receiving one or more downlink control messages that each contain scheduling information scheduling the wireless terminal to receive a downlink transmission on either a primary carrier or a secondary carrier. The method also includes determining, for each of the downlink control messages, whether that message includes scheduling information for the primary carrier or for a secondary carrier. Additionally, the method includes selecting a format for an uplink control message based on whether any of the downlink control messages includes scheduling information for a secondary carrier, generating an uplink control message based on the selected format, and transmitting the uplink control message to the base station. |
| US09445424B2 |
Radio base station and method for scheduling radio resources for user equipment
Embodiments herein relate to a method in a radio base station (12) for scheduling a radio resource to a first user equipment (10). The radio base station (12) is comprised in a radio communications network and controls a number of radio resources to be scheduled for communication to a number of user equipments (10,11). The number of user equipments comprises the first user equipment (10) and being served by the radio base station (12). The scheduling is based on channel quality of channels used by the respective user equipments. The radio base station (12) estimates a first channel quality of a channel used by the first user equipment (10). The radio base station determines a pathloss between the first user equipment (10) and the radio base station (12), and computes a second channel quality of the channel based on the estimated first channel quality and the determined pathloss. The radio base station (12) then schedules a radio resource out of the number of radio resources to the first user equipment (10) based on the second channel quality. |
| US09445408B2 |
Distributed computing in a wireless communication system
Distributed computing in a wireless communication system. Reports may be received from a plurality of nodes in a wireless communication system. Each respective report may include information regarding computing resources at the respective node. A notification of a request for a computing resource may be received from a first wireless user equipment device. A first node may be selected from the plurality of nodes to provide the computing resource based on the reports received from the plurality of nodes. The first node may be assigned to provide the computing resource. |
| US09445405B2 |
Uplink synchronization management in wireless networks
In at least some embodiments, a wireless networking system is provided. The wireless networking system includes a base-station and a plurality of user devices in communication with the base-station. The base-station selectively assigns each user device to one of a first group and a second group. Also, the base-station selectively assigns each user device to an uplink synchronized state and an uplink non-synchronized state. The base-station allocates a unique reduced identifier to each user device in the uplink synchronized state, but does not allocate unique reduced identifiers to user devices in the non-synchronized state. |
| US09445404B2 |
Method, base station, and user equipment for transmitting control channel
The present invention provides a method, base station, and user equipment for transmitting a control channel. Grouping is performed, according to an aggregation level of the to-be-transmitted control channel, on sub-blocks in physical resource blocks configured by the base station for the to-be-transmitted control channel, then interleaving is performed, and then candidate control channels are mapped to the interleaved sub-blocks, so that any candidate control channel of the to-be-transmitted control channel is sent on consecutive time-frequency resources as possible, and meanwhile different candidate control channels are on different PRB pairs as possible. In this way, the base station may have better flexibility during actual sending of the ePDCCH, thereby not only achieving a precoding gain and facilitating better transmission of control information, but also achieving a larger scheduling gain. |
| US09445399B2 |
Method and apparatus for associating service provider network identifiers with access network identifiers
An access network sends allocation information to an external service provider network (SPN), responsive to a wireless device establishing a data session with the access network for communicating with the SPN. The allocation information indicates the Internet Protocol (IP) address assigned to the wireless device by the access network for the data session and an external identifier to be used by the SPN in identifying the wireless device to the access network. Subsequently, the SPN receives a service provider network identifier and point of contact information in signaling sent from the wireless device, and binds the service provider network identifier to the external identifier that is associated with the IP address indicated in the point of contact information. This binding enables the SPN to trigger communications targeting the service provider network identifier of the wireless device, by sending triggering signaling to the access network that includes the bound external identifier. |
| US09445396B1 |
Signage acknowledgement tied to personal computer device
A user is enabled to use a mobile device to electronically acknowledge information relating to a sign encountered by the user within the user's environment. The mobile device detects a signal transmitted by an electronic source placed on or near the sign and register with a remote server. The registration may include an identifier of the electronic source and an identifier of the mobile device. In response to the registration, the mobile device receives content associated with the electronic source, and displays that content in a notification on a display of the mobile device. The user may then acknowledge the notification via a prompt on the display. The mobile device receives input from the user acknowledging the notification, and sends an acknowledgement message to the remote server. |
| US09445394B2 |
Automatic response to localized input
Automatic response to localized input is provided. Where a first user equipment enters a service area, the presence of the first user equipment can be determined from an identification information. The identification information can be employed to access information relating to the identification information. Where either the identification information or the information associated with the identification information satisfy one or more predetermined rules, a response can be determined. The determined response can be made accessible. As such, a second user equipment can receive the response based, at least in part, on the first user equipment entering the service area. |
| US09445384B2 |
Mobile device to generate multiple maximum transfer units and data transfer method
Provided are a mobile device capable of generating multiple maximum transfer units (MTUs) and a data transfer method. The method includes determining whether a network is registered with the mobile device; if the network is not registered in the mobile device, generating a virtual interface to generate a maximum transfer unit (MTU) value of the network; and registering the network by storing the MTU value of the network in the mobile device. The mobile device includes an MTU management unit configured to determine whether a network is registered with the mobile device, and, if the network is not registered in the mobile device, to generate a virtual interface to generate an MTU value of the network. |
| US09445382B2 |
Method and device for detecting secondary synchronous signal, computer program and storage medium
The present invention provides a method and a device for detecting a secondary synchronous signal, a computer program and a storage medium. The method comprises: Step S1: extracting a first SSS sequence from a received signal according a PSS detection result; Step S2: performing rotation on the first SSS sequence, to obtain at least two second sequences including the first SSS sequence, channel paths corresponding to the at least two second sequences being located within a channel window in a time domain; Step S3: calculating a channel estimation result of each of the second sequences corresponding to each of SSS standard sequences; Step S4: selecting, according to the channel estimation result, valid channel paths corresponding to the respective SSS standard sequence from the channel paths corresponding to the second sequences; Step S5: calculating a signal-to-noise ratio corresponding to the respective SSS standard sequence according to the valid channel paths corresponding to the respective SSS standard sequence; and Step S6: determining a cell ID according to the SSS standard sequence corresponding to a maximum signal-to-noise ratio. According to the present invention, it is able to improve the accuracy of the SSS detection. |
| US09445381B2 |
Methods and apparatus for downlink PDSCH power setting
Methods and apparatus for transmitting power setting information in a downlink Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) in a communication system. In this communication system, a plurality of methods for calculating traffic-to-pilot ratios (T2P) are established. In addition, a mapping scheme between a plurality of overhead signals and a plurality of reference signal (RS) overhead ratios, ηRS, and the plurality of T2P calculation methods is established. A user-specific T2P ratio PB,k/PRS for certain OFDM symbols, a RS overhead ratio ηRS and a calculation method selected from the plurality of T2P calculation methods are assigned to a wireless terminal. Then, an overhead signal corresponding to both of the assigned RS overhead ratio ηRS and the assigned T2P calculation method is selected in accordance with the mapping scheme and is transmitted to the wireless terminal. In addition, the user-specific traffic-to-pilot ratio PB,k/PRS is transmitted to the wireless terminal. The wireless terminal may calculate the traffic-to-pilot ratios across different transmission antennas and different OFDM symbols in dependence upon the received traffic-to-pilot ratio PB,k/PRS, and the RS overhead ratio and the T2P calculation method indicated by the RS overhead signal. |
| US09445380B2 |
Method and apparatus for power control and interference coordination
An exemplary method of communicating includes a relay node that uses a cell identifier that is also used by a base station having a coverage area within which the relay node is located. The method includes determining that a mobile station is within a communication range of the relay node. A transmission power from the relay node is controlled so that the total transmission power of at least one transmission from the relay node and the base station corresponds to a selected transmit power limit. A timing of a downlink transmission from the base station and the relay node is coordinated based on a schedule determined by the base station. At least one uplink control parameter is set at the base station based upon uplink information regarding a link between the mobile station and the relay node. |
| US09445377B2 |
Splitter with adaptive power distribution
The invention relates to a splitter of an indoor cellular network, with a plurality of antennas transmitting downlink signals and receiving uplink signals, the splitter distributing power to said plurality of antennas for a transmission of the downlink signals. The splitter adapts the signal power of the downlink signal for one antenna in accordance with the uplink signal received at said antenna. |
| US09445372B1 |
Power management methods and systems for a mobile device
An exemplary power management system detects a signal level representative of an environmental condition external to a mobile device, determines that the signal level is within a predetermined range, and disables, in response to the determination that the signal level is within the predetermined range, a feature of the mobile device. Corresponding systems and methods are also described. |
| US09445370B2 |
Wireless data network switching method and electronic device thereof
A wireless data network switching method for an electronic device is disclosed. The wireless data network switching method includes recording a pattern of network data usage of the electronic device during a period of time; determining a user data usage scenario according to the pattern of network data usage; and switching a current wireless network mode to a selected wireless network mode according to the user data usage scenario. |
| US09445361B2 |
Establishing a power charging association on a powerline network
A first client may establish a power charging association with one of a plurality of service agents over a network. The first client transmits a first signal via a first attachment point of a powerline network, the first signal associated with requesting the power charging association. The first client broadcasts a sounding message via the first attachment point after transmitting the first signal, wherein the sounding message is receivable by one or more service agents including at least a first service agent of the powerline network. The first service agent received the sounding message with a lowest attenuation of the one or more service agents that received the sounding message. The power charging association is established between the first client and the first service agent. |
| US09445358B2 |
Mobile communication terminal, server apparatus, controlling system, controlling method, and program
A mobile communication terminal performs: registering a length of time starting at a time when an identifier of a base station is detected by a first communication unit, the identifier being transmitted by the base station accommodated in a first communication network, and ending at a time when the first communication unit accesses an access point accommodated in a second communication network in association with the identifier, the access point having an accessible range smaller than that of an accessible range of the base station; and starting, at the second first communication unit, a search for access information transmitted by the access point when a reference time determined based on a length of time associated with the registered identifier has passed a time when the identifier is detected, in a case where the identifier detected by the first communication unit is stored. |
| US09445354B2 |
Apparatus and method for acquiring IPv6 domain name system server and SIP server address
A mobile communications device, operating as a Mobile Terminal (MT), is provided. In the mobile communications device, a receiver is configured to receive a Router Advertisement from a service network, a processor is configured to set an O-Flag of the Router Advertisement to 1 when the O-Flag of the Router Advertisement from the service network is set to 0, and a transmitter is configured to transmit the Router Advertisement to a Terminal Equipment (TE), wherein the TE transmits a DHCPv6 INFORMATION-REQUEST message to the MT when the TE receives the Router Advertisement. |
| US09445352B2 |
Power efficient discovery of LTE-direct relay for out-of-coverage devices
Methods, systems, and devices are described for managing wireless communications. In one method, a mobile device may determine to transition to a relay status. The relay status may indicate a capability of the mobile device to function as a relay device between at least one other mobile device and a base station. A peer discovery signal that indicates the relay status may then be transmitted. In another method, a mobile device may broadcast an out-of-coverage status indicator in a first peer discovery signal. A second peer discovery signal may be received from at least one other mobile device. The second peer discovery signal may indicate a capability of the at least one other mobile device to function as a relay device. |
| US09445351B2 |
System and method for control and management of resources for consumers of information
A system and method is provided for using information broadcast by devices and resources in the immediate vicinity of a mobile device, or by sensors located within the mobile device itself, to ascertain and make a determination of the immediate environment and state of the mobile device. This determination may be used to control and manage the actions that the device is asked to carry out by or on behalf of the user. |
| US09445346B2 |
Tone selection in communication networks
Tones within a channel can be selected randomly and/or based on orthogonal tone selection. Random selection can include selecting tones randomly from a fixed set, which is referred to as channelized tone selection. Channelized tone selection can be chosen if a critical tone exists. Random selection can also include selecting resources randomly from the total number of resources available, which is referred to as non-channelized tone selection. Orthogonal tone selection can be chosen to mitigate the probability of receiver desensitization and/or to attempt to mitigate interference. |
| US09445342B2 |
Method and device for controlling handover of user equipment in long connected mode in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method and a device for effectively controlling a handover of a user equipment (UE) in a long connected mode. A method for controlling a handover by an eNB, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises the steps of: checking whether a UE is in a long connected mode; and transmitting, to the UE, channel measurement configuration information of which a channel measurement report trigger condition is alleviated compared with a normal connected mode. |
| US09445340B2 |
Ensuring positioning quality-of-service for LTE positioning
Methods in a radio network node for obtaining positioning QoS information and using the positioning QoS information, as well as corresponding radio network node apparatus, are disclosed. An example method begins with the receiving (220) of positioning QoS information for a target wireless device, such as a user equipment, UE. In some cases, for example, the positioning QoS information is received from a positioning node, using the LPPa protocol. The positioning QoS information may include, for example, a desired horizontal accuracy, a desired vertical accuracy, and a target response time. The received positioning QoS information is used (230) to configure uplink transmissions to be transmitted by the target wireless device, or to configure a receiver for reception of one or more uplink transmissions from the target wireless device, or both. |
| US09445337B2 |
Cell re-selection using a ranking algorithm
In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method for use by a wireless cellular telecommunications device camped on a first cell. The method comprises, at the device: selecting a parameter applicable to a priority-based re-selection algorithm and also applicable to another cell; measuring an attribute of a signal received from a second cell; and, evaluating the second cell for re-selection according to a ranking algorithm based at least on the selected parameter and the measured attribute. A device and computer readable medium are also provided. |
| US09445336B2 |
Method and device for supporting group handover
The method and the device for supporting group handover are disclosed. The method supporting group handover is provided, which is applied to UE in communication with network via a RN, including: a base station S-DeNB switching RN to a base station T-DeNB; and said S-DeNB switching UE served by said RN to said T-DeNB; wherein the MME serving said RN and the MME serving UE served by said RN are the same. Another embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station supporting group handover, The technical scheme set forth in the present invention can reduce unnecessary signaling procedure, the possibility of network congestion, and can reduce the signaling procedure of handover when group handover occurs, so as to reduce the failure of the handover process and ensure the continuity of service. |
| US09445334B2 |
Switching between radio access technologies at a multi-mode access point
A multi-mode access point supports different radio access technologies (e.g., Wi-Fi and cellular) for serving multi-mode access terminals. To provide improved service for such an access terminal, the access point may redirect the access terminal from a first type of radio access technology to a second type of radio access technology under certain circumstances. A decision to invoke such a redirection may be based on, for example, at least one of: traffic conditions on the first type of radio access technology, traffic conditions on the second type of radio access technology, and whether a backhaul for the access point is currently a bottleneck for access point communication. |
| US09445332B1 |
Management of idle handoff in a wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for improved idle handoff a mobile station in a wireless communication system. While idling in a particular sector of the system, the mobile station will select a target sector based on a determination that the target sector has the same number of channels as the current sector, such as the same number of paging channels and perhaps the same number of frequency channels as the current sector. The mobile station will then engage in an idle handoff from the current sector to the selected target sector. By striving to hand off to a sector that has the same number of channels, particularly the same number of paging channels, the mobile station may avoid having to hash onto a channel in the target sector and may thereby minimize the likelihood of missing a page message sent while the mobile station was busy hashing onto the channel. |
| US09445330B2 |
Pre-configured redirection information
A method includes receiving information to be used in response to failure, while a UE is in a connected state with a network, of a network connection between the user equipment and a current cell. The received information is to be used by the UE to search for another cell to reestablish the network connection. In response to the failure, searching, based on the received information, for another cell to reestablish the network connection. Another method includes determining, in a network, information to be used by a UE in response to failure of a network connection between the UE and a current cell. The information is to be used by the UE in response to the failure occurring while the UE is in a connected state with the network and to be used to search for another cell to reestablish the network connection. Apparatus and program products are disclosed. |
| US09445329B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a cloud-based mobility in a wireless network
A method and apparatus for providing a cloud-based mobility in a wireless network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a path switching request from a user endpoint device. The method then determines if the path switching request is for a regional hand-off. If the path switching request is for a regional hand-off, the method initiates a virtual machine move request for moving a virtual machine providing a mobility support function for a user of the user endpoint device. The method then determines if a response to the virtual machine move request is received. If the response to the virtual machine request is received, the method performs a user plane update and provides a response to the path switching request. |
| US09445326B2 |
Method and apparatus for improved user experience in wireless communication terminals
In the 3GPP Long Term Evolution wireless communication system, when performing handovers, the client terminal is not required to know the Radio Frame Number of the target cell. While basic functionality of the LTE wireless communication system air interface can be maintained in the new serving cell after handover completion without knowing the Radio Frame Number of the new serving cell, it is not possible to immediately resume many other important functions of LTE wireless communication system air interface, such as CSI measurements and reporting, SRS transmission, and SPS. Such functions can only be resumed after the Radio Frame Number becomes known. Conventional methods acquire the Radio Frame Number after completion of the handover. This may delay the resumption of the CSI, SRS, and SPS functions. A method and apparatus are disclosed that enable the client terminal to resume the CSI, SRS, and SPS functions immediately after handover completion. |
| US09445322B2 |
Data communication method and mobile communication system
Since OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing), which is a downlink access scheme used for an LTE (Long Term Evolution) communication system, is weak at interference, it is preferable that the number of base stations for transmitting the same E-MBMS (Evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service) data be not excessive.Thus, the mobile terminal performs: processing of obtaining measurement quality values by measuring reception quality of each base station; processing of deciding on whether the measurement quality value of a serving base station exceeds a certain receiving level; processing of adding measurement quality values of other base stations to the measurement quality value of the serving base station until the sum exceeds the certain receiving level; and processing of notifying the serving base station of the serving base station and other base stations as candidates for an active set for E-MBMS. This makes it possible to select as the active set for E-MBMS an appropriate number of base stations that make it compatible to maintain good reception quality and to prevent interference. |
| US09445316B2 |
Wireless device, network nodes and methods therein for handling a device-to-device (D2D) communication during handover in a wireless telecommunications network
A method performed by a first wireless device for handling a device-to-device, D2D, communication with a second wireless device during handover of the first wireless device from a source network node to a target network node in a wireless telecommunications network is provided. The first wireless device interrupts the D2D communication. Then, the first wireless device determines a first uplink timing difference as the difference between the uplink timing to the source network node and the uplink timing to the target network node. Further, the first wireless device reconfigures the D2D communication based on the first uplink timing difference. Then, the first wireless device restarts the D2D communication as reconfigured. A first wireless device (121) is also provided.Further, a target network node (110, 111, 112), a source network node (110, 111) and methods therein for handling a D2D communication are provided. |
| US09445314B2 |
Methods and devices for radio access bearer establishment
The disclosure relates to a method 10 for radio access bearer establishment performed in a wireless device 8 of a communication system 1. The communication system 1 comprises a network node 4 configured to provide radio access bearers to the wireless device 8. The method 10 comprises detecting 11 a need for a circuit switched service and a packet switched service during a communication session, and indicating 12, to the network node 4, a need for a circuit switched radio access bearer towards a circuit switched core network 3 providing the circuit switched service and for a packet switched radio access bearer towards a packet switched core network 2 providing the packet switched service. |
| US09445311B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting indication in wireless communication system
A method and corresponding apparatus for transmitting an indication in a wireless communication system. In the method, a source donor eNodeB (DeNB) transmits a first handover request message for a mobile relay node, to a target DeNB, and transmits a second handover request message for user equipments (UEs) attached to the mobile relay node, to a target eNB. The source DeNB transmits an indication including information on lists of UEs which can be handed over to the target eNB, to the mobile relay node, and the mobile relay node transmits a radio resource control (RRC) connection reconfiguration message indicating a UE to handover to the target eNB. |
| US09445310B2 |
Mobile communication system, network device, and mobile communication method
During a transition procedure from a first communication system to a second communication system, when the priority of a second communication call, whose setup is requested, is the first priority, the second communication system does not set up the bearer of a first communication call between the second communication system and the mobile communication terminal, and notifies the first communication system that the setup of the first communication is not possible, but the setup of the second communication call is possible. When notified that the setup of the first communication is not possible, but the setup of the second communication call is possible, the first communication system aborts the handover procedure, and instructs the mobile communication terminal to switch to the second communication system by another procedure. |
| US09445309B2 |
Bandwidth control device, bandwidth control method, and wireless network system
In a network configured using a wireless link in which a transmission rate fluctuates, accommodation efficiency of traffic is improved while communication quality of VBR traffic is maintained. A bandwidth control device includes a stability level calculation unit which calculates a stability level indicating a probability that a bandwidth is available in a wireless link using adaptive modulation, a utilization rate calculation unit which calculates a utilization rate of a bandwidth used by traffic to be accommodated, an allocation unit which allocates, to the traffic, a link bandwidth of the stability level corresponding to the utilization rate of the traffic, and a path control unit which sets a path for the traffic in the wireless network including a communication device that performs communication over the wireless link based on the allocated link bandwidth. |
| US09445304B2 |
Inverse service specific access control (SSAC)
According to some embodiments, a wireless communication device is operable to perform a process for initiating a session with a radio network node. As a part of the process, the wireless communication device is operable to determine that the radio network node has enabled an access class barring test, determine whether to perform or bypass the access class barring test for the session, and perform or bypass the access class barring test according to the determination. |
| US09445290B2 |
Method for problematic user detection
The present invention relates to management of wireless communication networks and, more particularly, to methods, apparatuses and systems for spectrum management, load balancing and problematic station detection featuring problematic station detection algorithms based on calculating the amount of time a station is wasting, the location of stations, the RSSI of stations and other considerations. The present invention further includes solutions for optimizing wireless network management. |
| US09445288B2 |
Setting voice and data priority using a registration message
Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for setting voice and data priority using a registration message. According to some embodiments, a processor that executes a voice and data priority application can determine a class of device associated with a communication device, a capability indicator that indicates if the communication device is capable of transmitting data communications and if the communication device is capable of transmitting voice communications, and a priority indicator that indicates if data communications are to be prioritized over voice communications for the communication device. The processor also can generate a voice and data priority indicator that indicates the class of device, the capability indicator, and the priority indicator, and save the voice and data priority indicator at a memory associated with the communication device. The communication device can be configured to generate a registration message that includes the voice and data indicator when registering with a network. |
| US09445284B2 |
Packet delay optimization in the uplink of a multi-hop cooperative relay-enabled wireless network
A method for communication in a wireless network is provided. The method includes a relay node receiving a data packet and determining whether to transmit the packet without performing error checking. |
| US09445281B2 |
Optimized distribution of wireless broadband in a building
Methods and systems are disclosed for optimizing the distribution of a broadband wireless signal in a building. The methods and systems include at least one antenna inserted into a building ventilation system and transmitting a wireless broadband signal from a transmitter in communication with the antenna. The wireless broadband signal will include multiple orthogonal subcarriers. The methods and systems further include detecting the wireless broadband signal with a receiver in the building. In selected embodiments, the methods and systems may include the steps of analyzing a parameter of the detected wireless broadband signal and optimizing the wireless broadband signal based at least in part upon the analyzed parameter. |
| US09445280B2 |
Mobile cellular networks
Multiple mobile cellular network (MCN) communication systems can be networked together to form a network of MCN communication systems (NOM). Each MCN communication system within the NOM can operate as an independent cellular network to provide communications between user equipment within a covered area. The MCN can be managed by a network management control center (NMCC). The NMCC can be configured generate coverage maps of the NOM and NMC system coverage areas. |
| US09445277B2 |
Systems and methods for determining and specifying spectrum availability for a predetermined travel route
A spectrum management server generates and an electronic device uses a channel map solution for a predetermined travel route of the electronic device. The channel map solution includes at least one available channel for each of the plural geographic areas through which the planned travel route passes. At least two adjacent ones of the geographic areas have different channel availability. |
| US09445272B2 |
Authentication in heterogeneous IP networks
The invention proposes a system for authenticating and authorizing network services comprising: a mobile device being adapted to, upon receipt of an information message indicating at least one network access type, determine the network access type, to create a start message containing at least a user identity, and to encapsulate the start message in an authentication message compatible with the access network identified in the information message, and an access controller for reading the encapsulated message from the mobile and forwarding the encapsulated message to an authentication server identified in the encapsulated message. The invention also proposes a corresponding method for authenticating and authorizing network services, and an access control device, a subscriber device and a router device. |
| US09445271B2 |
Multi-user use of single-user apps
Multi-user use of single-user applications is disclosed. A request to access application data associated with an object identifier may be received in a context of a single-user application. Access may be provided to one or more application data objects associated with the object identifier. The objects may be included in a data set corresponding to user information associated with the context of the application. |
| US09445270B1 |
Authentication of a gateway device in a sensor network
A method in a wireless sensing device for authenticating a gateway device of a sensor network is described. The method includes receiving a certificate where the certificate was generated by the management server upon a determination that the gateway device and the wireless sensing device are associated and is a digital document including data and a digital signature, where the digital signature was generated by the management server based on the data and a private key of the management server, and where the data includes a first identifier and a second identifier; confirming that the wireless sensing device is authorized to upload data to the gateway device; in response to the confirming that the wireless sensing device is authorized to upload data to the gateway device, uploading to the gateway device data indicative of a plurality of sensor measurements taken over time to be transmitted to the management server. |
| US09445267B2 |
Bump or close proximity triggered wireless technology
Techniques for performing various communications functionality based on detecting a bump condition and/or close proximity between wireless devices. A wireless access point may be configured to automatically initiate an authentication procedure with a User Equipment (UE) device in response to detecting a bump condition and/or detecting a particular proximity between the UE device and the wireless access point. The particular proximity may be detected based on a signal strength of a radio frequency signal. The wireless access point may also be configured to disable a security protocol. A UE device may be configured to participate in an authentication procedure and/or automatically transfer data to the wireless access point in response to detecting a bump condition and/or detecting a particular proximity. |
| US09445266B2 |
Smart plug or cradle
There is provided a method and apparatus for allowing a user of a mobile device to securely access a storage device of a home network of the user. The method and apparatus advantageously allow for the user to share data stored on the home network with other users, or to give full or restricted access to other computing devices. The apparatus consists of a network element residing on the home network of the user, which enables communications between the network storage and the mobile device when the mobile device is in a remote location. |
| US09445264B2 |
System and method for establishing a secured connection between an implantable medical device and an external device
A system and method are provided for initiating a secured bi-directional communication session with an implantable medical device. The system and method include configuring a pulse generator (PG) device and an external device to establish a communication link there between through a wireless protocol with a defined bonding procedure. The system and method also include transmitting a static identification and dynamic seed from the PG device through a dedicated advertisement channel to the external device and generating a passkey from a pre-defined algorithm based on the dynamic seed and a static identification. Further, the system and method include starting the defined bonding procedure. |
| US09445260B2 |
Personal area network apparatus
A portable endpoint device comprises a first virtual device and a second virtual device integrated in a same single unit and configured such that the first virtual device and the second virtual device are configured to allow communication therewith as virtually different physical devices despite being integrated in the same single unit. In operation, the device is configured to receive a first signal from another endpoint device to indicate the availability of the another endpoint device for attachment; send, to the another endpoint device a second signal utilizing first scheduling-related information, the second signal including a first one of a plurality of identifiers for unique identification in association with the portable endpoint device; receive, from the another endpoint device a third signal that is sent in response to the second signal; and receive, from the another endpoint device data utilizing a second one of the identifiers for identification in association with the portable endpoint device. |
| US09445251B2 |
Method to provide ad hoc and password protected digital and voice networks
A method and system includes the ability for individuals to set up an ad hoc digital and voice network easily and rapidly to allow users to coordinate their activities by eliminating the need for pre-entry of data into a web or identifying others by name, phone numbers or email. This method is especially useful for police, fire fighters, military, first responders or other emergency situations for coordinating different organizations at the scene of a disaster to elevate conventional communication problems either up and down the chain of command or cross communication between different emergency units. The method and system provides that the users are only required to enter a specific Server IP address and an ad hoc event name, a password and perhaps the name of the particular unit. |
| US09445242B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for supplementing MBMS transmission to a relay via unicast transmission
A method for supporting broadcast transmission in a wireless communication system (200) that comprises a plurality of communication cells, with broadcast content being routed from a base station (210) to at least one wireless communication unit (225, 226) via at least one relay node (RN) (224) is described. The method comprises, at the base station (210) broadcasting the broadcast content from the base station (210) to at least one from a group consisting of: the at least one RN (224), the at least one wireless communication unit (226); and supplementing the broadcast transmission with at least one augmented unicast transmission associated with the broadcast content. A base station (210), an integrated circuit and a non-transitory computer program product comprising executable program code are also described. A relay node (224), an integrated circuit, a method performed at the relay node and a non-transitory computer program product comprising executable program code are also described. |
| US09445241B2 |
Location tracking for mobile device using Wi-Fi access point cluster
A method includes determining a radio frequency (RF) fingerprint mapping to an indoor floor plan for an indoor area. The method includes clustering Wi-Fi access point devices deployed in the indoor area into groups of Wi-Fi access point devices based on RF fingerprint data received by at least one reference point device. The method includes selecting a Wi-Fi access point device from each group of Wi-Fi access point devices and determining a RF fingerprint based on the selected Wi-Fi access point devices. The method includes receiving a request for a location associated with a mobile device. The request includes a sampled RF fingerprint associated with the mobile device. The method also includes comparing the RF fingerprints based on the selected Wi-Fi access point devices with the sampled RF fingerprint associated with the mobile device to determine a location of the mobile device within the indoor area. |
| US09445240B2 |
Systems and methods for pedestrian indoor positioning
A systems and methods for determining the indoor localization of a mobile device comprising; a plurality of networked sensors positioned in a building capable of detecting a mobile device signal, wherein the position of the plurality of networked sensors defines a coordinate grid; a server receiving mobile device signal input from the plurality of networked sensors; a map module accessible by the server, the map module having a map of the building and an overlay of the coordinate grid, wherein the map module determines localization of the mobile device with reference to the map and the sensors of the coordinate grid detecting the mobile device signal; and one or more location based service module accessible to a user of the mobile device. |
| US09445239B2 |
Location based operation of a wireless mobile system
Operating parameters of a wireless mobile communication device can be adjusted to comply with requirements defined by a local regulatory regime. Location information can be received by the wireless mobile communication device and be used to determine local operating requirements. In one embodiment, location information in the form of MCC-MNC information can be used to query a local database to determine values of local operating limits such as, for example, a local value of a maximum allowable transmission power limit. |
| US09445229B2 |
Estimation of significant places visited by mobile-terminal user based on communications log to base stations
A method is disclosed of estimating significant places visited by a mobile-terminal user for wireless communication via base stations. The method includes: collecting at least one communication log represented with consecutive communication events between the mobile terminal and connected one of the base stations in a coverage area of each mobile terminal, the base stations being identified by unique base-station identifiers (BS IDs), respectively, each communication event including date and time of communication and one of the BS IDs which is indicative of the connected base station; dividing each communication log into consecutive time-windowed segments, using a discrete time window moving in time; and, per each time-windowed segment, estimating at least one significant place visited by the user, based on a probability distribution with which the BS IDs appear in each time-windowed segment. |
| US09445227B2 |
Passive positioning utilizing round trip time information
Techniques for passive positioning of a client station are disclosed. In an example a passive positioning scheme may include detecting an incoming message from an access point, determining a Round Trip Time (RTT) value associated with the access point, generating an acknowledgment message, calculating a time of departure for the acknowledgment message based on the RTT value, and sending the acknowledgment message at the time of departure. |
| US09445224B2 |
Selective user notification for link termination events in wireless personal area network
A user device includes a wireless interface to establish a wireless personal area network (WPAN) link with another user device. The user device further includes a notification controller to, in response to a link termination event (306) for the WPAN link, selectively trigger a user alert based on at least one of: an indication (312) of whether the user device is in proximity to a user; and an indication (314) of whether the other user device is identified as a user-portable device. The notification controller may selectively trigger a user alert further based on an indication (308) of whether the first device is connected to a specified wireless local area network (WLAN). |
| US09445223B2 |
Portable electronic device, server and connection method thereof
A portable electronic device including a network unit and a processing unit is provided. The processing unit is connected to the network unit. The processing unit determines whether a beacon is received through the network unit wirelessly. If the processing unit receives the beacon through the network unit, the processing unit parses the beacon to derive a network address of a server. The processing unit transmits a connection request to the server according to the network address through the network unit. The processing unit establishes a connection with the server through the network unit when receiving a confirmation signal in response to the connection request. |
| US09445219B1 |
Multi-level piconet data aggregation
An example embodiment includes an apparatus. The apparatus includes piconet logic for establishing a multi-level piconet hierarchy having a top level piconet and a lower level piconet(s). The top level piconet includes a master device and master controller(s). The lower level piconet includes master controllers(s) and sub-controller(s). The apparatus includes time division multiplexing logic to solicit and control aggregated communication with master controllers. The aggregated communication comprises data from the master controller and data from a sub-controller(s). |
| US09445217B2 |
MTC device communication method, device, and system
Embodiments of the present invention provide an MTC device communication method, device, and system. A second network element receives, a query message sent by a first network element after the first network element identifies that a type of a received short message is a preset-type short message. The query message comprises an identifier of a receiver of the short message and an identifier of a sender of the short message. The second network element checks whether the sender is authorized to send the preset-type short message to the receiver. The second network element sends a message to the first network element indicating whether or not to send the short message to the receiver. |
| US09445213B2 |
Systems and methods for providing surround sound using speakers and headphones
A mobile device may include at least one processor configured to generate a first set and second set of processed audio signals for use in a surround sound system. The mobile device may also include at least one output port adapted to provide the first set of processed audio signals for use in the surround sound system to at least two speakers. The mobile device may also include an output port adapted to provide the second set of processed audio signals for use in the surround sound system to headphone speakers. |
| US09445212B2 |
MEMS microphone module and manufacturing process thereof
A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) microphone module and a manufacturing process thereof are described. A thickness of a transparent temporary cover plate temporarily disposed in a conventional plastic package structure is adjusted. After a mold for a plastic protector is formed, an UV ray is utilized to irradiate the mold to reduce adherence on the temporary cover plate and a back surface of the MEMS acoustic wave sensing chip. Then, the temporary cover plate is removed, and the left space left is the main source for the back-volume of the MEMS microphone. Finally, a tag is covered on the plastic protector, so as to define the whole back-volume and form a closed back-volume. In the above-mentioned process, the size of the back-volume is the same as an area of the whole MEMS microphone chip. In addition, the back-volume can be defined. |
| US09445211B2 |
Methods for manufacturing high intensity ultrasound transducers
A method of manufacturing an ultrasound transducer is provided. The ultrasound transducer is activated and the activity across the transducer is measured to determine whether the activity at any area does not meet an acceptance criteria. The transducer is then modified so that the area meets the acceptance criteria. The transducer may be modified with a laser which removes material from the area which does not meet the acceptance criteria. |
| US09445203B2 |
Signal processor for a hearing device and method for operating a hearing device
A signal processor for a hearing device with an implantable stimulator having two or more electrodes for emitting electric charge pulses to neural-fibers of an individual. The processor has a signal path comprising an input circuit adapted to receive an acoustic-signal from the surroundings and provide at least one corresponding input audio-signal; a filter bank adapted to provide at least one band-limited audio-signal in dependence on the at least one input audio-signal; and a noise filter adapted to attenuate undesired signal components in the at least one band-limited audio-signal and to provide at least one corresponding noise-filtered signal. The processor is characterised in that the portion of the signal path preceding the noise filter neither causes an effective level compression nor an effective level expansion of the at least one noise-filtered signal when the at least one noise-filtered signal is derived from an acoustic signal having a level within the comfortable acoustic range. |
| US09445201B2 |
Inverted dual coil transducer
A dual coil transducer is provided that has a low profile construction. The transducer includes a voice coil disposed around a central region of the transducer, a diaphragm with flexible suspension extending generally outwardly from the central region and including an inner edge attached to the voice coil, where the diaphragm includes a concave surface, and at least one magnet assembly disposed forward of the concave surface, where the at least one magnet assembly defines at least two magnetic gaps disposed about the central region. The transducer will usually be mounted with the motor outside of the loudspeaker enclosure for best heat dissipation. |
| US09445199B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining dominant sound source directions in a higher order Ambisonics representation of a sound field
In Higher Order Ambisonics, a problem is the tracking of time variant directions of dominant sound sources. The following processing is carried out: from a current time frame of HOA coefficients, estimating a directional power distribution of dominant sound sources, from said directional power distribution and from an a-priori probability function for dominant sound source directions, computing an a-posteriori probability function for said dominant sound source directions, depending on said a-posteriori probability function and on dominant sound source directions for the previous time frame, searching and assigning dominant sound source directions for said current time frame of said HOA coefficients. |
| US09445197B2 |
Signal processing for a headrest-based audio system
An automobile audio system having at least two near-field speakers located close to an intended position of a listener's head is configured by determining a first binaural filter that causes sound produced by each of the near-field speakers to have characteristics at the intended position of the listener's head of sound produced by a sound source located at a first designated position other than the actual locations of the near-field speakers, determining an up-mixing rule to generate at least three component channel signals from an input audio signal having at least two channels, and configuring the audio system to, determine a first binaural signal corresponding to a combination of the component channel signals originating at the first designated position, and filter the first binaural signal using the first binaural filter and to output the filtered signals using the near-field speakers. |
| US09445191B2 |
Method of adjusting an active noise cancelling system
A method of adjusting an ANC system is disclosed in which a microphone is acoustically coupled to a loudspeaker via a secondary path and the loudspeaker is electrically coupled to the microphone via an ANC filter. The method includes measuring phase characteristics of the secondary path in various modes of operation; determining from the measured phase characteristics a statistical dispersion of the phase characteristics in the various modes of operation; determining from the statistical dispersion a minimum phase margin; adjusting the ANC filter to exhibit in any one of the modes of operation phase characteristics that are equal to or greater than the minimum phase margin; and adjusting the ANC filter to exhibit in any one of the modes of operation amplitude characteristics that are equal to or smaller than a maximum gain margin. |
| US09445188B2 |
Condenser microphone
A condenser microphone that provides a balanced output of audio signals from initial steps of a diaphragm and a fixed electrode is provided. The condenser microphone includes: a condenser microphone unit including a diaphragm being arranged opposite a fixed electrode; a first impedance converter being connected to the fixed electrode of the condenser microphone unit and outputting a first electric signal generated in the fixed electrode; and a second impedance converter being connected to the diaphragm of the condenser microphone unit and outputting a second electric signal generated in the diaphragm. By this structure, balanced outputs of the audio signals having phases reverse to each other are provided by the first and second impedance converters immediately after the condenser microphone unit. |
| US09445185B2 |
Audio listening system
An audio listening device having a damped ball joint type interface between an ear-cup assembly and a headband assembly is provided. For example, the audio listening device can include a headband assembly comprising at least one end; an ear-cup assembly pivotably engaged to the at least one end of the headband assembly by an engagement structure, the engagement structure comprising at least two cooperatively coupled curved surfaces; and a damper rim coupled to the ear-cup assembly and to the at least one end of the headband assembly, wherein the damper rim is configured to at least partially constrict movement of the ear-cup assembly relative to the headband assembly. |
| US09445181B1 |
Integrated headphone insert device
An integrated headphone insert device for listening to audio output while wearing a cap includes a curved band. The band is flexible and curved. Each of a back tab, a left tab, and a right tab are coupled to and extend from the band. A headphone set includes a main cable being split having a right cable extending through the right tab and a left cable extending through the left tab. Left and right earbuds are coupled to the left and right cables respectively. |
| US09445180B1 |
Method of storing headphones
A headphone storage system that includes a headphone and a headphone storage device. The headphone includes a speaker, a cord and a plug. The cord extends from the speaker. The plug is attached to an end of the cord that is opposite the speaker. The headphone storage device includes a main body portion having a first end and a second end. The headphone storage device has a first aperture and a second aperture formed therein. The first aperture and the second aperture both permit the cord and the plug to pass therethrough. |
| US09445177B2 |
Hearing device tether with acoustic decoupling section
A hearing article having an acoustic decoupling section is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a hearing article described herein includes a tether having a first end attached to a first hearing device, a first acoustic decoupling section proximate the first end, and a substantially straight intermediate section. The acoustic decoupling section comprises a predetermined shape. |
| US09445175B2 |
Bluetooth headset
A wireless headset including a body having an earphone coupling portion; a wireless module provided in the body and configured to wirelessly receive an audio signal from a mobile terminal; a speaker provided in the body; an earphone connected to the body via a cable and configured to be coupled to the body via an earphone coupling portion; a coupling sensor provided the body and configured to sense whether the earphone is coupled to the earphone coupling portion; and a controller configured to output the audio signal received from the mobile terminal via the speaker and not via the earphone, when the coupling sensor senses the earphone is coupled to the earphone coupling portion, and output the audio signal received from the mobile terminal via the earphone and not via the speaker, when the coupling sensor senses the earphone is separated from the earphone coupling portion. |
| US09445174B2 |
Audio capture apparatus
An apparatus comprising: an audio signal analyser configured to analyse at least one audio signal to determine at least one audio component with an associated orientation parameter; a reference definer configured to define at least one of: a reference orientation for an apparatus; and a reference position for the apparatus; a directional determiner configured to determine a direction value based on the reference orientation/position for the apparatus and at least one of: an orientation of the apparatus; a position of the apparatus; an orientation of a further apparatus co-operating with the apparatus; and a position of the further apparatus; and a directional processor configured to process at least one associated directional parameter for the at least one audio component dependent on the direction value. |
| US09445170B2 |
Speaker apparatus and methods useful in conjunction therewith
An actuation system for generating a physical effect, the system comprising at least one array of translating elements each constrained to travel alternately back and forth along a respective axis, toward first and second extreme positions respectively, in response to activation of first and second forces respectively; and a controller operative to use the first and second forces to selectably latch at least one subset of said translating elements into the first and second extreme positions respectively. |
| US09445169B2 |
Sound reproduction device including auditory scenario simulation
A sound reproduction device includes a signal processing chain configured to render an acoustic useful signal for reproduction to a listener, a simulation scenario processor configured to provide auditory scenario information for a simulated auditory scenario, the simulated auditory scenario influencing perception, by the listener, of the reproduction of the useful signal and/or defining a useful signal type, a user interface configured to detect reproduction parameter settings from a user which represent an individual preference of the listener in view of the simulated auditory scenario, a signal modifier configured to receive the reproduction parameter settings and modify reproduction of the useful signal in dependence on the reproduction parameter settings, and a storage provided for storing the reproduction parameter setting and the auditory scenario information relative to one another. Further aspects relate to a method for training user-defined and auditory scenario-dependent reproduction parameter settings for a sound reproduction device, and a corresponding computer program. |
| US09445167B2 |
Persistent scheduling method and apparatus based on semi-grouping and statistically multiplexing
A persistent scheduling method and apparatus based on semi-grouping and statistically multiplexing, wherein a predetermined number of user equipments are grouped into a user equipment group to share allowable maximum transmission times of retransmission processes in different time slots each having a predetermined size, according to a predetermined set of criteria on communication conditions; and each user equipment within one user equipment group is allocated to use a corresponding time slot in a time division multiplexing mode. |
| US09445165B2 |
System and method for an optical coupler
In one embodiment, an optical directional coupler includes an input terminal configured to receive an input optical signal and a first coupler optically coupled to the input terminal, where the first coupler has a first coupling length, and where the first coupler is configured to couple a first portion of the input optical signal to a first optical leg and a second optical portion of the input optical signal to a second optical leg. The optical directional coupler also includes the first optical leg, where the first optical leg is configured to phase shift the first portion of the optical signal to produce a first phase shift signal and the second optical leg, where the second optical leg is configured to phase shift the second portion of the optical signal to produce a second phase shift signal, and where the first phase shift signal has a phase difference relative to the second phase shift signal. Additionally, the optical directional coupler includes a second coupler configured to receive the first phase shift signal and the second phase shift signal and to output a first output optical signal to a first output, where the second coupler has a second coupling length, where a crosstalk of the input optical signal to a second output is below −15 dB for both transverse electrical (TE) polarized light and transverse magnetic (TM) polarized over a wavelength range spanning 40 nm. |
| US09445164B2 |
Existent person count estimation apparatus
According to one embodiment, an existent person count estimation apparatus includes motion sensors and following units. The collection unit generates human sensing information. The instance prediction unit predicts second instances from the first instances by using the transition matrix. The likelihood calculation unit calculates likelihoods of the second instances using the time information items. The instance selection unit selects one or more third instances having likelihoods higher than a threshold. The output unit generates output information including estimate values of existent person counts for the first areas included in the third instances. |
| US09445159B2 |
Extended recording time apparatus, systems, and methods
An embodiment for recording a channel that is communicating a program of interest identifies a selected program for recording as a program of interest based upon a characteristic of the selected program, the characteristic of the selected program corresponding to at least one characteristic associated with the program of interest, records an advance period corresponding to a period before a beginning of the program of interest, and records a following period corresponding to a period after a conclusion of the program of interest. |
| US09445158B2 |
Distributed aggregated content guide for collaborative playback session
A system and method are disclosed for enabling a distributed group of users to collaboratively select a media item for a collaborative playback session. In one embodiment, a distributed group of users for a collaborative playback session is formed, where the distributed group of users includes a number of users located at a number of geographically distributed user sites. Each user site includes one or more media controllers having access to media content and one or more renderers that operate to render the media content. A distributed aggregate guide that includes a listing of media content accessible to the media controllers at all of the user sites is generated and utilized by users at the user sites to suggest media items for the collaborative playback session. Based on the suggestions of the users, a media item for the collaborative playback session is selected. |
| US09445151B2 |
Systems and methods for video scene processing
A receiving device such as a set-top box or mobile device alters video of a scene that is currently being displayed based on recognition or detection in real time of objects or actions shown in the scene. In some embodiments, those scenes or portions of those scenes in which objects or actions shown in the scene are associated with adult content or other undesirable content are blocked until such objects or actions are no longer detected. In other embodiments, advertisements or factual information may be displayed based on scene content while the scene is playing. This is performed dynamically in real time at the set-top box such that the altered video and items to display need not be inserted or integrated in the video upstream at the remote server or content provider before it reaches the set-top box. |
| US09445147B2 |
Method and apparatus for producing full synchronization of a digital file with a live event
A method and apparatus are provided for producing full synchronization of a digital file with a live event. Using time-based cues such as musical beats, the live event is time mapped. The video file to be synced is measured in frames per second is then translated from its frames per second original time code into the time code of the live event in beats per minute making it possible to measure the playback rate of the source media file in the same units of measurement as the live event. The result is a playback mechanism that allows for more precise real time playback rate corrections by an operator by providing a visible cue so they can better keep the source media synced with the live event, even if there are real time tempo variations in the live event. |
| US09445139B2 |
Authenticated content discovery
Embodiments are disclosed herein that relate to facilitating the discovery of authenticated content from a variety of sources. One embodiment provides a method comprising receiving a plurality of authentication tokens from the media presentation device, where each of the plurality of authentication tokens represents an established authenticated relationship between a user and a corresponding content source. The method further comprises receiving a request from the media presentation device for an electronic programming guide and sending the electronic programming guide to the media presentation device, where the electronic programming guide comprises a listing of content from a plurality of content sources corresponding to the plurality of authentication tokens. |
| US09445137B2 |
Method for conditioning a network based video stream and system for transmitting same
A method for conditioning a network based encoded video stream including receiving the video stream over an RF data link, detecting any missing and/or corrupted data within the data stream, and inserting curative data in place of the missing or corrupted data. A system and method for transmitting a real-time video stream to an end-user at least partially over an RF data link including the video conditioner wherein a camera obtains video footage, an encoder to compresses the video stream, an RF transmitter transmits the encoded video stream over an RF data link, and an RF receiver to receives the encoded video stream from the RF transmitter. The video stream is conditioned by the video conditioner and routed to an end user through a computer network wherein a decoder decodes the encoded video stream and the video stream is viewed on a display. |
| US09445136B2 |
Signaling characteristics of segments for network streaming of media data
Video data is retrieved from a server. During retrieval of the video data, a client device receives information indicating bit rates of representations of multimedia content. In addition, the client device receives information indicating priority values for segments of the representations. The segments correspond to particular temporal sections of the representations. The client device requests selected ones of the segments based on the priority values for the segments and an estimated throughput. In some instances, the client device requests the segments in accordance with an adaptive streaming network protocol, such as Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH). |
| US09445134B2 |
Multimedia and multichannel information system
The invention relates to a multimedia and multichannel information system for an interactive distribution of at least one real-time video input of a live event taking place in an auditorium. The system comprises a central unit and a plurality of remote units located in the auditorium. At least one of the plurality of remote units is connected to the central unit by means of a bi-directional transmission network for interactive communications between the remote units and the central unit, the at least one remote unit is provided with at least an interface and with audio/video, data and graphic accelerators disposed on a multimedia microprocessor housed in the remote units. The at least one remote unit is equipped with a touch screen display and is configured to display the at least one real-time video input of the live event taking place in the auditorium. |
| US09445133B2 |
DVD conversion for on demand
A method for pruning and grooming DVD content into a format compatible to be viewed over a network is disclosed. The method provides for automated DVD conversion. The method provides for removing and editing DVD content that is not desirable to be delivered over the network and adding and editing additional content that is desirable to be delivered over the network. The method provides for navigational enhancement that provide: tie-ins to on demand portals; key-mapping; button highlighting; intra-menu navigation; inter-menu navigation and DVD disc merge capability. |
| US09445128B2 |
System and method of determining deblocking control flag of scalable video system for indicating presentation of deblocking parameters for multiple layers
A method of generating a video sequence including setting a state of a deblocking control flag in a frame header of a frame to indicate that a deblocking parameter is presented for some but not all layers. A method of processing a received video sequence including determining a state of a deblocking control flag of a frame header and retrieving a deblocking parameter for some but not all layers. A scalable video system including a deblocking control circuit which sets a state of a deblocking control flag in a frame header to indicate that a deblocking parameter is presented for some but not all layers. A scalable video system including a deblocking control circuit which determines the state of a deblocking control flag in a frame header of a received video sequence and which retrieves a deblocking parameter for some but not all layers of the frame. |
| US09445125B2 |
Device and method for multimedia communications with picture orientation information
Systems, devices, and methods for capturing and displaying picture data including picture orientation information are described. In one innovative aspect, a method for transmitting media information is provided. The method includes obtaining picture or video information, said picture or video information including image data and orientation information of a media capture unit when the picture or video information is obtained. The method further includes encoding said picture or video information, wherein the orientation information is included in a first portion and the image data is included in a second portion, the second portion being encoded and the first portion being distinct from the second portion. The method also includes transmitting the first portion and the second portion. |
| US09445122B2 |
Encoding apparatus, encoding method, and a computer-readable recording medium
An encoding method includes encoding a difference between an input pixel included in input image data and a predicted pixel obtained by predicting the input pixel, storing a decoded pixel obtained by decoding the encoded difference and adding the predicted pixel to the decoded difference, in a case where the input image data is compound image data including different images with a line period of at least two lines, determining a direction from a decoded pixel that is included in a second decoded pixel, a third decoded pixel, and fourth decoded pixels stored and that has high correlation with a first decoded pixel, toward the first decoded pixel as a prediction direction, and selecting a decoded pixel in accordance with the determined prediction direction, and output the decoded pixel as the predicted pixel. |
| US09445120B2 |
Moving picture coding method, moving picture coding apparatus, moving picture decoding method, moving picture decoding apparatus and moving picture coding and decoding apparatus
By the moving picture coding method and the moving picture decoding method, it is possible to improve coding efficiency. The moving picture coding apparatus includes a merge block candidate calculation unit that (i) specifies merge block candidates at merge mode, by using colpic information such as motion vectors and reference picture index values of neighbor blocks of a current block to be coded and a motion vector and the like of a collocated block of the current block which are stored in a colPic memory, and (ii) generates a combined merge block by using the merge block candidates. |
| US09445118B2 |
Apparatus and method for motion vector encoding/decoding, and apparatus and method for image encoding/decoding using same
A video decoding apparatus using an inter-prediction is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least: a decoder configured to reconstruct a flag and quantized transform coefficients by decoding a bitstream, the flag indicating one among a plurality of modes for determining the motion vector of the current block; a predictor configured to determine a motion vector of a current block to be decoded in a current picture, and predict pixels in current block using the motion vector of the current block; an inverse quantizer and inverse transformer configured to inversely quantize and then inversely transform the quantized transform coefficients to thereby reconstruct residual signals; and an adder configured to add the predicted pixels to the reconstructed residual signals which correspond to the predicted pixels. |
| US09445117B2 |
Error tracking and mitigation for motion compensation-based video compression
Methods and encoders for tracing an error in a frame of a video to a subsequent frame of the video. In response to receiving an error notification message indicating an error has occurred in an encoded frame during decode, an encoder obtains: (a) the minimum and maximum horizontal motion vector components for each column of blocks of the frame immediately following the error frame; and (b) the minimum and maximum vertical motion vector components for each row of blocks of the frame immediately following the error frame. A rectangular region of blocks of the frame immediately following the error frame that the error is likely to have propagated to is identified using the minimum and maximum horizontal and vertical motion vector components. |
| US09445116B2 |
Tiling in video encoding and decoding
Implementations are provided that relate, for example, to view tiling in video encoding and decoding. A particular method includes accessing a video picture that includes multiple pictures combined into a single picture (826), accessing information indicating how the multiple pictures in the accessed video picture are combined (806, 808, 822), decoding the video picture to provide a decoded representation of at least one of the multiple pictures (824, 826), and providing the accessed information and the decoded video picture as output (824, 826). Some other implementations format or process the information that indicates how multiple pictures included in a single video picture are combined into the single video picture, and format or process an encoded representation of the combined multiple pictures. |
| US09445111B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
There is provided an image processing apparatus including circuitry configured to predict an image of a second layer from an image of a first layer using a lookup table which maps combinations of a luminance component, a first color difference component, and a second color difference component of the first layer to predicted pixel values of the second layer corresponding to the combinations. The second layer has a different color gamut from the first layer. The circuitry uses the lookup table in which granularities of the first and second color difference components are lower than a granularity of the luminance component. |
| US09445105B2 |
Image decoding method of decoding a current picture with prediction using one or both of a first reference picture list and a second reference picture list
An image coding method includes: adding, to a candidate list, a first adjacent motion vector as a candidate for a predicted motion vector to be used for coding the current motion vector; selecting the predicted motion vector from the candidate list; and coding the current motion vector, wherein in the adding, the first adjacent motion vector indicating a position in a first reference picture included in a first reference picture list is added to the candidate list for the current motion vector indicating a position in a second reference picture included in a second reference picture list. |
| US09445104B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding motion vector
Encoding and decoding a motion vector using a motion vector of a current block of a current picture, which indicates a region corresponding to the current block in a first reference picture and one of generating a motion vector predictor from a motion vector of the adjacent block having a motion vector referring to the first reference picture among adjacent blocks encoded before the current block and a motion vector of an adjacent block referring to a second reference picture other than the first reference picture. |
| US09445103B2 |
Methods and apparatus for adaptively choosing a search range for motion estimation
Systems, methods, and computer program products that can be used to determine a search range (SR) when performing motion estimation at, for example, a video encoder or decoder. Determining a motion vector for a current block during motion estimation may involve searching within a search window that may reside in a reference frame, or in a previously decoded block that spatially or temporally neighbors the current block. Such a search seeks a motion vector that minimizes a metric, such as a sum of absolute differences between corresponding blocks of reference frames. A motion vector that minimizes such a metric may be a good candidate for use in motion estimation. The search may become more efficient if a search range is determined such that the extent of the search is bounded. A search range may be determined at the block level or at the picture level. |
| US09445102B2 |
Model parameter estimation for a rate- or distortion-quantization model function
A more accurate model parameter estimation is achieved by using a Kalman filter for discretely estimating the model parameters between the consecutive frames of the frame sequence and performing the correction of the time-discrete Kalman filter twice per frame, firstly using a measurement value which depends on a complexity measure of the current frame to achieve a primarily corrected state of the time-discrete Kalman filter, and secondly using a measurement value depending on an actual coding rate or distortion of the video encoder in encoding the current frame using a predetermined quantization which may have been determined by an estimation of the actual rate- or distortion-quantization function according to the primarily corrected state. A rate-quantization model function relates the quantization of the video encoder to the coding rate of the video encoder and is piecewise defined to exhibit quadratic and exponential functions in finer and coarser quantization intervals, respectively. |
| US09445099B2 |
Apparatus for encoding an image
Provided is an apparatus for encoding an image that adaptively filters reference pixels according to an intra prediction mode and a size of a prediction block, and generates the prediction block according to the intra prediction mode. When the reference pixels for a second directional intra prediction mode are filtered, the reference pixels for a first directional intra prediction mode, that is closer to an intra prediction mode having a direction of 45° with reference to a horizontal mode than the second directional intra prediction mode is, are also filtered. The first and the second intra prediction modes exist between the horizontal mode and the intra prediction mode having the direction of 45° with reference to the horizontal mode. The plurality of sub-blocks and non-zero coefficients of each sub-block are scanned according to a scan pattern determined by the intra prediction mode of the prediction block. |
| US09445092B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
The present technique relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program capable of obtaining a vector with a high degree of prediction accuracy as a prediction vector. A prediction vector generation unit generates a prediction vector of a deviation vector representing deviation of a target block, which is a processing target in a depth image having depth information about parallax as a pixel value for each pixel of a color image, with respect to another picture different from a picture of the target block. The prediction vector generation unit generates the prediction vector in accordance with a vector prediction method which is different depending on whether the target block is an occlusion block including an occlusion portion that does not include any corresponding point in another picture. The present invention can be applied to, for example, a case of generating a prediction vector of a parallax vector used to generate a prediction image for encoding and decoding of a depth image about parallax. |
| US09445091B2 |
Image processing device and method for motion vector encoding using temporal prediction and spatial prediction
The present technique relates to an image processing device and method for preventing increases in the processing load of image encoding and decoding. The image processing device includes: a temporal prediction control unit that controls, in a prediction of a motion vector, whether a temporal prediction is to be performed to predict the motion vector by using the motion vector of a neighbor region temporally adjacent to the current region being processed; and a motion vector encoding unit that predicts the motion vector of the current region by performing only a spatial prediction to predict the motion vector from the motion vector of a neighbor region spatially adjacent to the current region or performing both the spatial prediction and the temporal prediction under the control of the temporal prediction control unit, and encodes the motion vector of the current region by using the predicted value. |
| US09445089B2 |
Video encoding device, video encoding method and video encoding program
A video encoding device, which uses intra encoding and inter encoding with motion compensation with respect to an input video signal, includes a determination unit which determines whether the input video signal to be encoded corresponds to a stationary region, a region having minute motion, or a region having normal motion, a first encoding unit which performs inter encoding of a motion vector (0, 0) with respect to a region determined as a stationary region by the determination unit, a second encoding unit which performs motion search and inter encoding in a limited search range with respect to a region determined as a region having minute motion by the determination unit, and a third encoding unit which performs motion search and inter encoding in a normal search range with respect to a region determined as a region having normal motion by the determination unit. |
| US09445086B2 |
Methods, systems, and apparatus for camera testing using virtual images
A method at a system having a virtual image generation device includes: receiving an image capture device; generating, using the virtual image generation device, a plurality of test images in accordance with a test sequence, where each test image corresponds to a respective focal distance with respect to the image capture device; obtaining test data corresponding to respective captures of the test images by the image capture device; and providing the test data. |
| US09445084B2 |
Computer-readable storage medium having stored therein display control program, display control apparatus, display control system, and display control method
A virtual object placed in a three-dimensional virtual space and a user interface are stereoscopically displayed on an upper LCD of a game apparatus. An image used for adjusting a display position of the user interface in the depth direction is displayed on a lower LCD. A user adjusts a UI adjustment slider by using a touch pen to adjust the parallax of the user interface. This allows the adjustment of the parallax of the user interface separately from the parallax of the three-dimensional virtual space, and thereby the depth perception of the user interface can be adjusted. |
| US09445083B2 |
System for delivering stereoscopic images
A system 8 for delivering stereoscopic images for viewing without 3-D glasses being required comprises a video display element 1, an image direction element 4, a front holder element 5, a rear holder element 3, and a resolution enhancement element 2. The video display element 1 outputs a plurality of left-eye images and a plurality of right-eye images. The image direction element 4 directs each left-eye image at a desired left-eye angle and directs each right-eye image at a desired right-eye angle. The front holder element 5 is movable relative to the rear holder element 3 to move the image direction element 4 to adjust each left-eye angle at which each left-eye image is directed and to adjust each right-eye angle at which each right-eye image is directed to suit each viewer. The resolution enhancement element 2 is modulated simultaneously with the image direction element 4. |
| US09445082B2 |
System, apparatus, and method for image processing
According to one embodiment, an image processing system includes a stereoscopic display device and an image processing apparatus. The stereoscopic display device is configured to enable a stereoscopic image constituted by using a predetermined parallax number of parallax images to be stereoscopically viewed. The image processing apparatus comprises a rendering processor configured to apply rendering processing to volume data serving as three-dimensional medical image data, a rendering processing controller configured to control the rendering processor so as to generate from the volume data a parallax image group composed of the predetermined parallax number or more of parallax images, and a storage controller configured to store in a memory the parallax image group generated by the rendering processor. The stereoscopic display device is configured to display the stereoscopic image constituted by selecting the predetermined parallax number of parallax images out of the parallax image group stored in the memory. |
| US09445081B1 |
Method and system of 3D image capture with dynamic cameras
Techniques related to 3D image capture with dynamic cameras. |
| US09445076B2 |
Disparity vector construction method for 3D-HEVC
When coding multiview video data, a video coder can code one or more pictures in one or more reference views, including a first reference view and determine a disparity vector for a current block based on motion information of one or more neighboring blocks of the current block, wherein the current block is in a second view, wherein the disparity vector points from the current block to a corresponding block in a picture of the same time instance in one of the one or more reference views. |
| US09445075B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method to adjust disparity information of an image using a visual attention map of the image
Provided is an image processing apparatus. A region of interest (ROI) configuration unit may generate a visual attention map according to a visual attention of a human in correspondence to an input three dimensional (3D) image. A disparity adjustment unit may adjust disparity information, included in the input 3D image, using the visual attention map. Using the disparity information adjusted result, a 3D image having a decreased visual fatigue may be generated and be displayed. |
| US09445071B2 |
Method and apparatus generating multi-view images for three-dimensional display
A method and apparatus for generating multi-view images are provided. An error suspicious area may be detected from a reference view image. A foreground-first image may be generated by foreground-first warping including regarding the error suspicious area as a foreground, and a background-first image may be generated by background-first warping including regarding the error suspicious area as a background. The foreground-first image and the background-first image may be blended, and an output view image in a predetermined viewpoint may be generated. |
| US09445070B2 |
Image transfer apparatus and method
An image transfer apparatus comprises an input operable to receive a signal comprising two non-stereoscopic images for different respective viewpoints of a virtual environment, a first output and a second output, and a signal splitter logic, and in which the signal splitter logic is operable to extract and separate the two non-stereoscopic images from the received signal, to format each of the two separated images for reception by a respective conventional 2D display, and to output to the first output and the second output a respective signal comprising one of the two separate images. |
| US09445068B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method thereof and program therefor
An image processing apparatus includes a direction detection unit configured to detect a direction of a picture pattern of each picture in an input image having a predetermined color pixel array; a moire detection unit configured to detect a moire level by periodicity of a pixel value of each pixel in the input image depending on the direction as a moire index value; and a moire suppression unit configured to suppress the moire level in the input image based on the moire index value detected by the moire detection unit. A method thereof and a program therefor are also provided. |
| US09445065B1 |
Multiple light system blending
A display system for blending two (or more) light systems. The system includes an object with an outer surface. The display system includes a light source projecting ultraviolet (UV) light onto the outer surface and a light source projecting (concurrently in many applications) content onto the outer surface with visible light. Further, the display system includes a light-blending element on the outer surface for concurrently receiving the UV light and the visible light. The light-blending element includes a background layer reflecting the visible light and a foreground layer covering at least a portion of the background layer and producing light in response to the receiving of the UV light. The foreground layer includes black light paint that fluoresces to produce the light in response to the UV light. The background layer includes a layer of material that is non-fluorescent in response to the UV light such a non-fluorescent white paint. |
| US09445062B2 |
Imaging device, imaging system, and imaging method
An imaging device includes: a filter formed of four different filter regions with four different spectral transmittances that three different spectral transmittances having characteristics of a color matching function and a spectral transmittance for extracting metallic black have been linearly transformed thereinto by a linear transformation matrix; and an imaging unit that takes an image of light which has come out from a subject, and has been collected by an optical system, and then has passed through the filter. |
| US09445061B2 |
Image sensors with pixel array sub-sampling capabilities
An image sensor may include an array of image pixels arranged according to a predetermined pattern. A 3-by-3 pixel sub-sampling method is provided that supports a high-speed sub-resolution video mode. The 3-by-3 sub-sampling method may involve organizing the image pixel array into groups, each of which contains a 3-by-3 array of nine pixels. Image pixels at the four corners of each group may be sampled and combined to form a final output. Final outputs produced from each group may form a sub-sampled array that is used by the sub-resolution video mode. |
| US09445060B2 |
Layered locally cached content transcoding system
A system for transcoding locally cached content may include a memory configured to store at least a video stream. A controller communicatively coupled to the memory may be configured to determine a video definition format of a requested video stream and compare the requested video stream with a video definition format of a cached version of the requested video stream. A transcoder coupled to the controller may be configured to convert the cached version of the requested video stream to a lower video definition format if the video definition format of the cached version is determined to be higher than the video definition format of the requested video stream. If the video definition format of the requested video stream is same as the video definition format of the cached version, the controller may supply the requested video stream using the cached version stored in the memory without transcoding. |
| US09445055B2 |
Contribution and attendance for recurring meetings
In one implementation, a periodic teleconference for multiple participant endpoints is established. The periodic teleconference occurs on multiple dates or multiple times. A network device may identify an attendance of the multiple participant endpoints for the periodic teleconference includes and contributions of the multiple participant endpoints for the periodic teleconference. The network device generates a summary of the periodic teleconference including data indicative of the attendance of the multiple participant endpoints and the contributions of the multiple of participant endpoints. |
| US09445051B1 |
Sender side video telephony downgrade
In an example, a method of processing data includes, in a video telephony session between a local device and a remote device, where the video telephony session includes at least one video connection between the local device and the remote device, identifying, by the local device, degraded playback of video data at the remote device. The method also includes, in response to identifying the degraded playback, terminating, by the local device, a video connection of the at least one video connection. |
| US09445050B2 |
Teleconferencing environment having auditory and visual cues
A teleconferencing environment is provided in which both audio and visual cues are used to identify active participants and presenters. Embodiments provide an artificial environment, configurable by each participant in a teleconference, that directs the attention of a user to an identifier of an active participant or presenter. This direction is provided, in part, by stereo-enhanced audio that is associated with a position of a visual identifier of an active participant or presenter that has been placed on a window of a computer screen. The direction is also provided, in part, by promotion and demotion of attendees between attendee, active participant, and current presenter and automatic placement of an image related to an attendee on the screen in response to such promotion and demotion. |
| US09445045B2 |
Video conferencing device for a communications device and method of manufacturing and using the same
A video conferencing device for improving video quality when a communications device is used for a video conference. In one embodiment the device includes (1) a data collection module for collecting data regarding the location and orientation of a user's face relative to a camera on a communications device; and (2) a facial correction module associated with the data collection module, the facial correction module modifying a user's facial orientation and characteristics for transmission during a video conference based on data from the data collection module and from an associated database of relevant facial characteristics. |
| US09445044B1 |
Methods for facilitating virtual presence
A virtual presence system includes a display having a structural matrix configured to arrange a plurality of spaced pixel elements. A plurality of spaced pixel elements collectively form an active visual area wherein an image is displayable. At least one image capture device is disposed within the active visual area for capturing an image. |
| US09445042B2 |
Method and apparatus for synchronizing data streams containing audio, video and/or other data
Several data streams contain video, audio and/or other data. Some of the data streams are pre-recorded in a multiplex on a storage medium while other data streams are located out of the data stream multiplex on the storage medium. The data streams are synchronized using a navigation file (List_of_PlayItems), which comprises descriptors (PlayItems, SubPlayItems) pointing to parts of said data streams, wherein said descriptors define the arrangement in time for said data streams by means of data sub stream paths. |
| US09445037B2 |
Method of transmitting and receiving broadcast signal and apparatus for receiving broadcast signal
Disclosed are a method of transmitting and receiving a broadcast signal and an apparatus for receiving the broadcast signal. In the present invention, first program table information describing a broadcasting stream, and second program table information including additional service identifier information of the multiplexed stream and third program table information describing the additional service data for the multiplexed stream are obtained. The additional service can be provided with the additional service data by using the third program table information. |
| US09445033B2 |
Method for detecting rotation angle of remote controller in television system and television system
There is provided a method for detecting a rotation angle of a remote controller(21) in a television system(30,40) in order to realize a detection for the rotation angle of the remote controller(21) with respect to the television(20), which extends an application prospect of the television system. The television system (30,40) includes a television (20) and a remote controller (21), and the method comprises: collecting(S101), by the remote controller (21), an image of preset infrared sensors on the television (20) and imaging the collected image to a preset plane as a standard image, in a case in which the remote controller(21) does not rotate with respect to the television(20); collecting(S102), by the remote controller(21), an image of the infrared sensors on the television(20) and imaging the collected image to the preset plane again, in a case in which the remote controller(21) rotates with respect to the television(20); and calculating(S103) a rotation angle in a case in which the remote controller(21) rotates with respect to a screen of the television(20) by comparing the image with the standard image. There is further provided a television system(30,40). |
| US09445028B2 |
Image sensors for generating floating point numbers
An image sensor may include an array of image sensor pixels arranged in rows and columns. Each image pixel arranged along a given column may be coupled to analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuitry that is capable of converting analog pixel signals into a digital floating point equivalent representation. The ADC circuitry may be configured to perform exponent conversion during a first time period at a nominal reference voltage level and to perform mantissa conversion a subsequent time period at an adjustable reference voltage level that can be less than the nominal reference voltage level. Readout circuitry implemented in this way can perform conversion in a shorter period of time using a reduced resolution ADC to serve effectively as a higher resolution ADC. |
| US09445027B2 |
Image sensors with column memory repair circuitry
An image sensor may include an array of image pixels arranged in rows and columns. Each image pixel arranged along a column may be coupled to a pixel column line. Each pixel column line may be coupled to column memory circuitry via a respective analog-to-digital converter circuit. The column memory circuitry may include multiple column memory circuits, including a spare column memory circuit. If none of the column memory circuits are defective, the spare column memory circuit is idle. If one of the column memory circuits is defective, the spare column memory circuit is engaged to bypass the defective column memory circuit. Configured in this way, the column memory circuitry is provided with column-wise memory repair capabilities. |
| US09445026B2 |
Solid-state image sensor
A solid-state image sensor comprising a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arrayed in a matrix having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein the pixel array includes a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer arranged above the first wiring layer, the first wiring layer includes first column signal lines arranged at the respective columns of the pixel array, and the second wiring layer includes second column signal lines arranged at the respective columns of the pixel array. |
| US09445025B2 |
System, method, and product for imaging probe arrays with small feature sizes
An embodiment of a method for resolving features on a probe array is described that, comprises acquiring a plurality of micro-shifted images of a region of a probe array; reconstructing an image of the probe array using the micro-shifted images; and deriving intensity values for one or more probe features disposed on the probe array from the reconstructed image. |
| US09445023B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device and image-pickup apparatus
In a photoelectric conversion device, groups of unit pixels are arranged in a well, where each of the unit pixels includes photoelectric conversion elements, an amplifier transistor, and transfer transistors. The photoelectric conversion device includes a line used to supply a voltage to the well, a well-contact part used to connect the well-voltage-supply line to the well, and transfer-control lines used to control the transfer transistors. The transfer-control lines are symmetrically arranged with respect to the well-voltage-supply line in respective regions of the unit-pixel groups. |
| US09445021B1 |
Fixed pattern noise correction with compressed gain and offset
A method of pixel correction is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) calibrating a per-pixel correction model of a sensor at a plurality of different illumination levels, (B) generating a plurality of pixel values from the sensor in response to an optical signal and (C) generating a plurality of corrected values by applying the per-pixel correction model to the pixel values. |
| US09445020B2 |
Solid-state imaging element having image signal overflow path
Since the great number of elements constituting a unit pixel having an amplification function would hinder reduction of pixel size, unit pixel n,m arranged in a matrix form is comprised of a photodiode, a transfer switch for transferring charges stored in the photodiode, a floating diffusion for storing charges transferred by the transfer switch, a reset switch for resetting the floating diffusion, and an amplifying transistor for outputting a signal in accordance with the potential of the floating diffusion to a vertical signal line, and by affording vertical selection pulse φVn to the drain of the reset switch to control a reset potential thereof, pixels are selected in units of rows. |
| US09445019B2 |
Solid-state image sensor and image pickup apparatus including the same
A solid-state image sensor includes pixels each including first and second photoelectric conversion portions provided in a substrate, the second photoelectric conversion portion having lower sensitivity than the first photoelectric conversion portion; a barrier region provided between the first and second photoelectric conversion portions; a waveguide provided on a light-entrance side of the substrate and including a core and a cladding; and a protective layer provided between the waveguide and the substrate. Seen in a direction perpendicular to the substrate, a center of an exit face of the core is on a first-photoelectric-conversion-portion side with respect to a center of the barrier region in each pixel in a central part of a pixel area. A standard deviation of a refractive-index distribution of the protective layer in a region directly below the exit face of the core is 0.1 or smaller in an in-plane direction of the substrate. |
| US09445018B2 |
Imaging systems with phase detection pixels
An image sensor may include phase detection pixels that receive and convert incident light into pixel signals. Processing circuitry may use pixel signals from the phase detection pixels to determine an amount by which image sensor optics should be adjusted during automatic focusing operations. Phase detection pixels may include photodiodes with asymmetric angular responses. For example, the center of a photodiode in a phase detection pixel may be offset from the optical center of the microlens that covers that photodiode. A group of two, three, four, or more than four phase detection pixels may be clustered together and covered by a single microlens. Groups of these clusters may be arranged consecutively in a line. Phase data may be gathered using all of the phase detection pixels in the array, and image processing circuitry may determine which phase data to use after the data has been gathered. |
| US09445008B2 |
Device, method, and computer readable medium for area identification using motion from a projected pattern
An area identifying device includes a projecting unit, an image capturing unit, a calculating unit, and an identifying unit. The projecting unit is configured to project a pattern so that the pattern performs a predetermined movement. The image capturing unit is configured to capture, in sequential order, multiple images of a projection area on which the pattern is projected, each image including a plurality of image areas. The calculating unit is configured to calculate an amount of change of pattern appearances for each image area in the multiple images. The identifying unit is configured to identify, as a reflective area, at least one image area having a different amount of change of the pattern appearances from a reference amount of change of the pattern appearances based on the predetermined movement, among the calculated amounts of change of the pattern appearances. |
| US09445007B1 |
Digital zoom methods and systems
In some cases, conventional digital zoom techniques can lead to poor quality images. Disclosed are systems and methods for improving the quality of images generated by digital zoom. For example, in some embodiments, a parallel structure is utilized where an image is passed through a sharpener and a 2D directional upscaler at the same time. Upscaling operations are then performed on the sharpened image. The upscaled sharpened image is added to the output of the 2D directional upscaler to produce an enhanced image. |
| US09445006B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method for displaying a focused portion with emphasis on an image
There is provided an image processing apparatus including a focused area judgment unit that judges a focused area in target image data, a distribution information generation unit that generates distribution information of an edge evaluation value with the focused area judged by the focused area judgment unit as a target, a threshold value setting unit that variably sets a threshold value for judging an emphasis display portion using the distribution information generated by the distribution information generation unit, and a display data generation unit that selects an emphasis display portion in the image data using the threshold value set by the threshold value setting unit and generates display data for displaying the selected portion with emphasis. |
| US09445004B2 |
Image capturing apparatus capable of capturing panoramic image
A digital camera includes an image capturing unit, an image composition unit, and a display control unit. The image capturing unit captures frames at predetermined time intervals. The image composition unit sequentially combines at least a part of image data from image data of a plurality of frames sequentially captured by the image capturing unit at predetermined time intervals. The display control unit performs control to sequentially display image data combined by the image composition unit while the image data of the frames are captured by the image capturing unit at predetermined time intervals. |
| US09444996B2 |
Camera tap switch
Various embodiments provide a wearable camera that can be worn by a user. The wearable camera includes an accelerometer that can be used to detect camera motion. Input can be provided to the camera in the form of one or more taps which have an associated motion profile, as sensed by the accelerometer. The tap or taps can be mapped to camera functionality to activate the functionality. |
| US09444994B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and method for operating image pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus is provided with: an objective optical system; an image pickup device; a contrast AF section adjusting a focus so that a peak value of a contrast evaluation value of an image is taken; an amount-of-motion detecting section detecting, from a plurality of time-series images, amounts of motion of the subject; and a control section controlling the contrast AF section so as to calculate another contrast evaluation value in a region where a region to be excluded where an amount of motion is equal to or larger than a threshold is excluded from a calculation target region, and the contrast AF section corrects the other contrast evaluation value based on an area of the calculation target region and an area of the region where the region to be excluded is excluded from the calculation target region. |
| US09444993B2 |
Focus detecting apparatus, lens apparatus including the same, image pickup apparatus, and method of detecting defocus amount
A focus detector, which detects a defocus amount from a displacement amount between images formed by a pair of light beams split from an image pickup system so as to pass through a pair of pupil regions, includes a pair of lenses and phase difference sensors, a memory unit for storing an image displacement amount between the image signals on the phase difference sensors in an in-focus state, a waveform read out controller for setting pixels to be calculated for the phase difference sensors, respectively, based on the image displacement amount, a correlation calculator for calculating a correlation amount between the image signals from the pixels to be calculated, a waveform degree-of-conformity calculator for calculating a waveform degree-of-conformity based on the image signals obtained from the pixels to be calculated, and a defocus calculator for calculating the defocus amount based on the correlation amount and the waveform degree-of-conformity. |
| US09444992B2 |
Focus control apparatus and method
A focus control apparatus that achieves a focused state even when a subject is a point light source includes a contrast signal generator that divides a captured image screen into a plurality of areas, extracts a frequency component based on a video signal for each of the divided areas, and generates a first contrast signal based on the frequency component. A controller extracts a luminance intensity based on the video signal for each of the divided areas, determines, for each of the divided areas, a second contrast signal generated by increasing or decreasing the magnitude of the first contrast signal from the divided area based on the magnitude of the luminance intensity, determines a lens position evaluation value that is the sum of the second contrast signals, and performs the focus control based on the lens position evaluation value. |
| US09444986B2 |
Remote control unit for an objective and for a camera
A remote control unit for an objective and a camera comprises a base part, an operating element movable relative to the base part, an evaluation and control unit for generating a control signal in accordance with the position of the operating element and an output device for outputting the control signal to an associated camera. The evaluation and control device is adapted to control a feedback device of the control unit in dependence on the position of the operating element to generate at least one feedback signal perceivable by a user. |
| US09444980B2 |
Electronic apparatus and imaging apparatus
A video camera includes a camera body provided with an opening; a panel unit configured to be pivotable with respect to the camera body between a use position and a storage position; and a lid configured to be pivotable with respect to the opening so as to open/close a battery box. The opening is provided on a surface adjacent to a storage position against which the bottom of the panel unit is brought into abutment at the storage position. The panel unit overhangs a surface in which the opening is provided by the pivot of the panel unit from the storage position to the use position, and the lid pivots relative to the opening to a position which does not interfere with the panel unit so as to open the opening. |
| US09444978B2 |
Turbulence-free camera system and related method of image enhancement
A turbulence-free CCD camera system with nonclassical imaging resolution, for applications in long- distance imaging, such as satellite and aircraft-to-ground based distant imaging, utilizing an intensity- fluctuation correlation measurement of thermal light. The proposed camera system has the following advantages over classic imaging technology: (1) it is turbulence-free; (2) its spatial resolution is mainly determined by the angular diameter of the light source. For example, using sun as the light source, this camera may achieve a spatial resolution of 200 micrometer for any object on Earth. 200-micrometer resolution is insignificant for short distance imaging, however, taking a picture of a target at 10-kilometer, a classic camera must have a lens of 90-meter diameter in order to achieve 200-micrometer resolution. Unlike a classic camera, the proposed turbulence-free CCD camera system has adequate spatial resolution zoom a long distance and still distinguish the objects within a small area, even with a small lens. |
| US09444976B2 |
Methods of generating a pixel clock signal from a transmission clock signal and related data transmission methods for multimedia sources
Methods of generating a pixel clock signal for a multimedia source are provided in which a transmission clock signal having a first frequency is generated from a reference clock signal that has a second frequency. The generated transmission clock signal is multiplied by a multiple to generate the pixel clock signal. The pixel clock signal has a third frequency that is the product of the second frequency and the multiple. |
| US09444975B2 |
Image sensor gamut mapping
Gamut mapping is applied to a pixel to thereby convert input component values (e.g. RGB values) of the pixel to corresponding output component values of the pixel. The input component values have a first valid range which includes some negative values and the output component values have a second valid range which does not include negative values. The gamut mapping unit determines whether a first input component value of the pixel is negative, and if so: (i) applies an adjustment to that component value such that it is not negative; and (ii) adjusts one or more other input component value(s) of the pixel based on the adjustment applied to the first input component value to thereby compensate for the adjustment applied to the first input component value. The output component values of the pixel are based on the adjusted input component values of the pixel. |
| US09444974B2 |
Printing system for printing patches having different length to measure gradation values
According to the present invention, patch data is printed in such a manner that the length of a low-optical-density patch is small and the length of a high-optical-density patch is large. In addition, the measurement is performed by a sensor that measures at a constant scanning speed. Therefore, SN of a dark patch having a high optical density is improved, and a patch chart can be measured in a short time. |
| US09444973B2 |
Image processing for performing a trapping process of increasing a density of a pixel
An image processing apparatus is provided which includes: an inputting unit configured to input image data including a first process color and a second process color; and a determining unit configured to determine a density of the second process color for a target pixel in the inputted image data on the basis of a density of the first process color in the target pixel and on a density of the second process color in a peripheral pixel of the target pixel. |
| US09444969B2 |
System and method for producing color shifting or gloss effect and recording medium with color shifting or gloss effect
An ultraviolet image pattern is created on a recording medium having florescence properties and a first color by electronically creating a first electronic pattern ink, the first electronic pattern ink including a second color, holes, and a first pattern, the holes representing areas in the first electronic pattern ink wherein the second color is absent; electronically creating a second electronic pattern ink, the second electronic pattern ink including the second color, holes, and the first pattern, the holes of the second electronic pattern ink representing areas in the second electronic pattern ink filled with a third color, the third color being equal to the first color; electronically creating an electronic image region having a background and a foreground; electronically painting, using the first electronic pattern ink, the background of the electronic image region; electronically painting, using the second electronic pattern ink, the foreground of the electronic image region; and rendering, using marking materials, the electronic image region on a recording medium such that only the florescence properties of the recording medium are only visible through the holes when viewing the recording medium using ultraviolet illumination. |
| US09444967B2 |
Solid-state image sensing device, image reading apparatus, and image forming apparatus
A solid-state image sensing device includes: a photoelectric conversion unit that converts light into electrical signals for respective pixels and outputs the electrical signals; a signal separation unit that separates an offset signal, which is generated due to dark current, from each of the electrical signals outputted by the photoelectric conversion unit and outputs image signals which are electrical signals converted from light for the respective pixels; and a signal adding unit that adds the image signals, which is outputted from the signal separation unit, for each group of a plurality of pixels. |
| US09444964B1 |
Method and apparatus for scanning an image
A method for reducing electromagnetic emissions by an image scanner comprises cyclically dithering a frequency of a clock signal of the image scanner by repeated dither cycles, determining a phase of the dither cycle when a scan pass of a page of a document commences; and commencing all subsequent scan passes of the page of the document at a particular phase shift from the determined phase of the dither cycle. |
| US09444960B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a sheet accommodating portion that is attachable to and removable from an apparatus body and that is capable of accommodating a sheet therein; a detecting part that detects the presence/absence of a sheet in the sheet accommodating portion; a fixing part that fixes the status of detection by the detecting part to a sheet absent state when the sheet accommodating portion is not attached to the apparatus body; an informing part that informs a user of the status of the apparatus; and a control part that causes the informing part to inform the user of the possibility of a sheet left in the apparatus when the status of detection by the detecting part changes from a sheet present state to the sheet absent state during standby when printing is not performed. |
| US09444958B2 |
Image reading device and image forming apparatus including the same
An image reading device includes a light source arranged below a document table glass and irradiating light to a document on the document table glass, a carriage that holds the light source and is movable in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to a main scanning direction, a photoelectric conversion unit that receives the light irradiated by the light source and reflected from the document, a pair of rail members that extend in the sub-scanning direction while being arranged spaced apart from each other in the main scanning direction and support the carriage so as to be movable in the sub-scanning direction, a rotatable shaft, and an eccentric cam that is fixed to the shaft, has a peripheral surface abutting at least one predetermined place of the pair of rail members, and rotates together with the shaft to displace the predetermined place of the rail members in a vertical direction. |
| US09444948B1 |
Portal for toll free media subscription campaigns
A first network device receives multiple subscription data campaigns, where each of the multiple subscription data campaigns comprises media content, a free data usage quota, and a price for receiving the media content, presents the multiple subscription data campaigns to a user device associated with a user, and receives a selection of one of the multiple subscription data campaigns from the user device. The first network device receives, from a second network device, an indication that the user has successfully subscribed to the selected one of the multiple subscription data campaigns, where the second network device hosts media content associated with the selected one of the multiple subscription data campaigns, generates an authorization token that includes an identifier of the user, an identifier of the selected one of the multiple subscription data campaigns, and the free data usage quota, and sends the authorization token to the second network device. |
| US09444947B2 |
Method and system for differential charging
Method and system for differential charging. The present disclosure describes a technique that determines a charging context for charging messages from one or more application servers that are related to a blended service, receives a charging policy related based at least on the charging context, and generates a charging message based on the charging policy and/or charging context. |
| US09444940B2 |
Pseudo agent matching
Contact centers employ agents to provide services to customers. In particular, artificial agents are provided that have a rich background and continuing life with the realm of social media. The artificial agent's profile is selected in accord with the profiles of current or prospective customers. As the customers age and progress in life, the artificial agent profile is updated in accord with the customers' changing profiles and similarly ages and progresses in life. When a customer desires to interact with artificial agent, for a purpose provided by a contact center, a human agent may be provided the profile and/or history of the artificial agent so as to impersonate the artificial agent and promote the relationship with the customer. |
| US09444939B2 |
Treatment processing of a plurality of streaming voice signals for determination of a responsive action thereto
Streaming voice signals, such as might be received at a contact center or similar operation, are analyzed to detect the occurrence of one or more unprompted, predetermined utterances. The predetermined utterances preferably constitute a vocabulary of words and/or phrases having particular meaning within the context in which they are uttered. Detection of one or more of the predetermined utterances during a call causes a determination of response-determinative significance of the detected utterance(s). Based on the response-determinative significance of the detected utterance(s), a responsive action may be further determined. Additionally, long term storage of the call corresponding to the detected utterance may also be initiated. Conversely, calls in which no predetermined utterances are detected may be deleted from short term storage. In this manner, the present invention simplifies the storage requirements for contact centers and provides the opportunity to improve caller experiences by providing shorter reaction times to potentially problematic situations. |
| US09444932B2 |
System and method of providing digital media management in a quick service restaurant environment
Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems and methods for managing digital media content within a quick service restaurant environment to provide a consistent visual experience and accurate, timely data across various digital media displays to QSR customers. In some embodiments, a digital media management appliance (“DMMA”) is used to manage the distribution of digital media data which is used to drive various display devices present in the QSR environment. The DMMA may be configured to extract data from a point of sale (“POS”) system and/or other data sources within the QSR environment in order to generate display data for the digital media devices in the store. |
| US09444931B2 |
Method, device, and system for connecting to a communication device
A method and apparatus include a first server that communicates with a second server to cause a call back request to be communicated to an endpoint so that the endpoint can initiate a call back connection with the first server or a third server. Such a call back connection may occur near real time or in substantially real time so that updates can be supplied to an endpoint running an application supported by the server quickly and efficiently. The endpoint may register with the second server such that the second server is able to utilize notification messages for providing call back request information to the endpoint to advise the endpoint of a call back request. |
| US09444922B2 |
Information provision method and apparatus of mobile terminal
An event-triggered contact information provision apparatus and method of a mobile terminal is provided for presenting contact information of a person, who has triggered an event, around the contact object representing the person on a specific screen. An information provision method of a mobile terminal preferably includes detecting an event; tracing a contact object associated with triggering the event; and presenting contact information of a person triggering the event around at least a portion of the contact object on a display of the mobile terminal. |
| US09444920B2 |
Flex and stay cell phone/electronic device charging stand
The flex and stay cell phone/electronic device charging stand of the present invention is a USB cable used to hold a cell phone/electronic device in a standing position while it is used to synchronize and charge said cell phone/electronic device. It has two unique features. On the front end there is a removably attachable sleeve that allows for the USB cord to flex and stay in a bent position. This allows the user of the cord to create a stand for his or her electronic device for ease of use on a table or flat surface. On the back end of the cord is a removably attachable docking station for a cell phone or electronic device so when the device is being charged it can sit next to the wall outlet with an easy way to access said device. |
| US09444917B2 |
Data link layer protocol having adaptive framing
Example techniques of the present disclosure provide a first computing device comprising one or more processors and at least one module operable by the one or more processors to output, to a second computing device, a first set of HDLC protocol data units in accordance with a first format in which each of the first set of HDLC protocol data units includes a start-of-frame indicator, a length indicator, a data portion, and an end-of-frame indicator. The module may be further operable by the one or more processors to determine an inability of the second computing device to process at least one of the first set of HDLC protocol data units and output a second set of HDLC protocol data units in accordance with a second format in which each of the second set includes the data portion, a checksum portion, and the end-of-frame indicator and excludes the length indicator. |
| US09444911B2 |
Cached and server views with automatic caching and smooth scrolling
On a client computer, customer relationship management software is integrated into a messaging application that includes a user interface. Customer relationship management (CRM) information is received from a server computer. An automatic determination is made as to whether the received CRM information is to be cached on the client computer. When it is determined that the CRM information is to be cached on the client computer, the CRM information is cached in a cache on the client computer. When at least some of the CRM information is cached on the client computer, the cached CRM information is displayed as a view on the client computer. The display of the CRM information is integrated into the user interface of the messaging application program. |
| US09444908B2 |
Distributing an executable job load file to compute nodes in a parallel computer
Distributing an executable job load file to compute nodes in a parallel computer, the parallel computer comprising a plurality of compute nodes, including: determining, by a compute node in the parallel computer, whether the compute node is participating in a job; determining, by the compute node in the parallel computer, whether a descendant compute node is participating in the job; responsive to determining that the compute node is participating in the job or that the descendant compute node is participating in the job, communicating, by the compute node to a parent compute node, an identification of a data communications link over which the compute node receives data from the parent compute node; constructing a class route for the job, wherein the class route identifies all compute nodes participating in the job; and broadcasting the executable load file for the job along the class route for the job. |
| US09444907B2 |
Prediction of user response to invitations in a social network system based on keywords in the user's profile
A social networking system selects a subset of keywords from a set of master keywords found in user profiles. The method includes selecting a first and second group of user profiles including one or more keywords and computing the number of occurrences of each of the master keywords in the first and second group of profiles. A value may be computed for each of the master keywords based on a comparison of the number of occurrences in the first group of profiles and the number of occurrences in the second group of profiles. The computed value may be used for selecting the subset of keywords from the master keywords and/or ranking the master keywords. |
| US09444901B2 |
Method and apparatus for sending a push content
A method and apparatus for sending a push message is provided. A push sending agent in a server receives a push message sent by a push initiator, and compares a length of a content of the push message with a matching condition. The matching condition includes a maximum message length threshold specifying a maximum length allowed for the content of the push message. The push sending agent determines that the length of the content of the push message does not exceed the maximum message length threshold, and then sends the content of the push message to a push receiving agent in a terminal. |
| US09444897B1 |
Quality of experience collaboration between mobile devices
At a mobile device, a location is predicted where the device will operate at a future time. A first data is obtained, the first data having been produced by a second device while being present at the location at a first time. Using a processor at the mobile device, the first data is analyzed to conclude that a type of network used by the mobile device is unusable at the location. A type of content that should be accessible from the mobile device at the location at the future time is identified. A content of the type of content is saved locally on the mobile device, wherein the saved content is accessible from the mobile device at the future time. |
| US09444894B2 |
System and method for communicating events at a server to a remote device
Examples of systems and methods are provided for communicating events at a server to a remote client device. A system may allow communication and may provide, to a remote client device, a message related to an event at a server. The system may comprise an agent module configured to receive notification of the event at the server, configured to determine an action, based on the event, to be performed by the remote client device on a graphical user interface (GUI) at the remote client device or a remote view at the remote client device, configured to generate the message based on the determined action, and configured to direct the message to the remote client device. The GUI may be a GUI for controlling an application running on the server from the remote client device, and the remote view may be a view of the application running on the server. |
| US09444893B2 |
Network power control module
A network power control module includes a switch and a processor installed in at least one electronic device within an area. The switch is electrically coupled to a first external power supply and the electronic device, and the processor includes a communication module in electrical communication with a control device at a remote end via a router of the area for receiving a control signal and then switching the switch to output or stop outputting voltage of the first external power supply to the electronic device, so that users can control the electronic devices at a remote control freely without requiring complicated network configurations to facilitate the schedule management for household affairs and improve the users' comfortability and home security effectively. |
| US09444892B1 |
Network event management support for vehicle wireless communication
A method of communicating with a telematics unit in a vehicle. The method comprises receiving a content message directed to a telematics unit by an event manager application executing on a server computer, wherein the telematics unit is an electronic device comprising a wireless communication transceiver and integrated into a motor vehicle, determining by the event manager application that the content message is a high priority message type, and determining by the event manager application that the telematics unit is off-line and out-of-wireless-coverage. The method further comprises, responsive to determining that the content message is a high priority message type and to determining that the telematics unit is off-line and out-of-wireless-coverage, sending by the event manager application a wake-up message to the telematics unit, wherein the telematics unit, responsive to receiving the wake-up message, establishes a roaming data wireless communication link and receives the content message via the data link. |
| US09444889B1 |
Managing distributed system performance using accelerated data retrieval operations
A distributed system is adapted to manage the performance of distributed processes. In one aspect, multiple stripes associated with a data item are stored in a distributed storage. The stored stripes include one or more stripes of redundancy information for the data item. A distributed process including at least one task is performed. During performance of the distributed process, a determination is made as to whether to perform an accelerated data retrieval operation. Responsive to a determination to perform an accelerated data retrieval operation, at least one of the one or more stripes of redundancy information for the data item is requested from the distributed storage. Other stripes associated with the data item may also be requested from the distributed storage. After a sufficient subset of stripes associated with the data item is received, the data item is reconstructed using the subset. |
| US09444887B2 |
Multipath overlay network and its multipath management protocol
A method of wireless communication includes aggregating data in a streaming communication session from a source node in a destination aggregator node, wherein data in the streaming session is transported over multiple paths from the source node to the aggregator node via a multipath overlay network discovered by the source node and the aggregator node. |
| US09444885B2 |
Workflow processing in a distributed computing environment
An example method is provided to perform workflow processing in a distributed computing environment comprising a first node, a second node and a data store accessible by the first node and second node. The method may comprise the first node retrieving, from the data store, state information associated with a workflow being processed by the second node. The method may further comprise, in response to determination that load balancing from the second node to the first node is required based on the state information of the workflow, the first node initiating the load balancing by updating the state information of the workflow in the data store. If the state information is successfully updated, the first node may resume processing of the workflow by performing a workflow step to be completed by the second node, but otherwise, abandon the load balancing. |
| US09444884B2 |
Load-aware load-balancing cluster without a central load balancer
A load-aware load-balancing cluster includes a switch having a plurality of ports; and a plurality of servers connected to at least some of the plurality of ports of the switch. Each server is addressable by the same virtual Internet Protocol (VIP) address. Each server in the cluster has a mechanism constructed and adapted to respond to determine the particular server's own measured load; convert the particular server's own measured load to a corresponding own particular load category of a plurality of load categories; provide the particular server's own particular load category to other servers of the plurality of servers; obtain load category information from other servers of the plurality of servers; and maintain, as an indication of server load of each of the plurality of servers, the particular server's own particular load category and the load category information from the other servers. |
| US09444881B2 |
Method, system, and apparatus for exchanging data between client devices
Systems and methods for exchanging data between two client devices are disclosed. A method includes, at a computer system, obtaining, from a first client device, a first data acquisition request, wherein the first data acquisition request includes (i) a device identifier identifying a second client device distinct from the first client device, and (ii) a search parameter identifier; and identifying the second client device, from a plurality of client devices, in accordance with the device identifier. In some implementations, a method further includes, issuing a second data acquisition request to the second device, the second data acquisition request including the search parameter identifier; obtaining, from the second client device, a search parameter associated with the search parameter identifier; obtaining one or more search results associated with the search parameter; and providing at least one search result in the one or more search result to the first client device for display to a user of the first client device. |
| US09444880B2 |
Cloud computing environment for biological data
The present invention provides a novel approach for storing, analyzing, and/or accessing biological data in a cloud computing environment. Sequence data generated by a particular sequencing device may be uploaded to the cloud computing environment during a sequencing run, which reduces the on-site storage needs for the sequence data. Analysis of the data may also be performed in the cloud computing environment, and the instructions for such analysis may be set at the originating sequencing device. The sequence data in the cloud computing environment may be shared according to permissions. Further, the sequence data may be modified or annotated by authorized secondary users. |
| US09444879B2 |
Approach for downloading data over networks using automatic bandwidth detection
An approach is provided for downloading data over a network that uses automatic bandwidth detection. According to the approach, a first version of data to be requested is selected from a plurality of available versions of the data. The first version may be selected based upon a default selection or based upon prior determined connection speeds. A client requests the first version of the data from a server and the client begins receiving the first version of the data. A determination of at least an approximate connection speed is made based upon at least a portion of the first version of the data received at the client. A determination is then made, based upon the determined connection speed, whether a different version of the data should be requested. If so, then the client requests a different version of the data from the server. |
| US09444877B1 |
Automated file delivery systems and methods
The invention provides systems and methods for automatically delivering a file from an originating computer system including a processor and memory to a destination computer system including a processor and memory. The method includes creating at least one master file delivery application and at least two file delivery agents running on the at least one originating computer system. A first file delivery agent of the at least two file delivery agents is controlled by a first master file delivery application of the at least one master file delivery application. A second file delivery agent of the at least two file delivery agents is run either by a second master file application. The method also includes dynamically balancing loads by the one master file delivery application, between the first file delivery agent controlled by the first master file delivery application and the second file delivery agent. The balancing is based on a number of files retrieved by the first file delivery agent and a number of files retrieved by the second file delivery agent; and transmitting at least one file according to at least one destination parameter associated with the at least one file. |
| US09444873B2 |
Website compatibility shims
Various embodiments provide compatibility shims that can be utilized by a web browser to dynamically change web browser platform features per domain or website. The compatibility shims can be deployed to the web browser and updated in a manner similar to that of a webpage. In one or more embodiments, the compatibility shims can be utilized to change a browser's behavior and/or the manner in which the browser represents itself per domain or website. Further, the compatibility shims can enable the web browser to dynamically remove or change support for web platform features. In addition, in at least some embodiments, users can apply their own compatibility shims to their own list of websites or webpages. |
| US09444867B2 |
Systems and methods for data synchronization in a network application
A computer receives user input events associated with a network application. Each user input event corresponds to a respective image frame of the network application and the user input events include at least one remote user input event from a remote source. The computer generates and updates response data from the respective image frames associated with the user input events to a current image frame of the network application. In some embodiments, the user input events are all from a local user of the computer. The computer also generates and updates synchronization data from the respective image frame associated with the at least one remote user input event to the current image frame of the network application. Finally, the computer replaces the response data with the synchronization data. |
| US09444865B2 |
Distributing intelligence across networks
Methods and apparatus relating to distribution of intelligence across a network are described. In one embodiment, one or more content processors may be provided at the edge of a computer network (e.g., prior to a point where data is aggregated or routed by the network). Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US09444864B2 |
Playlist compilation system and method
A method, computer program product and client electronic device for storing, in a memory of a client electronic device, a location of at least one remote media data file available to stream from a server device. A location of at least one local media data file available on the client electronic device is stored in the memory of the client electronic device. A playlist is compiled that defines the location of the at least one remote media data file and the location of the at least one local media data file. The at least one local media data file and the at least one remote media data file in the playlist are rendered and metadata concerning the at least one local media data file rendered is transmitted to the server device. |
| US09444861B2 |
Predictive caching for content
Disclosed are various embodiments for predictive caching of content to facilitate instantaneous use of the content. If a user is likely to commence use of a content item through a client, and if the client has available resources to facilitate instantaneous use, the client is configured to predictively cache the content item before the user commences use. In doing so, the client may obtain metadata for the content item and an initial portion of the content item from a server. The client may then initialize various resources to facilitate instantaneous use of the content item by the client based at least in part on the metadata and the initial portion. |
| US09444858B1 |
Method and system for self-regulating content download
A method, system and mobile application for self-regulating content downloads to mobile communication devices is disclosed herein. The invention determines if a network connection to a mobile communication device is a WiFi connection or a cellular connection. The invention utilizes the performance characteristics and the type of network identified to select the quality and the quantity of DLC to download onto the mobile communication device from the content server. |
| US09444857B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing instant social image cobrowsing through the cloud
In accordance with disclosed embodiments, there are provided methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing instant social image cobrowsing through the cloud, including, for example, means for loading an application at the client device, the application displaying a graphical interface at the client device; receiving input at the graphical interface of the client device to initiate an instant share session; generating an action at the client device to request an instant share session; communicating the action from the client device to a remote host organization via a public Internet; receiving, at the client device, a pointer to a dynamically created co-browse site at the host organization responsive to communicating the action from the client device to the remote host organization; following the pointer to the dynamically created co-browse site at the host organization communicably linking the client device with the host organization; and exchanging a video telephony stream between the client device and a remote party through the dynamically created co-browse site. Other related embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09444843B2 |
Mobile communication device and method of operating thereof
A mobile communication device is provided. The mobile communication device includes a first trusted platform module, a second trusted platform module, a processor, and a storage medium. The storage medium includes instructions that cause the processor to establish a root of trust for a first persona and a second persona, wherein the first persona includes a first operating system and a first trusted execution environment, and the second persona includes a second operating system and a second trusted execution environment. The instructions also cause the processor to store measurements defining the root of trust for the first persona in the first trusted platform module, store measurements defining the root of trust for the second persona in the second trusted platform module, and load the first persona and the second persona using the roots of trust for the first and second personas. |
| US09444835B2 |
Method for tracking machines on a network using multivariable fingerprinting of passively available information
A method for tracking machines on a network of computers includes determining one or more assertions to be monitored by a first web site which is coupled to a network of computers. The method monitors traffic flowing to the web site through the network of computers and identifies the one or more assertions from the traffic coupled to the network of computers to determine a malicious host coupled to the network of computers. The method includes associating a first IP address and first hardware finger print to the assertions of the malicious host and storing information associated with the malicious host in one or more memories of a database. The method also includes identifying an unknown host from a second web site, determining a second IP address and second hardware finger print with the unknown host, and determining if the unknown host is the malicious host. |
| US09444834B2 |
Method and system for detecting behavior of remotely intruding into computer
The invention discloses a method and system for detecting a behavior of remotely intruding into a computer, wherein the method comprises: monitoring a process creating event in a system; when a request for creating a process is monitored, intercepting the process creating request; by analyzing the process, an ancestor process of the process and a currently opened port, judging whether the process creating operation is normal; and if the process creating request is abnormal, determining the process creating request to be a behavior of remotely intruding into a computer. The invention can detect a remote intrusion behavior without the intervention of a user, and will not cause stored data to expand excessively. |
| US09444830B2 |
Web server/web application server security management apparatus and method
A security management apparatus and method for a web server/web application server is provided. The security management apparatus includes a connection state table storage unit for, as a web client accesses a web server/web application server, storing connection state information, an access time, and a connection policy. A connection state information inspection unit inspects whether current connection state information is present in connection state information of the connection state table storage unit in which the connection policy is set to blocking. If current connection state information is not present, a web session reuse attack determination unit determines whether a current connection is a web session reuse attack. If the current connection is not the web session reuse attack, an attack pattern analysis unit analyzes whether an attack pattern is present. A blocking unit blocks a connection between the web client and the web server/web application server. |
| US09444829B1 |
Systems and methods for protecting computing resources based on logical data models
A computer-implemented method for protecting computing resources based on logical data models may include (1) receiving, from a security agent, log data that specifies details of a security event detected by the security agent, (2) creating an instance of a data structure for a logical data model that describes a path cycle of a security threat, (3) populating at least one field of the data structure for the logical data model with a completed value, (4) populating at least one other field of the data structure for the logical data model with a value of incomplete based on a completed value for the other field being unavailable, and (5) performing a security action based on an analysis of the instance of the data structure for the logical data model. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US09444821B2 |
Management server, communication cutoff device and information processing system
An inspection system 1 having a plurality of network segments 2 includes: a management information acquiring unit 34 which acquires a node ID that a node 90 belonging to the network segment 2 can be identified and a segment ID that the network segment 2 to which the node 90 belongs can be identified; a management information accumulating unit 35 which accumulates the acquired node ID and segment ID in the way of being associated with each other; a cutoff determining unit 36 which determines whether the cutoff of the communications of the node 90 specified by the accumulated node ID and segment ID is required or not; and a communication cutoff unit 21 which cuts off the communications of the node 90 specified by the node ID in the case of determining that the cutoff of the communications of the node 90 is required. |
| US09444820B2 |
Providing context-based visibility of cloud resources in a multi-tenant environment
A secure tag generation service is associated with a cloud infrastructure. This service establishes a security context for a particular cloud tenant based on a tenant's security requirements, one or more cloud resource attributes, and the like. The security content is encoded into a data structure, such as a tag that uniquely identifies that security context. The tag is then encrypted. The encrypted tag is then propagated to one or more cloud management services, such as a logging service. When one or more cloud resources are then used, such use is associated with the encrypted security context tag. In this manner, the encrypted tag is used to monitor activities that are required to meet the security context. When it comes time to perform a security or compliance management task, any cloud system logs that reference the encrypted security context tag are correlated to generate a report for the security context. |
| US09444813B1 |
Token-based security for remote resources
Systems and methods of token-based protection for remote resources are disclosed. For example, a method may include receiving, at a second computing device, a configuration message from a first computing device. The configuration message includes information to configure a resource at the second computing device. For example, the resource may be a cloud transcoder. The method also includes generating, at the second computing device, a short token that enables the first computing device to access the resource. For example, the short token may be used to receive a long token that can be used to send application programming interface (API) requests to the cloud transcoder. |
| US09444812B1 |
Systems and methods for authenticating a service
A method for authenticating a user to provide a service is provided. The method includes storing information associated with a user of a first device on a server. The stored information includes a phone number associated with a second device of the user and is stored during an event. Additional information is needed to authenticate the first device to provide a service. The method includes querying the user for additional information to authenticate the first device to provide the service and querying the user to verify the phone number provided during the event before sending one or more communications associated with providing the service to the first device. The method includes sending, based on the stored information and the additional information the one or more communications to provide the service. |
| US09444811B2 |
Using an enhanced data agent to restore backed up data across autonomous storage management systems
An exemplary system preserves the autonomy of two or more distinct storage management systems all the while enabling backed up data to be restored from a first storage management system (the “local system”) to a specially-configured client in a second storage management system (the “remote system”). For example, backed up data in the local system (e.g., a secondary copy of production data) may be transferred, in a restore operation, from secondary storage in the local storage management system, which originated the data, to a client of the remote storage management system (the “remote client”). As a specially-configured “restore-only client,” the remote client is limited to receiving backed up data from the local storage management system, via restore operation(s) managed by the local storage manager. The remote client remains a full-fledged client in its home system, the remote storage management system. |
| US09444800B1 |
Virtual communication endpoint services
Customers can utilize resources of a multi-tenant environment to provide one or more services available to various users. In order to simplify the process for these customers, the multi-tenant environment can include an infrastructure wherein a portion of the resources provide an authentication and/or authorization service that can be leveraged by the customer services. These resources can logically sit in front of the resources used to provide the customer services, such that a user request must pass through the authorization and authentication service before being directed to the customer service. Such resources can provide other functionality as well, such as load balancing and metering. |
| US09444799B2 |
System and method for dynamically allocating stream identifiers in a multi-encryption transport system
The present invention is suitable for use in a multi-encrypted system that dynamically allocates stream identifiers in a second stream depending upon the identifiers in a first stream. The first stream is monitored and counters are incremented with the presence of an identifier. The count for each of the counters is then received. Using the count, a control processor then assigns or revises identifiers in the second stream. |
| US09444798B1 |
Transferring data
Techniques for transferring data may be provided. For example, destination files may be generated from a source file. Information about at least a location for storing at least one of the destination files on a destination computing resource may be determined. A master file may be generated and may include a portion of the information. The at least one destination file and the master file may be sent to the destination computing resource. The sending may cause the destination computing resource to at least store the sent destination file at the location. |
| US09444797B2 |
Protection of private data
Technologies are generally described for generating obfuscated message data. In some examples, a method performed under control of a server may include calculating co-occurrence probabilities of a plurality of combinations, each of which includes at least two elements that are included in original message data; extracting, from the original message data, a first data set that includes at least one combination that has a first co-occurrence probability from among the plurality of combinations and a second data set that includes at least one combination that has a second co-occurrence probability from among the plurality of combinations; generating dummy data by using the first data set and the second data set; and adding the generated dummy data to the original message data to generate obfuscated message data. |
| US09444794B2 |
Low-latency secure segment encryption and authentication interface
An apparatus comprising a memory, a processor coupled to the memory and configured to obtain a Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) (DASH) Media Presentation Description (MPD) from an HTTP server, wherein the MPD describes a media presentation as at least one encrypted segment, and wherein the encrypted segment is associated with an availability time and a decryption key, and prefetch the decryption key associated with the encrypted segment by requesting the decryption key from a key server prior to the availability time of the encrypted segment. |
| US09444793B2 |
System, apparatus and method for encryption and decryption of data transmitted over a network
A method and system for securing data transmitted between a client device and a server by obtaining input text at an intermediate module, processing the input text to obtain processed text, deciding whether to transform the input text deterministically or non-deterministically, or a combination of deterministically and non-deterministically, and based on that decision, transforming the input text accordingly, using at least one key to obtain processed text, and transmitting the processed text to the server. Other embodiments and features of the invention include (independently or together) searching for processed text, allowing for sorting of processed text records by applying an order-preserving transformation, storing unabridged processed elements in a storage device managed by the intermediate module, providing a function by the intermediate module on the input data in lieu of the server, and processing the processed text so as to determine by the intermediate module a transformation applied by the server on input text. |
| US09444792B2 |
Dynamic tunnel for real time data communication
A tunneled session management (“TSM”) server manages a dynamic datagram tunnel (“DDT”) for a real time communication (“RTC”) with a TSM client. The TSM server establishes a stream based tunnel with the TSM client and then establishes the RTC via the stream based tunnel, where the RTC includes communicating a first channel for signaling traffic and a second channel for media traffic. Then, it is determined whether to establish the DDT for communicating the media traffic, and if so, the DDT is established and the second channel is communicated via the DDT while the first channel is maintained on the stream based tunnel. |
| US09444790B2 |
Method and apparatus for threat isolation and remote resolution for computer systems
A method and system providing remote access for threat removal to a computer system. A remote virtual private network (VPN) connection is established to an application on a remote computer utilizing a plug and play communications device having a trusted embedded component. The plug and play communications device is connectable to a first computer. Access is allowed to the first computer by the application on the remote computer using the VPN to perform threat removal operations on the first computer. |
| US09444788B2 |
Data leak protection in upper layer protocols
Methods and systems for Data Leak Prevention (DLP) in a private network are provided. A data structure is maintained within a network security appliance identifying candidate upper layer protocols, corresponding commands of interest and a corresponding suspect field within each of the commands that is to be subjected to DLP scanning as a result of its potential for carrying sensitive information. A packet is received by the network security appliance. A protocol associated with the packet is identified. It is determined whether the identified protocol is among those of the candidate protocols. Responsive to an affirmative determination and when a command represented by the packet is among those of the corresponding commands of interest for the candidate protocol, then a DLP scan is performed on the packet. Otherwise, the packet is allowed to pass through the network security appliance without being subject to a DLP scan. |
| US09444785B2 |
Transparent provisioning of network access to an application
An apparatus and method for enhancing the infrastructure of a network such as the Internet is disclosed. A packet interceptor/processor apparatus is coupled with the network so as to be able to intercept and process packets flowing over the network. Further, the apparatus provides external connectivity to other devices that wish to intercept packets as well. The apparatus applies one or more rules to the intercepted packets which execute one or more functions on a dynamically specified portion of the packet and take one or more actions with the packets. The apparatus is capable of analyzing any portion of the packet including the header and payload. Actions include releasing the packet unmodified, deleting the packet, modifying the packet, logging/storing information about the packet or forwarding the packet to an external device for subsequent processing. Further, the rules may be dynamically modified by the external devices. |
| US09444781B2 |
Recursive DNS nameserver
A recursive DNS server receives a request for domain name information associated with a domain name from a subscriber. In response to the request for domain name information, the recursive DNS nameserver determines a subscriber identifier and subscriber information associated with the subscriber identifier. The recursive DNS nameserver resolves the request for domain name information based on the subscriber information to generate a response to the request for domain name information. The recursive DNS nameserver then returns the response to the request for domain name information to the subscriber. |
| US09444778B2 |
Method and apparatus for propagating a message in a social network
A method and an apparatus for propagating a message in a social network are disclosed. A method for propagating a message in a social network according to an embodiment of the invention can include: calculating a degree of connectivity of each user; calculating a propagation capability of each user by using the calculated degree of connectivity and a probability of distribution; choosing target users for propagating a message by using the propagation capability of each user; and propagating the message to nodes of the chosen target users. |
| US09444777B2 |
Method and processing system for routing a message request
A method and a processing system for routing a message request are provided in the present invention. Using the present invention, a message, which is returned by a party receiving the message request, is routed, according to a predefined designation, to a designated client, which is one of multiple simultaneous online clients sharing the identical user identifier, via a server, and therefore the requirements of the users are satisfied and the experiences of the users are improved. |
| US09444774B2 |
Smart calendar for scheduling and controlling collaboration devices
A system and method for implementing a service oriented architecture that supports complex event processing and business activity monitoring. An enterprise service bus (ESB) generates a first list of one or more devices, receives a selection from a user associated with a first device of a second device in the first list, generates a second list that includes functions associated with the selection from the first user, receives a request from the first device to perform one of the functions in the second list, translates a first communication protocol of the request received from the first device into a second communication protocol used by the second device to create a translated request, translates a first message format of the request into a second message format and transmits the translated request to the second device. |
| US09444772B2 |
Social search engine
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for a social search engine. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a question from an asker in which the question is associated with one or more topics; selecting candidate answerers based at least partly on each answerer's respective relationship to the asker; sending the question successively to groups of one or more candidate answerers according to the ranking until an answer is received from a particular one of the candidate answerers; and sending to the asker the received answer and information that identifies the particular answerer. |
| US09444769B1 |
Method for out of order placement in PDU-oriented protocols
Received PDU's, when inductively determined to be not aligned with a byte-stream payload, are stored within an intermediate dedicated buffer memory and then are read and further processed once alignment of further received PDU's has been derived and a whole PDU has been buffered. A PDU can then be read from the dedicated memory buffer and the PDU payload portion placed in the final destination buffer in system memory. Received PDU's when determined to be aligned with a byte-stream payload are placed in the final destination buffers in system memory, and when the PDU's arrive out-of-order are placed out of order in the final destination buffers. |
| US09444768B1 |
Multi-router system having shared network interfaces
A multi-router system is described in which hardware and software components of one or more standalone routers can be partitioned into multiple logical routers. The multiple logical routers are isolated from each other in terms of routing and forwarding functions yet allow network interfaces to be shared between the logical routers. Moreover, different logical routers can share network interfaces without impacting the ability of any of the logical routers to be independently scaled to meet the bandwidth demands of the customers serviced by the logical router. |
| US09444765B2 |
Dynamic categorization of network resources
System and method for categorizing a plurality of network resources. Collected properties of a network resource are analyzed to determine applicability of various predefined categories to that network resource. At least one category from among the predefined categories is assigned to that network resource according to a determination of applicability of the at least one category to the network resource. A resource-specific time interval for re-categorizing each one of the network resources is dynamically adjusted based on a plurality of previous categorization results for that network resource, such that different network resources will be associated with correspondingly different re-categorization intervals. |
| US09444761B2 |
Bulk uploading of multiple self-referencing objects
A computer implemented method, computer program product, and system for performing create, read, update, or delete operations on a plurality of resources in a client-server environment. In an embodiment, the computer implemented method includes the steps of identifying individual resources requiring operations to be performed, assigning local references for any resources to which a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) has not been provided by the server, generating metadata describing the local references and operations to be performed, wrapping each individual resource with the metadata to provide a plurality of wrapped resources arranging the wrapped resources into a single payload, and transmitting the single payload to the server. |
| US09444753B2 |
Methods and apparatus for improving call performance and data throughput
Methods and apparatus are described for improving call performance and data throughput. The methods and apparatus include receiving one or more packet data units (PDUs) during a transmission time interval (TTI) from a network entity, wherein the one or more PDUs are associated with a radio bearer. Further, the methods and apparatus include determining one or more out-of-order PDUs from the one or more PDUs. Moreover, the methods and apparatus include reordering the one or more out-of-order PDUs, wherein the one or more out-of-order PDUs are reordered within the TTI. Additionally, the methods and apparatus include processing the one or more reordered PDUs. |
| US09444749B2 |
Apparatus and method for selectively delaying network data flows
A control system managing data flows between a sender data processor and a recipient data processor. The data flows originate at the recipient data processor and pass through at least one telecommunications network gateway. The control system includes: a data flow identifier operable to discriminate data packets, sent by the sender data processor to the recipient data processor, as belonging to different data flows depending on respective software applications from which the data flows are originated; and an acknowledgement packet delayer operable to detect acknowledgment packets sent by the recipient data processor for acknowledging receipt of corresponding data packets received from the sender data processor, to discriminate among the acknowledgment packets depending on the data flow to which the acknowledgment packets pertains, and to selectively delay forwarding of the acknowledgment packets to the sender data processor, the selectively delaying depending on the data flow to which the acknowledgment packets relate. |
| US09444746B2 |
Selectively transferring high-priority non-audio data over a quality of service channel
In an embodiment, a transmitting UE is engaged with a target UE in a communication session supported at least in part via a QoS channel on which audio traffic is primarily carried and a non-QoS channel on which non-audio traffic is carried. The transmitting UE obtains audio data and non-audio data for transmission to the target UE during the communication session, and identifies a subset of higher-priority non-audio data within the obtained non-audio data. The transmitting UE transmits a stream of packets including both the audio data and the subset of higher-priority audio data over the QoS channel instead of the non-QoS channel based on the identification. The target UE receives the stream of packets on the QoS channel, and the target UE identifies and extracts the audio data and the higher-priority non-audio data. After extraction, the target UE plays the audio data and processes the higher-priority non-audio data. |
| US09444744B1 |
Line-rate selective load balancing of permitted network traffic
In one embodiment, an indication of a plurality of network nodes, load balancing criteria, and one or more access control list (ACL) entries are received. A plurality of forwarding entries are created, a forwarding entry of the plurality of forwarding entries based upon an ACL entry and the load balancing criteria and corresponding to a network node of the plurality of network nodes. A network element applies the plurality of forwarding entries to network traffic to selectively load balance the network traffic, wherein network traffic meeting the load balancing criteria and permitted by the one or more ACL entries is load balanced among the plurality of network nodes. |
| US09444743B2 |
Network system, switch and connected terminal detection method
In an OpenFlow network, it is determined which port of which node device a terminal connected to a group of node devices is connected to, by only using the source MAC address and port number of a packet transmitted from the terminal. Specifically, the node device compares a set of the port number and source MAC address information of a packet transmitted from the terminal to the node device with a set(s) of a port number and MAC address information held in a preliminary search table to check whether they match each other. When the comparison does not result in a match, the node device notifies the controller by using the inquiry information (packet-in) function of OpenFlow. Furthermore, the node device compares the destination MAC address information of the packet with a set(s) of MAC address information held in a final search table to check whether they match each other. |
| US09444741B2 |
Facilitating network flows
Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating network flows in a networked environment. In various embodiments, a switch transmits data using an egress port that comprises an egress queue. The switch sets a congestion notification threshold for the egress queue. The switch generates a drain rate metric based at least in part on a drain rate for the egress queue, and the congestion notification threshold is adjusted based at least in part on the drain rate metric. |
| US09444733B2 |
Proxies for pseudo-wire allocation and distribution
Communicating is disclosed. A first communication associated with a first mechanism for configuring a pseudo-wire is received. The first communication is transformed into a second communication, where the second communication is associated with a second mechanism for configuring a pseudo-wire. The second communication is transmitted, where a pseudo-wire that is configured using the second communication is associated with (1) a first node that is configured to support the first mechanism and (2) a second node that is configured to support the second mechanism. |
| US09444729B2 |
Fast application recognition system and fast application processing method
A fast application recognition system includes an output management unit to buffer an input packet and transmit the packet to an outside according to control information, a preprocessing path selection unit to receive the packet from the output management unit, extract control information corresponding to a packet's header information, and return the extracted control information to the output management unit, a primary processing unit to receive a packet not processed at the preprocessing path selection unit, extract control information corresponding to a packet's pattern using a primary pattern database, and return the extracted control information to the output management unit, and a statistics control unit to receive a packet from the output management unit according to the control information and the primary processing unit, extract control information corresponding to a packet's pattern using a secondary pattern database, and return the extracted control information to the output management unit. |
| US09444728B2 |
Packet switching device including cascaded aggregation nodes
In one embodiment, a packet switching device includes one or more host devices and a cascade of aggregation nodes. The aggregation nodes aggregate customer traffic and communicate it with the host device. Typically the aggregation nodes are remotely located from the host device. The host device may be connected to one or both ends of the cascaded topology of aggregation nodes. In one embodiment, the cascaded topology of aggregation nodes automatically configures itself using initiation packets. In one embodiment, the cascaded topology of aggregation nodes reacts to detected faults, such as by changing direction packet traffic is sent through the cascaded topology. By cascading aggregation nodes, in contrast to having each aggregation node connected to the host device via one or more point-to-point links, communications costs are decreased in one embodiment. |
| US09444723B1 |
Passing data over virtual links
Passing data over virtual links is disclosed, including: encapsulating a layer three data packet as an inner payload of a network data packet; and generating an outer header of the network data packet with a layer two header and a layer three header, wherein the network data packet is configured to communicate over a virtual link between a first interface of a first network appliance and a first interface of a second network appliance. |
| US09444720B2 |
Method and apparatus for multicast implementation in a routed ethernet mesh network
Interest in multicast group membership may be advertised via a routing system on an Ethernet network along with an indication of an algorithm to be used by the nodes on the network to calculate the distribution tree or trees for the multicast. Each node, upon receipt of the advertisement, will determine the algorithm that is to be used to produce the multicast tree and will use the algorithm to calculate whether it is on a path between nodes advertising common interest in the multicast. Example algorithms may include shortest path algorithms and spanning tree algorithms. This allows multicast membership to be managed via the routing control plane, while enabling spanning tree processes to be used to forward multicast traffic. Since spanning tree is able to install multicast state per service rather than per source per service, this reduces the amount of forwarding state required to implement multicasts on the routed Ethernet mesh network. |
| US09444719B2 |
Remote detection and measurement of data signal leakage
Disclosed are systems and methods for detecting and locating ingress of an over-the-air signal into a wired communications network. Computing devices located in a plurality of different areas may be configured to identify amplitude of signals transmitted over the wired communications network as it varies by signal frequency. In one embodiment, the system may determine expected amplitude of the over-the-air signal at the plurality of different areas. In other embodiments, the system may identify amplitudes received over the wired communication path at the computing devices. The system may determine a location at which the over-the-air signal has entered the wired communications network based on a comparison of the identified and expected amplitudes of the over-the-wire signal. |
| US09444713B1 |
Cut-through routing for network devices
Methods and systems for a network device. The network device includes a temporary memory storage device having a plurality of storage locations that are used to store packets received by a plurality of sub-ports. The network device includes a cut-through estimation circuit that estimates a cut-through threshold value based on which a certain portion of a packet has to be received and stored at one of the plurality of storage locations before the packet can be processed by one of the sub-ports that received the frame. The cut-through threshold value varies based on an operating speed of a network link the packet is received on, an operating speed of a network link the packet is transmitted on, and a protocol used for receiving and transmitting the packet. |
| US09444709B2 |
Bidirectional forwarding detection BFD session negotiation method, device, and system
The present invention relates to a BFD session negotiation method. The BFD session negotiation method includes: generating a first discriminator value, where the first discriminator value is unique in a local area network to which a local device belongs; generating a first BFD control packet, where the first BFD control packet includes the first discriminator value; and sending the first BFD control packet to a peer device, so that the peer device performs a session negotiation with the local device according to the first discriminator value. |
| US09444707B2 |
Monitoring system
A server is configured to receive information regarding a plurality of issues associated with a plurality of client devices. The server is configured further to analyze the plurality of issues. The server is configured further to generate a plurality of parameters based on analyzing the plurality of issues; and send the plurality of parameters to the plurality of client devices. |
| US09444706B2 |
Bringing attention to an activity
An activity associated with a digital medium may be detected. An interest of a user may be identified responsive to detecting the activity. The interest may be stored, and one or more online communities monitored for the interest to find content associated with the interest. The user may be notified of the content in a scalable manner to keep the user up-to-date with the interest. |
| US09444704B2 |
Method for controlling monitoring items, management computer, and computer system in cloud system where virtual environment and non-virtual environment are mixed
In a cloud environment that provides both virtual environment and non-virtual environment, in order to address a problem in that monitoring items that vary depending on usage cases must be managed, the present invention proposes a management method in which whether each server brings about a virtual environment or a non-virtual environment is managed by performing registration processing in cooperation with image management and a service resource registration task. In addition, user manager monitoring profile item management information for virtual/no-virtual environment is prepared, and with reference to this information, calculation methods, which specify monitoring items to be monitored out of monitoring items and infra monitoring items for each environment, are managed. With the use of these calculation methods, a user manager and an infrastructure manager may perform optimal monitorings. |
| US09444700B2 |
Network analysis device and method
One embodiment of a device includes a network filter configured to filter a plurality of network streams in real-time at the network analysis device to access at least one of the plurality of network streams based on filter parameters input to the network filter. The device further includes a processor configured to compile network information associated with the accessed at least one of the plurality of network streams to allow interaction with the network information. |
| US09444698B2 |
Computer-readable recording medium storing process for monitoring computer, its method and apparatus
For each group including a plurality of computers, a monitoring computer includes a storage storing a monitoring path which associates a monitoring-source computer that is an origin of monitoring with at least one computer that is both a monitored target and a monitoring source. When an instruction including specification information specifying a group is given, the monitoring computer references the monitoring path in the storage and distributes a monitoring path related to the group specified by the specification information to each computer belonging to the group specified by the specification information. The monitoring computer makes a request for the monitoring-source computer that is the origin of monitoring in the monitoring path to monitor another computer in conformity with the monitoring path. |
| US09444697B2 |
Policy enforcement in a distributed computing system
A policy is added to a repository. The repository is a component of a distributed computing system. An active service associated with a service level agreement that specifies the policy is identified. The policy is propagated to the active service and then installed on the active service without interrupting the active service. The repository receives the service level agreement that specifies the policy in an enforcement policy. The service level agreement is propagated to the active service and then installed on the active service without interrupting the active service. The policy is then propagated to a client that is associated with the service level agreement installed at the active service. |
| US09444693B2 |
Relay device, information processing system, relay device control method, image forming apparatus management method, and storage medium
A relay device identifies information acquired from an image forming apparatus (managed device) as private data to be managed in the local system and public data to be managed on a management device on a cloud, and sends the public data together with a pointer to the private data to the management device. The relay device acquires the public data from the management device and when applying the private data to the managed device together with the acquired public data, the relay device acquires the private data based on the pointer and distributes that data together with the public data to the managed device. |
| US09444692B2 |
Systems, devices and methods of crowd-sourcing across multiple domains
The various embodiments include methods, computers and communication systems for controlling services across multiple heterogeneous networks by collecting communication information from a plurality of telecommunications domains, generating a message based on the collected communication information, and sending the generated message to a public interface of a telecommunications domain to alter the functionality of the telecommunications domain component. The generated message may include information for altering a functionality of a telecommunications domain component. Generating a message based on the collected communication information may include crowd sourcing the collected information, which may include summing, averaging, aggregating, comparing and/or correlating the collected information. |
| US09444690B2 |
Network system, operating method thereof, and switch
An operating method of a network system includes setting a plurality of first connection ports from among a plurality of connection ports of a first switch as belonging to a first loop group; receiving, through the first switch, a topology change notification; determining, through the first switch, whether the topology change notification is received via one of the first connection ports; and under a condition that the topology change notification is received via one of the first connection ports, outputting, through the first switch, the topology change notification via the other one/ones of the first connection ports, and not via the connection port/ports which do/does not belong to the first loop group. With such operation, broadcasting the topology change notification can be avoided, so as to increase the efficiency, bandwidth, and stability of the network system. |
| US09444687B2 |
System and method for locally managing network appliances in a closed area network via a gateway device
A system, medium and method of managing, via a gateway device, to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of network appliances in a closed local area network is disclosed. A data message is received from a first network appliance configured to communicate data in association with a first application profile. The first application profile is retrieved from a locally stored application profile database upon being identified. A database is accessed at the gateway device containing policy information of the first network appliance and evaluated for one or more policy parameters. A first instruction command is generated at the gateway device based on the accessed policy information, wherein the instruction command conforms with the first application profile to instruct the first network appliance to perform a specified action. The instruction command is wirelessly transmitted from the gateway device to the first network appliance to cause it to perform a specified action. |
| US09444685B2 |
Systems and methods for detecting and managing cloud configurations
A cloud configuration management method implemented in a cloud configuration management system communicatively coupled to one or more cloud nodes in a cloud system includes creating a plurality of golden configurations for each of a plurality of roles, wherein each of the one or more cloud nodes has one of the plurality of roles for operation in the cloud system; defining metadata rules for each of the plurality of golden configurations; performing a configuration analysis to audit the one or more cloud nodes using the metadata rules; and providing results of the configuration analysis to determine misconfiguration of any of the one or more cloud nodes. |
| US09444684B2 |
Method and system for detecting network upgrades
A system and method identify a network upgrade from a data set including a plurality of configuration sessions. The system performs the method by receiving a plurality of configuration sessions. Each of the configuration sessions comprises a plurality of configuration commands. The configuration commands are generated by a same user identifier and within a time threshold. The method further includes identifying one of the configuration sessions as a network upgrade session. The identification is based on a rareness of the configuration session or a skewness of the configuration session. |
| US09444682B2 |
Location-aware configuration
A networking device may operate according to a first configuration profile adapted to cause the device to conform to restrictions applicable within a plurality of different locations. The networking device may obtain a second, location-aware configuration profile, which may include restrictions applicable to the location where the device is deployed. The second, location-aware configuration profile may be provided by a location-aware configuration service responsive to a request from the device. The service may determine a location of the device from the request. The service may identify restrictions applicable within the region the device is located. |
| US09444681B2 |
Systems and methods for resolution of uniform resource locators in a local network
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for resolving a uniform resource locator may include receiving, at a router, a uniform resource locator from a client information handling system within a local network of the router. The method may also include processing, by the router, the uniform resource locator to determine if the uniform resource locator includes a local domain name of a local information handling system within the local network. The method may further include resolving, by the router, a unique address associated with the uniform resource locator and the local information handling system responsive to determining that the uniform resource locator includes the local domain name of the local information handling system, wherein such resolving is performed without resort to a domain name service external to the local network. |
| US09444675B2 |
Determining the operations performed along a service path/service chain
Presented herein are techniques performed in a network comprising a plurality of network nodes each configured to apply one or more service functions to traffic that passes the respective network nodes in a service path. At a network node, an indication is received of a failure or degradation of one or more service functions or applications applied to traffic at the network node. Data descriptive of the failure or degradation is generated. A previous service hop network node at which a service function or application was applied to traffic in the service path is determined. The data descriptive of the failure or degradation is communicated to the previous service hop network node. |
| US09444674B2 |
Heuristic analysis of responses to user requests
Systems and methods are provided for monitoring the performance of a network with respect to providing results for user requests. A user request can correspond to a search query, an entry of a uniform resource locator (URL) or other address for a document on a network, or another type of request. A plurality of user requests are aggregated, such as based on logs of search query or browsing activity. A representative group of user requests is selected and then submitted in order to evaluate the results provided. Based on a heuristic analysis of the results, an alert can be provided to indicate potential performance problems in the network environment. |
| US09444664B2 |
Channel frequency offset estimation method, apparatus, and system
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, includes: performing channel estimation on a signal of a current channel to obtain channel information of the current channel, performing calculation processing on the channel information obtained in current channel estimation and channel information obtained in previous channel estimation to obtain a phase difference of the current channel information, dividing the phase difference of the current channel information by a time interval between two times of channel estimation to obtain residual frequency offset information of the current channel, adding the residual frequency offset information of the current channel and frequency offset information which is of the channel and obtained in a previous calculation to obtain frequency offset information of the current channel, and outputting the frequency offset information of the current channel, so as to perform frequency offset correction on the signal of the channel according to the current frequency offset information. |
| US09444663B2 |
Cognitive radio system, resource allocation apparatus thereof and method therefor
Disclosed is a cognitive radio system, resource allocation apparatus thereof and method therefor. A resource allocation apparatus comprises: a transmission opportunity assessment device which is used to assess availabilities of transmission opportunities in radio resources of a primary communication system; a vector production device which is used to set a transmission opportunity selection vector for each secondary user in the cognitive radio system based on assessment results of the availabilities of transmission opportunities, wherein the transmission opportunity selection vector includes information for identifying multiple transmission opportunities assessed available; and a sending device which is used to distribute the transmission opportunity selection vector to the secondary user. |
| US09444662B2 |
Contention avoidance control device and contention avoidance control method for PWM output and A/D conversion, as well as power control system
In a contention avoidance control device and a contention avoidance control method for PWM output and A/D conversion, the change timings of PWM outputs are detected, and output of a received A/D conversion trigger to an A/D conversion circuit is inhibited within a predetermined time measured based on the change timings. |
| US09444661B2 |
DC offset tracking of wireless receivers
A receiver system includes a DC (direct current) offset estimation block configured to capture a plurality of sample pairs, each sample pair including a first sample of a first signal and a second sample of a second signal. The first and second signals are passed through one or more gain elements. The DC offset estimation block is also configured to apply a modified circle-fit algorithm to the plurality of sample pairs to estimate a first DC offset exhibited by the first signal and a second DC offset exhibited by the second signal, the first and second DC offsets generated by the gain elements, the modified circle-fit algorithm includes a magnitude approximation term used to iteratively estimate the first and second DC offsets. The receiver system also includes a DC offset correction block configured to calculate one or more correction control signals based on the first and second DC offsets. |
| US09444659B2 |
Voltage mode transmitter
A voltage mode transmitter includes a resistive network and a de-emphasis value controller. The resistive network receives plural input voltages and provides plural weighting values corresponding to respective input voltages. A sum of the products of the plural input voltages and the corresponding weighting values is equal to an output voltage. The de-emphasis value controller receives a first signal. After the first signal is inverted as an inverted first signal and the inverted first signal is delayed for a time period, the de-emphasis value controller generates a second signal. The de-emphasis value controller further receives a value control signal. At least one of the plural input signals is provided by the first signal and at least one of the plural input signals is provided by the second signal according to the value control signal. |
| US09444658B2 |
Method for scheduling users in a mobile or wireless communication system, corresponding mobile terminal and base station
The present invention relates to a method for scheduling users in a mobile or wireless radio communication system comprising a base station with a multiple antenna system and at least two users, said base station communicating with users using precoding weights at said multiple antenna system, an indication on precoding weights to be used for communication with a first user being sent by said first user on a feedback channel to said base station. According to the present invention, the method comprises the steps of: •Expressing said precoding weights used at said multiple antenna system as a combination of two types of precoding weights, a first type of precoding weights relating to long term channel information and a second type of precoding weights relating to short term channel changes; •Sending on said feedback channel from said first user an indication related to precoding weights of said first type which, if used at said multiple antenna system for communication with a second user, would cause interference below a threshold on said first user if both said first and second users were scheduled on identical resources. |
| US09444656B2 |
Flexible receiver architecture
One embodiment relates to a receiver circuit for a data link. The receiver circuit includes at least a first signal path, a second signal path, and a path selector circuit. The first signal path includes first equalization circuitry, and the second signal path includes second equalization circuitry. The path selector circuit is configured to select one signal path of the first and second signal paths. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed. |
| US09444655B2 |
Apparatus, method and system of scrambling a wireless transmission
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and methods of scrambling wireless transmissions. For example, an apparatus may include a selector to select a selected scrambling seed based on a number of codewords in a packet to be transmitted; and a scrambler to scramble bits of the packet based on a periodic sequence of scrambling bits, the sequence of scrambling bits being generated according to the selected scrambling seed. |
| US09444652B2 |
Receiving apparatus, data receiving method, and channel estimating apparatus and method therefor
In the present disclosure, the UE apparatus is classified by type and the demodulation information to use in channel estimation of MUI signals is determined based on the type of the UE apparatus. The channel estimating apparatus for MUI signals has: a user type determining circuit that determines whether a UE apparatus corresponding to an own station belongs to a first type user or a second type user and determines demodulation information to use in channel estimation of MUI signals based on the type of the UE apparatus corresponding to the own station; and a channel estimating circuit that performs channel estimation of a multi-user interference signal based on the determined demodulation information to use in channel estimation of MUI signals. With this structure, it is possible to improve channel estimation accuracy and further to improve the performance of data reception and user and cell throughputs. |
| US09444646B2 |
Method and system for workgroup instant message
A method for managing instant message communications, including conducting an instant message (IM) session between a first member of a callable workgroup and an external user participant that calls the callable workgroup; initiating, by the first member of the callable workgroup, a second IM session between the first member and at least one other member of the callable workgroup; and conducting the second IM session between the first member and the at least one other member of the callable workgroup, the at least one other member of the callable workgroup participating in the second IM session capable of monitoring communications of the first IM session between the first member and the external user. |
| US09444644B2 |
Enabling virtual workloads using overlay technologies to interoperate with physical network services
A solution is provided to enable cloud service provider customers/users to offer physical network services to virtualized workloads that use overlay technologies, such as a Virtual Extensible Local Area Network (VXLAN). For a virtual workload that uses an overlay technology, an identifier is received of a logical network to which the virtual workload connects and a policy for the logical network. Based on the identifier of the logical network and the policy, a gateway is configured to connect traffic for the virtual workload on the logical network to a particular virtual local area network (VLAN) interface of the physical network service equipment on which the policy is configured. |
| US09444642B2 |
LAN multiplexing apparatus
The control device of a LAN multiplexing apparatus performs a process to encapsulate a MAC frame received from at least any one of the LAN and the wireless LAN with a packet header including a packet network address including at least a multiplexing identifier and a MAC address and to send the encapsulated packet to the packet network, and a process to send a MAC frame obtained by decapsulating a packet received from the packet network to at least any one of the LAN and the wireless LAN corresponding to a destination of the MAC frame. |
| US09444640B2 |
Method to create a composite RUI from multiple RUIs
A compositing device lessens a rendering/processing load for rendering devices by processing one or more sessions instead of requiring the rendering devices to do so. The compositing device is able to receive one or more sessions from one or more source devices and process the sessions either together or separately. Then, either a composited session or a selected session is sent to be displayed by a rendering device. |
| US09444636B2 |
Message broadcasting in a clustered computing environment
Approaches are provided for message broadcasting within a clustered computing environment such as a Cloud computing environment. Specifically, a message is received in a message queue (e.g., on a message queue server). From the message queue, the message is sent to a single node of a plurality of nodes within the clustered computing environment. The single node can be selected based on factors such as a best available node within the plurality of nodes. This single node will process the message and identify a set of message listeners to whom the message should be broadcast (e.g., based on a topic of the message and an association of the topic to the set of message listeners). The single node will then publish the message to the set of message listeners. Delivery confirmations, responses, etc. associated with the message will then be tracked, processed, and/or routed by the single node. |
| US09444635B2 |
Bandwidth allocation for multimedia conferencing
A method can include analyzing endpoint preference data from each of a plurality of endpoints of a multimedia conference. The endpoint preference data for each respective endpoint represents a desired distribution of bandwidth for different types of data in the multimedia conference for each respective endpoint. The method can also include allocating bandwidth between the different types of data for each of the plurality of endpoints in the multimedia conference based on the analysis of the endpoint preference data. |
| US09444634B2 |
Miscabling detection protocol
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for a miscabling detection protocol. One or more switches can periodically send miscabling protocol (MCP) packets on non-fabric ports on all configured EPG VLANs. A first switch located at a network fabric receives a miscabling protocol (MCP) packet indicating an identity of an originating switch and a port number of an originating port of the MCP packet via a receiving port on the first switch, wherein the MCP packet is received from an external network connected to the receiving port, and wherein the originating switch and originating port are also located at the network fabric and connected to the external network. Based on the MCP packet, the first switch then detects a loop between the receiving port, the originating port, and the external network. Next, the first switch blocks the receiving port or the originating port in response to detecting the loop. |
| US09444633B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing power over a data network
A method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for providing power over Ethernet are provided in the illustrative embodiments. The apparatus and method for providing power over Ethernet includes a first device that receives power from a computer. A second device may be in communication with the first device using a wired section of the Ethernet. The first device provides electrical power to operate the second device using the wired section of the Ethernet. One method for providing power over a data network may include determining availability of a power injector. A determination may be made whether a connected device is capable of receiving power over Ethernet. If the connected device is capable of receiving power over the Ethernet, electrical power may be provided from the power injector to the connected device. |
| US09444625B2 |
Systems and methods for authenticating an electronic message
Systems and methods are disclosed for authenticating electronic messages. A data structure is generated by a computer server which allows for the authentication of the contents and computer server identity of a received electronic message and provides a trusted stamp to authenticate when the message was sent. Data which can authenticate the message, the computer server identity, and the time the message was sent is included into a data structure which is called an Electronic PostMark (EPM). |
| US09444623B2 |
Modular exponentiation optimization for cryptographic systems
A processing device, such as logic on an integrated circuit may identify a cryptographic message stored in a first register. The processing device may determine a plurality of components for a second power of the cryptographic message using a plurality of components of the cryptographic message. The processing device may determine the plurality of components for the second power of the cryptographic message without storing the entire second power of the cryptographic message. Further, the processing device may determine a third power of the cryptographic message using modular arithmetic. The processing device may determine the third power by transforming the plurality of components for the second power of the cryptographic message and the plurality of components of the cryptographic message. |
| US09444622B2 |
Computing platform with system key
A method for installing a system key onto a computing platform is disclosed. A system key generator is installed on the computing platform. The system key generator is activated and generates a system key within the computing platform. The system key is also stored within the computing platform. |
| US09444613B2 |
Sensor, control unit and method to communicate between sensors and control units
A sensor may include a clock generator configured to generate a clock. A receiver may be configured to receive signals from a control unit, and a transmitter they be configured to send signals to the control unit. In one implementation, the transmitter is configured to send a synchronization signal based on the clock. A period between a first edge and a second edge of the synchronization signal may be dependent on the clock and both edges are either rising or falling. |
| US09444611B2 |
Network system and method of synchronizing path information
The network system has a switch and a controller. The switch performs processes of a received packet in accordance with a flow entry in which are defined a rule and an action to uniformly control a packet as a flow. The controller transmits a control message to the switch to perform a setting of the flow entry, holds a flow entry identical to the flow entry set to the switch, manages a synchronization state per unity of a flow entry and preferentially synchronizes, in a case the flow entry is not synchronized, a specific flow entry between the switch. |
| US09444605B2 |
Base station
A transmitting unit of a base station transmits data to a radio terminal with a plurality of frequency bands. A transfer unit of the base station transfers a part of data to be transmitted by the transmitting unit to another base station, so that data transmission to the radio terminal is performed in the other base station. A receiving unit of the other base station receives data transferred by the transfer unit of the base station. A transmitting unit of the other base station transmits data received by the receiving unit to the radio terminal. |
| US09444603B2 |
Transmission diversity and multiplexing for HARQ-ACK signals in communication systems
A method and apparatus are described for a User Equipment (UE) to transmit in a control channel ACKnowledgement signals associated with a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest process (HARQ-ACK signals) in response to receiving Transport Blocks (TBs) transmitted from a base station. The UE conveys the HARQ-ACK information by selecting one resource from multiple resources in the control channel and by selecting a constellation point of the modulation scheme for the HARQ-ACK signal. Transmission diversity is supported using different control channel resources that are already available to the UE without configuring additional resources. Design principles are described to optimally map the HARQ-ACK information to control channel resources and modulation constellation points for a Time Division Duplex (TDD) system and for a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system. |
| US09444601B2 |
Method and device to determine when to perform hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) combination
A method for Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) combination is disclosed. The method includes that: externally configured parameters relevant to HARQ combination are received, and an identifier ddr2switch of DDR2 switching is calculated to acquire addresses involved before and after the HARQ combination; it is determined, according to the parameters and the addresses involved before and after the HARQ combination, whether the HARQ combination is needed to be performed; and when it is determined that the HARQ combination is needed to be performed, data in a DDR2 are read and stored into a first data cache random access memory RAMA; and a HARQ combination calculation is performed, and the calculation result is stored into a second data cache random access memory RAMB. A device for HARQ combination is further disclosed. The technical solutions provided in the disclosure are based on a latest interference cancellation algorithm, greatly increase the success probability of decoding, saves the storage space of a DDR2 and improves the reading or writing efficiency. |
| US09444598B2 |
Application-aware dynamic bit-level error protection for modulation-based communication
In one embodiment, a device (e.g., a transmitter) determines a level of error protection of each bit position within symbols of a particular constellation map used for modulation-based communication, and also determines priority levels of application data bits to be placed into a communication frame. Application data bits may then be placed into symbols of the communication frame, where higher priority application data bits are placed into bit positions with greater or equal levels of protection than bit positions into which lower priority application data bits are placed. The communication frame may then be transmitted to one or more receivers with an indication of how to decode the placement of the application data bits within the symbols. In another embodiment, the particular constellation map may be dynamically selected from a plurality of available constellation maps, such as based on communication channel conditions and/or applications generating the data. |
| US09444590B2 |
Mobile communication system and method, base station and user equipment
A mobile communication system where a base station and a user equipment communicates on multiple aggregated carriers is disclosed. In the mobile communication system, the base station notifies to the user equipment information which is relevant to inclusion of an information field indicating scheduling carrier in downlink control information format by using radio resource control signaling, and the user equipment receives, from the base station, downlink control information in the downlink control information format according to the information which is relevant to inclusion of the information field indicating scheduling carrier. |
| US09444588B1 |
On-chip bathtub BER measurement for high-speed serdes diagnostics
A method for evaluating operation of a receiver comprising an analog front end, a plurality of samplers connected in parallel to the analog front end, the plurality of samplers comprising a plurality of utility samplers, a plurality of data samplers and a plurality of timing samplers, an unrolled decision feedback equalizer (UDFE) connected to outputs of the plurality of data samplers, and a serial input parallel out (SIPO) block connected to an output of the UDFE and outputs of the plurality of utility and timing samplers. The method comprises adjusting settings of the plurality of utility samplers to sweep across a range of interest, at each of a plurality of points comparing a selected output of one of the plurality of utility samplers at that point to an output of one of the plurality of data samplers to detect an error event, and, accumulating the error events. |
| US09444582B2 |
Transmitter and receiver for broadcasting data and providing incremental redundancy
A transmitter for broadcasting data in a broadcasting system that improves the decoding quality, if needed, comprises a data input, and an encoder for error correction code encoding the input data words into codewords, a codeword comprising a basic codeword portion and an auxiliary codeword portion, wherein said encoder is adapted for generating said basic codeword portion from an input data word according to a first code and for generating said auxiliary codeword portion from an input data word according to a second code, said basic codeword portion being provided for regular decoding and said auxiliary codeword portion being provided as incremental redundancy if regular decoding of the codeword by use of the basic codeword portion is erroneous. Further, the transmitter comprises a data mapper for mapping the codewords onto frames of a transmitter output data stream, and a transmitter unit for transmitting said transmitter output data stream. |
| US09444576B2 |
Updates to MU-MIMO rate adaptation algorithm
A method of determining a modulation coding scheme (MCS) for communications between a communications device and a client station (STA). The communications device determines a first MCS for transmitting data to the STA during a first sounding interval based, at least in part, on channel state information received from the STA upon initiation of the first sounding interval. The device determines a first series of packet error rates (PERs) associated with one or more data transmissions to the STA during the first sounding interval. The device then determines a second MCS for transmitting data to the STA during a second sounding interval based, at least in part, on the first PER in the first series of PERs. Specifically, the second MCS is independent of the remaining PERs in the first series. |
| US09444572B2 |
Transmission device and transmission method
A transmission device includes: optical transmitters configured to transmit optical signals of different wavelengths; optical couplers configured to multiplexing the optical signals transmitted from the optical transmitters; and a wavelength selective switch configured to multiplex multiplexed optical signals obtained by multiplexing by the couplers, wherein optical signals, a wavelength interval between which is less than a predetermined value, are transmitted to separate optical couplers of the optical couplers, among the optical signals. |
| US09444571B2 |
Control information transmission apparatus, control information reception apparatus, and control information transmission method
A control information transmission apparatus which can reduce the interference power of the control signal of the terminal connected to the femtocell is provided. The control information transmission apparatus comprises an arrangement unit that arranges some or all of control signals for a terminal in an extension part among resources including a compatible part and the extension part; and a transmission unit that transmits some or all of the arranged control signals for the terminal. |
| US09444566B1 |
Methods of performing time-of-day synchronization in packet processing networks
Methods of performing time-of-day synchronization in a packet processing network include accumulating timestamps transmitted in packets between master and slave devices, which are synchronized to respective master and slave clocks and separated from each other by the packet processing network. Operations are also performed to determine whether first timestamps accumulated in a first direction across the packet network demonstrate that a first packet delay variation (PDV) sequence observed from the first timestamps is stationary. A phase offset between the master and slave clocks is then adjusted using a time-of-day (ToD) estimation algorithm. This adjusting can include evaluating a location-dependent statistic of the first PDV sequence. |
| US09444565B1 |
Wireless audio communications device, system and method
A method for dynamic media distribution is disclosed. An audio content server receives, from a computing device of a first user, a request to follow a second user; and designates the first user as a follower of the second user. The audio content server receives from a computing device of a third user, a request to follow the first user; and designates the third user as a follower of the first user. When the audio content server receives from a computing device of the second user, a request to stream a first audio content, the audio content server synchronously streams the first audio content to the second user and the plurality of followers of the second user, first user and the third user among the plurality of followers. |
| US09444563B2 |
Wireless audio transmission system and method of wireless audio transmission
There is provided a wireless transmission system comprising at least one mobile transmitter for wireless audio transmission having a user interface. The wireless audio transmission system further has a stationary receiver for receiving the wireless audio transmission from the at least one mobile transmitter. The receiver has a receiving unit for wirelessly receiving the audio signals transmitted from the mobile transmitters. The stationary receiver also has an audio processing unit for performing audio processing of the audio signals received by the receiving unit and a sound check unit for analyzing the wireless audio signals received by the receiving unit. The stationary receiver further has a transmitter for transmitting at least parts of the analysis of the sound check unit to the mobile transmitters by way of a return channel. |
| US09444562B2 |
System and method for detecting and measuring uplink traffic in signal repeating systems
A signal repeating system for a wireless network includes signal repeating circuitry defining an uplink path for processing signals repeated between endpoints. The signal repeating circuitry includes circuitry for selectively varying at least one parameter of the signals that are processed in the uplink path. Circuitry evaluates how signals received in the uplink path of the signal repeating system respond to the variation of the signal parameter. Processing circuitry is configured for comparing a signal associated with the variation of the signal parameter with the evaluated response to determine if the variation causes a change in the uplink path signal response for detecting traffic in the uplink path. |
| US09444559B2 |
Second order intercept point (IP2) calibration for wireless receivers
IP2 calibration efficiency can be improved by passing the calibration signal through the transceiver's duplexer instead of inserting the calibration signal directly onto transceivers receive circuit. Passing the calibration signal through the duplexer may reduce IP2 calibration periods for transceivers having less-permeable duplexers, or duplexers that provide better than average separation between the RX and TX circuits. IP2 calibration inefficiencies can also be reduced by using a binary-like search when computing the in-phase and quadrature-phase path correction coefficients of the IP2 correction code. |
| US09444558B1 |
Synthetic robust adaptive beamforming
A method for beamforming digitized signals from a sensor array to enhance signals originating from a preselected angle of interest and a preselected range bin while suppressing interference signals from other angles of arrival. Snapshots of sensor data are acquired and used to estimate an autocorrelation function. An autoregressive model of power is determined over angles of arrival as polynomial coefficients and roots are calculated as associated with the interference signals. Roots are selected for suppression by providing nulls. Exponentials are constructed from the roots. The exponentials are used with variances from the autoregressive model to provide a synthetic covariance matrix having weights that suppress the interference signals. |
| US09444557B2 |
Terminal device, a base station device, a communication method, and an integrated circuit for processing demodulation reference signals
There are provided a terminal device, a base station device, a communication method, an integrated circuit, and a wireless communication system that enable a base station device and a terminal device to determine parameters related to uplink signals or uplink reference signals and to perform efficient communication. In a terminal device that transmits a demodulation reference signal, a sequence group number is determined on the basis of a value of a parameter configured by a higher layer in a case where a transmission on a physical uplink shared channel is performed in accordance with a downlink control information format to which CRC parity bits scrambled by a C-RNTI are attached, which is transmitted on an enhanced physical downlink control channel, and the sequence group number is determined on the basis of a physical layer cell identity in a case where a transmission on the physical uplink shared channel is performed in accordance with a downlink control information format to which CRC parity bits scrambled by a Temporary C-RNTI are attached, which is transmitted on a physical downlink control channel. |
| US09444555B2 |
Subsea communication
A subsea communication system and its method of operating are provided. A subsea power distribution module of the subsea communication system may be adapted to be connected to a topside power supply of a topside installation and to distribute electric power received from topside power supply to subsea modules. A first communication connection to the subsea power distribution module may be adapted to provide a data communication with the topside installation. A second communication connection between the subsea power distribution module and a subsea module may be provided. The subsea power distribution module may forward data communications received on the first communication connection to the subsea module via the second communication connection. |
| US09444554B2 |
Digital coherent receiving apparatus
A digital coherent receiving apparatus includes a first oscillator for outputting a local light signal of a fixed frequency, a hybrid unit mixing the local light signal with a light signal received by a receiver, a second oscillator for outputting a sampling signal of a sampling frequency, a converter for converting the mixed light signal into digital signal synchronizing with the sampling signal, a waveform adjuster for adjusting a waveform distortion of the converted digital signal, a phase adjustor for adjusting a phase of the digital signal adjusted by the waveform adjustor, a demodulator for demodulating the digital signal adjusted by the phase adjuster, and a phase detector for detecting a phase of the digital signal adjusted by the phase adjuster, and a control signal output unit for outputting a frequency control signal on the basis of the detected phase signal to the second oscillator. |
| US09444549B2 |
Systems and methods for burst detection in a CATV network
Systems and methods for detecting laser transmission bursts in a CATV network. |
| US09444548B1 |
Wavelet-based processing for fiber optic sensing systems
The present invention is an improved method of processing conglomerate data. The method employs a Triband Wavelet Transform that decomposes and decimates the conglomerate signal to obtain a final result. The invention may be employed to improve performance of Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry systems. |
| US09444544B1 |
Unmanned vehicle communication through short message service
A method is disclosed for an unmanned vehicle using a Short Message Service (SMS) to relay information to and from a separate management system is disclosed. All or portions of the payload/data to be transmitted to and from the unmanned vehicle and management system uses this SMS, specifically payload/data that aids in the operation and location determination (such as GPS data) of the unmanned vehicle. |
| US09444543B2 |
Multiple-port signal boosters
A system is disclosed that includes a first interface port, a second interface port, a signal splitter device, a main booster, and a front-end booster. The signal splitter device may include first, second, and third splitter ports. The signal splitter device may be configured such that a first direction signal received at either of the second and third splitter ports is output at the first splitter port and a second direction signal that is received at the first splitter port is output at each of the second and third splitter ports. The main booster may include main first and second direction amplification paths that are each communicatively coupled between the first splitter port and the first interface port. The front-end booster may include front-end first and second direction amplification paths that are each communicatively coupled between the second splitter port and the second interface port. |
| US09444542B2 |
Radio communication system
In a radio communication system a first radio station performs communication by the use of a first radio signal. A second radio station receives a second radio signal which is indistinguishable from the first radio signal. A third radio station is in a radio communication area of the first radio station and a radio communication area of the second radio station. A communication format conversion unit generates a third radio signal by converting a communication format of the second radio signal to a communication format which is distinguishable from the first radio signal, and communicates with the third radio station by the use of the third radio signal. |
| US09444540B2 |
System and methods for performing antenna transmit diversity
A wireless electronic device may include switching circuits that perform time division duplexing by toggling between a first configuration in which radio-frequency signals received from antennas are routed to the transceivers and a second configuration in which the antennas are coupled to antenna switching circuitry. The antenna switching circuitry may receive radio-frequency transmission signals from the transceivers and route the transmission signals to a selected one of the antennas. The antenna switching circuitry may be controlled by control circuitry such as baseband circuitry and/or storage and processing circuitry on the device. The antenna switching circuitry may be controlled to accommodate antenna transmit diversity without affecting reception of radio-frequency signals, because the switching circuits that perform time division duplexing may form signal reception paths that are unaffected by the configuration of the antenna switching circuitry. |
| US09444539B2 |
Method and apparatus for forming a beam
A device for forming a beam of an antenna array, the device including: an antenna array having a plurality of spatially distributed elements; a processor for selectively switching said elements between first and second states wherein, in said first state, said elements are configured to receive an incoming signal; and a receiver operatively associated with said antenna array and said processor for generating a reference signal, mixing said incoming signal with a modified reference signal to generate a mixed signal and summing the mixed signal over a predetermined period to generate an accumulated signal, wherein said reference signal is modified prior to being mixed with said received signal such that said accumulated signal is indicative of the direction and magnitude of the beam of the antenna array. |
| US09444537B1 |
Devices for coexistence of transmitters and receivers operating based on different wireless protocols
A device including a transmitter, a receiver and an arbiter. The transmitter transmits a first signal. The first signal has a fundamental frequency in a first frequency band of a first wireless protocol. The receiver receives a second signal. The second signal has a fundamental frequency in a second frequency band of a second wireless protocol. The first frequency band is adjacent to or at least partially overlaps the second frequency band. The arbiter allows the transmitter to transmit the first signal in the first frequency band while the receiver receives the second signal in the second frequency band. The arbiter also, if a power level of the first signal is less than a first threshold, changes: a modulation and coding scheme of the transmitter for the first signal; a modulation and coding scheme of the receiver for the second signal; or a multiple input and multiple output rank. |
| US09444535B2 |
Beamforming signaling in a wireless network
A wireless receives at least one channel state input information element (IE) from a first base station. The wireless device computes a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) employing, at least in part, the at least one channel state input IE and measurement of signals received from a second base station. The wireless device transmits the PMI to the first base station. |
| US09444533B1 |
Method to improve multiple user multiple input multiple output pairing in a network
A method and system for providing MU-MIMO pairings of mobile handsets in a network is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes facilitating MU-MIMO pairings of mobile handsets served by different transmitting/receiving components serving individual sectors of a base station using a central monitoring server and location information for each of the mobile handsets. In another embodiment, the method includes facilitating MU-MIMO pairings between mobile handsets served by different transmitting/receiving components in different sectors of coverage across separate access components using a central monitoring server and location information for each of the mobile handsets. |
| US09444532B1 |
Wideband transceiver for antenna array
Beam measurement values are computed by transforming a signal to a beamspace representation using a beamforming matrix that includes a plurality of columns that define a plurality of beams. A second plurality of beams is selected from the plurality of beams based on a power captured by each beam derived from the computed beam measurement values. For each beam of the second plurality of beams as a first beam, a spatial phase shift component and a temporal delay component is computed based on the fixed spatial angle associated with the first beam and a carrier frequency, a filter is defined using the spatial phase shift component and the temporal delay component, a beam measurement value associated with the first beam from the computed beam measurement values is selected, and the defined filter is applied to the selected beam measurement value to define a filtered value. |
| US09444531B2 |
Channel sounding for improved system performance
A transmitter generates and transmits a low rate signal to its intended receiver. Upon receiving the low rate signal, the intended receiver generates and transmits a channel sounding response (CSR), said CSR being a short burst having a predefined transmit format and carrying predetermined information. The transmitter then analyzes the CSR and determines uplink channel response, estimates downlink channel response, and determines appropriate transmit parameter settings based on the analysis and downlink response estimate. Adjustment of the transmit parameters can be made in either the MAC or PHY layer or in a combination of both. After adjusting its transmit parameters and modulating sub-carriers with user-data according to the determined transmit settings, the transmitter transmits the user-data to the receiver on a preferred portion of bandwidth. In a preferred embodiment, the transmitter also generates and transmits a transmit format control (TFC) signal containing the determined transmit parameter settings, including sub-carrier modulation information, to the receiver. |
| US09444526B2 |
Techniques for quantization adaptation in cooperative signal communication
In cooperative signal communication between a mobile terminal (200) and a plurality of access nodes (100-1, 100-2, 100-3), cooperation signals (20), e.g. received signals or signals to be transmitted, are communicated with the access nodes (100-1, 100-2, 100-3). The cooperation signals (20) are quantized according to a quantization parameter, e.g. quantization depth and/or quantization type, which is adapted on the basis of a cooperative communication parameter. The cooperative communication parameter is a characteristic of the cooperative communication process, e.g. modulation scheme. |
| US09444525B2 |
Waveguide for near field communication
A computing device comprises a head that can be physically attached to a base. The head may be capable of functioning as a type of computing device independent of the base. The base may include a base transceiver to receive data from a first component of the base, encode the data into a signal, and transmit the signal. The base may include a base waveguide to guide the signal to a head waveguide of the head. The head may include a head transceiver to receive the signal from the head waveguide, decode the data from the signal, and send the data to a second component of the head. |
| US09444524B2 |
Use of gemstones with embedded near field communication chips for communication with NFC enabled devices
Jewelry incorporating gemstones embedded with near field communication (NFC) chips. Methods of sharing electronic messages using NFC gems by using an NFC enabled device to wirelessly upload an electronic file to a remote computer system over the Internet, wirelessly writing information to an NFC chip embedded in a gemstone, the information including mapping information for accessing the uploaded electronic file and executable instructions to launch and direct a web browser to the electronic file; providing the NFC gem in close proximity to a same or different NFC device to establish near field communication; transferring the information from the NFC chip to the same or different NFC device; and executing the instructions to wirelessly access the electronic file over the Internet. |
| US09444516B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for supporting non-vector line
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, an apparatus, and a system for supporting a non-vector line. The method includes: selecting n non-vector lines TL from lines that are in an initializing stage, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 1; controlling to perform no further initializing for other lines that are in the initializing stage except the TL until the TL fully enters a data transmission stage; and before the TL enters the data transmission stage, estimating a far-end crosstalk coefficient CTL-SV from the TL to a vector line SV that is in the data transmission stage, where the CTL-SV is used in signal processing to eliminate far-end crosstalk caused by the TL to the SV. |
| US09444513B2 |
Communication method and device for dynamic adjustment of downlink-uplink subframe configuration in a time division duplex system
Embodiments of the present invention, relating to the field of communications technologies, provide a communication method and device used for a time division duplex system. The communication method includes: adjusting a first uplink-downlink subframe configuration to a second uplink-downlink subframe configuration, where there is an intersection between subframes corresponding to the second uplink-downlink subframe configuration and subframes corresponding to the first uplink-downlink subframe configuration, where the intersection is a set of subframes having a same subframe index and a same subframe type, and the intersection includes at least one uplink subframe and at least one downlink subframe; and communicating, by the user equipment, according to a timing relationship same as a timing relationship corresponding to the first uplink-downlink subframe configuration, with the base station in the at least one uplink subframe and the at least one downlink subframe comprised in the intersection. |
| US09444512B2 |
Semiconductor device and high-frequency module
Reduction of intermodulation distortion in a high-frequency switch is achieved. A semiconductor device (1) includes an antenna terminal (ANT_LB), plural external terminals (RX_LB, TX_LB, TRX_LB, TERM_LB), plural first high-frequency switches (101 to 104), and plural control terminals. Each first high-frequency switch includes plural first field-effect transistors, plural first resistors (Rg_1 to Rg_6) connected to the gate terminals of the first field-effect transistors, and a second resistor (Rc) disposed between the corresponding control terminal and the first resistors. The second resistor in the first high-frequency switch disposed between the first terminal supplied with an RF transmission signal and an RF reception signal of a frequency division duplex system and the antenna terminal is configured so that linearity of current-voltage characteristics thereof is higher than linearity of current-voltage characteristics of the first resistor. |
| US09444510B2 |
Method and apparatus for incorporating passive devices in an integrated passive device separate from a die
A circuit including a first die, an integrated passive device and a second layer. The first die includes a first substrate and active devices. The integrated passive device includes a first layer, a second substrate and passive devices. The second substrate includes vias. The passive devices are implemented at least on the first layer or the second substrate. A resistivity per unit area of the second substrate is greater than a resistivity per unit area of the first substrate. The second layer is disposed between the first die and the integrated passive device. The second layer includes pillars. Each of the pillars connects a corresponding one of the active devices to (i) one of the vias, or (ii) one of the passive devices. The first die, the integrated passive device and the second layer are disposed relative to each other to form a stack. |
| US09444508B2 |
Magnetic privacy filter
A magnetic privacy filter is disclosed. The magnetic privacy filter is adapted to protect the screen of a mobile device and has an anti-peep function. The magnetic privacy filter includes a filtering element and several ferromagnetic elements embedded in the filtering element. Accordingly, when the anti-peep function is needed, the magnetic privacy filter is adhered to the screen of the mobile device; while when the anti-peep function is not needed, the magnetic privacy filter can be detached from the mobile device instantly. |
| US09444504B1 |
Apparatus and method for selective signal cancellation
Method for capturing a high dynamic range signal includes: receiving the wideband analog signal; digitizing the wideband signal by a wideband ADC; detecting N strongest sub-bands in the digitized wideband analog signal; adaptively programming N bandstop filters to block the detected N strongest sub-bands from being digitized by the wideband ADC; adjusting a gain of output signals of the N bandstop filters to amplify said output signals; digitizing the amplified output signals by the wideband ADC to obtain a first digitized signal; adaptively programming N passband filters to pass the detected N strongest sub-bands to N ADCs, respectively; digitizing the detected strongest N sub-band signals output from the N pass-band filters by the respective N ADCs to obtain a plurality of second digitized signals; and processing the first digitized signal and the plurality of second digitized signals to identify any duplicate bands. |
| US09444499B2 |
Wireless device and wireless access system
A wireless device includes a digital-to-analog converter that converts a digital transmission signal within a digital signal processing band to an analog transmission signal, a modulator that performs quadrature modulation of an analog transmission signal obtained by the digital-to-analog converter using a first local signal having a first frequency outside a frequency range, the frequency range centered around a center frequency of a transmission signal and having a bandwidth of the digital signal processing band, and outputs a modulated signal, a frequency converter that performs a frequency shift of a modulated signal output from the modulator using a second local signal having a second frequency within the frequency range, and an inhibitor that performs carrier leakage inhibition processing on the digital transmission signal, based on a signal obtained by the frequency converter. |
| US09444498B2 |
Repartitioned transceiver using silicon-on-insulator
A transceiver circuit including a digital-to-analog converter, a filter coupled to the digital-to-analog converter, a passive mixer coupled to the filter, via a buffer and a multi-stage power amplifier coupled to the passive mixer via a passive amplifier. A transmitter and method for amplifying a RF signal for transmission are also provided. |
| US09444493B2 |
Encoder with transform architecture for LDPC codes over subfields using message mapping
A low-density parity-check (LDPC) encoder is configured to encode data for storage into a non-volatile memory of a data storage device. The LDPC encoder includes a message mapping circuit configured to receive an input message and to generate a mapped message based on the input message. The LDPC encoder also includes a matrix multiplier circuit configured to multiply the mapped message with columns of a Fourier transform of an LDPC generator matrix to generate at least a portion of a transform of an LDPC codeword. The LDPC encoder is configured to provide the transform of the LDPC codeword to an inverse Fourier transform circuit to generate the LDPC codeword. |
| US09444492B2 |
High performance interconnect link layer
Transaction data is identified and a flit is generated to include three or more slots and a floating field to be used as an extension of any one of two or more of the slots. In another aspect, the flit is to include two or more slots, a payload, and a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) field to be encoded with a 16-bit CRC value generated based on the payload. The flit is sent over a serial data link to a device for processing, based at least in part on the three or more slots. |
| US09444489B2 |
Delta-sigma modulator having differential output
Provided is a delta-sigma modulator having a differential output, the modulator including a switched-capacitor integrator configured to generate a non-inverted integral signal and an inverted integral signal and also including a switched-capacitor circuit configured to sample an input signal based on a control signal and to integrate the feedback signal and the input signal based on the control signal and also a feedback circuit configured to generate the feedback signal. |
| US09444488B1 |
Signal modulation circuit
A signal modulation circuit includes a feedback circuit configured to generate the feedback signal for feeding back a drive signal from a driver circuit to an input signal. The feedback circuit includes at least first and second resistors connected together in series, the second resistor having a higher resistance value than that of the first resistor. One end of the first resistor is connected to a subtracter, and one end of the second resistor is connected to the driver circuit. A first line distance as the line length between one end of the first resistor and the subtracter and a second line distance as the line length between one end of the second resistor and the driver circuit are set shorter than a third line distance as the line length between the other end of the first resistor and the other end of the second resistor. |
| US09444486B2 |
Digital to analog converter comprising mixer
One example described herein relates to a digital to analog converter (DAC). The DAC includes a digital signal input configured to receive a multi-bit digital input signal, and a plurality of unit cells arranged in rows and columns. A row decoder and a column decoder provide respective control signals to respective rows and respective columns to selectively couple a number of the unit cells to an output of the DAC. The number of unit cells which are coupled to the output by the control signals is dependent on the multi-bit digital input signal. At least one of the control signals is modulated based on a local oscillator signal. |
| US09444485B2 |
Successive approximation analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with dynamic search algorithm
Aspects of a method and system for a successive approximation analog-to-digital converter with dynamic search algorithms are provided. In some embodiments, a successive approximation analog-to-digital converter includes a digital-to-analog converter, a comparator, and a search and decode logic modules which cooperate to generate a digital output code representative of the analog input voltage based on a dynamic search algorithm. The dynamic search algorithms may alter a sequence of reference voltages used to successively approximate the analog input voltage based on one or more characteristics of the analog input voltage. |
| US09444477B2 |
Quantum interference device, atomic oscillator, electronic apparatus, and moving object
An atomic oscillator includes a gas cell into which alkali metal atoms are sealed, a light emitting portion that emits excitation light including a pair of resonance light beams for resonating the alkali metal atoms toward the alkali metal atoms, a coil that is provided to surround an outer circumference of the gas cell with an axis of the excitation light as an axial direction, and a shield case that stores at least the gas cell and the coil and contains a metal material, in which the shield case is constituted by a plurality of tabular portions, and, among the plurality of tabular portions, a main surface of one of two adjacent tabular portions faces a side surface of the other tabular portion. |
| US09444475B2 |
Oscillator device
An oscillator device comprises an oscillation circuit configured to generate and provide an oscillating signal. A first biasing circuit is configured to derive a bias current signal in accordance with a control signal and apply the bias current signal to the oscillation circuit to control the amplitude level of the oscillating signal. A reference generating circuit is configured to generate a reference voltage signal and comprises a second biasing circuit configured to derive a reference bias current signal in accordance with the control signal. A comparison circuit is configured to determine an error signal by comparing a voltage signal at an output of the first biasing circuit with the reference voltage signal observed at an output of the second biasing circuit. A controller is configured to determine the control signal related to the error signal and provide the control signal to the first biasing circuit and the second biasing circuit. |
| US09444473B2 |
Increased synthesizer performance in carrier aggregation/multiple-input, multiple-output systems
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for using multiple voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) to increase frequency synthesizer performance, such as in stringent multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) modes. One example apparatus capable of generating oscillating signals generally includes a first VCO, a second VCO, and connection circuitry configured to connect the second VCO in parallel with the first VCO if a phase-locked loop (PLL) associated with the second VCO is idle. |
| US09444472B2 |
Digitally controlled oscillator and electronic device including the same
Provided are a digitally controlled oscillator and an electronic device including the digitally controlled oscillator. The digitally controlled oscillator includes a digital control unit and a power control oscillation unit. The digital control unit compensates for a difference between a feedback signal of an output power and a reference power set based on an input digital control signal and outputting an output power. The power control oscillation unit receives a signal related to the output power, and generates an output clock having an oscillation frequency in response to the signal related to the output power. |
| US09444471B2 |
Phase detector and phase-locked loop
A phase detector for generating a phase difference signal indicative of a phase difference between a first bi-level signal of frequency F1 and a second bi-level signal of frequency F2 is proposed. The phase detector may include first and second detector inputs, first and second flip-flops, a NAND gate, and a first and second overphase detection units. An output of the first overphase detection unit may be connected to a direct input of the second flip-flop and may be arranged to output the level “1” in response to F1≦F2 and the level “0” in response to F1>F2. An output of the second overphase detection unit may be connected to a direct input of the first flip-flop and may be arranged to output the level “1” in response to F2≦F1 and the level “0” in response to F2>F1. |
| US09444470B2 |
Double phase-locked loop with frequency stabilization
A double phase-locked has a first phase-locked loop including a first narrowband loop filter configured to reduce phase noise in a first input clock, and a second phase-locked loop including a second loop filter configured to receive a second input clock from a stable clock source. The second clock has a frequency close to said first clock. The first loop has a bandwidth at least an order of magnitude less than the second loop. A coupler couples the first and second phase-locked loops to provide a common output. The double phase-locked loop can be used, for example, to provide time-of-day information in wireless networks or as a fine filter for cleaning phase noise from clock signals recovered over telecom/datacom networks. |
| US09444469B2 |
Locked-loop quiescence apparatus, systems, and methods
Apparatus, systems, and methods disclosed herein may initialize a delay-locked loop (DLL) or phase-locked loop (PLL) to achieve a locked condition and may then initiate a quiescent mode of operation. Quiescent operation may be achieved by breaking a feedback loop associated with the DLL or PLL to prevent updates to a variable delay line associated with the DLL and/or to a variable frequency oscillator associated with the PLL. An output clock phase associated with the DLL or PLL may thus be held substantially constant following a DLL initialization period. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed. |
| US09444465B1 |
Low phase noise frequency divider
A low phase noise frequency divider suitable for use in phase locked loops (PLL) and frequency synthesizers, particular in a fractional-N PLL system having an N frequency divider with a main (M) counter and an auxiliary (A) counter. In some user selectable cases, the count value CM for the M counter is fixed and only the count value CA for the A counter is varied. Having a fixed CM value results in lower phase noise in most cases. For cases where it is not possible to vary CM, then CM is allowed to vary in a conventional manner to retain a full range of functionality. |
| US09444464B1 |
Compact ReRAM based FPGA
A push-pull resistive random access memory cell circuit includes an output node, a word line, a first bit line, and a second bit line. A first resistive random access memory device is connected between the first bit line and the output node and a second resistive random access memory device is connected between the output node and the second bit line. A first programming transistor has a gate connected to the word line, a drain connected to the output node, and a source. A second programming transistor has a gate connected to the word line, a drain connected to the source of the first programming transistor, and a source. The first and second programming transistors have the same pitch, the same channel length, and the same gate dielectric thickness, the gate dielectric thickness chosen to withstand programming and erase potentials encountered during operation of the push-pull ReRAM cell circuit. |
| US09444454B2 |
Dynamically reconfigurable capacitive sensor array
In a keyboard of the type including a key cap and a capacitive sensor disposed underneath the key cap, a method including operating the capacitive sensor in a first mode configured for near field detection and generating a first variable capacitance, and operating the capacitive sensor in a second mode configured for far field detection and generating a second variable capacitance. The method further includes determining key motion based on the first variable capacitance and determining finger presence based on the second variable capacitance. |
| US09444452B2 |
Frequency hopping algorithm for capacitance sensing devices
Apparatuses and methods of frequency hopping algorithms are described. One method listens to a noise level on multiple electrodes of a sense network at multiple operating frequencies. The method then selects one of the frequencies with a lowest noise level for scanning the electrodes to detect a conductive object proximate to the electrodes. |
| US09444449B2 |
Circuits, methods, and systems with optimized operation of double-base bipolar junction transistors
The present application teaches, inter alia, methods and circuits for operating a B-TRAN (double-base bidirectional bipolar junction transistor). Exemplary base drive circuits provide high-impedance drive to the base contact region on the side of the device instantaneously operating as the collector. (The B-TRAN is controlled by applied voltage rather than applied current.) Current signals operate preferred implementations of drive circuits to provide diode-mode turn-on and pre-turnoff operation, as well as a hard ON state with low voltage drop (the “transistor-ON” state). In some preferred embodiments, self-synchronizing rectifier circuits provide adjustable low voltage for gate drive circuits. In some preferred embodiments, the base drive voltage used to drive the c-base region (on the collector side) is varied while base current at that terminal is monitored, so no more base current than necessary is applied. This solves the difficult challenge of optimizing base drive in a B-TRAN. |
| US09444448B2 |
High performance IGBT gate drive
High performance gate drives and methods for driving semiconductor switching elements, such as insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), are provided. The gate drive can control the voltage applied to the gate of the IGBT to one or more intermediate voltages near the threshold voltage of the IGBT to control dv/dt of the collector-emitter voltage during and the di/dt of the collector current turn off. For instance, a voltage level between the turn on voltage and the turn off voltage can be applied for a first time period to control dv/dt of the collector-emitter voltage and di/dt of the collector current during turn off. Another voltage level between the turn on voltage and the turn off voltage can be applied for a second time period during reverse recovery of a freewheeling diode coupled in parallel with the IGBT. |
| US09444446B2 |
Switching control circuit for target switching element
In a switching control circuit, a determiner determines whether there is one of a first type of abnormality and a second type of abnormality different therefrom in a target switching element and/or the switching control circuit. A controller controls a second switching element to close a low-impedance discharge path for discharging a control terminal of the target switching element when it is determined that there is the first type of abnormality, and disables closing of a high-impedance discharge path for discharging the control terminal while the low-impedance discharge path is closed by the second switching element. The controller controls a third switching element to close the high-impedance discharge path when it is determined that there is the second type of abnormality; and disables closing of the low-impedance discharge path while the high-impedance discharge path is closed by the third switching element. |
| US09444445B2 |
Power switch driving circuits and power converters thereof
In one embodiment, a power switch driving circuit can include: (i) an upper switch having a first power terminal coupled to a voltage source, and a second power terminal coupled to a driving signal; (ii) a lower switch having a first power terminal coupled to the driving signal, and a second power terminal coupled to a first voltage level, where the first voltage level is higher than a first ground potential; (iii) an upper switch driving sub circuit configured to receive a control signal, and to drive the upper switch in response thereto; and (iii) a lower switch driving sub circuit configured to receive the control signal, and to drive the lower switch in response thereto, where the upper and lower switch driving sub circuits are coupled to a second ground potential. |
| US09444444B2 |
Anti-ringing technique for switching power stage
A driver may provide a transition of a switch between an on state and an off state in two stages. In the first stage, the voltage slew rate of the voltage at an output terminal of the switch may be controlled. In the second stage, the current gradient of the switch may be controlled. The transition between the first stage and the second stage may be made based on the value of the voltage at the output terminal of the switch. |
| US09444440B2 |
Transition detector
An embodiment of a detector includes first and second generators. The first generator is operable to receive a transition of a first signal and to generate in response to the transition a first pulse having a length that is approximately equal to a length of a detection window. And the second generator is operable to receive a second signal and to generate a second pulse having a relationship to the first pulse in response to a transition of the second signal occurring approximately during the detection window. |
| US09444435B1 |
Injection locked ring oscillator circuit with an analog quadrature calibration loop
A ring oscillator includes a first delay stage generating a first phase signal and a second delay stage generating a second phase signal. Each of the first and second delay stages includes variable resistance circuit. A phase comparator circuit performs a phase comparison between the first and second phase signals to generate a phase error signal. An amplifier circuit generates a control signal from the phase error signal. A feedback loop applies the control signal to control the resistance of the variable resistance circuits in the first and second delay stages. |
| US09444432B2 |
Digital step attenuator with reduced relative phase error
An apparatus for selectively providing attenuation with minimal relative phase error. A Digital Step Attenuator (DSA) is implemented on an integrated circuit (IC). Each cell of the DSA has a series compensation inductance that is introduced between an input to the cell and a resistor on the cell. The series compensation inductance allows the location of a pole present in the transfer function of the cell to be manipulated. By controlling the location of the pole in the transfer function of the DSA, the relative phase error of the cell can be controlled. In another disclosed embodiment, the capacitance of a shunt compensation capacitor is increased to manipulate a pole in the transfer function of a DSA cell. |
| US09444429B2 |
Piezoelectric thin-film resonator, method for fabricating same, filter and duplexer having an interposed film
A piezoelectric thin-film resonator includes: a substrate; a piezoelectric film having a lower piezoelectric film provided on the substrate and an upper piezoelectric film provided on the lower piezoelectric film; lower and upper electrodes that face each other through at least a part of the piezoelectric film; an interposed film that is interposed between the lower piezoelectric film and the upper piezoelectric film and is located in an outer circumferential part of a resonance region in which the lower and upper electrodes face each other through the piezoelectric film, the interposed film not being provided in a central part of the resonance region; an upper surface of the lower piezoelectric film having a first roughness in a region in which the interposed film is not provided and a second roughness in another region in which the interposed film is provided, the first roughness being smaller than the second roughness. |
| US09444428B2 |
Film bulk acoustic resonators comprising backside vias
An film bulk acoustic wave resonator (FBAR) structure has an FBAR and a via disposed substantially directly beneath the FBAR. The via is in thermal contact with the FBAR. A plurality of vias may be included. The via(s) serve to dissipate heat generated by the FBAR structure during operation. |
| US09444427B2 |
Surface acoustic wave device including first and second wiring electrodes crossing three-dimensionally
A surface acoustic wave device includes, on a substrate, functional electrode units each including at least one IDT electrode, wiring electrodes connected to the functional electrode units, insulation films provided between the wiring electrode and the substrate, and a support member that surrounds the functional electrode units and at least a portion of the wiring electrodes. A thickness of the support member is larger than a thickness of the insulation films, and the insulation films and the support member are made of the same material. |
| US09444425B2 |
Electronic device with adjustable wireless circuitry
An electronic device may be provided with wireless circuitry. Control circuitry may be used to adjust the wireless circuitry. The wireless circuitry may include antennas that are tuned, adjustable impedance matching circuitry, antenna port selection circuitry, and adjustable transceiver circuitry. Wireless circuit adjustments may be made by ascertaining a current usage scenario for the electronic device based on sensor data, information from cellular base station equipment or other external equipment, signal-to-noise ratio information or other signal information, antenna impedance measurements, and other information about the operation of the electronic device. |
| US09444422B2 |
Contextual volume control
Adjustment of volume level of a mobile device, by the mobile device without direct or manual user-input, based on one or more contextual parameters detected by the mobile device, such as ambient noise level. |
| US09444412B2 |
Distortion compensation apparatus and method therefor
A distortion compensation apparatus includes a pre-distorter, a gain control unit, and a learning unit. The pre-distorter adds distortion according to compensation coefficients to individual input signals prior to the input signals being input to a power amplifier. The gain control unit applies gain control to individual feedback signals fed back from the power amplifier according to a maximum level of the feedback signals within a time frame. The learning unit updates the compensation coefficients used by the pre-distorter, using the feedback signals subjected to the gain control by the gain control unit. |
| US09444411B2 |
RF power amplifier with total radiated power stabilization
A radio frequency (RF) amplification circuit and a closed-loop amplitude linearization circuit are disclosed. The RF amplification circuit amplifies an RF signal to generate an amplified RF signal. The RF amplification circuit and the closed-loop amplitude linearization circuit form a fast control loop and a slow control loop. The slow control loop estimates a total radiated power (TRP) from the RF amplification circuit to create a TRP estimate using a representation of the amplified RF signal, and controls a fast loop gain of the fast control loop based on the TRP estimate. The fast control loop applies a gain adjustment to the RF amplification circuit based on the fast loop gain and a difference between a target reference amplitude and a measured feedback amplitude. The gain adjustment controls amplitude distortion in the RF amplification circuit. The fast loop gain controls TRP-drift in the RF amplification circuit. |
| US09444408B2 |
Sense amplifier
A sense amplifier measures a state of a memory cell coupled to a sense node. The sense amplifier receives a control signal to enable the sense amplifier. The sense amplifier generates a voltage based on an amplifier current that is based on a sense current flowing through the sense node. The sense amplifier generates a feedback current based on the voltage to compensate variations of the sense current. The sense amplifier receives a reference control signal to enable a reference circuit to generate a reference current. The sense amplifier provides an output based on a result of comparing the sense current with the reference current, the output representing the state of the memory cell. |
| US09444406B1 |
Amplifier topology achieving high DC gain and wide output voltage range
An amplifier topology achieves enhances DC gain to improve linearity while maintaining a good signal to noise ratio. The amplifier includes an amplifier output stage that supplies an amplifier output signal. The amplifier also includes a sense amplifier that augments the output stage. The sense amplifier is coupled to the amplifier input to control current through the output stage in order to achieve reduced voltage variation at the amplifier input as a function of the amplifier output signal voltage as compared to a basic common source amplifier and thereby enhances DC gain of the amplifier. |
| US09444405B1 |
Methods and structures for dynamically reducing DC offset
An amplifier system includes a low offset amplifier having a first signal input, a second signal input, an output, a resistive digital to analog converter (RDAC) coupled between a first amplifying terminal and a second amplifying terminal of the amplifier that provides offset control, and a current supply coupled to the RDAC. The amplifier system further includes a low offset amplifier having a first signal input, a second signal input, an output, a resistive digital to analog converter coupled between a first amplifying terminal and a second amplifying terminal of the amplifier that provides offset control, and a current supply coupled to the RDAC. The amplifier system also further includes a load coupled to the output and to the second input of the amplifier and a controller coupled to the RDAC that provides an offset control of the first and second inputs by controlling the RDAC. |
| US09444404B2 |
MEMS device front-end charge amplifier
This document discusses, among other things, apparatus and methods for a front-end charge amplifier. In certain examples, a front-end charge amplifier for a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device can include a charge amplifier configured to couple to the MEMS device and to provide sense information of a proof mass of the MEMS device, a feedback circuit configured to receive the sense information and to provide feedback to an input of the charge amplifier, and wherein the charge amplifier includes a transfer function having a first pole at a first frequency, a second pole at a second frequency, and one zero at a third frequency. |
| US09444400B2 |
System and method for dynamically biasing oscillators for optimum phase noise
Systems and methods for biasing frequency oscillators to minimize phase noise are disclosed. The system may comprise a tank circuit having an inductor, at least a first coupling capacitor and a second coupling capacitor. The system may further comprise a varactor circuit electrically connected to the first coupling capacitor and the second coupling capacitor. The system may further comprise at least one first metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) device electrically connected in shunt with the tank circuit and a bias voltage. The at least one first MOS device may be electrically connected to a first gate bias voltage configured to bias the at least one first MOS device such that a first gate-to-source voltage of the at least one first MOS device remains below the first threshold voltage. |
| US09444397B2 |
Integrated solar panel
A solar panel is disclosed that can be daisy-chained with other solar panels. The solar panel automatically generates output alternative current (AC) power that is in parallel with input AC power coming into the solar panel when the solar panel senses the input AC power so that the solar panel operates as a slave in this state. The solar panel automatically generates standalone AC output power when the solar panel fails to detect input AC power coming into the solar panel where the solar panel operates as a master in this state. The solar panel generates the standalone output AC power without any reliance on input AC power generated by a utility grid and/or other AC power sources external to the solar panel. |
| US09444396B2 |
Solar photovoltaic power generation panel mount
A solar photovoltaic power generation panel mount has a solar photovoltaic power generation panel attached to a mount frame having a plurality of vertical and horizontal bars connected in a grid-like manner. Concrete foundations project upwardly from a mount installation surface at predetermined intervals in a right-left direction under front and rear sides of the mount frame, and the mount frame is supported by the concrete foundations so as to be positionally adjustable in the up-down and right-left directions by mounting brackets fastened to a top of each of the concrete foundations. |
| US09444387B2 |
Method and device for controlling inductive loads
Control circuitry for inductive loads comprehending a DC power source (DC), electrical switches (A and R) and appropriate electrical conductors to direct current to an inductive load, as the control system includes a primary circuit and a secondary circuit which is partly concurrent with the primary electrical circuit. The primary electrical circuit includes a series of DC power sources (DC), an inductive load in the form of an electric motor (M) or transformer (T) and a capacitor (C), while the secondary electrical circuit includes the inductive loads and capacitor (C), since the two electrical switches (A and R) are so arranged that the power of a first operational phase is driven through the primary electric circuit by the voltage supplied by the DC power source (DC) while the current in another phase of operation runs through the secondary electric circuit by the voltage supplied by the capacitor (C). |
| US09444386B2 |
Method and an apparatus for controlling an electrical machine with two or more multiphase stator windings
An apparatus comprises a processing system (201) configured to produce voltage control signals for controlling an electrical machine (202) comprising two or more multiphase stator windings. The processing system is configured to produce the voltage control signals on the basis of rotation-converted stator currents expressed in a coordinate system bound to a rotor of the electrical machine and on the basis of a model of the electrical machine modeling at least inductances of the multiphase stator windings and mutual inductances between the multiphase stator windings. The processing system is configured to convert phase currents of the multiphase stator windings into the rotation-converted stator currents with a conversion rule corresponding to a form of the model of the electrical machine where each of the stator flux-linkages of the model is dependent on only one of the rotation-converted stator currents in spite of the mutual inductances between the multiphase stator windings. |
| US09444379B2 |
Wind power excitation synchronous generation system having maximum power determining unit and control method thereof
A wind power excitation synchronous generation system having a maximum power determining unit and a control method thereof are disclosed. In this control method, dual input shafts and a single output shaft of a gear transmission mechanism are used, and two kinds of inputted power, such as wind power and servo motor control power, are integrated, so as to allow the output shaft to drive an excitation synchronous generator to generate electric power. In this system, a rotation speed and a phase of a servo motor are controlled, so as to allow the excitation synchronous generator to output the electric power with a frequency and a phase identical to the utility grid. |
| US09444374B2 |
Converter for an electrical machine and method for controlling a power circuit breaker
The present invention specifies a converter for an electrical machine. A power circuit breaker (T1) comprises at least two semiconductor elements (9, 10) connected to one another to form said power circuit breaker. At least one control circuit (C1, C2, 14) is associated with the at least one power circuit breaker (T1) and is connected to a respective control input of each of the at least two semiconductor components (9, 10) in order to selectively switch the same on and off by means of respective switching signals (S1, S2). The switching signals (S1, S2) are generated on the basis of switching losses and conduction losses of the power circuit breaker (T1). |
| US09444373B2 |
Motor control device having protective unit of charging resistor
A motor control device includes a rectifier, a smoothing capacitor provided to a DC link, an inverter that power-converts DC power of the DC link and AC power of a motor side, an initial charging unit that charges the smoothing capacitor before motor driving start, a current detection unit that detects an AC current detection value of an input side of the rectifier, a current conversion unit that converts the detection value into a value corresponding to a DC link current, a current integration unit that outputs an integration value obtained by integrating the conversion value, an alarm output unit that outputs an alarm when the integration value is equal to or more than a first threshold value, a disconnecting unit that disconnects the AC power to the rectifier in response, and a protective unit that commands the disconnecting unit to disconnect the AC power when the alarm is output. |
| US09444368B2 |
Method for controlling a power bridge, and corresponding control device, power bridge and rotary electric machine system
A method performed in a power bridge (3) comprising multiple arms (B1, B2, Bi, Bn). Each arm comprises upper and lower semiconductor switches arranged in series and connected in parallel to first and second terminals (B+, B−) of a common voltage source (2). The mid-point of the arm is connected to a phase of an electrical load (1). The aforementioned switches are controlled complementarily by pulses having a duty factor set value (RC1, RC2, RCi, RCn) determined as a function of a first phase voltage set value (V1, V2, Vi, Vn) in relation to a reference terminal of the electrical load (1) and of a common-mode voltage (V0) in relation to one of the first or second terminals, such as to control the switching losses of the switches. The common-mode voltage (V0) is determined such as to balance switching losses and conduction losses between the switches. |
| US09444365B2 |
Tracking method and tracking device for a voltage converter for a photovoltaic system
The disclosure relates to a tracking method for a voltage transformer, in particular an inverter, of a photovoltaic system. In the method, an intermediate circuit voltage is repeatedly decreased or increased in one direction to a lower or higher voltage by voltage steps of a specified magnitude. The method is characterized in that an average rate of change of the intermediate circuit voltage in a partial time period between two voltage steps is limited by a maximum average rate of change, the maximum average rate of change being defined according to the magnitude of the intermediate circuit voltage. The disclosure further relates to a tracking device designed to perform the tracking method and to an inverter equipped with the tracking device. |
| US09444360B2 |
State quantity detection method in power converting apparatus and power converting apparatus
A current-source converter includes high-arm side switching elements and low-arm side switching elements. A voltage between the DC power supply lines is detected as a line voltage of an input line, based on a conduction pattern of the high-arm side switching elements and the low-arm side switching elements. |
| US09444358B2 |
Multiple-input isolated push-pull connected power converters
A multiple-input power converter transferring energy from multiple input sources to a load. The multiple-input power converter utilizes a push-pull converter that isolates loads from sources by a transformer in the output rectifier stage. The isolation increases the safety of the system and provides a wider range of sources-to-load voltage transfer ratios. Furthermore, the multiple-input power converter utilizes a lower number of components in comparison to previously designed multiple-input power converter topologies as well as has a lower control circuit implementation cost when compared to previously designed soft-switching multiple-input power converters. |
| US09444357B1 |
Active reduced voltage switching using secondary switch
A controller includes a primary controller and a secondary controller to control switching of a power switch and a secondary switch, respectively, coupled to an energy transfer element of a power converter. A first drive circuit is coupled to generate a first drive signal to enable a first ON section of the secondary drive signal after an ON section of the primary drive signal. A second drive circuit is coupled to generate a second drive signal to enable a second ON section of the secondary drive signal to store energy in the energy transfer element. The energy stored in the energy transfer element during the second ON section is coupled to reduce a switch voltage across the power switch prior to a next ON section of the primary drive signal. The secondary drive signal is generated in response to the first drive signal and the second drive signal. |
| US09444355B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining a bridge mode for power conversion
A method and apparatus for controlling power conversion. In one embodiment, the method comprises computing a ratio based on both voltage and charge pertaining to power conversion in a resonant converter; comparing the ratio to a threshold; and controlling, independent of switching frequency of the resonant converter, power output from the resonant converter based on whether the ratio satisfies the threshold. |
| US09444352B2 |
Current resonance type power supply device
Embodiments of the invention may include: a series circuit connected to a junction of a first switch element and a second switch element connected in series across ends of a DC power supply, and to one end of the DC power supply, and formed of a primary winding of a transformer and a capacitor; a rectifier/smoothing circuit configured to rectify and smooth a voltage generated in a secondary winding of the transformer thereby to extract a DC voltage; a control circuit configured to alternately turn on and off the first switch element and the second switch element; a voltage detector configured to detect a voltage of the DC power supply; and a duty controller configured to, under a light-load condition, set a duty ratio between the first switch element and the second switch element closer to 50% as a value of the voltage detected by the voltage detector becomes larger. |
| US09444351B2 |
Electrical power conversion device including normally-off bidirectional switch
A normally-off bidirectional switch having two gates is connected to a transformer. The transformer has a first winding and a second winding. A first gate bias power supply configured to use power generated at the first winding to supply power for driving one of the gates of the bidirectional switch and a second gate bias power supply configured to use power generated at the second winding to supply power for driving the other gate of the bidirectional switch are provided. |
| US09444343B1 |
Voltage regulator using a variable switching frequency
A method for controlling a voltage regulator includes monitoring an output current and an inductance of an output inductor in a voltage regulator, wherein the voltage regulator includes high-side and low-side field effect transistors both coupled to an input to the first output inductor. The high-side and low-side field-effect transistors are alternately turned on at a switching frequency, wherein only one of the field-effect transistors is turned on at a time. The method measures a change in the inductance of the output inductor resulting from the output inductor reaching current saturation and measures a rate of change in the output current of the output inductor. The switching frequency is controlled as a function of the measured change in the inductance and the measured rate of change in the output current in order to prevent an amount of current through the high-side field-effect transistor from exceeding a maximum operating current setpoint. |
| US09444342B2 |
Clocked pulse frequency modulation buck DC-to-DC converter
A hysteretic mode control circuit within a DC-to-DC converter is configured for varying the current limit that controls the switching interval and duration of a power switching section of the DC-to-DC converter to permit the DC-to-DC converter to manage large changes in output current load of the DC-to-DC converter. The hysteretic mode control circuit has a positive and a negative current limit section that develop a first and a second reference signal for turning on and turning off the first and the second switching device. The first and second reference signals are compared to an output voltage of the power switching section to determine if the first switching device or the second switching device is to be turned on or turned off. |
| US09444338B1 |
Systems and methods to calibrate switching regulators
Various embodiments of the invention provide for a double measurement technique to enable auto-calibration of a switching regulator. In certain embodiments, calibration is performed using a digital conversion circuit that adjusts an internal slope of an on-time generator by adjusting the peak value of a ramp to a desired peak voltage value. Auto-calibration allows for an optimal dynamic response across the entire switching frequency range of the switching regulator even in noisy environments. |
| US09444337B2 |
DCDC converter including clock generation circuit, error amplifier and comparator
To provide a DCDC converter achieving low power consumption. A clock generation circuit, an error amplifier, a comparator, and a timer are included in a control circuit. The clock generation circuit, the error amplifier, and the comparator each include a bias circuit and a potential hold portion for intermittently holding a constant potential generated in the bias circuit. The potential hold portion includes a capacitor and a switch. The on or off of the switch is intermittently controlled using the timer. Even in a period in which the supply of voltage is stopped, a signal based on a constant potential generated in the bias circuit is continuously output. |
| US09444336B2 |
Switching regulator
A switching regulator includes a load determination circuit. The load determination circuit feeds, to an offset voltage generation circuit, a different load determination signal at the time of light load or at the time of heavy load. The offset voltage generation circuit applies an offset voltage corresponding to whether a load is light or heavy to the inverting input terminal of a PWM comparator to acquire the responsiveness and the stability of the switching regulator. |
| US09444335B2 |
Switching regulator control circuit and switching regulator
Provided is a switching regulator configured to achieve a 100% Duty state and reduce an occurrence of an overshoot. The switching regulator has a configuration in which a clamp circuit configured to dynamically generate a clamp level clamps an output voltage of an error amplifier in accordance with a peak value of a triangular wave signal. |
| US09444333B2 |
Auto-tuning switching regulator
In an example, a system and method are disclosed for providing a single control law that is operable to regulate both small-signal, steady-state operation, and large-signal transients of a switching regulator. The control law is based on detecting a zero-crossing of capacitor current, and projecting in advance a turning point for either ramping up or ramping down capacitor voltage at a target voltage. Certain embodiments may realize the control function in high-speed analog components, although certain other embodiments may implement the same or a similar control law in a digital controller. |
| US09444331B2 |
System and method for a converter circuit
In accordance with an embodiment, a circuit includes a switch coupled between a first reference terminal and a first output terminal, an inductive element coupled between an input terminal and a second output terminal, and a diode coupled between the first output terminal and the input terminal. The circuit further includes a controller coupled to a control terminal of the switch. The controller is configured to determine a switching signal based on an output signal at the second output terminal and provide the switching signal to the control terminal of the switch. |
| US09444325B2 |
Switching regulator compatible with electronic transformer and control method thereof
The present invention discloses a switching regulator compatible with an electronic transformer and a control method thereof. The switching regulator includes: a power stage circuit, a control circuit, and an input current peak & valley setting circuit. The control circuit is coupled to the power stage circuit, for generating an operation signal according to a feedback signal and a peak & valley setting signal, to operate at least one power switch in the power stage circuit, so as to convert a rectified input voltage to an output voltage. The input current peak & valley setting circuit is coupled to the control circuit, for generating the peak & valley setting signal such that in one cycle period, the input current has multiple valleys forming a semi-sinusoidal contour. |
| US09444321B2 |
Zero-crossing detection circuit
In one embodiment, a zero-crossing detection circuit can include: (i) a first detection circuit configured to detect a current through a main transistor of a main circuit of a switching power supply, and to generate a voltage sense signal that represents the current through the main transistor; (ii) a second detection circuit configured to detect if quasi-resonance occurs in the main circuit, the second detection circuit being configured to generate at least one pulse signal when the quasi-resonance is detected; and (iii) a control circuit configured to receive the at least one pulse signal and the voltage sense signal, to turn the main transistor off when the current through the main transistor reaches a predetermined value, and to turn the main transistor on when the at least one pulse signal is active. |
| US09444320B1 |
Power controller having active voltage balancing of a power supply
A power controller includes a plurality of power supply output circuits and a multi-level converter connected to the plurality of power supply output circuits to receive a plurality of sets of voltages. The multi-level converter is configured to supply power to a load from a plurality of output terminals. An observer module is operably coupled to the multi-level converter to selectively control multi-level converter common-mode voltage with respect to the plurality of power supply output terminals. |
| US09444309B2 |
Radial blower air guide, system, and method of cooling
A radial blower air guide includes a first end wall substantially circumscribing an end bracket of an electric motor. The air guide includes a second end wall spaced apart from the first end wall and has an inner periphery that circumscribes a periphery of the motor. The air guide includes an outer wall extending from an edge of the first end wall to an edge of the second end wall. The outer wall is formed from a thin curved plate and partially defines a ring-shaped chamber therebetween. The outer wall has an aperture defined therethrough. The air guide includes a baffle plate coupled to the inner periphery of the second end wall. The baffle plate extends a first width toward the first end wall and partially defines the chamber. The baffle plate is configured to deflect air to control the distribution of the airflow from the chamber. |
| US09444304B2 |
Generator set having adjustable terminal box
A terminal box for a generator set is disclosed. The terminal box may include a generally open structural member configured to be mounted to a generator barrel of the generator set. The structural member may have a first end and a second end that is wider than the first end. When the structural member is mounted to the generator barrel in a first orientation, the second end may be located at a first position relative to the generator set. When the structural member is mounted to the generator barrel in a second orientation, the second end may be located at a second position relative to the generator set. |
| US09444299B2 |
Spacer for stabilizing and insulating an end winding
A spacer for mechanically stabilizing and electrically insulating an end winding in an electric motor includes an elastic nose having a free end. A planar, electrically insulating sheet is integrally formed at an end of the nose located opposite the free end. Such spacers are used in an electric motor having an iron core, whose teeth are surrounded by coils whose end windings laterally project from the iron core. The spacers are press-fitted inside openings formed by the end windings and the teeth, so that the end windings are covered by the sheet of the press-fitted spacer in the direction of an air gap of the electric motor in each case. |
| US09444295B2 |
Rotor of permanent magnet motor
In this rotor (101), which has permanent magnets (105) inserted in a rotor core (102), main body sections (117) of magnetic shield sections (107) are formed in contact with the q-axis-side end faces (105q) of each permanent magnet (105). In addition, an extension section (127) for each magnetic shield section (107) is formed positioned more toward the outer periphery than the outer-periphery-side pole face (105ou) of the permanent magnet (105) and between the d-axis and the q-axis at an end face of the rotor core (102). Each extension section (127) is configured so as to gradually approach the outer periphery of the rotor core (102) while extending from the outer-periphery-side end of the main body section (117) from the q-axis to the d-axis side, and then gradually move away from the outer periphery of the rotor core (102) while extending from the q-axis side to the d-axis side. |
| US09444291B2 |
Electromagnetic drive mechanism
An electromagnetic drive mechanism (10) comprises a rotor (50) configured to rotate within a stator (30). The rotor (50) and stator (30) have multiple poles (56, 36), wherein each pole comprises a radial inner portion (564, 362) and a radial outer portion (562, 364). The radial inner portions (564, 362) and radial outer portions (562, 364) of the rotor (50) and stator (30) have different heights, forming a step (566, 366) between the radial inner and outer portions of the rotor (50) and stator (30). This configuration allows for overlapping radial surfaces in addition to overlapping axial surfaces during operation of the drive mechanism (10), thereby increasing the total overlap area and thus the reluctance torque, and potentially improving response speed while allowing for a more compact device (10). |
| US09444290B2 |
Circuit for signal decoding in RFID or wireless power charging
A circuit for signal decoding in RFID or wireless power charging is provided in the present invention. The implement of the present invention is to add a current sense resistor connected to an upper switch or a lower switch the up arm switch or low arm switch to decode the signal on the current sense resistor. Since the error would occur in the original voltage decoder of the wireless power or RFID when the load is heavy and voltage signal swing is large, such that the charge status and then the off-line status cyclically occur and then the charge status . . . occurs in cycle when the mobile device is charging under charge. Since the present invention uses the voltage and current for decoding at the same time, the decoding would be succeed whenever the load is light or heavy. |
| US09444287B2 |
Power conversion device with ripple filtering
An uninterruptible power supply device including a filter for rejecting, in the voltage of a power supply node between a converter and an inverter, a ripple voltage of a frequency twice a frequency of an output voltage of the inverter to generate a DC voltage. This filter includes an extraction unit for extracting the ripple voltage from the voltage of the power supply node, and a subtraction unit for subtracting the ripple voltage extracted by the extraction unit from the voltage of the power supply node to generate the DC voltage. |
| US09444282B2 |
Wireless power charging method and apparatus
A wireless charging method and apparatus wirelessly charges power between separate electronic appliances. The wireless charging method includes searching for at least one chargeable electronic device, receiving status information from the searched at least one electronic device, determining whether the electronic device is a power supply electronic device or a power demand electronic device, receiving a supply of power from the searched at least one electronic device if the electronic device is determined to be the power demand electronic device, and supplying the power to the at least one electronic device if the electronic device is determined to be the power supply electronic device. |
| US09444281B2 |
Unified high power and low power battery charger
The embodiments discussed herein relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for providing a charger capable of adaptively handling a range of power inputs. The charger can selectively activate different control switches within the charger in order to more efficiently use current supplied to the charger. When a low power input is provided to the charger, the charger can reduce the number of active control switches being used to provide a voltage output from the charger. In this way, the capacitance required to toggle the control switches can be reduced. When a high power input is provided to the charger, the number of active control switches can be increased in order to increase a total amount of charge that can be provided from the charger, thereby reducing charge times for batteries. |
| US09444280B2 |
Uninterruptable power supply system and method
An uninterruptable power supply (UPS) system/method providing power line conditioning and power factor correction (PFC) that incorporates centralized battery backup energy storage architecture is disclosed. The system generally comprises an AC-DC power supply with active PFC (power factor correction) function, a battery transfer switch, an isolated battery charger placed between the utility power source and battery strings, battery strings connecting the battery charger and the battery transfer switch, EMI/Lightning circuitry that provides lighting/line surge protection as well noise suppression functions, and a controller monitoring the quality of the utility power source. Uninterruptable power for data centers is achieved in this context via use of the battery strings, battery transfer switch, battery charger, and controller system configuration. Disclosed methods associated with this system generally permit the UPS to operate in a distributed fashion in support of computing systems within data centers. |
| US09444279B1 |
Wireless charging identification using sensors
Methods and systems for implementing wireless charging identification using a sensor are described. A device platform operating a device, such as a mobile electronic device, may be configured to determine that the device is in wireless communication with a charging surface by receiving and analyzing information from sensors. A battery or another entity associated with the device may receive a charge wirelessly from the charging surface through induction or another means. The device platform may determine if an orientation of the device relative to the charging surface has changed depending on the state of the charging process. In some examples, the device platform may use information from an accelerometer, gyroscope, or magnetometer to determine whether the device has moved. Based on whether the orientation of the device has changed relative to the charging surface, the device platform may be configured to provide feedback through one or more systems, such as audible notifications. |
| US09444278B2 |
USB charging with data communication
A process is disclosed for communicating digital data between a powered device and a charging device via a universal serial bus (USB). The process includes conducting a handshaking period between the powered device and the charging device via the USB. The powered device initiates a mode of normal operation of the charging device after an end of the handshaking period. The charging device communicates digital data (e.g., available power levels) between the powered device and the charging device during a time period that starts with the end of the handshaking period and ends with a beginning of the mode of normal operation. |
| US09444275B2 |
Intelligent integrated battery module
An energy storage system is provided. The system includes a plurality of energy storage modules connected in parallel. Each energy storage module has an energy storage source, a bidirectional current converter configured for supplying charge to the energy storage source from a power source and for discharging current for use by an electrical device, a monitoring module for monitoring the energy storage source and the current converter, and a controller configured to control the current converter based upon monitored characteristics of the storage source and the current converter to produce a respective output signal for each module. A communications module is in connection with each output signal of the energy storage modules and configured for communicating a combined output signal with one of the power source and the electrical device. |
| US09444270B2 |
Wireless power transfer
Systems and methods are disclosed that enable power regulation during wireless power transfer, such as during magnetic resonance (MR) charging of one or more devices from a power transfer device, by applying a cascading charging mechanism that includes identifying a priority order of charging of each of the one or more devices to allocate wirelessly transmitted power to the one or more devices. |
| US09444269B2 |
Battery pack and charger platform for power tool systems including battery pack identification scheme
A battery pack and charger platform including a voltage coupling circuit comprising an input that receives an input voltage and an output that sends an output voltage, a voltage monitoring circuit having an input coupled to the voltage coupling circuit output and an output, and a power source having an input coupled to the voltage monitoring circuit output, the power source input receives an input voltage representative of a charge instruction. |
| US09444266B2 |
Wireless inductive power transfer with temperature control of the receiver
A wireless power transfer system comprises a power transmitter (101) arranged to generate a wireless inductive power transfer signal for powering a power receiver (105). The system comprises a temperature controlled power loop setting an operating temperature for a heating part of a powered device. The system further comprises a receiver (207) for receiving a first temperature for a part of a powered device where the powered device is powered by the power receiver (105). A comparator (209) compares the measured temperature to a first reference temperature associated with the power transmitter (101). In response to the first temperature exceeding the reference temperature, a controller (213) proceeds to restrict the power of the power transfer signal and/or to generate a user alert. The first temperature may specifically relate to a contact surface of the powered device and the reference temperature may be a maximum allowable temperature of a contact surface for receiving the powered device during power transfer. |
| US09444265B2 |
Wireless energy transfer
Disclosed is an apparatus for use in wireless energy transfer, which includes a first resonator structure configured to transfer energy non-radiatively with a second resonator structure over a distance greater than a characteristic size of the second resonator structure. The non-radiative energy transfer is mediated by a coupling of a resonant field evanescent tail of the first resonator structure and a resonant field evanescent tail of the second resonator structure. |
| US09444260B2 |
Energy management system and method for controlling high current draws from variable current devices commonly connectable to an electrical circuit
An energy management controller for controlling and limiting the time during which high current draws may be made by one or more of a plurality of single serve coffee brewers that are commonly connected to the same circuit and which include heater constructions that require and draw high power at certain times during operation, and require and draw lower power at other times. It includes one controller board, connected to the primary brewer to complete a circuit, and which board includes heat and wait timer functions to monitor the power status usage with respect to all of the brewers. |
| US09444258B2 |
Photovoltaic system having power-increment-aided incremental-conductance maximum power point tracking controller using constant-frequency and variable-duty control and method thereof
The configurations of photovoltaic system and methods thereof are provided. The proposed photovoltaic system includes a PI-INC MPPT controller using a constant-frequency variable-duty (CFVD) control and guided by an Ipv-Vpv curve and a Ppv-Vpv curve. |
| US09444250B2 |
Common mode filter
Disclosed herein is a common mode filter, including: first and second coil layers electromagnetically coupled to each other; a pair of external terminals connected to ends of the first coil layer and a pair of external terminals connected to ends of the second coil layer; a first ESD prevention member connecting between the pair of external terminals carrying electric current with the first coil layer and a second ESD prevention member connecting between the pair of external terminals carrying electric current with the second coil layer; and a ground electrode connecting the first ESD prevention member to the second ESD prevention member, wherein the ground electrode has a stepped portion formed at the center. |
| US09444249B2 |
Semiconductor driving device and semiconductor device
A semiconductor driving device includes a negative surge detection circuit and a level shifter circuit. The negative surge detection circuit detects whether the negative surge occurs at a connection point between a P-side SW element and N-side SW element. The level shifter circuit maintains a driving voltage used in driving the P-side SW element upon the negative surge detection circuit detecting occurrence of the negative surge. |
| US09444247B2 |
Apparatus and method of protecting power receiver of wireless power transmission system
An apparatus and method of protecting a power receiver of a wireless power transmission system are provided. A wireless power receiver includes a rectifier comprising an input and an output, and configured to receive a signal through the input, to rectify the signal to produce a rectified signal, and to output the rectified signal through the output, and a capacitor connected to the output of the rectifier and to ground. The wireless power receiver further includes a direct current-to-direct current (DC/DC) converter connected to the output of the rectifier and to a load, and configured to convert the rectified signal to a power, and to provide the power to the load, and a device configured to create a short circuit to protect the rectifier and/or the capacitor when a voltage greater than a threshold voltage is applied to the input of the rectifier and/or the output of the rectifier. |
| US09444244B2 |
Signal-activated circuit interrupter
The current invention is an automatic AC power interruption system built into a portable apparatus or integrated into electrical systems and appliance control circuitry. Power is interrupted in potentially hazardous conditions, for example, when a T3 smoke detector alarm signal is detected. Alternatively, a portable device may be plugged into a power outlet having a GFCI breaker and, when a hazard alarm condition is detected, trip off power to the outlet. Signal-activated circuit interrupters (SACIs) may be integrated into appliance control circuitry and interrupt power to a problematic device when a hazard alarm condition is detected. In addition to fire prevention, other hazard alarm conditions may include alarms indicating toxic fumes, motor overload, natural gas, radon, or carbon monoxide. Interconnected networks of signal-activated circuit interrupters are also disclosed. |
| US09444243B2 |
Protection and control system, and merging unit
A protection and control system includes a first merging unit which obtains an electric variable from a transformer installed in an electric power system, and digitally converts the obtained electric variable to output the converted electric as first electric variable information to a network, and a plurality of protection and control devices, each of which obtains the first electric variable information from the first merging unit through the network, judges whether or not a system fault occurs in a zone to be protected of the electric power system based on a predetermined relay characteristic, and outputs main trip information to the network when that the system fault occurs is judged, wherein the first merging unit judges whether or not the system fault occurs in the zone to be protected. |
| US09444241B2 |
Track structure capable of supplying power
The present disclosure relates to a track structure capable of supplying power, which comprises a track module, a first conducting module, a second conducting module, at least a sliding module, a first electrical transmission module, and a second electrical transmission module. Each track module is provided for disposing an electronic device. The electronic device slides along the track module via the sliding module. The first electrical transmission module is connected to the electronic device, and a first electrode and a second electrode of the sliding module. The first and second electrodes contact the first and second conducting modules, respectively. The second electrical transmission module is connected to the first and second conducing modules and connected to a power supply. The power supply supplies power and transmit the power to the electronic device through the track structure. |
| US09444239B2 |
Bar for electronically contacting an electrically conductive substrate
The present invention relates to a bar for the electrical contacting of an electrically conductive substrate in the form of a thin, electrically conducting and resilient contact. The bar comprises a current-collecting bar on which a plurality of contact fingers is fitted. The invention is distinguished by the contact fingers being configured resiliently in the direction of the contact to be produced. |
| US09444236B2 |
Mounting bracket for electrical or communication device
A mounting bracket for a junction box includes a face plate, a first leg extending from the face plate, a second leg extending from the face plate, and a leg connector extending between and interconnecting the first and second legs. |
| US09444233B2 |
Methods, systems, and apparatus for automated maintenance mode switching
Methods, devices, and systems for automated maintenance mode switching are described. An example method of controlling a protection assembly mode of operation is described for use in a system having a protection assembly configured to receive power from an upstream power source and provide power and protection to a downstream protection device moveable between a fully engaged position and a fully disengaged position. The method includes determining, by the protection assembly, when a maintenance action is being performed on the downstream protection device, and switching the protection assembly from a normal protection mode to a maintenance mode of operation in response to determining the maintenance action is being performed on the downstream protection device. |
| US09444228B2 |
Spark plug
A spark plug having a front end of a spark plug body that projects over a front end of an insulator, a recess that is arranged at the front end of the insulator from which a center electrode projects and forms an air spark gap with a ground electrode, an annular intermediate space that is formed by the recess between the insulator and the center electrode, and a surface of the recess that runs in an at least partially curved manner between the center electrode and the end of the spark plug body so that the recess forms an insulating section that prevents a sliding spark between the center electrode and the spark plug body. |
| US09444227B2 |
Spark gap arrangement and method for securing a spark gap arrangement
A spark gap arrangement includes a discharge chamber, an electrode head and a contact connection arranged outside the discharge chamber. The electrode head is electrically conductively connected and mechanically coupled to the contact connection in such a way that, when the contact connection is removed from its position or when the contact connection reaches a preset position, the electrically conductive connection is interrupted, and the electrode head is mechanically decoupled from the contact connection so that the electrode head is movable in the direction of the discharge chamber interior and/or within the discharge chamber. |
| US09444226B2 |
Diode laser
A diode laser arrangement having a number of laser bars, wherein each laser bar has a number of emitters generating laser beams arranged offset in a stacked manner to one another, in at least two stacks to form the arrangement. |
| US09444223B2 |
Surface-emitting semiconductor laser device and method for producing the same
Provided is a surface-emitting semiconductor laser device including a substrate; a semiconductor layer formed on the substrate, the semiconductor layer including a first semiconductor multilayer film of a first conductivity type, an active region, and a second semiconductor multilayer film of a second conductivity type, the first semiconductor multilayer film and the second semiconductor multilayer film forming a cavity; and an oxidation-resistant structure including a groove formed along at least a portion of an outer periphery of the semiconductor layer and an oxidation-resistant portion formed on a surface of the groove. |
| US09444220B2 |
Method for controlling wavelength tunable laser
A method for controlling wavelength tunable laser comprises the steps of inputting information specifying a first wavelength, determining whether or not the first wavelength is identical to a second wavelength coinciding with any of the fundamental wavelengths stored in the first memory, acquiring a drive condition for the second wavelength from the first memory when it is determined that the first and second wavelengths are identical to each other, calculating a drive condition at the first wavelength, when it is determined that the first and second wavelengths differ from each other, by acquiring the drive condition for the second wavelength from the first memory and using the drive condition according to the difference between the first and second wavelengths, and controlling an lasing wavelength of the wavelength tunable laser according to the drive condition in the acquiring step or calculating step. |
| US09444217B2 |
Laser light source device
A laser diode includes a laser diode emitting light due to an electrical signal; a wavelength conversion plate for shifting the wavelength of the light emitted from the laser diode; a reflecting part for reflecting the light emitted from the laser diode towards the wavelength conversion plate; and a projecting part for emitting, in the forward direction, the light shifted by the wavelength conversion plate. The laser diode can provide a high-power but small-sized laser light source device, and a narrow emission angle can be achieved using the laser diode. |
| US09444214B2 |
Beam guidance system for the focusing guidance of radiation from a high-power laser light source toward a target and LPP X-ray source comprising a laser light source and such a beam guidance system
A beam guidance system serves for the focusing guidance of radiation from a high-power laser light source toward a target. The beam guidance system has at least one mirror as reflective beam guidance component and at least one transmission component which is at least partially transmissive to the radiation as refractive beam guidance component. The arrangement of the at least one mirror and of the at least one transmission component is such that beam-induced changes to the beam guidance properties of the at least one mirror are at least partly compensated for by beam-induced changes to the beam guidance properties of the at least one transmission component. This results in a beam guidance system in which beam-induced changes to the beam guidance properties of the beam guidance system do not have a disturbing effect on the focusing guidance of the radiation from the laser light source. |
| US09444210B2 |
Wire terminating tool
A wire terminating tool has a handle and a positioning member coupled to the handle. The positioning member has a plurality of notches. A wire retention member is retractably slidingly coupled to the handle. The wire retention member has a plurality of wire engagement slots, wherein in a load position, the wire retention member selectively secures each of the wires in a respective one of wire engagement slots. When in an unload position, the wire retention member is retracted, therein transferring the wires from the wire retention member to a plurality of terminals of a termination block via the notches in the positioning member. A seating apparatus seats the wires in the terminals, therein providing a metal-to-metal contact between the wires and terminals. A cutting apparatus cuts the wires by a roller cutter, diagonal cutter, blade, and shear operably coupled to the handle. |
| US09444205B2 |
Electric connector with contact protection
An electric connector includes a connector body and a conductor base attached to the connector body. A plurality of contact arms extend from the conductor base away from the connector body and are located around a central space. The electric connector also includes a pin attached to the connector body and located in the central space. |
| US09444200B2 |
Electrical connector and manufacturing method thereof
An electrical connector comprises a casing, an insulative base and at least one first terminal. The casing has an inner space and an opening communicated with the inner space. The insulative base is disposed in the inner space. The first terminal is disposed within the insulative base and includes a terminal body and an actuator. The terminal body includes a first contact portion and a first center portion. The actuator is protruded from the first center portion along a normal line of a contact area of the first contact portion and has stopped up before the insulative base; and the method of manufacturing method of the same. |
| US09444198B2 |
Communication module and communication module connector
A connector includes a plug connector and a receptacle connector. The plug connector has an insertion convex portion including: an end surface; outer side surfaces facing in parallel to each other across the end surface; and a first tapered surface connecting each outer side surface and the end surface. The receptacle connector has an insertion concave portion including: an insertion port; inner side surfaces facing in parallel to each other across the insertion port; and a second tapered surface connecting each inner side surface and an edge of the insertion port. The outer side surfaces of the insertion convex portion have first connection terminals arranged, the inner side surfaces of the insertion concave portion have second connection terminals arranged in contact with the first contact terminals, and the first tapered surface has a width twice as large as a width of the second tapered surface or larger. |
| US09444197B2 |
Shielded and multishielded coaxial connectors
A shielded coaxial connector with a moveable center conductor and a stationary center conductor, the center conductors forming a disconnect switch that interoperates with a waveguide to shield one of the center conductors from radio frequency signals such as radio frequency signals carried by the other center conductor. |
| US09444195B1 |
PCIE-OCuLink cable end connector
The new PCIE-OCuLink cable end connector can include terminals, a plastic part, a rear cover, an iron shell and a PCB. These terminals are divided into two groups. Each of the two groups snaps onto one and the other side of the plastic part symmetrically, forming an assembly. The rear cover is snapped into firm connection with the iron shell such that the assembly is accommodated within the interior space formed by them. The PCB and the rear ends of the terminals mate and insert with each other. With the two side pieces wrapping their middle portions, the terminals are pressed into the main body, and each side piece is tightly clamped within a respective clamping groove at the same time. Each terminal includes a root portion. |
| US09444191B2 |
Shielded plug connector and method for producing a shielded plug connector
A shielded plug connector for use with a cable having a plurality of conductors surrounded by a shield braid has an electrically nonconductive contact support and an electrically conductive shield sleeve surrounding the contact support. Respective contact members at ends of the electrical conductors are held in the shield sleeve. An electrically conductive one-piece shield shell extends from the shield braid at an end of the cable to the contact support surrounded by the shield sleeve in electrical contact with the shield sleeve and is formed along the cable with a throughgoing slot so as to be radially compressible. A compression ring or the like compresses the shield shell inward at the slot against the cable and the shield braid thereof. |
| US09444186B2 |
Blind mating and floating RF connector assembly with low intermodulation
The present invention discloses a blind mating and floating RF connector assembly with low intermodulation, comprising a first connecting device and a second connecting device, wherein the first connecting device comprises a first guide portion and the second connecting device comprises a second guide portion adapted for mating with the first guide portion, wherein the first connecting device has a slotted configuration and is provided, at an end, with a boss projecting radially outwards and the second connecting device is provided with a corresponding inner engaging groove being capable of radially abutting the boss, wherein the second connecting device comprises a fixed mount unit and a floating unit, the floating unit being capable of moving radially and axially relative to the fixed mount unit, in such a way that a plurality of pairs of the first connecting device and the second connecting device can be quickly connected simultaneously via a quick blind mating operation when the first connecting device and the second connecting device are brought together, without necessarily making the first connecting device and the second connecting device be axially aligned precisely with each other. The present invention allows relative floating of connecting devices of a plurality of pairs of low-intermodulation RF connectors, allows simultaneous quick blind mating connection, and improves connecting efficiency and installation reliability. |
| US09444177B2 |
Waterproof electrical receptacle connector
A waterproof electrical receptacle connector includes a plastic shell, a metallic shell, an insulated housing, and a sealing member (e.g., a waterproof glue block). The plastic shell has a through hole and includes an inserting end and a sealed end respectively at two sides of the through hole. The metallic shell is disposed in the through hole and the metallic shell defines a receiving cavity. The insulated housing is disposed in the receiving cavity. A plurality of receptacle terminals is assembled to the insulated housing. The sealing member is filled in the sealed end to fill a gap between the metallic shell and the plastic shell, and the sealing member is also filled in the bottom of the base portion where the receptacle terminals are exposed for improving the waterproof function of the connector. |
| US09444176B2 |
Electrical connector having cold shrink component
An electrical connector assembly configured to couple a power cable and at least one other electrical component, includes a housing body that includes a outer jacket, an insert portion, and an insulative inner housing positioned between at least a portion of the outer jacket and the insert portion. The housing body forms at least one bore for receiving the power cable. The outer jacket comprises a cable receiving jacket portion and a main body jacket portion. At least a portion of the cable receiving jacket portion is configured to engage the power cable received into the housing body. The cable receiving jacket portion comprises a cold shrink material configured to securely engage the power cable upon and the main body jack portion comprises a non-cold shrink material. |
| US09444172B2 |
Connector
A connector in which a large contact pressure between male and female terminals is obtained. The female terminal has an elastic wall portion that is outwardly pressed by the displaced elastic contact piece to be displaced. The elastic lance is disposed on the side of the elastic wall portion of the socket portion so as to be outwardly pressed by the displaced elastic wall portion to be displaced. The displaced elastic contact piece is pressed by the displaced elastic wall portion and the elastic lance, thereby increasing the contact pressure of the elastic contact piece. |
| US09444169B2 |
Contacts with retractable drive pins
An insertable electrical contact is disclosed herein. The insertable electrical contact can include a body having a connector end, a conductor receiver end, and a middle portion disposed between the connector end and the conductor receiver end. The insertable electrical contact can also include at least one retractable drive pin disposed in the body, where the at least one retractable drive pin has a normal position and a retracted position, where the at least one retractable drive pin is disposed within the body when in the retracted position, and where the at least one retractable drive pin is protrudes from an outer surface of the body when in the normal position. The at least one retractable drive pin can be in the retracted position as the body is inserted into a connector sleeve and can revert to the normal position when the body is positioned within the connector sleeve. |
| US09444168B2 |
Socket terminal
A socket terminal (10) to be fitted and connected to a mating pin terminal (20) includes a tubular portion (11) to be fitted to the pin terminal (20). The tubular portion (11) includes a base portion (12) provided on a side opposite to a fitting starting end to the pin terminal (20) and a plurality of terminal pieces (13) extending in an axial direction of the tubular portion (11) from the base portion (12) toward the pin terminal (20), spaced apart in a circumferential direction of the tubular portion (11) and capable of resiliently coming into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the pin terminal (20) fitted in the tubular portion (11). The base portion (12) includes a plurality of terminal pieces (16) projecting toward the pin terminal (20) radially of the tubular portion (11) and configured to hold the outer peripheral surface of the pin terminal (20). |
| US09444166B2 |
Connector for flat cable
A connector for a flat cable connecting a connection terminal part of a flat cable to an electronic device includes a housing, a terminal, and a lock member. The housing is fixed to the electronic device and is formed with an insertion part into which a flat cable is inserted and a flat cable accommodation space that continues from the insertion part to an inside of the housing. The terminal is aligned and disposed in the housing, is connected to a wiring terminal provided to the electronic device and is contact-connected to the connection terminal part of the flat cable when the flat cable is inserted into the flat cable accommodation space. The lock member is put on a backside of a surface of the housing facing the electronic device and is formed with a pair of flat cable holding parts engageable with locking holes. |
| US09444165B2 |
Pin arrangement and electronic assembly
A pin arrangement adapted to a FPC connector is provided. The pin arrangement includes a pin lane. The pin lane includes a pair of ground pins, a pair of differential pins and at least one not-connected (NC) pin. The differential pins are located between the pair of ground pins. The at least one NC pin is located between the pair of differential pins or between one of the pair of ground pins and one of the pair of differential pins adjacent thereto. By adding the at least one NC pin between the pair of differential pins and/or between the differential pin and the ground pin adjacent thereto, a distance between each of the pair of the differential pins and/or between the differential pin and the ground pin is increased, and thus a differential characteristic impedance of the pair of differential pins is raised to reduce the impact of impedance mismatch. |
| US09444163B2 |
Miniaturized wire-to-board connector system for wearable devices
A miniaturized wire-to-board connector system is disclosed for establishing electrical connection between an electrical cable and a printed circuit board, and for establishing mechanical connection between the electrical cable and a case having the printed circuit board enclosed therein. The connector system includes a male and a female connector, is small enough to be incorporated in a highly miniaturized wearable device, and is stable and sturdy enough to be handled directly by a consumer, thereby enabling an increase in complexity, providing interconnectable parts in wearable consumer products. The connector system is also useful in aerospace applications in which components must be connected within a very small space. |
| US09444158B1 |
Line concentrator having a body with an arm with a position limiting protrusion
A line concentrator and a connector assembly with the line concentrator are provided. The connector assembly includes a plurality of signal cables and a line concentrator, the line concentrator includes a body and an arm. The body includes a plurality of sidewalls connected to each other and a bottom plate connected to the sidewalls. An accommodating cavity is surrounded by the sidewalls. The bottom plate includes a plurality of holes connected through the accommodating cavity. The arm protrudes from a top of one of the sidewalls of the body and extends along a direction away from the bottom plate. The arm includes a position limiting protrusion. |
| US09444152B2 |
Circuit, apparatus and method for antenna mode steering
An Antenna Mode Steering (AMS) method in a signal receiving apparatus using at least one antenna is provided. The method includes measuring a received signal quality of a signal received through the at least one antenna for each of antenna modes available in the signal receiving apparatus, and selecting a specific antenna mode from among the antenna modes as an antenna mode to be used in the signal receiving apparatus based on the measured received signal quality. |
| US09444151B2 |
Enhanced phase shifter circuit to reduce RF cables
A multi-band antenna system includes an array of wide-band radiating elements and a multi-band electrical tilt circuit. The multi-band electrical tilt circuit includes a plurality of combiners, a first RF band variable phase shifter and a second RF band variable phase shifter implemented in a common medium. The common medium may comprise a PCB, a stripline circuit, or the like. Each combiner includes a combined port, a first RF band port, and a second RF band port. The combined ports are coupled to the radiating elements. The first RF band phase shifter has a first plurality of variably phase shifted ports connected to the first RF band ports of the combiners via transmission line, and the second RF band phase shifter has a second plurality of variably phase-shifted ports connected to the second RF band ports of the combiners via transmission line. The phase shifters are independently configurable. |
| US09444150B2 |
Antenna device and portable wireless terminal equipped with same
A first connection circuit (108) is adjusted to cancel out mutual coupling impedance occurring between a first antenna element (106) in a first frequency band and a second antenna element (107) in a second frequency band, and reduces a degradation occurring due to the coupling between the antenna elements. A second frequency band cutoff circuit (111) for the second frequency band is provided between the first antenna element (106) and the first feeding portion (104). |
| US09444148B2 |
Printed quasi-tapered tape helical array antenna
A printed quasi-tapered tape helical element and printed helical array antenna. The helical element comprises a thin helix conductor having a uniform section associated with a tapered section. The helix conductor can be printed on a thin dielectric sheet and bonded to a hollow composite dielectric support. A solid copper conductor is configured to provide electrical connection between a feeding point of the helix conductor and a microstrip line of a microstrip feed network. The uniform and tapered helix turns are respectively wrapped around the uniform and tapered sections, which enables impedance matching, axial mode excitation, gain and radiation patterns, and damping out of standing waves generated in current distribution over the helix conductor. Conductive composite cups surrounding each helical element reduces mutual coupling in array environment. Thus, the helical element and the array antenna achieve low on-axis and off-axis axial ratio performance over the wideband for global coverage. |
| US09444147B2 |
Ultra-wide-band (UWB) antenna assembly with at least one director and electromagnetic reflective subassembly and method
An ultra-wideband antenna assembly comprising: an electromagnetic reflective structure for reflecting electromagnetic waves; the electromagnetic reflective structure operating to reflect electromagnetic waves in a first direction; an antenna operatively associated with the electromagnetic reflective structure such that electromagnetic waves emitted from the antenna towards the electromagnetic wave reflective structure are reflected back by the electromagnetic reflective structure in the first direction; the antenna being substantially planar and extending in a first plane; the first direction being substantially perpendicular to the first plane; and at least one director operatively associated with the antenna for focusing the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the antenna in the first direction; the at least one director being substantially planar and extending in a second plane wherein the second plane is substantially parallel to the first plane. |
| US09444146B2 |
Integrated circuit with electromagnetic communication
A system for transmitting or receiving signals may include an integrated circuit (IC), a transducer operatively coupled to the IC for converting between electrical signals and electromagnetic signals; and insulating material that fixes the locations of the transducer and IC in spaced relationship relative to each other. The system may further include a lead frame providing external connections to conductors on the IC. An electromagnetic-energy directing assembly may be mounted relative to the transducer for directing electromagnetic energy in a region including the transducer and in a direction away from the IC. The directing assembly may include the lead frame, a printed circuit board ground plane, or external conductive elements spaced from the transducer. In a receiver, a signal-detector circuit may be responsive to a monitor signal representative of a received first radio-frequency electrical signal for generating a control signal that enables or disables an output from the receiver. |
| US09444141B2 |
Antenna system for a smart portable device using a continuous metal band
A method and portable device provide multi-band, multi-antenna signal communication in a portable device having wireless communication capability. A portable device comprises a single loop multi-feed (SLM) antenna system which includes a continuous conductive ring located along and adjacent to a first device periphery area. The SLM antenna system also comprises multiple communication feeds each respectively coupled to one of multiple transceivers and to the conductive ring. The SLM antenna system includes multiple ground connection points each of which is coupled to a ground plane. Each ground connection point is selectively positioned at a corresponding location on the continuous conductive ring in order to configure, within the SLM antenna system, multiple corresponding antenna elements. The SLM antenna system enables frequency tuning associated with a first antenna element to be performed independently of frequency tuning associated with a second antenna element and supports signal propagation via the multiple antennas using respective frequency bands. |
| US09444139B2 |
Antenna structures and methods thereof for configuring an antenna structure of a communication device in transit
A method that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining, by a first base station comprising a processor, information regarding a trajectory of a communication device. The method can also include determining a location of the communication device relative to a second base station. The method can also include transmitting a recommendation to the communication device regarding adjusting an antenna configuration of the communication device to facilitate data communication services with the second base while maintaining voice communications services with the first base station. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09444136B2 |
Configurable antenna system and method
An antenna for receiving a transmitted signal with signal receiving components including a housing disposed about signal-receiving components. The housing includes a first housing portion forming a first side of the housing, the first housing portion including first and second opposing edge portions, third edge portion extending between the first and second opposing edge portions, and a second housing portion forming a second side of the housing, the second housing portion including fourth and fifth opposing edge portions, and a sixth edge portion extending between the fourth and fifth opposing edge portions, wherein the first housing portion is configured to be coupled to the second housing portion in such a manner that the first and fourth edge portions engage, the second and fifth edge portions engage, and the third and sixth edge portions cooperatively form an elongated groove configured to receive a signal line. |
| US09444133B2 |
Antenna pattern frame, method and mold for manufacturing the same, electronic device case having antenna pattern frame embedded therein, and method for manufacturing the same
An antenna pattern frame includes an antenna radiator receiving an external signal and transmitting the received external signal to an electronic device, a radiator frame having the antenna radiator on a surface thereof, and a guide boss protruding from the radiator frame and preventing the radiator frame from moving vertically in a mold for manufacturing an electronic device case having an inner space having a shape corresponding to that of an electronic device case. |
| US09444132B2 |
Plasma aviation antenna
An aircraft communications system may include a RF-transparent enclosure, a plasma antenna element and a controller. The RF-transparent enclosure may be disposed substantially conformal with a portion of the aircraft. The plasma antenna element may be housed within the RF-transparent enclosure. The controller may be operably coupled to the plasma antenna element to provide control of operation of the plasma antenna element. The plasma antenna element may include one or more RF-conductive plasma devices that are selectively ionized to a plasma state under control of the controller. |
| US09444125B2 |
Battery pack with non-conductive structural support
A battery pack is provided that is configured to minimize the risk of battery shorts during a thermal runaway event. The battery pack uses a layer of a thermally conductive, electrically non-conducting epoxy to transfer heat from each of the pack's batteries to an underlying heat sink/heat spreader. A plurality of electrically non-conductive granules, for example fabricated from alumina or silica, is dispersed throughout at least a region of the epoxy layer. As a result of the granules, even if the epoxy layer softens sufficiently during a thermal runaway event to allow movement of the batteries, the granules will prevent the batteries from contacting the underlying heat sink/heat spreaders and shorting out, one benefit of which is decreasing the likelihood of an initial thermal runaway event propagating throughout the entire battery pack. |
| US09444123B2 |
Battery pack assembly
A battery pack includes a plurality of prismatic format batteries in a stacked configuration. Flexible graphite sheet heat spreaders are interposed between adjacent prismatic batteries in the stack. A heat sink extends the length of the stack of prismatic format batteries. Both heat spreader major surfaces contact the heat sink at contact areas and thereby extend into the heat sink by at least 30 percent of the thru-thickness of the heat sink. |
| US09444120B2 |
Rechargeable lithium battery and method for manufacturing the same
A rechargeable lithium battery according to the present invention includes a positive electrode including a positive active material being capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium; a negative electrode including a negative active material being capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium; and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The negative electrode includes a lithium-containing metal compound that is inactive for water, and can intercalate lithium during at least discharge. The rechargeable lithium battery has an irreversible capacity during a first charge and discharge, and has no problems such dendrite, electrolyte decomposition, or dissolution of a negative current collector. |
| US09444119B2 |
Lithium/dissolved polysulfide rechargeable lithium—sulfur batteries and methods of making the same
In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a rechargeable Li—S battery including a cathode including a firbrous carbon material, a catholyte including a polysulfide, and an anode. In another embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a charged or partially charged rechargeable Li—S battery including a cathode including a fibrous carbon material and amorphous microparticles of elemental sulfur, a catholyte including high-order polysulfides having a general formula of Li2Sn, wherein n is at least eight, and an anode. In another embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a discharged or partially discharged rechargeable Li—S battery including a cathode including a fibrous carbon material and amorphous microparticles of Li2S, a catholyte including a negligible amount of polysulfides, and an anode. |
| US09444118B2 |
Battery pack
A battery pack is disclosed. In one embodiment, the battery pack includes a battery module including a plurality of battery units. It further includes a battery management unit including a plurality of charge terminals and a plurality of discharge terminals electrically connected to terminals of the plurality of battery units, and controlling charging/discharging of the battery module. It further includes a control unit including a plurality of discharge control terminals electrically connected to the plurality of discharge terminals, a discharge control switch installed between each of the plurality of discharge control terminals, and a charge recognizing unit, and controlling the operation of the discharge control switch according to the level of voltage detected by the charge recognizing unit. |
| US09444111B2 |
Fuel cell system
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a control valve and a controller. The fuel cell is configured to receive anode gas and cathode gas to generate electric power. The control valve is configured to control pressure of the anode gas being fed to the fuel cell through an anode flow channel. The controller controls the control valve to periodically increase and decrease the pressure of the anode gas flowing through the anode flow channel in an area downstream of the control valve. The controller sets an anode pressure differential value for the anode gas resulting from periodic increasing and decreasing of the pressure of the anode gas based on a requested fuel cell output. The controller determines a quantity of liquid in the anode flow channel. The controller decreases the anode pressure differential value that was set based on the requested fuel cell output. |
| US09444110B2 |
System and method for reducing fuel cell power plant emissions
A system and method for operating fuel cell power plant 10 includes enclosing fuel bearing components, such as fuel cell stack 28 and reformer 24, into a fuel compartment 12 separate from motorized components in a motor compartment 14, and consuming leaked fuel in the fuel compartment 12 using a fuel bearing component such as cell stack 28 and/or burner 26, thereby reducing fuel emissions from the plant. |
| US09444108B2 |
Additive manufacturing for fuel cell flow fields
A plate for a fuel cell includes a first plate body defining a first flow field channel in a first surface thereof. The first flow field channel has a cross-sectional area that varies as a function of depth from the first surface of the plate body toward an opposed second surface. The cross-sectional area can increase and/or decrease from the first surface toward the opposed second surface. |
| US09444106B2 |
Simultaneous coating of fuel cell components
Disclosed are methods for simultaneous application of multiple fuel cell component coatings onto a substrate. The method comprises providing a substrate, and simultaneously coating two or more solutions onto the substrate under laminar flow. |
| US09444099B2 |
Process for producing cathode active material for lithium ion secondary battery, cathode for lithium ion secondary battery, and lithium ion secondary battery
To provide a cathode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery, and its production process.A lithium-containing composite oxide containing a transition metal element and a composition (1) are contacted to obtain particles (I) having a compound containing a metal element (M) attached, which are mixed with a compound which generates HF by heating, and the mixture is heated to obtain particles (III) having a covering layer (II) containing the metal element (M) and fluorine element formed on the surface of the lithium-containing composite oxide. Composition (1): a composition having a compound containing no Li element and containing at least one metal element (M) selected from Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Y, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Pb, Cu, Zn, Al, In, Sn, Sb, Bi, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd, Dy, Er and Yb dissolved or dispersed in a solvent. |
| US09444096B2 |
Organometallic-inorganic hybrid electrodes for lithium-ion batteries
Disclosed are embodiments of active materials for organometallic and organometallic-inorganic hybrid electrodes and particularly active materials for organometallic and organometallic-inorganic hybrid cathodes for lithium-ion batteries. In certain embodiments the organometallic material comprises a ferrocene polymer. |
| US09444091B2 |
Apparatuses for making cathodes for high-temperature, rechargeable batteries
The approaches and apparatuses for fabricating cathodes can be adapted to improve control over cathode composition and to better accommodate batteries of any shape and their assembly. For example, a first solid having an alkali metal halide, a second solid having a transition metal, and a third solid having an alkali metal aluminum halide are combined into a mixture. The mixture can be heated in a vacuum to a temperature that is greater than or equal to the melting point of the third solid. When the third solid is substantially molten liquid, the mixture is compressed into a desired cathode shape and then cooled to solidify the mixture in the desired cathode shape. |
| US09444089B2 |
Mandrel for preparation of jelly-roll type electrode assembly
Disclosed herein is a mandrel configured to be used in a winding process for manufacturing a jelly roll type electrode assembly using a long sheet type stack of a cathode/separator/anode structure, wherein the mandrel is oval in a section perpendicular to a rotational central axis of the mandrel and is divided into a first mandrel part located at one side of a central region of the mandrel, in which an end of the sheet type stack is fixedly fitted, and a second mandrel part located at the other side of the central region of the mandrel, and the first mandrel part and the second mandrel part each include a main body part having a region in which the sheet type stack is fitted in an engaged state and an exchange part, detachably mounted to the main body part, having an end of a major axis of the mandrel. |
| US09444086B2 |
Battery unit and secondary battery assembly equipped with the battery unit
According to one embodiment, a battery unit includes a first cell unit, a second cell unit and a third cell unit arranged adjacent to the first cell unit, respectively. Each cell unit includes a plurality of secondary battery cells, and the respective secondary battery cells are formed of a main body of a substantially rectangular solid shape and a pair of first and second electrodes of different polarities each other pulled out from one end of the main body. A first bus bar connects the first electrodes of the first cell unit and the second electrodes of the second cell unit in a first line, and a second bus bar connects the second electrodes of the first cell unit and the first electrodes of the third cell unit in a second line. |
| US09444082B2 |
Battery pack structure for electric vehicles
An object of the present invention is to secure both of vehicle body floor upper space and battery mounting space, in setting of a mounting position of a high-power cut-off switch to a battery pack case. Battery pack case 1 having battery modules 2 and SD switch 4 that cuts off battery high-power circuit by manual operation is arranged in a lower position of vehicle body floor 100. In this battery pack structure for electric vehicle, an inside space of the battery pack case 1 is divided into two areas in a vehicle front-and-rear direction, and one of the two areas is defined as a battery module mounting area 7. SD switch 4 is provided in an upper surface position of the case that covers an electrical component mounting area 8, which is the other area, located on a vehicle front side with respect to battery module mounting area 7. |
| US09444074B2 |
Method for producing an optoelectronic component and optoelectronic component
Various embodiments may relate to a method for producing an optoelectronic component. The method may include increasing a refractive index of a substrate in at least one region at at least one predefined position in the substrate in such a way that the region having an increased refractive index extends as far as a surface of the substrate, and forming an electrode layer on or above the surface of the substrate at least partly above the region having an increased refractive index. |
| US09444073B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and manufacturing method thereof
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a polymer layer is formed on a second electrode of an organic light emitting display device. |
| US09444072B2 |
Organic light-emitting display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
In an aspect, an organic light-emitting display apparatus including: a substrate; at least one color filter formed on the substrate; an overcoat layer covering the at least one color filter; a first passivation layer formed on the overcoat layer; a light scattering layer formed on the first passivation layer; a first electrode formed on the light scattering layer; a second electrode facing the first electrode; and an organic layer located between the first and second electrodes is provided. |
| US09444071B2 |
Organic electroluminescent panel
[Problem]Provided is an organic EL panel in which on a support supporting at least one organic EL element, a connecting wire for supply of power to the organic EL is disposed, and which is capable of preventing damage of the support by heat and impact caused by melting disconnection of a fuse part that is provided in the connecting wire.[Solution Means]A buffer layer is disposed between a face supporting the connecting wire on the support and the fuse part. |
| US09444069B2 |
Display device and method for manufacturing the display device
It is an object of the present invention to provide a technology for manufacturing a highly reliable display device at a low cost with high yield. In the present invention, a spacer is formed over a pixel electrode, thereby protecting the pixel electrode layer from a mask in formation of an electroluminescent layer. In addition, since a layer that includes an organic material that has water permeability is sealed in a display device with a sealing material and the sealing material and the layer that includes the organic material are not in contact, deterioration of a light-emitting element due to a contaminant such as water can be prevented. The sealing material is formed in a portion of a driver circuit region in the display device, and thus, the narrower frame margin of the display device can also be accomplished. |
| US09444068B2 |
Transparent conductive oxide coatings for organic light emitting diodes and solar devices
A transparent conductive oxide (TCO) electrode for an organic light emitting diode (OLED) has a first layer of a crystalline material and a second layer of an amorphous material. The material of the second layer can include one or more dopant materials. |
| US09444065B2 |
π-conjugated heavy-metal polymers for organic white-light-emitting diodes
A polymer mixture emits a broad spectrum of visible light that appears white or near-white in the aggregate. The polymer mixture comprises two (or more) components in the active layer. A heavy atom, such as platinum and/or iridium, present in the backbone of the mixture acts via a spin-orbit coupling mechanism to cause the ratio of fluorescent to phosphorescent light emission bands to be of approximately equal strength. These two broad emissions overlap, resulting in an emission spectrum that appears to the eye to be white. |
| US09444053B2 |
Aromatic amine derivative and electroluminescence device using the same
Provided are a novel aromatic amine derivative having a specific structure and an organic electroluminescence device in which an organic thin layer comprising a single layer or plural layers including a light emitting layer is interposed between a cathode and an anode, wherein at leas one layer of the above organic thin layer contains the aromatic amine derivative described above in the form of a single component or a mixed component. Thus, the organic electroluminescence device is less liable to be crystallized in molecules, improved in a yield in producing the organic electroluminescence device and extended in a lifetime. |
| US09444051B2 |
Method of manufacturing light-emitting device, and evaporation donor substrate
The present invention relates to a donor substrate and a method of manufacturing a light-emitting device. The donor substrate includes a reflective layer including an opening portion, a light absorption layer covering the opening portion of the reflective layer over the reflective layer, a heat insulating layer including an opening portion in a position overlapped with the opening portion of the reflective layer over the light absorption layer, and a material layer including a light-emitting material covering the opening portion of the heat insulating layer over the heat insulating layer. A target substrate and the donor substrate are disposed to face each other, and an EL layer is formed over the target substrate by performing light irradiation from a rear surface of the donor substrate. |
| US09444047B2 |
Embedded nonvolatile memory elements having resistive switching characteristics
Provided are nonvolatile memory assemblies each including a resistive switching layer and current steering element. The steering element may be a transistor connected in series with the switching layer. Resistance control provided by the steering element allows using switching layers requiring low switching voltages and currents. Memory assemblies including such switching layers are easier to embed into integrated circuit chips having other low voltage components, such as logic and digital signal processing components, than, for example, flash memory requiring much higher switching voltages. In some embodiments, provided nonvolatile memory assemblies operate at switching voltages less than about 3.0V and corresponding currents less than 50 microamperes. A memory element may include a metal rich hafnium oxide disposed between a titanium nitride electrode and doped polysilicon electrode. One electrode may be connected to a drain or source of the transistor, while another electrode is connected to a signal line. |
| US09444043B2 |
Method, system and device for phase change memory with shunt
Embodiments disclosed herein may relate to forming a storage component comprising a phase change material and a shunt relative to amorphous portions of the phase change material. |
| US09444035B2 |
Magnesium oxide capping with a shorted path for perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction devices and method for fabrication
A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device includes a pinned layer, a tunnel barrier layer on the pinned layer, and a free layer on the tunnel barrier layer. The MTJ device also includes a perpendicular magnetic anisotropic (PMA) enhancement layer on the free layer, a capping layer on the PMA enhancement layer, and a conductive path electrically shorting the capping layer, the PMA enhancement layer and the free layer. A method of fabricating a perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction (pMTJ) device includes forming a capping layer, a perpendicular magnetic anisotropic (PMA) enhancement layer and a free layer. The method also includes forming a conductive layer to short the capping layer, the PMA enhancement layer and the free layer. |
| US09444033B2 |
Magnetic memory device and method of manufacturing the same
Magnetic memory devices and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. A method may include forming a magnetic tunnel junction layer on a substrate, forming mask patterns on the magnetic tunnel junction layer, and sequentially performing a plurality of ion implantation processes using the mask patterns as ion implantation masks to form an isolation region in the magnetic tunnel junction layer. The isolation region may thereby define magnetic tunnel junction parts that are disposed under corresponding ones of the mask patterns. A magnetic memory device may include a plurality of magnetic tunnel junction parts electrically and magnetically isolated from each other through the isolation region. |
| US09444032B2 |
Piezoelectric element and method of producing the same
A piezoelectric element includes a substrate having a first surface with a predetermined orientation; a lower electrode layered on the first surface of the substrate; a piezoelectric thin film layered on the lower electrode and having a piezoelectric body; and an upper electrode layered on the piezoelectric thin film. A voltage is to be impressed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode to deform the piezoelectric thin film. The piezoelectric thin film is epitaxially grown on the lower electrode using a physical vapor deposition or a chemical vapor deposition. |