| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07657301B2 |
Guided radiation therapy system
A system and method for accurately locating and tracking the position of a target, such as a tumor or the like, within a body. In one embodiment, the system is a target locating and monitoring system usable with a radiation delivery source that delivers selected doses of radiation to a target in a body. The system includes one or more excitable markers positionable in or near the target, an external excitation source that remotely excites the markers to produce an identifiable signal, and a plurality of sensors spaced apart in a known geometry relative to each other. A computer is coupled to the sensors and configured to use the marker measurements to identify a target isocenter within the target. The computer compares the position of the target isocenter with the location of the machine isocenter. The computer also controls movement of the patient and a patient support device so the target isocenter is coincident with the machine isocenter before and during radiation therapy. |
| US07657300B2 |
Registration of human anatomy integrated for electromagnetic localization
A method for use during a procedure on a body. The method generates a display representing relative positions of two structures during the procedure. The method comprises the steps of storing an image data set in memory, the image data set representing the position of the body based on scans taken of the body prior to the procedure; reading the image data set stored in the memory, the image data set having a plurality of data points in known relation to a plurality of reference points for at least one of the two structures; placing one or more magnetic field sensors in known relation to the reference points of the two structures; generating a magnetic field; detecting the magnetic field with the magnetic field sensors; ascertaining the locations of the sensors based upon the magnetic field detected by the sensors and processing the locations of the sensors to generate a displaced image data set representing the relative position of the two structures during the procedure; and generating a display based on the displaced image data set illustrating the relative position of the two structures during the procedure. |
| US07657298B2 |
System, device, and method for determining a position of an object
A system is disclosed for determining a position and a change in the position of an anatomical structure. The system utilizes a surgical navigation system and a substrate that is capable of being removably mounted to an outer surface of a patient's body. The substrate includes a sensor that is tracked by the surgical navigation system and a positional device that determines the position of an anatomical structure relative to the sensor. The concatenation of the position of the sensor and the relative position of the anatomical structure allows a global position of the anatomical structure to be determined by a computer system and displayed to the user. |
| US07657296B2 |
Unitary medical sensor assembly and technique for using the same
A sensor assembly is provided that includes a frame having a first portion and a second portion connected by a hinge. An emitter and a detector are disposed on the frame. A coating is provided over the frame, the emitter and the detector to form a unitary sensor assembly. The sensor assembly also includes a resistance-providing component disposed generally about the hinge. In one embodiment, the sensor assembly may be placed on a patient's finger, toe, ear, and so forth to obtain pulse oximetry or other physiological measurements. A method of manufacturing the sensor assembly is also provided as is a method of cleaning a fluid-tight sensor assembly. |
| US07657290B2 |
Power management systems and methods for a mobile device
Power management systems and methods are provided for a mobile device. A primary power management circuit may be configured to receive an input voltage and use the input voltage to supply power to the mobile device. A secondary power management circuit may be configured to select at least one of a battery input from a rechargeable battery, a first power source input, or a second power source input as the input voltage to the primary power management circuit. The primary power management circuit may use the first power source input to charge the rechargeable battery. The second power management circuit may use the second power source input to charge the rechargeable battery. |
| US07657289B1 |
Synthesized voice production
A communications system for receiving and transmitting information signals. An electronic processor is adapted to receive information signals from at least one source, operatively connected to the electronic processor. An audible signal generator generates sounds related to the information signals. The source of information signals can be a telephone, cell phone, microphone, PDA, computer, printed document, Internet web site, e-mail or immediate message. The processor has a mechanism for generating an audible signal reminiscent of a celebrity voice, a cartoon voice, or a computer-generated sound. |
| US07657286B2 |
Multiradio control interface element in modem
A system for managing the simultaneous operation of a plurality of radio modems in a single wireless communication device (WCD). The multiradio control may be integrated into the WCD as a subsystem responsible for scheduling wireless communications by temporarily enabling or disabling the plurality of radio modems within the device. The multiradio control system may comprise a multiradio controller (MRC) and a plurality dedicated radio interfaces. The radio interfaces are dedicated to quickly conveying delay sensitive information to and from the radio modems. This information may be requested by the MRC, or provided by one or more of the plurality of radio modems, if a change occurs during operation. |
| US07657285B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method, information processing system, and transmission medium
When a user gets interested in some music he/she listens to somewhere, for example, in a coffee shop, the user records that music in a memory provided in a portable terminal. A processor reads the information stored in the memory and performs a predetermined process on it. The resultant information is stored on a storage device. The information stored on the storage device is then transferred to a server via a communication device. The server searches the database for the title of the music corresponding to the received information, and returns the result to the terminal. Thus, the user can easily get information about the title of the music. |
| US07657274B2 |
Power controlling apparatus and method in mobile communication system
A power controlling apparatus and method in a mobile communication system. A receiver in a mobile station multiplexes the frame reception result indicator bits for at least two traffic channels received from a transmitter in a base station, inserts the multiplexed frame reception result indicator bits in a pilot signal bit by bit, and transmits the reverse frame. Then, the transmitter extracts the pilot signal from the reverse frame, demultiplexes the frame reception result indicator bits, and performs a power control on the traffic channels based on the values of the frame reception result indicator bits. |
| US07657271B2 |
System and method for synchronizing of information without data duplication
A system for synchronizing information comprises a plurality of mobile communication devices storing individually incomplete user information, and at least one mobile service interface adapted to receive and transmit the stored user information for processing. The information synchronization system also comprises at least one processor adapted to arrange the transmitted user information to allow each mobile communication device to complete its user information without data duplication. The processor transmits the arranged user information to each mobile communication device via the mobile service interface for storage therein. |
| US07657265B2 |
System and method for tracking the location of multiple mobile radio transceiver units
An object locating system (100), the system (100) comprising at least first and second mobile devices (120, 130) associated by a relationship defined at least in part by a threshold. The at least first and second mobile devices are operable to be monitored by a communication network as one mobile device (120) or as separate mobile devices (120, 130) as a function of the relationship relative to the threshold. |
| US07657264B2 |
Scheduling of data transmission for terminals with variable scheduling delays
Techniques for scheduling terminals with different scheduling delays. Initially, the scheduling delay of each terminal is determined, and the total available transmit power and the link efficiency of each terminal are estimated. In a first scheme, the terminals are scheduled for data transmission based on the longest scheduling delay among the delays of all terminals. In a second scheme, each terminal is assigned a particular priority based on its scheduling delay, and the terminals are scheduled based on their assigned priorities. In a third scheme, the terminals are categorized into classes based on their scheduling delays. A percentage of the total available transmit power is allocated to each class, and the terminals in each class are scheduled based on the transmit power allocated to that class. In a fourth scheme, the terminals are scheduled for data transmission, and the schedule for each terminal is applied after its scheduling delay. |
| US07657263B1 |
Method and system for automatic call distribution based on customized logic relating to agent behavior
A method of routing calls of an automatic call distributor system that includes receiving a first workflow, comprising a desired behavior, associated with a first agent of a plurality of agents and receiving at least one request from a respective user for connection with one of the agents. The method also includes monitoring system information and executing the first workflow after the first agent becomes available for connection with one of the requests. The method includes selecting a first request of the at least one request, wherein the first request is selected based on the first agent's desired behavior and the monitored system information, and connecting the first request to the first agent. The method may also include receiving a notification that the first agent is available for connection with one of the respective users, and executing the first workflow after receiving the notification that the first agent is available. |
| US07657253B2 |
System and method for providing message notification
A method for providing message notification in a wireless network includes receiving from a subscriber a message that is to be sent over the wireless network, receiving from the subscriber a requested notification type and a requested notification destination, processing the requested notification type and the requested notification destination, and sending the requested notification type to the requested notification destination. |
| US07657252B2 |
Portable terminal, response message transmitting method and server
A portable terminal with a telephone or radio communication function, a call response message transmitting method and a server for, when the user cannot answer an incoming call, enabling the user of the portable terminal to inform the caller of his/her situation that does not allow him/her to answer the call. A portable terminal comprises a storage for storing information on different types of messages each being associated with an image in a prescribed pose or gesture and a camera section for shooting an image when a call is received. The portable terminal recognizes the pose or gesture from an image shot by the camera section, and selecting a message corresponding to the recognized pose or gesture from the storage, and transmits the selected message to a calling terminal. |
| US07657250B2 |
Mobile device notification with options
Notifying users of mobile communication devices, which may include providing options for response to notifications. A component of a communication service provider system receives an indication of a notification for a user of a mobile communication device. The notification may be received from a source internal or external to the communication service provider system. A component of the mobile communication service provider formats the notification so that it is compatible with the mobile communication device of the user and sends the notification to the mobile communication device of the user. The notification may include one or more options to respond to the notification using the mobile communication device. The notification may, for example, pertain to minutes-of-use in a mobile communication service plan, or to other information, including notifications from outside service providers such as airlines, banks, restaurants, hotels, libraries, credit card companies, etc. |
| US07657249B2 |
Distributed wireless online access system
A method for providing wireless online access comprises: establishing a wireless access signal space wherein a wireless communications link is established between a secondary wireless unit and at least one primary wireless unit, thereby providing a corresponding secondary subscriber with online access by data packet transmission between the primary wireless unit and the secondary wireless unit; and receiving, from an online access provider, a credited revenue amount in return for providing online access for the secondary subscriber. |
| US07657247B1 |
Mixer constant linear range biasing apparatus and method
A Gilbert cell mixer for a wireless transceiver includes a first stage that performs voltage to current conversions and that includes first and second transistors that are operated in a saturation region and third and fourth transistors that are operated in a triode region. A second stage communicates with the first stage and that performs frequency conversion. A biasing circuit communicates with the first stage to maintain a substantially constant input linear range over temperature and process variations. |
| US07657245B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device is equipped with a wireless unit board for transmitting and receiving a radio signal to and from external equipment, where an accommodation space for the wireless unit board is enclosed by a side plate of a casing of the electronic device, a first shield plate covering a circuit board, and a second shield plate holding a main control board thereupon and disposed substantially horizontally above the first shield plate. The wireless unit board is disposed in the accommodation space with one of opposed major surfaces thereof facing to the side plate of the casing. |
| US07657242B2 |
Selectable capacitance circuit
A voltage-controlled capacitor and methods for forming the same are described. A mechanical conductor membrane of the voltage-controlled capacitor is movable to and from a first position and a second position. An amount of capacitance can vary with the movement of the mechanical conductor membrane. A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) voltage-controlled capacitor can be used in a variety of applications, such as, but not limited to, RF switches and RF attenuators. |
| US07657241B2 |
Distortion reduction calibration
Techniques are disclosed for compensating for second-order distortion in a wireless communication device. In a zero-intermediate frequency (IF) or low-IF architecture, IM2 distortion generated by the mixer (20) results in undesirable distortion levels in the baseband output signal. A compensation circuit (104) provides a measure of the IM2 distortion current independent of the radio frequency (RF) pathway to generate an IM2 calibration current. The IM2 calibration current is combined with the baseband output signal to thereby eliminate the IM2 currents generated within the RF pathway. In one embodiment, the calibration is provided at the factory during final testing. In alternative embodiment, additional circuitry (156, 158) may be added to the wireless communication device to provide a pathway between the transmitter (150) and the receiver (146). The transmitter signal is provided to the receiver to permit automatic calibration of the unit. An internal signal source (162) may be used in place of the transmitter (150). The auto-calibration may be performed to eliminate IM2 distortion or permit optimization of the circuit to minimize other forms of distortion or interference. |
| US07657240B2 |
Adaptable RF audio receiver and method for adapting processing of RF audio signals
An adjustable RF audio receiver and method are provided. The adjustable RF audio receiver includes an RF antenna configured to receive RF audio signals, and a tuner coupled to the RF antenna and configured to decode received RF audio signals. The adjustable RF audio receiver further includes signal processing circuitry coupled to the tuner and configured to determine signal quality characteristics of the signals received by the adjustable RF audio receiver. The signal processing circuitry provides determined signal quality characteristics and identifies an environment in which the RF audio receiver is operating. The signal processing circuitry is configured to adapt how received signals are processed based on the determined environment. |
| US07657239B2 |
Method for conserving energy in a multimode communication device
A system and methods (300, 400) are disclosed for conserving energy in a multimode communication device (106). A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a multimode wireless transceiver (202) for accessing a plurality of wireless access technologies (103), and a controller (214) for managing operations of the multimode wireless transceiver. The controller is programmed to enable (300) scanning for a select one of the wireless access technologies when the communication device is near a known location of a wireless access point. An embodiment for a network management system (100) is also disclosed. |
| US07657237B2 |
Method and system to improve transmitter linearization
A method and system are provided to compensate for the nonlinearity of a wireless transmitter. The method includes sending a predetermined input bit stream to the power amplifier, calculating the coefficients of the polynomial representing the response curve of the power amplifier and generating the predistortion coefficients of the polynomial representing the response curve of the predistortor. The method linearizes the response curve of the transmitter chain in a communication device. |
| US07657236B2 |
Transmitter having reduced local oscillator (LO) leakage by determining direct LO coupling and baseband DC offset
A transmitter generates a transmitter output signal from first and second baseband signals. The transmitter includes a detector to detect a local oscillator (LO) leakage signal in the transmitter output signal. A controller coupled to the detector determines a direct LO coupling component and a baseband DC offset component of the LO leakage signal. First and second variable current sources are adjusted by the controller to provide first and second DC offsets to the first and second baseband signals, respectively. The first and second DC offsets reduce the direct LO coupling component. Third and fourth variable current sources are subsequently adjusted by the controller to provide third and fourth DC offsets to the first and second baseband signals, respectively. The third and fourth DC offsets reduce the baseband DC component. Overall, reducing the direct LO coupling component and the baseband DC component reduces a power of the LO leakage signal. |
| US07657233B2 |
Device for calculating FSM bits in the UMTS standard
The invention relates to a device for calculating FSM bits by means of which the signals sent from two antennas of a base station are influenced with reference to their phase difference and/or their amplitudes. The FSM bits are calculated with the aid of two estimated channel impulse responses. The device is present in hard-wired form. |
| US07657229B2 |
Method and device for reporting information related to interference components received by a first telecommunication device in some frequency subbands to a second telecommunication device
The present invention concerns a method and a device for reporting, through a wireless network using multiple frequency subbands, interference components received by a first telecommunication in a first and a second frequency subbands of the wireless network, to a second telecommunication device. The first telecommunication device measures the interference components it receives in the first and second frequency subbands, determines at least a first weight from the measured interference components in the first frequency subband and at least a second weight from the measured interference components in the second frequency subband, weights a first pilot signal with the at least one first determined weight and a second pilot signal with the at least one second determined weight, transfers the first weighted pilot signal through said first frequency subband and the second weighted pilot signal through said second frequency subband to the second telecommunication device. |
| US07657226B2 |
Keyfob with digital file storage and vehicular system for the use thereof
A keyfob is provided for use in a vehicle having a processor. The keyfob comprises a housing, a battery disposed within the housing, and control circuitry disposed within the housing and coupled to the battery. A memory coupled to the control circuitry is disposed within the housing and is configured to store data files therein accessible by the processor. |
| US07657225B2 |
Method to minimize compatibility error in hierarchical modulation using variable phase
The present invention provides a method of hierarchically modulating first and second digital data streams in a broadcast system such as an SDAR system that is compatible with legacy receivers. The second digital data stream, but not the first, is provided with a non-binary pseudo-random encoding. A carrier is first modulated, e.g. QPSK, by the first digital data stream; and a second modulation is performed with the encoded second digital data stream. The encoding includes a multiplication of a matrix formed of 2, 3 or 4 consecutive bits of the secondary data stream by a matrix, e.g. a Hadamard matrix to form a product matrix having non-binary values that are used to modify consecutive symbols of the first modulation. The second modulation appears as Gaussian noise to legacy receivers over time. |
| US07657223B2 |
Provision of content to mobile users
The present invention relates to presentation of content to mobile users. In the method, data associated with presentation of content is transmitted from a communication system, the data including information regarding an event. The data is received at mobile user equipment and stored in a memory of the mobile user equipment. In response to the event, presentation of the content is triggered. The presentation is based on the data stored in the memory of the mobile user equipment. |
| US07657221B2 |
Virtual oral recitation examination apparatus, system and method
The invented apparatus, system and method for examining a student's oral answer capability includes a presentation mechanism for presenting a program test including one or more questions and soliciting one or more answers as oral inputs; a voice recognition mechanism for receiving a voice stream from a student oral recitation and for converting the voice stream to text-based essay form and for recording the same as a first given answer; answer key data stored in memory, the answer key data representing an ideal answer; a correlation mechanism coupled with the first given answer and with the stored answer key data for comparing the given answer to the stored answer key; and a grading mechanism coupled with the correlation mechanism for assigning a point score representing the merit of the given answer relative to the stored answer key data, wherein the point score represents the level of correlation therebetween. |
| US07657220B2 |
Adaptive scoring of responses to constructed response questions
A method for adaptive scoring of responses to constructed response questions is disclosed. Adaptive scoring may be used to apply evaluator time in such a way that a predetermined reliability level is reached with the least possible use of evaluator time, including adjusting the number of response graded and/or the number of evaluators grading each response. A score may be calculated after grading a subset of a test taker's responses to the constructed response questions. A probability or an error estimate is calculated and compared to a threshold value. Grading may be discontinued based on the comparison. A score may be calculated based on a predetermined number of ratings for the test taker's response to a constructed response. A probability that the score is within a predetermined range of what the score would be if all the responses are graded is calculated. If the probability is less than a threshold value, the number of ratings is increased. |
| US07657216B2 |
Fixing unit and image forming apparatus having the same
A fixing unit which enables high-speed operation and miniaturization, and an image forming apparatus having the fixing unit, includes a heating member which is heated by a heat source, the heating member having a predetermined width; a rotating member to rotate in contact with the heating member; a driving member to rotate the rotating member; and a pressing member to press both sides of the heating member towards the driving member and to form a predetermined fixing nip between the rotating member and the driving member, wherein the heating member has a second moment of inertia which is set to maintain a fixing efficiency of 90% or more in a central portion of the heating member. |
| US07657215B2 |
Image forming apparatus with a cleaning mechanism to collect toner for a fixing device
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device in which a cleaning mechanism for collecting toner left on a heat roller is arranged. When a preselected number of prints are output after the end of a printing job, a cleaning operation for cleaning the heat roller is executed. When a power-supply OFF request arrives while the cleaning operation is under way, a power-supply OFF operation is postponed until the cleaning operation ends. |
| US07657214B2 |
Image forming apparatus
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus, which comprises an intermediate transfer belt (15), and a plurality of image-forming units (11) to (14) disposed along the intermediate transfer belt (15) and adapted to form toner images of different colors and sequentially transfer the toner images onto the intermediate transfer belt (15) in a superimposed manner so as to form a color toner image. The intermediate transfer belt (15) is laid across a drive roller (16), a driven roller (17) and a tension roller (18), in a tensioned condition. A rotation speed of the tension roller (18) adapted to apply a tension to the intermediate transfer belt (15) is detected to obtain a linear speed of the intermediate transfer belt (15). In a process of color-misregistration correction, a write-start timing for each toner image of the colors is adjusted based on the linear speed of the intermediate transfer belt (15). |
| US07657209B2 |
Apparatus for containing splashes in an ink developer
A splash guard is configured to control the flow of excess liquid generated by an interaction between a first roller and a second roller by splitting the flow of the excess liquid into a first flow and a second flow. |
| US07657202B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming system
An image forming apparatus, including an image forming section which forms image on a recording sheet based on image data, plural trays which accommodate the sheets to be supplied to the image forming section, a humidity detecting unit which detects humidity inside the paper tray, a dehumidifying device which dehumidify inside the paper tray, and a control section which controls the dehumidifying device and management of jobs, and controls the image forming section to execute the jobs, wherein if the humidity inside the paper tray to be used for a first priority job is higher than a predetermined value, the control section suspends execution of the first priority job, and the control section controls the image forming section to execute a reserved job which is executable from among reserved jobs with low priority order, before executing the first priority job. |
| US07657199B2 |
Image forming apparatus with air blowing unit and associated transfer bias changing means
An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member which bears a toner image; a transfer unit which transfers the toner image on the image bearing member to a transfer portion when applied with transfer voltage; a recording material feeding unit which includes a stacking portion where recording materials are stacked and an air blowing device for blowing air to the recording material stacked in the stacking portion, and feeds the recording material to the transfer portion; and a transfer bias control portion which controls the transfer bias according to at least one of air received time per one sheet by the air blowing unit, air pressure and air temperature is provided. |
| US07657198B2 |
Methods for transfering toner in direct transfer image forming
The present application is directed to methods of controlling the transfer voltage in a transfer nip formed between the photoconductive member and the transfer member. The methods offset the effects of large transfer current spikes caused when a media sheet enters and exits the transfer nip. The control may include either ramping up or ramping down the transfer voltage. The ramped transfer voltage may include a series of alternating positive and negative steps that generally trend to ramp up or down. The size of the steps may further be adjusted to provide a smooth transition. |
| US07657185B2 |
Electronic interface for long reach optical transceiver
A low form-factor transceiver system appropriate for long-reach optical communications is presented. In accordance with the present invention, an electronic interface to a receiver optical sub assembly (ROSA) and a transmitter optical sub assembly (TOSA) is arranged on a multi-layer board to electrically shield the transmitter and receiver portions from a high-voltage power supply, which is utilized to provide bias voltages to optical detectors in the ROSA. In some embodiments of the invention, the high-voltage power supply is arranged on a top layer while the transmitter and receiver are arranged on a bottom layer in a split-ground arrangement. Layers between the top layer and the bottom layer include at least one ground plane and provide vias for electrical connections. |
| US07657184B2 |
Interactive vehicular communication system, particular between cars and its method of use
An interactive vehicle communication system, particularly for communication between motor vehicles, comprises a communication device (2) which may be placed on a stationary support (3) or a vehicle (4) traveling on a roadway and a receiver device (5), which may be placed on a stationary support (3) or a vehicle (4′) traveling on a roadway and interacts with said communication device (2). The communication device (2) comprises first means (6) for interfacing with external data detection and/or generation means, emitter means (9) for generating and emitting a visible light-emitting laser beam (8) with predetermined solid angle (a) and range, digitizing means (7) for digitizing said laser beam (8) and control means (10) for appropriately conforming and orienting said laser beam (8), to allow it to selectively interact with vehicle driving in a predetermined drive direction, excluding the other vehicles driving in the opposite drive direction. The receiver device (5) comprises: receiving means (11) for receiving said laser beam (8) and second means for interfacing (12) with external transducer means. |
| US07657183B2 |
Method and apparatus for hemispherical retargeting
A method and apparatus for steering energy over a wide field of view is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a beam steering system for directing a first beam from an optical source across an image plane and a WFOV optical system having the image plane, the WFOV optical system mapping the directed first beam incident on the image plane with a second beam extending angularly across the field of view. The method comprises the steps of directing a first beam from a optical source onto an image plane, optically mapping the directed first beam incident on the image plane with a second beam extending angularly across a field of view, and steering the first beam across the image plane. |
| US07657182B2 |
Liquid lens optical transmitter system
An optical transmission apparatus is provided in which high optical output power is secured in an optical transmitter, the fine adjustment of the optical axis is unnecessary, and the propagation range of the optical output signal can be adaptively changed. A diffusing liquid lens includes a first liquid and a second liquid containing a scattering material that scatters light, and the curvature of the boundary surface between the first and the second liquids is changed according to the control voltage applied from a controlling unit. A first optical signal outputted from a light emitting device is diffused in the first liquid, and emitted as a second optical signal having a spread angle corresponding to the curvature of the boundary surface and a substantially uniform radiant intensity distribution. |
| US07657179B2 |
Wavelength division multiplexing source using multifunctional filters
This invention provides a system that combines a wavelength multiplexer with an FM discriminator for chirp reduction and wavelength locker in a filter to produce a wavelength division multiplexed signal with reduced chirp. A partially frequency modulation laser signal is converted into a substantially amplitude modulation laser signal. This conversion increases the extinction ratio of the input signal and further reduces the chirp. A wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) method is used for transmitting high capacity information through fiber optics systems where digital information is carried on separate wavelengths through the same fiber. Separate transmitters normally generate their respective signals that are transmitted at different wavelengths. These signals are then combined using a wavelength multiplexer to transmit the high capacity information through the fiber optic system. Various technologies can be used to multiplex the signals such as, for example, thin film filters, or arrayed waveguide gratings. In a WDM system, a wavelength locker may also be used that fixes the center wavelength of a transmitter to a reference. Wavelength lockers may include etalons or fiber gratings, either of which provides a reference wavelength. A control circuit typically compares the wavelength of the transmitter to the reference. An error signal adjusts the transmitter format wavelength by varying temperature or by other means to keep it locked to the reference wavelength. |
| US07657174B2 |
Lens interchangeable camera with protection cover
A digital still camera includes a camera body. A lens unit is retained on the camera body in a removable manner. A protection cover is secured to the camera body, and movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the protection cover, when in the closed position, closes an exposure opening formed in the camera body, and when in the open position, opens the exposure opening. Cover moving transmission levers set the protection cover in the open position when the lens unit is retained on the camera body, and set the protection cover in the closed position when the lens unit is removed from the camera body. Furthermore, bayonet claw portions engage the lens unit with the camera body. The transmission levers are actuated in response to movement of the bayonet claw portions. A compression coil spring biases the protection cover toward the closed position. |
| US07657171B2 |
Method and system for providing background blurring when capturing an image using an image capture device
A method and system are described for providing background blurring when capturing an image using an image capture device. According to one aspect, input is received for initiating an image capture process for capturing an image of a subject at an image capture device. A focus value corresponding to a focus distance that is less than a distance between the subject and the image capture device and that keeps the subject within a depth of field corresponding to the focus distance is automatically determined. The image is captured using the determined focus value. |
| US07657170B2 |
Motor structure with built-in lens
A motor structure with a built-in lens includes a motor (30), and a lens unit (50) received in the motor and driven by the motor to telescopically move along an axial thereof. An internal thread (344) is formed on an inner surface of the motor. The lens unit includes an upper portion (51) and a lower portion (54). An external thread (544) is formed on an outer surface of the lower portion of the lens unit to threadedly engage with the internal thread of the motor. A dust cover (70) is arranged on the upper portion of the lens unit and defines an opening (71) for the upper portion of the lens unit to move therethrough. The lower portion of the lens unit is limited in the cover so that the external thread is prevented from being exposed to the environment during movement of the lens unit. |
| US07657167B2 |
Compact camera modules with Lavet stepping-motors as actuators
A horological motor of the Lavet motor concept is used to form an actuator to control movement of a lens system to reduce power consumption in digital camera units used in various electronic equipment, e.g. PDA's, mobile phones, digital still cameras and camcorders, and as a result increase battery life. The coils of the horological motor are driven with CMOS I/O signals eliminating the need for high current motor drivers and allowing the integration of all picture capture functions, including the light sensitive pixel array, into a single chip to form a system on chip implementation. A plurality of actuators is used to control a lens system comprising auto focus, zoom and shutter and iris functions. A gear transmission system is used to allow the motor of the actuator to move in micro step, which allows calibration of the motor against mechanical barriers. |
| US07657166B2 |
Mobile communication terminal having camera function and method for performing the same
A method is provided for performing a camera function including a zoom function by which an image of a subject is photographed in zoom steps so that the image is magnified or reduced. The method comprises the steps of detecting a distance between the subject and a camera, if a shutter key for photographing an image of the subject in a mode for photographing the subject in full size of a screen of a display section is input, regulating the magnification of the zoom in a zoom step stored in advance, corresponding to the detected distance, and photographing the image of the subject in a regulated magnification of the zoom. The optimum zoom step is automatically regulated according to the distance between the subject and the camera, and the image of the subject can be photographed in the full size of the screen of the display section without regulating the zoom directly. |
| US07657165B2 |
Image taking apparatus
An image taking apparatus has a small light-emitting section capable of easily adjusting a luminous intensity distribution of flash. Two reflection side plates are disposed such that they cover Fresnel lenses disposed on both ends of a protector when a zoom switch is operated to a WIDE side, light emitted sideway from an arc tube is reflected to the two reflection side plates and is guided toward a central side of the protector, and the luminous intensity distribution is adjusted such as to fit the WIDE image taking angle of view. If the zoom switch is operated to a TELE side, the two reflection side plates are inclined, light emitted sideway from the arc tube is guided to the Fresnel lenses, and the luminous intensity distribution is adjusted to fit a TELE image taking angle of view. |
| US07657164B2 |
Subject shake detection device, imaging device, control method thereof, control program, and recording medium
A subject shake detection device includes a shake detection unit that detects a shake amount of an imaging unit for photographing a subject, a subject shake detection unit that detects an image shake amount from a motion picture to be photographed by the imaging unit and acquires a subject shake amount on the basis of a difference between the image shake amount and the shake amount, and an informing unit that informs a subject shake on the basis of the subject shake amount. |
| US07657163B2 |
Fluid warming system and technique for using the same
A fluid warming device for warming medical fluids, such as intravenously administered blood or saline solutions, is provided. The fluid warming device includes a conduit at least partially formed from a material with positive temperature coefficient properties. A supply of blood or other fluids may pass through the device and be heated to temperatures appropriate for administration to a patient. |
| US07657161B2 |
Method of transition between controls for a ventilation system
A method of constant airflow control for a ventilation system is disclosed. The method includes various controls to accomplish a substantially constant airflow rate over a significant change of the static pressure in a ventilation duct. One control is a constant I·RPM control, which is primarily used in a low static pressure range. Another control is a constant RPM control, which is primarily used in a high static pressure range. These controls requires neither a static pressure sensor nor an airflow rate sensor to accomplish substantially constant airflow rate while static pressure changes. This is because these controls use only intrinsic control variables which are electric current and rotational speed of the motor. Also, the method improves the accuracy of the control by correcting certain deviations that are caused by the motor's current-RPM characteristics. To compensate the deviation, the method adopts a test operation in a minimum static pressure condition. Also disclosed is an apparatus for conducting these control methods. |
| US07657159B2 |
Slide show generation on DVD-video compatible discs including DVD+RW and DVD+R
A method and a device generate a DVD-Video compatible data structure from still pictures so as to create a slide show, where the data structure is compatible with the DVD+RW and DVD+R specifications. In one embodiment, a set of Ni video object units (VOBUs) is generated for each still picture, where each of the VOBUs include one video picture derived from the original still picture and a video gap. The video pictures of the Ni VOBUs only differ by their time stamps. Consequently, the DVD-Video compatible data structure is easy and fast to author. The DVD-Video compatible data structure has a low bitrate, and the presentation time of each picture can be adapted by setting the number Ni and/or the length of the video gap. |
| US07657156B2 |
Digital video recording apparatus and method
A digital video recording apparatus and method is disclosed. Under the condition in which the user sets information of a preferred program in the digital video recording apparatus, a broadcast stream received by the digital video recording apparatus is analyzed. Based on the results of the analysis, the preferred program can be automatically recorded. In accordance with the digital video recording apparatus and method, there is convenience in that it is unnecessary for the user to directly check there is a preferred program, to be recorded, in the broadcast stream, or to manually enable recording of the preferred program. |
| US07657155B2 |
Program data recording method and apparatus
In order to make a recording mode in case of recording a broadcast program to be a mode which is easily used when reproducing, guide information of the broadcast program of the recorded channel is obtained in a case when a received broadcast program is recorded and a pointer is set according to the obtained guide information at a recording position of the time from which each program is started in a case when a plurality of programs exist during a period from the recording start time to the ending time thereof. |
| US07657153B2 |
Data processing apparatus
A data processing apparatus is capable of writing program data concerning video and/or audio on a first storage medium and a second storage medium. The data processing apparatus includes: a reception section for receiving a signal concerning the program data; a selection section for selecting, from among a plurality of formats, a format which is writable on the first storage medium; and a control section for writing the program data on the first storage medium in the selected format, and after writing on the first storage medium is ended, continuing to write the program data on the second storage medium in the format. |
| US07657150B2 |
Optical disk apparatus
An optical disk apparatus is configured to switch the audio signals to be output to the sound output terminal by means of the slide switch having contact points that activate in association with the state switched by a mechanical manipulation. When the state of the slide switch is switched to the state where the externally-input audio signal is output to the sound output terminal from the state where the audio signal is output to the sound output terminal, a video signal of a composite video on which the OSD image, indicating that the output is switched to the external signal from the internal signal, is kept output to the video output terminal until a time period has passed. |
| US07657146B2 |
Optoelectric high frequency modulator integrated on silicon
An optoelectronic controller for regulating an optical signal. The controller includes a ridge or rib waveguide in an SOI-type substrate. The controller also includes an active zone formed by a plurality of thin layers of silicon. The layers are either N+ type doped or P+ type doped. The zone is defined between an N+ doped zone and a P+ doped zone which together form a PIN diode. The optoelectronic controller is all-silicon and operates by carrier desertion. |
| US07657143B2 |
Method for improving refractive index control in PECVD deposited a-SiNy films
An apparatus, device, system, and method for controlling the index of refraction of at least one layer of amorphous silicon-based film deposited on a substrate are disclosed. The apparatus, device, system and method include providing at least one volume of each of N2, SiH4, and He, and depositing the at least one layer of amorphous silicon-based film on the substrate by vapor deposition. The device may include a waveguide that includes at least one layer of amorphous silicon-based film, wherein the at least one layer of amorphous silicon-based film is deposited by vapor deposition using an at least one volume of each of N2, SiH4, and He. |
| US07657138B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing free-space optical cross-connections
An approach is provided for a free-space optical switch. A command is received to change a connection state of a free-space optical transmission path. A mirror is controlled to change the connection state of the free-space optical transmission path with respect to a particular port of a plurality of ports that interface to respective optical fibers, wherein the ports correspond to holes disposed about a circumferential surface of a port ring. |
| US07657137B2 |
Photonic interconnect system
A photonic interconnect system avoids high capacitance electric interconnects by using optical signals to communicate data between devices. The system can provide massively parallel information output by mapping logical addresses to frequency bands, so that modulation of a selected frequency band can encode information for a specific location corresponding to the logical address. Wavelength-specific directional couplers, modulators, and detectors for the photonic interconnect system can be efficiently fabricated at defects in a photonic bandgap crystal. The interconnect system can be used for both classical and quantum information processing. |
| US07657136B2 |
Optoelectronic integrated circuit device and communications equipment using same
A photoelectric integrated circuit device, in which photonic devices provided on the same substrate as the LSI are densely arranged along the four sides of the LSI, and characteristic degradation of the laser diode or photo detector due to heat generation can be prevented, furthermore optical wiring is easily performed on the board. A quadrilateral package substrate 11; an LSI package 13 mounted on the package substrate 11; photonic devices 12 mounted along two or more sides of the LSI package 13; first photonic devices electrically connected to I/O terminals disposed on one side of the LSI package 13; second photonic devices electrically connected to I/O terminals disposed on a different side of the LSI package 13; first optical waveguides for connecting between the optical signal I/O terminals of the first photonic devices and an external component or device; and second optical waveguides for connecting between the optical I/O terminals of the second photonic devices and an external component or device; wherein the first and second optical waveguides are terminated on the same side edge of the package substrate 11. |
| US07657133B2 |
Single analyte molecule detection by fibre fluorescence probe
An apparatus for single analyte molecule detection includes: a light source (20) for generating excitation light; a dichroic mirror (22) disposed on a first path of excitation light generated by the light source, wherein the mirror directs excitation light into a fiber aligner (30); an optical transducer coupled to the light source by the fiber aligner, the optical transducer comprising an optical waveguide (40) made of dielectric material having a first dielectrical index; a photon detector (70) disposed to receive fluorescent back radiation, wherein when a test solution having a second dielectric index lower than the first index is provided and comprises one or more target molecules, excitation light is transmitted by the waveguide and exits a waveguide tip disposed in the test solution so as to excite one or more target molecules; subsequently, the waveguide transmits back radiation along a second path to the photon detector that detects the transmitted back radiation. |
| US07657132B1 |
Optoelectronic modulator and electric-field sensor with multiple optical-waveguide gratings
An optoelectronic-RF device has at least one optical modulator/sensor comprising at least two cascaded optical-waveguide gratings and at least one non-grating optical waveguide segment interconnecting the at least two cascaded optical-waveguide gratings, with at least one optical waveguide segment interconnecting the at least two cascaded optical-waveguide gratings via the at least one non-grating optical waveguide segment. An RF waveguide is provided for propagating an RF electric field, the at least one optical modulator/sensor being disposed in and forming a portion of the RF waveguide with light propagating through the cascaded optical-waveguide gratings in a direction that is perpendicular to a direction of propagation of the RF electric field in the RF waveguide. |
| US07657127B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing strobed image capture
A method and apparatus for strobed image capture includes stroboscopic illumination synchronized with one or more cameras to improve a signal to noise ratio, reduce motion blur and avoid object damage in sensor systems used to analyze illumination sensitive objects. |
| US07657126B2 |
System and method for search portions of objects in images and features thereof
Embodiments enable searching of portions of objects in images, including programmatically analyzing each image in a collection in order to determine image data that, for individual images in the collection, represents one or more visual characteristics of a portion of an object shown in that image. A user is enabled to specify one or more search criteria that includes image data, and a search result may be determined based on one or more images in the collection that show a corresponding object that has a portion that satisfies a threshold. The threshold is defined at least in part by the one or more search criteria. |
| US07657117B2 |
Method and apparatus for calibrating a camera-based whiteboard scanner
In accordance with one aspect of the present exemplary embodiments, a calibration arrangement is configured to assist in calibration of a surface scanning system where the calibration arrangement includes a preconfigured physical object which may embody dimensional information wherein the dimensional information is used to calibrate a surface of the scanning system. In an alternative embodiment, the preconfigured physical object is configured to obtain data for use in calibration of the surface of a pan/tilt surface scanning system. |
| US07657114B2 |
Data processing apparatus, data processing method, and program
A data processing apparatus for processing image data includes a variance information calculator configured to calculate variance information indicating the degree of variance of pixel values for each of a plurality of pixels constituting the image data; a smoothing section configured to smooth the variance information and to output a smoothed value; a determination section configured to determine an area to which the pixel belongs on the basis of the smoothed value and to output area information indicating the area; a parameter determination section configured to determine a parameter for a noise removal process for each of the pixels constituting the image data on the basis of the area information and the smoothed value; and a noise removal section configured to perform the noise removal process on the image data on the basis of the parameter determined for each of the pixels. |
| US07657113B2 |
Auto-regressive method and filter for denoising images and videos
A method and apparatus for denoising digital images or videos, which is an extension of the spatial varying filter (SVF) by using a past filtered pixel, instead of the current pixel itself as the input for producing an output for the current pixel. Based on this concept, a number of denoising filters are provided, including Auto-regressive Spatial Varying Filter (ARSVF), Modified Auto-regressive Spatial Varying Filter (MARSVF), Auto-Regressive Spatiotemporal Varying Filter (ARSTVF) which is an extension of Spatiotemporal Varying Filter (STVF), Auto-regressive Motion Compensated Spatiotemporal Varying Filter (ARMCSTVF) which is extension of Motion Compensated Spatiotemporal Varying Filter (MCSTVF), and Selective Auto-regressive Motion Compensated Spatiotemporal Varying Filter (SARMCSTVF). |
| US07657111B2 |
Apparatus and program for image processing for obtaining processed compressed moving image data
Processing for obtaining processed compressed moving image data can be carried out efficiently through image enhancement processing on compressed moving image data. In a moving image processing unit of a relay server in a mobile phone system, a division unit divides compressed moving image data attached to an e-mail into a target part to be corrected and a non-target part not to be corrected. A decoding unit decodes the target part to generate decoded data. A correction unit carries out image enhancement processing on the decoded data, and obtains corrected decoded data. An encoding unit encodes the corrected decoded data, and obtains encoded corrected data. A combination unit combines the encoded corrected data with the non-target part, and obtains processed compressed moving image data. |
| US07657110B2 |
Image compression using a color visual model
A system for coding images, and more particularly, to a system for compressing images to a reduced number of bits by employing a Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) in combination with a visual model. |
| US07657109B2 |
Method for run-length encoding of a bitmap data stream
Subtitling aims at the presentation of text information and graphical data, encoded as pixel bitmaps. The size of subtitle bitmaps may exceed video frame dimensions, so that only portions are displayed at a time. The bitmaps are a separate layer lying above the video, e.g. for synchronized video subtitles, animations and navigation menus, and therefore contain many transparent pixels. An advanced adaptation for bitmap encoding for HDTV, e.g. 1920×1280 pixels per frame as defined for the Blu-ray Disc Prerecorded format, providing optimized compression results for such subtitling bitmaps, is achieved by a four-stage run length encoding. Shorter or longer sequences of pixels of a preferred color, e.g. transparent, are encoded using the second or third shortest code words, while single pixels of different color are encoded using the shortest code words, and sequences of pixels of equal color use the third or fourth shortest code words. |
| US07657107B2 |
Image encoding method and image encoding apparatus
In order to implement image encoding appropriately, an image encoding method includes: a detection step of detecting that data having a predetermined value exists within a data group (an encoded image) configured of a series of data strings; a transformation step of transforming the predetermined value that exists within the data group into another value; and a situating step of situating the data having the predetermined value at a desired position within the data group. |
| US07657103B2 |
Method and system for classifying image elements
A method, system, and machine-readable medium for classifying an image element as one of a plurality of categories, including assigning the image element based on a ratio between an unoccluded perimeter of the image element and an occluded perimeter of the image element and coding the image element according to a coding scheme associated with the category to which the image element is classified. Exemplary applications include image compression, where categories include image foreground and background layers. |
| US07657101B2 |
Devices and methods for identifying and monitoring changes of a suspect area on a patient
A device for acquiring first and subsequent images of a suspect area on a patient and methods for monitoring or detecting changes of the suspect area over time and providing notification when the changes exceed a threshold. The device may be an imaging device, such as a digital camera, possibly augmented with physical or optical devices for arranging the orientation and/or distance of the imaging device with respect to the suspect area. In addition, methods for identifying, relocating, acquiring a first and/or subsequent image of the suspect area, and performing a comparative analysis of respective images are also described. Results of the comparative analysis can be used to notify and/or assist a medical professional in treating or counseling the patient. |
| US07657098B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing mosquito noise in decoded video sequence
A ringing area detector classifies the input image into two regions: a mosquito noise region (i.e. filtering region) and a non-mosquito noise region (i.e. non-filtering region), and uses this classification information to adaptively remove the mosquito noise in a mosquito noise reduction system. The mosquito noise reduction system includes a ringing area detector, a local noise power estimator, a smoothing filter, and a mixer. The ringing area detector includes an edge detector, a near edge detector, a texture detector, and a filtering region decision block. The ringing detection block detects the ringing area where the smoothing filter is to be applied. The local noise power estimator controls the filter strength of the smoothing filter. The smoothing filter smoothes the input image. The mixer mixes the smoothed image and the original image properly based on the region information from the ringing area detection block. |
| US07657097B2 |
Picture reproduction system and method utilizing independent picture elements
A system and method of producing an image using a plurality of independent pixel devices, each of which includes one or more light emitting or polarizing elements. The pixel devices are fixed (e.g. on the side of a building) or are moving (e.g. on water or falling in air) within an image space in which an image is to be formed. A controller determines, based upon the locations of the pixel devices within the image space, what portion of the image each pixel device is to reproduce, and then commands the pixel devices to use the emitting devices to reproduce the corresponding portion of the image. As the pixel devices move, the new locations of the pixel devices are mapped onto the image, and the control of the pixel devices is modified accordingly so that the image produced by the pixel devices is not distorted by their movement. |
| US07657093B2 |
Magnetic ink character recognition apparatus and magnetic ink character recognition method
Column misalignment between a character string recognized by a MICR and a character string recognized by optical character recognition is corrected to improve character recognition reliability. A magnetic data reading unit detects the magnetism of a character string printed in magnetic ink and outputs the detected magnetic data. An image reading unit optically reads the same character string printed in magnetic ink and outputs the image data. A magnetic data recognition unit applies a character recognition process to the magnetic data output by the magnetic data reading unit and outputs magnetic data recognition result. An image data recognition unit applies character recognition to the image data output by the image reading unit and outputs image data recognition result. A recognition result comparing unit applies a column offset detection process to detect misalignment between the character columns in the magnetic data recognition result and image data recognition result, then applies a column offset correction process to correct the column offset and align corresponding character columns, and then compares corresponding character columns in the magnetic data recognition result and image data recognition result based on the character strings after correcting the column offset and outputs a final recognition result. |
| US07657091B2 |
Method for automatic removal of text from a signature area
The present invention provides a method for processing a document involving the automatic removal of text from a predetermined area of a document, the method comprising inputting a bitmap containing the predetermined area of the document from which the text will be removed wherein the predetermined area contains handwritten strokes, detecting the text, removing the text and any handwritten strokes that intersect with the text and outputting the bitmap with the text removed therefrom. |
| US07657081B2 |
Recursive 3D model optimization
Systems and methods for generating and optimizing 3D models of objects. A laser scanner is controlled by a data processing subsystem that controls the scanning and processes the data generated. From an initial model, either a raster scan of the object or an initial scan, the system scans the object multiple times, each time adjusting the laser scanner to maximize a correlation between the data generated and the model. The model is also updated using the scan data and taking into account the adjustments which were applied to the laser scanner. Other adjustments, such as those which would remove the effect of relative motion on the scan data, are also accounted for when incorporating scan data into the model. The model is recursively adjusted and optimized using previous scan data (both pre-recorded and fresh scan data) and previous adjustments. The model may be modified and adjusted using previous scan data and an Iterative Closest Point method. The method and systems may be used in uncontrolled environments where unpredictable motions and vibrations can occur. The invention may be used with scanners mounted on a robotic arm, scaffolding, unstable tripods, at the tips of booms or lifts, or the scanners may be simply held by hand. |
| US07657080B2 |
Method and apparatus for producing an image containing depth information
Method and apparatus for producing an image containing depth information is provided. The method detects radiation emanating from a scene and forms at least two images of the scene at different planes. Each image contains a set of intensity data values. A variation of the data values is obtained so that two sets of intensity variances are obtained from the data values, and the intensity variance data is processed to obtain depth information. The depth information is coded so as to identify different depth information in the image data. |
| US07657076B2 |
Characterizing biological stimuli by response curves
A method for generating stimulus response curves (e.g., dose response curves) shows how the phenotype of one or more cells change in response to varying levels of the stimulus. Each “point” on the curve represents quantitative phenotype for cell(s) at a particular level of stimulus (e.g., dose of a therapeutic). The quantitative phenotypes are multivariate phenotypic representations of the cell(s). They include various features of the cell(s) obtained by image analysis. Such features often include basic parameters obtained from images (e.g., cell shape, nucleus area, Golgi texture) and/or biological characterizations derived from the basic parameters (e.g., cell cycle state, mitotic index, etc.). The stimulus response curves may be compared to allow classification of stimuli and identify subtle differences in related stimuli. To facilitate the comparison, it may be desirable to present the response curves in a principal component space. |
| US07657075B2 |
Registration of three dimensional image data with X-ray imaging system
A method for determining a transformation of a three-dimensional pre-operative image data set to obtain a registration of the three-dimensional image data with an X-ray imaging system. In one aspect of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of the user identifying a center point and extreme contour points of the object from an X-ray image, obtaining a set of contour points for the image object in each of a plurality of section-planes, and selecting from a sampling of section-planes the points projecting nearest to the user-identified extreme points. The method then defines a grid having a predetermined number of intervals at a predetermined interval spacing with the grid center at the user-identified center of the pre-operative image, and performs a projection of the center point of the three-dimensional image data set onto each grid point for evaluation and selection of the grid point projecting nearest to the user-identified center. Registration of a three dimensional image data will allow, among other things, overlay of a visual representation of a pre-operative image object onto an X-ray image plane that can serve as a visual tool and a surgical navigation aid. |
| US07657074B2 |
Method for determining acquisition parameters for a medical tomography device, and an associated apparatus
A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining, with particular simplicity, an acquisition parameter for a medical tomography device. It is provided here to make an original image available for a selection, selection of the original image being used to select an original parameter set assigned thereto as acquisition parameter set. In order to compile the original image, it is provided here to modify a basic tomographic raw data record before carrying out a 3D reconstruction by means of a noise algorithm for simulating a virtual image quality measure. |
| US07657073B2 |
Registration system and method for tracking lung nodules in medical images
A nodule registration system useful for tracking lung nodules in computed tomography (CT) scans is presented. The system registers a small sphere centered on a detected nodule in one scan with another scan under a rigid transformation assumption using a fast registration scheme. The registration scheme employs very fast simulated annealing (VFSA) with constraints to maximize a tunable cross-correlation (TCC) coefficient, enabling the system to register, with minimal registration error, all nodules within their maximum diameter. The system achieves an average registration time of 10 seconds or less on a 3.06 GHz computer programmed to implement the present invention. |
| US07657072B2 |
System and method for automatic extraction of spinal cord from 3D volumetric images
A method of extracting a spinal cord from a digitized medical image includes providing a digitized medical image, selecting a set of points from said image as candidates for belonging to the spine, initializing a probability for each candidate point to belong to said spine, minimizing a weighted sum of square differences of image intensities of said candidate points and intensities determined by a mathematical model of said spine to estimate parameter values for said model, calculating a residual error for each point from the differences at each point between an estimated image intensity calculated from said estimated model parameters and an actual image intensity, updating the candidate point probabilities from said residual errors, and eliminating candidate points whose probability falls below a predetermined value. |
| US07657065B2 |
Marker placement information estimating method and information processing device
A marker placement information estimating method includes a constraint condition setting step for setting a constraint condition that can be defined with a geometric condition regarding placement information of markers, a capturing step for capturing photographed images including a marker image, a marker detecting step for detecting markers from the photographed images, and an estimating step for estimating the placement information of the markers using the positions of the detected markers on the images and the constraint condition. Thus, even if a constraint condition regarding the placement of markers exists, the placement information can be obtained with precision so as to satisfy the constraint condition. |
| US07657063B2 |
Method of radioactive object and nuclear material identification
The invention belongs to the field of remote object identification based on passive and/or active radiation, namely, to systems for to identifying radioactive objects, including concealed ones. A mobile and yet highly-efficient object detection and identification system detects gamma, X-ray and neutron radiation. A distributed multilevel system for a departmental (restricted) use, as well as an open system for common use, is proposed.The expert system is designed to be multilevel. At a low level, the capacity of the portable computer sensor of the expert system is used; at a higher level, functioning of the local network of the expert system through communication links is implemented; and the next level represents the global specialized expert system performance in real time. The transfer from a lower level to a higher level takes place in the case of radioactive object identification failure or ambiguity. |
| US07657061B2 |
Communication apparatus and system handling viewer image
A communication apparatus includes a display device, a camera, a database, and a server. Display information is displayed on the display device. A viewer image of a first viewer, who is watching and listening to the display information, is taken with the camera. The display information is associated with the viewer image that has been taken with the camera. The display information and the viewer image are stored in the database that is connected over a network. The server reproduces the viewer image in association with the display information. A second viewer who has watched and listened to the viewer image of the first viewer is able to know the reaction of the first viewer, and thus new communication resulted from the reaction of the first viewer can be expected. |
| US07657055B2 |
Image processing method and image generating apparatus
An image processing method for reconstructing an image of an arbitrary view point from plural photographed images, for the purpose of reducing a memory capacity for storing photographed images in an image generating apparatus capable of generating an image of an arbitrary view point, the method including a setting step of setting a view point position, an input step of inputting photographed images, and an extraction step of extracting light beam data necessary for reconstructing an image at the set view point position from the photographed images, wherein the input step and the extraction step are repeated until the reconstructed image is generated. |
| US07657054B2 |
Apparatus and methods for forming shoe inserts
Foot impression generating apparatus comprising impression platforms including buns of open-cell sponge material bonded to an supporting non-porous skins formed of non-blown sponge material is utilized for making foot impressions by a consumer. The sponge material comprises a blended mixture of elastomeric thermosetting material and low melting temperature thermoplastic material chosen such that the buns and skins are respectively flexible and then become rigid when heated and then cooled above and below the plastic temperature range of the thermoplastic material. The consumer steps into heated impression platforms to form the foot impressions and then they are cooled and “frozen” in place. Next, scanning means are used to create a digital contour map of the foot impressions. Then a digitally controlled milling machine is utilized for forming shoe inserts in conformance with the digital contour map. |
| US07657047B2 |
Hearing aid with information signaling
The emission of information signals for informing a user about specific settings or statuses of a hearing aid should be improved. In addition, it is proposed to offer the user a plurality of different information signals which he can freely assign to different settings and or statuses of the hearing aid. In addition, different information signals are emitted as a function of the currently available hearing situation and/or the currently set hearing program for one and the same setting and/or for one and the same status of the hearing aid. The user is thus able to better identify the information signals. |
| US07657046B2 |
IC chip type hearing aid module for mobile communication terminal
Disclosed is an IC chip type hearing aid module for use in a mobile communication terminal having a hearing aid circuit including: a first section having a resistor R1 and an inductor L1 which are connected in series on a first output line Receiver_P between the mobile communication terminal and an ear speaker; a second section having a resistor R4 and an inductor L2 which are connected in series on a second output line Receiver_N between the mobile communication terminal and the ear speaker; a third section having a resistor R2 and a capacitor C2 which are connected in series between an input terminal of the first section and an output terminal of the second section; and a fourth section having a resistor R3 and a capacitor C3 which are connected in series between an input terminal of the second section and an output terminal of the first section. |
| US07657045B2 |
Low power signal transmission
A low-power implant system. The system includes an implant for implantation into a person, such as a cochlear implant or a middle ear implant. The implant is capable of communicating with a device via transmission of ultra wideband pulses. The device may be adapted to be worn external to the person, or may be a second implant. So as to conserve battery power, the transmitted ultra wideband pulses may have a low duty cycle of approximately 1/1000 or less. Power savings may also be realized by using time-gating amplifiers in the implant and/or device receiver. |
| US07657043B2 |
Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus
An electro-optical device with a sound generating body is disclosed, in which an electro-optical device and a sound generating body can be mounted compactly and which can eliminate necessity of acoustic design of the sound generating body for an enclosure of an electronic apparatus for accommodating the electro-optical device. The electro-optical device of the present invention includes a first frame, a second frame opposed to the first frame, a third frame interposed between the first frame and the second frame, an electro-optical panel supported by the first frame, and a sound generating body supported by the second frame and covered by the second frame and the third frame, the sound generating body being arranged so as to be two-dimensionally overlapped the electro-optical panel. |
| US07657038B2 |
Method and device for noise reduction
In one aspect of the present invention, a method to reduce noise in a noisy speech signal is disclosed The method comprises: applying at least two versions of the noisy speech signal to a first filter, whereby that first filter outputs a speech reference signal and at least one noise reference signal, applying a filtering operation to each of the at least one noise reference signals, and subtracting from the speech reference signal each of the filtered noise reference signals, wherein the filtering operation is performed with filters having filter coefficients determined by taking into account speech leakage contributions in the at least one noise reference signal. |
| US07657036B2 |
Determining a session encryption key during a broadcast/multicast service session using secure real-time transport protocol
Techniques are provided for determining an updated session encryption key. According to one embodiment, a packet index can be computed using a sequence number received in a session data packet during a SRTP session and a predetermined value. The predetermined value can be, for example, a non-zero value from a roll-over-counter that has been set to the non-zero value. The updated session encryption key can then be determined using a master key received from a BCMCS controller and the packet index. The determined updated session key is used to encrypt or de-encrypt content provided by a content server. |
| US07657035B2 |
Encryption communication method and system
Each terminal registers the key generation information into each session management server, the information including a plurality of setting items necessary for determining set values to generated a key to be used by itself, and set value candidates which are stored in the setting items.When the encryption communications are established between the terminals, the individual session management servers and a key generation information management server are associated, so that the key generation information management server selects the algorithm suite based on the key generation information. The session management server generates the parameters based on the selected algorithm suite, acquires the information on the selected algorithm suite from the key generation information management server, generates the key for the encryption communications based on that information and distributes the key to the each terminal. |
| US07657032B2 |
Data outputting method, recording method and apparatus, reproducing method and apparatus, and data transmitting method and receiving method
A data outputting method, including the steps of converting input data into sector unit data that starts with a start code and a header preceded by the start code, the header being composed of two bits, at least one of which represents an encryption control; when the converted data is to be encrypted, setting at least one of the two bits preceded by the start code to a state that represents that the data has been encrypted; encrypting the converted data; encoding the encrypted data; and outputting the encoded data. |
| US07657030B1 |
Method for generating and distributing strong DES keys
A method of generating a strong DES cryptographic key that doesn't require checking for parity or weak keys in the resulting key. First, all possible hexadecimal values are generated. Next, all possible two-hexadecimal value combinations are generated, where one of the two-hexadecimal values in a combination has odd parity, and the other even parity. Then, eliminate hexadecimal values E0, 01, F1, FE, 1F, 0E, 1E, and 0F from the list of all possible two-hexadecimal value combinations. Next, arrange each remaining two-hexadecimal value combination once in a user-definable order on a user-definable medium, such that the hexadecimal values alternate even and odd parity . Then, select eight unique two-hexadecimal value combinations on the user-definable medium in a user-definable manner. Lastly, use the selected eight two-hexadecimal value combinations as the DES cryptographic key. |
| US07657028B2 |
Method for classifying private information securely
A method for securely classifying private data x of a first party Alice using a classifier H(x) of a second party Bob. The classifier is H ( x ) = sign ( ∑ n = 1 N h n ( x ) ) , where h n ( x ) = { α n x T y n > Θ n β n otherwise , α n , β n and Θn are scalar values and yn is a vector storing parameters of the classifier. Bob generates a set of N random numbers, S1, . . . , SN, such that s = ∑ n = 1 N s n , for each n=1, . . . , N, the following substeps are performed: applying a secure dot product to xTyn to obtain an for Alice and bn for Bob; applying a secure millionaire protocol to determine whether an is larger than Θn−bn, and returning a result of an+Sn, or βn+Sn; accumulating, by Alice, the result in cn. Then, apply the secure millionaire protocol to determine whether c = ∑ n = 1 N c n is larger than s = ∑ n = 1 N s n , and returning a positive sign if true, and a negative sign if false to classify the private data x. |
| US07657025B2 |
Microphone module and method for fabricating the same
A microphone module. The module comprises a carrier having a first side and an opposing second side and comprising a through hole. A microphone is disposed on the first side of the carrier and corresponding to the through hole. A processing chip is disposed on the first side of the carrier and coupled to the microphone. An encapsulant is disposed on the first side of the carrier to encapsulate the microphone and the processing chip. |
| US07657022B2 |
Method and system for performing automated telemarketing
As described above, the embodiments of the invention may be embodied in the form of computer-implemented processes and apparatuses for practicing those processes. Embodiments of the invention may also be embodied in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. An embodiment of the present invention can also be embodied in the form of computer program code, for example, stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits. |
| US07657018B2 |
Method and system for combining a conversion between time-division multiplexed digital signals and packetized digital signals with a switching system interface
The present invention is a switching system interface providing conversion between time-division multiplexed digital signals and packetized digital signals used to bypass a common control and switch matrix of a class 5 digital switch. The switching system interface includes a network interface for terminating a digital transmission facility that is part of a network architecture. In addition, the interface includes a line/trunk interface, compatible with the internal signals used to operate the line/trunk interface of the class 5 digital switching system and a switch, connected to the network interface and to the line/trunk interface, for routing data between network interfaces and line/trunk interface. The interface also converts the data between time-division multiplexed digital signals and packetized digital signals. |
| US07657016B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for monitoring a call forwarded to a network-based voice mail system
An apparatus, system and method for monitoring calls that have been forwarded to a network-based voice mail system (VMS). The VMS receives the forwarded call and sends a start of greeting signal at the beginning and an end of greeting signal at the completion of the voice message greeting to the central office switch. The switch sends an activate call monitoring data message and a call monitoring alert signal to the customer premises equipment (CPE). If the CPE is adapted for call monitoring and includes a speaker assembly, then the speaker assembly is engaged in response to the activate call monitoring data message, thereby allowing hands-free call monitoring. If the CPE does not include a speaker assembly, then the called party may activate call monitoring by lifting the handset in response to detecting a call monitoring alert from the CPE. While monitoring the call, the called party may intercept the call to speak with the calling party. |
| US07657015B1 |
Method and apparatus for processing multiple services per call
A method and apparatus for enabling multiple services to be invoked in a specific precedence per call are disclosed. For example, the present method allows a subscriber to interact with a plurality of services provided by a service provider on a single call. |
| US07657014B2 |
Call screening method and apparatus
A cellular telephone system is provided with a process and apparatus for screening an incoming call. The process is carried out by, and the apparatus comprises, a service provider (20) and a mobile station (30). The mobile station (30) answers the incoming call and places the call on hold. The mobile station (30) connects to the service provider (20) and places the service provider (20) and the incoming caller on multi-party hold. The mobile station (30) then signals the service provider (20) to begin screening the call. In response, the service provider (20) prompts the incoming caller for the incoming caller's identification and then communicates this information to the mobile station (30). Based on this information, the mobile station (30) can elect to accept or reject the incoming call. |
| US07657012B2 |
Telephone terminal and method for controlling display of the telephone terminal
A telephone terminal is connected to a communication network that transmits voice packets and connected to a terminal control unit. The telephone terminal includes a display, an input buffer, an acquisition unit, and a controller. The input buffer temporarily stores text display information that represents an operational state of the telephone terminal, the text display information being transmitted from the terminal control unit via the communication network. The acquisition unit acquires display control information required for dividing the text display information into a plurality of pieces of component information. The controller reads the text display information stored in the input buffer, divides the text display information into a plurality of pieces of component information based on the display control information, and controls the display to display the component information pieces in different display positions. |
| US07657008B2 |
Storage-enabled telecommunications network
Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for enabling a telecommunications network with data storage capability. A data connection is established to a storage device. The storage device is associated with a telecommunications network facility. Customer-defined electronic data is communicated to the storage device via the data connection. At least some of the electronic data may be managed according to a service level agreement. |
| US07657001B2 |
Method for reducing 3D ghost artefacts in an x-ray detector
A method for at least reducing the occurrence of differential ghosting in an X-ray image acquired in respect of a subject, wherein a deghost scan is performed at least once daily so as to generate an underlying strong homogeneous ghost so that further differential (non-homogeneous) ghosting during subsequent scans is minimised. The deghost scan comprises acquiring an ‘air’ image, when no subject is present between the X-ray source (4) and detector (5), as a relatively high detector dose. |
| US07657000B2 |
Method and apparatus for dual energy radiography
There is provided an apparatus and method for x-ray imaging of a subject that comprises an x ray source emitting a spectrum of radiation of low energy component as well as high energy component to be attenuated by the subject. At least one CR plate adapted to absorb mainly the radiation of low energy component that was attenuated by the subject is provided, wherein low energy x rays image can be attained on the CR plate as well as a DR plate that is adapted to absorb the high energy component, wherein the DR plate is placed further to the CR plate relative to the subject so as to attain image from higher energy x rays. The apparatus is further provided with a processor adapted to process the CR and DR images obtained in a single irradiation of the subject so as to obtain a third combined processed image. |
| US07656998B2 |
Unified quality assurance for a radiation treatment delivery system
A unified quality assurance technique to verify alignment of a radiation treatment delivery system. In one embodiment, a radiation treatment source is instructed to move to a preset source position. An image of the radiation treatment source at its actual source position is generated and compared against a reference image to determine whether the radiation treatment source correctly achieved the preset source position. In one embodiment, a positioning system is instructed to move a target detector to a preset target position. An image of the target detector at its actual target position is generated and compared against a reference target image to determine whether the positioning system correctly achieved the preset target position. |
| US07656992B2 |
Method for determining movement and rest phases of a partial object that moves at times during a CT examination, and CT system
A method and a CT system are disclosed for determining movement and rest phases of a partial object that moves at times in an examination object during a CT examination. In at least one embodiment, at least two different radiation sources are used for the comparative measurement, and a first radiation source emits a first fan beam at a specific rotation angle at a first instant, the absorption of said beam being measured in beamwise fashion, a second radiation source emits a second fan beam, at the same rotation angle at a second, later instant, the absorption of the beam likewise being measured in beamwise fashion, and the relative movement or relative rest of the partial object between the first and second instants is deduced by comparing deviating absorption values of a multiplicity of spatially equivalent and equidirectional fan beams proceeding from the same angular position of the radiation sources. |
| US07656987B2 |
Phase generator for introducing phase shift in a signal
A phase generator includes a phase-shift enable and disable signal generator connected to configuration bits at its first input and connected to a reset signal at its reset input for generating a control signal; the configuration bits corresponding to the phase shift desired. The phase generator includes a logic signal generation device connected at its control input to the output of the phase-shift enable and disable signal generator and connected to a reset signal at its reset input for providing a phase generating signal; and a feedback element connected between the output of the logic signal generation device and control input of the phase-shift enable and disable signal generator for providing controlled clock signal to the phase-shift enable and disable signal generator. |
| US07656985B1 |
Timestamp-based all digital phase locked loop for clock synchronization over packet networks
A timestamp-based all digital phase locked loop is utilized for clock synchronization for Circuit Emulation Service (“CES”) over packet networks. The all digital phase locked loop at a CES receiver includes a phase detector, a loop filter, a digital oscillator and a timestamp counter. The all digital phase locked loop enables the CES receiver to synchronize a local clock at the receiver with a clock at a CES transmitter, where indications of transmitter clock signals are communicated to the receiver as timestamps. The phase detector is operable to compute an error signal indicative of differences between the timestamps and a local clock signal. The loop filter is operable to reduce jitter and noise in the error signal, and thereby produce a control signal. The digital oscillator is operable to oscillate at a frequency based at least in-part on the control signal, and thereby produce a digital oscillator output signal. The timestamp counter operable to count pulses in the digital oscillator output signal, and output the local clock signal. |
| US07656984B2 |
Circuits and methods for recovering a clock signal
A circuit for recovering a clock signal may include a frequency multiplier configured to generate a plurality of local clock signals, each having a different phase, based on a plurality of received global clock signals at a first frequency and each having a different phase. The local clock signals may be generated at a second frequency higher than the first frequency. The circuit may include a phase interpolator configured to generate a recovered clock signal at a given phase and at a third frequency, based on the generated local clock signals, and a phase shifter configured to adjust the phase of the recovered clock signal so as to synchronize the phase of the recovered clock signal with a phrase of input data that is input to the phase shifter. |
| US07656973B2 |
Apparatus and method for receiving broadcasting service in a broadcasting system
A broadcasting receiving apparatus and method in a broadcasting system are provided. In a broadcasting receiver, a demodulator demodulates a received broadcasting signal, clips a soft metric value for the demodulated signal to a number of bits, and outputs the clipped soft metric value. A mapper maps the clipped soft metric value to an index value with a resolution inversely proportional to the quantization level of the soft metric value. A deinterleaver deinterleaves the index value and a demapper demaps the deinterleaved index value to a representative value being a soft metric value from a range of soft metric values mapped to the index value. A channel decoder decodes the representative value. |
| US07656972B2 |
System and method for transmission format detection
A system and method for detecting a correct transmission format upon encountering a decoding error in a variable-format transmission scheme, wherein the decoding error results from an unsuccessful decoding of a frame. The invention provides for prioritizing the permissible formats, resulting in a prioritized order. The frame data is then decoded according to one or more of the permissible formats in the prioritized order, and if the decoding is successful in accordance with one of the formats, that format is selected as the correct transmission format. |
| US07656970B1 |
Apparatus for a wireless communications system using signal energy to control sample resolution and rate
A wireless signal processor includes an analog front end for generating at least one baseband analog signal, at least one analog to digital converter for converting the baseband signal into a digital signal, the analog to digital converter having a resolution width and a sampling rate, and a baseband processor for measuring the signal energy in the analog to digital converter output, and when the incoming signal energy level increases or a baseband processor detects a packet, at least one of the sampling rate or resolution width also increases until the end of the packet, after which the sample rate and resolution are reduced to an interpacket rate and resolution. Additionally, the sampling rate and resolution increase after packet detection at rates and resolutions which are dependent on packet type and data rate. |
| US07656969B2 |
Dual payload and adaptive modulation
A wireless broadband communications system that provides higher performance and increased spectral efficiency in point-to-point and point-to-multipoint applications. The wireless communications system includes a plurality of transceivers and a plurality of transmit and receive antennas. The system can be configured as a 1:n SIMO system that transmits and receives signals over a single channel of information flow, or an n:n MIMO system that transmits and receives signals over multiple channels of information flow, based upon channel state information and average vector error measurement values corresponding to the respective channels of information flow, which are determined by the system via an adaptive modulation technique. |
| US07656967B2 |
Interference power estimation for adaptive antenna system
There is proposed a technique for determining an estimate of interference power, in the receiver of a communication system utilizing adaptive antenna techniques. The technique uses information transmitted in the antenna signals and in the beam signals to determine the estimate of the interference power. |
| US07656965B2 |
Method of secure WLAN communication
Some demonstrative embodiments of the invention include a method device and/or system of secure communication in a wireless network using a spatial division multiple access transmission scheme. The method, according to some demonstrative embodiments may include generating a set of N spatial channels to be transmitted, using a set of N respective antennas, to a set of K destination stations, by applying at least one precoding matrix to a set of inputs including K transmissions intended to the K destination stations, respectively, and one or more dither sequences, wherein the precoding matrix includes K beamforming vectors based on channel state information of the K stations, respectively, and one or more additional vectors orthogonal to the beamforming vectors. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07656964B1 |
Forward and reverse VSWR insensitive power detection using phase shifting and harmonic filtering
A system for detecting both forward and reverse power of a power amplifier in the presence of harmonics created by the power amplifier is provided. A forward power detection system receives detection signals from an in-phase amplifier leg and a quadrature-phase amplifier leg of the power amplifier. The forward power detection system applies a phase shift to the detection signals such that forward components of the detection signals are essentially in-phase, and reverse components of the detection signals are essentially 180 degrees out-of-phase. The phase shifted detection signals are then combined and filtered to provide a signal indicative of forward power. In a similar fashion, a reverse power detection system applies a phase shift to the detection signals to provide a signal indicative of reverse power. |
| US07656963B2 |
Data transfer using frequency notching of radio-frequency signals
A method for data transmission includes forming a notched radio-frequency (RF) burst according to one or more data values, where a bandwidth of the notched RF burst is at least two percent of the center frequency of the notched RF burst. Forming a notched RF pulse includes altering, according to the data, at least one of the amplitude and phase of one or more selected components, where each of the selected components has a bandwidth within the bandwidth of the notched RF burst. |
| US07656957B2 |
Multiplexing system for time division duplex communication systems
A method and system is disclosed for passing a transmit/receive control signal and a power signal through a coax cable from a base transceiver station to a tower top device in a time division duplex communication system. After generating the transmit/receive control signal and a radio frequency signal for communications, the transmit/receive control signal modulates a separate timing control operating on a separate control frequency. It is then multiplexed on at least one coax cable along with the radio frequency signal and DC power. At the tower top device, the modulated transmit/receive control signal is converted back to a DC level for providing a time division duplex control reference. |
| US07656953B1 |
Bidirectional predicted pictures or video object planes for efficient and flexible video coding
A method is provided for decoding a bit stream representing an image that has been encoded The method includes the steps of: performing an entropy decoding of the bit stream to form a plurality of transform coefficients and a plurality of motion vectors; performing an inverse transformation on the plurality of transform coefficients to form a plurality of error blocks; determining a plurality of predicted blocks based on bidirectional motion estimation that employs the motion vectors, wherein the bidirectional motion estimation includes a direct prediction mode and a second prediction mode; and, adding the plurality of error blocks to the plurality of predicted blocks to form the image. The second prediction mode may include forward, backward, and interpolated prediction modes. |
| US07656949B1 |
Methods and apparatus for performing efficient inverse transform operations
According to the present invention, methods and apparatus for performing efficient inverse transform operations are provided. Zero patterns are identified in a block of transform coefficients to derive zero pattern information. Using the zero pattern information, inverse transform operations are performed on a subset of the columns of the block of transform coefficients. Zero patterns can optionally be identified in the resulting block. One-dimensional inverse transform operations are then performed on the rows of the resulting block to complete the inverse transform. In another example, one-dimensional inverse transform operations can be performed first on the rows and then on the columns. |
| US07656944B2 |
Receiver for an optical signal
A receiver for an optical signal is described. The receiver comprises a decision feedback equalizer (DFE), wherein a distorted input signal (DIS) being derived from the optical signal, as well as a first threshold signal (Th1) and/or a first coefficient (Coeff1) are provided to the decision feedback equalizer (DFE), and wherein an error signal (ES1) is provided by the decision feedback equalizer (DFE). The receiver comprises a control unit (CU), wherein the error signal (ES1) is provided to the control unit (CU), and wherein the first threshold signal (Th1) and/or the first coefficient (Coeff1) are adapted by the control unit (CU). The receiver comprises an eye monitor (EM) for optimizing the adapted first threshold signal (Th1) and/or the adapted first coefficient (Coeff1), wherein the distorted input signal (DIS) is provided to the eye monitor (EM). |
| US07656943B2 |
High performance equalizer having reduced complexity
An apparatus and method for implementing an equalizer which combines the benefits of a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) with a maximum-a-posterori (MAP) equalizer (or a maximum likelihood sequence estimator, MLSE) to provide an equalization device with significantly lower complexity than a full-state MAP device, but which still provides improved performance over a conventional DFE. The equalizer architecture includes two DFE-like structures, followed by a MAP equalizer. The first DFE forms tentative symbol decisions. The second DFE is used thereafter to truncate the channel response to a desired memory of L1 symbols, which is less than the total delay spread of L symbols of the channel. The MAP equalizer operates over a channel with memory of L1 symbols (where L1<=L), and therefore the overall complexity of the equalizer is significantly reduced. |
| US07656942B2 |
Denoising signals containing impulse noise
A denoising process models a noisy signal using classes and subclasses of symbol contexts. The process generates class count vectors having components that combine occurrence counts for different symbols in different contexts. Biases determined separately for each subclass and a fixed predictor indicate which symbol occurrence counts for different context are combined in the same component of a class count vector. For impulse noise, the bias for a subclass can be the average error that results when the fixed predictor predicts non-noisy symbols found in contexts of the context subclass. Denoising of impulse noise can select replacement symbols without matrix multiplication or a channel matrix inverse by evaluating distributions that result from subtracting error probabilities from probability vectors associated with respective contexts. Probability mass can be moved from adjacent components of the probability vector to assure that subtraction of the error probabilities leaves non-negative results. |
| US07656937B2 |
Method of processing signals within a “Rake” receiver having several fingers during a change of configuration of the fingers, and corresponding “Rake” receiver
In the presence of an indication of change of configuration containing the characteristics of a new configuration of fingers of a “Rake” receiver, continue performing the combination by using the old configuration (fng1, fng2, fng3) and, only when all the fingers of the new configuration have delivered information, the combination is performed by using the new configuration (fng1, fng3, fng4). |
| US07656936B2 |
Method and system for interference reduction in a wireless communication network using a joint detector
A method and system for reducing interference in a wireless communication network is disclosed. The wireless communication network has at least one base station using an antenna array and one or more code channels to receive or transmit one or more communication signals from or to a plurality of terminals used by one or more users. A signal received by the antenna array carries one or more training sequences and a traffic signal in a frame. After estimating a spatial signature and joint channel response model per user based on the training sequences, one or more spatial weights are found based on the estimated spatial signature and joint channel response model to maximize a signal to noise ratio. A joint detection matrix is then formed based on the estimated spatial weights, the joint channel response model, and a user code channel assignment. After code correlating a traffic signal to obtain one or more user specific multi-antenna signals, a spatial combining is performed on one or more multi-antenna signals associated with each user to generate scalar symbol estimates. Thereafter, a joint detection is done based on the scalar symbol estimates using the joint detection matrix. Similar techniques can be used for downlink communications. |
| US07656933B2 |
Method and device for the suppression of periodic interference signals
A method and device are provided for suppressing periodic interference signals, including a unit which is used to provide a period length for the periodic interference signal, an interference detection unit for detecting a signal corresponding to the interference signal, and a subtraction unit for subtracting the signal corresponding to the interference signal. The interference detection unit carries out multiple superpositioning of the input signal and scales the multiple superpositioned input signal depending on the period length of the interference signal in order to detect the signal corresponding to the interference signal. |
| US07656931B2 |
Hybrid spread spectrum radio system
Systems and methods are described for hybrid spread spectrum radio systems. A method includes modulating a signal by utilizing a subset of bits from a pseudo-random code generator to control an amplification circuit that provides a gain to the signal. Another method includes: modulating a signal by utilizing a subset of bits from a pseudo-random code generator to control a fast hopping frequency synthesizer; and fast frequency hopping the signal with the fast hopping frequency synthesizer, wherein multiple frequency hops occur within a single data-bit time. |
| US07656929B2 |
Method for demodulating UWB pulse sequences
The present invention relates to a method for transmitting data in the form of at least one pulse sequence Tsgk (for k=1 to K). The method according to the invention includes at least one symbol decoding step in the course of which at least one modulation value Pwk representative of an amount of power carried by each pulse sequence Tsgk is computed and compared to at least one predetermined threshold value thk1, thk2 . . . thkM(k). The method according to the invention enables to limit the processing time and power needed for performing the demodulation of a power-modulated UWB signal, since the information carried by such a signal may be recovered by a receiver without said receiver having to map precisely, with respect to time, the received pulse sequences. |
| US07656927B2 |
Optical semiconductor element and optical semiconductor device
An optical semiconductor device includes an optical semiconductor element, a metal pattern and at least one thermal conductive material. The optical semiconductor element has a first optical waveguide region and a second optical waveguide region. The second optical waveguide region is optically coupled to the first optical waveguide region and has a heater for changing a refractive index of the second optical waveguide region. The metal pattern is provided on an area to be thermally coupled to a temperature control device. The thermal conductive material couples the metal pattern with an upper face of the first optical waveguide region of the optical semiconductor element. The thermal conductive material is electrically separated from the first optical waveguide region. |
| US07656920B2 |
Semiconductor laser device
A semiconductor laser device producing light having a TE-polarized component suitable for practical use (i.e., light having TE-polarized light intensity sufficiently high for practical use). A semiconductor laser device includes a GaAsP active layer, InGaP guide layers, and AlGaInP cladding layers. The GaAsP active layer emits light. The GaAsP active layer is interposed between the InGaP guide layers. The InGaP guide layers and GaAsP active layer are interposed between the AlGaInP cladding layers. Polarization ratio, which is a ratio of light intensity of TM-polarized light to light intensity of TE-polarized light, of the light produced by the semiconductor laser device is less than 2.3. |
| US07656919B2 |
Semiconductor system having a ring laser fabricated by epitaxial layer overgrowth
The present invention provides a ring laser system comprising forming an optical core by an epitaxial layer overgrowth over an intermediate layer, forming multi-quantum wells adjacent to the optical core and forming an outer structure further comprising a total internal reflector, wherein forming photons within the multi-quantum wells further comprises circulating the photons within the ring laser structure comprising the outer structure, the multi-quantum wells, and the optical core. |
| US07656918B2 |
Semiconductor laser
A semiconductor laser having an n-cladding layer, an optical guide layer, an active layer, an optical guide layer, and a p-cladding layer above an InP substrate, in which the active layer has a layer constituted with Be-containing group II-VI compound semiconductor mixed crystals, and at least one of layers of the n-cladding layer, the optical guide layer, and the p-cladding layer has a layer constituted with elements identical with those of the Be-containing group II-VI compound semiconductor mixed crystals of the active layer, and the layer is constituted with a superlattice structure comprising, as a well layer, mixed crystals of a Be compositions with the fluctuation of the composition being within ±30% compared with the Be composition of the group II-VI compound semiconductor mixed crystals of the active layer, whereby the device characteristics of the semiconductor laser comprising the Be-containing group II-VI compound semiconductor matched with the InP substrate. |
| US07656914B1 |
Directly-modulated diode lasers with reduced overshoot
An optical signal is produced from a direct modulation resonant cavity device, such as directly-modulated diode laser having an electrode divided into multiple sections. Each section is driven with an electrical waveform such that a time delay is introduced between sections so as to ensure that the different sections reach their peaks at slightly different times. |
| US07656908B1 |
System and method for delivering content in a unicast/multicast manner
The present invention is a system and method for enabling multicast synchronization of initially unicasted content. Multiple unicast streams are synchronized in order to convert the unicast streams into a multicast stream. Each unicast stream may be accelerated or slowed down in relation to a reference stream to a common point within each stream upon which the unicast streams are replaced by a multicast stream of the same content. |
| US07656907B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing clock speed and power consumption
A system for reducing clock speed and power consumption in a network chip is provided. The system can have a core that transmits and receives signals at a first clock speed. A receive buffer can be in communication with the core and be configured to transmit the signals to the core at the first clock speed. A transmit buffer can be in communication with the core and configured to receive signals from the core at the first clock speed. A sync can be configured to receive signals in the receive buffer at a second clock speed and to transmit the signals from the transmit buffer at the second clock speed. The sync can be in communication with the transmit buffer and the receive buffer. |
| US07656905B2 |
Apparatus and method for aggregation and transportation of gigabit ethernet and other packet based data formats
The invention provides an apparatus and method for transparently transporting four plesiochronous Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel or other packet-based data signals over a network. Multiple plesiochronous Gigabit Ethernet data streams are aggregated onto an independent clock source at an ingress circuit through the use of transparent IDLE character insertion. The independent clock is selected such that the output data rate is greater than the composite input data rate of all the plesiochronous data streams. The signals are encapsulated with forward error correction and mapped to a reciprocal FEC interface prior to transport. An egress circuit at the receiving end recovers the modulated signal and extracts the data stream. Each independent data stream is mapped to a local clock domain via IDLE character insertion or removal. Therefore, the input and output signals are transparent and identical in content. |
| US07656903B2 |
System and methods for documenting networks with electronic modules
A documentation system for a network having a source device which is connected to a network path which is connected to a destination device, the documentation system comprising, a data port which includes an electronic module with an identification code on the network path, the destination device including an electronic module with an identification code, the source device having the capability to send query signals along the network path addressed to a data port and destination device corresponding to the network path, the electronic module corresponding to the data port responding to the query addressed to the data port by transmitting its identification code to the source device, and the electronic module of the destination device responding to the query addressed to the destination device by transmitting its identification code to the source device, and a processor and a switch in communication with the source device, the processor and switch for directing the source device to send the query signals, to interpret the responses, and to re-send the query signals if a collision occurs between responses. |
| US07656902B2 |
Method for transmitting packet data in communication system
A method and apparatus for a transmitter having a radio protocol with an upper layer and a lower layer therein used for management of full header packet transmission when transmitting data packets to a receiver are provided. If the upper layer receives from the lower layer, information of a successful transmission of a full header packet, the upper layer decides to stop sending any additional full header packet that contains the same full header as the previously successfully transmitted full header packet. |
| US07656900B2 |
Methods and systems for adaptive communication
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method of limiting data loss in a point-to-multipoint communication system. Data is transferred on a communication channel among network nodes of the point-to-multipoint communication system according to an initial frequency band plan. If a characteristic of the communication channel changes, then data is transferred among the network nodes according to a modified frequency band plan that differs from the initial frequency band plan. |
| US07656899B2 |
Access points with selective communication rate and scheduling control and related methods for wireless local area networks (WLANs)
The present invention is directed to methods and wireless communication devices that are configured to enhance communication capacity in a wireless network. In one aspect of the invention various scheduling processes and schedulers for the transmissions of data packets are disclosed. In another aspect of the invention, the selection of appropriate transmission rates to advertise by a common unit which provides wireless service to different types of wireless transmit receive units (WTRUs) is addressed. |
| US07656898B2 |
Virtual channel remapping
Virtual channel enabled networking devices may map frames to specific virtual channels based upon frame characteristics (e.g. destination address, class of service). Devices and methods that provide a remapping of virtual channels are disclosed. In one embodiment, a network having virtual channel remapping may include: a first set of one or more switches that each support a first number of virtual channels, and a second set of one or more switches that each support a second number of virtual channels different from the first number of virtual channels. At least one switch from the second set is coupled to at least one switch from the first set and is configured to establish a correspondence (“map”) between the virtual channels supported by the first set and the virtual channels supported by the second set. |
| US07656896B2 |
Automation system with simplified diagnosis and rectification of errors
One embodiment relates to an automatic system comprising a plurality of subscribers which are connected to a common communication channel, whereby each of the subscribers automatically provides the diagnosis information associated therewith on the communication channel, another conversion station is connected to the communication channel and comprises a web server which converts the diagnosis information available in the communication channel into a single web-enabled format, the conversion station is connected to a service station via a network and the service station has a web browser and a display connected to the web browser, whereby the web browser converts the diagnosis information transmitted via the network into a single display format and the display is provided in order to display diagnosis information provided by the web browser. |
| US07656895B2 |
Method and device for coupling a POTS terminal to a non-PSTN communications network
A communications device is used to interface a plain old telephone system (POTS) terminal, which includes a dial-up modem to transmit data, to a communications network. The communications device appears to the POTS terminal to be a modem accessed via a telephone network. |
| US07656894B2 |
Offloading processing tasks to a peripheral device
In one embodiment, to determine what tasks may be offloaded to a peripheral hardware device (e.g., to be performed in hardware on the peripheral device, rather than on the CPU(s) of the host computer), an indication from the at least one peripheral hardware device may be provided, without the peripheral hardware device first being queried to determine the task offload capabilities provided by the peripheral hardware device. In another embodiment, a data packet may be sent to the at least one peripheral device with an indication to the at least one peripheral device to perform at least one task offloading capability on the data packet, without first sending a command to the at least one peripheral device to enable the at least one task offloading capability. |
| US07656889B2 |
IP-based voice/video communication system and call pickup/forwarding method
An IP based voice/video communication system and call pickup/forwarding method and a program storage device, readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the call pickup/forwarding method enables a subscriber can have voice/video communication irrespective of time or place by forwarding voice/video calls between voice/video communication terminals such as a TV, PDA and home pad, or by picking up a incoming call at a nearby terminal if it is difficult for the subscriber to answer the call at the originally called terminal from his/her location. |
| US07656879B2 |
Bidirectional QoS reservation within an in-band signaling mechanism
A mechanism for a bidirectional reservation procedure within an in-band signaling mechanism gives symmetric real-time services running on mobile devices, which are used to support different access technologies in dynamic, mobile, wireless IP networks where the quality of the node connectivity can sometimes be unpredictably time-varying, the possibility to mutually reserve, monitor and adapt resources and service parameters for upstream and downstream direction along a communication path. The mechanism optimizes reservation mechanisms, especially for adaptive real-time services in wireless and wireless ad-hoc networks, by making use of a dynamic bidirectional reservation in-band signaling approach. |
| US07656876B1 |
MPLS virtual private network using dual network cores
A multi-protocol label switching system using multiple cores. In establishing a virtual private network in a MPLS system, more than one core is available. Paths are established over each core separately and weights are assigned to the two routes. Thus, the route which is preferred by manually configuring in advance will be chosen. |
| US07656873B2 |
Method, a user terminal and a server for obtaining access locating information
A method of a user terminal obtaining its access location information in next generation network, and a user terminal, and a server having function of Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) function are disclosed. DHCP is extended by adding a new DHCP option to carry the user terminal access location information; when the user terminal accesses to network, DHCP server puts the DHCP option into DHCP response message; receiving the DHCP response message, the user terminal obtains the access location information from the DHCP option. The present invention overcomes the shortcoming of the prior art that when a terminal nomadizes or roams from one access network to another, the access network information configured on the terminal has to be updated manually and thus results in redundant workload and inflexibility, the user terminal is allowed to obtain its access location information automatically, hence nomadicity or roaming of the user terminal is supported. |
| US07656871B2 |
Information transmission method, mobile communication system, base station, and mobile station
In an information transmission method, a radio communications system, a base station and a mobile station, a TBS size, a modulation scheme and the number of codes in a multicode are converted into identification data having a relatively smaller data size before being transmitted to a destination of communication. The TBS size is identified by using, in combination, an identification code identifying a channelization code set, an identification code identifying a modulation scheme, and an identification code obtained by converting a combination of the number of codes in a multicode and a modulation pattern identification (TFRC) into a corresponding code. Accordingly, the data size for TBS size identification is reduced. |
| US07656870B2 |
System and method for peer-to-peer hybrid communications
An improved system and method are disclosed for peer-to-peer communications. In one example, the method includes retrieving a profile and a routing table from an access server by a first endpoint during an authentication process. The profile identifies at least a second endpoint as an endpoint with which the first endpoint has permission to communicate. The routing table contains address information needed for the first endpoint to communicate directly with the second endpoint. The first endpoint sends a notification message directly to the second endpoint using the address information to inform the second endpoint that the first endpoint is online. |
| US07656867B2 |
Serial bus identification circuit for a computer chip enclosed in a stainless steel can
The invention is a serial bus identification circuit for a module that enables a microcontroller or microprocessor to identify one or many modules, each having an iButton digital device. The invention enables electronic activating and identifying the digital device amongst a plurality of similar devices. Each digital device has a unique digital registration number, and is an element of a module. In addition to the digital device, the module has a dual addressable switch component having a first switch and second switch, where the dual addressable switch component has a unique digital address; a light emitting source; and a source of electrical power. The dual addressable switch component and the unique digital device are in electrical communication with the serial data bus, and can be added as modules. When the first switch of the unique addressable component is closed, the digital device can be accessed, and the unique digital registration number can be down loaded and correlated to the dual addressable switch component. The second switch of the unique addressable component can be closed activating the light emitting source utilizing the source of electrical power. The light emitting source provides an identifying position signal for the device. |
| US07656864B2 |
Data network computing device call processing
A telecommunications service node is connected to a data network using a packet data protocol and a telephone network using a circuit switched protocol. The service node is also connected to a wireless roaming network using the IS-41 signaling protocol. The service node stores status information, including location and registration information, for mobile computing devices connected to the data packet network. The location information includes a temporary data network address for visiting mobile computing devices. The service node manages voice calls to and from the mobile computing devices. If a call is received to a mobile computing device which is not registered, the service node will attempt to connect the call to a wireless telephone associated with the mobile computing device, or a predefined destination established as a preference by the user. In the case of a voice call between a telephone connected to the telephone network and a mobile computing device connected to the data network, the service node acts as a gateway and translates between the data packet protocol and the circuit switched protocol. A personal information manager executing in a mobile computing device may be used for managing call processing functions of the mobile computing device. |
| US07656861B2 |
Method and apparatus for interleaving text and media in a real-time transport session
Text is interleaved and transported along with media data over the same real-time Internet Protocol (IP) media transport session. A network processing device identifies text characters corresponding with text signaling. The identified text characters are formatted into text packets and sent over the same real-time IP media transport session used for real-time media transport. The media transport session can identify the sequence that the text characters are transmitted and can specify a maximum character transfer rate. |
| US07656860B2 |
Personal communication service network interface device
According to the invention, a telephonic communication system for integrating wireless phone service with home phone service is disclosed. The telephone communication system includes a first communication and second communication channels and a telephone switch. The first communication channel is coupled to a wireless phone and the second communication channel is coupled to an interface that is coupled to one or more wired phones at a user location. The first and second communication channels are accessible with a single telephone number. The telephone switch is coupled to the first and second communication channels and determines if the first and second communication channels should be simultaneously sent an incoming phone call directed to the telephone number. |
| US07656858B2 |
Apparatus for and method of using an intelligent network and RFID signal router
Apparatuses, systems for, and methods of transporting digital signals and radio-frequency (“RF”) signals are disclosed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, an intelligent network (e.g., a combination router) and corresponding method are provided for transporting RF signals to, for example, an RFID antenna and transporting digital signals to, for example, a controller. In a preferred embodiment, the intelligent network is implemented with a manager unit for controlling a plurality of network devices to facilitate the efficient management of RFID-enabled devices. The network devices may include a combination router/switch, which has the capability of switching both digital data and RF data, RFID readers, RFID reader/writer pads, and other devices. In accordance with preferred embodiments, the intelligent network allows enhanced flexibility in controlling systems for interrogation of RFID antennae. |
| US07656853B2 |
Reducing power consumption of a wireless device
The present invention provides a system and method for conserving power consumption of a wireless device such as a BLUETOOTH slave device. A master device polls a slave device in a polling period. The slave responds by transmitting a data packet. If there is an error in transmission of the data, the master device may transmit an ARQ (Automatic Repeat Request) to the slave device in a TIMEOUT period to indicate that the data packet was not received. The slave device may reduce power consumption or power off during that TIMEOUT and receive a retransmit ARQ in a subsequent polling period. |
| US07656851B1 |
Adaptive message routing for mobile ad HOC networks
Domains are formed in a mobile ad hoc network by exchanging topology update messages among neighboring nodes, each message including the node coverage of the originating node. The node having an optimum coverage of its neighbors becomes a domain lead (DL) node, and nodes within hearing distance or range of the DL node form a network domain. Each domain node, including the DL, selects a set of bridge nodes (BNs) that can link the domain node to nodes in corresponding neighboring domains. All domain lead nodes in the network exchange messages to inform one another of the nodes contained in their respective domains. A node in one domain seeking a route for a message destined to a node in another domain, may send a route discovery (RDisc) message to the DL node of the inquiring node's domain. A responsive route resolution (RRes) message is returned to the inquiring node. |
| US07656848B2 |
Routing system and method in scatternet
A routing requesting method to transmit data to a device of a different piconets in a scatternet including at least two piconets which have a master device and at least one slave device controlled by the master device. A source device generates as a single packet an information inquiring a first radio resource used in each device of the piconet and an information requesting the routing. The source device broadcasts the packet to adjacent devices. The adjacent device, which receives the generated packet, sends the packet to a destination device by repeating the above process. The destination device assigns itself the master device, generates a RREP message including a clock information, and sends the generated RREP message to an adjacent device. The source device becomes aware of devices along the route using the information contained in the RREP message. |
| US07656842B2 |
Method and apparatus for MIMO transmission optimized for successive cancellation receivers
A method for communicating a plurality of data streams between a transmitting device with multiple transmit antennas and a receiving device, is disclosed. The method comprises determining a list consisting of a subset of the multiple transmit antennas on which the transmitting device will transmit data, determining a set of power weightings, providing the set of power weightings and the list of the subset of the multiple transmit antennas to the transmitting device, weighting a plurality of data streams by the power weightings, and transmitting the power weighted data streams on the subset of the multiple transmit antennas to the receiving device. Another aspect of the invention comprises maintaining a codebook consisting of a plurality of transmit weight vectors at both the transmitting device and the receiving device. The method also comprises determining a list consisting of a subset of the plurality of transmit weight vectors which to use for transmitting the multiple data streams, determining a set of power weightings to be use for each data stream, providing the set of power weightings and the list of the subset of the plurality of transmit weight vectors to the transmitting device, and weighting the data streams by the power weightings and beamforming the data streams with the subset of the plurality of transmit weight vectors. |
| US07656839B2 |
Apparatus for associating access points with stations in a wireless network
The performance and ease of management of wireless communications environments is improved by a mechanism that enables access points (APs) to perform automatic channel selection. A wireless network can therefore include multiple APs, each of which will automatically choose a channel such that channel usage is optimized. Furthermore, APs can perform automatic power adjustment so that multiple APs can operate on the same channel while minimizing interference with each other. Wireless stations are load balanced across APs so that user bandwidth is optimized. A movement detection scheme provides seamless roaming of stations between APs. |
| US07656835B2 |
Method for informing changed communications capabilities
The present invention relates to a method for informing changed link properties in a system in which a mobile node is communicating by IP (Internet Protocol) with a correspondent node and utilizing a first link layer configuration. A need to change link layer communication to use a second link layer configuration is detected. Property information indicating a link layer property applied or to be applied in communication utilizing the second link layer configuration is defined. The property information is transmitted to the correspondent node. At least one setting for communication between the correspondent node and the mobile node is adapted in the correspondent node on the basis of the received property information. |
| US07656833B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and method for compensating offset using the same
A wireless communication system, apparatus and a method for compensating offset using the same are disclosed, in which offset due to latency in a power save mode is compensated. The wireless communication apparatus includes a frequency matched unit for compensating offset due to latency that may occur during communication between the wireless communication apparatus and external equipment. The frequency matched unit adds a predetermined time to a clock value of a system clock if power save mode is transited to normal mode. Thus, the offset generated can efficiently be compensated if the power save mode is transited to the normal mode. |
| US07656831B2 |
Method and apparatus for power saving in beacon generation of wireless networks in ad hoc mode
Methods for increasing power saving in a station that sends or receives frames in an ad hoc wireless network (e.g., IBSS), while allowing the station to enter a power-saving mode quickly upon completion of scheduled tasks. At the same time, a method of the present invention allows two stations in the ad hoc wireless network to infer each other's power management mode without requiring an ATIM/ACK exchange between the STAs within an ATIM window. Consequently, a station may enter a power-saving mode promptly without impairing the station's ability to receive packets. In one embodiment, a “more data” field is used between stations to exchange information. Stations with various computation abilities provide information under different time constraints. The stations may enter power-saving modes that send multicast/broadcast frames or use promiscuous mode within an ATIM window. |
| US07656829B2 |
System and method for determining data transmission path in communication system consisting of nodes
In a communicating system including a base node, at least one adjacent node, and a start node transmitting data requested by the base node via the adjacent node or to the base node, data requested to the start node is transmitted by measuring a power required for data transmission between the nodes forming the communication system, selecting a path one by one depending on a minimum power consumption required for the data transmission from the base node to the start node using the measured power, and transmitting the requested data using the selected path. |
| US07656828B2 |
Transmitting receiving arrangement for TD-SCDMA mobile radios
The invention relates to a transmitting and receiving arrangement for radios having a baseband component and a radio-frequency component that are connected via an interface for interchanging payload data. The interface includes a bidirectional data link that can be operated in a half-duplex mode for transmission of digital payload data to be transmitted from the baseband component to the radio-frequency component and for transmission of received digital payload data from the radio-frequency component to the baseband component. |
| US07656826B2 |
Terminal control system
A terminal control system is provided that has a main control device, a plurality of terminal devices controlled by the main control device, and communication lines for connecting the main control device and each of the terminal devices so as to allow bidirectional communication, wherein the configuration is simple, communication time is short, and highly reliable bidirectional communication is possible. The terminal control system comprises a main control device 1, a plurality of terminal devices 2 controlled by the main control device 1, and communication lines 3 for connecting the main control device and each of the terminal devices so as to allow bidirectional communication, wherein control data is simultaneously and collectively sent from the main control device 1 to a plurality of the terminal devices 2, and terminal data for each of the terminal devices is independently sent from each of the terminal devices 2 to the main control device 1. |
| US07656818B1 |
Customizable network device management methods and systems
Methods and systems for providing customizable network device management are disclosed. In one such method, a user-created policy is received and registered on a network device, such as a router. An event identified by the policy is detected at the network device. In response, the policy runs on the network device and an action specified by the policy is performed. The policy can be prepared by a user of a remote computing device, uploaded to the network device, and registered on the network device. In various implementations, the policy can be provided in the form of a script or applet executable by the network device. |
| US07656817B2 |
Methods and apparatus to provision name-servers
Methods and apparatus are disclosed to provision name-servers. An example method disclosed herein includes associating a plurality of ranges of threshold numbers with respective ones of a plurality of name-servers, computing a number based on an identifier for a plurality of subscribers, locating at least one of the plurality of ranges of threshold numbers corresponding to the computed number, and assigning a plurality of name server records for the plurality of subscribers to at least one of the plurality of name-servers corresponding to the located one of the plurality of ranges of threshold numbers. |
| US07656812B2 |
Monitoring of data packets in a fabric
A method of monitoring network traffic in a fabric and a Fibre Channel network are provided. The method includes: transmitting a monitoring configuration message to a plurality of fabric elements in a Fibre Channel network, said monitoring configuration message including classification criteria identifying packets to be monitored; receiving copies of identified packets from the plurality of fabric elements; and analyzing the copies of identified packets to determine data transmission status in the Fibre Channel network. The Fibre Channel network includes: a plurality of fabric elements; a management system configured to transmit a monitoring configuration message to the plurality of fabric elements, said monitoring configuration message including classification criteria identifying packets to be monitored; and an analyzer configured to: receive copies of identified packets from the plurality of fabric elements; and analyze the copies of identified packets to determine data transmission status in the Fibre Channel network. |
| US07656810B2 |
System and method for monitoring and reacting to peer-to-peer network metrics
The overall health of a peer-to-peer network may be inferred from statistics gathered and analyzed pertaining to individual node and node-to-node performance within the peer-to-peer network. When used with simulations for development or testing, the health statistic may be used instead of or to supplement standard regression testing to determine whether or not changes made improve system performance. When used with live peer-to-peer networks, the health statistic may provide a real-time view into network performance. Such a view may be used to adjust peer-to-peer network topology or to isolate underperforming or malicious nodes. |
| US07656808B2 |
Web based capacity management (WBCM) system
A user interface for viewing network system data is provided and includes at least one company level view that includes a list of one or more service regions within a company, at least one regional level view that includes a list of one or more service markets within each of the one or more service regions, and at least one market level view that includes a list of one or more wire centers within the one or more service markets. |
| US07656806B2 |
Storage system, path management method and path management device
Proposed are a storage system, a path management method and a path management device capable of ensuring the processing performance demanded by a user while seeking to improve the access performance from a host system to a storage apparatus. Path switching control for dynamically switching the path to be used by the host system according to the loaded condition of the respective paths between the host system and the storage apparatus is executed; and a path is selected as needed according to a policy containing path switching rules created by a user, and path switching control for excluding the selected path from the target and dynamically switching the path to be used by the host system is executed. |
| US07656799B2 |
Flow control system architecture
One or more flow control modules, implemented on various types of network topologies, provide a number of functionalities for controlling the flow of IP packets (such as TCP/IP packets) over a network connection. The flow control modules may be implemented within a sender and/or receiver or may be deployed into a network as a separate device without requiring significant additional resources. |
| US07656798B1 |
Service interface for QoS-driven HPNA networks
An out-of-band signaling model media control (MC) terminal for an HPNA network includes a QoS management entity (QME) and an admission control entity (ACE) and provides end-to-end QoS by passing the QoS requirements from higher layer to the lower layers of the HPNA network. The QME receives an end-to-end QoS message characterizing a session for a user application. The ACE performs an admission control decision relating to the session based on the end-to-end QoS message characterizing the QoS stream. A resource control module, when part of the ACE, performs at least one admission control decision relating to the session based on a resource permission, and a policy control module, when part of the ACE, performs at least one admission control decision relating to the session based on a policy permission. |
| US07656796B1 |
Class-based detection of microcongestion on QoS-enabled links
This is a method for use in detecting and measuring microcongestion on links where QoS is utilized to provide a prioritized packet delivery service. Microcongestion is a transient condition that occurs over extremely short periods of time and is generally invisible to the end user. However, the ability to monitor the frequency and severity of microcongestion can help identify link capacity issues with far greater accuracy than standard passive measurements and at a much earlier stage than traditional active measurements. This capability can be particularly valuable on very-high-speed links where even small periods of perceptible congestion can represent a significant number of queued packets. |
| US07656795B2 |
Preventing duplicate sources from clients served by a network address port translator
Preventing duplicate sources on a protocol connection that uses network addresses, protocols and port numbers to identify source applications that are served by a NAPT. If an arriving packet encapsulates an encrypted packet and has passed through an NAPT en route to the destination host, the encapsulated packet is decrypted to obtain an original source port number and original packet protocol from the decrypted packet. A source port mapping table (SPMT) is searched for an association between the NAPT source address, the original source port, and the original packet protocol associated with the NAPT source address and port number. If an incorrect association is found, the packet is rejected as representing an illegal duplicate source; that is, a second packet from a different host served by a NAPT that is USING the same SOURCE port and protocol. |
| US07656794B2 |
Method and apparatus for authenticated quality of service reservation
A method and apparatus for providing authenticated quality of service reservation in a communication system. According to one embodiment of the invention a signaling controller distributes keys for use by a first quality of service server and a router for establishing quality of service over a communication system. |
| US07656789B2 |
Method, system and storage medium for redundant input/output access
A system, method and storage medium for providing redundant I/O access between a plurality of interconnected processor nodes and I/O resources. The method includes determining whether a primary path between the interconnected processor nodes and the I/O resources is operational, where the primary path includes a first processor node and a primary multiplexer. If the primary path is operational, the transactions are routed via the primary path. If the primary path is not operational, the transactions are routed between the interconnected processor nodes and the I/O resources via an alternate path that includes a second processor node and an alternate multiplexer. |
| US07656788B2 |
High-reliability cluster management
A method for managing a cluster of network devices, the cluster includes a command network device and at least one member network device, and the command network device has a commander IP address and a commander MAC address, includes: defining a standby group by assigning a virtual IP address and a virtual MAC address; selecting a first network device, which is the command device, for the standby group; selecting at least one second network device, which has an IP address, for the standby group; defining a standby priority for each network device in the standby group; and binding the standby group to the cluster, by replacing the commander IP address with the virtual IP address and replacing the commander MAC address with the virtual MAC address. Upon the binding, the network device with a highest priority becomes an active commander, and the network device with a second highest priority becomes a standby commander. |
| US07656783B2 |
Optical information recording medium, and substrate and manufacturing method for the optical information recording medium
In an optical disk including at least a rewritable phase change material and comprising a recording layer having a reflectivity of more than 15%, an address output value as an address pit signal component occupying in a reproduced signal in a non recording state is prescribed to be 0.18 though 0.27 or a numerical aperture of an address pit signal occupying in a reproduced signal in a non recording state is prescribed to be more than 0.3. |
| US07656782B2 |
Optical information recording medium, and substrate and manufacturing method for the optical information recording medium
In an optical disk including at least a rewritable phase change material and comprising a recording layer having a reflectivity of more than 15%, an address output value as an address pit signal component occupying in a reproduced signal in a non recording state is prescribed to be 0.18 though 0.27 or a numerical aperture of an address pit signal occupying in a reproduced signal in a non recording state is prescribed to be more than 0.3. |
| US07656780B2 |
Optical recording medium having first and second wobble patterns
An optical disc medium 10 having a wobbled track groove 12 includes three wobble patterns including a flat wobble pattern, a positive pulse wobble pattern, and a negative pulse wobble pattern. In the flat wobble pattern, the amplitude of the wobble from the lengthwise direction of the track groove is zero such that the track groove is flat. In the positive pulse wobble pattern, the amplitude of the wobble from the lengthwise direction of the track groove is positive such that the track groove is wobbled in a first direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction. Further, in the negative pulse wobble pattern, the amplitude of the wobble from the lengthwise direction of the track groove is negative such that the track groove is wobbled in a second direction opposite to the first direction. Then, three data values can be recorded using three distinctive wobble patterns. |
| US07656774B2 |
Objective lens, optical head, and optical pickup apparatus
An objective lens for at least one of recording and reproducing for an optical information recording medium includes in the order from a light source side: a first lens group having negative refracting power, which is in a meniscus shape having a concave surface facing the light source side; a second lens group having positive refracting power; and a third lens group having positive refracting power, which is in a meniscus shape having a concave surface facing an image side. |
| US07656770B2 |
Optical pickup apparatus, objective optical element and optical information recording reproducing apparatus
An optical pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first light source for emitting a first light flux; a second light source for emitting a second light flux; a third light source for emitting a third light flux; and an objective optical element. The objective optical element has an optical surface including at least two areas provided with optical path difference providing structures. The objective optical element converges the first to third light fluxes each passing through the predetermined areas on the objective optical element onto respective information recording surfaces of the first to third optical disks. One of the optical path difference providing structures includes a first basic structure and a second basic structure which are predetermined optical path difference providing structures and overlap with each other. |
| US07656769B2 |
Optical pickup and objective optical system for use in the same
An optical pickup (1) includes a light source (6) capable of emitting laser beams of various wavelengths and an objective optical system (2). The objective optical system (2) includes at least two wavefront conversion surfaces (13a) and (16a) and an objective lens (10). The at least two wavefront conversion surfaces (13a) and (16a) convert a wavefront of any laser beam entered therein into a different wavefront in response to the kind of an optical information recording medium (3) corresponding to the laser light. The objective lens (10) focuses the laser beam came out of the wavefront conversion surface (16a) on an optical information recording surface (3R). The optical pickup (1) satisfies the following condition for every wavelength of the corresponding laser beams: |SCMAX|<0.036 (1) wherein SCMAX is the maximum value of an offence against the sine condition of the objective optical system (2). |
| US07656767B2 |
Information storage medium including data area having plurality of sync data and additional data area having first sync data and second sync data different from the first sync data, reproducing apparatus using the medium, and method of reproducing information from the medium
An information storage medium has user data areas and additional data areas, and sync patterns to distinguish the additional data areas from the user data areas. The information storage medium includes a user data area in which user data is recorded and an additional data area located in at least one of areas before and after the user data area. Second sync patterns used in the additional data area are different from first sync patterns used in the user data area. |
| US07656766B2 |
Servo-controlling method of an optical disk apparatus
The present invention relates to a servo-controlling method of an optical disk apparatus. In the present invention, an order on which servo-control manner is sequentially applied is determined in advance based on various depth to respective recording layers of a CD, a DVD, and a high-density DVD, and when a disk is placed a servo-control manner is sequentially selected in the determined order. Therefore, a collusion between a disk and an optical pickup can be prevented for any type of disk. |
| US07656765B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling tracking servo in near field optics
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for controlling a tracking servo in a near field optics. Gap error signals are detected in a divided state, and a push pull signal is compensated based on the detected gap error signals. A photo detector detecting the gap error signals is divided into two areas such that movement of an image formed on the photo detector can be detected. The push pull signal is compensated by subtracting a value proportional to a difference value between the two gap error signals detected in the photo detector. The difference value between the two gap error signals is proportional to a dc offset component included in the push pull signal. Accordingly, it is possible to simply remove a dc offset included in a push pull signal without largely modifying the near field optics, so that it is possible to exactly perform a tracking servo operation. |
| US07656764B2 |
Write once disc, disc drive therefor, and method of managing disc defect considering compatibility with rewritable disc drive
A write once disc, a disc drive therefor, and a method of managing disc defects on the write once disc using the disc drive in consideration of the compatibility of the write once disc with a rewritable disc drive, the write once disc includes a single record layer disc in which a lead-in area, a data area, and a lead-out area are sequentially formed and a first spare area and a second spare area are sequentially formed in the data area. The write once disc includes a defect management area (DMA) formed in at least one of the lead-in area and the lead-out area; a first temporary defect management area (TDMA) formed in at least one of the lead-in area and the lead-out area; and a second TDMA formed between the first spare area and a user data area or between the user data area and the second spare area. |
| US07656763B1 |
Calibrating a defect scan parameter for a disk drive
A method is disclosed for performing a defect scan for a disk drive. Data is recorded on a first data area of a disk substantially free from defects and on a second data area of the disk substantially affected by at least one defect. A defect scan parameter is initialized with an initial setting. The first data area is read to determine a first defect threshold, and the second data area is read to determine a second defect threshold. A margin is saved representing a difference between the first and second defect thresholds. The setting for the defect scan parameter is adjusted, and the elements of reading the first and second data areas and saving a corresponding margin are repeated at least once. A setting is then selected for the defect scan parameter in response to the saved margins. |
| US07656754B2 |
Optical disk player
An available term of use of the player is set in terms of the number of dates or a playing time. If it is determined by a lock-setting determining unit that the player is lock-set when an optical disk is loaded, the player is lock-released by a lock releasing unit. After the player has been lock-released, if the available term is extended as a result that it is determined by an available term determining unit that the available term has expired or if it is determined that the available term has not expired yet, a playing start processing unit proceeds to processing of starting the playing. If the available term has expired, but should not be extended, the player is lock-set by a lock setting unit. |
| US07656753B2 |
Optical recording, producing apparatus, and method with peak-hold voltage features
The present invention proposes a method of controlling the laser power of a semiconductor laser that, in this method of controlling the laser power of a semiconductor laser by applying a power source voltage to between the collector and emitter of an output transistor and a serial circuit of the output transistor and a semiconductor laser, enables decreasing the power consumption of the output transistor. The present invention is arranged to apply a variable power source voltage Vcc to a serial circuit of an output transistor (Qb) and a semiconductor laser (SL) and thereby control the variable power source voltage Vcc such that a difference between the variable power source voltage Vcc and the peak hold voltage of an operating voltage of the semiconductor laser (SL) becomes substantially constant. |
| US07656750B2 |
Echo detection
An echo detection circuit that detects an echo by detecting the magnitude of a digitally mixed representation of the received acoustic signal and reference sine and cosine signals. That magnitude is then compared against an echo threshold to verify the presence or absence of an echo signal. A low pass filter with a configurable cut-off frequency may be used to define the selectivity of the echo detector. |
| US07656747B2 |
Ultrasonic imaging in wells or tubulars
An ultrasonic imaging method is provided. A wideband acoustic pulse is fired at a wall. A wideband response signal is received. The wideband response signal is processed to select an impedance measurement frequency. A wavelet having a characteristic frequency approximately equal to the impedance measurement frequency is fired. A wavelet response signal is received. A reflection coefficient is determined from the wavelet response signal. An impedance measurement is calculated from the reflection coefficient. Related tools and systems are also disclosed. |
| US07656745B2 |
Circuit, system and method for controlling read latency
A read latency control circuit is described having a clock synchronization circuit and a read latency control circuit. The clock synchronization circuit includes an adjustable delay line to generate an output clock signal whose phase is synchronized with the phase of the input clock signal. The read latency control circuit captures a read command signal relative to the timing of the input clock signal and outputs the read command signal relative to the timing of the output clock signal such that the read command signal is outputted indicative of a specified read latency. |
| US07656730B2 |
Semiconductor memory device with a reference or dummy cell for testing
A semiconductor memory device includes: memory cells respectively arranged on intersecting points of a plurality of word lines and a plurality of data lines, and respectively having a capacitor for storing data; a sense amplifier provided in between the data lines forming a data line pair so as to amplify an electric potential difference between the data lines and to perform data reading; and a test memory cell arranged on each of the data lines and having a test capacitor with a capacitance value set smaller than the above capacitor, and when performing a test for a memory cell, inversed data of the data to be stored into a target memory cell of a test target is pre-written into the test memory cell. |
| US07656725B2 |
Semiconductor memory device which compensates for delay time variations of multi-bit data
A memory device compensates for delay time variations among multi-bit data. The device includes a first stage and a second stage of data storage units. The first stage of data storage units store first to nth data bits in response to a latch clock signal. The second stage of data storage units store the first to nth data contents output from the first stage of data storage units in response to a reference clock signal. The latch clock signal is obtained by delaying the reference clock signal. The latch clock signal includes first to nth sub latch signals. The sub latch signals are generated at different times according to propagation delay time periods of the corresponding first to nth data contents. |
| US07656721B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor includes a first sensor amplifier, a second sensor amplifier, a first switch and a second switch. The first sensor amplifier is coupled between a local data line and a memory unit to amplify signals of the memory unit. The second sensor amplifier is coupled to a middle data line to amplify signals of the middle data line. The first switch is coupled between the middle data line and the local data line to equalize voltage levels between the middle data line and the local data line by turning on the first switch according to a data control signal. The second switch is coupled between the local data line and a reference voltage to equalize the local data line to the voltage level of the reference voltage by turning on the second switch according to a local data control signal. |
| US07656719B2 |
Phase change memory device generating program current and method thereof
A phase change memory device may include a memory cell array, a write driver, and/or a control unit. The memory cell array may include a plurality of memory cells. The write driver may be configured to provide a program current to the memory cell array for setting a state of a phase change material to program a selected memory cell. The write driver may be configured to provide the program current such that the program current has a plurality of steps. The control unit may be configured to receive step information for adjusting a magnitude and a width of each step of the program current during a test operation and provide the step information to the write driver during a normal operation. |
| US07656714B2 |
Bitline bias circuit and nor flash memory device including the bitline bias circuit
The NOR flash memory device according to the present invention is operated by a high voltage supplied from bitline selection transistors and includes a bitline bias circuit for supplying a bias voltage of a constant level to the bitline bias transistor. In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to stably supply a desired voltage closing to a power voltage to the bitline bias transistor. |
| US07656708B2 |
Memory architecture with advanced main-bitline partitioning circuitry for enhanced erase/program/verify operations
The present invention provides a solution for long master bit lines in a large capacity memory device. A master bit line is partitioned by at least one switching transistor placed on the master bit line. |
| US07656703B2 |
Method for using transitional voltage during programming of non-volatile storage
To program one or more non-volatile storage elements, a set of programming pulses are applied to at least one selected non-volatile storage element and one or more particular unselected non-volatile storage elements, for example, via a common word line. A boosting voltage is applied to other unselected non-volatile storage elements during the programming process in order to boost the channels of the unselected non-volatile storage elements so that programming will be inhibited. Each of the programming pulses has a first intermediate magnitude, a second intermediate magnitude and a third magnitude. In one embodiment, the first intermediate magnitude is similar to or the same as the boosting voltage. The second intermediate magnitude is greater than the first intermediate magnitude, but less then the third magnitude. Such an arrangement can reduce the effects of program disturb. |
| US07656702B2 |
Ultra low voltage, low leakage, high density, variation tolerant memory bit cells
Methods and apparatus to provide ultra low voltage, low leakage, high density, and/or variation tolerant memory bit cells are described. In one embodiment, each of the cross-coupled invertors of a memory cell may include a plurality of p-channel transistors. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US07656700B2 |
Magnetoresistive sensor memory with multiferroic material
A memory cell includes a magnetoresistive sensor that comprises layers that include a free layer. The magnetoresistive sensor conducts a read current representative of data stored in the memory cell during a read interval. A first write conductor carries a write current that writes data in the free layer. At least one of the layers comprises a multiferroic layer formed of multiferroic material. |
| US07656699B2 |
Radiation-hardened programmable device
A method of programming a radiation-hardened integrated circuit includes the steps of supplying a prototype device including an SRAM memory circuit or programmable key circuit to a customer, having the customer develop working data patterns in the field in the same manner as a reading and writing to a normal RAM memory, having the customer save the final debugged data pattern, delivering the data pattern to the factory, loading the customer-developed data pattern into memory, programming the customer-developed data pattern into a number of production circuits, irradiating the production circuits at a total dosage of between 300K and 1 Meg RAD to burn the data pattern into memory, and shipping the irradiated and programmed parts to the customer. |
| US07656695B2 |
Electronic fuse system and methods
An electronic fuse system and method are disclosed employing a fuse ROM having one or more blocks of memory. Each block of memory comprises a plurality of words with at least one word of the plurality of words containing security bits associated with a respective block. An electronic fuse controller is in communication with the fuse ROM and one or more external devices that are configured to request one or more words that reside in the fuse ROM from the electronic fuse controller. At least one security register includes indication bits that provide an indication whether security bits have been obtained for a respective block of memory of the fuse ROM after a power down and power up cycle. The electronic fuse controller provides the requested word if an indication bit associated with the block of memory is set. |
| US07656694B2 |
Methods of programming one-time programmable devices including chalcogenide material
A method of programming a one-time programmable device is provided. A switching device disposed in a substrate is turned on and a program current is applied to a fuse electrically connected to the switching device, thereby cutting the fuse. The fuse includes a first electrode electrically connected to the switching device, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, and a chalcogenide pattern disposed between the first and second electrodes. Related one-time programmable devices, phase change memory devices and electronic systems are also disclosed. |
| US07656693B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
In a memory cell area of a semiconductor device, first, second, and third inter-layer insulating films respectively cover a cell transistor, a bit wiring line, and a capacitor which are connected to each other. In an adjacent peripheral circuit area, a peripheral-circuit transistor is covered with the first inter-layer insulating film, a first-layer wiring line connected to the peripheral-circuit transistor is provided on the first inter-layer insulating film and covered with the second inter-layer insulating film, and a second-layer wiring line is provided on the third inter-layer insulating film. In the memory cell area, a landing pad is provided on the second inter-layer insulating film and between the capacitor and a contact plug for connecting the capacitor to the cell transistor. An assist wiring line connected to the first-layer wiring line is provided on the main surface of the second inter-layer insulating film, on which the landing pad is provided. |
| US07656692B2 |
Method and apparatus for supplying and switching power
An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for supplying and switching power may include a power source, a transformer, a full bridge rectifier and a control switch. The transformer has a first winding and a second winding, the first winding being connected to the power source, the second winding having a first tap and a second tap, with the first tap being connected to a first load output. The full bridge rectifier includes four nodes, the first being connected to the second tap of the second winding, the second being connected to a second load output, the third being connected to a reference voltage source. The control switch is connected between a fourth of the four nodes and the reference voltage source. |
| US07656690B2 |
Voltage conversion device and computer-readable recording medium with program recorded thereon for computer to execute control of voltage conversion by voltage conversion device
A control device calculates a voltage command value of a voltage step-up converter based on a torque command value and a motor revolution number and calculates the on-duty of an NPN transistor based on the calculated voltage command value and a DC voltage from a voltage sensor. Under the conditions that the on-duty is influenced by a dead time and the DC voltage is smaller than a predetermined set value, the control device controls NPN transistors to step-up or step-down the voltage while fixing the on-duty at 1.0. |
| US07656689B2 |
Power converter and control method for a power converter using serially-connected DC power sources
A control method for a power converter capable of reducing overall volume of a system and energy loss by using a plurality of power sources and distributing loads to them without a DCDC converter. The power converter has DC power sources and poles formed by connecting various poles of the DC sources. Voltage is applied to a load by switching between poles. The method includes operating a switch between poles of the first DC power source when a voltage command is lower than the electric potential of the second DC power source; and operating a switch between the poles of the second DC source when the voltage command is higher than the electric potential of the second DC source. |
| US07656687B2 |
Modulated transformer-coupled gate control signaling method and apparatus
A modulated transformer-coupled gate control signaling method and apparatus provides reduction of circuit complexity and robust design characteristics in switching power circuits having a transformer-coupled gate drive. A modulated control signal at a rate substantially higher than the switching circuit gate control rate is provided from the controller circuit to a demodulator via transformer coupling. Power for the demodulator can be obtained by rectifying the modulated control signal at the demodulator, or from another transformer winding. The modulation scheme is chosen to have a DC average value of zero, eliminating any magnetization current management requirements. The modulated control signal may carry redundant control information and/or may encode additional information to provide a more sophisticated gate drive control, such as oversampled gate control information. |
| US07656684B2 |
Power converter
The present disclosure is directed towards a method for power conversion. The method may include controlling a first rectifier switch coupled to one end of a secondary winding of a transformer via a first control signal. The method may further include controlling a first low side switch via said first control signal, said first low side switch and a first high side switch coupled in series along a first path of a full bridge circuit, a first node located between said first high side switch and said first low side switch. The method may also include controlling a second rectifier switch coupled to an opposite end of said secondary winding via a second control signal. The method may additionally include controlling a second low side switch via said second control signal, said second low side switch and a second high side switch coupled in series along a second path of said full bridge circuit, a second node located between said second high side switch and said second low side switch, wherein said primary winding is coupled between said first node and said second node. Of course additional embodiments are also within the scope of the present disclosure. |
| US07656683B2 |
Electrical conversion device, converter and uninterruptible electric power supply comprising one such device
A DC voltage conversion device comprising: first conversion means, transformation means connected to the first conversion means, and superposition and rectifying means connected to the first conversion means and to the transformation means, and supplying an output voltage comprising pulses having equal amplitudes to the sum of the amplitudes of the pulses of the primary and the secondary pulsed voltage. A converter for converting a DC voltage into AC voltage comprising the DC voltage conversion device, filtering means being connected on output of the superposition and rectifying means of said conversion device.An uninterruptible electric power supply comprising a converter for converting a DC voltage into AC voltage connected to storing means, said converter comprising the DC voltage conversion device to convert the DC voltage of said storing means. |
| US07656680B2 |
Receiving apparatus and board installation member
A receiving apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a first board including a mount surface whose outer edge is substantially quadrilateral; and a board installation member including a plate portion that has an installation surface whose outer edge is substantially quadrilateral, the first board is installed on the installation surface (called a front surface) side and the surface (called a rear surface) of the rear side of the installation surface is installed on a given second board, the apparatus applies a predetermined processing to a received broadcast signal using a circuit disposed on the first board, and the board installation member includes a connecting terminal to electrically connect the first board with the second board and a leg portion used for the installation on the second board, the connecting terminal protrudes from the plate portion in the direction substantially perpendicular to the plate portion on the front surface side and on the rear surface side, and comes into contact with the first board on the front surface side and comes into contact with the second board on the rear surface side, and the leg portion protrudes from the plate portion in the direction substantially perpendicular to the plate portion on the rear surface side. |
| US07656678B2 |
Stacked module systems
The present invention stacks integrated circuit packages into circuit modules. In a preferred embodiment, solder paste and primary adhesive respectively are applied to selected locations on the flex circuitry. Supplemental adhesive is applied to additional locations on the flex circuitry, CSP, or other component. The flex circuitry and the CSP are brought into proximity with each other. During solder reflow operation, a force is applied and the CSP collapses toward the flex circuitry, displacing the primary adhesive and the supplemental adhesive. The supplemental adhesive establishes a bond providing additional support to the flex circuitry. In another embodiment, CSPs or other integrated circuit packages are bonded to each other or to other components with a combination of adhesives. A rapid bond adhesive maintains alignment of the bonded packages and/or components during assembly, and a structural bond adhesive provides additional strength and/or structural integrity to the bond. |
| US07656677B2 |
Multilayer electronic component and structure for mounting multilayer electronic component
A multilayer electronic component includes a multilayer substrate having a first main surface and a second main surface, a resin layer having a mounting surface and a contact surface bonded to the first main surface, a via conductor provided inside the resin layer, and an external terminal electrode disposed on the mounting surface so as to come in contact with the via conductor. The external terminal electrode has a first region on a main surface facing the mounting surface and a second region on a main surface facing away from the mounting surface. The first region is connected to the via conductor while the second region is provided with a bonding member. The second region is arranged such that, when the first region is projected through to the main surface facing away from the mounting surface, the second region is spaced from and does not overlap with a region in which the first region is projected. |
| US07656672B2 |
Power module
A power module has several circuit units (20, 21) that are electrically connected in parallel and are provided with terminal contacts (5, 5′) which are electrically and mechanically interconnected via at least one current-conducting saddle (26). In order to create a power module which is easy to produce and in which the current-conducting saddle (26) requires little space, the saddle (26) is embodied in several parts while encompassing a terminal element (12) that can be connected in a fixed manner to a terminal contact (5) of a circuit unit (20) independently of a connecting element (25) of the saddle (26). The connecting element (25) of the saddle (26) extends on a plane that is spaced apart from the circuit unit (20) while being electrically connected to the terminal element (12). |
| US07656671B2 |
Expansion module and system thereof
An expansion module includes a housing, at least one first wedging device, a connecting device, and a module socket. At one side of the housing, there is at least one plugging pin. The first wedging device is located in the housing. The first wedging device corresponds to the plugging pin. The connecting device has a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion. The first connecting portion is electrically connected with the second connecting portion, and the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are located at the two opposite sides of the housing. The module socket is located in the housing. The module socket is electrically connected with the connecting device. The user can easily uninstalled or installed the expansion module, the time is reduced, and it prevents the plugging pins of the module card from being damaged due to external force. |
| US07656670B2 |
Electronic blast with remote capacitor placement
An electronic ballast with remote capacitor placement includes a first housing (34); a second housing (36); an AC/DC converter (22); a DC bus (24) operably connected to the AC/DC converter (22); a lamp driver (26) operably connected to the DC bus (24); and a storage capacitor (32) connected to the DC bus (24) with capacitor wires (30). The AC/DC converter (22), the DC bus (24), and the lamp driver (26) are disposed in the first housing (34); the storage capacitor (32) is disposed in the second housing (36); and the first housing (34) is thermally isolated and physically separated from the second housing (36). |
| US07656669B2 |
Scalable computer system and reconfigurable chassis module thereof
A scalable computer system includes a reconfigurable chassis module, plural hardware units and one or more inter-plane. The chassis module has plural modular units for configuring the hardware units therein respectively. Each of the modular units has dedicated framework to attach the inter-plane or dedicated fans. The inter-plane is to connect with the separated hardware units between the modular units. Each of the modular units is equipped with compatible male and female joints to engage with each other. Certain fastening assemblies may be applied to secure male-male or female-female joints, thereby enabling the modular units to be front-to-back and/or side-by-side connections. |
| US07656664B2 |
Airflow direction controlling apparatus
An airflow direction controlling apparatus includes a frame arranged near an outlet of a fan, at least one blade pivotably mounted to the frame and driven by a motor, at least two thermal sensors for detecting temperatures of at least two electronic components in a computer, and a control module electronically connected to the at least two sensors and the motor. The control module receives the detected temperatures from the sensors, determines if an electronic component is in danger of overheating, and controls the motor to rotate the at least one blade to a desired position where airflow of the fan blows toward the electronic component in danger of overheating, to quickly dissipate the heat generated by the electronic component. |
| US07656659B2 |
Notebook computer with thermal module
A notebook computer (1000) includes a base (100), a cover (300), a computer printed circuit board (PCB) (200) and a centrifugal fan (40). The cover covers the base, and cooperates with the base to form a receiving space (500) therebetween. The computer PCB is received in the receiving space and mounted on the base. The centrifugal fan is received in the receiving space, and includes a stator (401) and an impeller (402), rotatable with respect to the stator. The stator includes a motor (415) and a fan PCB (405) directly attached to the base. The motor electrically connects to the fan PCB. When the impeller rotates, airflow enters the receiving space through top and bottom air inlets (304, 104). The fan PCB is integrally formed with the computer PCB and has a height less than the computer PCB. |
| US07656655B2 |
Mounting apparatus for a data storage device with damping member
A mounting apparatus includes a first cage (10) and a second cage (20). The first cage includes a plurality of damping members (30). Each of the damping members has a rotatable portion (32). The rotatable portions are rotatable relative to the first cage about rotational axes thereof. The second cage is capable of sliding into the first cage in a sliding direction, and contacting with the rotatable portions of the damping members. The rotational axes of the rotatable portions of the damping members are generally perpendicular to the sliding direction of the second cage. |
| US07656651B2 |
Apparatus and methods for automatically positioning an interface module in a rack system
Apparatus and methods for automatically positioning an interface module in a rack system are disclosed. An exemplary method includes biasing the interface module in a predetermined position. The method also includes automatically moving the interface module from the predetermined position when accessing removable blade enclosures in the rack system. The method also includes automatically returning the interface module to the predetermined position after accessing the removable blade enclosures in the rack system. |
| US07656649B2 |
Mechanical packaging apparatus and methods for an electrical energy meter
An electric meter comprises an electronics housing and a meter base. The electronics housing defines a front panel and includes a first plurality of option board guides. A main meter board is disposed substantially parallel to the front panel. The meter base defines a rear panel of the electric meter. The meter base includes a plurality of housing guides for receiving the electronics housing and a second plurality of option board guides disposed substantially perpendicularly to the rear panel. The second plurality of option board guides are adapted to receive an option board and to position the option board substantially perpendicularly to the main meter board of the electronics housing during assembly of the electronics housing to the meter base. The housing guides in combination with the first and second pluralities of option board guides enable blind assembly of the electronics housing to the meter base. |
| US07656648B2 |
Bus-bar and connector
A bus-bar having a prismatic housing, an elongate conductor extending along a length of the housing, and a resilient retainer which extends along a length of the housing and retains the conductor in the housing is disclosed. |
| US07656647B2 |
Electrolytic capacitor with improved volumetric efficiency
Surface mount electrolytic capacitors are provided with anode and cathode terminations having respective first termination portions provided on the bottom surface of a molded package in a generally coplanar configuration. A second cathode termination portion is bent in a generally perpendicular fashion to the first cathode termination portion and may then be adhered to the external cathode layer of a capacitor body. A second anode termination portion is bent in a generally perpendicular fashion to the first anode termination portion and may then be welded to an anode wire connected to and extending from the capacitor body. An insulation pad may be provided between the first anode termination portion and the capacitor body to prevent device shorting. A planar termination frame may be provided to form the electrolytic capacitors of the present subject matter. Additional embodiments of the disclosed technology include additional termination portions to effect wrap-around surface-mount anode and cathode terminations. |
| US07656646B2 |
Method and apparatus for a capacitor with a flexible interconnect
One embodiment includes a first capacitor stack including a first plurality of substantially planar anodes and a first plurality of substantially planar cathodes, a second capacitor stack including a second plurality of anode layers and a second plurality of cathode layers, an interconnect coupling the first capacitor stack and the second capacitor stack electrically in parallel, the interconnect adapted to permit rotation of the first capacitor stack with respect to the second capacitor stack, wherein the first capacitor stack and the second capacitor stack are adapted to deliver a defibrillation pulse to the anode terminal and the cathode terminal at a voltage of from approximately 410 volts to approximately 610 volts. |
| US07656630B2 |
Active protection device for protecting circuit against mechanical and electromagnetic attack
For protecting a circuit (1) against a mechanical or electromagnetic attack, an active protection device attached to the circuit comprises: —at least one generator (13, 14) for generating a magnetic field, —at least one magnetic sensor S1, S2, S3, S4 for measuring a value of the magnetic field, —an integrity circuit connected to the at least one magnetic sensor S1, S2, S3, S4 and to the circuit (1). The integrity circuit activates a reaction procedure in the circuit if the measured value of the magnetic field made by the magnetic sensor is out of a values domain, the values domain being correlated to the generated magnetic field. |
| US07656628B2 |
Apparatus for providing fault protection in a circuit supplying power to an electronic device
Apparatus is provided to limit the current drawn from a power supply output connected to furnish power to a docking station or electronic device, when a fault connects the output to ground or other docking connection. The power supply is disconnected when such fault is present during power-up. In one embodiment, the apparatus controllably limits current delivered to a docking station and a mobile device connected thereto. The apparatus includes a switch device located along a current path extending between the power supply and docking station, to regulate current flow. A current limiting entity operates the switch device to prevent current flow, when the fault affects the circuit, and current through the path exceeds a pre-specified threshold level. The pre-specified current threshold level can be less than the current level provided to the docking station and mobile device without said fault. A disabling component de-activates the current limiting entity, when current is flowing to the charging station but the current is unaffected by the fault. |
| US07656627B2 |
ESD protection circuit with active triggering
An ESD protection circuit is provided. The circuit includes a discharging component, a diode, and an ESD detection circuit. The discharging component is coupled between an input/output pad and a first power line of an IC. The diode is coupled between the input/output pad and a second power line of the IC in a forward direction toward the second power line. The ESD detection circuit includes a capacitor, a resistor, and a triggering component. The capacitor and the resistor are formed in series and coupled between the first power line and the second power line. The triggering component has a positive power end coupled to the input/output pad and a negative power end coupled to the first power line. An input of the triggering component is coupled to a node between the capacitor and the resistor. |
| US07656612B2 |
Magnetic head having a patterned pole layer
The system includes a magnetic head which faces a recording medium. The magnetic head has a coil which generates magnetic fields. The magnetic head also has a pole layer which is formed using a pattern. The pole layer allows magnetic flux generated by the coil to write data onto the recording medium. The pole layer generates a write magnetic field for writing data onto the recording medium.A photomask is used to form the magnetic head. The photomask includes three regions. The first region has such a perimeter that a projection image thereof is shaped along a perimeter of an ideal shape of the top surface of the pole layer, and the second region touches the first region's perimeter. The third region suppresses deviation of the pole layer from its desired shape which may be caused by the effect of light reflected while the photoresist layer is exposed. |
| US07656609B1 |
Disk drive motor having a rotor with at least three bendable balancing tabs
A motor for use in a disk drive is disclosed. The motor includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor is rotably coupled to the stator and has an axis of rotation. The rotor includes a disk mounting hub. A plurality of bendable balancing tabs is attached to the rotor. The plurality of bendable balancing tabs includes at least three bendable balancing tabs disposed about the axis of rotation. |
| US07656601B1 |
Current biasing circuit to reduce MR common mode voltage jumping for MR resistance measurement
A circuit for measuring resistance of a magnetoresistive head. First and second current biasing circuits are respectively coupled to opposite sides of the head. The first biasing circuit includes a first resistance, and the second biasing circuit includes a second resistance. First and second current mirrors are respectively coupled to the first and second biasing circuits. A current leg is coupled to the current mirrors. The current mirrors drive current in the resistances so that a first voltage across the first resistance is substantially equal and opposite to a second voltage across the second resistance. The biasing circuits bias current through the head such that a voltage on the first side of the head is close to the first voltage and a voltage on the second side of the head is close to the second voltage, so that the common mode voltage of the head will be close to zero. |
| US07656599B2 |
Control apparatus, storage apparatus, and computer product
A rewrite determining unit of a hard disk apparatus acquires a servo signal that includes an offtrack amount corresponding to each servo frame from a position information memory, and determines whether a write fault has occurred based on the servo signal. If a write fault has occurred, the rewrite determining unit determines a rewrite sector count, and a write controller controls a hard disk controller so that rewriting is performed to correspond to the rewrite sector count determined by the rewrite determining unit. |
| US07656594B2 |
Color image readout lens and color image readout apparatus
A color image readout lens comprises, in order from an object side: a first group comprising a positive lens convex toward the object side and a biconcave negative lens; a stop; a second group comprising one diffractive optical element that has at least one flat surface and has a diffractive structure formed on the flat surface; and a third group comprising a biconvex positive lens and a negative lens concave toward the object side. |
| US07656584B2 |
Composite lens structure
A composite lens structure is disclosed. The composite lens structure includes a diffusion plate and an optical structure formed on the diffusion plate. The optical structure includes a plurality of convex portions arranged in a 2-D matrix along a first direction and a second direction and a plurality of concave portions arranged in a 2-D matrix also along the first direction and the second direction. Each convex portion adjacent to a plurality of concave portions includes a low curvature portion and a high curvature portion higher than the low curvature portion. Each concave portion adjacent to a plurality of convex portions includes a low curvature portion and a high curvature portion lower than the low curvature portion. The convex portions, the concave portions and each junction of the convex portion and the concave portion have a curvature different from 0. |
| US07656582B2 |
Methods for reducing polarization aberration in optical systems
An optical system includes multiple cubic crystalline optical elements and one or more uniaxial birefringent elements in which the crystal lattices of the cubic crystalline optical elements are oriented with respect to each other to reduce the effects of intrinsic birefringence and produce a system with reduced retardance. The net retardance of the system is reduced by the cancellation of retardance contributions from the multiple cubic crystalline optical elements and the uniaxial birefringent element. The optical system may be used in a photolithography tool to pattern substrates such as semiconductor substrates and thereby produce semiconductor devices. |
| US07656580B2 |
Light diffusing sheet with two kinds of light diffusion particles
A light diffusing sheet (21) including a main body. The main body is made of a transparent resin matrix material (211), and a plurality of first light diffusion particles (212) and a plurality of second light diffusion particles (213) dispersed in the transparent resin matrix material uniformly. A refractive index of the second light diffusion particles is greater than that of the first light diffusion particles. The light diffusing sheet has improved light diffusing capability. |
| US07656579B1 |
Auto zoom aiming device
An improved electronic aiming device for use with a weapon or other manually aimed device. Means are provided to vary the field of view, i.e., the magnification, of the aiming device in relation to the movement of the device upon which the aiming device is securely mounted and the target. |
| US07656577B2 |
Color filter substrate, electrophoretic display device having the same, and method of manufacturing the same
A color filter substrate includes a base substrate, a color filter layer and an electrophoretic layer. A partition wall section is formed on a first surface of the base substrate. The partition wall section divides the base substrate into a transparent area and a light-blocking area to define a pixel space in the transparent area. The color filter layer is formed in the transparent area. The electrophoretic layer is formed in the pixel space. The electrophoretic layer includes a capsule with a plurality of electrophoretic particles. Therefore, the partition wall section thereby forms the pixel space corresponding to a pixel part, and an electrophoretic layer is infiltrated into the pixel space, so that reflecting ratio and color reproducibility may be enhanced. |
| US07656575B2 |
Printable pixel structure with carbon fiber emitters
A sub-pixel for use in a color pixel structure, includes a microwire preferably printed on a substrate, the microwire having a gap in it; a carbon filament spanning the gap and having opposite ends of the filament in electrical communication with the wire; an electro-optic gel having a tint of one primary color of a white light spectrum, the gel enveloping the carbon filament. |
| US07656573B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a gap between conductors in an electro-mechanical device
A method and apparatus for controlling a gap between conductors in an electro-mechanical device by controlled displacement of a displaceable conductor within the electro-mechanical device is provided. The apparatus includes a current controller configured to generate a controlled current output for the electro-mechanical device in response to a control signal, the current controller selectively routing a voltage to an array element including control circuitry and the electro-mechanical device. |
| US07656570B2 |
Optical deflector and optical instrument using the same
An optical deflector includes a supporting member, a first movable element having a light deflecting element, at least one second movable element, at least one first torsion spring configured to support the first and second movable elements, for torsional oscillation about an oscillation axis, at least one second torsion spring configured to support the second movable element and the supporting member, for torsional oscillation about the oscillation axis, and a driving system configured to apply a driving force to at least one of the first and second movable elements, wherein a moment of inertia of the second movable element with respect to the oscillation axis is larger than a moment of inertia of the first movable element with respect to the oscillation axis, and wherein a length of the second movable element in a direction perpendicular to the oscillation axis is equal to or less than a length of the first movable element in a direction perpendicular to the oscillation axis. |
| US07656568B2 |
Optical switch using frequency-based addressing in a microelectromechanical systems array
Embodiments of the present invention provide structures for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) that can be sensed, activated, controlled or otherwise addressed or made to respond by the application of forcing functions. In particular, an optical shutter structure suitable for use in an optical switch arrangement is disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical shutter or switch can be scaled and/or arranged to form arbitrary switch, multiplexer and/or demultiplexer configurations. In another embodiment of the present invention, an optical switch can include: a shutter; and a flexure coupled to the shutter, whereupon a vibration transmitted to the flexure when in the presence of a resonant frequency causes the shutter to move across an opening for the passage of an optical signal. |
| US07656563B2 |
Method for controlling the on/off function of an LED in a scanner
A method for controlling ON/OFF of LED in a scanner which replaces CCFL with LED as a light source is provided so as to solve the problem of excessively long warm-up time of CCFL in the prior art. Meanwhile, to achieve intermittent heat dissipation, LED is switched ON/OFF according to the frequency of the scanner receiving optical signals. |
| US07656561B2 |
Image compression for rapid high-quality imaging
Lossless, near-lossless, and lossy compression and decompression of digital image data, whereby the image data can be compressed and decompressed on-the-fly with no need for external RAM resources for temporary data storage while compressing/decompressing image data. Implementing the algorithm only requires a very limited amount of silicon and yields very high performance in relation to very low power consumption. The described implementation is optimized for raw image data from a sensor with a Bayer filter pattern but can be used on data from image sensors with ay color filter. The compression algorithm contains a line indexing formation which enables very fast subsampling of an already compressed image and the possibility to decompress only parts of an image—this improves performance and reduces the need for temporary RAM storage greatly when zooming and in postprocessing. |
| US07656557B2 |
Tools to embed tampering indicator into digital visual works using two screens with halftoning elements of different size dots or shapes
In accordance with one embodiment, apparatus are provided, which include a digital continuous-tone two-dimensional authentic image and an image processor. Tamper message data is provided which represents a tamper message when viewed. Two halftoning screens are provided to be applied to at least a portion of the continuous-tone two-dimensional authentic image, to embed the tamper message data within a portion of the authentic image, in a manner so as to be substantially not visible in a printed or displayed version of the authentic image absent image processing or tampering of the authentic image. The screens include a first screen to apply first elements arranged in a first way, and a second screen to apply second elements arranged in a second way. A halftoner applies the two halftoning screens to visibly portray desired information of the continuous-tone authentic image. The first screen is applied in a limited area of the authentic image and in a form defined by the tamper message data. The second screen is applied in an area abutting the limited area. |
| US07656556B2 |
Detection of a differential gloss region in a cluster-screen halftone image using filters each having a different polarization
An apparatus and method are provided for processing a digital image to determine whether the image includes a region of differential gloss (which would yield a differential gloss when that digital image is printed into hardcopy). The method includes identifying whether an input digital image has a periodic characteristic which is indicative of a cluster screen halftoned digital image and, if so, determining a correlation between first and second filters and halftone structures of the identified digital image. The second filter has a different polarization from the first filter. The first and second filters are selected to enable a region of differential gloss in the identified digital image to be identified, based on the determined correlations. Where such a region or regions are detected, a representation of the differential gloss image may be displayed and/or another action automatically initiated, such as restricting printing of the image. |
| US07656552B1 |
Unified image processing system
An image processing method includes generating a synthesized image transform from a set of synthesizing parameters, and subjecting the input image to the synthesized image transform to form an output image. The synthesized image transform is generated from a set of synthesizing parameters, which have a defined domain of allowed values. The complete set of synthesized transforms is obtained by varying the synthesizing parameters over all values within the domain. The visual effect of each synthesized transform is characterized by a set of visual effect parameters. The visual effect parameters and the synthesizing parameters are related in that the visual effect parameters are generated from the synthesizing parameters for the complete set of transforms, and/or the synthesizing parameters are generated from the visual effect parameters for the complete set of transforms. |
| US07656551B2 |
Method and apparatus for acquisition and administration of medical image data
In an apparatus and method for acquisition and administration of medical image data, the apparatus having one or more medical image acquisition modalities for image data acquisition that are to be operated via associated computers, at least one server with an image data storage and at least one workstation computer with an image reproduction device for representation and processing of acquired and/or stored image data; the server and the workstation computer being connected with one another and with the image acquisition modality or image acquisition modalities via a data connection, the ability of a system administrator to get an overview of the system operation is facilitated by the server being configured (relative to the modality) for time-resolved determination of the image data acquisition and administration of associated performance data of the server and/or of the workstation computer, and/or of the data connection, the performance data relating to read and/or write activities at the server, and the server allows graphical representation of the performance data on an image reproduction device. |
| US07656546B2 |
Notifying a computer user of printing with temporary printer properties
In a computer system, print jobs are printed on a selected printer utilizing the printer properties in effect for that printer at the time that the print job was spooled for printing. Typically, the printer prints utilizing default printer properties. However, users may temporarily override these default values by specifying temporary printer properties from within applications. A printer properties notification is provided to a user when temporary printer properties are in effect when printing is initiated. Selection buttons provided during this notification allow the user to then indicate how to proceed. |
| US07656545B1 |
System and method for dynamically providing printing status
System and method for dynamically providing printing status. |
| US07656540B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring suspension and head assemblies
An optical measurement device for determining at least two parameters of a measurement location of a surface of a workpiece positioned in a known coordinate system by a workpiece support is described. The device comprises a first light source providing a first measurement beam at a first wavelength and a second light source providing a second measurement beam at a second wavelength. The device also comprises a beam steering system positioning the first and second measurement beams to be collocated on the surface of the workpiece. Further, the device comprise a first imaging system, detecting the incoming position of the first measurement beam and an optical receiving system, detecting the incoming position of the second measurement beam. |
| US07656538B2 |
Short-wavelength coherence tomography
The present relates generally to methods, systems and apparatuses for three dimensional and cross-sectional imaging of objects (e.g., silicon) and subjects at a nanometer-scale resolution using short wave-length (e.g., extreme ultra-violet) light. |
| US07656536B2 |
Fiber-optic assay apparatus based on phase-shift interferometry
Apparatus and method for detecting an analyte in a sample based on optical interference. The apparatus includes a light source, detector unit and one or more disposable detector tips. The apparatus also includes an optical coupling assembly that couples light from the source to the detector tips, and from the detector tips to the detector unit. |
| US07656532B2 |
Cavity ring-down spectrometer having mirror isolation
A cavity ring-down spectrometer having a light-conveying structure, a mirror and an isolator. The structure may form a resonator cavity, and the resonator cavity may include a sample sub-cavity and a mirror sub-cavity. A preconcentrator medium may be within a sample sub-cavity, and the medium may adsorb a sample substance entering the sample sub-cavity. A heater may heat the medium to desorb the sample through which a light can propagate. The mirror may be within the mirror sub-cavity, and the mirror may direct light through the mirror sub-cavity and the sample sub-cavity. The isolator may reduce, inhibit or prevent the sample substance in the sample sub-cavity from entering the mirror sub-cavity and affecting the mirror in the mirror sub-cavity. |
| US07656523B2 |
Multiplexed raman detection with filter set
A device (and methods of using and manufacturing the device) that utilize a plurality of photomultipliers (PMT)s or a photodiodes coupled with a set of filters to collect Raman signal from samples. Also a method of detecting Raman signals includes receiving Raman signals from a sample utilizing a plurality of photomultiplier tubes (PMT)s or photodiodes, wherein at least one PMT or photodiode provides a different Raman signal than at least one other PMT or photodiode. |
| US07656521B2 |
Method of instrument standardization for a spectroscopic device
In a spectroscopic process a sample for producing a test spectral line or spectrum of at least one component contained in the sample is stimulated and the transmitted and/or emitted electromagnetic rays are used to create the test spectral line or spectrum. In order to improve such a spectroscopic process to such an extent that variations of certain parameters, which alter the shape and/or occurrence of a spectral line, are compensated, a comparison spectral line or spectrum of a known comparison material is produced under substantially the same parameters as the sample. The comparison spectral line or spectrum is compared with an ideal comparison spectral line or spectrum in order to calculate a transfer function, andthe transfer function is applied to the test spectral line or spectrum in order to calculate a corrected test spectral line or spectrum. |
| US07656515B2 |
Apparatus and method for analysis of optical storage media
Various apparatus and related methods are disclosed that are capable of detecting surface defects on an optical storage media. One example of an apparatus is configured to direct at least one light signal, which may be from one or more lasers, on an outer surface of an optical storage medium, such as a CD, DVD or the like, which includes encoded data. The light encounters both the optical storage media surface as well as any smudges, scratches, dents, or other defects thereon. Some or all of the light reflected from the defects and the surface are detected by one or more detectors, which may be a photodiode. The detector(s) produce an output signal commensurate with the detected reflected light, which output is processed to determine whether the encoded data may be accurately read from the optical storage media. |
| US07656514B2 |
Method and apparatus for evaluating semiconductor layers
A method for evaluating semiconductor layers includes irradiating semiconductor layers on a substrate with light; measuring an optical spectrum peculiar to excitons in the semiconductor layers; and analyzing a broadening factor of optical spectral features of the optical spectrum. The method provides a quick measurement of a surface state of the semiconductor layers with high accuracy. |
| US07656513B2 |
System for checking centration of lens surfaces of aspheric lens
A system for checking centration of lens surfaces of an aspheric lens includes a light-emitting device, a lens holder and an image processing device. The light-emitting device emits a light. The lens holder positions the aspheric lens in a light path of the light emitted from the light-emitting device. The image processing device receives the light which is emitted from the light-emitting device and has passed through the aspheric lens, and produces an image and shows the image. A quality of the image shown by the image processing device determines a tilt degree of the aspheric lens. |
| US07656512B2 |
Method for determining lithographic focus and exposure
A method for determining one or more process parameter settings of a photolithographic system is disclosed. |
| US07656511B2 |
Security element
The invention relates to a security element (1), comprising a first luminescent substance, for a security document (5), the latter (5) comprising a base body (51) consisting of a base material. The aim of the invention is to increase the protection against forgery. To achieve this: the security element is provided with a second luminescent substance; energy is transmitted between the first luminescent substance and the second luminescent substance, whereby the frequency range of the excitation of one of the luminescent substances corresponds to the emission frequency range of the other luminescent substance; and the first luminescent substance is thermally unstable at the ignition temperature of the base material and/or at a temperature of 185° C. |
| US07656510B2 |
Stream-wise thermal gradient cloud condensation nuclei chamber
A cloud condensation nuclei instrument including an aerosol flow line (320) to carry a desired sample to the CNN chamber (310) and a temperature control unit (313A, 313B) to provide a monotonically increasing temperature profile along the direction of flow. |
| US07656505B2 |
Apparatus to easily measure reticle blind positioning with an exposure apparatus
An exposure apparatus and printed wafer such that a design is printed within a peripheral portion of the wafer. The peripheral portion of the wafer is between an outer boundary of an active portion of the wafer and an outer boundary of the wafer. The exposure apparatus comprises a lens, a reticle that includes a pattern, and a reticle blind. The reticle blind blocks a first portion of light that is passed through the exposure apparatus. A transparent portion of the reticle transmits a remaining portion of the light. The lens focuses the remaining portion of the light onto the wafer such that an image of a portion of the pattern is printed as the design within the peripheral portion of the wafer. The printed design is a function of where the reticle blind is positioned relative to the pattern. |
| US07656503B2 |
Exposure apparatus and image plane detecting method
An exposure apparatus including an illumination optical system to illuminate an original with exposure light of plural wavelengths, a projection optical system to project an image of a pattern of the original onto a substrate, an original-side reference pattern provided at an original side of the projection optical system, a substrate-side reference pattern provided at a substrate side of the projection optical system, and an image plane detecting system configured so that the original-side reference pattern is illuminated with the exposure light or light equivalent to the exposure light with respect to a wavelength component rate. |
| US07656502B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
An immersion lithographic projection apparatus is disclosed in which a liquid removal system surrounds a liquid supply system which provides liquid to a space between a projection system and a substrate. The liquid removal system is moveable relative to the liquid supply system and is controlled to have substantially zero velocity relative to the moving substrate table. The gap between the liquid supply system and the liquid removal system may be covered and the atmosphere between the liquid supply system and the liquid removal system above the substrate table may be maintained such that the vapor pressure of liquid is relatively high. |
| US07656488B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
An LCD device includes liquid crystal molecules of n-type liquid crystal, and a viewing-angle control pixel controlling n-type liquid crystal in a pixel. The liquid crystal molecules are inclined in vertical and horizontal directions. The liquid crystal display device may control a viewing angle in vertical and horizontal directions without forming a white sub-pixel. |
| US07656487B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a substrate, a pixel electrode disposed on the substrate and including a first subpixel electrode and a second subpixel electrode, and a common electrode facing the pixel electrode. The first subpixel electrode comprises a first edge, a second edge disposed opposite the first edge, and two first oblique edges substantially parallel to each other, the first oblique edges making an oblique angle with the first edge and the second edge and meeting the first edge. The second subpixel electrode comprises a first edge, a second edge disposed opposite the first edge, and two first oblique edges substantially parallel to or substantially perpendicular to the first oblique edges of the first subpixel electrode, the first oblique edges of the second subpixel electrode meeting the first edge of the second subpixel electrode. The first edge of the first subpixel electrode is adjacent to the first edge of the second subpixel electrode, and a length of the first edge of the first subpixel electrode is different from a length of the first edge of the second subpixel electrode. The first oblique edges of the first subpixel electrode are offset from the first oblique edges of the second subpixel electrode. |
| US07656484B2 |
Method and apparatus for forming alignment layer for liquid crystal display
A method for forming an alignment layer for a liquid crystal display includes preparing a substrate, applying an alignment material for initial alignment of a liquid crystal, and applying a field flux (e.g., an electric or magnetic field) to the alignment material to determine the alignment direction of the alignment material. Further disclosed is an apparatus for forming an alignment layer for a liquid crystal display. The apparatus comprises a substrate stage on which a substrate is mounted, and an electric or magnetic field generator installed at the periphery of the substrate stage. According to the method and the apparatus, since the alignment direction of an alignment material is determined by using an electric or magnetic field, no physical contact with a substrate is required and thus the problem of light leakage caused by rubbing alignment is solved. |
| US07656481B2 |
Electrode structure and transflective liquid crystal display device using the same
An electrode structure for use in a transflective liquid crystal display device having a plurality of pixels is disclosed. Each pixel has a reflective region and a transmissive region. The electrode structure at least comprises a first transparent electrode, a reflective electrode and a second transparent electrode. The first transparent electrode is disposed within the transmissive region, while the reflective electrode and the second transparent electrode formed above the reflective electrode are disposed within the reflective region. The area of the second transparent electrode is smaller than the area of the reflective electrode. |
| US07656480B2 |
Phase delay element for transmissive and reflective type liquid crystal display
A phase delay element includes a brightness enhancement layer intermediate a reflection layer and an artificial light. The brightness enhancement layer is defined by a first surface and an opposite second surface. The first surface faces the reflection layer. A first light from the artificial light is incident on the second surface. A phase of the first light is delayed by about ¼ phase (λ/4) so that a second light is emitted from the first surface toward the reflection layer. The second light is reflected from the reflection layer so that a third light is emitted from the reflection layer toward the first surface. A phase of the third light is delayed by about ¼ phase (λ/4) so that a fourth light is emitted from the second surface. Therefore, a portion of the artificial light, which is reflected from the reflection layer, is recycled to improve a luminance of an LCD apparatus. |
| US07656479B2 |
Pixel structure and manufacturing method thereof
A pixel structure disposed on a substrate includes a gate, a patterned dielectric layer, a patterned semiconductor layer, a patterned metal layer, an overcoat layer and a transparent pixel electrode. The patterned dielectric layer and the gate covered thereby are disposed on the substrate. The patterned semiconductor layer on the patterned dielectric layer includes bumps and a channel above the gate. The patterned metal layer includes a source, a drain and a reflective pixel electrode connecting the drain. The source and the drain cover a portion of the channel. The reflective pixel electrode covers the bumps. The gate, the patterned dielectric layer, the patterned semiconductor layer and the patterned metal layer form a transistor on which the overcoat layer has a contact hole exposing a portion of the reflective pixel electrode. The transparent pixel electrode on the overcoat layer electrically connects the reflective pixel electrode through the contact hole. |
| US07656474B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
The technology presented herein has a feature of providing a liquid crystal display device of an excellent viewing angle characteristic and high brightness, including: liquid crystals containing polymerizable monomers between a first substrate with a pixel electrode having micro slits and a second substrate facing the first substrate; wherein the monomers are polymerizable with voltage applied to the liquid crystals; and an alignment orientation of the liquid crystals is controllable to a direction of extending the micro slit, wherein the pixel electrode includes: a direct coupling part electrically connected to a switching element; a capacitive coupling part electrically insulated from the switching element, and a space between the direct and capacitive coupling parts, wherein directions in which the micro slits are extended along the direct and capacitive coupling parts are orthogonal to each other. |
| US07656473B2 |
Fabrication method of light controlling assembly and liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display comprises a liquid crystal display panel; a light source to provide light to the liquid crystal display panel; and a light controlling assembly disposed between the light source and the liquid crystal display panel, the light controlling assembly comprising at least one first light controlling member, at least one second light controlling member disposed on the first light controlling member and an light curing agent disposed on an edge part between the first light controlling member and the second light controlling member to adhere the first light controlling member and the second light controlling member to each other, the first light controlling member and the second light controlling member having an air layer therebetween. |
| US07656471B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight. The liquid crystal display device has a hole in the screen. The hole of the liquid crystal display panel has a first protecting member; and the hole of the backlight has a second protecting member. The liquid crystal display panel hole and the backlight hole form a common hole. The common hole has a third protecting member. With this structure, the viewer can see another display in the liquid crystal display screen without feeling a noticeable difference. |
| US07656469B2 |
Structure for mounting display housing to monitor stand
A structure for mounting a display housing to a monitor stand of a monitor having a flat display, the display housing for the flat display, and a stand bracket for holding the display housing, includes fastening members at the stand bracket, and coupling members fixed to a rear case of the flat display in correspondence to the fastening members, wherein the fastening members are directly fastened to the coupling members respectively, to mount the display housing to the stand bracket. |
| US07656468B2 |
Display device and manufacturing method of the display device
The present invention enhances a manufacturing yield rate relating to through holes. In a display device which includes a first conductive layer formed on a substrate and a second conductive layer which is formed on the first conductive layer by way of insulation films of two or more layers and connects the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer via a through hole, in the through hole portion, a side surface of an opening formed in the insulation film arranged on the first conductive layer side out of the insulation films of two or more layers includes a portion thereof which is covered with the insulation film arranged on the second conductive layer side out of the insulation films of two or more layers and an exposed portion. |
| US07656456B2 |
Image sensing system and method of controlling same
Both a specific target and the background thereof in the image of a subject are caused to take on brightnesses that are relatively appropriate. Preliminary image sensing is performed to obtain a preliminary image of the subject. The image of a face is detected from within the preliminary image of the subject and the representative luminance of the face image is calculated. If the representative luminance calculated is not appropriate, then amount of exposure is adjusted so as to make the face image slightly darker than the appropriate brightness. Regular image sensing is then carried out. If the representative luminance of the face image in the image of the subject obtained by regular image sensing is not appropriate, a tone adjustment is applied utilizing a tone curve. Thus there is obtained an image of the subject in which both the face image and its background exhibit brightnesses that are relatively appropriate. |
| US07656454B2 |
Image pickup apparatus including adjustable reflection surface
An image pickup apparatus includes a finder optical system capable of guiding an observation beam to a finder window, the observation beam being a beam traveling from a photographing optical system and reflected by a main reflecting surface; and a first image pickup device configured to detect the observation beam and generate an image signal. The finder optical system has a first reflecting surface that reflects the observation beam. The first reflecting surface can change a reflection angle of the observation beam. A path of the observation beam can be switched between a first optical path and a second optical path by changing the reflection angle of the first reflecting surface. The first optical path is reflected by the first reflecting surface and directed toward the finder window, while the second optical path is reflected by the first reflecting surface and directed toward the first image pickup device. |
| US07656453B2 |
Solid-state imaging device having characteristic color unit depending on color, manufacturing method thereof and camera
The solid-state imaging device of the present invention includes: light-receiving units formed on a semiconductor substrate; color filters respectively formed on corresponding light-receiving units; and in-layer lenses formed above the light-receiving units and below the color filters, in which the in-layer lenses have different curvature shapes depending on colors of the corresponding color filters. |
| US07656450B2 |
Image capture apparatus which sets a substrate bias voltage of an image sensor
An image-pickup apparatus provided with an auto-focus capability. A first unit is configured to input a first trigger signal to initiate a distance measuring operation. A second unit is configured to input a second trigger signal to initiate a photographing operation. A setting unit is configured to set a substrate bias voltage applied to an imaging device included in the image-pickup apparatus. The setting unit is configured to set the substrate bias voltage one of during and after an auto-focus operation when the second trigger signal is input before expiration of a predetermined period of time after inputting the first trigger signal. |
| US07656443B2 |
Image processing apparatus for correcting defect pixel in consideration of distortion aberration
An image processing apparatus includes an optical system having distortion aberration characteristics for expanding a central part and compressing a peripheral part of an image plane; an image sensor for photodetecting an optical image via the optical system, converting the optical image to image signals, and outputting the image signals; a correction coefficient output circuit for outputting a correction coefficient for correcting the image signal with respect to a defect pixel of the image sensor, wherein the correction coefficient is determined based on the distortion aberration characteristics and a position of a peripheral pixel around the defect pixel; and a correction value computing circuit for computing a correction value with respect to the image signal of the defect pixel, based on the image signal of the peripheral pixel and the correction coefficient. |
| US07656442B2 |
Image pickup system, noise reduction processing device and image pick-up processing program
The image pickup system for performing noise reduction processing on signals from an image pickup element comprises a first noise estimating unit for estimating a first amount of noise on the basis of a target pixel in the signals for which noise reduction processing is performed, an extraction unit for extracting similar pixels that resemble the target pixel from the neighborhood of the target pixel on the basis of the target pixel and the first amount of noise, a second noise estimating unit for estimating a second amount of noise from the target pixel and the similar pixels, and a noise reduction unit for reducing the noise of the target pixel on the basis of the second amount of noise. |
| US07656441B2 |
Hue correction for electronic imagers
A method for correcting for hue artifacts captured by an imager associated with a color filter array including first, second and third color pixels and optical system spaced from the imager, wherein a first group of second pixels are primarily influenced by adjacent first pixels and a second group of second pixels are primarily influenced by adjacent third pixels, includes separately blurring or smoothing the first and third pixels and the first and second group of second pixels; based on the difference between adjacent pixels of the first and second group of second pixels, correcting for hue in the second group of second pixels; and correcting for adjacent third pixels based on the correction for adjacent second group second pixels. |
| US07656439B1 |
Portable dock for a camera
Portable docks are provided for use with a camera having a camera memory and a camera power supply. A dock has a dock memory, a dock power supply with sufficient power so that the camera power supply can be charged with at least sufficient power to enable the camera to perform completely at least one additional camera function, and an electrical connector adapted to engage a mating camera connector for data communication and power exchange therethrough. A control system enables the transfer of image related data between the camera memory and the dock memory. The dock memory, power supply, electrical connector, and control system are held by a body adapted to receive the camera so that the camera connector can engage the electrical connector. |
| US07656435B2 |
Image processing apparatus and pixel-extraction method therefor
By sensing an object without performing light projection with a light projection unit, a first image is acquired, and by sensing the object while performing light projection with the light projection unit, a second image is acquired. Based on the acquired first image and the second image, a pixel having a specific color in the first image is extracted. |
| US07656434B2 |
Analog front-end device and image pickup device
A preprocessor converts an analog image signal, which is outputted from a solid-state image pickup sensor that photoelectric-converts an optical image of a subject, into digital image data. A timing generator periodically generates a drive pulse for driving the solid-state image pickup sensor continuously/discontinuously, and generates an output stop position signal that indicates an output stop position of the solid-state image pickup sensor when the solid-state image pickup sensor is driven discontinuously in sync with the drive pulse. A continuous data generator lets through the image data when the output stop position signal is invalid, and converts the image data inputted in a discontinuous state into continuous image data when the output stop position signal is valid. |
| US07656433B2 |
Web camera
A web camera includes an image sensor, which takes an external image; a sensor interface, which is connected to the mage sensor to receive and convert the image taken by the image sensor into digital image data; at least one compression module, which is connected to the sensor interface to receive and compress the digital image data into compressed image data; and a USB interface, which is connected to the compression module to output the compressed image data to a host device having a USB interface port, such as a computer and a USB OTG device, for storage, playing back and other applications. |
| US07656432B2 |
Method and apparatus for photographing moving object
An apparatus for photographing a moving object has a velocity detector that measures a velocity of an object, at least one camera that has an image sensor and is located so as to capture the object, an operating processor that calculates a photograph point in accordance with resolution required for an object image, a camera controller that controls the camera on the basis of a detected velocity so as to photograph the object when the object passes the photograph point, and an image transmitting processor that transmits image data, obtained by the camera, outside. The operating processor calculates the photograph point by using an object-resolution conversion diagram. The object-resolution conversion diagram represents a correspondence relationship between an angle of view, a number of pixels, an object distance, and a resolution. |
| US07656431B2 |
Video signal processing apparatus and video signal processing method
A video signal processing apparatus that reduces the degree of occurrences of false colors and of differing line concentration by performing knee processing properly, thereby providing desirable video signals. In the apparatus, at the occasion of generating luminance signals and color differences based on the result of knee processing, it is possible to properly generate a luminance signal which is derived from the addition result of pixels which are next to each other and generate a color difference signal which is derived from a difference of the pixels next to each other, achieved by performing the knee processing while keeping the signal level ratio at least between the pixels next to each other on video signals made up of color components arranged on a pixel by pixel basis. In this way, it is possible to keep a balance in hue of a color signal even after being subjected to knee processing. |
| US07656430B2 |
Information processing system, information processing apparatus and method, and program
An information processing apparatus and method is disclosed wherein a detailed image of a moving body can be picked up accurately. A tracking object pan tilt zoom module reads out moving body information stored in a moving body tracking rank management database at predetermined intervals of time, and pan tilt movement of a zoom camera is controlled based on angle-of-view information as appearance information corresponding to an angle of view of a moving body having the highest priority rank. At this time, an additional tracking object pan tilt module reads out the latest moving body information of the moving body tracking rank management database at intervals of time sufficiently shorter than the predetermined intervals of time at which the tracking object pan tilt zoom process is repeated, and the pan tilt movement of the zoom camera is further controlled repetitively. |
| US07656422B2 |
Pulse width modulaton device and image forming apparatus
A disclosed device for generating a pulse-width modulated signal according to image data and based on a pixel clock signal includes a pixel clock generating unit configured to generate the pixel clock signal and a modulated data generating unit configured to generate the pulse-width modulated signal. The pixel clock generating unit includes a multi-phase clock signal generating unit, a comparing unit, a frequency calculation unit, a counting unit, and a pixel clock signal output unit. The modulated data generating unit includes a data converting unit, an edge time calculation unit, and a pulse-width modulated signal output unit. |
| US07656421B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: a main body including an opening; a plurality of process units which are arranged in the main body in an arrangement direction with a gap therebetween; a plurality of exposure units which are arranged in the arrangement direction alternately with the process units; a cover which is rotatable about a rotation shaft to open and close the opening; and a plurality of support members which connect the exposure units to the cover and which allow the exposure units to be retreated from the process units with the opening and closing of the cover. The process units are disposed at positions where the process units contact with the exposure units moved with the opening and closing of the cover and at least contact portions thereof contacting with the exposure units are movable by pressing forces of the exposure units. |
| US07656413B2 |
Large display attention focus system
A system that allows a user to spotlight a region of particular interest in a large-scale display, such as a wall panel display. The spotlight can be a circular or other shape area around which the display is de-emphasized, such as by being darkened or blurred outside the circle. The spotlight can be moved by the user moving a cursor positioned in the circle. When the cursor encounters an edge of the circle the spotlight is moved in the direction of cursor movement. As the cursor is moved the outside region has less de-emphasis. When the movement is stopped the outside region is darkened to the maximum. A spotlight beam or other attention directing area of emphasis can be used to help focus a viewer's attention on the spotlight. The spotlight can follow objects in a scene as they move. |
| US07656406B1 |
Representing and animating paint strokes
Techniques for representing a stroke in an image, the stroke being defined by a path extending across one or more positions in the image and one or more stroke parameters, each stroke parameter representing an appearance attribute of the stroke. The techniques include associating values for the one or more stroke parameters with time values in a time dimension of the stroke, the parameter values being associated with the time values independent of position along the stroke path; and representing the stroke according to the parameter values and their associated time values. |
| US07656405B1 |
System and method for generating circular layout graphs
A system and method for identifying a plurality of nodes for a circular layout, each of the plurality of nodes to be connected via an edge to at least one other of the plurality of nodes, fixing all of the plurality of nodes on a unit circle, except for one of the nodes, moving the unfixed node to a barycenter of the fixed plurality of nodes, projecting the unfixed node to the unit circle of the circular layout and displaying the circular layout. |
| US07656402B2 |
Method for creating, manufacturing, and distributing three-dimensional models
A method is provided for producing three-dimensional (3D) models. The invention will take any sculpture, character, or model from artwork, still life models, images of human beings, characters from a computer game, or any other 3D digital image or model that is scanned, and turn the digital image into 3D models. The method is comprised of the following steps: creating a user account in a computer storage area; storing 3D images under the user account; allowing the user to select the 3D image(s) he or she wants to create as 3D models; manufacturing the 3D models; and delivering the models to the user or to a specified third-party. An online storefront and/or auction system may allow each user the opportunity to sell their 3D models or purchase other users' 3D models. The system may also create 3D models for a mobile phone and portable media player while transferring the models to either of these devices. |
| US07656399B2 |
Displaying apparatus, a displaying method, and a machine readable medium storing thereon a computer program
It is an object to provide a displaying apparatus for displaying a plurality of images quickly in a short time while guaranteeing high visibility. A displaying apparatus for sequentially updating and displaying a plurality of images includes: an image getting unit for getting a plurality of images which should be displayed in case of getting an instruction of updating and displaying the plurality of images at high speed; a cutting unit for cutting out a partial region of each of the plurality of image gotten by the image getting unit as a partial image; an image compositing unit for generating a first composite image by arranging a plurality of partial images of the number which can be displayed at one time out of the plurality of partial images cut out by the cutting unit and compositing the plurality of partial images and generating a second composite image by deleting one partial image of the plurality of partial images included in the first composite image and adding a second partial image which is not included in the first composite image; and a displaying unit for sequentially updating the composite image at a designated update speed to display the composite image. |
| US07656395B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for compound tracking systems
A method, apparatus, and system for tracking movement of a device are described. The method includes steps of implementing a first tracking subsystem for tracking positions of a device against a surface, determining whether to implement a second tracking subsystem for tracking positions of the device against the surface, capturing data corresponding to a location on the surface, and determining a position of the device against the surface based on the captured data. The position of the device can then be transmitted to a host computer and used in an application program. The first and second tracking subsystems may be a relative and an absolute tracking subsystem respectively. |
| US07656393B2 |
Electronic device having display and surrounding touch sensitive bezel for user interface and control
An electronic device has a display and has a touch sensitive bezel surrounding the display. Areas on the bezel are designated for controls used to operate the electronic device. Visual guides corresponding to the controls are displayed on the display adjacent the areas of the bezel designated for the controls. Touch data is generated by the bezel when a user touches an area of the bezel. The device determines which of the controls has been selected based on which designated area is associated with the touch data from the bezel. The device then initiates the determined control. The device can have a sensor for determining the orientation of the device. Based on the orientation, the device can alter the areas designated on the bezel for the controls and can alter the location of the visual guides for the display so that they match the altered areas on the bezel. |
| US07656390B2 |
Position detecting device
A position detecting device selects sensors arranged in the order of sensor 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction. In a first selection pattern, the device selects a sensor in the order of sensor 1, 6, 2, 5, 3, and 4. In a second pattern, the device selects a sensor in the order of sensor 1, 6, 5, 2, 3, and 4. In a third pattern, the device selects a sensor in the order of sensor 1, 6, 2, 5, 4, and 3. In a fourth pattern, the device selects a sensor in the order of sensor 1, 6, 5, 2, 3, and 4. By selecting the sensors 1 to 6 in an order different from the order of the arrangement and communicating signals with a position pointer, the device detects the position pointed by the position pointer. |
| US07656386B1 |
Low profile pointing device for personal computers
A low profile pointing device for personal computers includes a thin elongate case for insertion in a PC Card slot and defining a cavity therein. A frame forms one surface of the case and defines an opening therethrough. A slidable plate is disposed within the cavity and is translatably supported in a plane parallel to the frame. A portion of the slidable plate is accessible through said frame opening. At least one motion sensor is mounted within the case and is coupled with the slidable plate for sensing movement of the plate and converting the sensed movements into electrical data signals. A communication interface transmits data signals between the motion sensor and the computer. |
| US07656382B2 |
Shift register and liquid crystal display device using the same
A shift register having a plurality of stages in which each of the stages includes: an input circuit part arranged to receive an input signal; an exclusive OR circuit arranged to generate a toggle signal by an exclusive OR operation on a non-inversion output and an inversion output of the input circuit part; and an output circuit part arranged to supply one of a clock signal and a feedback signal from an output terminal to the output terminal and an input terminal of the next stage in response to the toggle signal. |
| US07656379B2 |
Driving circuit for use in cholesteric liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device of the present invention comprises: a liquid crystal display panel; a cholesteric liquid crystal layer in the liquid crystal panel; a data controller having a connection with the liquid crystal display panel, wherein the data controller receives red, green and blue data signals from an external source and provides the signals to the liquid crystal panel; and a data amplifying circuit in the data controller, the data amplifying circuit selecting one of the red, green and blue data signals and then overdriving the selected data signal. |
| US07656378B2 |
Drive circuit for display apparatus and display apparatus
A drive circuit that is an example of the present invention is a drive circuit of a display device for outputting in parallel the analog picture signals generated based on the digital picture signals inputted in serial. This circuit comprises a level shift circuit for converting the voltage level of the digital picture signals that were inputted in serial, a D/A conversion circuit for generating analog picture signals based on the digital picture signals that were subjected to level conversion with the level shift circuit, and an expansion circuit connected to the output side of the D/A conversion circuit or between the level shift circuit and the D/A conversion circuit and serving to expand and hold the inputted serial picture signals in parallel and output the picture signals in parallel. The level shift circuit is thus formed in the front stage of the picture signal register circuit. |
| US07656374B2 |
Method for enhancing response speed of hold-typed display device
The method increases the output frame rate to p/q (p, q are both natural numbers and p>q) times of the input frame rate. In a period of time equal to the least common multiple of the input and output frame times, q input frames are output and (p−q) transient frames are generated and inserted at appropriate places before or after the q input frames in the output frame sequence so as to enhance the dynamic display effect of the display device. |
| US07656367B2 |
Plasma display device and driving method thereof
A driving waveform is applied to a scan electrode while a sustain electrode is biased at a ground voltage such that a driving board for driving the sustain electrode may not be needed. In addition, when grouping a plurality of scan electrodes into a plurality of groups and representing grayscale values using a frame-subfield method, a sustain discharge may be stably generated during a sustain period by reducing a time gap between address and sustain periods. When a sustain pulse is applied during a sustain period between two adjacent address periods, the last voltage is set to be a low level voltage. |
| US07656362B2 |
Breathable radome
A “breathable” radome that has an air-permeable structure is disclosed. The air-permeable structure permits a relatively greater flow of cooling air to be drawn over the radiating elements of an air-cooling system that is used for the electronics that are being sheltered by the radome. The increase in cooling efficiency that results from the use of the breathable radome enables air-cooled systems to be used with relatively higher-powered electronics. |
| US07656357B2 |
Transparent antenna for vehicle and vehicle glass with antenna
A transparent antenna for a vehicle has a transmittance property providing good visibility without worsening the design and is capable of realizing low resistance. The transparent antenna has an insulating sheet-like transparent base body (1a) and an antenna pattern planarly formed on the surface of the transparent base body (1a). An electrically conductive section (1b) of the antenna pattern is constructed from an electrically conductive thin film of a mesh structure, lines of each mesh are constructed from very fine bands having substantially equal widths, and the width of each of the very fine bands is 30 μm or less. The light transmittance of the antenna pattern is 70% or higher. |
| US07656354B2 |
Antenna apparatus for portable terminal
Disclosed is an antenna apparatus for a portable terminal which includes radiation elements received in a housing of the portable terminal; contact arms formed on the radiation elements; and feeding pads disposed on both surfaces of a printed circuit board, wherein the contact arms are in contact with the feeding pads. The contact arms respectively come in contact with each feeding pad. The pair of feeding pads is attached to the printed circuit board while the contact arms are provided on the radiation elements so as to come in contact with the each feeding pad, so that the antenna apparatus may satisfy operation criteria of wide and multi bands. In addition, the radiation elements are formed as a pair, one of which satisfies the operation criteria of double and triple bands and the other of which has resonance frequency of other bands, so that the operation criteria of the multi bands can be effectively achieved. |
| US07656353B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device comprising a satellite positioning system antenna with active and passive elements and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, at least one wireless transceiver carried by the portable housing, and a satellite positioning signal receiver carried by the portable housing. Moreover, a satellite positioning antenna may be carried by the portable housing. The satellite positioning antenna may include an active element connected to the satellite positioning signal receiver, and a passive element connected to a voltage reference and positioned in spaced apart relation from the active element and operatively coupled thereto for directing a beam pattern thereof. |
| US07656351B1 |
Method of designing a low cost multibeam phased array antenna for communicating with geostationary satellites
A method for electronically scanning a predetermined geostationary orbital arc segment around the earth with an antenna system. The antenna system includes a planar array. A number of fixed electronic squints is selected. Lengths of the total plurality of fixed delay line lengths are generated for the planar array based on the number of fixed electronic squints. All of the antenna elements in the planar array for the mobile earth station are fitted with the generated lengths. The orbital arc segment is electronically scanned with a single linear scan with the planar array. This method is extendable to the case of multiple beams by adding additional phase shifters at each column and keeping the number of fixed line lengths the same, regardless of the number of additional beams. |
| US07656350B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing a satellite positioning system signal using a cellular acquisition signal
Method and apparatus for processing satellite positioning system signals is described. In one example, assistance data is received at a mobile receiver from a first wireless network using a wireless transceiver. The first wireless network may be a non-synchronized cellular network. A time synchronization signal is obtained from a second wireless network at the mobile receiver using a wireless receiver. A time offset is then determined in response to the time synchronization signal. Satellite signals are processed at the mobile receiver using the assistance data and the time offset. The second wireless network may be a synchronized cellular network or may be a non-synchronized cellular network that is externally synchronized to GPS time. |
| US07656348B2 |
System and/or method for determining sufficiency of pseudorange measurements
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for determining a sufficiency of measurements for locating positions. In one example, although claimed subject matter is not so limited, a process to improve accuracy of pseudorange measurements may be terminated in response to a weighting of quantitative assessments of at least some of such pseudorange measurements. |
| US07656345B2 |
Low-profile lens method and apparatus for mechanical steering of aperture antennas
A low-profile lens element for steering a beam is provided. Specifically, the low-profile lens element is mechanically rotatable such that a beam can be steered in any direction within three-dimensional space. The lens element may include a number of discrete portions for differentially delaying adjacent discrete portions of a beam in order to effect beam steering. |
| US07656342B2 |
Double-sideband suppressed-carrier radar to null near-field reflections from a first interface between media layers
A ground-penetrating radar comprises a software-definable transmitter for launching pairs of widely separated and coherent continuous waves. Each pair is separated by a constant or variable different amount double-sideband suppressed carrier modulation such as 10 MHz, 20 MHz, and 30 MHz Processing suppresses the larger first interface reflection and emphasizes the smaller second, third, etc. reflections. Processing determines the electrical parameter of the natural medium adjacent to the antenna.The modulation process may be the variable or constant frequency difference between pairs of frequencies. If a variable frequency is used in modulation, pairs of tunable resonant microstrip patch antennas (resonant microstrip patch antenna) can be used in the antenna design. If a constant frequency difference is used in the software-defined transceiver, a wide-bandwidth antenna design is used featuring a swept or stepped-frequency continuous-wave (SFCW) radar design.The received modulation signal has a phase range that starts at 0-degrees at the transmitter antenna, which is near the first interface surface. After coherent demodulation, the first reflection is suppressed. The pair of antennas may increase suppression. Then the modulation signal phase is changed by 90-degrees and the first interface signal is measured to determine the in situ electrical parameters of the natural medium.Deep reflections at 90-degrees and 270-degrees create maximum reflection and will be illuminated with modulation signal peaks. Quadrature detection, mixing, and down-conversion result in 0-degree and 180-degree reflections effectively dropping out in demodulation. |
| US07656341B2 |
Noise augmented radar system
A radar system comprises a transmitter that transmits a predetermined wideband signal, a digital receiver that records a returned signal using a one-bit ADC, a random noise source that is added to the transmitted or returned signal, a processing means where the received signal is distorted to compensate for the effect of the noise on the receiver. The predetermined wideband signal may be a pseudo random noise signal. The processing may include averaging prior to cross-correlation. |
| US07656340B2 |
Systems and methods for pipelined analog to digital conversion
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for analog to digital conversion. For example, a pipelined analog to digital converter is disclosed that includes two or more comparators. A first of the comparators is operable to compare an analog input to a first voltage reference upon assertion of the first clock, and a second of the comparators is operable to compare the analog input to a second voltage reference upon assertion of the second clock. The pipelined analog to digital converters further include a multiplexer tree with at least a first tier multiplexer and a second tier multiplexer. The first tier multiplexer receives an output of the first comparator and an output of the second comparator, and the second tier multiplexer receives an output derived from the first tier multiplexer. The second tier multiplexer provides an output bit. A bit enable set is used as a selector input to the first tier multiplexer and the second tier multiplexer, and the bit enable set includes one or more output bits from preceding bit periods. |
| US07656335B2 |
Device for determining a measure for a signal change and a method of phase control
A device that determines gradients of a signal compares the change in a signal level between two instants with reference values, and determines a measure for the signal gradient as a function of the comparison. The device functions to effect signal reconstruction, where, for example, the phase of the signal processing clock relative to the gradient measurement clock can be adjusted, or a measure for the signal values between multiple sampling points can be determined. A method for controlling signal curves based on gradient values determines a measure for the gradient curve or the curvature of the signal from the immediate time sequence of multiple gradients. Based on a sequential evaluation of these measures, it is possible to determine the direction of the phase drift of the signal and, for example, to utilize this for synchronization or phase control. |
| US07656333B2 |
Digital-to-analog converter of the finite impulse response type
In a signal processing arrangement, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC1) of the finite impulse response type converts a serial bitstream (BSL) into an analog output signal (AL). The digital-to-analog converter (DAC1) comprises at least two current source arrays (CCA1, CC A2). In a first current source array (CCA1), a current definition cell (CD1) generates a first basic current, and a plurality of first current copy cells ( . . . , CC40, CC41, . . . ) provide respective scaled copies of the first basic current to constitute first filter coefficient currents ( . . . , IP40, IP41, . . . ). In a further current source array (CCA2), a further current definition cell (CD2) generates a further basic current, and a plurality of current further copy cells (CC1, CC2, . . . , CC80) provide respective scaled copies of the further basic current to constitute further filter coefficient currents (IP1, IP2, . . . , IP80). A switch-and-shift array (XSA) individually passes the respective filter coefficient currents (IP1, IP2, . . . , IP40, IP41, . . . , IP80) to a signal output (CVC), or to another point (DLD), depending on respective successive bit values in the serial bitstream (BSL). |
| US07656332B2 |
Method and apparatus for a multi-mode multi-rate telemetry transmitter
A method and apparatus for a multi-mode and multi-rate telemetry transmitter includes a digital baseband lineup, a digital-to-analog converter (“DAC”), and an analog reconstruction filter. The digital baseband lineup may be programmed to any desired bit rate, enabling the transmitter to support multi-rate capabilities. Different coefficients and numerical values may be programmed in the digital baseband lineup to support any desired modulation scheme, enabling the transmitter to support multi-mode capabilities. The digital baseband lineup may be designed by implementing up-sampling stages, down-sampling stages, and digital filters in a variety of arrangements. |
| US07656327B2 |
Saturation detection for analog-to-digital converter
This disclosure describes techniques for detecting or predicting saturation of an analog-to-digital converter. The techniques analyze digital samples following analog-to-digital conversion, and count occurrences of specific values associated with a subset of bits within the digital samples. The specific subset of bits that are used detect or predict saturation may vary depending on the analog-to-digital converter and the number of bits in the digital samples. However, the techniques avoid the need to consider every bit in the digital samples, and rely only on a subset of bits (one or more), which can simplify the counting algorithms used in the saturation detection or prediction. Upon identifying a probable saturation state of the analog-to-digital converter based on the counting, the techniques may de-boost the gain of an analog amplifier. This can effectively extend the dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter. |
| US07656321B2 |
Signaling system
In a signaling system, a first signal and a plurality of second signals are received via a signaling channel. A first received data value is generated in one of at least two states according to whether the first signal exceeds an average of the second signals. |
| US07656320B2 |
Difference coding adaptive context model using counting
Techniques for improving encoding and decoding data are described herein. According to one embodiment, it is determined whether a current context can encode a retrieved symbol. The current context includes a plurality entries, each representing an encoded symbol, including a count value representing a frequency of the entry being used. A code is generated to a code stream, where the code represents a difference between an index of an entry in the current context associated with the retrieved symbol and a previous index used for encoding a previous symbol, if the current context can encode the retrieved symbol. A count value corresponding to the entry associated with the retrieved symbol is incremented in the current context. The current context is sorted based on count values of all entries in the current context, where the code stream and the literal stream are to be compressed and encoded by a compressor. |
| US07656319B2 |
Context-based encoding and decoding of signals
A system for the context-based for the context-based encoding of an input signal includes a domain transform module and a context-based coding module. The domain transform module is operable to convert the input signal into a sequence of transform coefficients c[i]. The context-based coding module includes a bit-plane scanning module, and context modeling module, and a statistical encoding module. The bit-plane scanning module is operable to produce a bit-plane symbol bps [i,bp] for each transform coefficient c[i] and each bit-plane [bp]. The context modeling module is operable to assign one or more context values to each of the received bit plane symbols bps [i,bp]. The statistical coding module is operable to code each of the bit plane symbols bps [i,bp] as a function of one or more of the corresponding context values to produce a context-based encoded symbol stream. |
| US07656317B2 |
Reduced keypad for multi-tap input
An apparatus (625) with a first plurality of input keys (635). Some of the first input keys may be associated with both a numeric value and a first set of alphabetic values and arranged in a first alphabetic keypad layout. The apparatus (625) is further provided with a second plurality of input keys (645), positioned adjacent to the first plurality of input keys (635), and being associated with at least one alphabetic value. Some of the input keys of the second plurality of input keys (645) may be arranged in a second alphabetic keypad layout different from the first alphabetic keypad layout. Further, in various embodiments, at least some input keys of the first plurality of input keys (635) have a second set of alphabetic values that is used as part of the second alphabetic keypad layout. Additionally, in various embodiments, at least some of the alphabetic values of the second keyboard layout are arranged at least partially based on a frequency of use of such alphabetic values. |
| US07656316B2 |
Reduced keyboard character selection system and method
A system and method of selecting a character for display in a communication device having a display and a reduced-key keyboard is provided. One of the plurality of keys on the reduced-key keyboard is selected and a default letter associated with the selected key is displayed. A backspace key is selected to display a cursor in the position of the character on the display. The key associated with the default character is selected again and an alternate character associated with the selected key is displayed in place of the default letter. |
| US07656313B2 |
Method and system for supporting path control
Method and system for supporting path control are disclosed for supporting path control especially of a vehicle on a road or in an off-road environment, or of a ship or an airplane. The supporting of path control is especially provided by conducting at least one of the following steps (a) and (b): (a) estimating an actual future path of the vehicle on the basis of vehicle movement data and at least one of optically, acoustically, and tactilely indicating the estimated actual future path to the driver, (b) detecting the actual present path of the vehicle, estimating a present deviation of the detected actual present path from a desired present path and at least one of optically, acoustically, and tactilely indicating the estimated present deviation to the driver. |
| US07656311B2 |
Position tracking and proximity warning system
A position tracking system for determining a position of a vehicle. The position tracking system invention includes at least two position-enabled mesh nodes mounted to the vehicle and a mesh network operatively associated with the at least two position-enabled mesh nodes mounted to the vehicle. The mesh network is configured to determine a position of the vehicle based on signals received from the at least two position-enabled mesh nodes mounted to the vehicle. The position tracking system also includes a display system, which is operatively associated with the mesh network and which displays the position of the vehicle. |
| US07656308B2 |
AC powered wireless control 3-way light switch transmitter
An AC line powered RF transmitter light switch is described. The RF transmitter light switch is installed within a 3-way wall switch circuit thereby allowing direct and constant electrical connection of the RF transmitter light switch and the RF receiving light switch. The RF transmitter light switch is in RF communication with the receiving light switch to control the circuit load or light fixture. The RF receiving light switch is in direct electrical connection to the load and acts as a master controller regarding of the position of the RF transmitter light switch even though the RF transmitter light switch is installed within the 3-way wall switch circuit. |
| US07656305B2 |
Monitoring system
There is disclosed a monitoring system for monitoring alignment of a piston rod assembly of a reciprocating pump, such as those used to pump drilling mud in the oil and gas exploration and production industry. In one embodiment, a monitoring system is disclosed which is for a reciprocating pump (10) of a type comprising a fluid end component (20), a power end component (18), and a piston rod assembly (12) extending between the fluid and power end components. The monitoring system includes a number of sensors (52, 74) coupled to the piston rod assembly, for providing an output indicative that the piston rod assembly is experiencing bending stress, which occurs in the event that the piston rod assembly becomes misaligned, in use of the pump. |
| US07656303B2 |
Gas sensor system with failure diagnostic function and failure diagnosis method for gas sensor system
A gas sensor system includes a gas sensor capable of producing an output signal responsive to the concentration of a specific gas component in measurement gas, a gas concentration determination device that makes electrical connections to the gas sensor and determines the concentration of the specific gas component according to the output signal of the gas sensor, a failure detection device that detects a potential failure in any one of the electrical connections, a sensor temperature determination device that judges whether the gas sensor has been cooled to a predetermined temperature or lower with reference to a sensor temperature parameter and a failure identification device that, when the gas sensor has been cooled to the predetermined temperature or lower, outputs a diagnosis signal to the gas sensor, measures potentials of the electrical connections under the diagnosis signal and identifies in which of the electrical connections the potential failure is occurring based on the measured potentials. |
| US07656302B2 |
Sensing chamber with enhanced ambient atmospheric flow
A sensing chamber promotes an inflow of ambient atmosphere by establishing an internal temperature gradiant. A closed loop control system can be provided to maintain the gradiant. |
| US07656293B2 |
Verification scheme used for email message containing information about remotely monitored devices
The present invention relates to sending control or monitoring information between two hardware devices utilizing email. Control information relating to either a first hardware device or a second hardware device is determined. This information is incorporated into an email message. Directing information for directing the control information is incorporated into the email message. Two hardware devices can then operate cooperatively over different remote networks. These networks only need to be compatible in the ability to exchange email for communication to persist between the two hardware devices. The control information and/or the directing information can encrypt. The control information and/or the directing information can be encoded. In embodiments of the present invention the encoding map is encrypted. |
| US07656290B2 |
Location system
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a user may receive guidance information from a guidance support center via a location system. |
| US07656289B2 |
Apparatus for monitoring an inside of a manhole
An apparatus for monitoring an inside of a manhole in which the inside of the manhole is monitored using a simple communication and power supply unit is closed. The apparatus comprises power cables installed inside a manhole, a connecting unit connecting the corresponding power cables, a monitoring communication control unit colleting maintenance information about the corresponding power cables and performing signal processing of the maintenance information, a power supply unit supplying power directly from the power cable or the connecting unit to the monitoring communication control unit, a signal injection unit digitalizing the maintenance information collected by the monitoring communication control unit and injecting the digitalized information into the power cable to transmit the maintenance information to a next manhole, and a signal receiver installed in the power cable or the connecting unit and receiving maintenance information transmitted via the power cable to input the received maintenance information to the monitoring communication control unit. Accordingly, a device and a communication line need not to be installed outside the manhole and a power line need not to be drawn out from the outskirts of a city and the inside of the manhole can be simply and conveniently monitored. |
| US07656288B2 |
Systems and methods for automatic proactive pattern recognition at a control center database
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for improved data communications within a remote sensor system. The system includes a control center node. The control center is adapted to receive data, process the data based at least in part on a rule, and notify a user when the rule is satisfied. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for improved data communications within a remote sensor system. The method includes detecting an event, generating data based at least in part on the event, processing the data based at least in part on a rule, and notifying a user when the rule is satisfied. |
| US07656287B2 |
Alert system with enhanced waking capabilities
Methods and systems for waking an individual to an alert condition such as smoke or a fire have greatly improved ability to wake sleeping individuals compared to conventional methods. For example, preferred waking devices include a fluid spray directed toward the head of a bed and the person sleeping in that bed. Used in conjunction with standard digital processing techniques, the systems offer greatly improved reliability and the ability to save lives. |
| US07656283B2 |
Vehicle recognizing apparatus
A vehicle recognizing apparatus which does not require a sophisticated image processing function of a vehicle on a recognizing side and allows a recognized vehicle to be immediately and accurately recognized by a simple image processing system. A pair of first and second infrared markers on the left and right sides are, respectively, placed at a pair of left and right vehicle components. Furthermore, a third infrared marker is provided to form a virtual triangle which may be easily distinguished by a recognizing system from extraneous infrared light sources. |
| US07656282B2 |
Batteryless tire inflation pressure detecting apparatus with improved power-saving configuration
A tire inflation pressure detecting apparatus includes a second transceiver provided on the body of a vehicle which changes its operation alternately between a second transmitter and a second receiver mode, thereby intermittently transmitting a radio wave. A first transceiver provided on a wheel of the vehicle operates in a first receiver mode to receive the radio wave, thereby charging a charging unit. When the charging unit has been sufficiently charged, the first transceiver changes operation thereof from the first receiver mode to a first transmitter mode, in which the first transceiver first repeatedly transmits an informing signal at predetermined time intervals for a predetermined time period and then transmits a pressure signal. When the informing signal is received by the second transceiver in the second receiver mode, the second transceiver keeps its operation in the second receiver mode until the pressure signal is completely received. |
| US07656277B2 |
Apparatus for detecting the presence of fog for automotive vehicle
An on-vehicle fog-presence determining apparatus having image fog-state determining means for determining whether or not an image picked up by an on-vehicle camera mounted on a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus comprises far-flung brightness acquiring means for acquiring a brightness of a far-flung road region, sky brightness acquiring means for acquiring a brightness of a sky around the vehicle and image fog-state determining means for making judgment using the brightness of the far-flung road region and the brightness of the sky. |
| US07656275B2 |
System and method for controlling an alarm for an electronic device
A graphical indicator, menu and method for modifying and displaying more than two states for the indicator is provided. An alarm indicator algorithm modifies and displays the indicator according to user-selectable options that enables a user to determine at first glance the nature of the next alarm and in particular when an alarm is not set to go off on a particular day to avoid accessing the alarm menu every time this knowledge is desired or whenever the user is uncertain of the settings. Various visual cues such as colour, graphical and textual elements can be used and the algorithm can associate these cues with appropriate alarm states. When the number of settings for the multi-state alarm is relatively large, a desktop web-based application program interface (API) may be used to facilitate setting and updating the alarm functions. |
| US07656272B2 |
Gaming security system and associated methods for selectively granting access
In various embodiments, the present invention provides a keyless management system for automating selective access to a lockable device and a method for selectively granting access. The system and method include the lockable device coupled to and secured by a security assembly; a processor remotely located from the device executing one or more algorithms operable for identifying a user, authorizing a predetermined level of command control based upon the identity of the user, receiving a command from the user to provide access to the device to at least one of the users and a third party, and translating the command into a form that may be received by the security assembly; a communications channel operable for communicating the translated command to the security assembly; and a controller proximately located to the device executing one or more algorithms operable for actuating the security assembly in response to the translated command, thereby providing access to the device to at least one of the users and a third party. |
| US07656271B2 |
System and method for managing a remotely located asset
A commercially viable solution for providing an asset management system that provides for accessing assets, tracking location of assets, managing OSHA compliance of the assets, and monitoring impact of the assets. The asset management system may utilize system architecture having intelligent wireless devices associated with the individual assets. The use of intelligent wireless devices allows for the asset management system to operate and maintain functionality substantially without loss of data in the event of a loss of communication between the wireless devices and a management computing system via a network, including an out-of-range condition of the wireless devices with respect to a local monitor. |
| US07656267B2 |
Electrical transformers and assemblies
The present disclosure relates to electrical transformer assemblies including a first lamination assembly defining a passage therethrough; and a second lamination assembly configured and dimensioned for press-fit or slide-fit engagement in the passage formed in the first lamination assembly. The first lamination assembly includes a stack of laminations each defining a central opening and defining the passage of the first lamination assembly when in a stacked condition. Each lamination of the first lamination assembly defines at least one shaped recess formed in a side edge of the central opening. The second lamination assembly includes a stack of laminations each including at least one shaped tab extending from a side edge thereof, wherein each tab is configured and dimensioned for press-fit or slide-fit engagement in a respective shaped recess formed in the side edges of the passage formed in the first lamination assembly. |
| US07656266B2 |
Toroidal star-shaped transformer
A toroidal power transformer is disclosed. The toroidal power transformer comprises a circular core composed of plurality of laminated electrically conductive materials, a plurality of multi-layered first windings radially wound around the circular core, said winding arranged with an angular spacing of 2θ and a number of windings in each winding layer is less than a number of windings in each previous layer, a multi-layered second winding radially wound around the circular core covering a corresponding one of said plurality of first windings, wherein the layers of each of said second windings are arranged to form a substantially triangular cross-section; and an insulating layer between each of said first and second windings. |
| US07656264B2 |
High coupling factor transformer and manufacturing method thereof
A high coupling factor transformer and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The transformer includes a primary winding and a secondary winding. The secondary winding is adjacent to the primary winding. The secondary winding and the primary winding induct with each other. The primary winding includes a plurality of first protruding portions, and the secondary winding includes a plurality of second protruding portions. The first protruding portions stretch to the secondary winding without electro-contact, and the second protruding portions stretch to the primary winding without electro-contact. |
| US07656263B2 |
Miniature circuitry and inductive components and methods for manufacturing same
Miniature circuitry and inductor components in which multiple levels of printed circuitry are formed on each side of a support panel, typically a printed circuit board or rigid flex. Magnetic members are embedded in one or more cavities in said support panel. Electrical connection between the plural levels of circuitry and multiple windings around the magnetic members are provided by plural plated through hole conductors. Small through hole openings accommodate a plurality of the plated through hole conductors since each is insulated from the others by a very thin layer of vacuum deposited organic layer such as parylene having a high dielectric strength. Adhesion of this plated copper to the organic layer is provided by first applying an adhesive promotor to the surface of the organic layer followed by the vacuum deposition of the organic layer. |
| US07656261B2 |
Integrated magnetic device and conductive structure thereof
An integrated magnetic device disposed on a system circuit board is disclosed. The integrated magnetic device comprises a bobbin, a magnetic core assembly, and a conductive structure. The bobbin has a main body for a primary winding to wind thereon and a channel piercing through the main body. The conductive structure comprises plural conductive units corresponded to each other and a first magnetic device. Each of the conductive units has a hollow portion, a receiving hole, and at least a conductive pin. The first magnetic device is electrically connected to the conductive units by the conducting part thereof piercing through the receiving holes of the conductive units. The conductive units are spaced by the main body of the bobbin, and the hollow portions of the conductive units are corresponded to the channel of the bobbin to receive parts of the magnetic core assembly, so as to assemble the bobbin, the magnetic core assembly and the conductive units as a second magnetic device. The first and second magnetic devices are integrated by the conductive structure and disposed on the system circuit board through the conductive pin of each of the conductive units of the conductive structure. |
| US07656260B2 |
Wire wound electronic part
A wire wound electronic part includes a core having a wire wound core and flanges formed on both ends thereof, a coil conductor wound around the wire wound core and terminal electrodes disposed at the bottom of the flange, in which both ends of the coil conductor are conductively connected to the terminal electrodes by a solder, wherein a pair of grooves are formed at the bottom crossing the wire wound core of one of the flanges. The groove has a bottom and side walls disposed being slanted on both sides thereof, in which the vertical height for the side wall is formed larger than the length for the bottom of the side wall. The terminal electrodes are contained in the groove, and edge portion in the lateral direction of the terminal electrode is restricted by the side wall of the groove. The edge portion in the lateral direction of the terminal electrode is restricted by the side wall of the groove, which makes the lateral size stable and suppresses the movement of the molten solder in the lateral direction of the groove, thereby preventing unstable height and attitude of the wire wound electronic part upon mounting to a circuit substrate. |
| US07656258B1 |
Magnet structure for particle acceleration
A magnet structure for particle acceleration includes at least two coils that include a continuous path of superconducting material [e.g., niobium tin (Nb3Sn) having an A15-type crystal structure] for electric current flow there through. The coils can be mounted in a bobbin, which together with the coils form a cold-mass structure. The coils are cooled to their superconducting temperatures via cryocoolers. Radial-tension members are coupled with the cold-mass structure to keep it centered, such that it remains substantially symmetrical about a central axis and is not pulled out of alignment by magnetic forces acting thereon. A wire can be wrapped around the coils, and a voltage can be applied thereto to quench the coils to prevent their operation of the coils in a partially superconducting condition, which may otherwise cause damage thereto. A magnetic yoke surrounds the cold-mass structure and includes a pair of poles that, in part, define an acceleration chamber there between. The inner surfaces of the poles have tapered profiles that establish a correct weak focusing requirement for ion and that reduce pole diameter by increasing energy gain versus radius. An integral magnetic shield is positioned about the yoke to contain magnetic fields emanating there from and can have a tortuous configuration to contain magnetic fields having a variety of orientations. The magnet structure can be very compact and can produce particularly high magnetic fields. |
| US07656255B2 |
Methods and apparatus for programmable active inductance
Methods and apparatus are provided for programmable active inductance. The disclosed active inductor devices provide a tunable bandwidth with improved linearity. The disclosed active inductors have a variable frequency response corresponding to a variable inductance of the active inductor. The active inductor comprises a variable resistive circuit having an effective resistance, wherein the variable resistive circuit is comprised of at least one resistor that can be selectively bypassed in the variable resistive circuit to vary the effective resistive. The active inductor has an inductance that can be varied by varying the effective resistance. |
| US07656254B2 |
Dielectric filter having electrodes jump-coupled to a flexion, a chip device having the dielectric filter and method of manufacturing the chip device
A chip device having a ground electrode and a plurality of top-surface electrodes on a plate-like dielectric substrate. Two of the top-surface electrodes are connected to the ground electrode via respective short-circuit side-surface electrodes to form quarter wavelength resonant lines. A third top-surface electrode is provided between the two top-surface electrodes and both ends thereof are opened to form a half wavelength resonant line. The two top-surface electrodes each have a parallel portion arranged near and in parallel to the third top-surface electrode and a flexion that curves from the parallel portion, extends toward the remaining of the two top-surface electrodes, and is jump-coupled to the remaining of the two top-surface electrodes. The short-circuit side-surface electrodes are jump-coupled to each other, like the flexions. |
| US07656253B2 |
Surface acoustic wave passband control
An apparatus in one example comprises a piezoelectric layer, an input transducer, an output transducer, and at least one electrode set. The input transducer is configured to convert an input signal from an input source to a surface acoustic wave and send the surface acoustic wave from an input portion of the piezoelectric layer to an output portion of the piezoelectric layer. The input transducer comprises a set of input passbands. The output transducer is configured to receive the surface acoustic wave from the output portion of the piezoelectric layer. The output transducer comprises a set of output passbands. The at least one electrode set is configured to apply at least one voltage bias to at least one portion of the piezoelectric layer to create an electric field that controls an acoustic velocity of the surface acoustic wave through the at least one portion of the piezoelectric layer. The at least one electrode set is configured to control one or more of the set of input passbands and the set of output passbands by adjustment of the at least one voltage bias. |
| US07656249B2 |
Matching circuit
First, second and third matching parts 110, 120, and 130 are connected in series between a circuit element 199 whose impedance has a frequency characteristic and a circuitry 198 having a constant impedance. The second matching part 120 has the capability of converting impedances. The first matching part 110 operates as an element having reactance values according to any of frequency bands selected by exclusive switching between on and off of switches 118, 119 and the third matching part 130 operates as an element having reactance values according to any of the frequency bands selected by switching between on and off of a switch 133, thereby providing matching in each frequency band. A seventh reactance circuit 131 is configured on the basis of an interdependence relation with the configuration of a fifth reactance circuit 115 and an eighth reactance circuit 132. |
| US07656245B2 |
Integrated clock generator and timing/frequency reference
In various embodiments, the invention provides a clock generator and/or a timing and frequency reference using an LC-oscillator topology, having a frequency controller to control and provide a stable resonant frequency, which is integrated with other, second circuitry such as a processor or controller. Frequency stability is provided over variations in a selected parameter such as temperature and fabrication process variations. The various apparatus embodiments include a sensor adapted to provide a signal in response to at least one parameter of a plurality of parameters; and a frequency controller adapted to modify the resonant frequency in response to the second signal. In exemplary embodiments, the sensor is implemented as a current source responsive to temperature fluctuations, and the frequency controller is implemented as a plurality of controlled reactance modules which are selectively couplable to the resonator or to one or more control voltages. The controlled reactance modules may include fixed or variable capacitances or inductances, and may be binary weighted. Arrays of resistive modules are also provided, to generate one or more control voltages. |
| US07656244B2 |
Discrete clock generator and timing/frequency reference
In various embodiments, the invention provides a discrete clock generator and/or a timing and frequency reference using an LC-oscillator topology, having a frequency controller to control and provide a stable resonant frequency, which may then be provided to other, second circuitry such as a processor or controller. Frequency stability is provided over variations in a selected parameter such as temperature and fabrication process variations. The various apparatus embodiments include a sensor adapted to provide a signal in response to at least one parameter of a plurality of parameters; and a frequency controller adapted to modify the resonant frequency in response to the second signal. In exemplary embodiments, the sensor is implemented as a current source responsive to temperature fluctuations, and the frequency controller is implemented as a plurality of controlled reactance modules which are selectively couplable to the resonator or to one or more control voltages. The controlled reactance modules may include fixed or variable capacitances or inductances, and may be binary weighted. Arrays of resistive modules are also provided, to generate one or more control voltages. |
| US07656243B2 |
Monolithic clock generator and timing/frequency reference
In various embodiments, the invention provides a clock generator and/or a timing and frequency reference, with multiple operating modes, such power conservation, clock, reference, and pulsed modes. The various apparatus embodiments include a resonator adapted to provide a first signal having a resonant frequency; an amplifier; a temperature compensator adapted to modify the resonant frequency in response to temperature; and a process variation compensator adapted to modify the resonant frequency in response to fabrication process variation. In addition, the various embodiments may also include a frequency divider adapted to divide the first signal having the resonant frequency into a plurality of second signals having a corresponding plurality of frequencies substantially equal to or lower than the resonant frequency; and a frequency selector adapted to provide an output signal from the plurality of second signals. The output signal may be provided in any of various forms, such as differential or single-ended, and substantially square-wave or sinusoidal. |
| US07656242B2 |
Electromagnetic electric generator
An electrical generator that uses a high frequency oscillator in a tuned circuit, set to resonate with the transmitter coil of a full-length high frequency transformer unit, to generate electromagnetic energy, to transform this energy to electrical energy and to collect this energy. |
| US07656238B2 |
Frequency synthesizing apparatus and method having injection-locked quadrature VCO in RF transceiver
A frequency synthesizing apparatus and method having an injection-locked quadrature VCO in an RF transceiver is provided. In the frequency synthesizer, an I signal following a frequency of a high frequency signal that is input using the injection-locked quadrature VCO and a Q signal thereof are simultaneously generated to have an appropriate driving power. Accordingly, the I signal and the Q signal thereof that are generated in the injection-locked quadrature VCO may be utilized as a local signal for frequency up/down-conversion, without being buffered. An output of an SSB mixer may be directly input into the injection-locked quadrature VCO. Also, high frequency signals that are generated in another circuit such as the SSB mixer, a PLL, or a VCO may be selected to be input into the injection-locked quadrature VCO by a selector. |
| US07656234B2 |
Circuit and oscillating apparatus
A circuit includes a logic circuit containing a first transistor and a second transistor which are connected in series to each other between a high power supply and a low power supply in such a manner that an emitter of one of the first and second transistors is connected to a collector of the other of the first and second transistors. The first transistor is positioned closer to the high power supply, and the second transistor is positioned closer to the low power supply. The logic circuit operates in accordance with voltages input into bases of the first and second transistors. The circuit further includes a current amplifying circuit containing a third transistor whose collector is connected to one of the high and low power supplies, whose emitter is connected to the other of the high and low power supplies, and whose base is connected to an output from the logic circuit. The current amplifying circuit amplifies a current of a logic signal from the logic circuit and feeds, from the emitter of the third transistor, the current-amplified logic signal back to the base of the second transistor. |
| US07656233B2 |
Apparatus for high power amplifier in wireless communication system
An apparatus for a High Power Amplifier (HPA) in a wireless communication system is provided. In one example, the apparatus includes a temperature sensor for determining temperature, a controller for receiving the determined temperature and for controlling a gate bias voltage corresponding to the determined temperature and an amplifier for amplifying a Radio Frequency (RF) signal by using the controlled gate bias voltage. |
| US07656224B2 |
Power efficient dynamically biased buffer for low drop out regulators
The buffer circuit includes a first transistor MP1 having a first end coupled to an output node N2 and a control node coupled to an input node N1; a second transistor MN2 coupled to a second end of the first transistor MP1; a third transistor MN1 coupled to the second transistor MN2 such that a current in the third transistor MN1 is mirrored to the second transistor MN2; a first sense device MP3 coupled to the output node N2; a first current source I2 coupled to the output node N2; a second current source I1 coupled to the third transistor MN1; a second sense device MP2 coupled to the third transistor MN1; and a bipolar device Q1 coupled to the output node N2 and having a base coupled to the second end of the first transistor MP1. |
| US07656222B2 |
Internal voltage generator
An apparatus for generating an internal voltage includes an output-voltage detecting unit for detecting a voltage level of an internal voltage, an oscillating unit for generating a periodic signal in response to a detection signal from the output-voltage level detecting unit, a first driving-voltage level detecting unit for detecting an increase of a voltage level of a driving voltage, a second driving-voltage level detecting unit for detecting a decrease of a voltage level of the driving voltage, a period control unit for controlling a period of the periodic signal in response to output signals of the first and second driving-voltage level detecting units, and a charge pumping unit for generating the internal voltage by charge-pumping the driving voltage in response to an output signal from the period control unit. |
| US07656220B2 |
Semiconductor device employing fuse circuit and method for selecting fuse circuit system
Disclosed are a semiconductor device capable of reducing the number of program fuses used therein, and a fuse circuit selection method capable of reducing the number of program fuses. The semiconductor device includes: a fuse circuit (11) and an entire inversion fuse circuit (12), each of which includes plural program fuses, and which store desired addresses based on cutting patterns of the plural program fuses, wherein the fuse circuit (11) and the entire inversion fuse circuit (12) are configured to be capable of storing addresses different from each other based on the same cutting pattern. As described above, since plural types of the cutting patterns of the program fuses exist even in the same address, the fuse circuit for use is appropriately selected, thus it is made possible to reduce the number of fuse elements to be cut as a whole. Thus, manufacturing cost of the semiconductor device can be reduced, and in addition, it is made possible to enhance reliability of the semiconductor device. |
| US07656219B2 |
Unity gain voltage buffer with dual supply voltage for managing current consumption in low voltage applications
A circuit and method for producing an output voltage that replicates an input voltage. A circuit comprises an amplifier stage configured to amplify a difference between an input voltage and a feedback voltage. An output stage is configured to produce an output voltage equal to the input voltage. The output stage configured to be driven by the difference between the input voltage and the feedback voltage. The output stage further comprises a main supply current path configured to provide a first current from a main supply source, the first current providing at least a portion of the output voltage, and a current management circuit configured to provide a second current from an auxiliary supply source, the second current providing any remaining portion of the output voltage not provided by the first current. |
| US07656216B1 |
Method and system for determining a clock input mode
A method and system is provided for clock input mode selection. When a signal provided on one of two clock input terminals is received, the received signal is considered in connection with a second input signal in order to determine whether the first input signal and the second input signal satisfy a pre-determined condition. Based on whether the pre-determined condition is met, a clock input mode is selected that indicates whether the clock input terminals provide a differential clock input or a single-ended digital clock input. |
| US07656213B2 |
Generating a pulse signal with a modulated duty cycle
Generating an output pulse signal (Y), which has an output signal period (Ty), which is divided by a magnitude transition into a leading part (LP) and a trailing part (TP). During each output signal period (Ty) altering means (27 to 36) determine in a coarse and fine way a duration (TLP, TTP) of one or both of said output signal period parts (LP, TP) by using a clock signal (Cx) of different clock cycle durations (TCx0, TCx1, TCx2), dependent on a value of a first digital number (D1) and a value of second, less significant digital number (D3, D5), respectively. |
| US07656212B1 |
Configurable delay chain with switching control for tail delay elements
A configurable delay chain with switching control. The configurable delay chain includes a plurality of delay elements. A switch circuit is included and is coupled to the delay elements and configured to select at least one of the plurality of delay elements to create a delay signal path. The delay signal path has an amount of delay in accordance with a number of delay elements comprising the delay signal path. An input is coupled to a first delay element of the delay signal path to receive an input signal and an output is coupled to the switch circuit and is coupled to the delay signal path to receive a delayed version of the input signal after propagating through the delay signal path. A plurality of turnoff devices are coupled to inputs of the delay elements and coupled to the switch circuit, wherein the switch circuit activates at least one turnoff device of at least one unused delay element that is not on the delay signal path. |
| US07656210B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit that operates on multiple supply potentials including a first potential and a second potential that is higher than the first potential. The semiconductor integrated circuit includes a potential-lowering circuit operating on the second supply potential and including an N-channel MOS transistor that lowers the second supply potential applied to a gate thereof to output a lowered potential from a source thereof, a judging circuit operating on the potential outputted from the potential-lowering circuit and judging whether the first supply potential is high-level or low-level, and a buffer circuit outputting a control signal showing whether the first supply potential is fed based on judgment outputted from the judging circuit. |
| US07656209B2 |
Output slew rate control
This document discusses, among other things, output slew rate control. Methods and structures are described to provide slew rate control of an output driver circuit such as a DRAM output driver on a die. A selectable combination of series coupled transistors are configured as a parallel array of complementary inverter pairs to provide a divided voltage to a calibrator. The calibrator is configured to respond to a differential voltage to adjust the divided voltage such that the differential voltage is forced to zero. The calibrator outputs a plurality of discrete signals from an up/down counter to switch on and off the individual transistors of the parallel array to increase and decrease a collective current. In some embodiments, transistor channel currents are modulated to step-adjust a voltage based on a ratio associated with a static resistance. In various embodiments, the divided voltage is an analog voltage based on a resistance associated with trim circuitry. |
| US07656203B2 |
Receiving circuit and method thereof
A receiving circuit is provided for receiving a data signal and a clock signal, which are RSDS signals, and outputting an output data signal to a data driver. The receiving circuit includes a data comparator, a data intermediate circuit, a clock comparator, a clock intermediate, and a flip-flop. The data comparator, driven with a data bias current, receives the data signal, and outputs a compared data signal. The clock comparator, driven with a clock bias current, receives the clock signal, and outputs a compared clock signal. The flip-flop receives the compared data signal via the data intermediate circuit and the compared clock signal via the clock intermediate circuit. The phase difference between the compared data signal and the compared clock signal is improved by adjusting the data and the clock bias currents. |
| US07656197B2 |
Decoder circuit
The decoder circuit includes: a power supply control circuit for supplying a first voltage; first and second transistors connected in series between the power supply control circuit and a first reference node; and third and fourth transistors connected between a connection node between the first and second transistors and a second reference node. The first transistor receives a first signal at its gate, and the second transistor receives a second signal corresponding to the first signal at its gate. The third transistor receives a third signal at its gate, and the fourth transistor receives a fourth signal corresponding to the third signal at its gate. The potential difference between the first voltage and the first reference node is smaller than the potential difference between the first reference node and the second reference node. |
| US07656195B2 |
Latch circuit, flip-flop circuit including the same, and logic circuit
Disclosed herein is a latch circuit including a switching circuit for switching output/non-output of an externally inputted external signal based on a predetermined control signal, a state retaining circuit for inputting a signal outputted from the switching circuit as an input signal, and retaining the state of the logical level of an output signal that is outputted based on the input signal, and a clear circuit for changing the logical level of the input signal to a clear level based on a clear signal. |
| US07656182B2 |
Testing method using a scalable parametric measurement macro
Disclosed are testing method embodiments in which, during post-manufacture testing, parametric measurements are taken from on-chip parametric measurement elements and used to optimize manufacturing in-line parametric control learning and/or to optimize product screening processes. Specifically, these post-manufacture parametric measurements can be used to disposition chips without shipping out non-conforming products, without discarding conforming products, and without requiring high cost functional tests. They can also be used to identify yield sensitivities to parametric variations from design and to provide feedback for manufacturing line improvements based on the yield sensitivities. Additionally, a historical database regarding the key parameters that are monitored at both the fabrication and post-fabrication levels can be used to predict future yield and, thereby, to preemptively improve the manufacturing line and/or also to update supply chain forecasts. |
| US07656178B2 |
Method for calibrating semiconductor device tester
A method for calibrating a semiconductor device tester is disclosed. In accordance with method of the present invention, a timing is calibrated using a programmable delay device and calibration boards so as to remove a timing difference between channels and compensate a linearity of the programmable delay device for an adjustment of a timing by building and using a database of the round trip delay actually generated during the test. |
| US07656172B2 |
System for testing semiconductors
A semiconductor testing system that includes an plural imaging devices for capturing plural video sequences from a single optical path and concurrently displaying the video sequences for effectively positioning a probe for testing a semiconductor wafer. |
| US07656171B2 |
Method and apparatus for reviewing defects by detecting images having voltage contrast
A method and apparatus for detecting defects includes irradiating and scanning an electron beam focused on an area of a sample, detecting charged particles generated from the sample by the irradiating and scanning of the electron beam with a first detector which detects charged particles having relatively low energy to obtain a first image of the area and with a second detector which detects charged particles having relatively high energy to obtain a second image of the area, comparing the first inspection image of the area with a first reference image to generate a first difference image, and comparing obtained second image of the area with a second reference image to generate a second difference image, and detecting an open defect or a short defect from at least one of the generated first difference image and the second difference image. |
| US07656170B2 |
Multiple directional scans of test structures on semiconductor integrated circuits
Disclosed is a method of inspecting a sample. The sample is scanned in a first direction with at least one particle beam. The sample is scanned in a second direction with at least one particle beam. The second direction is at an angle to the first direction. The number of defects per an area of the sample are found as a result of the first scan, and the position of one or more of the found defects is determined from the second scan. In a specific embodiment, the sample includes a test structure having a plurality of test elements thereon. A first portion of the test elements is exposed to the beam during the first scan to identify test elements having defects, and a second portion of the test elements is exposed during the second scan to isolate and characterize the defect. |
| US07656159B2 |
Locating stationary magnetic objects
A technique for locating stationary magnetic objects comprises placing magnetic sensors on a movable platform; for each sensor, measuring a total magnetic field signal in an area of detection; using the sensors to identify a line upon which a target stationary magnetic object is located; and fixing a location of the object by moving the platform in substantially straight lines until the object is detected by at least two of the sensors; using the measured signals to determine a first path on which the object lies; positioning the sensors so that a line connecting two of the sensors intersects the first path on which the object lies; moving the platform along a second path substantially parallel to the first path; recording two positions at which at least two of the sensors detect a maximum total magnetic field signal from the object; and identifying a third path through the two positions. |
| US07656158B2 |
Sample holder for NMR measurements with field homogenization in the sample volume by means of the bordering surfaces of the sample holder
A sample vessel (80) made of material with magnetic susceptibility χ2, for containing a sample substance (87) with magnetic susceptibility χ3≠χ2 to be analyzed in a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer, has an inner interface G2 toward the sample substance and an outer interface G1 toward the environment (85) that exhibits magnetic susceptibility χ1. The shape of the interface toward the sample substance and the interface toward the environment are coordinated to match the discontinuities in susceptibility at the interfaces in such a way that on introduction of the sample tube filled with sample substance into the previously homogeneous magnetic field of an NMR spectrometer, the magnetic field inside the sample substance remains largely homogeneous. |
| US07656156B2 |
MRI apparatus and method for processing MR imaging data
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a phase difference calculation unit configured to perform a one-dimensional Fourier transform on complex data not phase-encoded extracted from complex data of a nuclear resonant signal collected by dynamic scanning, and determining a phase difference in time of data obtained by performing a one-dimensional Fourier transform on the complex data not phase-encoded. A correction unit is configured to correct for non-uniformity of static magnetic field caused during the dynamic scanning, depending upon the phase difference. |
| US07656155B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and imaging method in the same
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an imaging unit applying a gradient magnetic field and a radio frequency pulse to an inspection body in an magnetostatic field and generating a magnetic resonance signal, a bed having a top panel for placing the inspection body thereon and sliding the top panel in a longitudinal direction, a radio frequency coil for detecting the magnetic resonance signal, a display unit displaying a positioning image, a determining unit determining an ROI (a region of interest) on the basis of designation on the positioning image, a comparing unit comparing the ROI with an available FOV (a field of view) defined by the magnetostatic field, a calculating unit calculating a plurality of FOVs including the ROI when the comparing unit determines that the size of the ROI is greater than that of the available FOV, and a control unit controlling the imaging unit, the bed, and the radio frequency coil so as to perform an imaging operation on each of the FOVs. |
| US07656152B2 |
Pusher for match plate of test handler
A pusher for a match plate of a test handler is disclosed which assists a tester to test the produced semiconductor devices. The pusher includes: a body part installed to an installation plate; and a pushing part that extends forward from a front side of the body part, for pushing a semiconductor device placed on an insert of a test tray. The pusher forms: an air through hole that extends through from a rear side of the body part to the front side of the pushing part, for guiding air of a certain temperature, supplied to the rear side of the body part from a duct, to be supplied to the semiconductor device; and at least one or more air outflow holes that extend through from at least one side of the pushing part and communicate with the air through hole, for allowing part of the air supplied from the duct through the air through hole to flow out to a test site. The pusher can reduce the temperature deviation of semiconductor devices at the test site. |
| US07656151B2 |
Printed circuit board with an opening to access components attached to the printed circuit board
An electronic package includes a printed circuit board having a primary side, and a secondary side. A component, having a main body, is attached to the primary side of the printed circuit board. A pad is attached to the main body of the component. The printed circuit board has an opening therein positioned near the pad. |
| US07656150B2 |
Test handler and loading method thereof
When a test handler loads semiconductor devices of user trays onto a test tray, the test handler adjusts a front/rear pitch or a right/left pitch between the semiconductor devices, adjusts the right/left pitch or the front/rear pitch, and loads the semiconductor devices. The test handler can sequentially adjust individually the front/rear pitch and the right/left pitch between the semiconductor devices, thereby reducing the apparatus weight and the loading time. |
| US07656149B2 |
Current transformer and electric energy meter
A current transformer detects a sine-wave alternating current having a maximum effective current value Imax(Arms) and a frequency f(Hz) and a half-sine-wave rectified current having a maximum peak value Ipeak(Aop) and a frequency f(Hz) in a primary winding, consisting of at least one magnetic core with one turn of primary winding and at least one multiple turns of secondary winding to which a detecting resistor is connected. |
| US07656143B2 |
DC-DC converter
To present a DC-DC converter efficient in conversion and not requiring an external diode. The DC-DC converter includes a main NMOS transistor FET1 as a main switching device, a driver DVH1 for driving a gate terminal of the main NMOS transistor FET1, a capacitor C2 connected between a source terminal of the main NMOS transistor FET1 and a power source terminal of the driver DVH1, and an NMOS transistor FET3 connected between a route leading to an input power source and the power source terminal of the driver DVH1. The NMOS transistor FET3 does not conduct when the main NMOS transistor FET1 conducts, and conducts when the main NMOS transistor FET1 does not conduct. |
| US07656136B2 |
Digital voltage converter with constant off-time and variable on-time of controller
In a digital boost or buck-boost converter, a pulse width modulation signal has an on-time and an off-time. A constant off-time period is provided to set the off-time to be constant, and an on-time period to determine the on-time is derived by monitoring the output voltage of the converter. With the constant off-time, the output voltage and the on-time period will have a linear relation, thereby reducing the output ripple when the converter operates with a high duty-ratio. |
| US07656132B2 |
Battery charger apparatus with a digital charge reduction loop
A battery charger apparatus for charging a battery, comprises a charge-current control circuit for receiving a charge-current control signal to control an amount of charge current being drawn from an input source, e.g., a USB port or a line adapter; an analog control circuit for generating an analog control signal representative of a maximum amount of charge current to be used to charge a battery; a digital charge reduction loop including a circuit for determining a charge-current adjustment signal based on a source voltage of the input source; a counter for generating a digital count value based on the charge-current adjustment signal; and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for generating a DAC control signal based on the digital count value of the counter, the DAC control signal being representative of a reduced amount of charge current to be used to charge the battery; and a switching mechanism for selecting one of the analog control signal or the DAC control signal based on the source voltage, the selected control signal being used as the charge-current control signal to the charge-current control circuit. |
| US07656131B2 |
Methods of charging battery packs for cordless power tool systems
In a method of charging a battery pack, the pack is inserted in a charger and an initial set of checks of cell voltage and pack temperature is performed. Once the initial set of checks is satisfied, the cells may be charged at a first constant current level. The first constant current level is adjusted to one or more lower levels of constant current until cell voltages of all the cells are within a full charge voltage window. The voltage window is defined between a minimum full charge cell voltage level and a maximum full charge cell voltage level. The charge may be terminated once all of the cells are within the full charge voltage window. |
| US07656126B2 |
Abnormality detection apparatus for secondary battery device
There is provided an abnormality detection apparatus for a secondary battery device having n secondary batteries (where n is 2 or more) connected in series for obtaining a high battery voltage. The apparatus includes n voltage detecting circuits which outputs high-level signals at a normal voltage between both terminals of each of the n secondary batteries, n N-channel field effect transistors having gates to which outputs of the n voltage detecting circuits are respectively supplied, and n P-channel field effect transistors having gates to which drain voltages of the n N-channel field effect transistors are respectively supplied. In the n P-channel field effect transistors, a drain of a P-channel field effect transistor is connected to a source of the next P-channel field effect transistor successively, thus detecting an abnormality by a voltage obtained at a drain of the n-th P-channel field effect transistor. |
| US07656120B2 |
Power supply system comprising rechargeable battery pack and attachment apparatus
A power supply system capable of providing electric power to an electronic device having a first battery includes a battery pack (100) and an attachment apparatus (300). The battery pack includes a body (110) having at least a first recess (221), a second battery inside the body, and at least one of a first circuit (500) capable of dynamically changing a charge current supplied to the second battery based on a power consumption level of the electronic device, and a second circuit (600) capable of dynamically switching the electronic device between a recharging state and a non-recharging state depending on a status of the battery pack. The attachment apparatus includes a frame (310), an extension (350) protruding from the frame, and attachment features (461) suitable for working with the recess to attach the battery pack and the attachment apparatus to each other and to the electronic device. |
| US07656117B2 |
System and method for precharging passive harmonic filters
A system and method for precharging a harmonic filter connected to a power supply line to receive AC power and deliver the AC power to the motor drive unit includes a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to monitor an operational state of the motor drive unit or the power supply line, and generate a first control signal upon a predetermined change in the operational state and a second control signal delayed from the first control signal. The system also includes a charging circuit having a first switch configured to actuate in response to the first control signal to provide a reduced power to at least a portion of the harmonic filter and a second switch configured to actuate in response to the second control signal to provide a non-reduced power to the at least a portion of the harmonic filter. |
| US07656116B2 |
Power supply system with function of short circuit detection
There are provided upper and lower switching elements 1U to 1W and 2U to 2W for energizing motor drive windings 4U to 4W, a control circuit 20 that starts outputting a control signal for energization based on an energization instruction, pre-drive circuits 8U to 8W and 9U to 9W for controlling ON/OFF of the upper and lower switching elements based on the control signal, and short circuit detection circuits 10U to 10W for detecting short circuits in a node 14 between the upper and lower switching elements to higher-potential and lower-potential power sources based on the control signal and a voltage of the node. The short circuit detection circuits are controlled to detect a short circuit in the node to the lower-potential power source with all the upper switching elements turned ON and all the lower switching elements turned OFF and to detect a short circuit in the node to the higher-potential power source with all the upper switching elements turned OFF and all the lower switching elements turned ON, in a state where the motor drive windings are not energized. It is possible to prevent a situation in which a short circuit cannot be detected depending on a resistance component of a drive target. |
| US07656115B2 |
Calibrating stepper motor by driving fractional ranges
A stepper motor driving a driven member is calibrated by periodically driving the member from its current operational position to an end stop of the driven member's total travel range; however, the driven member approaches the end stop in a series of ever-shorter travel segments. The first travel segment is less than ⅓ the total travel range to compensate for a possible sudden speed reversal, which can be accidentally triggered by the driven member reaching and “bouncing off” the end stop. Limiting the commanded first travel segment to less than ⅓ the total travel range prevents the driven member from reaching an opposite travel limit should the driven member suddenly reverse direction at three times the normal forward speed, wherein such triple speed is characteristic of reverse-speed situations. |
| US07656114B2 |
Servo control apparatus for a linear motor
A servo control apparatus for a linear motor comprises a position feedback device, a driver and a position compensating device that are connected with one another. The servo control apparatus is electrically connected to the linear motor. By such arrangements, it can not only improve the precision of the displacement of the linear motor, but also make the movement of the linear motor relatively smooth. |
| US07656109B2 |
Trash can with power operated lid
A trash can can include a sensor for detecting the presence of an object near a lower portion of the trash can. The detection of the object can be used to signal the trash can to open its lid. The trash can can include an electric drive unit for opening and closing the lid. |
| US07656103B2 |
Impedance matching circuit for current regulation of solid state lighting
Exemplary embodiments provide an impedance matching circuit for providing variable power from a dimmer switch having a triac to a switching power supply couplable to solid-state lighting. An exemplary impedance matching circuit includes a first resistor coupled to receive a first current from the switching power supply; a second resistor; and a transistor coupled in series to the second resistor, with the transistor responsive to a gate voltage to modulate a second current through the second resistor in response to a detected level of the first current through the first resistor. |
| US07656101B2 |
Cold cathode tube drive device
A cold-cathode tube drive device includes an inverter circuit (1) for generating a high-frequency voltage, a booster transformer (2) for boosting the high-frequency voltage generated by the inverter circuit (1), a cold-cathode tube (3) which is turned on by the high-frequency voltage after boosted by the booster transformer (2), a series circuit (6) having a reactance element (4) connected in parallel to the cold-cathode tube (3), a synthesis circuit (8) for combining the connected current value i2 of the series circuit (6) with the secondary side current value i1 of the booster transformer (2) so as to indirectly detect the lamp current value iL of the cold-cathode tube (3), and a control circuit (9) for controlling the inverter circuit (1) according to the lamp current value iL indirectly detected by the synthesis circuit (8) and controlling the lamp current of the cold-cathode tube (3). |
| US07656100B2 |
System for temperature prioritised colour controlling of a solid-state lighting unit
The present invention relates to a system (100) for controlling light output of a lighting system. The system (100) comprises a light mixing circuit (116) comprising a plurality of light sources configured to provide a mixed light output (102) and mounted on a heat-sink (202) together with a temperature sensing means and a controller (108) receiving a set-point (110) from a calibration matrix (104) and generating a driving signal (120, 122) for the light mixing circuit (116). The controller (108) comprises a rescale unit (118) configured to measure power of the driving signal (120, 122) and to rescale the driving signal (120, 122) when the power exceeds a predetermined power threshold, and the controller is configured to receive the heat-sink temperature signal (206) and to calculate a junction temperature from the heat-sink temperature signal, and the controller (108) generates the driving signal (120, 122) as a function of the junction temperature. |
| US07656089B2 |
Tape carrier package on reel and plasma display device using the same
A Tape Carrier Package (TCP) that is attachable to and detachable from a connector of a Printed circuit Board Assembly (PBA) of a plasma display apparatus that includes a plurality of electrodes, and a plasma display device including the same. The TCP includes an input portion that is attachable to and detachable from the PBA, an output portion that is attachable to and detachable from one of the plurality of electrodes of the plasma display apparatus, and at least one alignment mark, at least a portion of the alignment mark corresponding to or abutting an edge of the input portion. |
| US07656087B2 |
Flat panel display
A flat panel display capable of reducing element defects by decreasing taper angles of contact holes and a via hole. The flat panel display includes a thin film transistor having at least source and drain electrodes formed over an insulating substrate, an insulating layer having a via hole for exposing one of the source and drain electrodes, and an anode connected to said one of the source and drain electrodes through the via hole. The via hole and the anode are tapered with taper angles of 60° or less. The source and drain electrodes are connected respectively to source and drain regions of the thin film transistor through the contact holes. The contact holes are also tapered with taper angles of 60° or less. |
| US07656086B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display and method of manufacture thereof
An organic light emitting diode display having a driving circuit portion for driving an organic light emitting diode portion that includes a thin film transistor that has a semiconductor layer, a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode, and is disposed between the organic light emitting diode portion and the driving circuit substrate, and a storage capacitor that has lower and upper electrodes and a dielectric layer interposed therebetween and is disposed on the organic light emitting diode portion is provided. The thin film transistor is formed between the organic light emitting diode portion and the driving circuit substrate, and the storage capacitor is formed on the organic light emitting diode portion. |
| US07656079B2 |
Heater and heating device with heaters with lamps having an independently powered multiple part filament
A heating device in which uniform heating of an article to be processed is possible even in the case a temperature change which leads to a loss of the uniformity of the temperature distribution in a narrowly delineated area, and in which a reduction in the size of the device is possible. The heating device has a plurality of heaters, each heater having a single bulb of transparent material in which there is a filament that is divided in the axial direction into several filament parts and the respective filament parts are supplied with power independently of each other. |
| US07656077B2 |
Laminated piezoelectric device
A laminated piezoelectric device obtained by alternately laminating the piezoelectric layers containing Pb and the conducting layers containing palladium as a conducting component, wherein the piezoelectric layer formed between the two conducting layers has layer regions where Pb and Pd are mixed together in the interfacial portions thereof relative to the conducting layers, the layer regions having a thickness of not larger than 3% of the thickness of the piezoelectric layer. The laminated piezoelectric device is formed by co-firing the Pb-containing piezoelectric layers and the palladium (Pd)-containing layers, the piezoelectric layers therein having a large insulation resistance and good piezoelectric characteristics. |
| US07656074B2 |
Voice coil motor device for positioning
A voice coil motor device for positioning is disclosed. The voice coil motor device for positioning includes a fixed element, a moving element and a connector. The moving element is movably disposed on the fixed element. One end of the connector is connected with the fixed element and the other end of the connector is connected with the moving element. A piezoelectric element is disposed on the connector or deposed between the moving element and the fixed element. The piezoelectric element can be deformed with the movement of the moving element to generate a displacement signal of a moving element. The positioning of the voice coil motor can be achieved precisely basing on the judgment on the displacement signal of the moving element generated with the movement of the moving element by the piezoelectric element. |
| US07656073B2 |
Driving device
A driving device, small in size and light in weight, is to stabilize the position of a surface-deforming element while reducing the effect of gravity thus enabling stable transfer and positioning. The driving device is structured to hold a movable member integrated with a piezoelectric vibrator and a lens by a shaft provided at a tip of a spring extended from an inner surface to center of a passageway. The shaft extends through an opening formed in a protrusion of the movable member. By a tensile force of the spring, the movable member at its outer periphery is pulled radially and held. When applying a voltage with a waveform changing sharply to the piezoelectric vibrator, the movable member flexes maximally upward or downward to have a reduced diameter and an increasing acceleration thereby making a movement. Then, when a frictional force increases, the protrusion is held at a point where the movable member moves. Because of being held by a tensile force, the effect of gravity decreases and hence the movable member is stabilized in position relative to a direction of transfer. |
| US07656069B2 |
Dynamoelectric machine
First and second magnet holding apertures are disposed through first and second permanent magnet holding seats that are disposed so as to protrude from first and second yoke portions so as to have aperture centers that are oriented in an axial direction. Cylindrical resin first and second magnet loading portions are disposed so as to project integrally on first and second fans such that central axes thereof are oriented in the axial direction, and first and second permanent magnets are insert-molded into the first and second magnet loading portions. The first and second fans are fixed to first and second pole cores by fitting the first and second magnet loading portions together with the first and second magnet holding apertures. |
| US07656068B2 |
Dynamoelectric rotor
Each of first and second pole cores has a boss portion, six core flange portions; and six claw-shaped magnetic pole portions, the first and second pole cores being disposed such that the claw-shaped magnetic pole portions face each other so as to intermesh and leading end surfaces of the boss portions are abutted with each other. The boss portions include coil mount portions in which cross-sectional shapes that are perpendicular to the central axis are hexagons; and abutted portions that have circular cross sections and that are disposed so as to protrude from leading ends of the coil mount portions. Radially-inner surfaces of the claw-shaped magnetic pole portions face side surfaces of the coil mount portions and are parallel to the side surfaces of the coil mount portions at the cross sections that are perpendicular to the central axis. |
| US07656063B2 |
Pump motor
A rotor is accommodated in a yoke housing. Six magnets are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the inner circumferential surface of the yoke housing so as to face the rotor. The core is generally cylindrical and includes an annular portion at an anti-output side and a balance at an output side. The magnets have six poles so as to effectively narrow a basal path width of the core in which the line of magnetic force concentrates most and magnetic saturation is likely to occur most. This reduces the diameter of the core. Therefore, the motor is effectively miniaturized in the axial direction and in the radial direction without complicating the formation steps. |
| US07656062B2 |
Split coil linear motor for z force
Methods and apparatus for enabling a coil to be used to provide a net force along more than one axis are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, an actuator includes a magnet assembly and a coil assembly. The coil assembly moves at least partially within the magnet arrangement, and includes a top coil half and a bottom coil half. The top coil half and the bottom coil half are independently controllable such that a first current applied to the top coil half may be independently applied from a second current applied to the bottom coil half. |
| US07656061B2 |
Automatic power source configuration
A circuit to supply power to a detachable load incorporates a power source, a power converter and an array of capacitors. Upon connection of the detachable load, the capacitors of the array of capacitors are automatically configured into a desired series, parallel or combination series and parallel configuration of interconnections to accommodate limitations in the voltage ranges of the capacitors in being coupled to the load and/or to achieve other desired characteristics of electrical power to be provided to the load. Further, upon connection of the detachable load, a limit on current flow imposed by the power converter may be set to a desired level to achieve desired characteristics of electrical power to be provided to the load and/or desired characteristics of charging and discharging behaviors of the array of capacitors. |
| US07656059B2 |
System and method for a power system micro grid
A system and method for transferring power from power sources to an AC power system are disclosed. Briefly described, one embodiment electrically couples an external AC power source to a first input power control (IPC) module that is rated at a first AC input power capacity and that is rated at a first direct current (DC) input power capacity, operates the first IPC module up to the first AC input power capacity in response to receiving AC power from an external AC power source, electrically couples an external DC power source to a second IPC module that is rated at a second AC input power capacity and that is rated at a second DC input power capacity, and operates the second IPC module up to the second DC input power capacity in response to receiving DC power from an external DC power source. |
| US07656058B2 |
Structure of inverter
An inverter structure includes a power source and an uninterruptible power supply device. The uninterruptible power supply device includes a power output selector and a constant-current controller built therein. The uninterruptible power supply device has an input terminal connected to the power source and output terminals connectable to external electrical appliance facilities via the power output selector and the constant-current controller. When power is supplied from the power source, the power output selector and the constant-current controller built in the uninterruptible power supply device function to effect distribution of power output to the electrical appliance facilities in accordance with preset condition. |
| US07656057B2 |
Power conditioner and method of operating the same
A power conditioner for supplying controlled power generated from a power source such as a fuel cell or a solar battery to a load. The power conditioner includes a main converter converting the output voltage of the power source; an auxiliary converter converting the output voltage of the main converter to a voltage that is supplied to BOP elements; and a direct connecting line connecting the output voltage of the power source to the auxiliary converter bypassing the main converter. Accordingly, because the voltage for the power to be supplied to the BOP elements is converted only once, the power loss can be significantly reduced compared to the power loss from a conventional power conditioner. |
| US07656049B2 |
CMOS device with asymmetric gate strain
The use of strained gate electrodes in integrated circuits results in a transistor having improved carrier mobility, improved drive characteristics, and reduced source drain junction leakage. The gate electrode strain is obtained through non symmetric placement of stress inducing structures as part of the gate electrode. Silicon nitride layers may be placed on one side of the gate electrode in a compressive mode, or on the other side of the gate electrode in a tensile mode to obtain similar results. |
| US07656045B2 |
Cap layer for an aluminum copper bond pad
A bond pad for an electronic device such as an integrated circuit makes electrical connection to an underlying device via an interconnect layer. The bond pad has a first layer of a material that is aluminum and copper and a second layer, over the first layer, of a second material that is aluminum and is essentially free of copper. The second layer functions as a cap to the first layer for preventing copper in the first layer from being corroded by residual chemical elements. A wire such as a gold wire may be bonded to the second layer of the bond pad. |
| US07656043B2 |
Semiconductor package and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip, a first substrate layer and a second substrate layer. The semiconductor chip has an active surface and a plurality of pads disposed on the active surface. The first substrate layer is formed on the active surface of the semiconductor chip and has a plurality of first contacts electrically connected to the pads of the semiconductor chip. The second substrate layer is substantially smaller than the first substrate layer, is formed on the first substrate layer, and has a plurality of second contacts electrically connected to the first contacts of the first substrate layer. |
| US07656042B2 |
Stratified underfill in an IC package
A method includes joining an integrated circuit die having at least one low-k dielectric layer to a package substrate or printed circuit board using a plurality of solder bumps located between the die and the package substrate or printed circuit board. The low-k dielectric layer has a dielectric constant of about 3.0 or less. The solder bumps have a lead concentration of about 5% or less. A stratified underfill is formed between the die and the package substrate or printed circuit board. |
| US07656040B2 |
Stack structure of circuit board with semiconductor component embedded therein
A stack structure of circuit boards embedded with semiconductor components therein is proposed, which includes at least two semiconductor components embedded circuit boards, a plurality of conductive bumps, and at least one adhesive layer. The circuit boards are each formed with a circuit layer having a plurality of electrical connection pads. The conductive bumps are formed on the electrical connection pads of at least one of the circuit boards. The adhesive layer is formed between the circuit boards such that a portion of the adhesive layer between the conductive bumps and the electrical connection pads, or between the opposing conductive bumps, forms a conductive channel and thereby forms an electrical connection between the circuit boards. |
| US07656039B2 |
Multi chip module
The present invention provides a multi chip module which realizes high functions or high performances thereof. A multi chip module is constituted by stacking a first semiconductor chip on which a digital signal processing circuit is mounted, a second semiconductor chip which constitutes a dynamic random access memory, a third semiconductor chip which constitutes a non-volatile memory, and a mounting substrate thus forming the stacked structure. The first semiconductor chip is arranged on an uppermost layer with a spacer interposed on a back surface side thereof. The second semiconductor chip is arranged on the mounting substrate. |
| US07656038B2 |
Substrate sheet, manufacturing method of circuit substrate, and ink jet head
A plurality of external electrodes 11c, 11m are disposed in parallel along two sides facing each other of a region 300 corresponding to the circuit substrate to be manufactured, and a probing electrode is formed, which is connected to the external electrodes through extending conductors 13a, 13b extending to the outside the region 300 from the external electrodes. At this time, widths of the extending conductors 13a, 13b are set smaller than the widths of the external electrodes 11c, 11m and probing electrodes 12a, 12b. Therefore, a solder storage part is formed in a wide portion in a width changing part between an electrode and a conductor, and a necessary sufficient amount of solder is adhered to the surfaces of the external electrodes 11c, 11m. |
| US07656035B2 |
C4 joint reliability
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method comprising fabricating a die bump on a die, the die bump being shaped and dimensioned to at least reduce the flow of solder material used, to attach the die bump to a package substrate, towards an under bump metallurgy (UBM) layer located below the die bump. Advantageously, the method may comprise performing a substrate reflow operation to attach the package substrate to the die bump, without performing a separate wafer reflow operation to reflow the die bump. |
| US07656034B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor element, a lead, and a gold wire electrically connecting an electrode of the semiconductor element and the lead. In the semiconductor device, the gold wire is covered with a metal and is a continuous film formed by plating. |
| US07656033B2 |
Semiconductor device with a semiconductor chip using lead technology and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device using lead technology includes a semiconductor chip with external side electrodes of semiconductor components disposed on its top side. On its rear side, the semiconductor chip is connected to a rear side internal lead adapted to the rear side of semiconductor chip. On its top side, the semiconductor chip is connected a plurality of top side internal leads. The top side internal leads are electrically connected to external leads of the semiconductor device. |
| US07656032B2 |
Semiconductor chip mounting wiring board, manufacturing method for same, and semiconductor module
A semiconductor chip mounting wiring board 2 includes an insulating resin substrate 5, a first conductive bump 12 formed on one side of the insulative resin substrate 5 to mount a semiconductor chip 3, a wiring pattern 15 extending from the first conductive bump 12 toward the periphery of the insulating resin substrate 5, a filled viahole 9 leading from the other side of the insulating resin substrate 5 to the wiring pattern 15, and a second conductive bump 13, or a conductive pad 19, positioned just above the filled viahole 9 and electrically connected to the viahole 9. A semiconductor module is produced by mounting the semiconductor chip 3 in advance on the first conductive bump 12 on the semiconductor chip mounting wiring board 2 and stacking a plurality of the wiring boards 2 and interlayer members 20 each having an opening 27 to receive the semiconductor chip 3 and a conductive post 26 or conductive pad connected to the second conductive bump 13 of the wiring board 2 alternately on each other with an adhesive applied between them, placing another interconnecting circuit board such as an I/O wiring board 30 or the like on an outermost layer, and by applying hot-pressing to the stack. The semiconductor module thus produced has a high connection reliability and can be designed for a high mounting density and a lower profile. |
| US07656027B2 |
In-chip structures and methods for removing heat from integrated circuits
An in-chip system and method for removing heat from integrated circuits is disclosed. One embodiment is a substrate with a front side and a back side. The front side of the substrate is capable of having formed thereon a plurality of transistors. A plurality of structures within the substrate contain a solid heat conductive media comprising carbon nanotubes and/or a metal, such as copper. At least some of the plurality of structures extend from the back side of the substrate into the substrate. In some embodiments, the carbon nanotubes are formed within the substrate using a catalyst. |
| US07656025B2 |
Direct semiconductor contact ebullient cooling package
The semiconductor package as well as a method for making it and using it is disclosed. The semiconductor package comprises a semiconductor chip having at least one heat-generating semiconductor device and a volumetrically expandable chamber disposed to sealingly surround the semiconductor chip, the volumetrically expandable chamber filled entirely with a non-electrically conductive liquid in contact with the semiconductor device and circulated within the volumetrically expandable chamber at least in part by the generated heat of the at least one semiconductor device to cool the at least one semiconductor device. |
| US07656023B2 |
Electronic parts packaging structure and method of manufacturing the same
In an electronic parts packaging structure of the present invention, an electronic parts is mounted or formed on a silicon circuit substrate having a structure in which wiring layers on both sides thereof are connected to each other through a through electrode, and a protruded bonding portion which is ring-shaped and is made of glass, of a seal cap having a structure in which a cavity is constituted by the protruded bonding portion, is anodically bonded to a bonding portion of the silicon circuit substrate, thus, the electronic parts is hermetically sealed in the cavity of the sealing cap. |
| US07656022B2 |
Wiring board and manufacturing method for wiring board
A wiring board is provided, where in the case where the wiring board and a piezoelectric element are connected via solder, the strength of connection in the peripheral region of the wiring board can be increased, and it is difficult for a connection defect to occur in the step of connecting the wiring board to the piezoelectric element. In addition, a manufacturing method for this wiring board is provided. The area of attaching portions 27b provided in the peripheral region of an insulating film 20 is made greater than that of attaching portions 27a provided in the inward region. In addition, the thickness of solder bumps 25b which are formed by providing solder to attaching portions 27b is made substantially the same as the thickness of solder bumps 25a which are formed by providing solder to attaching portions 27a. |
| US07656015B2 |
Packaging substrate having heat-dissipating structure
Provided is a packaging substrate with a heat-dissipating structure, including a core layer with a first surface and an opposite second surface having a first metal layer and a second metal layer respectively. Portions of the first metal layer are exposed from a second cavity penetrating the core layer and second metal layer. Portions of the second metal layer are exposed from a first cavity penetrating the core layer and first metal layer. Semiconductor chips each having an active surface with electrode pads thereon and an opposite inactive surface are received in the first and second cavities and attached to the second metal layer and the first metal layer respectively. Conductive vias disposed in build-up circuit structures electrically connect to the electrode pads of the semiconductor chips. A heat-dissipating through hole penetrating the core layer and build-up circuit structures connects the metal layers and contact pads. |
| US07656012B2 |
Apparatus for use in semiconductor wafer processing for laterally displacing individual semiconductor devices away from one another
A chip-scale or wafer-level-package, having passivation layers on substantially all surfaces thereof to form a hermetically sealed-package, is provided. The package may be formed by disposing a first passivation layer on the passive or backside surface of a semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer may be attached to a flexible membrane and diced, such as by a wafer saw, to separate the semiconductor devices. Once diced, the flexible membrane may be stretched so as to laterally displace the individual semiconductor devices away from one another and substantially expose the side edges thereof. Once the side edges of the semiconductor devices are exposed, a passivation layer may be formed on the side edges and active surfaces of the devices. A portion of the passivation layer over the active surface of each semiconductor device may be removed so as to expose conductive elements formed therebeneath. |
| US07656011B2 |
Diode
A diode is disclosed. One embodiment provides a semiconductor body having a front and a back, opposite the front in a vertical direction of the semiconductor body. The semiconductor body contains, successively in the vertical direction from the back to the front, a heavily n-doped zone, a weakly n-doped zone, a weakly p-doped zone and a heavily p-doped zone. In the vertical direction, the weakly p-doped zone has a thickness of at least 25% and at most 50% of the thickness of the semiconductor body. |
| US07656001B2 |
Front-side illuminated, back-side contact double-sided PN-junction photodiode arrays
The present invention is a photodiode detector array for use in computerized tomography (CT) and non-CT applications. Specifically, the present invention is a high-density photodiode arrays, with low dark current, low capacitance, high signal to noise ratio, high speed, and low crosstalk that can be fabricated on relatively large substrate wafers. More specifically the photodiode array of the present invention is fabricated such that the PN-junctions are located on both the front side and back side surfaces of the array, and wherein the front side PN-junction is in electrical communication with the back side PN-junction. Still more specifically, the present invention is a photodiode array having PN-junctions that are electrically connected from the front to back surfaces and which can be operated in a fully depleted mode at low reverse bias. |
| US07656000B2 |
Photodetector for backside-illuminated sensor
A backside-illuminated sensor including a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate has a front surface and a back surface. A plurality of pixels are formed on the front surface of the semiconductor substrate. At least one pixel includes a photogate structure. The photogate structure has a gate that includes a reflective layer. |
| US07655998B2 |
Single plate system color solid-state image pick-up device has microlenses in red pixels set to be smaller than microlenses in green pixel
A single plate system color solid-state image pick-up device of a microlens loading type, the device comprising: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of light receiving portions formed in a two-dimensional array in a surface portion of the semiconductor substrate; color filters each of which is for any of red, green and blue colors; and microlenses, wherein each of the color filters and each of the microlenses are laminated above on each of the light receiving portions, wherein first ones of the microlenses, corresponding to ones of the light receiving portions on which ones for the red color of the color filters are laminated, have smaller light receiving areas than those of second ones of the microlenses, corresponding to ones of the light receiving portions on which ones for the green color of the color filters are laminated. |
| US07655995B2 |
Semiconductor device using MEMS technology
A semiconductor device using a MEMS technology according to an example of the present invention comprises a cavity, a lower electrode provided in a lower part of the cavity, an actuator provided in an upper part or inside of the cavity, an upper electrode connected to the actuator, and a conductive layer in contact with the lower electrode outside the cavity via a contact hole whose bottom face is provided above an upper face of the lower electrode in the cavity. |
| US07655991B1 |
CMOS device with stressed sidewall spacers
Sidewall spacers on the gate of a MOS device are formed from stressed material so as to provide strain in the channel region of the MOS device that enhances carrier mobility. In a particular embodiment, the MOS device is in a CMOS cell that includes a second MOS device. The first MOS device has sidewall spacers having a first (e.g., tensile) type of residual mechanical stress, and the second MOS device has sidewall spacers having a second (e.g., compressive) type of residual mechanical stress. Thus, carrier mobility is enhanced in both the PMOS portion and in the NMOS portion of the CMOS cell. |
| US07655989B2 |
Triple gate and double gate finFETs with different vertical dimension fins
A semiconductor structure and its method of fabrication include multiple finFETs with different vertical dimensions for the semiconductor fins. An implant species is implanted in a bottom portion of selected semiconductor fins on which reduced vertical dimension is desired. The bottom portion of the selected semiconductor fins with implant species is etched selective to the semiconductor material without the implanted species, i.e., the semiconductor material in the top portion of the semiconductor fin and other semiconductor fins without the implanted species. FinFETs with the full vertical dimension fins and a high on-current and finFETs with reduced vertical dimension fins with a low on-current thus results on the same semiconductor substrate. By adjusting the depth of the implant species, the vertical dimension of the semiconductor fins may be adjusted in selected finFETs. |
| US07655988B2 |
Method of manufacturing multi-channel transistor device and multi-channel transistor device manufactured using the method
A multi-channel transistor device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The method of a manufacturing a multi-channel transistor device includes defining an active region in a semiconductor substrate by forming an isolation layer exposing an upper side portion of the active region. An active expanding region is formed on the exposed upper side portion of the active region by selective epitaxial growth (SEG). A portion of the active region is selectively etched to define first channel bars in the active expanding region that extend between first and second laterally separated portions of the active region and a second channel bar that is an unetched portion of the active region. A portion of the isolation layer is selectively removed such as to expose side portions of the second channel bar and bottom surface portions of the first channel bars. A gate is formed on the first and second channel bars with a gate dielectric layer between the gate and the channel bars. A source/drain region is formed in a region of the active expanding region adjacent to the gate, thereby resulting in a multi-channel transistor structure. |
| US07655986B2 |
Systems and methods for reducing contact to gate shorts
A method for reducing contact to gate shorts in a semiconductor device and the resulting semiconductor device are described. In one embodiment, a gate is formed on a substrate, a contact is formed on the gate and the substrate, and an insulator is formed between the gate and the contact. The insulator may be formed by oxidizing the gate to form a dielectric between the contact and the gate after the contact is formed on the gate. |
| US07655983B2 |
SOI FET with source-side body doping
An SOI FET device with improved floating body is proposed. Control of the body potential is accomplished by having a body doping concentration next to the source electrode higher than the body doping concentration next to the drain electrode. The high source-side dopant concentration leads to elevated forward leakage current between the source electrode and the body, which leakage current effectively locks the body potential to the source electrode potential. Furthermore, having the source-to-body junction capacitance larger than the drain-to-body junction capacitance has additional advantages in device operation. The device has no structure fabricated for the purpose of electrically connecting the body potential to other elements of the device. |
| US07655982B2 |
Output control device, and AC/DC power source device, circuit device, LED backlight circuit device, and switching DC/DC converter device each using output control device
In one embodiment of the present invention, an output control device is disclosed capable of reducing a chip size and realizing a low cost. An output control device includes a switching transistor controlling an output voltage by having an on/off time ratio controlled and a control IC controlling the on/off time ratio of the switching transistor on the basis of the output voltage controlled by the switching transistor. The switching transistor is made of a lateral power MOSFET. |
| US07655976B2 |
Field effect transistors having protruded active regions and methods of fabricating such transistors
Provided are a field effect transistor, a method of manufacturing the same, and an electronic device including the field effect transistor. The field effect transistor may have a structure in which a double gate field effect transistor and a recess channel array transistor are formed in a single transistor in order to improve a short channel effect which occurs as field effect transistors become more highly integrated, a method of manufacturing the same, and an electronic device including the field effect transistor. The field effect transistor can exhibit stable device characteristics even when more highly integrated in such a manner that both the length and width of a channel increase and particularly the channel can be significantly long, and can be manufactured simply. |
| US07655972B2 |
Structure and method for MOSFET with reduced extension resistance
The present invention provides a method in which a low-resistance connection between the MOS channel and silicided source/drain regions is provided that has an independence from the extension ion implant process as well as device overlap capacitance. The method of the present invention broadly includes selectively removing outer spacers of an MOS structure and then selectively plating a metallic or intermetallic material on exposed portions of a semiconductor substrate that were previously protected by the outer spacers. The present invention also provides a semiconductor structure that is formed utilizing the method. The semiconductor structure includes a low-resistance connection between the silicided source/drain regions and the channel regions which includes a selectively plated metallic or intermetallic material. |
| US07655971B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing the same
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a source region and a drain region formed at a distance from each other in a semiconductor substrate; a tunnel insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate between the source region and the drain region; a charge storage film formed on the tunnel insulating film; a first alumina layer formed on the charge storage film, and having a first impurity element added thereto, the first impurity element having an octacoordinate ion radius of 63 pm or greater, the first impurity element having a concentration distribution in a layer thickness direction of the first alumina layer that becomes the largest in a region close to the side of the charge storage film; a second alumina layer formed on the first alumina layer, and not having the first impurity element added thereto; and a control gate electrode formed on the second alumina layer. |
| US07655963B2 |
Semiconductor device including a lateral field-effect transistor and Schottky diode
A semiconductor device including a lateral field-effect transistor and Schottky diode and method of forming the same. In one embodiment, the lateral field-effect transistor includes a buffer layer having a contact covering a substantial portion of a bottom surface thereof, a lateral channel above the buffer layer, another contact above the lateral channel, and an interconnect that connects the lateral channel to the buffer layer. The semiconductor device also includes a Schottky diode parallel-coupled to the lateral field-effect transistor including a cathode formed from another buffer layer interposed between the buffer layer and the lateral channel, a Schottky interconnect interposed between the another buffer layer and the another contact, and an anode formed on a surface of the Schottky interconnect operable to connect the anode to the another contact. The semiconductor device may also include an isolation layer interposed between the buffer layer and the lateral channel. |
| US07655962B2 |
Enhancement mode insulated gate heterostructure field-effect transistor with electrically isolated RF-enhanced source contact
Aspects of the present invention provide an enhancement mode (E-mode) insulated gate (IG) double heterostructure field-effect transistor (DHFET) having low power consumption at zero gate bias, low gate currents, and/or high reliability. An E-mode HFET in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes: top and bottom barrier layers; and a channel layer sandwiched between the bottom and the top barrier layers, wherein the bottom and top barrier layers have a larger bandgap than the channel layer, and wherein polarization charges of the bottom barrier layer deplete the channel layer and polarization charges of the top barrier layer induce carriers in the channel layer; and wherein a total polarization charge in the bottom barrier layer is larger than a total polarization charge in the top barrier layer such that the channel layer is substantially depleted at zero gate bias. |
| US07655959B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device having textured structure and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor light emitting diode having a textured structure and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor light emitting diode includes a first semiconductor layer formed into a textured structure, an intermediate layer formed between the textured structures of the patterned first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a third semiconductor layer sequentially formed on the first semiconductor layer and the intermediate layer. |
| US07655958B2 |
Semiconductor light-emitting device and surface light source using the same
A semiconductor light-emitting device can include high heat dissipation properties and a high degree of mounting flexibility. Also a surface light source can be configured to use the above-noted semiconductor light-emitting device. The semiconductor light-emitting element can be mounted on a package obtained by insert-molding lead frames with a resin. One of the end portions of the lead frames can be connected to respective electrodes of the semiconductor light-emitting element, and other end portions thereof can protrude outward from a resin molded portion of the package. One of the lead frames can include a block body on which the semiconductor light-emitting element is disposed. The block body protrudes from the resin molded portion. The semiconductor light-emitting device having the above structure and a circuit substrate can be mounted on a metal base which can be brought into direct contact with the block body. Alternatively, the metal base and the semiconductor light-emitting device can be disposed with a heat conducting sheet sandwiched therebetween. |
| US07655957B2 |
Submounts for semiconductor light emitting device packages and semiconductor light emitting device packages including the same
A submount for a solid state lighting package includes a support member having upper and lower surfaces, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite the first side surface, a first electrical bondpad on the upper surface of the support member and having a first bonding region proximate the first side surface of the support member and a second bonding region extending toward the second side surface of the support member, and a second electrical bondpad on the upper surface of the support member having a die mounting region proximate the first side surface of the support member and an extension region extending toward the second side surface of the support member. The die mounting region of the second electrical bondpad may be configured to receive an electronic device. The submount further includes a third electrical bondpad on the upper surface of the support member and positioned between the second side surface of the support member and the die mounting region of the second electrical bondpad. |
| US07655956B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
There is provided a semiconductor device mounted with a light emitting element, which can be downsized easily, improve light emitting efficiency and be formed easily, and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device effectively. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a light emitting element mounted on the substrate by flip chip bonding, a sealing structure sealing the light emitting element and a phosphor film which is formed on an internal surface of the sealing structure. The sealing structure includes a blocking portion which is formed integrally with the substrate so as to surround the light emitting element on the substrate and functions as a reflector that reflects a light emitted from the light emitting element and a cover portion which is arranged on the top of the blocking portion and is bonded to the blocking portion. |
| US07655955B2 |
Light emitting device and backlight unit using the same as light source and field sequential LCD apparatus employing the backlight unit
A light emitting device includes a light emitting element chip and a lens which transmits light generated by the light emitting device asymmetrically; a backlight unit which uses the light emitting device as a light source; and a field sequential LCD apparatus adopting the backlight unit. |
| US07655954B2 |
Array type light-emitting device with high color rendering index
An array type light-emitting module includes a blue, a red, a green, a yellow and an amber light-emitting chip sets. Wavelength-converting layer set covers the blue light-emitting chip set. Transparent layer sets cover the red, green, yellow, and amber light-emitting chip sets. A portion of the visible light emitted by the blue light-emitting chip set is converted into visible light with another emission peak wavelength range via the wavelength-converting layer set. The converted visible light mixes with light projected from the red, the green, the yellow and the amber light-emitting chip sets to generate white light with a color rendering index ranging between 90 and 96. |
| US07655953B2 |
Semiconductor laser apparatus
A sub-substrate, a blue-violet semiconductor laser device, an insulating layer, and a red semiconductor laser device are stacked in order on a support member through a plurality of fusion layers. The insulating layer is stacked on an n-side pad electrode of the blue-violet semiconductor laser device, and a conductive layer is formed on the insulating layer. The red semiconductor laser device is stacked on the conductive layer through a fusion layer. The conductive layer is electrically connected to a p-side pad electrode of the red semiconductor laser device. The n-side pad electrode of the blue-violet semiconductor laser device and the n-side pad electrode of the red semiconductor laser device are electrically connected to each other. |
| US07655952B2 |
Thin films transistor array panel and manufacturing method thereof
A thin film transistor array panel is provided, which includes: a gate line, a gate insulating layer, and a semiconductor layer sequentially formed on a substrate; a data line and a drain electrode formed at least on the semiconductor layer; a first passivation layer formed on the data line and the drain electrode and having a first contact hole exposing the drain electrode at least in part; a second passivation layer formed on the first passivation layer and having a second contact hole that is disposed on the first contact hole and has a first bottom edge, placed outside the first contact hole and a second bottom edge placed inside the first contact hole; and a pixel electrode formed on the second passivation layer and connected to the drain electrode through the first and the second contact holes. |
| US07655951B2 |
Thin film transistor and the manufacturing method thereof
A thin film transistor and a method for manufacturing the same capable of reducing a change in a threshold voltage of the thin film transistor formed on a flexible substrate. The thin film transistor includes: a substrate, the substrate being flexible; a buffer layer having a low dielectric constant from about 1.2 to about 4.0 and formed on the substrate; a semiconductor layer formed on the buffer layer; a gate electrode; first insulation layer formed between the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer; a second insulation layer formed on the semiconductor layer and the gate electrode; and a source/drain electrode electrically connected to the semiconductor layer through a contact hole formed in the second insulation layer. Therefore, the thin film transistor can reduce a change in its threshold voltage, thereby reducing changes in brightness, gray scale, contrast, etc., of light-emitting devices using the thin film transistor. |
| US07655949B2 |
Thin film transistor substrate having structure for compensating for mask misalignment
A thin film transistors (TFTs) substrate is structured to maintain as constant across the area of the substrate a kickback voltage due to Miller capacitance between the drain and gate of each TFT even in the presence of manufacturing induced misalignments between the drain electrodes and corresponding gate lines. Each thin film transistor includes a gate electrode, an active layer formed on the gate electrode so as to overlap the gate electrode, first and second source electrodes respectively connected to first and second data lines each of which crosses the gate line while being insulated from the gate line, and an elongated drain electrode located between the first and second source electrodes and disposed over the gate electrode so as to a crossing length of the drain electrode is larger than an underlying width of the gate electrode such that misalignment induced shifts of the position of the gate electrode relative to the drain electrode does not substantially change overlap area between the two. |
| US07655948B2 |
Light emitting display
The present disclosure provides a light emitting display device including a first substrate and a second substrate and a light emitting part disposed therebetween. The first substrate includes an active layer, source and drain electrodes, an insulating layer, and a gate electrode. The active layer is doped with first dopant ions and second dopant ions. The light emitting display may have a fast response characteristic due to a reduced resistance of the active layer and an improved characteristic of current drift. |
| US07655947B2 |
Thin film transistor used as a switching element in an active matrix type liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a thin film transistor comprising a drain electrode and a source electrode separated by a channel region formed over a contact portion with an amorphous silicon layer and wherein an impurity from the channel region is removed and a remaining impurity is diffused into the contact portion to form a contact layer wherein the contact layer has a second resistance at least lower than the first resistance. |
| US07655946B2 |
IC with comparator receiving expected and mask data from pads
Test circuits located on semiconductor die enable a tester to test a plurality of die/ICs in parallel by inputting both stimulus and response patterns to the plurality of die/ICs. The response patterns from the tester are input to the test circuits along with the output response of the die/IC to be compared. Also disclosed is the use of a response signal encoding scheme whereby the tester transmits response test commands to the test circuits, using a single signal per test circuit, to perform: (1) a compare die/IC output against an expected logic high, (2) a compare die/IC output against an expected logic low, and (3) a mask compare operation. The use of the signal encoding scheme allows functional testing of die and ICs since all response test commands (i.e. 1-3 above) required at each die/IC output can be transmitted to each die/IC output using only a single tester signal connection per die/IC output. In addition to functional testing, scan testing of die and ICs is also possible. |
| US07655943B2 |
Organic electroluminescent display device having OTFT and method of fabricating the same
An organic electroluminescent display device having an organic thin film transistor (OTFT) and a method of fabricating the same is disclosed. The display device can maintain an insulation property of a TFT and concurrently, ensure a sufficient capacitance by using an organic insulating layer for a gate insulating layer and using an inorganic insulating layer for a capacitor dielectric. In one embodiment, the organic electroluminescent display device includes a substrate having a capacitor region and a transistor region, a TFT formed in the transistor region of the substrate, and having a gate electrode, an organic semiconductor layer, a source electrode, and a drain electrode, a capacitor formed in the capacitor region of the substrate, and having a lower electrode and an upper electrode, and a display element connected to one of source/drain electrodes of the TFT. In one embodiment, a gate insulating layer formed below or on the gate electrode of the TFT includes at least an organic insulating layer, and a capacitor dielectric formed between the upper and lower electrodes of the capacitor includes an inorganic insulating layer. |
| US07655940B2 |
Storage node including diffusion barrier layer, phase change memory device having the same and methods of manufacturing the same
A phase change memory device and a method of manufacturing the phase change memory device are provided. The phase change memory device may include a switching element and a storage node connected to the switching element, wherein the storage node includes a bottom electrode and a top electrode, a phase change layer interposed between the bottom electrode and the top electrode, and a titanium-tellurium (Ti—Te)-based diffusion barrier layer interposed between the top electrode and the phase change layer. The Ti—Te based diffusion barrier layer may be a TixTe1−x layer wherein x may be greater than 0 and less than 0.5. |
| US07655938B2 |
Phase change memory with U-shaped chalcogenide cell
A phase change memory may be made of a chalcogenide material having a U-shape. The U-shaped chalcogenide may transition between amorphous and crystalline phases in an upper part of a vertical portion thereof. As a result, in some embodiments, self-heating may be achieved without the need for a heater, and without the need for glue in some cases. |
| US07655937B2 |
Remote control systems that can distinguish stray light sources
Remote control systems that can distinguish predetermined light sources from stray light sources, e.g., environmental light sources and/or reflections are provided. The predetermined light sources can be disposed in asymmetric substantially linear or two-dimensional patterns. The predetermined light sources also can output waveforms modulated in accordance with one or more signature modulation characteristics. The predetermined light sources also can output light at different signature wavelengths. |
| US07655935B1 |
Plutonium radiation surrogate
A self-contained source of gamma-ray and neutron radiation suitable for use as a radiation surrogate for weapons-grade plutonium is described. The source generates a radiation spectrum similar to that of weapons-grade plutonium at 5% energy resolution between 59 and 2614 keV, but contains no special nuclear material and emits little α-particle radiation. The weapons-grade plutonium radiation surrogate also emits neutrons having fluxes commensurate with the gamma-radiation intensities employed. |
| US07655934B2 |
Data on light bulb
A light-emitting device includes a plurality of ultra-small resonant structures, each of said structures constructed and adapted to emit electromagnetic radiation (EMR) at a particular wavelength when a beam of charged particles is passed nearby. A combiner mechanism constructed and adapted to combine data from a data source with the EMR emitted by at least one of the ultra-small resonant structures. |
| US07655929B2 |
Ion beam measuring method and ion implanting apparatus
A change of a beam current of an ion beam which passes an outside of the side of a forestage beam restricting shutter, and which is incident on a forestage multipoints Faraday is measured while the forestage beam restricting shutter is driven in a y direction by a forestage shutter driving apparatus in order to obtain a beam current density distribution in the y direction of the ion beam at a position of the forestage beam restricting shutter. A change of a beam current of the ion beam which passes an outside of the side of a poststage beam restricting shutter, and which is incident on a poststage multipoints Faraday is measured while the poststage beam restricting shutter is driven in the y direction by a poststage shutter driving apparatus in order to obtain a beam current density distribution in the y direction of the ion beam at a position of the poststage beam restricting shutter. By using these results, an angle deviation, a diverging angle, and/or a beam size in the y direction of the ion beam can be obtained. |
| US07655927B2 |
Radiation image converting panel
The present invention relates to a radiation image converting panel with a structure to realize an improvement in moisture resistance in the periphery of the panel. The radiation image converting panel comprises a support body and a radiation converting film formed on the support body. The radiation converting film is formed on a film forming region which exists within a first main surface of the support body and includes at least a gravity center position of the first main surface. An average crystal diameter of columnar crystals located on a peripheral measuring area of the film forming region is controlled to be 1.3 times or more larger than an average crystal diameter of columnar crystals located on a central measuring area corresponding to a gravity center position of the film forming region, whereby moisture resistance in the periphery of the panel is improved, so that a sufficient fluorescence lifetime of the panel as a whole is maintained. |
| US07655926B2 |
Rare earth activated alkaline earth metal fluorohalide stimulable phosphor and radiation image conversion panel employing the same
Provided are a rare earth activated alkaline earth metal fluorohalide stimulable phosphor exhibiting high image quality of radiation images and reduction of luminance degradation, and a radiation image conversion panel employing the stimulable phosphor represented by Formula (1) Ba(1-x)M2(x)FBr(y)I(1-y):aM1, bLn, cO, wherein M1 is at least an alkali metal selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs; M2 is at least an alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Sr and Ca; Ln is at least a rare earth element selected from the group consisting of Ce, Pr, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Tm, Dy, Ho, Nd, Er and Yb; and x, y, a, b and c are values meeting the following conditions: 0≦x≦0.3, 0≦y≦0.9, 0≦a≦0.05 0 |
| US07655924B2 |
Front plate for an ion source
The present invention relates to a front plate for an ion source that is suitable for an ion implanter. The front plate according to the invention comprises obverse and reverse sides, an exit aperture for allowing egress of ions from the ion source that extends substantially straight through the front plate between the obverse and reverse sides, and a slot penetrating through the front plate from obverse side to reverse side at a slant for at least part of its depth, the slot extending from a side of the front plate to join the exit aperture. The slot is slanted to occlude line of sight into the ion source when viewed from in front, yet provides an expansion gap. |
| US07655923B2 |
Spherical aberration corrected electrostatic lens, input lens, electron spectrometer, photoemission electron microscope and measuring system
A mesh (M) having an ellipsoid shape or a shape close to the ellipsoid shape is attached to an electrode (EL1) among electrodes (EL1 to ELn). Voltages of the later-stage electrodes (EL2 to ELn) are appropriately set. With this arrangement, a local negative spherical aberration generated by the mesh (M) is cancelled out with a positive spherical aberration. This optimizes an electric field distribution. As a result, this realizes an electrostatic lens whose acceptance angle is extended to about ±60°. |
| US07655922B2 |
Techniques for confining electrons in an ion implanter
Techniques for confining electrons in an ion implanter are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an apparatus for confining electrons in an ion implanter. The apparatus may comprise a first array of magnets and a second array of magnets positioned along at least a portion of a beam path, the first array being on a first side of the beam path and the second array being on a second side of the beam path, the first side opposing the second side. At least one magnet in the first array may have a pole facing an opposite pole of a corresponding magnet in the second array. |
| US07655917B2 |
Radiation image detection apparatus, residual charge amount estimation method for use with the apparatus and program therefor
A residual charge amount estimation method including the steps of: providing a radiation image detector including pixels, scanning lines, and data lines, each pixel having a collection electrode, a capacitor, and a TFT switch; detecting a leak current flowing out through each data line with the TFT switches being switched OFF; reading out an image signal flowing out through each data line by sequentially switching ON the TFT switches connected to each scanning line on a scanning line-by-scanning line basis; calculating an average leak current per unit saturated pixel from the leak current detected from at least one of the data lines on which a saturated pixel having a saturated value of the image signal is found and the number of saturated pixels; and estimating the amount of residual charges remaining in the unit saturated pixel based on the average leak current. |
| US07655916B2 |
Radiation image capturing system
The power consumption of a battery for supplying electric power to a cassette having a radiation detector for detecting radiation image information is greatly reduced. When a cassette transceiver of the cassette starts transmitting the radiation image information to a console transceiver of a console, the cassette transceiver changes the gain of a variable-gain amplifier to change a transmission radio-wave intensity, and transmits a test signal at the changed transmission radio-wave intensity. When the console transceiver receives the test signal, the console transceiver transmits a reception acknowledgement signal generated by a reception acknowledgement signal generator. In response to the reception acknowledgement signal, the cassette transceiver sets its own transmission radio-wave intensity to a value at the time the cassette transceiver received the reception acknowledgement signal, and transmits the radiation image information at the set transmission radio-wave intensity. |
| US07655915B2 |
Collimator assembly for computed tomography system
A detector assembly 18 for an imaging system 10 is provided comprising a plurality of scintillator elements 50 positioned within a scintillator pack 56. The scintillator pack 56 forms a scintillator pack upper surface 58 and a plurality of scintillator pack walls 60 positioned between the plurality of scintillator elements 50. A plurality of collimator elements 64 are mounted on the scintillator pack upper surface 58. Each of the plurality of collimator elements 64 is comprised of a stack laminated base 66 mounted to the scintillator pack upper surface 58 and a cast upper wall 68 formed on the stack laminated base 66. |
| US07655912B2 |
Direction finding radiation detector, and radiation monitoring method and apparatus
A direction finding radiation detector for detecting the direction of incidence of radioactive rays, comprising: a plurality of scintillators (41, 42, 43) (101, 102, 103) made of the same material, being arranged to overlap circumferentially at least in part so that they are shadowed by each other from radioactive rays incident in circumferential directions and so that light emitted from one of the scintillators is not incident on the other scintillators; and photoreceptor devices (51, 52, 53) (111, 112, 113) having light receiving surfaces optically coupled to the respective scintillators, wherein a combination of proportions of radioactive rays incident directly on the respective scintillators and radioactive rays incident indirectly thereon, being shadowed by the other scintillators, varies with the direction of incidence circumferentially. This achieves weight saving of the detector, improves the detection efficiency of the radioactive rays, elaborates detection information through measurements in half the circumferential directions or all the circumferential directions, and simplifies setting for improved operability. |
| US07655911B2 |
Image sensor having a variable aperture and mono-color focal plane array for dual color detection
An image sensor is provided that includes a focal plane array; a cold shield having a top wall disposed over the focal plane array and defining an aperture operatively configured to be selectively switched between a first diameter and a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter; and a filter element disposed between the cold shield aperture and the focal plane array. The filter element includes a first band-pass filter and a second band-pass filter. The first band-pass filter is disposed directly beneath the cold shield aperture when the cold shield aperture is switched to the first diameter or the second diameter. The second band-pass filter is covered by the top wall of the cold shield when the cold shield aperture is switched to the first diameter and is disposed directly beneath the cold shield aperture when the cold shield aperture is switched to the second diameter. |
| US07655910B2 |
Apparatus for gas concentration measurement according to gas correlation method
A gas concentration measuring apparatus utilizing a gas correlation method capable of measuring concentrations of a plurality of analyte gases simultaneously and at high sensitivity uses an infrared light source (2) such as an infrared semiconductor diode or a quantum cascade semiconductor laser to increase the intensity of collimated infrared light (5) and to lessen infrared light unnecessary for measurement, thereby improving the S/N ratio while achieving a rise in sensitivity. A plurality of analyte gases are simultaneously measured by means of a gas correlation filter comprising a reference gas cell (6a) filled with all of the analyte gases and a plurality of probe gas cells (6b) each individual of which is filled with all such analyte gases other than one of the analyte gases which is of its particular interest. |
| US07655906B2 |
Method and apparatus for scanning and measurement by electron beam
An inspection and measurement method and apparatus for semiconductor devices and patterns such as photomasks using an electron beam capable of measuring the potential of a sample with higher precision than conventional systems. When an S curve is observed in a semiconductor device to be inspected, fluctuations of the potential of the inspection sample surface are suppressed by optimizing the energy of a primary electron beam used for irradiation. When the surface potential of the semiconductor device is measured, a more precise measurement can be obtained without adverse effects from an insulation film surface. Further, the surface potential can be measured without installing a special apparatus for wafer surface potential measurement such as an energy filter, so the cost of the apparatus can be reduced. |
| US07655904B2 |
Target workpiece inspection apparatus, image alignment method, and computer-readable recording medium with program recorded thereon
A target workpiece inspection apparatus comprises an optical image acquiring unit to acquire an optical image of a target workpiece, a reference image generating unit to generate a reference image to be compared, a difference judging unit to judge whether an absolute value of difference between pixel values of the images in each pixel at a preliminary alignment position between the images is smaller than a threshold value, a least-squares method displacement calculating unit to calculate a displacement amount displaced from the preliminary alignment position, by using a regular matrix for a least-squares method obtained from a result judged, a position correcting unit to correct an alignment position between the optical image and the reference image to a position displaced from the preliminary alignment position by the displacement amount, and a comparing unit to compare the optical image and the reference image whose alignment position has been corrected. |
| US07655901B2 |
Light assisted keyboard for mobile communication device
A mobile communication device having a keyboard with a set of keys representing alpha-numeric characters, the keyboard comprising a light source, located within said mobile communication device; for providing a light; a set of sensors, associated with said keys, for sensing an amount of said light in a vicinity of each of said set of sensors, to determine which of said set of keys has been selected; and a transparent flat cover, overlying said set of sensors, displaying said set of alpha-numeric characters, for associating said set of alpha-numeric characters with said set of sensors. |
| US07655900B2 |
Intensity modulation type optical sensor and optical current/voltage sensor
An influence on a sensor output is suppressed to a minimum degree even in the case when there is a ripple in a light source, thereby improving the measurement accuracy. In an intensity modulation type optical sensor, light from a light source 1 is guided to a sensor head 6, the intensity of the light is modulated on the basis of an alternating current (AC) measured object (for example, a current i) changing with time, the modulated light is received in a light receiving element 81 and converted into an electrical signal, and a normalized received signal Xs indicating a degree of modulation is acquired from a ratio of an AC component As and a DC component Ds of the electrical signal to thereby acquiring a value of the AC measured object. Further in this invention, a reference signal Vr is acquired by separating and receiving part of light incident on the sensor head 6, a normalized reference signal Xr is acquired from a ratio of an AC component Ar and a DC component Dr of the reference signal, and the normalized reference signal Xr is subtracted from the normalized received signal Xs, thereby reducing noises and improving the accuracy. |
| US07655899B2 |
Method and system for wavelength-dependent imaging and detection using a hybrid filter
Apparatus and methods for wavelength-dependent detection are provided. A detector includes a hybrid filter having unpatterned and patterned filter layers and at least one light-detecting sensor that detects light in first and second wavelength bands from the patterned filter layer of the hybrid filter. The unpatterned filter layer passes light in two nonoverlapping wavelength bands relative to light in wavelength bands between or among the nonoverlapping wavelength bands. The patterned filter layer includes first and second regions configured respectively to pass light in the first and second wavelength bands of the nonoverlapping wavelength bands passed by the unpatterned filter layer. |
| US07655898B2 |
Optical filter assembly with selectable bandwidth and rejection
An optical filter assembly having selectable bandwidth is presented. The optical filter assembly includes a first optical filter, a first optical retarder with optical retardance R1, a second optical retarder with optical retardance R2, a polarization switch positioned between the first and second retarders which causes their retardances to substantially add in a first switch setting and to substantially subtract in a second switch setting, and an exit polarizer. A multispectral imaging system using tunable optical filters having selectable bandwidth is presented. A method of filtering light is also presented. The method includes providing a first optical filter, providing a dynamic bandwidth stage including a polarization switch, selecting a first setting of the polarization switch, and producing a first filter action for light passing through the first filter and the dynamic bandwidth stage. |
| US07655897B2 |
System and method for performing an optical tracking operation using relative referencing
A system and method for performing an optical tracking operation computes a translated movement value of a displacement values using a relationship between a reference displacement value derived using a reference surface and a corresponding displacement value using a target surface. The displacement value is produced using image correlation by optically sensing the target surface. The translated movement value is used for the optical tracking operation. |
| US07655894B2 |
Vehicular image sensing system
An image sensing system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements formed on a semiconductor substrate. The imaging sensor is disposed at an interior portion of the vehicle, and may be at or proximate to an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle. The system includes a logic and control circuit comprising an image processor for processing image data derived from the imaging sensor. The image sensing system may identify objects of interest based on spectral differentiation or by comparing over successive frames image data associated with objects in the forward field of view of the image sensor or by objects of interest being at least one of qualified and disqualified based at least in part on object motion in the field of view of the imaging sensor. |
| US07655892B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, and method of driving solid-state imaging device
A solid-state imaging device comprises: a semiconductor substrate; and a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements forming a square lattice pattern extending in a column direction and in a row direction substantially perpendicular to the row direction, on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, wherein said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements comprises: a plurality of first photoelectric conversion elements that conduct photoelectric conversion of a relatively higher sensitivity on an amount of incident light; and a plurality of second photoelectric conversion elements that conduct photoelectric conversion of a relatively lower sensitivity on the amount of incident light, wherein said plurality of first photoelectric conversion elements and said plurality of second photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in respective checkered patterns, and wherein said plurality of first photoelectric conversion elements are larger in size than said plurality of second photoelectric conversion elements. |