| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07885643B2 |
Information communication system
A system of plural vehicles is organized by transmitting information through communication devices being capable of establishing direct intercommunication respectively installed in the plural vehicles. The transmission of the information is controlled by a control unit in the system as well as a memory for storing a vehicle ID, an information generation unit for generating offer information including the vehicle ID, a display unit for displaying information, an output unit for outputting information, and a vehicle-to-vehicle communication unit for establishing communication. The control unit provides a user in the vehicle that has transmitted the offer information with an information fee or an information point by performing an information fee/point payment process. |
| US07885642B2 |
Method and device for performance optimisation of a data distribution network
A method for scheduling the delivery of a plurality of data portions to respective recipients in a data distribution network, wherein the recipients are commonly utilizing a bottleneck element limiting the performance of the data distribution network.A proportion of recipients automatically requesting a respective data portion is determined upon receiving a respective notification message. A preferred time span for delivering the data portions is determined according to a capacity of the bottleneck element, the amount of data that is to be delivered and the proportion of recipients automatically requesting the respective data portion. The delivery of a data portion is delayed according to the preferred time span for delivering. |
| US07885638B2 |
Implementing generic cell global identity for unlicensed mobile access
A method for causing GSM location information and UMA billing information to be encapsulated in a single CGI structural element during a standalone UMA network access session comprises a plurality of operations. An operation is provided for applying at least one algorithm to location information of a Mobile Station (MS) serving a subscriber device during a standalone UMA network access session for causing at least one of compressing, re-aligning and repackaging the MS location information whereby an amount of MS location information holding space of a GSM Edge Radio Access Network (GERAN) Cell Global Identity (CGI) structural element occupied by the MS location information is reduced such that a portion of the MS location information holding space becomes unused. An operation is performed for inserting UMA billing information into at least a portion of the unused portion of the MS location information holding space. |
| US07885629B2 |
Circuit with Q-enhancement cell having programmable bias current slope
Various embodiments are disclosed relating to Q-enhancement cells. According to an example embodiment, a circuit may include an inductor with a quality factor (Q), and a Q-enhancement cell coupled to the inductor. The Q-enhancement cell may include a current source having a variable bias current slope. Stability may, for example, be improved by providing a variable or programmable bias current slope for the Q-enhancement cell. In another example embodiment, a Q-enhancement cell may be used to compensate for Q degradation due to one or more switched capacitors in a circuit. The switched capacitors may be used, for example, for channel or frequency selection for the circuit. In another example embodiment, a Q-enhancement cell may be used to compensate for Q degradation caused by a transmission line. |
| US07885625B2 |
RF A/D converter with phased feedback to low noise amplifier
Methods and apparatus to perform radio frequency (RF) analog-to-digital conversion are described. According to one example, a receiver includes an amplifier to amplify received analog RF signals and a mixer-free circuit for converting the received analog RF signals to digital signals. |
| US07885624B2 |
Filter switching system and method
A communication system with variable filter bandwidth includes a first mixer circuit configured to receive a communication signal and shift the frequency range of the communication signal to a first frequency range. A second mixer circuit is configured to receive the same communication signal and shift the frequency range of the communication signal to a second frequency range. An activation circuit is coupled to the first and second mixer circuits so as to provide an activation signal that activates at least one of the mixer circuits. A plurality of filter circuits are provided such that each filter circuit is configured to receive a signal from a corresponding mixer circuit, when the corresponding mixer circuit is activated. |
| US07885622B2 |
Entertainment system with bandless tuning
An entertainment system comprising a base unit with a transceiver for interacting, at times, with a control unit via a communications link, and a control unit for controlling the base unit, the control unit being dockable with the base unit to establish direct electrical connection between them, and including a transceiver for interacting with the control unit via said link when undocked. The control unit is a separate aspect of the invention or system. The base unit may contain a tuner, preferably with bandless tuning capability, and may be designed to receive into a universal docking arrangement a digitally controllable auxiliary audio source such as a portable MP3 player or other device. The base unit may further provide alarm clock functionality with numerous features including a “fail-safe” volume control system and fail-safe alarm time setting capability. |
| US07885621B2 |
Receiver and electronic apparatus using the same
A receiver according to the present invention includes a first receiving (RCV) quality detector and a second RCV quality detector connected before a combining unit. The second RCV quality detector determines a quality of a signal output from at least one of a first receiving unit and a second receiving unit by a method different from that of the first RCV quality detector. A controller allows the receiver to operate in a single receiving mode when a determination result of the second RCV quality detector is not better than a predetermined level regardless of a determination result of a determination result of the first RCV quality detector not being a predetermined level. When the receiver passes in an area where the receiver cannot receive a broadcast signal, the determination result of the second RCV quality detector is not better than the predetermined level. In response, the controller allows the receiver to operate in the single receiving mode, thereby reducing power consumption of the receiver. |
| US07885620B2 |
High dynamic range time-varying integrated receiver for elimination of off-chip filters
A receiver circuit comprising a quadrature passive mixer having an input and an output, and an input impedance of the quadrature passive mixer provides a band-pass response. One or more output impedances coupled to the output of the quadrature passive mixer. A low noise amplifier (LNA) having an input and an output coupled to the quadrature passive mixer, the LNA configured to provide substantially linear transconductance over a predetermined input range. |
| US07885616B2 |
Method and system for coordinating necessary radio transmission events with unrelated opportunistic events to optimize battery life and network resources
A method and apparatus for sending an event from user equipment operating in a mobile network, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring whether an unrelated opportunistic event has occurred; and sending said event with said unrelated opportunistic event. |
| US07885612B2 |
Clock generation circuit and semiconductor device provided therewith
It is an object of the present invention to solve a problem that malfunction of communication is generated by varying a frequency of a clock due to noise from outside in a case where there is no supplied signal in a circuit which performs negative feedback control so that the supplied signal and the feedback signal can maintain a fixed phase relationship between the signals. The present invention provides a configuration including a PLL circuit and an oscillator circuit, where a switch for switching an output between a signal from the PLL circuit and a signal from the oscillator circuit to the signal output portion is provided to switch from a connection to the PLL circuit to a connection to the oscillator circuit in a case where there is no received signal. |
| US07885601B2 |
Radio node apparatus, multi-hop radio system, and multi-hop radio system constructing method
The present invention provides a radio node apparatus, a multi-hop radio system and a multi-hop radio system constructing method, capable of constructing a tree type multi-hop radio system in which mutual radio nodes determine a radio node which becomes a root node of a tree in an autonomous manner and the root node is set as a root in an autonomous manner. The radio node apparatus includes a storage unit for storing state information, used for constructing a multi-hop radio system, including information for specifying a root radio node apparatus positioned at a summit of the multi-hop radio system, with the radio node apparatus has a connection, and the number of hops from the root ratio node apparatus, a collection unit for collecting state information transmitted from surrounding radio node apparatus, and a selection unit for selecting a host connection-accepting radio node apparatus on the basis of the information for specifying the root radio node apparatus and the number of hops included in the collected state information. |
| US07885600B2 |
RFID system with RF bus
A radio frequency identification (RFID) system includes an RFID reader, an RFID tag, and a network connection module. The RFID reader includes a reader radio frequency (RF) bus transceiver. The network connection module includes a network connection RF bus transceiver, wherein the reader RF bus transceiver exchanges at least one of inbound RFID data and outbound RFID data with the network RF bus transceiver via an RF bus. |
| US07885595B2 |
Lubricant applicator, process cartridge including same, and image forming apparatus including same
A lubricant applicator, which is included in a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus, includes a fur brush disposed downstream from a cleaning member in a direction of rotation of the image carrier that moves in the direction of rotation of the image carrier, scrape a solid lubricant disposed opposite to the image carrier while rotating, and apply powder scraped from the solid lubricant to the surface of the image carrier; a lubricant fixing member to fix the powder to the surface of the image carrier; and a first guide member disposed between the lubricant fixing member and the fur brush to convey the powder scattered from the fur brush to the surface of the image carrier. |
| US07885592B2 |
Rotary operated mechanism for retracting paper pathways of printers
An apparatus is provided for clearing paper jams in a module along a print path of a printer, the module having nip baffles and a rotatable and removable core element defining a print path therethrough. The apparatus comprises at least one cam, a rotatable handle mechanism and a ramp drive mechanism to facilitate the paper jam clearing and removal of the core element from the module. |
| US07885591B2 |
Fixing device including a heating unit and a pressurizing unit that includes a rotatable endless member and image forming apparatus having the same
A low-heat loss, belt nip-type fixing device achieves good recording medium separation performance without increasing the size of the device, prevents image misalignment, and achieves a high-quality image without placing a major burden on the recording medium. This fixing device comprises a heat-fixing roller having an elastic layer and a heat source; and a pressurizing unit having an elastic member with a flat surface for pressing an endless member. The endless member conveys a recording medium, against the elastic layer. A pressurizing spring biases the elastic member toward the side of the recording medium. Biasing is carried out using the pressurizing spring such that the amount of deformation of the elastic member approaches the saturation region (maximum amount of deformation) inside a region of a nip portion, which is formed between the elastic layer of the heat-fixing roller and the endless member of pressurizing unit, and through which is passed a recording medium carrying an unfixed toner image. |
| US07885588B2 |
Transfer assembly and image forming apparatus including same
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers and a transfer assembly. The transfer assembly includes a plurality of transferees, a supporter, and a plurality of transferee holders. The plurality of transferers is each configured to electrostatically transfer a toner image carried on one of the image carriers onto an intermediate transfer member or a recording medium. The supporter is configured to support the transferers. The transferer holders are each configured to hold one of the transferers. Each of the transferee holders and the transferer held thereby form an integrated individual unit independently attachable to and detachable from the supporter. |
| US07885584B2 |
Self-cleaning electrophotographic toning roller system
An apparatus and related method for a self-cleaning toner roller device adjacent a toner roller. The cleaning device having one or more shields to capture the toner debris from the toner roller, a toner debris receptacle to collect the toner debris, and a controller to move the applicator from an operational mode to a self-cleaning mode. |
| US07885581B2 |
Developer transferring device, developing device, process unit, and image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus capable of reducing the number of toner concentration detection errors caused by variation in the volume of a toner includes a reverse vane for transferring developer in an opposite direction and protruding from the rotary shaft member in a region where a lower side faces a bottom wall of a first transfer chamber and two lateral sides that are orthogonal to the rotary axis direction face respective side walls of the first transfer chamber, and a toner concentration detection sensor is disposed to detect the toner concentration of the developer as the developer is transferred between the reverse transfer vane and a location of the screw vane adjacent to the reverse transfer vane. |
| US07885571B2 |
Image forming apparatus, fixing unit, and heating system capable of heating at increased speed with reduced power
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism configured to form a toner image on a recording medium with a toner according to image data and a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image on the recording medium. The fixing unit includes first and second heating members and a first heater. The first and second heating members are configured to apply heat to the recording medium having the toner image. The first heater is configured to heat the second heating member. The image forming apparatus further includes an auxiliary power source configured to drive the first heater. |
| US07885568B2 |
Image forming device with improved fixing temperature control and method
An image forming device that uses only one temperature sensor to detect temperatures of the recording sheet and a rotation member for fixing, and can perform the temperature adjustment control carefully in detail during the image forming operation. The CPU 61 performs the temperature adjustment control 1 by executing the temperature adjustment program 64b (step S109), then executes the paper passing judgment program 64a to judge whether or not paper is passing (step S110). As far as it judges that no paper is passing (NO in step S110), the CPU 61 continues to perform the temperature adjustment control 1 by executing the temperature adjustment program 64b. When it judges that paper is passing (YES in step S110), the CPU 61 performs the temperature adjustment control (step S112). |
| US07885565B2 |
Development device, image forming apparatus and image forming method
A development device includes a developer carrier 20Y that carries liquid developer containing toner liquid and carrier liquid, a developer supply member 32Y that supplies liquid developer to the developer carrier 20Y, a developer carrier cleaning member 21Y that collects liquid developer from the developer carrier 20Y, a collection reservoir 31bY that stores the liquid developer collected by the developer carrier cleaning member 21Y, a supply section 31aY that makes liquid developer flow to the collection reservoir 31bY, a conveyance member 34Y that conveys the liquid developer collected in the collection reservoir 31bY in a first direction X and a conveyance capacity regulation section 100 that regulates the conveyance capacity of the conveyance member 34Y. |
| US07885564B2 |
Image forming device
An image-forming device includes an image acquiring unit, an image forming unit, a determining unit, and a controller. The image acquiring unit acquires image data for one page. The image forming unit forms an image based on the image data. The image forming unit includes a developing roller, a supply roller, and a bias applying unit. The developing roller carries a developer. The supply roller supplies the developer to the developing roller. The bias applying unit applies a first voltage between the developing roller and the supply roller in a first mode, and applies a second voltage between the developing roller and the supply roller in a second mode. The determining unit determines whether the image data includes a part having density greater than or equal to a prescribed density. The controller controls the bias applying unit to apply the first voltage when the determining unit determines that the image data does not include the part having density greater than or equal to a prescribed density, and to apply the second voltage when the determining unit determines that the image data includes the part having density greater than or equal to a prescribed density. |
| US07885563B2 |
Development apparatus and image forming apparatus
A development apparatus is provided that can quickly form high quality printing material by steadily supplying developer charged and thinned to a uniform thickness and can also prevent the decrease in the quality of the printing material in a case where the developer carrier and developer supply unit are operated quickly. The toner supply roller is constructed in a manner using the elastic material with a hardness of HAF [degree] set to 20≦HAF≦80 measured by an Asker F-type and disposed in a manner such that the amount of push δ, defined as the amount pushed by the contact between the developer supply unit and the developer carrier, is 0.5 [mm] or below. In addition, toner supply bias voltage VS [V] applied to the toner supply roller has a frequency f [Hz] of 500≦f≦5000, and, with VSH and VSL as the peak values of the AC voltage component, fulfill the condition of 1≦|VSH−VD|/|VD−VSL≦5. |
| US07885561B2 |
Electric charging device, image forming apparatus, electric charging method, and manufacturing method of electric charging device
A needle electrode having a pointed section is provided so as to face a charge-target object, and a voltage to be applied to the needle electrode is set so that 2≦(E2·S2)/(E1·S1)≦5 is satisfied, where an ionization area A1 indicates an area where ionization occurs to oxygen molecules in an atmosphere; a dissociation area A2 indicates an area where dissociation occurs to the oxygen molecules in the atmosphere (excluding the ionization area A1); E1 indicates an average electric field strength in the ionization area A1; E2 indicates an average electric field strength in the dissociation area A2; S1 indicates square measure of the ionization area A1 on a plane which includes a straight line connecting the needle electrode and the charge-target object so that a distance between the needle electrode and the charge-target object becomes a shortest distance; and S1 indicates square measure of the dissociation area A2 of the plane. Thus, the electric charging device is capable of carrying out charging which (i) excels in charging uniformity, (ii) reduces products such as ozone and nitrogen oxide and (iii) stably continues for a long stretch of time. |
| US07885552B2 |
Driver system of image forming apparatuses and method of controlling the same
A driver system of image forming apparatuses whose structure is improved to receive a necessary service without additional confirmation by automatically requesting a management service and to improve the efficiency of use of the image forming apparatuses and a method of controlling the same. The driver system of the image forming apparatuses that is provided in a host computer to connect the host computer to the image forming apparatuses in order to perform a management service includes an input unit to receive state information on the image forming apparatuses from the image forming apparatuses and a transmitting unit to transmit a management service requesting signal to a management service supplying unit using the input state information. |
| US07885550B2 |
Method and apparatus for producing RZ-DPSK modulated optical signals
The invention provides an optical transmitter comprising a differential encoder having first and second outputs, the first and second outputs being of opposite polarity to one another, a first RZ converter connected to the first output of the differential encoder and a second RZ converter connected to the second output of the differential encoder, and a dual electrode Mach Zehnder modulator to which an unmodulated coherent light source is coupled, wherein the output of the first RZ converter is connected to a first electrode of the Mach Zehnder modulator and the output of the second RZ converter is connected to a second electrode of the Mach Zehnder modulator. The invention provides improved signal integrity as compared with existing RZ-DPSK solution through the use of high quality RZ drivers. Furthermore, the invention gives rise to controllable RZ pulse edge chirping, providing rapid pulse compression or broadening through a dispersive fibre length. This can be used to mitigate pulse distortion in non-linear transmission links. |
| US07885549B1 |
Facilitating automated service activation on passive optical networks
One embodiment of the disclosures made herein is a method for activating services in a Passive Optical Networking (PON) system. In accordance with such an embodiment, an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) within the PON system is pre-provisioned with PON services and with at least a portion of information required for facilitating automatic activation of the PON services. Pre-provisioning is defined herein to mean that such provisioning is performed prior to installing an ONT (i.e., a network interface device) that will serve such to services at the service subscriber's site and that is controlled by the OLT. After installation of the ONT is complete, the PON services served by the ONT are automatically activated using at least a portion of the pre-provisioned information and information discovered about the ONT during a post-installation discovery process. For example, to enable the PON services to be automatically activated after the ONT is installed, network element management software of the PON system is adapted to automatically check the ONT selected for installation against a database of legitimate units. After the installed ONT is verified as a legitimate unit, the PON services are automatically activated. By providing such an automated mechanism for supporting the activation of PON services at the ONT, resources utilization for performing various system management activities (e.g., provisioning at the central office, ONT install, etc) are advantageously reduced. |
| US07885548B1 |
Free space optical communication
Free space optical communication systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided. A free space optical communication system embodiment includes a light source for emitting a light beam toward a receiver, where the light beam includes a signal to be transmitted, an output lens through which the light beam is directed toward the receiver, and an actuator coupled to the light source for moving the light source to adjust the diameter of the light beam. |
| US07885547B2 |
Optical wireless transmission system for performing optical space transmission, and optical transmitter used therein
An optical transmitter for performing high-rate data communication by means of optical space transmission is provided, which can reliably perform optical axis adjustment manually and visually, and can prevent a device from being made large in size and manufacturing cost of the device from being increased by using an simply-constructed optical transmitter. Thus, the optical transmitter of the present invention comprises an incident beam restriction section operable to allow only a visible beam which is emitted by a terminal located within a range in which an infrared beam is emitted and incident thereon to pass therethrough, a reflection section operable to reflect the visible beam which has passed through the incident beam restriction section, and a light source operable to emit the infrared beam to pass through the reflection section according to a data transmission request signal from the terminal. |
| US07885546B2 |
Method and apparatus for transparent Ethernet multiplexing and demultiplexing
A method and apparatus for multiplexing multiple Ethernet-based data streams in an optical network reduce the number of optical transceivers required by the optical network. Multiple data streams are multiplexed into a combined data stream, transmitted from a node in the optical network as the combined data stream, and demultiplexed at the receiving node. Data streams are multiplexed and demultiplexed at the bit level, and packets from each data stream are routed based on a VLAN tag that is contained in the header of each packet. By transmitting the information contained in multiple data streams as a single multiplexed data stream, the number of optical transceivers required for the optical network may be reduced by more than half. An optical supervisory channel may also be bundled with one of the data streams to eliminate the need for a dedicated transceiver for the optical supervisory channel. |
| US07885545B2 |
Dispersion compensation method and compensation node
A dispersion compensation method comprising the steps of: a) providing a compensation node for each predetermined number of in-line repeaters; b) carrying out dispersion compensation for the in-line repeaters with the different bit rates in common; c) carrying out wavelength demultiplexing on the optical signal for each of the different bit rates in the compensation node; and d) setting an optimum dispersion compensation amount for the optical signal of each bit rate. |
| US07885544B2 |
Device for temporal subsampling of an OTDM optical signal, OTDM-WDM converter comprising same and OTDM-WDM converter
The invention concerns a device for temporal subsampling of an OTDM optical signal at a predetermined subsampling frequency, comprising a generator (10) for generating clock pulses transmitted at the predetermined subsampling frequency and at a conversion wavelength λH and a wavelength converter device (16) adapted to receive at its input the OTDM optical signal and the clock pulses in order to deliver at its output a subsampled OTDM optical signal at the conversion wavelength. The converter device comprises a linear optical amplifier (18) adapted to receive the OTDM optical signal and the clock pulses propagating in the opposite direction, the maximum linear power of the conversion being adjusted so that it can be less than the peak power of the OTDM optical signal, and a converter (20) of phase modulation into amplitude modulation. |
| US07885543B2 |
High performance gigabit passive optical network
A device determines a bandwidth demand for traffic provided between a line terminal (LT) and multiple optical network terminals (ONTs), and dynamically tunes, based on the determined bandwidth demand, one or more tunable filters provided in the LT and the multiple ONTs to one of balance the traffic, protect the traffic, or increase available bandwidth for the traffic. |
| US07885542B2 |
Format converter with smart multitap and upstream signal regulator
Systems and methods for signal conversion with smart multitap are disclosed. Embodiments of the systems can be scalable to model different signal topologies, transmission frequencies, bandwidths, and distances. An exemplary embodiment of the systems and methods includes a fiber optic to RF converter and a smart multitap. Although a fiber optic to RF converter is used in exemplary embodiments throughout the disclosure, conversion between other signal topologies is within the scope of the disclosure. The smart multitap includes a multiple tap for distributing a signal to multiple terminals and a microprocessor to select a particular terminal for a signal. Exemplary embodiments include downstream implementations in which a stream is typically sent from a service provider server to a user. Alternative embodiments include downstream implementations as well as upstream implementations in which a user typically sends a stream to a service provider server. |
| US07885539B2 |
Method for detecting and localizing faults in an optical transmission path, and optical transmission system
A method for detecting and locating faults in an optical transmission path, and to an optical transmission system having such a functionality, is provided. By measuring the temporal change in the state of polarization SOP, external influences on a glass fiber cable of a long-haul transmission system, e.g., a WDM transmission system, may be detected. Such fault(s) may be localized with the aid of the relative arrival time of the polarization signal at both sides of a bidirectional transmission system. |
| US07885535B2 |
Methods and systems for estimation of visible light amount in a light source
Methods and systems for estimating the amount of visible light in a light source using an image sensor, e.g., such as an image sensor of the type commonly found in color video cameras. The methods and systems may be implemented to use information about the normalized differences of three color components contained in a light source in conjunction with a measure of total light energy of the light source in order to estimate the amount of visible light present in light received by the image sensor from a light source. |
| US07885534B2 |
Light-amount adjusting system and optical apparatus
The light-amount adjusting system includes a light-amount adjusting unit that changes a size of an aperture through which light passes, an actuator that drives the light-amount adjusting unit, and a detector that detects an aperture state of the light-amount adjusting unit. The system further includes a deviation signal generator that generates a signal corresponding to a deviation between a target aperture state of the light-amount adjusting unit and an aperture state thereof detected by the detector, a driving signal generator that provides an offset to the signal corresponding to the deviation to generate a driving signal for driving the actuator, and a filter which perform a low-pass-filter processing on the driving signal. An output from the filter is used as the offset. The system can control the light-amount adjusting unit with high stability and accuracy at any position and in any driving direction thereof. |
| US07885529B2 |
Lens driving apparatus, imaging apparatus, and lens barrel and camera main body used for this
A lens position calculator is provided that determines a phase of a driving signal as a reference position of an imaging lens when an output value of a position detection sensor reaches a threshold value. The lens position calculator determines a position obtained by performing addition or subtraction on the reference position read out from a reference position storage as a judgment position, detects an output value of the position detection sensor at a timing in synchronization with the driving signal that drives a driver and at the judgment position, and judges whether the output value of the position detection sensor at the judgment position reaches the threshold value or not, so as to determine the reference position again. |
| US07885528B2 |
System and method for focusing a charge coupled device lens on a selected surface of an object
A positioning system and method for focusing a charge coupled device (CCD) lens on a selected surface of an object to be measured is provided. The positioning system and method moves the CCD lens downwards to approximate an estimate Z-axis coordinate of the CCD lens, and moves the CCD lens upwards to find an accurate Z-axis coordinate of the CCD lens according to the selected surface of the object. The system and method further moves the CCD lens to a position corresponding to the accurate Z-axis coordinate to focus the CCD lens on the selected surface. |
| US07885526B2 |
Grey card for controlling exposure and white balance of a digital camera
A target (10, 20) is disclosed suitable for setting the exposure and white balance of a photographic digital camera. The target (10, 20) comprises a target surface (12) that has a reflectance of 18% for all wavelengths of visible light. The target surface (12) is provided with a feature (16) upon which the camera is able to focus. |
| US07885525B2 |
Lens barrel, driving method thereof, and image pickup device
A lens barrel which is capable of increasing the total length of the lens barrel in a shooting state even in a case where the collapsed lens barrel length is short, with a simple construction. A shooting optical system is disposed movably in an optical axis direction. A lens barrel driving member moves the shooting optical system in the optical axis direction while rotating around the optical axis. A lens barrel driving member moving unit moves the lens barrel driving member in the optical axis direction in a transition region during which the lens barrel moves between a shooting state and a non-shooting state while the driving member rotating. |
| US07885524B2 |
Photographic apparatus
A photographic apparatus comprises a movable platform, a translational movement switch, a rotational movement switch, and a controller. The movable platform has an imager, and is movable and rotatable in an xy plane. The translational movement switch is for selecting ON/OFF states of a translational movement including a first stabilization and a second stabilization. The first stabilization moves the movable platform in the x direction for correcting hand shake caused by yaw. The second stabilization moves the movable platform in the y direction for correcting hand shake caused by pitch. The rotational movement switch is for selecting ON/OFF states of a rotational movement that rotates the movable platform in the xy plane. The controller controls the movable platform for the translational movement on the basis of the state of the translational movement switch, and the rotational movement on the basis of the state of the rotational movement switch. |
| US07885523B2 |
Image pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus includes a gyro sensor 1240 that detects camera shakes, a feed forward value is calculated by multiplying a first coefficient c1 to an output value of the gyro sensor 1240 when the output value of the gyro sensor 1240 is less than a first predetermined value, another feed forward value is calculated by multiplying a second coefficient c2 smaller than the first coefficient c1 to an output value of the gyro sensor 1240 when the output value of the gyro sensor 1240 is greater than or equal to the first predetermined value, each of the products is respectively added by an addition device to an output value of a drive signal. |
| US07885519B2 |
Audio/video device with replay function and method for handling replay function
The present invention relates to an audio/video device (100) with a replay function containing a stream source (101) providing a replayable audio/video data stream, a user interface (108) for inputting stream play requests, a stream processor (102) coupled to the stream source (101) and to the user interface (108) providing stream play status and processing the stream according to the stream play requests, a tag memory (106) and a microphone (103) receiving ambient sound. To the microphone is coupled an ambient sound analyzer (104) detecting disturbing events, to which is coupled an audio events memory (109) and a tag manager (105) coupled to the stream processor (102) and to the tag memory (106), which upon detecting a disturbing event, generates a disturbing event tag according to stream play status and stores the tag in the tag memory (106), to which is coupled a replay manager (107) coupled to the stream processor (102) and handling stream replay requests by directing a replay of the stream from a point associated with a disturbing event tag. |
| US07885518B2 |
Recording control device and method, recording medium, and program
A recording control device records a program to be reserved for recording on the basis of reservation information including recording start time information indicating a time, at which recording starts, and recording end time information indicating a time, at which recording ends. The recording control device includes a setting unit that, when it is judged that the program is not recorded after recording is reserved, sets the same time as the time, indicated by the recording start time information, at which recording starts, in the recording end time information of the reservation information for recording the program; and a recording control unit that, when the time, indicated by the recording start time information, at which recording starts, is the same as the time, indicated by the recording end time information, at which recording ends, controls recording of the program such that recording of the program is suppressed. |
| US07885517B2 |
Scheduling the recording of television programs
A television receiving system displays an advertisement for a future television program. If the future television program is identified as recordable, the system also displays an option to set a reminder for the advertised program and/or an option to record the advertised program on a video recorder. If a viewer of the advertisement selects the reminder option, then a reminder is programmed in the system. If the viewer selects the record option, then the system automatically programs the video recorder to record the advertised program. If the viewer has established an interactive session during a television advertisement, and has not completed the interactive session when the advertisement ends, then the current television program is paused until the interactive session is completed. |
| US07885513B2 |
Seamless reproduction from a signal recorded on a first and a second layer of a record carrier
The invention relates to an apparatus for reproducing a digital information signal which is recorded on a first and a second layer of a record carrier, the digital information signal being divided into cells, each cell being recorded in at least one sector, the digital information signal comprising a first cell recorded on the first layer and a second cell recorded on the second layer, while in addition control data indicating that the first and the second cell have to be presented in a non-seamless manner one after the other is recorded on said record carrier. The apparatus is arranged to detect that the first cell is read from the first layer and the second cell is read from the second layer and generates a control signal indicating that the first and the second cell have to be presented seamlessly in dependence on said detection. In this way the control data indicating that the cells have to be presented with a seam is replaced with a control signal indicating that the cells have to presented seamlessly. This results in an improved presentation of the digital information signal at a layer break. |
| US07885510B2 |
Information storage medium and information recording/playback system
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data. |
| US07885509B2 |
Information processing system, information processing method, and computer program
A system and method is disclosed by which two or more information processing apparatus having a recording reservation function are linked in recording reservation setting to each other. The information processing apparatus exchange schedule information such as recording reservations with each other. The recording reservation program information of all of the information processing apparatus are displayed in a merged form on a GUI of any of the information processing apparatus. When a user wants to reserve a number of programs for recording within the same time zone, the user can confirm, on the GUI of a particular information processing apparatus, a recording reservation situation of another information processing apparatus or an unoccupied situation of an external recording section and perform setting of a reservation for a further information processing apparatus. |
| US07885507B2 |
Image reproducing apparatus and method
An image reproducing apparatus for selectively reproducing and outputting image data of an arbitrary angle from image data of a plurality of angles including a plurality of reproduction units, comprising: an angle position information determination section which determines whether or not angle change is available based on angle change position information representing an address of an angle change destination recorded in the reproduction units; control means which changes an angle of a reproduced image data by using the angle change position information representing the address of the angle change destination recorded in the reproduction units; and angle change position information storage means which stores the angle change position information recorded in the reproduction units excluding a currently-reproduced reproduction unit at a currently-reproduced angle, wherein, if the angle position information determination section determines that the angle change cannot be performed by using the angle change position information recorded in the currently-reproduced reproduction unit, the control means changes the angle of the reproduced image data by using the angle change position information stored in the angle change position information storage means. |
| US07885506B2 |
Device and a method for polarized illumination of a micro-display
A display device comprises a light source to provide an input light beam, a substrate having an input surface to form an in-coupled light beam by receiving light of the input light beam, wherein the in-coupled light beam is confined to the substrate by total internal reflections, the substrate further comprising a plurality of out-coupling features to form an illuminating light beam by diffracting light of the in-coupled light beam out of the substrate, a display element having a plurality of reflective polarization-rotating pixels arranged to form reflected light beams by reflecting light of the illuminating light beam, and imaging optics to form an image by focusing or collimating light of the reflected light beams transmitted through the out-coupling features. |
| US07885504B2 |
Dual-optical fiber coupler enclosure
Disclosed herein is an optical fiber coupler enclosure. The optical fiber coupler enclosure includes a lid member, a base member, and a first end cap. The lid member includes two lid side walls and a first open end. The base member is opposite the lid member. The base member includes two base side walls and a first open end. The base member includes at least one mounting channel proximate to each of the base side walls. The mounting channels are configured to fixedly dispose at least two fiber optic couplers adjacent to one another. The first end cap is disposed between the lid member first open end and the base member first open end. |
| US07885500B2 |
Apparatus and method for adjusting an optical rotating data transmission device
The invention relates to a method for adjusting an optical rotating data transmission device having two units that are rotatable with respect to each other about a rotation axis, and that each have a coaxial collimator for coupling light in or out, and relates also to an optical rotating data transmission device that is adjustable by means of the method. For an adjustment, a deviation of a light beam from the rotation axis is determined by means of two detectors at different distances, and from this a positional deviation and also a tilt of the light beam is calculated and suitably compensated. |
| US07885499B2 |
Optical junction apparatus and methods employing optical power transverse-transfer
A method comprises: (i) forming a first optical waveguide on a first substrate; (ii) forming a second, structurally discrete optical waveguide on a structurally discrete second substrate; (iii) assembling the second substrate or second optical waveguide with the first substrate or first optical waveguide so that the first and second optical waveguides are positioned between the first and second substrates and are relatively positioned for transferring the optical signal therebetween via optical transverse coupling; and (iv) arranging the first or second optical waveguide for transferring the optical signal therebetween via substantially adiabatic optical transverse coupling with the first and second waveguides so positioned. |
| US07885497B2 |
TFT array substrate with storage capacitor having large capacitance and LCD panel using the same
An exemplary thin film transistor array substrate (200) includes a transparent substrate (261), a plurality of gate lines (201) and a plurality of data lines (202) formed at the transparent substrate, the gate lines and the data lines crossing each other thereby defining a plurality of pixel regions (230). Each of the pixel regions includes a storage capacitor (220). The storage capacitor includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor aligned along a direction generally perpendicular to the transparent substrate, and the first capacitor and the second capacitor are electrically connected in parallel. |
| US07885493B2 |
Broadband wavelength multiplexing and demultiplexing filter and optical splitter with optical signal multiplexing and demultiplexing function
Two Mach-Zehnder optical interferometer circuits 13a and 13b are accurately point-symmetrically connected to each other to form a first point-symmetrically connected optical interferometer circuit 5 constituting a light input side circuit 1. Optical signals having a plurality of wavelengths are input to a light input terminal 17. A second point-symmetrically connected optical interferometer circuit 7 having the same functional structure as the first point-symmetrically connected optical interferometer circuit 5 is connected to a through port 18, which is an output terminal of the light input side circuit 1, as a first light output side circuit 2. A cross port 19, which is the other output terminal of the light input side circuit 1, is connected to a second light output side circuit 3 having at least one of Mach-Zehnder optical interferometer circuits 13c and 13d whose transmittance characteristics are different from those of the Mach-Zehnder optical interferometer circuits 13a and 13b. |
| US07885491B2 |
Method for producing a bending sensor
At least one sensing region is formed on the bending sensor by providing a flexurally elastic base cover which is interrupted in at least one partial region of the sensing region or is structured using elevations and/or depressions. At least one planar optical fiber core is generated on the base cover. The optical fiber core has a greater index of refraction than the base cover. The optical fiber core is covered by a shroud. The optical fiber core has a greater index of refraction than the shroud. |
| US07885490B2 |
Optical chemical detector and method
An apparatus and method for optically detecting the presence of an analyte in a solution is presented. An embodiment comprises a waveguide resonator that is optically coupled to a fluid in a fluidic conduit so that the resonant wavelength of the waveguide resonator is based on the refractive index of the fluid. |
| US07885488B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method and medium
Provided are an image processing apparatus, method and medium, more particularly, an image processing apparatus, method and medium which perform interpolation such that a pixel value in each pixel region included in a digital image and an average value of interpolation data extracted using a predetermined interpolation method in the pixel region are equal. The image processing apparatus includes an accumulative addition unit to sequentially integrate values of pixels included in an image, an interpolation unit to interpolate the integrated pixel values, and an accumulative subtraction unit to perform differentiation at a predetermined position of the interpolated pixel values. |
| US07885487B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficiently enlarging image by using edge signal component
A method and an apparatus for efficiently enlarging an image, where the outermost Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) components from a DC value are regarded as high frequency components in DCT components expressed in one two-dimensional coordinate system, the edge signals of an image are restored by means of only the high frequency components, and then a binary edge mask, which represents the distribution of high frequency components within the image, is generated from the restored edge signals. Accordingly, an interpolation order can be determined based on the binary edge mask and interpolation can be performed. A higher order low pass filter is applied to an area having many high frequency signal components, so that it is possible to output more precisely enlarged image signals. In this way, that it is possible to improve the overall picture quality of an enlarged image, and to properly adjust the amount of calculation and buffer capacity, which are used when interpolation is performed. |
| US07885486B2 |
Image processing system, method for processing image and computer readable medium
An image processing system includes a frequency conversion section, a frequency component generation section, an enlarged image area generation section and an enlarged image generation section. The frequency conversion section converts neighboring areas of each area in question into plural frequency components. The areas in question and the neighboring areas of the areas in question are included in an input image. The frequency component generation section generates predetermined frequency components from the frequency components of each neighboring area. The enlarged image area generation section generates an enlarged image area for each area in question, using (i) an image region which contains each area in question and which has a predetermined size and (ii) the predetermined frequency components. The enlarged image generation section places the enlarged image areas to generate an enlarged image for the input image. |
| US07885481B2 |
Authenticity proving optical structure, authenticating proof recording medium and authenticity certifying method
An optical structure 3 having a plurality of minute optical unit areas 4 is formed on a base 2. Each of the minute optical unit areas 4 has a plurality of minute areas A and B storing depth information representing multiple-valued phase information about a Fourier transformation image obtained through the Fourier transformation of an original image. In another embodiment of the present invention, the two adjacent minute optical unit areas 4 have a plurality of minute areas A and B storing depth information representing multiple-valued phase information about Fourier transformation images obtained through the Fourier transformation of different original images, respectively. |
| US07885480B2 |
Correlation peak finding method for image correlation displacement sensing
A correlation function peak finding method for an image correlation displacement sensing system is provided. The method may include capturing a reference image and a displaced image, and searching for an initial peak correlation function value point (CFVP) with pixel-level resolution based on correlating the reference image and displaced images at a plurality of offset positions. Then a complete set of CFVPs may be determined at each offset position in an analysis region surrounding the initial peak CFVP. Then a preliminary correlation function peak location is estimated with sub-pixel resolution, based on CFVPs included in the analysis region. Finally, curve-fitting operations are performed to estimate a final correlation function peak location with sub-pixel accuracy, wherein the curve-fitting operations apply a windowing function and/or a set of weighting factors that is/are located with sub-pixel resolution based on the preliminary sub-pixel correlation function peak location. |
| US07885479B2 |
Image processing device that quickly displays retinex-processed preview image
A reduced-image creating portion creates a reduced image from an original image. A reduced-retinex-image forming portion calculates reflectance of each pixel in the reduced image, thereby forming a reduced retinex image. A normalizing-parameter setting portion obtains frequencies of the reflectance in the reduced retinex image and sets upper and lower limits for normalization. A first normalizing portion obtains a normalized reflectance for each pixel in the reduced image. A first correcting portion obtains a corrected reduced image. A preview-image displaying portion displays the corrected reduced image on a display unit. A retinex-image forming portion calculates reflectance of each pixel in the original image. A second normalizing portion normalizes the reflectance of the original image based on the upper limit and the lower limit, thereby obtaining a normalized reflectance for each pixel in the original image. A second correcting portion corrects the original image, thereby obtaining a corrected original image. |
| US07885472B2 |
Information processing apparatus enabling an efficient parallel processing
A method of processing information, includes: creating threads for respective input data streams, and switching them for processing, the threads each being for applying predetermined processing to an input data stream and storing the resulting intermediate data into a buffer; and reading multiple pieces of the intermediate data from the respective corresponding buffers to output multiple pieces of output data in parallel. The switching for processing includes: detecting the amount of intermediate data that is stored and yet to be read in the buffers when starting processing the threads; and stopping processing of the thread when the amount of the intermediate data thereof exceeds a set value, and switching processing to other threads. |
| US07885469B2 |
Encoded high dynamic range textures
Encoded HDR textures are described. In one aspect, a HDR image comprised is preprocessed such that HDR information is represented in a single color channel. The preprocessed image is quantized in view of two luminance ranges to retain HDR in the single color channel. Each block of quantized channel information is then encoded across two textures (encoded HDR textures). Specifically, when encoding a block of the quantized information, pixels in a first range of the two luminance ranges are put into a color channel associated with a first texture. Additionally, pixels in a second range of the two luminance ranges are stored into a color channel associated with a second texture. |
| US07885465B2 |
Document portion identification by fast image mapping
An efficient technique is provided for determining a portion of a document corresponding to a captured image. Areas of a document in which the pattern is at least partially obscured are identified. A reference pixel in the image is selected, and an offset between the pixel and the pattern is determined. A pixel-by-pixel comparison is then made of the image with the document such that the reference pixel is only compared with locations in the document that are both within the identified areas and have the determined offset from the pattern. The comparison with the highest correspondence between the image pixels and the electronic document then identifies the position of the reference pixel relative to the electronic document. |
| US07885457B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method which are capable of displaying white, black and a color other than white and black at each pixel
An image processing device is provided for processing image data in order to display an image at an image display medium which is capable of displaying white, black, and colors at individual pixels, which are structured by pluralities of sub-pixels. The judgment component acquires the image data and judges whether there is a chromatic color or a non-chromatic color at each pixel. When a pixel is judged to be non-chromatic, the selection component selects a pre-specified black-and-white sub-pixel set in accordance with a gray level of the non-chromatic color. When a pixel is judged to be chromatic, the conversion component converts color data to a sub-pixel set of black and the color in accordance with a pre-specified condition. Of results of conversion, the replacement component replaces a pre-specified sub-pixel set of colors, in an individual pixel or in a pre-specified sub-pixel group, with a pre-specified black-and-white sub-pixel set. |
| US07885455B2 |
Method of combining images of multiple resolutions to produce an enhanced active appearance model
A method of producing an enhanced Active Appearance Model (AAM) by combining images of multiple resolutions is described herein. The method generally includes processing a plurality of images each having image landmarks and each image having an original resolution level. The images are down-sampled into multiple scales of reduced resolution levels. The AAM is trained for each image at each reduced resolution level, thereby creating a multi-resolution AAM. An enhancement technique is then used to refine the image landmarks for training the AAM at the original resolution level. The landmarks for training the AAM at each level of reduced resolution is obtained by scaling the landmarks used at the original resolution level by a ratio in accordance with the multiple scales. |
| US07885448B2 |
Diagnostic scanning microscope for information-enriched qualitative histopathology
A microscope array with staggered rows of magnifying imaging systems is used to scan a biological tissue sample in a single linear pass to produce an image and corresponding optical-density data. A conventional computerized algorithm is used to identify, isolate and produce segmented images of nuclei contained in the image. The OD values corresponding to nuclear chromatin are used to identify numerical patterns known to have statistical significance in relation to the health condition of the biological tissue. These patterns are analyzed to detect pre-neoplastic changes in histologically normal-appearing tissue that suggest a risk for the development of a pre-malignant and a potentially malignant lesion. This information is then converted to a visually perceptible form incorporated into the image of the tissue sample and is displayed for qualitative analysis by a pathologist. |
| US07885442B2 |
Perfusion weighted MRI with local arterial input functions
A method for perfusion weighted imaging in which a plurality of local arterial input functions is estimated at each of a plurality of voxels. At least in part of the basis of the local arterial input functions, a cerebral blood flow at a voxel associated with one of the local arterial input functions is estimated. |
| US07885440B2 |
Systems and methods for interleaving series of medical images
After selecting two or more image series for comparison, images of the image series are interleaved so that they are alternatively displayed in a comparison pane on a display device. In one embodiment, after one or more image series are selected for comparison, an interleaved image series is created containing each of the images of the one or more selected image series, or, alternatively, the interleaved image series comprises links to the images arranged in the interleaved pattern. If differences exist in the images of the multiple image series, these differences may be more easily detectable as the display device cycles between the images. Comparison of images in an interleaved image series may be more advantageous if the images of each selected image series are of a common anatomical area, common image size, and the images are in the same order. |
| US07885439B2 |
Apparatus and method for creating identification information based on unique components of a body
An identification information creation apparatus and method capable of improving reliability in an identification process. A prescribed number or fewer isolated pixels are eliminated as condition noises from a binarized image created from images obtained by imaging blood vessels unique to a body, and identification information is created based on the blood vessels of the resultant noise-free binarized image. This can reduce a possibility of creating the identification information with the condition noises as a part of the blood vessels, thus making it possible to prevent the identification information from deteriorating due to different imaging conditions and physiologic change of imaging target and thus improving reliability in the identification process. |
| US07885437B2 |
Fingerprint collation apparatus, fingerprint pattern area extracting apparatus and quality judging apparatus, and method and program of the same
To enable extraction of a specific area (pattern area) that includes a characteristic part of the inherent pattern of individual fingerprint from an inputted fingerprint image of a human being or other creature. The pattern area is extracted as the minimum area that is surrounded by a right pattern area slope, a left pattern area slope, and pattern area bases. The right (left) pattern area slope is a fingerprint ridge which runs towards the outside on the right (left) side from the start point that is located on the upper side of the center point of the fingerprint image, and satisfies a prescribed condition. The pattern area base is a fingerprint ridge which runs on the lower side of the center and satisfies a prescribed condition. |
| US07885434B2 |
Biometric information authentication device and method
At least one wrong template for storing features of pattern information imaged on condition unsuitable for biometric authentication is provided and the wrong template information is collated with collation template information produced by extracting features from biometric information when authentication information is registered. When similarity is low, the collation template information is stored in an authentication template. The collation template is collated with the wrong template upon authentication and when similarity is high, authentication processing is not made. Further, when similarity of the collation template information and the wrong template information is high, a guidance message for solving a problem is displayed to the user. Thus, reduction of authentication performance is prevented. |
| US07885433B2 |
Biometrics authentication method and biometrics authentication system
A biometrics authentication system detect body characteristics, verify the characteristics against registered biometrics data to perform individual authentication. In 1:n authentication, a plurality of different type biometrics database sets of a user are registered in a database, and at the time of verification of one type biometrics data set with one type registered biometrics data set, the control unit judges whether similar biometrics data sets of other person are registered, and if other person's similar biometrics data sets are registered, performs verification of each of the another type biometrics data sets of the plurality of similar biometrics data sets with the detected another type biometrics data set, and identifies the individual in question. |
| US07885431B2 |
Controlling operation of information processing device using movement data
An apparatus and a method for controlling an operation of an information processing device using movement data of the information processing device or a peripheral device are provided. An operation configuration variable set value for performing a predetermined function of the information processing device is changed according to movement data of the information processing device or the peripheral device detected by a movement detecting unit. After that, a predetermined function provided by the information processing device is automatically enabled or disabled, so that power consumption of a battery is minimized and user convenience in using the information processing device is enhanced. |
| US07885425B2 |
Electrodynamic electroacoustic transducer and electronic device
An electrodynamic electroacoustic transducer comprises: a first magnetic pole; a second magnetic pole that forms a magnetic gap between itself and the first magnetic pole and is arranged in a space excluding spaces in upper and lower face directions of the first magnetic pole; a yoke; a diaphragm; and a voice coil. The yoke magnetically couples one magnetic pole face of the first magnetic pole with one magnetic pole face of the second magnetic pole so as to support them. The diaphragm is arranged in a space in an upper face direction of the first magnetic pole and in a space in a lower face direction of the second magnetic pole, while its outer periphery is supported by the yoke. The voice coil is arranged in the magnetic gap and adhered to the diaphragm. At least one of the first magnetic pole part and the second magnetic pole part includes a magnet. |
| US07885423B2 |
Support apparatus for microphone diaphragm
A microphone includes a diaphragm assembly supported by a substrate. The diaphragm assembly includes at least one carrier, a diaphragm, and at least one spring coupling the diaphragm to the at least one carrier such that the diaphragm is spaced from the at least one carrier. An insulator (or separate insulators) between the substrate and the at least one carrier electrically isolates the diaphragm and the substrate. |
| US07885422B2 |
Audio device and method
The present invention provides a method of operating a digital audio device, the method comprising: receiving a voice call; receiving another digital audio signal which is not a voice call; mixing the two received signals; transmitting the mixed signal wirelessly to another device. |
| US07885421B2 |
Method and system for noise measurement with combinable subroutines for the measurement, identification and removal of sinusoidal interference signals in a noise signal
An approach is provided for measuring, identifying, and removing at least one sinusoidal interference signal (Ak·ej(ωkt+φk), Ak·ej(μ·ωkΔt+φk)) in a noise signal (w(t), w(μ·Δt)). A frequency range to be measured is split into a plurality of frequency bands (ν) via a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) filter bank. For each of the frequency bands (ν), an autocorrelation matrix ({circumflex over (R)}ν) is determined, wherein parameters of the autocorrelation matrices ({circumflex over (R)}ν) are variably adjusted based on whether the at least one sinusoidal interference signal (Ak·ej(ωkt+φk), Ak·ej(μ·ωkΔt+φk)) is to be measured, identified, or removed and further based on at least one averaging. The autocorrelation matrices ({circumflex over (R)}ν) are jointly utilized for one or more of measuring, identifying, or removing the at least one sinusoidal interference signal (Ak·ej(ωkt+φk), Ak·ej(μ·ωkΔt+φk)) in the noise signal (w(t), w(μ·Δt)). |
| US07885420B2 |
Wind noise suppression system
The invention includes a method, apparatus, and computer program to selectively suppress wind noise while preserving narrow-band signals in acoustic data. Sound from one or several microphones is digitized into binary data. A time-frequency transform is applied to the data to produce a series of spectra. The spectra are analyzed to detect the presence of wind noise and narrow band signals. Wind noise is selectively suppressed while preserving the narrow band signals. The narrow band signal is interpolated through the times and frequencies when it is masked by the wind noise. A time series is then synthesized from the signal spectral estimate that can be listened to. This invention overcomes prior art limitations that require more than one microphone and an independent measurement of wind speed. Its application results in good-quality speech from data severely degraded by wind noise. |
| US07885417B2 |
Active noise tuning system
Active noise control system and method for controlling an acoustic noise generated by a noise source at a listening location, in which system and method sound is picked up in the surroundings of the listening location by a sound sensor; an electrical noise signal which corresponds to the acoustic noise of the noise source is generated and filtered adaptively in accordance with control signals. The adaptively filtered noise signal is irradiated into the surroundings of the listening location by a sound reproduction device, where a secondary path transfer function extends between the sound reproduction device and sound sensor. The noise signal is filtered with a transfer function that models the secondary path transfer function. The signals which are provided by the sound sensor after first filtering serve as control signals for the adaptive filtering. |
| US07885414B2 |
Band-selectable stereo synthesizer using strictly complementary filter pair
A new method is proposed that produces stereophonic sound image out of monaural signal within a selected frequency regions. The system employs a strictly complementary (SC) linear phase FIR filter pair that separates input signal into different frequency regions. A pair of comb filters is applied to one of the filter's output. This implementation allows a certain frequency range to be relatively localized at center while the other sounds are perceived in a wider space. |
| US07885412B2 |
Pre-generation of generic session keys for use in communicating within communications environments
Generic session keys are pre-generated and stored in a pool of session keys for later use in communicating within a communications environment. The session keys that are stored in the pool are pre-encrypted with the private key of the entity storing those keys. To communicate between entities, a pre-encrypted session key is extracted from the pool and then further encrypted with the destination entity's public key to ensure data integrity and data confidentiality. The encrypted key is then forwarded to the destination entity and used during communications between the two entities. |
| US07885409B2 |
Software radio system and method
A multichannel communications device is disclosed. The multichannel communications device includes more than one transceiver. The multichannel communications device also includes a first switch configured for switching between transceivers. Further still, the multichannel communications device includes more than one cryptographic element. Yet further still, the mulitchannel communications device includes a second switch which is configured to switch between the cryptographic elements. A switch policy is configured to control communications between the cryptographic elements, including restricting communications between the cryptographic elements. |
| US07885402B2 |
Gain control
Methods, systems, and devices are provided for controlling the power level of voice signal streams. A gain controller embodiment includes a measurement module, a gain factor setting module, and a gain adjustment module. The measurement module includes program instructions to measure a power level of a voice signal stream. The gain factor setting module includes program instructions to set a gain value by comparing the measured power level to a threshold. The gain adjustment module includes program instructions to adjust a power level of a voice signal stream by applying the gain value to the voice signal stream. |
| US07885401B1 |
Method and apparatus to forecast the availability of a resource
The present invention is directed to systems and methods for providing an accurate forecast of resource availability within a determined forecast horizon. Statistics regarding time spent by resources in tasks that can be differentiated into or considered as a number of discrete segments are accessed to obtain a probability of resource completion of the task within the forecast horizon. In particular, statistics related to different task segments are combined to obtain a composite forecast of resource availability. Embodiments of the present invention may be applied to predictive dialer applications and workflow systems. |
| US07885399B2 |
Cost-conscious telecommunications terminal
A method and apparatus are disclosed for routing calls over an organization's private network of private branch exchanges. In particular, when a member of the organization (e.g., an employee, etc.) places a call from his or her affiliated off-premises telecommunications terminal (e.g., cell phone, etc.), the call is automatically routed to its destination through at least a portion of the private network of private branch exchanges when doing so reduces the cost of the call. In the illustrative embodiment, the call routing is performed automatically and transparently via software on the affiliated terminals (i.e., employees' cell phones) and on the organization's private branch exchanges. |
| US07885393B1 |
Location based format selection for information services
A call control system comprises an interface configured to receive from a caller a session request for an information service, and a processing system configured to determine a location of the caller, select a format for the information service from a plurality of formats based on the location of the caller, and generate a session setup message for the information service indicating the selected format. The interface is further configured to transmit the session setup message to the information service. |
| US07885390B2 |
System and method for multi-modal personal communication services
A system for personalizing interactive services provided to users of voice and data enabled communications devices, including users of SMS, MMS and WAP enabled communications devices. The system is designed to access source information associated with a particular requester for a service and to map the source information to personalization information associated with a user of the system. The source information is extracted in various embodiments from different types of communications channels. The personalization information is employed by the system to influence the behavior of the system while providing an interactive service to the user. |
| US07885387B2 |
Extreme ultraviolet light and X-ray source target and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention is made to provide an extreme ultraviolet light source target or an X-ray source target having a good operationality. An extreme ultraviolet light source target in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is obtained by including a heavy metal such as tin into a matrix made of a polymeric material such as hydroxylpropylcellulose (HPC). The target can be manufactured by mixing the heavy metal and the polymeric material with a solvent, and evaporating the solvent. Since the target uses the polymeric material as a matrix, the target can be easily deformed to have a desired shape. For this reason, the target can be easily attached to a target holder irrespective of the shape of the holder, resulting in a good operationality of the target. Furthermore, an emission efficiency can be improved by including the heavy metal at a low density. |
| US07885380B2 |
Generating a representation of an object of interest
A volumetric image of a space is acquired from an imaging system. The space includes an object of interest and another object, and the volumetric image includes data representing the object of interest and the other object. A two-dimensional radiograph of the space is acquired from the imaging system. The two-dimensional radiograph of the space includes data representing the object of interest and the other object. The two-dimensional radiograph and the volumetric image are compared at the imaging system. A two-dimensional image is generated based on the comparison. The generated two-dimensional image includes the object of interest and excludes the other object. |
| US07885379B2 |
Positioning device for a mammography unit
The present embodiments relate to a mammography unit may be improved, by provision of a positioning device for a mammography unit, comprising a device support section for accommodating the radiation source and an object support device for accommodating the object holder for the relative positioning of a radiation source and an object holder. The object support section may be and/or is connected to the mammography unit by means of a connector element, wherein the device support section is mounted such as to be able to rotate relative to the connector element. |
| US07885377B2 |
X-ray computer tomographic apparatus, medical imaging apparatus, and medical image display apparatus
An X-ray computed tomographic apparatus includes an X-ray tube, an X-ray detector, a rotating mechanism unit which continuously rotates the X-ray tube around a subject to be examined, together with the X-ray detector, a data storage unit which stores projection data corresponding to an output from the X-ray detector in association with the angles of the X-ray tube at the time of data acquisition, a reconstruction processing unit which reconstructs a plurality of images on the basis of a plurality of projection data sets stored in the data storage unit, the plurality of projection data sets corresponding to the same range from a first view angle to a second view angle, and a display unit which displays the plurality of reconstructed images. |
| US07885369B2 |
PLL frequency generator
A PLL frequency generator is disclosed for generating an output signal with a settable target frequency, comprising a) a voltage-controlled oscillator for generating the output signal depending on a control voltage, b) a switchable frequency divider, which is connected to the voltage-controlled oscillator and is designed to derive a frequency-divided signal whose instantaneous frequency depends on a value of an adjustable divisor, from the output signal c) a switchable delay unit, which is connected to the frequency divider and is designed to generate a delayed signal in that the frequency-divided signal is delayed by delay times that in each case depend on a control word and a control signal, and d) a phase detector, which is connected to the switchable delay unit and is designed to determine the phase difference between a reference signal and the delayed signal and to provide it for the generation of the control voltage. According to the invention, a calibration unit is provided, which is connected to the switchable delay unit and is designed to derive the control signal from the reference signal. |
| US07885368B2 |
Analog phase controller
Disclosed are embodiments of a phase control circuit with an analog phase controller that is able to effectively generate control signals for all four quadrants of phase control operation. |
| US07885362B2 |
Data transmission system and method thereof
A data transmission system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter mixes an original clock signal and an original data signal to generate and output a hybrid differential signal, the hybrid differential signal having multiple clock pulses and multiple data pulses. At lease one data pulse occurs between two clock pulses, and the period between two clock pulses corresponds to the frequency of the original clock signal. The clock pulses and the data pulses have different differential swings. The receiver receives the hybrid differential signal via a bus and generates a recovered clock signal and a recovered data signal based on the hybrid differential signal. The hybrid differential signal, the original clock signal and the original data signal are reduced swing differential signals. |
| US07885360B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and receiving method
A wireless communication apparatus receives an quadrature modulated signal, generate a local signal having a frequency different from a center frequency of the quadrature modulated signal, performs quadrature demodulation on the quadrature modulated signal by using the local signal, to obtain an I channel signal and a Q channel signal, performs Fourier transform on the I channel signal and the Q channel signal, to obtain signals in a frequency domain, and calculates a first correction coefficient for correcting phase distortion and amplitude distortion caused by the quadrature demodulation by using pairs of signals among the signals, each of the pairs are located at symmetrical frequency positions with respect to the frequency of the local signal. |
| US07885359B2 |
Sampling demodulator for amplitude shift keying (ASK) radio receiver
A method, algorithm, circuits, and/or systems for amplitude shift keying (ASK) modulation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sampling demodulator includes a comparator configured to compare an ASK modulated input to a predetermined voltage level and provide a comparison result, a pulse stretcher with a sampler configured to sample the comparison result a plurality of times for each of a plurality of cycles of the ASK modulated input to generate a bit stream and digital logic configured to determine a value for each data bit in the ASK modulated input from the bit stream, and a digital filter configured to filter an output of the digital logic, thereby providing a demodulated signal. |
| US07885354B2 |
System and method for enhancing near vertical incidence skywave (“NVIS”) communication using space-time coding
A system and method are described in which space-time coding techniques are used to transmit and receive multiple data streams within a near vertical incidence skywave (“NVIS”) communication system. Within the NVIS communication system, multiple independent data streams may be transmitted from a transmitting station at a high radiation angle, approaching or reaching 90 degrees. The data streams are reflected off of the ionosphere of the earth and received by one or more receiving stations. In one embodiment, the space-time coding techniques are multiple-input multiple-output (“MIMO”) signal communication techniques. |
| US07885352B2 |
Method and device for determining transmit power spectral density
A method for determining transmit power spectral density (PSD), includes: calculating time sharing parameters corresponding to transmission patterns for all users in each frequency band; and determining transmit PSD according to the transmission patterns and the time sharing parameters. A device for determining a transmit PSD including a calculation module and a PSD determining module is disclosed as well. Using the solution, the time for determining the transmit PSD can be saved. |
| US07885351B2 |
Method of correcting gain and phase imbalance of a multi-carrier transmission signal, transmitter and base station
Method of correcting a gain and phase imbalance of an analogue modulator (32) for multiple channels (CHi) of a multi-carrier transmission signal, the method comprising the steps of determining a gain imbalance correction factor (GCFi) and phase imbalance correction factor (PCFi) for each channel individually and applying said correction factors (GCFi, PCFi) to the corresponding channel (CHi) individually, before the multi-carrier synthesis of the channels is done, whereas step a) for each one of the multiple channels (CHi) is performed in a time-multiplexed manner with step a) for the other ones of the multiple channels (CHi). |
| US07885345B2 |
Pilot allocation method and device of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system
The present invention relates to a pilot allocation method for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system, and the said method is used for a communication system which at least includes one transmitter and two transmitting antennas, characterized in including the following steps: step 1, a user data carrier allocating module in the transmitter allocating a data carrier for a user data symbol, then mapping the user data to the allocated carrier, and finally, outputting the mapped user data to a inverse fourier transform module in the transmitter; step 2, at the same time with step 1, the pilot data carrier allocating module in the transmitter determining the allocation rule of the pilot data according to the subchannel allocation manner and the number of the transmitting antenna of the system, and allocating the pilot carriers for the pilot data, then mapping the pilot data to the allocated carriers, and finally, outputting the pilot data to the inverse fourier transform module. The present invention synthetically considers the question of practical application as well as reducing the floor effect. |
| US07885342B2 |
Managing bit error rates on point-to-point wireless links in a network
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a decoder connected to a wireless receiver for communication with a remote apparatus, first error data that indicates a current error rate that corresponds to a first inbound data packet received from the remote apparatus. Based in part on the first error data, it is determined whether the remote apparatus should increase a current signal to noise ratio. If so, then a first outbound data packet is sent to an encoder connected to a wireless transmitter. The first outbound data packet includes first link conditioning request data that indicates a current signal to noise ratio for one or more data packets received from the remote apparatus based at least in part on the first error data. The remote apparatus increases signal to noise ratio of transmissions in response to receiving the outbound data packet. |
| US07885341B2 |
Spatial filtering for improving compression efficiency of motion compensated interframe coding
An apparatus, method, and carrier medium carrying computer-readable code to implement a method that includes generating a difference picture of an accepted picture of a time sequence of pictures minus an estimate of the previous picture in the sequence. The generating of the difference picture includes forming quantized coefficients and passing the quantized coefficients via a prediction loop to generate the estimate of the previous picture. A spatial filter is applied to at least a component of the difference picture such that the forming of quantized coefficients is from a spatially filtered difference picture. The spatial filter is a noise reducing spatial filter configured such that there is a fixed delay between the filter input picture and the filter output picture. The fixed delay is significantly less than the time between consecutive pictures in the time sequence. |
| US07885339B2 |
Bi-directional temporal error concealment
Systems and methods for bi-directional temporal error concealment are described. In one aspect, a lost frame is detected during encoded video decoding operations. Bi-directional estimations for each pixel of the lost frame are calculated to generate a current frame for bi-directional temporal error concealment of the lost frame. |
| US07885338B1 |
Decoding interdependent frames of a video for display
A module may provide codec-independent services including determining frame display order, frame dependency sets, and queuing the dependency frames in advance so as to enable display of a video. The module enables a video to be played forwards or backwards at a variety of playback speeds from any position within the video. In one implementation, a device communicatively coupled to a plurality of decoders accesses a video that includes a plurality of frames. One or more of the frames are decodable by one or more of the communicatively coupled decoders. The device identifies a frame in the video that is to be displayed, and determines a plurality of dependency frames in the video upon which decoding of the frame to be displayed depends. The device provides an indication that one or more associated dependency frames are to be decoded. |
| US07885336B2 |
Programmable shader-based motion compensation apparatus and method
A video decoding method and apparatus receives a motion compensation shader command, such as a packet, for a programmable shader of a 3D pipeline, such as programmable vertex shaders and pixel shaders, to provide motion compensation for encoded video, and decode the encoded video using the programmable shader of the 3D pipeline. As such, the programmable shader of a 3D pipeline is used to provide motion compensated video decoding as opposed to, for example, dedicated hardware, thereby, among other advantages, eliminating the need for the dedicated hardware. |
| US07885333B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus
A video encoding apparatus comprises a frame memory/predictive image generator having a first predictive mode for generating a predictive image signal by selecting a combination from among a plurality combinations of a reference image number and a plurality of predictive parameters, and a second predictive mode for generating a predictive image signal according to a predictive parameter computed based on reference image numbers of reference images and an image-to-image distance, and a variable-length encoder to select one of the first and second prediction modes by the number of reference images, and encode orthogonal transformation coefficient information concerning a predictive error signal of a predictive image signal with respect to input video signal, mode information indicating an encoding mode, motion vector information and combination of selected reference image number with predictive parameter index information indicating combination of selected reference image information. |
| US07885332B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus
A video encoding apparatus comprises a frame memory/predictive image generator having a first predictive mode for generating a predictive image signal by selecting a combination from among a plurality combinations of a reference image number and a plurality of predictive parameters, and a second predictive mode for generating a predictive image signal according to a predictive parameter computed based on reference image numbers of reference images and an image-to-image distance, and a variable-length encoder to select one of the first and second prediction modes by the number of reference images, and encode orthogonal transformation coefficient information concerning a predictive error signal of a predictive image signal with respect to input video signal, mode information indicating an encoding mode, motion vector information and combination of selected reference image number with predictive parameter index information indicating combination of selected reference image information. |
| US07885331B2 |
Moving picture processor, method for processing a moving picture, and computer program product for executing an application for a moving picture processor
A moving picture processor includes a first detector configured to detect a reference block most similar to a target block for which motion is to be detected and which is set in a current picture, and to generate a first motion vector candidate indicating a relative position between the target block and the reference block. A second detector is configured to detect a first reference area most similar to a first target area obtained by combining the target block and a first adjacent block adjacent to the target block, and to generate a second motion vector candidate indicating a relative position between the first target area and the first reference area. A determination circuit is configured to determine a motion vector for the target block, based on the first and second motion vector candidates. |
| US07885329B2 |
Motion vector detecting apparatus and method for detecting motion vector
In relation to search positions within a search range determined with a reference image block located in the same position as a standard block of interest, correlation computation is performed by parallel processing under a pipeline method through use of a plurality of correlation computing units. A correlation extreme value is searched while the center position is sequentially moved on the basis of a predetermined search position setting standard according to the result of correlation computation. Further, sub-sampled image data for a plurality of channels corresponding to the search positions are retained in system memory for a plurality of channels, and correlation computation is performed in connection with search positions through parallel processing under a pipeline method through use of the plurality of correlation computing units. |
| US07885328B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus for motion compensation prediction
A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included. |
| US07885327B2 |
Video coding and decoding methods with hierarchical temporal filtering structure, and apparatus for the same
A method and apparatus for video coding and decoding with hierarchical temporal filtering structure are disclosed. A video encoding method in a temporal level having a hierarchical temporal filtering structure, includes generating prediction frames from two or more reference frames that temporally precede the current frame; generating a residual frame by subtracting the prediction frames from the current frame; and encoding and transmitting the residual frame. |
| US07885326B2 |
Method for determining a pulse position in a signal
A method is presented for determining an actual pulse position in a signal. This signal comprises a plurality of successive frames, wherein each frame has length L and contains one pulse with width W, a number of discrete possible pulse positions being considered within in each frame which is at least L/W. The method comprises the steps of a) sampling the signal at a sampling rate below L/W with a varying sampling phase such that the whole frame length L is covered, b) obtaining a set of samples with at least one at each of the possible pulse positions, c) correlating this set of samples with a set of one or more predetermined values and d) determining the actual pulse position from said correlation. The method provides a low-complex signal acquisition solution in a receiver and is particularly useful for low-complexity and low-power IR-UWB transceivers. |
| US07885324B2 |
Methods and systems for soft-bit demapping
Methods and systems for reconfigurable soft-output bit demapping, reconfigurable for different modes of operation (i.e., different transmitter/receiver configurations) and for different modulation schemes are provided. In an embodiment, a reconfigurable soft-output bit demapping system includes a mode/modulation independent equalizer, a plurality of mode/modulation independent soft-slicers coupled to the outputs of the equalizer, a plurality of mode/modulation independent post-scalers coupled to the outputs of the soft-slicers, and a mode-dependent coefficient calculator. The coefficient calculator generates parameters for configuring the equalizer, the soft-slicers, and the post-scalers according to the used mode of operation and modulation scheme. |
| US07885323B2 |
Asymmetric multi-channel adaptive equalizer
An apparatus is disclosed to compensate for non-linear effects resulting from the transmitter, the receiver, and/or the communication channel in a communication system. A receiver of the communication system contains an image cancellation module that compensates for images generated during the modulation and/or demodulation process. The image cancellation module includes a fine carrier correction loop to correct for frequency offsets between the transmitter and receiver. The image cancellation module includes a coarse acquisition mode and a decision directed mode. The decision directed mode allows for a larger signal-to-noise ratio for the receiver when compared against the coarse acquisition mode. |
| US07885322B2 |
Jitter measuring circuit
A jitter measuring circuit that is capable of measuring the amount of clock jitter and the amount of logic circuit delay jitter separately is provided. The jitter measuring circuit comprises a variable logic delaying section, a data holding section and a controller. The data holding section outputs predetermined data whenever a delay time of the variable logic delaying section is within a time period equivalent to one clock cycle. While the controller changes a delay time of the variable logic delaying section, it observes whether the data holding section outputs expected data and finds a marginal delay time which represents the amount of jitter. If the jitter measuring circuit operates on a power supply without power supply noise, the measured jitter has component of the clock signal only, and if it operates on a power supply with power supply noise, the jitter contains components of the clock signal plus the logic delay time variation. |
| US07885317B2 |
AltBoc receiver
An AltBoc receiver accumulates power measurements over code chip ranges that are associated with time slots that span the code chips. The receiver combines a received signal with code and carrier phase offsets that correspond to the time slots to produce the power measurements, with the code phase offsets determined from compressed signals representing one or a combination of the codes in the AltBoc signal. The receiver recovers navigation data from the data channels of the received signal and combines the recovered data with the corresponding locally generated PRN codes to produce a locally generated 4 code signal that is then used track the full 8PSK AltBoc received signal. The receiver rotates and shifts the phase of the received signal in order to line up the subcarrier splitting code zero crossings. The pulse shape of this rotated and shifted signal is measured. The resulting sharp edges of the recovered subcarrier are used to control the code phase of the receiver. |
| US07885310B2 |
Gas slab laser
The invention relates to a gas slab laser comprising a gas-filled chamber limited by a housing (1, 2, 3). The laser is provided with at least two high-frequency excited electrodes (5, 6) that extend into the housing and overlap. The electrodes define a discharge chamber (14). The laser is additionally provided with resonator mirrors (12, 13). In order to adjust the laser, the spatial arrangement of the electrodes and the resonator mirrors is optimized. Adjustment is carried out by applying a force (F) in the housing so that the spatial arrangement of the resonator mirrors is optimized as a result of the bending of the housing caused by the application of force. Deformation of the housing can occur plastically or elastically by maintaining the deforming forces. |
| US07885307B2 |
Vertical-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor laser device
A vertical-cavity surface-emitting (VCSEL) device has a layer structure including a top DBR mirror, an active layer, a current confinement oxide layer, and a bottom DBR mirror, the layer structure being configured as a mesa post. The current confinement oxide layer has a central current injection area and a peripheral current blocking area oxidized from the sidewall of the mesa post. The mesa post has a substantially square cross-sectional shape, thereby allowing an oxidation heat treatment to configure a substantially circular current injection area in the current-confinement oxide layer. |
| US07885305B2 |
Semiconductor laser device and semiconductor laser device array
In an active layer 15 of a semiconductor laser device 3, a refractive index type main waveguide 4 is formed by a ridge portion 9a of a p-type clad layer 17. Side surfaces 4g and 4h of the main waveguide 4 form a relative angle θ, based on a total reflection critical angle θc at the side surfaces 4g and 4h, with respect to a light emitting surface 1a and a light reflecting surface 1b. The main waveguide 4 is separated by predetermined distances from the light emitting surface 1a and the light reflecting surface 1b, and optical path portions 8a and 8b, for making a laser light L1 pass through, are disposed between one end of the main waveguide 4 and the light emitting surface 1a and between the other end of the main waveguide 4 and the light reflecting surface 1b. The optical path portions 8a and 8b are gain type waveguides and emit light components L2 and L3, which, among the light passing through the optical path portions 8a and 8b, deviate from a direction of a predetermined axis A, to the exterior. A semiconductor laser device and a semiconductor laser device array that can emit laser light of comparatively high intensity and can reduce side peaks are thereby realized. |
| US07885304B2 |
Nitride-based semiconductor laser device and method of manufacturing the same
A nitride-based semiconductor laser device includes a nitride-based semiconductor layer formed on a main surface of a substrate and having an emission layer, wherein the nitride-based semiconductor layer includes a first side surface formed by a (000-1) plane and a second side surface inclined with respect to the first side surface, and a ridge having an optical waveguide extending perpendicular to a [0001] direction in an in-plane direction of the main surface of the substrate is formed by a region held between the first side surface and the second side surface. |
| US07885303B2 |
Nitride semiconductor laser device and method of manufacturing the same
A nitride semiconductor laser device is formed by growing a group III nitride semiconductor multilayer structure on a substrate. The group III nitride semiconductor multilayer structure has a laser resonator including an n-type semiconductor layer, a p-type semiconductor layer and a light emitting layer held between the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer. The laser resonator is arranged to be offset from the center with respect to a device width direction orthogonal to a resonator direction toward one side edge of the device. A wire bonding region having a width of not less than twice the diameter of an electrode wire to be bonded to the device is formed between the laser resonator and the other side edge of the device. |
| US07885296B2 |
Maintaining consistency among multiple timestamp counters distributed among multiple devices
Disclosed are, inter alia, methods, apparatus, data structures, computer-readable media, mechanisms, and means for maintaining consistency among timestamp counters distributed among multiple devices. When timestamp counters are distributed among multiple physical devices, variances in their timestamp values can occur, such as, but not limited to those cause by variances among clocks in these different devices, different routing delays, different components, etc. These differences may be same, but still not allow high enough precision, especially as packet and processing rates continue to increase (which also causes clocking rates of devices to increase). One implementation distributes a time advance signal to each of these devices, which each device independently uses to determine when to advance its timestamp counter in response to its clock signal. These timestamps may be generated according to IEEE 1588 Standard for a Precision Clock Synchronization Protocol for Networked Measurement and Control Systems; and/or Physical Layer Transceivers (PHYs) may be disposed in each of the different physical devices. |
| US07885288B2 |
Method and system for channel estimation in a single channel (SC) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system comprising two-transmit (2-TX) and multiple-receive (M-RX) antennas for WCDMA/HSDPA)
In a wireless system, a method and system for channel estimation in a single channel MIMO system comprising two-transmit and multiple-receive antennas for WCDMA/HSDPA are provided. A first receive antenna and at least one additional receive antenna may receive a plurality of SC communication signals transmitted from a first and an additional transmit antennas. Estimates of the propagation channels between transmit and receive antennas may be performed concurrently and may be determined from a baseband combined channel estimate. The integration time may be based on channel estimation accuracy and wireless modem performance. The signals received in the additional receive antennas may be multiplied by a rotation waveform to achieve channel orthogonality. The rotation waveform's amplitude and phase components may be modified based on the channel estimates. Rotation of the received signals in the additional receive antennas may be continuous or periodic. |
| US07885285B2 |
Probabilistic routing for vehicular ad hoc network
A probabilistic method of determining a second vehicle in the VANET to which a packet is to be forwarded from a first vehicle is provided. The method includes determining the second vehicle to forward the packet from the first vehicle based on pre-calculated expected latency data corresponding to the second vehicle, and forwarding the packet from the first vehicle to the determined second vehicle. The expected latency data is indicative of the latency expected for communication of the packet from the first vehicle to the destination if the packet is forwarded from the first vehicle to the second vehicle, and is calculated in advance of the step of the determining the second vehicle to forward the packet. The second vehicle to forward the packet may also be determined based on pre-calculated communication probability data corresponding to the second vehicle in addition to the pre-calculated expected latency. |
| US07885284B2 |
Message-based communications
A method of communicating information between an intermediate element and a source element in a message-based communications system is provided where request and response messages being are sent via an intermediate element arranged to forward the messages to the appropriate element The method includes, at the intermediate element: prior to forwarding a received request message: determining the presence, in the received request message, of an indication of the information to be communicated and where present, adding a temporary identifier associated with the intermediate element to the message in such a way that the temporary identifier is included in the corresponding response message; and prior to forwarding a received response message: determining the presence of a temporary identifier associated with the intermediate element and, where present, replacing the temporary identifier with the information to be communicated to the source element. |
| US07885278B2 |
Method and system for connecting a media stream, and method and system for detecting a connectivity
This invention discloses a method for connecting a media stream, which includes: transmitting, by a media gateway in a private network, a connecting message to an external network device through a network address translation device; the connecting message is used for generating a new address mapping, which is used for a subsequent media stream to pass through the network address translation device, in the network address translation device when there is no address mapping available in the network address translation device; and the connecting message is used for keeping alive an address mapping when the address mapping is already available in the network address translation device. The invention further discloses a system for connecting a media stream, two methods for detecting connectivity, and a system for detecting connectivity. |
| US07885277B2 |
Methods and apparatus to analyze autonomous system peering policies
Methods and apparatus to analyze autonomous system (AS) peering policies are disclosed. A disclosed example method comprises obtaining routing information from two or more border routers of a first AS, wherein the routing information identifies two or more routes to a prefix associated with a second AS, and wherein the second AS is a peer of the first AS, identifying one of the two or more routes as an inferior route advertised by the second AS based on the routing information, and determining whether a routing impact is present within the first AS due to the advertised inferior route. |
| US07885274B2 |
Route optimization between a mobile router and a correspondent node using reverse routability network prefix option
In one embodiment, a method includes generating by a mobile router a home test message that includes a prefix option field specifying at least one mobile network prefix claimed to be owned by the mobile router. The method also includes outputting the home test message by the mobile router to a correspondent node via a prescribed home agent assigned to the mobile router, for initiation of a reverse routability test between the mobile router and the correspondent node that verifies the mobile router owns the at least one mobile network prefix. In another embodiment, the home agent is configured for forwarding a route optimization message, for example the home test message, to the correspondent node if the home agent determines that the at least one mobile network prefix is owned by the mobile router. |
| US07885273B2 |
Method and system for converting service types of devices connected to control gateway
A method and a system for converting the service types of the devices connected to a control gateway are provided. The system includes a server, an open platform, a control gateway and devices connected to the control gateway. Wherein, the device possesses device description information and is operated in a first device service type; the control gateway is electrically coupled between the open platform and the device, holds or obtains the device description information of the device and delivers the device description information to the open platform; the server provides a plurality of device service contents. The open platform further according to the device description information obtains the device service content corresponding to the device from the server and registers the device service content in the open platform. |
| US07885270B2 |
Statistical multiplexing of compressed video streams
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for statistical multiplexing of compressed video streams. A deadline of a packet of a compressed video stream is computed based on a program clock reference value of the packet. A plurality of packets, which includes the packet, is sorted based on deadlines corresponding to the packets. A next packet from the sorted plurality of packets is selected, the next packet having a corresponding deadline nearest to a system clock time. The next packet is transmitted. |
| US07885269B2 |
Network analysis with Steiner trees
Networks may be analyzed using Steiner trees. In an example embodiment, a method includes acts of receiving, accepting, creating, and analyzing. Data specifying a network is received. Steiner tree parameters are accepted. A Steiner tree model is created on the data specifying the network responsive to the Steiner tree parameters. The Steiner tree model includes a local representation having a depth constraint for neighborhood vertices. The data specifying the network is analyzed to ascertain a Steiner tree solution based on the Steiner tree model, which includes the local representation, and using a locally-oriented combinatorial algorithm. |
| US07885265B2 |
Transmission control method, mobile station, radio base station, and radio network controller
A transmission control method for uplink user data in a mobile communication system in which a plurality of HARQ processes is applied to the uplink user data, includes: classifying, at the radio network controller, each HARQ process into any of a scheduled transmission process, a non-scheduled transmission process, or a scheduled and non-scheduled transmission process in which either of the scheduled transmission or the non-scheduled transmission is performed; notifying, at the radio network controller, the classification result to the mobile station; and transmitting, at the mobile station, the uplink user data in each HARQ process to the radio base station using the scheduled transmission or the non-scheduled transmission, based on the notified classification result. |
| US07885260B2 |
Determining packet forwarding information for packets sent from a protocol offload engine in a packet switching device
Disclosed are, inter alia, methods, apparatus, computer-readable media, mechanisms used in one embodiment configured for, and means for, determining packet forwarding information for packets sent from a protocol offload engine in a packet switching device. The protocol offload engine performs the protocol processing for a protocol application (e.g., BGP) running on a separate control plane processing system, and generates packets to be sent to external devices. The protocol offload engine sends these packets to one of the line cards without using the routing information lookup facility of the control plane processing system, thereby, freeing the control plane processing system to use those processing cycles to perform other tasks. |
| US07885259B2 |
Deterministic multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) labels
Disclosed are, inter alia, methods, apparatus, computer-readable media, mechanisms, and means for deterministically determining MPLS labels as functions of addresses of Forwarding Equivalence Classes (FECs), and using these determined labels in the forwarding of packets. By each packet switching device in a network deterministically determining the same MPLS label to use for each FEC, each packet switching device knows what label will be used by the other packet switching devices, without running Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) or another label publishing protocol. Additionally, this knowledge extends to all packet switching devices in a network, not merely neighboring packet switching devices, which allows a packet switching device to specify a stack of labels to define a desired path through the network for explicit path routing and/or fast rerouting of traffic without having to previously establish a tunnel or path using Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP), for example. |
| US07885258B2 |
Packet switch equipment and bandwidth control method using the same
Disclosed is a packet switch equipment and a band control method using same. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a number of packets are sampled by using a packet sampling function provided by a packet switch chip, and the sampled packets are transmitted to a CPU. By using the transmitted sample packets, the total amount of bandwidth used by a corresponding user is estimated based on the source MAC address or the source IP address. If the estimated value exceeds a predetermined threshold, a bandwidth limitation function is applied to the user that is providing packets that exceed the bandwidth. A number of users can be dynamically recognized even when they are undefined, and a dynamic bandwidth limitation function is performed by tracking the bandwidth used by a corresponding user. |
| US07885255B2 |
Synchronous read channel
A synchronous read channel having a single chip integrated circuit digital portion which provides digital gain control, timing recovery, equalization, digital peak detection, sequence detection, RLL(1,7) encoding and decoding, error-tolerant synchronization and channel quality measurement is disclosed. The integrated circuit accommodates both center sampling and side sampling, and has a high degree of programmability of various pulse shaping and recovery parameters and the ability to provide decoded data using sequence detection or digital peak detection. These characteristics, together with the error-tolerant sync mark detection and the ability to recover data when the sync mark is obliterated, allow a wide variety of retry and recovery strategies to maximize the possibility of data recovery. Various embodiments, including an embodiment incorporating the analog functions as well as the primary digital functions of the read channel in a single integrated circuit, and preferred embodiments utilizing a reduced complexity, programmable modified Viterbi detector supporting a broad class of partial response channels are disclosed. |
| US07885253B2 |
Synchronization of session-initiation-protocol proxy databases
An improvement in the design and operation of telecommunications networks is described in which when a caller's telecommunication terminal does not know the address of the called party's telecommunications terminal, the caller's telecommunication terminal contacts one Session Initiation Protocol Proxy server after another until the address of the called party's telecommunications terminal is found. Thereafter, one or more of the Session Initiation Protocol Proxy servers that did not have the address of the called party's telecommunications terminal are populated with that information for future use. |
| US07885252B2 |
IP telephone apparatus
A source IP telephone inputs, from its numeric keypad, a telephone number of a call destination and obtains, from an ENUM server, a NAPTR record of the destination IP telephone based upon the input telephone number of the call destination. By referring to a search table, the source IP telephone retrieves, from the obtained NAPTR record, an available specific number in the ascending order of call rates from the lowest based upon communication services available to the source IP telephone. The source IP telephone transmits a call to the destination IP telephone by using the retrieved specific number. |
| US07885251B2 |
Real-time wireless sensor network protocol having linear configuration
A network configuration method of a sensor network configured to collect sensed data from a plurality of sensor nodes comprising: arranging linearly a path of respective node so as to enable all sensor nodes except for a sink node and a terminal node to have respectively a predecessor and a successor; and setting the time synchronization of whole network by fixing the each node take its own time synchronization on the basis of an operation section of the predecessor. |
| US07885248B2 |
System and method for traffic localization
Systems and methods for bridging packet flows to bypass call legs and/or tunnels are provided. A tunnel initiator, which can be an access gateway, a foreign agent, and a mobility anchor point, for example, provides a bypass for certain packets that have a destination serviced by the same tunnel initiator. The bridge allows the packets to bypass a backhaul loop and reduces latency and frees bandwidth for other purposes in the network. The bridging can be implemented in a tunnel initiator for mobile to mobile packet flows, mobile to land line packet flows, and land line to mobile packet flows. Route optimization can also be provided in certain embodiments. |
| US07885247B2 |
Method of transmitting feedback information using an extended subheader in a MAC PDU structure
A method of transmitting feedback information is disclosed. More specifically, a mobile station (MS) receives a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) which includes a Medium Access Channel (MAC) header from a base station (BS). Thereafter, the MS determines from the received MAC header whether an extended subheader group appears after the MAC header, and also identifies a feedback request extended subheader from the extended subheader group. Lastly, the MS transmits the feedback information according to the feedback request extended subheader. |
| US07885241B2 |
Receiving apparatus
LCCH steal receiving is done by a receiving unit which uses TDMA method without overloading to the control processor. A UW detecting unit 10 for detecting a UW by setting a UW expected value for control channel according to a timing signal TM3 from a LCCH timing unit 30, a frame timing unit 20 for outputting a frame timing signal TM1 of the frame according to a UW detecting signal DET, the LCCH timing unit 30 for outputting a timing signal TM3 for the UW detecting unit 10 and a timing signal TM5 for a PLL control unit 40 by counting the timing signal TM1, and the PLL control unit 40 for selecting and outputting a channel setting signal CH for a PLL2 according to the timing signal TM5 are all configured by hardware circuits. By the above configuration, the LCCH steal receiving becomes possible without software operations of the receiving units. |
| US07885239B1 |
Multi-sector rate control
An improved mechanism for managing allocation of air interface timeslots for transmission of data to access terminals. When an access terminal requests an access network to transmit data to the access terminal in a first sector, the access terminal will identify within its request a second sector that the access network can optionally use instead. The access network will then determine whether a threshold number of upcoming timeslots in the first sector are already scheduled to carry data to other access terminals and whether at least one of those timeslots is available for use in the second sector. If so, the access network will then responsively transmit the data to the access terminal in the at least one timeslot on the second sector. Advantageously, this process can help to increase sector throughput. |
| US07885232B2 |
Mobile communication terminal, method of operating the same in handover rejection and method of rejecting handover in portable internet system
A method of operating a mobile communication terminal for a handover rejection in a portable Internet system and the mobile communication terminal using the same are disclosed. The method includes transmitting a handover request message to a serving base station and receiving a response message corresponding to the handover request message from the serving base station, in which the handover request message requests a handover operation to at least one target base station. The method also includes checking whether the received response message includes contents regarding the handover rejection, extracting at least one of terminal action instruction information and rejection reason information corresponding to the handover rejection from the response message according to a result of the checking step, and executing an action according to the extracted information. |
| US07885230B2 |
Method for scheduling distributed virtual resource blocks
A method for efficiently scheduling virtual resource blocks to physical resource blocks is disclosed. In a wireless mobile communication system that supports a resource block group (RBG) allocation scheme, when consecutively allocated virtual resource blocks are distributively mapped to physical resource blocks, a gap for the distribution is determined to be a multiple of a square of the number of consecutive physical resource blocks constituting an RBG. |
| US07885225B2 |
Transmission control method of downlink packet communication and wireless base station
A wireless base station for transmitting a data packet to a plurality of mobile stations through a downlink shared channel determines two powers to be allocated to the downlink shared channel using two large and small transmission power margins. The wireless base station carries out a step of relating a first transmission format, which applies a phase modulation or a phase-amplitude modulation to a data packet to be transmitted by an allocation power corresponding to the larger margin, to the mobile stations and a step of relating a second transmission format, which applies only the phase modulation to the data packet to be transmitted using the allocation power corresponding to the other margin, to the mobile stations, compares the total numbers of bits to be transmitted by the respective transmission formats, and transmits the data packet by the transmission format corresponding to a larger value. With this operation, the communication fault of an HSDPA due to the transmission power margins can be prevented. |
| US07885223B2 |
Communications infrastructure for content delivery using edge servers
A communications infrastructure, such as a public land mobile network (PLMN) complying with the GPRS standards, is described comprising at least a local support node for packet stream communication with a plurality of terminals and a gateway support node for packet stream communication with an external network, which may be an IP network such as the public internet. The local support node and the gateway support node are arranged for interconnection by a point to point tunnel, a GTP tunnel in the case of GPRS via for instance an IP network, for carrying packets between each terminal and addressed servers on the external network. A control element and one or more edge servers are associated with the local support node. The edge servers are each associated with respective addresses on the external network and the control element is interposed between the local support node and the gateway support node. The control element is arranged in operation to extract from the tunnel packets destined for a predeterminable set of external network addresses and redirect the extracted packets to corresponding ones of the edge servers. Finally, the control element is arranged route packets received from the edge servers to a corresponding terminal via the local support node. |
| US07885222B2 |
Task scheduler responsive to connectivity prerequisites
A method for scheduling tasks for execution by a mobile device is provided. A connectivity prerequisite is defined for a task scheduled to be executed by the mobile device. Connectivity state information associated with the mobile device is received. The connectivity prerequisite is compared to the connectivity state information. The task is executed responsive to the connectivity state information satisfying the connectivity prerequisite. |
| US07885220B2 |
Method and apparatus for improved dual channel operation and access point discovery in wireless communication networks
A method and apparatus of coordinating Time Division Multiple Access operation of wireless communication devices is disclosed. The method comprises an access point announcing a Quiet Period to one or more clients of the access point and transmitting as part of Target Beacons and probe responses an indication to the one or more clients that the access point will be absent from the communication channel for a period of time. The method also comprises the one or more clients establishing a connection with the access point after the Quiet Period when the access point is present on the communication channel on the basis of the indication. |
| US07885216B2 |
Method and device for setting up the transfer of a multimedia content in a cell of a wireless cellular telecommunication network
The invention concerns a method and a device for setting up the transfer of a multimedia content in a cell of a wireless cellular telecommunication network constituted of plural cells, the cells being neighbour of at least one other cell, each cell being managed by a base station. A first base station which manages a first cell receives from a second base station which manages a second cell which is neighbor of the first cell managed by the first base station, a message notifying that the second base station transfers the multimedia content in the second cell, the message comprising at least information identifying the multimedia content. The first base station obtains the multimedia content from the wireless cellular telecommunication network and transfers the multimedia content in the first cell. |
| US07885215B2 |
Method and apparatus for allocating communication resources to communicate data in a radio communication system
Apparatus and method for allocating communication resources in a data radio communication system, such as an MAIO (Mobile Allocation Index Offset) communication system, e.g., a communication system that provides for Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE) data services. A multi-carrier radio resource control logic element includes an analyzer that analyzes communication resource requirements to carry out a communication service. A resource allocator allocates communication resources to be used by which to communicate the data. The communication resources are allocated across a plurality of radio carriers such that resources are allocated, during a particular time period, upon a single radio carrier of the plurality of radio carriers. |
| US07885214B2 |
Device, system, and method for partitioning and framing communication signals in broadband wireless access networks
A method and system for partitioning frames into sub-frames, where the frames may be defined according to a reference system standard, and transmitting one or more sub-frames during a pre-designated downlink transmission, and transmitting one or more sub-frames during a pre-designated uplink transmission. A method and system for partitioning frames into sub-frames, transmitting one or more sub-frames including a legacy preamble for communicating with a legacy terminal operating according to a reference system standard during a pre-designated legacy transmission period, and transmitting sub-frames including a supplemental preamble for communicating with a non-legacy terminal operating according to the evolved version of the reference system standard during a pre-designated non-legacy transmission period. A method and system for partitioning each of two or more frames into two or more sub-frames and transmitting the sub-frames for a non-relay transmission including transmitting a (DL:BS→MS/RS) sub-frame during a pre-designated downlink transmission and a (UL:MS/RS→BS) sub-frame during a pre-designated uplink transmission, and transmitting sub-frames for a relay transmission including transmitting a (DL:RS→MS) sub-frame during a pre-designated downlink transmission and a (UL:MS→RS) sub-frame during a pre-designated uplink transmission. |
| US07885210B2 |
Accounting for map parsing delay to enable coexistence of multiple radios
In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes an apparatus that includes a first radio to communicate with a first wireless network and a second radio to communicate with a second wireless network. The first wireless network transmits a map defining locations within an assigned spectrum data is to be communicated therebetween. An earliest possible location defined in map is such that the map can be parsed within the time it would take to get to the earliest possible location so that the radio can be turned off after receiving the map until the location defined in the map, and the second radio is active when the first radio is not. |
| US07885206B2 |
Method and system for topological navigation of hierarchical data groups
A system and method to visually navigate hierarchical data groups are provided. If a user wishes to graphically view network traffic data for a particular business group of network nodes, a network topology navigation tool may be provided to display to the user such information that is relevant to the selected business group and the corresponding hierarchy level. The user may also be permitted to access more detailed connection information through appropriate drill-downs. |
| US07885204B1 |
Method and system for testing network topology
Methods and systems have been provided for testing network topologies. A network management system converts multiple types of static and dynamic network hardware data sources into a single unified format and provides a uniform mechanism for data access. The network management system identifies attributes of the topology of a network that are required for testing. The network management system further compares the identified attributes, optional and required, with the attributes of a test network. Based on the comparison, a test-bed is created in the test network for testing the resources. |
| US07885201B2 |
Method for finding out the frame of a multimedia sequence
An electronic device is provided comprising a multimedia play unit and a processor. The processor receives a multimedia sequence, acquires a first bitrate of a first frame header from the received multimedia sequence, predicts a first length of a first frame comprising the first frame header by a formula employing at least parameters comprising the first bitrate and a proportion of a second length to a second bitrate of a second frame header prior to the first frame header, and directs the multimedia play unit to play frame data of the first frame according to the predicted first length of the first frame. |
| US07885198B2 |
Systems and methods for characterizing packet-switching networks
A packet-network analyzer system for characterizing network conditions of a packet-network-under-test is provided. In this regard, one such system can be broadly summarized by a representative analyzer system that incorporates a data collection element to receive the raw digital data from a host analyzer, a data selection element to receive the raw digital data, a data processing element to process the selected data set to generate a normalized data set, a neural processing module to process the normalized data set to generate a set of rules and relationships, and a data mining module that uses the rules and relationships to generate a mined data set from the selected data set, the mined data set being used to characterize a packet-network-under test. |
| US07885196B2 |
Loop communication system and communication device
A loop communication system includes a plurality of communication devices, each of which holds an identification data assigned to the communication device, and has a single port used for transmission and reception of a data packet for a transmission data, and which are connected by using the ports to constitute a port synchronization type network of a loop structure. The data packet from each of the plurality of communication devices is transferred on the network of the loop structure in one direction. |
| US07885194B1 |
Systems and methods for interfacing with network information collection devices
A network device may include logic configured to receive a problem report from a second network device, where the problem report includes event data, determine at least one of an action to perform or whether reconfiguration information is associated with the event data in the received problem report and add information to the received problem report to provide a reformatted problem report and transmit the reformatted problem report to a third network device when it is determined that reconfiguration information is not associated with the event data in the problem report. |
| US07885191B2 |
Load balance server and method for balancing load of presence information
A load balance server has a first database for recording a list of identifiers of the presence servers, a second database for recording a subscription message receiving rate, an entry retrieval means for selecting a presence server that the subscription message receiving rate is lowest, in presence servers included in the list of the entry based on the presence information, a presence server selecting means for selecting an additional presence server whichever subscription message receiving rate is lower than predetermined threshold Ts, when the subscription message receiving rate in the selected presence server is higher than predetermined threshold Ts, and a message sending/receiving control means for sending the public message to the selected presence server. |
| US07885189B2 |
Methods and apparatus for rate estimation and predictive rate control
The present invention provides a balanced video distribution system, as well as corresponding methods and apparatus, which utilize feedback from the channel multiplexers as well as rate estimation and predictive rate control. Packets of a video stream are received at an input buffer. A transmission deadline is determined for the packets. A fullness level of the input buffer is also determined. A future time at which said packets can be transmitted may be estimated based on the buffer fullness level. A bit rate of the video stream can be adjusted based on the estimated future time and the transmission deadline. For example, the bit rate may be adjusted in proportion to a difference between the estimated future time and the transmission deadline. |
| US07885182B2 |
Method for fast recovery from ring protection switches on DOCSIS networks
The range delay of each of a plurality of user devices of an HFC is monitored. If the delay of a number of devices shifts by about the same amount and at about the same time, then the number of devices having such a shift is compared to a predetermined threshold. If the number exceeds the threshold, it is assumed that a leg of a fiber ring in the HFC has been severed, and a ring switch is determined to have occurred.Upon this determination, granting of bandwidth requests to a group of user devices is suspended, and a ranging and register process for all devices in the group begins. The group may comprise all user devices affected by the broken fiber ring. Following ranging and registering, granting of bandwidth requests to the affected devices begins according to a normally-provisioned request grant schedule. |
| US07885181B2 |
Ring node apparatus
According to an aspect of an embodiment, a node apparatus used in at least part of nodes in a network formed by a plurality of nodes coupled in the shape of a ring, comprising: a working node function performing unit for performing functions as a working apparatus that selectively drops a frame destined for a terminal hosted by the node itself among frames transmitted on the ring and adds a frame from the terminal hosted by the node itself to frames transmitted on the ring; a back-up function performing unit for performing functions as a back-up apparatus that lets a frame destined for a terminal hosted by the node itself pass through to an adjacent node and discards a frame from the terminal hosted by the node itself; and a function selection unit for selectively enabling one of the working node function performing unit and the back-up function performing unit. |
| US07885180B2 |
Address resolution request mirroring
Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) request mirroring can provide a mechanism for synchronizing link-layer adjacency information among network elements. This application can be useful, for example, for internet protocol (IP) routing network elements in a high-availability configuration. |
| US07885176B2 |
Methods and apparatus for mapping modulation symbols to resources in OFDM systems
A method for transmission, by dividing a transmission resource in a time domain subframe into a plurality of equal duration resource elements in a time and frequency domain, segregating the plurality of resource elements into a plurality of resource regions, modulating information to be transmitted to generate a sequence of modulation symbols at a transmitter, mapping the sequence of modulation symbols into the plurality of resource elements in the plurality of resource regions, and transmitting the modulation symbols via a plurality of antennas using the respective corresponding resource elements to a receiver. The mapping of the modulation symbols in at least one resource region is independent of a certain control channel information that is carried in said time domain subframe, and the mapping of the modulation symbols in at least another resource region is dependent upon said certain control channel information that is carried in said subframe. The information to be transmitted may be encoded to generate a plurality of code blocks, with roughly equal number of resource elements assigned to each of the plurality of code blocks in at least one resource region. Alternatively, the time domain subframe may contain only one resource region. |
| US07885173B2 |
Write-once information recording medium and disk apparatus
According to one embodiment, a write-once information recording medium includes a transparent resin substrate having concentric or spiral grooves and lands, and a recording film formed on the grooves and lands of the transparent resin substrate, wherein the recording film includes an organic dye layer containing a metal complex monomer and a metal complex polymer, a recording mark is formed in the organic dye layer by emission of a short-wavelength laser beam, and a light reflectance of the recording mark formed by emission of the short-wavelength laser beam is higher than that before emission of the short-wavelength laser beam, and the grooves wobble within a predetermined amplitude range. |
| US07885172B2 |
System and method for embedding optical drive compatibility information in optical media
Compatibility information embedded in an optical medium modifies actions allowed by predetermined non-compatible optical disc drives on the optical medium, such as optical disc drives that may suffer damage if certain actions are performed on the optical medium. For instance, a compatibility engine of the optical disc drive applies compatibility information read from an optical medium to determine restrictions to impose on the use of the optical medium, such as restricting the optical disc drive from writing to the optical medium, reading from the optical medium or performing any operations until an update to the optical disc drive firmware is performed either automatically or by display of a compatibility user interface at an information handling system associated with the optical disc drive. In one embodiment, the compatibility information identifies incompatible optical disc drives and firmware versions by unique identifiers. |
| US07885171B2 |
Information recording medium and information recording apparatus
An information storage medium according to the present invention has n information storage layers (where n is an integer and n≧3), on which data can be written with a laser beam and which are stacked one upon the other. Each of the n storage layers has a test write zone for determining the recording power of the laser beam. When those n layers are counted from the one that is located most distant from the surface of the medium on which the laser beam is incident, there is a bigger radial location difference between the outer peripheral end of the inner one of the test write zones of ith and (i+1)th information storage layers (where i is an integer that satisfies 2≦i≦n−1) and the inner peripheral end of the other outer test write zone than between the outer peripheral end of the inner one of the test write zones of jth and (j+1)th information storage layers (where j is an integer that satisfies 1≦j≦i−1) and the inner peripheral end of the other outer test write zone. |
| US07885170B2 |
Reading/writing head using electric field, data reading/writing apparatus including the same, and method of manufacturing the same
A data reading/writing head reading/writing data from/to a ferroelectric recording medium by using an electric field effect, includes a semiconductor body having a first plane on which an air bearing pattern is formed and a second plane crossing the first plane. A sensing unit is located on the second plane and reads data written to the ferroelectric recording medium, wherein the second plane is separated from the first plane, and a floating gate is disposed on the sensing unit, wherein an end of the floating gate extends to the first plane to guide an electric field from the ferroelectric recording medium to the sensing unit. |
| US07885167B2 |
Objective lens for optical pickup apparatus, objective lens unit for optical pickup apparatus and optical pickup apparatus using the same
The present invention relates to an objective lens, an objective lens unit and an optical pickup apparatus. The objective lens is provided for an optical pickup apparatus recording or reproducing information by converging a light flux with a wavelength λ1 emitted from a light source onto an information recording surface of an optical information recording medium. The objective lens is formed of: a single lens having at least one aspheric surface. In the objective lens, an effective aperture, a thickness on an optical axis, a focal length, a numerical aperture, and a refractive index satisfy the predetermined conditional expressions. The objective lens unit is provided for an optical pickup apparatus and includes an aberration correcting element and the objective lens. |
| US07885165B2 |
Optical pick-up device
An optical pickup device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a light source for projecting a beam of light to record and reproduce information with respect to an optical recording medium. A collimating lens is disposed on a path of the light to converge and convert the light into a parallel beam. An object lens condenses the parallel beam from the collimating lens and projects the parallel beam onto the optical recording medium. An optical element is disposed between the collimating lens and the object lens. A first actuator moves the collimating lens along the optical axis to thereby control a distance between the collimating lens and the optical element. A first controller drives the first actuator to find a position for the collimating lens, for reducing aberration generated in the light being projected to the optical recording medium. Accordingly, the aberration can be effectively prevented, thereby improving recording and reproducing performance of the optical pickup device. |
| US07885162B2 |
Information recording device and method, and recording control computer program
In an information recording medium including at least a first recording layer (L0 layer) capable of recording information and a second recording layer (L1 layer) capable of recording information, an information recording device (300) records information in a predetermined area (12) of the second recording layer by a laser beam which has passed through a transmission area (11) of the first recording layer. The information recording medium (300) includes recording means (302, etc.) for recording the information in the first recording layer or the second recording layer, judgment means for judging whether an unrecorded amount indicating the size of the unrecorded area in the radial direction in the transmission area is smaller than a predetermined amount, and control means used when the unrecorded area is judged to be smaller than the predetermined amount, for controlling the recording means to record information in the predetermined area. |
| US07885161B2 |
Information recording apparatus, information reading apparatus and computer readable medium
An information recording apparatus includes an information obtaining unit, a sign arrangement generating unit, a sign arrangement recording unit. The information obtaining unit obtains information to be recorded on a recording medium. The sign arrangement generating unit, based on information to be obtained by the information obtaining unit, generates an arrangement having three or more kinds of signs for expressing the obtained information. The sign arrangement recording unit, while shifting recording positions of a recording area included in the recording medium, records physical features sequentially into the respective recording positions of the recording area included in the recording medium. And each physical feature corresponds to one kind of the signs. |
| US07885158B2 |
Information recording apparatus, recording medium, and information recording method for recording information including characteristic information in correspondence to medium type information
A system controller is provided so as to record the second disk type information having the same content as that of the first disk type information, which is recorded in a DVD-R in advance, in a DVD-R in which the first disk type information is recorded as well as to record the record information in the DVD-R and reproduce the record information only if the first disk type information and the second disk type information have the same contents each other upon reproducing the record information. |
| US07885156B2 |
Method for controlling recording power of optical disc apparatus
A method for controlling the recording power of an optical disc apparatus. The method can search for an optimum recording power using a starting power stored in a recordable high density optical disc based on a manufacturer thereof, and perform recording operations with the optimum recording power while the start power is properly varied through an Optimum Power Control (OPC) procedure. The method comprises the operations of: obtaining an initial start power for performing the OPC procedure of a recordable optical disc; performing the OPC procedure, and judging whether the initial start power is within a range of allowable levels for determining the optimum recording power of the optical disc; re-performing the OPC procedure by varying the initial start power when the initial start power deviates from the range of allowable levels; and storing the new start power when within the range of allowable levels for improved subsequent OPC procedures. |
| US07885154B2 |
Apparatus for controlling discrete data in disk overwrite area or power calibration area
An apparatus for controlling discrete data in a disk overwrite area or a power calibration area comprises a signal-processing unit, an address-processing unit, a control signal-processing unit, a clock recovery circuit, a signal-processing unit parameter control unit, and a clock recovery circuit parameter control unit, wherein the control signal-processing unit uses a message produced by a data on the disc to determine the control signals such as hold, load, or increasing bandwidth for holding, loading, and increasing the bandwidth of the parameters for processing the related circuits (such as the circuit of the signal-processing unit or the clock recovery circuit) of the discrete data produced between the two data clusters, so as to increase the convergent speed of the circuits for assuring the accuracy of reading data. |
| US07885151B1 |
Servo accelerator system for optical drives
A servo accelerator for an optical drive includes input and output (I/O) terminals that receive an input signal from a processor of the optical drive. An error circuit generates an error signal based on a sensed characteristic of a laser beam. A compensation circuit generates a compensation signal based on the input signal and the error signal. A servo output adjusts the sensed characteristic of the laser beam based on the compensation signal. |
| US07885144B2 |
Time-dependant gain control for an amplifier used in receiving echoes
An amplifier circuit to amplify a sequence of echoes and to generate a corresponding sequence of amplified signals. In an embodiment, the amplifier includes an operational amplifier, with variable input and feedback resistances such that the ratio of the two resistances can be controlled. A gain control block controls the ratio in a time dependent manner to obtain desired gain factors for each of the echoes. The gain factors can be pre-computed such that all the echoes are gained to the same level in case of an ultra-sound system. |
| US07885143B2 |
Seismic acquisition system
Various technologies for a seismic acquisition system, which may include an acquisition central system configured to determine a desired start time for a sweep cycle in one or more vibrators and a recorder source system controller in communication with the acquisition central system. The recorder source system controller may be configured to receive the desired start time from the acquisition central system. The seismic acquisition system may further include one or more vibrator units in communication with the recorder source system controller. Each vibrator unit may be configured to start a sweep cycle in a vibrator at the desired start time. |
| US07885141B2 |
Non-volatile memory device and method for setting configuration information thereof
Provided are a nonvolatile memory device and a method for setting configuration information of the nonvolatile memory device. The nonvolatile memory device can include a nonvolatile memory cell array, a configuration register and a configuration controller. The configuration controller can be configured to set configuration information in the configuration register based on the state of a select flag stored in the nonvolatile memory cell array. The nonvolatile memory device can be configured to maintain the configuration information using the select flag and a lock flag to prevent the configuration information from changing when security is utilized and reduce the likelihood of the nonvolatile memory device operating erroneously. |
| US07885140B2 |
Clock mode determination in a memory system
A clock mode configuration circuit for a memory device is described. A memory system includes any number of memory devices serially connected to each other, where each memory device receives a clock signal. The clock signal can be provided either in parallel to all the memory devices or serially from memory device to memory device through a common clock input. The clock mode configuration circuit in each memory device is set to a parallel mode for receiving the parallel clock signal, and to a serial mode for receiving a source synchronous clock signal from a prior memory device. Depending on the set operating mode, the data input circuits will be configured for the corresponding data signal format, and the corresponding clock input circuits will be either enabled or disabled. The parallel mode and the serial mode is set by sensing a voltage level of a reference voltage provided to each memory device. |
| US07885139B2 |
Multi-chip package
A multi-chip package includes a plurality of memory chips and a control chip, wherein the control chip stores information about whether the memory chips are operating normally and selects chips that are operating normally according to an address signal. |
| US07885137B2 |
Control circuit of flash memory device and method of operating the flash memory device
Provided is a method of operating a flash memory device having a first area and a second area, in which a programmed state and an erased state of the first area are opposite to that of the second area. The method includes receiving a program command, inverting the program data when the received program command is a command for programming the second area, and programming the inverted program data into the second area. |
| US07885135B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device that prevents a power noise generated at a data input/output pad in a read operation from affecting a data strobe signal pad. The semiconductor memory device includes first power supply voltage pads for a data output circuit, a first power mesh, and a second power supply voltage pad for a data strobe signal output circuit. The first power mesh connects first power supply voltage pads to one another. The second power supply voltage pad is electrically separated from the first power mesh. |
| US07885132B2 |
Semiconductor memory device enhancing reliability in data reading
An internal voltage generating circuit generates and supplies a boosted voltage higher than an internal power supply voltage, as an operating power supply voltage, to a sense amplifier in a read circuit for reading data of a memory cell. A bit line precharge current supplied via an internal data line is produced from the internal power supply voltage. It is possible to provide a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, which can perform a precise sense operation and an accurate reading of data even under a low power supply voltage condition. |
| US07885131B2 |
Resistance change semiconductor memory device and method of reading data with a first and second switch circuit
A semiconductor memory device of the present invention comprises a memory array and a read circuit that reads data of a selected cell. The memory array includes a plurality of memory cells and a reference cell each having a memory element that stores data based on change in resistance value. The read circuit includes: a voltage comparison unit that compares a value corresponding to a sense current from the selected cell with a value corresponding to a reference current from the reference cell; a first switch; and a second switch. Both of the first and second switches are provided at a subsequent stage of a decoder and at a preceding stage of the voltage comparison unit. The second switch circuit controls input of the value corresponding to the sense current to the voltage comparison unit, while the first switch circuit controls input of the value corresponding to the reference current to the voltage comparison unit. |
| US07885125B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having integrated driving word line intermediate voltages by pull-up circuits
A semiconductor memory device comprises a logic circuit supplied with a first supply voltage; a cell array supplied with a second supply voltage higher than the first supply voltage and including plural mutually intersecting word lines and bit lines and plural memory cells connected at intersections thereof; and a word line driver operative to drive the word lines. The word line driver includes plural pull-up circuits connected between the supply terminal of the first supply voltage and the drive terminal of the word line and between the supply terminal of the second supply voltage and the drive terminal of the word line, and a pull-down circuit connected between the drive terminal of the word line and the ground terminal, and drives the word line with an intermediate voltage between the first and second supply voltages in accordance with a driving force ratio between the plural pull-up circuits at the time of driving the word line. |
| US07885118B2 |
Flash memory device and voltage generating circuit for the same
Disclosed is a flash memory device which includes a memory core, a high voltage generating circuit and a reference voltage generating circuit. The high voltage generating circuit is configured to generate a high voltage to be supplied to the memory core. The reference voltage generating circuit is configured to generate at least one reference voltage to be supplied to the high voltage generating circuit. The reference voltage generating circuit includes a first reference voltage generator configured to generate a first reference voltage in response to a supply voltage, and a second reference voltage generator configured to generate a second reference voltage in response to the first reference voltage. The at least one reference voltage supplied to the high voltage generating circuit includes the second reference voltage. |
| US07885117B2 |
Method for programming nonvolatile memory device
Disclosed is a method for programming a nonvolatile memory device including one time programmable unit cells. The method for programming a nonvolatile memory device including one time programmable (OTP) unit cells, the method comprising applying a pulse type program voltage having a plurality of cycles. The present invention relates to a method for programming a nonvolatile memory device, which can prevent malfunctions by enhancing a data sensing margin in a read operation through the normal dielectric breakdown of an antifuse during a program operation, and thus improve the reliability in the read operation of an OTP unit cell. |
| US07885116B2 |
Sense amplifier for low-supply-voltage nonvolatile memory cells
A sense amplifier for nonvolatile memory cells includes a reference cell, a first load, connected to the reference cell, and a second load, connectable to a nonvolatile memory cell, both the first load and the second load having controllable resistance; a control circuit of the first load and of the second load supplies the first load and the second load with a control voltage irrespective of an operating voltage between a first conduction terminal and a second conduction terminal of the first load. |
| US07885113B2 |
Method of controlling a program control of a flash memory device
A flash memory device and method of controlling a program operation thereof, includes page buffers divided into a predetermined number of groups and a program operation is performed on a group basis. |
| US07885111B2 |
Flash memory device and method for providing initialization data
A flash memory device includes a cell array and a decision unit. The cell array includes multiple regions corresponding to multiple input/output lines. Initialization data are repeatedly stored in each of the regions. The decision unit determines whether the stored data are valid based on values of bits of the stored data read from each region. |
| US07885110B2 |
Random access memory with CMOS-compatible nonvolatile storage element and parallel storage capacitor
Systems, methods, and memory device with row lines and column lines arranged in a matrix configuration with a memory cell coupled to one of the column lines and one of the row lines. The memory cell includes a storage capacitor with a first plate coupled to a storage node, a CMOS-compatible non-volatile storage element having a node coupled to the storage node and configured to hold a charge corresponding to a binary value, and an access transistor coupled to the storage node. The access transistor includes a word line gate, a first node, and a second node, the word line gate being coupled to the one of the plurality of row lines, the first node being coupled to the one of the plurality of column lines, the second node being coupled to the storage node and to said node of the CMOS-compatible non-volatile storage element. |
| US07885109B2 |
Memory and method for dissipation caused by current leakage
Memories with low power consumption and methods for suppressing current leakage of a memory. The memory cell of the memory has a storage element and a transistor coupled in series. The invention sets a voltage across the transistor approaching to zero when the memory is not been accessed. |
| US07885105B2 |
Magnetic tunnel junction cell including multiple vertical magnetic domains
Magnetic tunnel junction cell including multiple vertical domains. In an embodiment, a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structure is disclosed. The MTJ structure includes an MTJ cell. The MTJ cell includes multiple vertical side walls. Each of the multiple vertical side walls defines a unique vertical magnetic domain. Each of the unique vertical magnetic domains is adapted to store a digital value. |
| US07885104B2 |
Information storage devices using magnetic domain wall movement and methods of operating the same
An information storage device includes a magnetic layer configured to store information, a first and second conductive layer. The first conductive layer contacts a first end of the magnetic layer. The second conductive layer contacts a second end of the magnetic layer. The magnetic layer includes first and second pinning regions at which magnetic domain walls are pinned. The widths of the magnetic layer at the first and second pinning regions are different. |
| US07885101B2 |
Method for low-stress multilevel reading of phase change memory cells and multilevel phase change memory
According to a method for multilevel reading of a phase change memory cell a bit line (9) and a PCM cell (2) are first selected and a first bias voltage (VBL, V00) is applied to the selected bit line (9). A first read current (IRD00), that flows through the selected bit line (9) in response to the first bias voltage (VBL, V00), is compared with a first reference current (I00). The first reference current (I00) is such that the first read current (IRD00) is lower than the first reference current (I00), when the selected PCM cell (2) is in a reset state, and is otherwise greater. It is then determined whether the selected PCM cell (2) is in the reset state, based on comparing the first read current (IRD00) with the first reference current (I00). A second bias voltage (VBL, V01), greater than the first bias voltage (VBL, V00), is applied to the selected bit line (9) if the selected PCM cell (2) is not in the reset state. |
| US07885099B2 |
Adaptive wordline programming bias of a phase change memory
The leakage current and power consumption of phase change memories may be reduced using adaptive word line biasing. Depending on the particular voltage applied to the bitline of a programmed cell, the word lines of unselected cells may vary correspondingly. In some embodiments, the word line voltage may be caused to match the bitline voltage of the programmed cell. |
| US07885096B2 |
Thin film magnetic memory device writing data with bidirectional current
An end of a selected bit line in a selected column is electrically coupled to an end of a corresponding current return line by one of first and second write column select gates, which are selectively turned on in response to results of column selection. A data write circuit sets the other end of the selected bit line and the other end of the current return line to one and the other of a power supply voltage and a ground voltage in accordance with a level of write data via one of first and second data buses and an inverted data bus, respectively. |
| US07885095B2 |
Magnetic random access memory and operation method of the same
A magnetic random access memory of the present invention includes: a plurality of first wirings and a plurality of second wirings extending in a first direction; a plurality of third wirings and a plurality of fourth wirings extending in a second direction; and a plurality of memory cells provided at intersections of the plurality of first wirings and the plurality of third wirings, respectively. Each of the plurality of memory cells includes: a first transistor and a second transistor connected in series between one of the plurality of first wirings and one of the plurality of second wirings and controlled in response to a signal on one of the plurality of third wirings, a first magnetic resistance element having one end connected to a write wiring through which the first transistor and the second transistor are connected, and the other end grounded; and a second magnetic resistance element having one end connected to the write wiring, and the other end connected to the fourth wiring. |
| US07885084B2 |
Control circuit for synchronous rectifying and soft switching of power converters
A control circuit for soft switching and synchronous rectifying is provided for power converter. A switching-signal circuit is used for generating drive signals and a pulse signal in response to a leading edge and a trailing edge of a switching signal. The switching signal is developed for regulating the power converter. Drive signals are coupled to switch the power transformer. A propagation delay is developed between drive signals to achieve soft switching of the power converter. An isolation device is coupled to transfer the pulse signal from a primary side of a power transformer to a secondary side of the power transformer. A controller of the integrated synchronous rectifier is coupled to the secondary side of the power transformer for the rectifying operation. The controller is operated to receive the pulse signal for switching on/off the power transistor. The pulse signal is to set or reset a latch circuit of the controller for controlling the power transistor. |
| US07885083B2 |
Input transient protection for electronic devices
A circuit board assembly which includes an electrically insulating layer, a conductive printed wiring layer formed on the surface of the electrically insulating layer and includes a plurality of conductive paths, a conductive trace on the electrically insulating layer and apparatus for dissipating a transient in addition to a surface mount resistor fixed in relation to the trace. In some forms of the invention the surface mount resistor has opposed generally planar lips. The trace may also be generally planar. In some cases the lower lips and the trace are generally parallel. The generally planar lips of the surface mount resistor may be closer to the trace than the thickness of the surface mount resistor. A single geometric plane may extend through substantially all of the lips and all of the trace. In some cases the lower surface of the lips and the lower surface of the trace are substantially coplanar. In some cases the upper surface of the lower lip and the upper surface of the trace are substantially coplanar. In other cases the lower surface of the lower lip and the lower surface of the trace are substantially coplanar and in addition the upper surface of the lip and the upper surface of the trace are substantially coplanar. |
| US07885082B2 |
Communication cabinet and a method for installing active components in a communication cabinet
A communication cabinet and methods for installing active component into a communication cabinet, the method includes: removing at least one passive communication connector being connected by at least one wire to at least one customer connector within the communication cabinet; installing at least one printed circuit board that are connected to at least one active communication component and to at least one slim edge connector; wherein the printed circuit boards are shaped such as to be completely positioned within the communication cabinet; and connecting the at least one wire to the at least one slim edge connector. |
| US07885079B2 |
Flexible electronic assembly
A flexible electronic assembly including a flexible circuit board and at least one electronic component is provided. The flexible circuit board includes at least one dielectric film layer and at least one patterned conductive layer disposed on the dielectric film layer. The electronic component is disposed on the flexible circuit board and electrically connected to the flexible circuit board. The flexible angle of the flexible electronic assembly is greater than 5 degrees. |
| US07885077B2 |
Solderless heatsink anchor
A heatsink may be releasably secured to a substructure of an electronic system, such as a circuit board, in engagement with a heat-generating component, such as a processor. One embodiment provides an anchor that includes an anchor body, a hook coupled to the anchor body, a pair of flexible retention prongs extending from the anchor body in a common direction and spaced for insertion into openings on a circuit board, an optional pair of stabilization prongs extending from the anchor body adjacent to the flexible retention prongs, each having a width greater than the adjacent flexible retention prong, a barb disposed at the end of each prong and configured for retaining the anchor body on the circuit board upon insertion of the prongs into the openings on the circuit board, a spring integrated with the anchor body and having a free end spaced from the barbs a distance of less than the thickness of the circuit board, and a stop integrated with the anchor body for limiting the amount of insertion of the prongs beyond an initial contact of the free end of the spring with the circuit board. A heatsink clip releasably secures the heatsink to the hook of the anchor. |
| US07885076B2 |
Apparatus for and method of cooling molded electronic circuits
An electronic device such as an AC/DC power adapter includes a conductive heat dissipation system. The device contains heat generating components and is powered via power supply leads by an external power supply circuit. The device further contains a thermally conductive mass that is thermally coupled to both the heat generating components and to the power supply leads. When the power supply leads are coupled to receive electricity from the external power supply circuit, heat generated by the device is thermally conducted into the external power supply circuit via the power supply leads. |
| US07885073B2 |
Heat dissipation device
A heat dissipation device is adapted for dissipating heat generated from an add-on card which has a plurality of processors thereon. The heat dissipation device includes a vapor chamber and a mounting member. The vapor chamber thermally contacts with the processors. The mounting member is mounted on a bottom surface of the vapor chamber. A plurality of screws extends through the add-on card and engages with the mounting member to assemble the vapor chamber on the add-on card. |
| US07885070B2 |
Apparatus and method for immersion-cooling of an electronic system utilizing coolant jet impingement and coolant wash flow
Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating pumped, immersion-cooling of an electronic system having multiple different types of electronic components. The apparatus includes a container sized to receive the electronic system, a coolant inlet port and a coolant outlet port for facilitating ingress and egress of coolant through the container, and a manifold structure associated with the container. The manifold structure includes a coolant jet plenum with an inlet opening in fluid communication with the coolant inlet port, and one or more jet orifices in fluid communication with the coolant jet plenum. The jet orifices are positioned to facilitate cooling of at least one electronic component of the multiple different types of electronic components by jet impingement of coolant thereon when the electronic system is operatively positioned within the container for immersion-cooling thereof. |
| US07885067B2 |
Heat radiation structure of electronic component and display device
A heat radiation structure of an electronic component of the present invention includes a main board mounted with electronic components, an upper side heat sink disposed opposite to a top face of the main board, a lower side heat sink disposed opposite to a second face of the main board, and a cooling fan connected to the upper side heat sink and the lower side heat sink. |
| US07885066B2 |
Airflow/cooling solution for chassis with orthogonal boards
A front-to-back cooling system allows cooling of an apparatus containing two orthogonal sets of modules. A vertical set of modules is cooled with vertical air flow across the modules that enters from a front of the apparatus and exits from the back of the apparatus. A horizontal set of modules is cooled with air flow that passes through openings in a midplane connecting the two sets of modules. |
| US07885065B2 |
Fan motor apparatus and electronic apparatus
Provided is a fan motor apparatus. The fan motor apparatus includes a rotor and a stator. The rotor includes a blade. The stator includes a rotor supporting mechanism, a supporting member, and a vibration insulation member. The rotor supporting mechanism rotatably supports the rotor. The supporting member supports the rotor supporting mechanism. The vibration insulation member is provided between the rotor supporting mechanism and the supporting member. The stator is capable of regulating relative movement of the rotor supporting mechanism and the supporting member. |
| US07885064B2 |
Portable computer and locking mechanism thereof
A portable computer and a locking mechanism thereof are provided. The portable computer includes a battery, a host and a locking mechanism. The battery has a locking hole. The battery includes a restraining protrusion. The host has a receiving through. The locking mechanism is disposed in the receiving through. The locking mechanism includes a main body and a locking protrusion. The main body has a first restraining concave and a second restraining concave. The locking protrusion is connected to the main body. When the restraining protrusion is placed in the first restraining concave, the locking protrusion is locked in the locking hole, so that the battery is locked in the receiving through. When the restraining protrusion is placed in the second restraining concave, the locking protrusion leaves the locking hole, so that the battery is dismounted from the receiving through. |
| US07885058B2 |
Cover assembly
A cover assembly used in a portable electronic device is described. The cover assembly includes a body member defining an earphone hole and a cover member defining a through hole. The cover member is rotatably mounted to the body member to cover or expose the earphone hole. |
| US07885057B2 |
Electronic device and electronic system
An electronic device includes an accommodation section that detachably accommodates a portable device, an engagement part engaged with a side of the portable device at a given position where the portable device is accommodated in the accommodation section, and a guide mechanism that guides the portable device to the given position. |
| US07885056B2 |
Center instrument pedestal display
According to one embodiment, a center pedestal display includes a plurality of mounting faces, one or more display switches, and a screen. The plurality of mounting faces include a first mounting face that is substantially parallel with a first surface of a pedestal mounting block of an existing instrument pedestal and a second mounting face that is substantially parallel with a second surface of the pedestal mounting block. The existing instrument pedestal includes one or more pedestal gauges and one or more pedestal switches. The one or more display switches are located on the display and configured to provide one or more functions of the one or more pedestal switches. The screen is configured to display information that includes at least some of the information provided by the one or more pedestal gauges. |
| US07885046B1 |
Low capacitance ESD protection structure for high speed input pins
A conventional ESD protection circuit comprises an SCR and a first diode connected in series between ground and a node or pad to be protected and a second diode connected between ground and the node to be protected. An anode of the first diode and a cathode of the second diode are connected to the node to be protected. In one embodiment of the invention, the capacitance of the second diode is reduced by forming the second diode from a PN junction between a heavily doped region of one conductivity type and a substrate region instead of a well region of the opposite conductivity type. The reduction in the capacitance of the second diode makes it possible to increase the size of the first diode and SCR, thereby decreasing their resistance, while keeping the total capacitance of the ESD circuit at or below the capacitance of the prior art ESD circuit. A second embodiment of an ESD protection comprises an SCR and a first diode connected in series between ground and node to be protected and second and third diodes connected in series between ground and the node to be protected with the anode of the second diode connected to ground. Again, the capacitance of the second diode is reduced by forming the diode from a PN junction between a heavily doped region of one conductivity type and a substrate region of the other conductivity type. |
| US07885042B2 |
CPP magneto-resistive effect device utilizing an anti-oxidizing layer as part of the spacer layer in a thin-film magnetic head usable in a head gimbal assembly in a hard disk system
A giant magneto-resistive effect device having a CPP structure comprising a spacer layer, and a fixed magnetization layer and a free layer stacked one upon another with the spacer layer interposed between them, with a sense current applied in a stacking direction. The spacer layer comprises a first nonmagnetic metal layer and a second nonmagnetic metal layer, each made of a nonmagnetic metal material, and a semiconductor layer formed between the first and the second nonmagnetic metal layer. The semiconductor layer is an n-type oxide semiconductor. When the first and second nonmagnetic metal layers are formed in order, the first nonmagnetic metal layer is formed prior to the second nonmagnetic metal layer, and an anti-oxidizing layer is formed between the first nonmagnetic metal layer and the semiconductor layer. The anti-oxidizing layer is formed of a material incapable of producing a Schottky barrier upon joining to the semiconductor layer. |
| US07885036B2 |
Magnetic device, perpendicular magnetic recording head, magnetic recording system, method of forming magnetic layer pattern, and method of manufacturing perpendicular magnetic recording head
Provided is a method of manufacturing a perpendicular magnetic recording head which can enhance accuracy and simplify the manufacturing process. The method includes: forming a photoresist pattern having an opening part (the inclination of an inner wall); forming a non-magnetic layer (the inclination of another inner wall) so as to narrow the opening part by a dry film forming method such as ALD method; stacking a seed layer and a plating layer so as to bury the opening part provided with the non-magnetic layer; and forming a main magnetic pole layer (a front end portion having a bevel angle) by polishing the non-magnetic layer, the seed layer, and the plating layer by CMP method until the photoresist pattern is exposed. The final opening width (the forming width of the front end portion) is unsusceptible to variations, thus reducing the number of the steps of forming the main magnetic layer. |
| US07885031B1 |
Asymmetry correction in read signal
Systems and techniques relating to interpreting signals on a channel having an asymmetrical signal amplitude response. A signal processor, such as a read channel transceiver device usable in a magnetic recording system, includes an asymmetry correction circuit configured to receive an analog signal and to compensate for asymmetry in the received analog signal, a signal equalizer configured to receive an input signal responsive to an output of the asymmetry correction circuit and to generate an equalized signal, a discrete time sequence detector operable to examine the equalized signal, and a control circuit that provides a coefficient adjustment to the asymmetry correction circuit to affect the asymmetry compensation based on an estimate of non-linearity derived from the equalized signal and an output of the discrete time sequence detector. The estimate can be a least mean squared estimate of the non-linearity in the equalized signal. |
| US07885027B2 |
Magnetic disk drive with error correction
Embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic disk drive in which the error correction capability of ECC is improved without sacrificing the storage capacity. In one embodiment, a data track adopts a format structure in which no data-to-data gap area is formed in data sectors. When one of the data sectors is updated in a state in which the rotational speed of a magnetic disk does not satisfy specified conditions, a leading end area of a succeeding data sector or a trailing end area of a preceding data sector is overwritten by the data sector. If a read error occurs in the overwritten data sector, ERP steps are executed to perform read retry so that the read error is recovered by means of on-the-fly ECC or erasure correction. In the case of the erasure correction, an erasure pointer equivalent to the maximum number of overwritten bytes is set. |
| US07885026B2 |
Magnetic recording medium and method of fabricating the same
A magnetic recording medium and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The magnetic recording medium in which a position for magnetic recording is patterned with a magnetic material, includes a magnetic recording layer which includes a data area having a plurality of data tracks, and a servo area having a servo burst for following the data tracks, wherein the servo burst includes a plurality of bursts disposed in a zigzag structure along a downtrack direction, and each of the bursts includes a plurality of burst pieces having different coercivities from each other. The magnetic recording medium is subjected to two servo-recording processes, so that a signal similar to an alternative signal written in a burst having a burst pattern used in a related art continuous medium can be obtained. |
| US07885024B2 |
Oscillation test for off track write
An enhanced oscillation test for detecting off track writing associated with a read/write head writing, on a magnetic media, a measurement track. Once the measurement track is written, a series of seek, write, and read operations is performed, e.g., between various origin tracks and the tracks adjacent to the measurement track, in order to detect any off track write problems. If a measurement track read operation fails a certain number of times, then an error code is generated which indicates an off track write problem. |
| US07885023B2 |
Lens driving apparatus
Disclosed is a lens driving apparatus. The lens driving apparatus comprises a base, a yoke coupled to the base, having an upper surface formed with a hole, a closed side surface, and an opened bottom surface, a bobbin movably installed in an inner portion of the yoke, a lens module coupled to the bobbin to go in and out the hole according to movement of the bobbin, a magnet fixed to an inner portion of the yoke, a coil fixed to an outer portion of the bobbin while facing the magnets, and springs coupled to the bobbin to provide restoration force to the bobbin. |
| US07885018B2 |
Bonded optical element and manufacturing method thereof
A second optical element is bonded to a first optical element by forming the second optical element larger in diameter than the first optical element by pressing a second optical element material against the first optical element under a condition free from restriction to at least part of the second optical element material in the direction orthogonal to a direction in which the second optical element material is pressed. |
| US07885015B2 |
Two-lens type optical lens system for taking image
A two-lens type optical lens system for taking image consists two lens elements with refractive power, from the object side: a positive first lens element with a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, both the object-side surface and the image-side surface of the first lens element being aspheric; a positive second lens element with a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, both the object-side surface and the image-side surface of the second lens element being aspheric, and an aperture stop located in front of the first lens element. A focal length of the first lens element is f1, a focal length of the second lens element is f2, a focal length of the optical lens system is f, a radius of curvature of the object-side surface of the second lens element is R3, and they satisfy the relations: f/f1>0.9; (f/f1)>(f/f2)>0.35; and 1/R3<−0.01 mm−1. |
| US07885010B1 |
Endoscope objective lens and method of assembly
A wide field video endoscope objective and method of assembly the objective including four groups with five lenses, a mechanical housing containing the entire image forming elements, a aperture stop, a centering member and a retainer sleeve. The centering member is at first centered over the photo sensitive area of the chip and bonded to the surface of the cover glass. The retainer sleeve slides over said centering member and is glued to the centering member and the housing of the video chip. The objective housing with the optical elements is screwed on the centering member to adjust for focusing. |
| US07885009B2 |
Small projection lens and projection display device using the same
A small projection lens includes a first lens, which is a biconvex lens, an aperture, an aperture diaphragm (or an aperture), a second lens, which is a negative meniscus lens having a concave surface facing a magnification side, a third lens, which is a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface facing a reduction side, and a fourth lens, which is a biconvex lens having aspheric surfaces at both sides on an optical axis, arranged in this order from the magnification side. A minimum portion of the length of all lens elements of the small projection lens in a diametric direction vertical to the optical axis is equal to or less than 15 mm, and the small projection lens satisfies the following conditional expression: 2.5<β/S<10.0 (where S indicates the maximum length of a magnification-side image (inch) and β indicates a magnifying power). |
| US07885008B2 |
Optical system for digital cinema projection
The invention relates to an optical system for the projection of digital image data comprising a fixed focal length lens and a pivotable focal length extender. The principal field of application of the invention is digital cinema projection, usually employing the wide-screen format 1.9:1 or the Cinemascope format 2.37:1 (width:height). For format changeover during projection, two different fixed focal lengths are realized by the insertion or removal of the focal length extender (1755) into the lens. The projection lens according to the invention has more favorable optical properties than the conventional zoom lenses, such as a minimal chromatic transverse aberration, high telecentricity, very small distortions and a small volume and weight. |
| US07885003B2 |
Optical diffusing sheet, optical deflecting sheet, and transmission type screen
An optical diffusing sheet is provided, which prevents deterioration in image quality which might result from warping of the sheets due to environmental changes, and is capable of, even if a substrate is broken by an accident, preventing scattering of pieces of the broken substrate. An optical diffusing sheet is used in a transmission type screen that emits imaging light projected from an incident side to an emergent side. The optical diffusing sheet includes a highly rigid substrate layer with a light-transmissibility and a high rigidity, and a plurality of layers laminated on the highly rigid substrate layer. The plurality of layers includes at least a pair of anti-scattering layers disposed on opposite sides of the highly rigid substrate layer for preventing scattering of the highly rigid substrate layer. At least one layer of the two or more layers includes an optical diffusing element that diffuses imaging light. |
| US07884991B1 |
Structure and method for realizing electromagnetically-induced transparency
The present invention discloses a structure and method for realizing electromagnetically-induced transparency. In the present invention, a first split-ring resonator and a second split-ring resonator form a resonance structure. The first split-ring resonator and the second split-ring resonator are made of a conductive material. The first split-ring resonator has a “U” shape with a containing space. The second split-ring resonator has a “rectangular loop” shape with a gap or has a “U” shape with an opening. The second split-ring resonator is inserted into the containing space with the gap or opening arranged inside the containing space and faced downward to form the resonance structure. The resonance structures are periodically arranged on a chip to form an array. Thereby, different-frequency electromagnetic waves can be used to generate electromagnetically-induced transparency via regulating the dimensions of the resonance structure. |
| US07884984B2 |
Multicolor holographic replication by masking
A multicolor hologram (e.g., a two-color hologram) is replicated (copied) into a photosensitive layer by masking to produce a copy (replicate) of the hologram in a manner such that the copy is an accurate and true replication of the hologram (e.g., master hologram), and the copy is characterized to possess a high brightness level and color fidelity comparable to that of the multicolor hologram that was replicated. Both flood and scan modes can be employed in the replication. |
| US07884980B2 |
System for capturing graphical images using hyperspectral illumination
A graphical scanner for scanning a graphical image includes a source for producing an optical beam, a monochromator for dividing the optical beam into a plurality of component beams for hyperspectral bandpasses, a director for directing the component beams to illuminate portions of the graphical image, a sensor for measuring a light intensity for the one or illuminated portions, and a translator for transforming the measured light intensities for each of the one or more portions into hyperspectral traces each representing a spectral power distribution. The translator further transforms the hyperspectral traces into one or more device-independent representations of color. |
| US07884979B2 |
Imaging lens, image reader using the lens, and imaging apparatus using the image reader
An imaging lens comprises a first, a second, a third, and a fourth lens group from an object toward an image. The first lens group includes a first lens that is a convex meniscus lens with a convex surface on the object side. The second lens group includes a second lens having a positive refractive power, and a third lens bonded to the second lens and having a negative refractive power. The third lens group includes a fourth lens having a negative refractive power, and a fifth lens bonded to the fourth lens and having a positive refractive power. The fourth lens group includes a sixth lens having a positive refractive power. The imaging lens satisfies the condition 0.10 |
| US07884974B2 |
Image sensor, image sensor unit, and image scanning device
An image sensor includes: a case that extends in a longitudinal direction; and a first positioning member that is disposed at one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the case, the first positioning member positioning the case in the longitudinal direction. |
| US07884972B2 |
Image processing apparatus capable of handling image file stored in another apparatus, image processing system, and image processing method
According to an image processing apparatus, if image data designated to be stored in a storage unit within the image processing apparatus is stored in a storage device outside the image processing apparatus, a memory remaining amount or the like of the image processing apparatus is calculated as if the image data is stored in a storage area within the image processing apparatus, although the image data is not moved to the storage area within the image processing apparatus. |
| US07884971B2 |
Multiplied pulse generation device, multiplied pulse generation method, image forming apparatus, and image reading apparatus
In a multiplied pulse generation device, a detection signal is outputted every time a driven object is driven by a specific amount. An actual cycle indicating a time interval between the detection signal and a previous detection signal is measured. An estimated cycle is estimated based on at least past two actual cycles including the actual cycle measured. A multiplied pulse is sequentially generated in such a manner that a multiplied cycle indicating a time interval per which the multiplied pulse is generated is sequentially changed according to an amount of change from the actual cycle to the estimated cycle. |
| US07884965B2 |
Image-forming device
During the process of creating a density adjustment table, when the average value avg for ink amounts of Ci(n), Mi(n), and Yi(n) is less than or equal to 2 at some density level indicated by positioning number n, a CPU sets a correction range of 1 to n, which includes the subject density level with positioning number n and gradation levels lower than the density level with positioning number n. The CPU 5 corrects the n-number of sets of ink amount data (Ci(n), Mi(n), Yi(n)) within the correction range of 1 to n, and converts each data set (Ci(n), Mi(n), Yi(n)) within the correction range into a corrected data set (Co(n), Mo(n), Yo(n)), wherein Co(n), Mo(n), and Yo(n) have the values equal to the average value avg of the original ink amounts Ci(n), Mi(n), and Yi(n). |
| US07884962B2 |
Systems and methods for multiple raster image processing
Apparatus and methods for raster image processing are provided that include a networked computer coupled to a plurality of networked printers, the networked computer adapted to receive a print job, parse the print job into one or more print pieces, load balance the print pieces among the printers based on color use and print speed, and provide a list of the printers that received the print pieces. |
| US07884960B2 |
Job scheduling system for print processing
A user equipment issues a job for a plurality of documents to a printing system by one operation. The user equipment assigns attributes to the job, the attributes including the specification of collation/uncollation, the designation of processing start instruction wait, the designation of exclusive processing, and the designation of password input wait. The printing system effects printing of the plurality of documents corresponding to attributes of the documents under control of a job scheduling device. The job scheduling device carries out the pausing of documents included in the job, the modification of attributes, addressing of document receiving failures, and search of a document whose format is to be converted, thereby making it possible to efficiently print the plurality of documents. |
| US07884952B2 |
Print control apparatus, print control method, and program for implementing the method
A print control apparatus that can improve the performance and quality of a printer driver and a Win32 application and can improve usability for users. A Win32 application that operates on the print control apparatus handles print settings as a print ticket in XML format, and a printer driver that operates on the apparatus manages print settings as a DEVMODE structure in binary format. A conversion process between the print ticket and the DEVMODE structure is carried out in a submodule. The submodule constructs a public portion of the DEVMODE structure based on the print ticket and incorporates the print ticket into a free space in a private portion of the DEVMODE structure. Further, the submodule extracts the print ticket incorporated in the DEVMODE private portion. |
| US07884950B2 |
Substrate processing method, program, computer-readable storage medium, and substrate processing system
In a pattern measuring unit installed in a coating and developing treatment system, the height of a pattern formed on a substrate is measured using the Scatterometry method. Based on the measured height of the pattern, an appropriate number of rotations of the substrate during application of a coating solution is calculated, so that the rotation of the substrate during the application is controlled by the calculated number of rotations of the substrate. Since the number of rotations of the substrate when the coating solution is applied to the substrate is controlled, it is unnecessary to stop the system which performs photolithography processing on the substrate, resulting in improved productivity of the substrate. |
| US07884947B2 |
Interferometry for determining characteristics of an object surface, with spatially coherent illumination
Disclosed is an apparatus which includes: an interferometer configured to direct broadband spatially coherent test light to a test surface of a test object over a range of illumination angles and subsequently combine it with reference light to form an interference pattern, the test and reference light being derived from a common source; and multi-element detector; and one or more optics configured to direct at least a portion of the combined light to the detector so that different elements of the detector correspond to different illumination angles of a region of the test surface illuminated by the test light. |
| US07884945B2 |
Methods and apparatus for optical coherence tomography scanning
In one aspect, the invention relates to a method of acquiring optical coherence tomographic data from a sample. The method includes the steps of scanning a first location on the sample to obtain a first set of optical coherence tomographic data, scanning a second location on the sample to obtain a second set of optical coherence tomographic data, and defining a fiducial position relative to a location on the sample using one of the two sets of optical coherence tomographic data. In one embodiment, the first set of optical coherence tomographic data is survey data. However, in another embodiment the first set of optical coherence tomographic data is sample measurement data. |
| US07884944B2 |
Two-photon-absorption dispersion spectrometer
A tunable optical spectrometer includes a medium configured to perform polarization rotation within a frequency band on a linearly polarized test beam, wherein the medium is circularly birefringent, and wherein the polarization rotation is achieved based on two-photon-absorption. The medium includes a gaseous substance, a first reference laser beam having a first reference frequency, and a second reference laser beam having a second reference frequency, wherein the first reference laser beam and the second reference laser beam have a same circular polarization state. |
| US07884941B2 |
Spectral measuring system
A measuring system for photoelectrically scanning measurement points of a measurement object includes a lighting channel (21-24) for applying illuminating light to the measurement object (M) disposed in a measurement plane (MP) and a measuring channel (11-13) for capturing and photoelectrically converting the measurement light reflected by the measurement points of the measurement object M. The lighting channel and/or the measuring channel is configured so as to detect the reflection properties of the measurement points in several wavelength bands. The lighting channel (21-24) has a spatial light modulator controlled by an electronic control unit (40) for generating a spatial lighting pattern which causes illuminating light to be selectively applied to measurements points (25) of interest of the measurement object (M). The control unit (40) may be equipped with image processing functions and be configured to identify measurement points (25) suitable for the application purpose from image data of the measurement object (M) and to calculate corresponding lighting patterns for selectively illuminating the measurement points. |
| US07884940B2 |
Distributed measurement spots and reference spots, especially for chemosensors and biosensors
A sensor device has at least one array of sensor spots disposed on or in a common substrate or retained by a common substrate. At least one first group of several sensor spots of the array is configured as measurement spots which respond to at least one parameter to be measured, while at least one second group of several sensor spots of the array is configured as reference spots which do not respond or respond only insignificantly to the parameter to be measured. The reference spots are embodied in such a way relative to the associated measurement spots that the reference spots respond to at least one boundary condition variable to which the measurement spots respond as well and which influences the at least one test signal such that the reference signal directly or indirectly represents the boundary condition variable or a change in the boundary condition variable. |
| US07884936B2 |
Apparatus and methods for scattering-based semiconductor inspection and metrology
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for inspecting or measuring one or more semiconductor targets. An incident beam is directed towards a first target as the first target substantially, continuously moves such that the incident beam remains directed at such first target during a first time period in which the first target substantially, continuously moves between a first position and a second position. An output beam scattered from the first target, in response to the incident beam being directed towards the first target during the first time period in which the first target substantially, continuously moves between the first and second positions, is detected such that information is obtained from the detected output beam during the first time period. The first time period is selected so that the information that is collected from the detected output beam during such first time period can be used to determine a characteristic of the first target. |
| US07884935B2 |
Pattern transfer apparatus, imprint apparatus, and pattern transfer method
A pattern transfer apparatus transfers an imprint pattern formed on a mold, provided with an alignment mark, to a resin material on a substrate, provided with an alignment mark. A first image pickup device obtains an image of an object positioned at a first object position. A second image pickup device obtains an image of an object positioned at a second object position. The second object position is more distant from the alignment mark of the mold than the first object position. An optical system forms an image of an object positioned at the first object position and an image of an object positioned at the second object position. Alignment is performed based on first and second information obtained about positions of images of an alignment mark of a reference substrate and an alignment mark of the substrate, to transfer the imprinting pattern to the resin material. |
| US07884934B2 |
Method and apparatus for biogenic substance concentration measurement
The present invention provides an apparatus for biogenic substance concentration measurement including: a cell including therein a first region, a second region, and a test solution retention space; a light source; a polarizing plate; and a photoreceiver, in which a plurality of first metallic nanorods each having a first antibody on a surface thereof are immobilized on the first region, a plurality of second metallic nanorods each having a second antibody on a surface thereof are immobilized on the second region, the respective long axes of the plurality of first metallic nanorods are aligned in the same direction, the respective long axes of the plurality of second metallic nanorods are aligned in the same direction, the long-axis direction of the first metallic nanorod is orthogonal to the long-axis direction of the second metallic nanorod, and at least one of the polarizing plate and the cell is capable of rotation with an optical axis as the rotation axis. |
| US07884930B2 |
Integrated quartz biological sensor and method
A sensor integrates a quartz nanoresonator for mass detection and SERS for optical detection in a same cavity on a chip for redundancy in the detection of a species. |
| US07884928B2 |
Cup attaching apparatus
A cup attaching apparatus for attaching a cup as a processing jig to an eyeglass lens including an illumination optical system including an illumination light source arranged to illuminate a side of the front surface of the lens by light from the light source; an imaging optical system including an imaging device and a retroreflection member placed on an opposite side from the light source with respect to the lens; an image processing device adapted to process an image signal from the imaging device to detect at least one of a mark point provided on a unifocal lens, a small lens portion of a bifocal lens, and a progressive mark provided on a progressive focal lens and obtain a position of the detected one; and an arithmetic control device adapted to determine an attaching position of the cup based on the position obtained by the image processing device. |
| US07884927B2 |
Power transmission control device, non-contact power transmission system, power transmitting device, electronic instrument, and waveform monitor circuit
A power transmission control device includes a power-transmitting-side control circuit that controls an operation of a power transmitting device, a driver control circuit that controls operations of a first power transmitting driver and a second power transmitting driver, and a waveform detection circuit that performs a waveform detection process based on a monitor signal from a waveform monitor circuit. The first power transmitting driver drives a first node of a primary coil directly, and the second power transmitting driver drives a second node of the primary coil through a capacitor. A switch circuit is provided in the waveform monitor circuit, the switch circuit being situated in a signal path between the primary coil and a low-level power supply potential. The power-transmitting-side control circuit causes the switch circuit to be turned ON/OFF using a switch control signal. |
| US07884925B2 |
Electrical and optical system and methods for monitoring erosion of electrostatic chuck edge bead materials
A disclosed device comprises an edge bonding seal configured to be mounted to an edge bead of the electrostatic chuck. The edge bonding seal includes a monitoring layer comprised of a first material configured to either emit a species capable of being optically monitored or having an electrical resistance value capable of being monitored, or both. The edge bonding seal further includes an edge bonding layer configured to be interspersed at least between the monitoring layer and the plasma environment. The edge bonding layer is comprised of a second material susceptible to erosion due to reaction with the plasma environment and configured to expose the monitoring layer to the plasma environment upon sufficient exposure to the plasma environment. |
| US07884923B2 |
Laser surveying system and distance measuring method
A laser surveying system, comprising a light source for emitting a laser beam, a projection optical system for turning the laser beam from the light source to a parallel luminous flux, a scanning unit for projecting the luminous flux of the projected laser beam for scanning, a scanning direction detecting unit for detecting a scanning direction, a photodetection optical system for receiving a reflected light of the projected laser beam from an object to be measured, a photodetection element for performing photo-electric conversion of the reflected light received via the photodetection optical system, and a distance measuring unit for measuring a distance based on a signal from the photodetection element, wherein the projection optical system has a luminous flux diameter changing means, and a luminous flux diameter of the projected laser beam is enabled to be changed. |
| US07884921B2 |
Illumination optical apparatus, projection exposure apparatus, projection optical system, and device manufacturing method
An illumination optical apparatus, used in a projection exposure apparatus for projecting and exposing a pattern arranged in a first plane to a second plane, for supplying the first surface with illumination light from a light source comprises an optical path combiner arranged in an optical path between the light source and the first surface, for combining a plurality of light beams different from each other from the light source such that the first and second light beams illuminate the first surface closely to each other. The optical path combiner includes a discrete point positioned on or near a third surface optically conjugate with the first surface. The plurality of light beams travel by way of a plurality of regions sectioned by the discrete point, respectively. |
| US07884919B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A device manufacturing method includes transferring a pattern from a patterning device onto a substrate. The method includes bringing the patterning device and the support together, and applying a substantially stationary force between the patterning device and the support to hold the patterning device. The patterning device is now excited by a substantially dynamic force to enable a micro slipping thereof. Then, the patterning device is aligned, and the pattern is transferred from the patterning device onto the substrate. The patterning device may be excited with an alternating acceleration. When the patterning device is excited, the patterning device is allowed to settle with respect to the support, thereby improving a friction therebetween to reduce a risk of slipping or local slipping of the patterning device. |
| US07884917B2 |
Spacer and liquid crystal display panel with the same
The present invention relates to a spacer and a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel with the same. The LCD panel comprises a color filter substrate, a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the color filter substrate and the thin film transistor array substrate. At least one spacer is disposed between the color filter substrate and the thin film transistor array substrate. Each spacer can comprise a first sub-spacer and a second sub-spacer. Elasticity of the first sub-spacer is smaller than elasticity of the second sub-spacer, and height of the first sub-spacer is smaller than height of the second sub-spacer. |
| US07884912B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
Provided is a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device includes a pixel including at least two domains generating electric fields of different directions. A contact part disposed in the boundary between the domains electrically connects a common line with a common electrode. The common line is disposed in a pixel adjacent to the pixel, so that both a viewing angle and an aperture ratio can be improved. |
| US07884911B2 |
Fringe field switching (FFS) semi-transmissive liquid crystal display
A FFS semi-transmissive LCD comprises a first substrate and pixel matrix. The pixel matrix is disposed on the first substrate and comprises a plurality of pixel units. Each pixel unit comprises a counter electrode, pixel electrode layer, reflection layer and liquid-crystal disposition layer. The counter electrode is disposed on the first substrate. The pixel electrode layer is disposed above the counter electrode. The reflection layer is disposed between the first substrate and pixel electrode layer. The reflection layer is smaller than the counter electrode in area. The liquid-crystal disposition layer is disposed on the pixel electrode layer and comprises a transparent material layer. The transparent material layer is smaller than the liquid-crystal disposition layer in thickness and has substantially the same shape and area as the reflection layer, and the transparent material layer and the reflection layer are face-to-face disposed at two opposite sides of the pixel electrode layer. |
| US07884910B2 |
In-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a gate line formed on a substrate; first and second data lines crossing the gate line to form adjacent pixel regions in a direction of the gate line; pixel electrodes and common electrodes substantially parallel to each other and generating an in-plane electric field; a first pixel electrode line parallel to the first data line and spaced apart from the first data line by a first isolation distance; a second pixel electrode line spaced apart from the second data line by a second isolation distance; and a first common line parallel to the first data line and spaced apart from the first data line by a third isolation distance; a second common line spaced from the second data line by a fourth isolation distance, wherein the first isolation distance is shorter than the third isolation distance, and a parasitic capacitance between the first pixel electrode line and the first data line is greater than a parasitic capacitance between the second pixel electrode line and the second data line. |
| US07884906B2 |
Substrate for liquid crystal display and liquid crystal display unit
It is an object of the present invention to provide a substrate for liquid crystal display by means of which a generation of air bubbles in a liquid crystal layer after charging a liquid crystal can be prevented, and a liquid crystal display having a good display quality level can be obtained at a high yield, and to provide a liquid crystal display unit provided with such substrate for liquid crystal display. The present invention is directed to a substrate for liquid crystal display, comprising a projection for controlling alignments of liquid crystal molecules, wherein a slit is provided in the projection for controlling alignments of liquid crystal molecules. |
| US07884905B2 |
Liquid crystal device including an alignment grating with breaks therein
This invention relates to a liquid crystal device wherein the surface profile of a surface alignment grating stabilizes at least one stable state. The invention involves the introduction or breaks (34, 36, 38) or discontinuities into the grating (10) to divide the grating into a plurality of groove segments. The breaks are discontinuities in the grating in the groove direction, the grating having substantially the same groove direction on each side of the break. The introduction of breaks prevent free movement of defects along the groove of the grating and therefore help to stabilize the desired liquid crystal configuration, either a Defect state or a Continuous state. Suitable breaks involve gaps (34) in the groove ridges (30), necks (36) between the groove ridges (30) and slips or relative displacement (38) of the grating. |
| US07884904B2 |
Image display device
An image display device provided with a panel comprising a substrate comprising glass or resin, a front side laminated body and a back side laminated body, and an optical member adjacent to the back side laminated body, wherein the surface of the optical member going to contact with the back side laminated body has an arithmetic average roughness (Ra) of 6 μm or more. The image display device can maintain excellent display performance under conditions with significant circumstance variations. |
| US07884902B2 |
Transmission liquid crystal display having discotic molecular film
An exemplary transmission liquid crystal display (200) includes a first substrate (215) and a second substrate (235); a liquid crystal layer (220) having liquid crystal molecules interposed between the first and second substrates; a front polarizer (211) disposed at an front surface of the first substrate, and a rear polarizer (231) disposed at a rear surface of the second substrate; a first quarter-wavelength compensation member (213) between the front polarizer and the first substrate; a second quarter-wavelength compensation member (234) between the rear polarizer and the second substrate; a first discotic molecular film (214) between the first quarter-wavelength compensation member and the first substrate; and a second discotic molecular film (234) between the second quarter-wavelength compensation member and the second substrate. |
| US07884899B2 |
System for displaying images and method with a peripheral region having a mosaic color filter pattern thereon that has pillars and channels and an opening along its boundary
Systems for displaying images and methods for fabricating the same. A representative system includes a substrate having a display region and a peripheral region, and a mosaic color filter pattern formed in the peripheral region. The mosaic color filter pattern includes a plurality of separated pillars and a plurality of channels adjacent to the pillars. Specifically the volume ratio between the pillars and the channel is 1:5 to 2:1, preferably 1:3 to 1:1. |
| US07884892B2 |
Electro-optical device, method of testing the same, and electronic apparatus
An electro-optical device includes: a counter substrate; an element substrate comprising a protruding region protruding from one side of the counter substrate and being bonded to the counter substrate; a plurality of pixel units that are arranged in a pixel region on the element substrate; a plurality of external circuit connecting terminals which are arranged in the protruding region on the element substrate and to which various signals including image signals and control signals for allowing the plurality of pixel units to display an image are supplied; and a plurality of test terminals that are provided at both ends of an array of the plurality of external circuit connecting terminals in the protruding region and are supplied with test signals, wherein a distance between adjacent test terminals is longer than a distance between adjacent external circuit connecting terminals. |
| US07884891B2 |
Thin film transistor liquid crystal display
In a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), a connection is formed between the gate line and the common electrode line with TFTs. During scanning in one frame, a high voltage signal is applied to the pixels in a next row before the next row is turned on, i.e., a black image is inserted in the normal white mode. When the pixels in one row are in operation and the pixels in the next row are not turned on, a black image data is inserted into the next row. A high voltage is applied before the pixels in a row of the TFT-LCD are turned on, so that a black image is inserted and tailing of motion picture can be alleviated. |
| US07884890B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
In one embodiment of the present invention, a large-screen or high-definition LCD is provided with its display quality improved significantly by reducing the viewing angle dependence of γ characteristic. Each pixel includes first and second subpixels, to which different voltages are applicable. The device further includes electrically independent storage capacitor trunks, each of which is electrically connected to the respective storage capacitor counter electrodes of either the first or second subpixels through storage capacitor lines. The pixels include pixels belonging to a first display area and pixels belonging to a second display area. The first and second display areas can be scanned independently of each other. And the storage capacitor trunks include a first storage capacitor trunk belonging to the first display area and a second storage capacitor trunk belonging to the second display area. |
| US07884879B2 |
Image sensing apparatus having exposure control and method therefor
In an image sensing apparatus and exposure control method, detecting an object that satisfies a certain preset condition from image data obtained by image sensing with an image sensing element, and carrying out photometry on the image data as a whole to acquire an overall photometric value while carrying out photometry on an area of a detected object within the image data to acquire an object photometric value. An exposure value is then determined based on the overall photometric value and the object photometric value, with exposure controlled during image sensing based on the determined exposure value. |
| US07884878B2 |
Lens apparatus, imaging apparatus, and automatic focusing control method
A lens apparatus capable of carrying out a suitable AF control operation even when text or character information is superimposed on a video signal is provided. The lens apparatus is configured to generate first and second AF evaluation values from a video signal obtained from an imaging unit of a camera apparatus, and to perform focusing control based on the second AF evaluation value. In the lens apparatus, the first AF evaluation value is selectively output to a second AF evaluation value generating unit for every scanning line of the video signal. |
| US07884877B2 |
Imaging device and autofocusing method
In an imaging device according to one aspect of the invention, an amplitude demand Ac is specified according to a wobbling amplitude Ai required for detection of a hill-climbing direction based on an F value and a wobbling amplitude Ag required for detection of the hill-climbing direction based on an AGC gain. An allowable amplitude Am set for preventing a potential image shake caused by a magnification change with a position shift of a compensator lens in wobbling is specified corresponding to a zoom position and an object distance. When Ac>Am, the control procedure restricts the wobbling amplitude to Am and increases a sampling number of AF evaluation values to be detected at respective positions in wobbling, in order to ensure the sufficient detection performance of the hill-climbing direction. When Ac□Am on the other hand, the control procedure sets Ac to the wobbling amplitude. This arrangement of the imaging device efficiently ensures the sufficient detection performance of the hill-climbing direction for autofocusing control, while effectively preventing deterioration of the quality of a captured image due to the magnification change in the wobbling motion. |
| US07884873B2 |
Image pickup device having a display for displaying operation key image data representing operation keys and supplying image data including an operation menu to an external display device when connected to the external display device
An image pickup device includes a display that displays one of image data including an operation menu or operation key image data representing operation keys; an external output section that outputs the image data including the operation menu to the outside; an output state detector that detects that the external output section is in a state capable of outputting the image data to the outside; a display data instruction section that instructs to display the operation key image data on the display and to display the image data including the operation menu on an external display device, which is an output destination of the image data in the external output section, when the external output section is detected to be in the capable state, and instructs to display the image data including the operation menu on the display when the external output section is not detected to be in the capable state; a display data supply that supplies one of the display or the external output section with one of the image data including the operation menu or the operation key image data in accordance with the instruction from the display data instruction section; and a panel input that accepts input of an operation from one of the operation key image data or the image data including the operation menu displayed on the display. |
| US07884872B2 |
Method for driving solid-state imaging apparatus and solid-state imaging apparatus
A driving method is applied to a solid-state imaging apparatus having photoelectric conversion portions, transfer portion for reading out signal charges, and an excess charge draining portion for draining charges exceeding a saturation charge amount that is set by a reference voltage. One of driving modes is selected from a full pixel mode in which accumulated signal charges are detected individually for each pixel and a pixel mixing mode in which signal charges of a predetermined number of pixels are mixed to be detected. In the full pixel mode, the draining portion is supplied with the reference voltage having the same value during a charge accumulation period and a read transfer period for read transferring charges. In the pixel mixing mode, the draining portion is supplied with the reference voltage having a low level during the charge accumulation period and the reference voltage having a high level during the read transfer period. An appropriate driving for the pixel mixing mode can be performed by avoiding a limitation of a substrate voltage, without deteriorating the spectral characteristics, the sensitivity, nor the linearity. |
| US07884870B2 |
Photoelectric conversion apparatus with current limiting units to limit excessive current to signal lines
A photoelectric conversion apparatus is disclosed. A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a pixel array in which pixels including photoelectric conversion units are arrayed in a row direction and a column direction, a plurality of first column signal lines which are electrically connected to the pixels arrayed in the pixel array in the column direction, respectively, a plurality of column amplification units which amplify signals provided via the plurality of the first column signal lines, respectively, a power supply line which provides a power supply voltage to the plurality of column amplification units, and a plurality of second column signal lines which are electrically connected to output sides of the plurality of column amplification units, respectively. Each column amplification unit includes a current limiting unit which limits the flow of an excessive current to each of the plurality of second column signal lines. |
| US07884860B2 |
Content shooting apparatus
A content shooting apparatus is provided, in which thresholds for generating metadata concerning shot images can be calibrated in accordance with shooting conditions.In a content shooting apparatus (Acc) for converting content data (Dc) into a stream (AV) and recording the stream (AV) to a recording medium (214) in combination with content-related metadata (Dm), a camera (101) shoots a subject (105) and generates the content data (Dc), a camerawork statistics portion (206s) detects movement (σ) of the camera, a camera microcomputer (206) compares the detected movement (σ) with a predetermined value (Th) to generate the metadata (Dm), and an automatic threshold setting portion (206t) changes the predetermined value (Th) in accordance with the detected movement (σ). |
| US07884853B2 |
Imaging device having a consecutive shooting mode
An imaging device, such as a digital camera, has a mechanism for compensating an image blur caused by hand jiggling and is capable of consecutively shooting, through one operation of a shutter operation section (36), frames of an image in a state where the mechanism (20) is operational and in a state where the mechanism is not operational. |
| US07884851B2 |
Audio and visual system and method for providing audio and visual information using such system
Apparatus and methods of processing audio files used by the apparatus are provided. The apparatus includes a camera arrangement, a storage arrangement, and a user input arrangement. The storage arrangement can store one or more audio files. A user may prepare the camera arrangement to capture an image of a subject. A selected audio file arrangement can be played through a sound generation arrangement audible to the person whose image is being captured, in response to an activation of the user input arrangement of the apparatus. After the audio file is played, the camera apparatus captures the image. One exemplary embodiment includes a wireless device, and the audio files are downloaded from a vendor using a wireless network and a computer network. In addition or alternatively, a display arrangement can be provided that displays an interactive menu for selection of options related to the audio files. A two-step shutter control of the camera arrangement can be used as the input device for causing the audio file to play. |
| US07884850B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including plural capacitive loads, with one terminal of each of the capacitive loads being connected to a common electrode and with each of the capacitive loads being charged/discharged on the basis of image data, and a first and second drive circuits is provided. The first drive circuit includes plural charge/discharge controllers that are individually connected to other terminals of the capacitive loads and individually control the charging and discharging of the capacitive loads and first and second electrical power wires that are connected to the charge/discharge controllers and charge and discharge the capacitive loads via the charge/discharge controllers. The second drive circuit is connected to each of the first and second electrical power wires and adjusts charge resistance and discharge resistance in response to control of the charge/discharge controllers. |
| US07884848B2 |
Viewing environment and recording system
A system for recording video comprising a plurality of cameras aligned in a substantially horizontal plane and adapted to capture images in substantially a three-hundred-sixty degree viewing angle; and a first additional camera adapted to capture images at the same time as the plurality of cameras adapted to capture images in the substantially three-hundred-sixty degree view, wherein the first additional camera is adapted to capture images in a direction above or below the horizontal plane. A system for displaying video comprising a side viewing area that provides substantially a three-hundred-sixty degree viewing area and forms at least part of a viewing pod; and at least one of atop viewing area and a bottom viewing area that forms a least a part of the viewing pod. |
| US07884847B2 |
System, apparatus, method, program and recording medium for processing image
An image processing system may include an imaging device for capturing an image and an image processing apparatus for processing the image. The imaging device may include an imaging unit for capturing the image, a first recording unit for recording information relating to the image, the information being associated with the image, and a first transmission control unit for controlling transmission of the image to the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus may include a reception control unit for controlling reception of the image transmitted from the imaging device, a feature extracting unit for extracting a feature of the received image, a second recording unit for recording the feature, extracted from the image, the feature being associated with the image, and a second transmission control unit for controlling transmission of the feature to the imaging device. |
| US07884846B2 |
Systems and methods for enhancing teleconferencing collaboration
An advanced video teleconferencing system facilitates an engaging and realistic video conferencing experience. Key design elements and video, audio, and control capabilities are provided for a video conferencing experience that cannot be attained with conventional methods, which elements and capabilities include careful design of the table and room at each site, supplementary displays showing imagery in a mirrored manner, networked environmental control, an AutoDirector with keyword and gesture recognition, and audio reflection from a display or beam splitter. |
| US07884845B2 |
Minutes taking system, minutes taking method, and program product therefor
A minutes taking system includes a change detection portion that detects a change of a displayed image for a description object out of displayed images that are a plurality of stream images serving as information displayed in a conference, a separation detection portion that detects a separation temporally separates a content of the displayed image; and an extraction portion that extracts a recorded time segment to be recorded as minutes information composing a minutes, on the basis of a change time when the change detection portion detects the change of the displayed image for the description object and a separation time when the separation detection portion detects the separation according to the plurality of streams. |
| US07884844B2 |
System for conducting videoconferencing session over television network
A videoconferencing system includes a camera, a microphone, and an interface module. The module is coupled a modem connected to a television network and is coupled to a television set and a set-top box. The module decodes encoded audio video signals received from the modem that are part of a videoconferencing session. The module also encodes audio and video signals received from the camera and the microphone and sends the encoded audio video signals to the modem to be part of the videoconferencing session. The module can selectively send decoded audio signals to the television set or can selectively send video received from the set-top box to the television display. In addition, the module can send compressed audio and video signals received from the microphone and camera to the set-top box for processing and delivery to the television display. |
| US07884840B2 |
Image forming method and apparatus for transfer and fixing image with one process
An image forming method and apparatus includes a first image carrying member, a first transfix unit, a second image carrying member, and a second transfix unit. The first image carrying member carries a first toner image thereon. The first transfix unit receives the first toner image from the first image carrying member and transfers and fixes the first toner image onto a first face of a recording sheet with a heat effect. The second image carrying member carries a second toner image thereon. The second transfix unit receives the second toner image from the second image carrying member and transfers and fixes the second toner image onto a second face of the recording sheet with a heat effect. |
| US07884836B2 |
Notifying a graphics subsystem of a physical change at a display device
When a physical change (e.g. a change in screen orientation) is detected at a display device that is attached to a graphics subsystem of a host device and on which images are currently being displayed, a hot plug detect signal may be provided to the graphics subsystem. In response, the graphics subsystem may adjust its processing of images to account for the physical change (e.g. the image may be rotated). The display device may communicate data representative of the physical change to the graphics subsystem. The graphics subsystem may use this data to determine how its processing of images should be adjusted. The data may be communicated over an I2C bus regardless of whether a hot plug detect signal is provided. |
| US07884831B2 |
Reconfigurable high-performance texture pipeline with advanced filtering
Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide texture caches and related circuits that store and retrieve texels in a fast and efficient manner. One such texture circuit provides an increased number of bilerps for each pixel in a group of pixels, particularly when trilinear or aniso filtering is needed. For trilinear filtering, texels in a first and second level of detail are retrieved for a number of pixels during a clock cycle. When aniso filtering is performed, multiple bilerps can be retrieved for each of a number of pixels during one clock cycle. |
| US07884830B1 |
Apparatus, system, and method for indexing an array of cube map textures
A graphics system supports arrays of cube map textures. In one implementation, a cube map texture is utilized as an index into a set of cube map textures. The set of cube map textures may further be arranged into an atlas of two-dimensional textures. |
| US07884825B2 |
Drawing method, image generating device, and electronic information apparatus
An edge function is computed from two vertex coordinates given by a rendering target line. Gradient determination is then performed on the edge function, and the functions representing two shift lines that are formed by translating the rendering target line in the y-axis direction or x-axis direction depending on the angle formed by the rendering target line and the x-axis of the rendering plane coordinate system by 0.5d and −0.5d will be computed, where d denotes the width of one pixel. Then, the number of subpixels included in a parallelogram, which has four points of the starting points and ending points of the two shift lines as vertices, is acquired so as to determine the pixel value of each pixel based on the number. |
| US07884816B2 |
Correcting pyramidal error of polygon scanner in scanning beam display systems
Scanning beam display systems using fluorescent screens and various servo feedback control mechanisms to control display imaging qualities, including techniques and mechanism for measuring and correcting pyramidal errors of a polygon scanner. |
| US07884815B2 |
Interchangeable display modules for portable handheld devices
A handheld computing device featuring interchangeable display units is disclosed. The handheld computing device includes a processing unit and a visual display unit detachable from the processing unit. The processing unit and the detachable visual display unit include communication ports capable of communicating with each other. The processing unit further can receive information representative of the properties of the detachable visual display unit. |
| US07884813B2 |
Apparatus and method for driving self-luminescent display panel
An apparatus for driving a self-luminescent display panel is provided with a plurality of luminescent elements 14 that are arranged at intersection positions of a plurality of data lines and a plurality of scanning lines. One frame period is time-divided into N subframe periods (N is a positive integer). A gradation display is set by an accumulated sum of one or plural lighting control periods. The apparatus is provided with first gradation control means (21, 24, 25, 26, 30) for lighting at least two other subframe periods at a brightness level a in addition to subframe periods lit at a brightness level a−1, assuming that a is an integer satisfying 0 |
| US07884810B2 |
Unevenness detecting apparatus for compensating for threshold voltage and method thereof
Unevenness detecting apparatus for compensating for threshold voltage and method thereof is provided with a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data lines and a pixel circuit arranged in each point which the scan lines and the data lines are intersected. The unevenness detecting apparatus for compensating for the threshold voltage and method thereof may accurately sense a state of minute unevenness such as fingerprints by using an active element (e.g., TFT) as an element of which pixel circuit is composed. |
| US07884807B2 |
Proximity sensor and method for indicating a display orientation change
A proximity sensor device and method is provided that facilitates orientation changes in displays. The proximity sensor device and method provide a user with the ability to indicate an orientation change in a display using the sensing region of a proximity sensor device as a user interface. In one specific embodiment, proximity sensor device is implemented to indicate an orientation change in a first way responsive to detected object motion along the sensing region in a first direction, and is further implemented to indicate an orientation change in a second way responsive to detected object motion along the sensing region in a second direction. Thus, a user can cause orientation changes of different ways through the use of object motions in different directions along the sensing region. |
| US07884801B1 |
Circuit and method for determining motion with redundant comb-arrays
A method is provided for sensing displacement of an optical sensor relative to a surface, the sensor having at least first and second arrays with a plurality of photosensitive elements. The method involves: (i) generating for each array first set of quasi-sinusoidal signals at a first time and a second set of quasi-sinusoidal signals at a second time in response to motion of light received thereon; (ii) computing from said first and second sets of signals phase angle changes for signals received from each array; (iii) computing from said first and second sets of signals radius values for signals received from each array; (iv) computing unwrapped phase angle changes for signals received from each array; and (v) combining said unwrapped phase angle changes for each of said arrays using radius-weighted-averaging to provide a single weighted average of unwrapped phase angle change resulting from said motion of light. |
| US07884791B2 |
Liquid crystal display and over driving method thereof
The present invention provides an over driving circuit of a liquid crystal display is provided. The circuit comprises a buffer, a memory coupling with the buffer and a modifier coupling with the buffer, the memory and a signal line. This signal line is used to transfer a row number signal to the modifier. The modifier may generate a corrected gray level value to a pixel unit based on a gray level value of present frame from the buffer, a gray level value of previous frame from the memory and the row number signal. |
| US07884788B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal display device provided with an audio signal processing function, which includes an audio signal processing circuit with a large S/N ratio and a small glitch is provided. The display device of the invention includes a resistor string D/A converter circuit whose dynamic range can be increased by using a common power supply for a D/A converter circuit and a signal line driver circuit. Accordingly, a glitch generated in the D/A converter circuit can be reduced relatively to an audio signal and an S/N ratio of the D/A converted signal can thus be increased. |
| US07884785B2 |
Active matrix display apparatus and electronic apparatus
An active matrix display apparatus includes a substrate having scanning lines, signal lines, and pixels thereon. Each of the pixels includes a sampling transistor for taking in a video signal, a drive transistor for generating a driving current, and a light-emitting device which emits light with luminance in accordance with the video signal. The two-terminal thin-film light-emitting device includes an anode and cathode electrodes, and a light-emitting layer arranged therebetween. At least one of the electrodes is divided into pieces whereby the light-emitting device is divided into sub-light-emitting devices. The sub-light-emitting devices receive the driving current from a driving transistor and emit light with luminance in accordance with the video signal. A sub-light-emitting devices including a short-circuit defect is separated from the corresponding one of the pixels and the driving current is supplied to the remaining sub-light-emitting devices, whereby the luminance in accordance with the video signal is maintained. |
| US07884784B2 |
Transparent LED display
Described herein is a transparent-display device for motor vehicles, to be used for presentation of information to the driver and/or to the passengers, said device comprising a plurality of LED sources, addressable individually or in groups through a series of conductive paths, deposited on a transparent underlayer and connected to a control electronics, in which: i) said LED sources are integrated in the form of dice, i.e., of elements obtained by dividing up a semiconductor wafer and without package; ii) said dice are integrated on, and electrically connected to, said underlayer via technologies of the chip-on-board type; and iii) said transparent underlayer 1 is pre-arranged for being at least in part superimposed on the windscreen of the vehicle, in such a way that at least part of the information presented to the user is superimposed on the background, said background being visible to the user through said windscreen. |
| US07884783B2 |
Data driver, organic light emitting display, and method of driving the same
A data driver including a first digital-to-analog converter configured to select first and second reference voltages depending on upper bits of data and supply the first and the second reference voltages to a first line and a second line, respectively, a second digital-to-analog converter having the first line and the second line to receive the first and the second reference voltages, respectively, a first group of voltage dividing resistors between the first line and the second line and configured to generate a plurality of gray scale voltages, a voltage dividing resistor unit between the first line and the second line, and at least one switch positioned between the voltage dividing resistor unit and one of the first line and the second line, and including a decoder unit configured to control on and off state of the at least one switch depending on lower bits of data. |
| US07884782B2 |
Electro-luminescence display panel and driving method thereof
An electro-luminescence display panel and a driving method thereof for increasing a light-emitting time of a pixel as well as reducing power consumption are disclosed. In the electro-luminescence display panel, a pixel matrix has a plurality of electro-luminescence cells connected between scan lines and data lines. A scan driver drives the scan line. A data driver pre-charges the data lines into a middle voltage of data signals and then supplies corresponding data signals. |
| US07884781B2 |
Video data signal correction
A method and apparatus for correcting video data signals for addressing an active matrix electroluminescent display device wherein input video signals are modified in accordance with stored electrical characteristic parameter values for each drive transistor (20) employed to control the current through a respective display element (11). The stored values are continually updated to ensure accurate data signal correction which counteracts variations in the electrical characteristics of each drive transistor such as threshold voltage drift, for example. A power line (10) supplies current to n display elements (11). Thus, n sets of data relating to the current through the power line are collected during normal operation of the display, for example. The data is used to calculate updated characteristic parameter values for each drive transistor (20). |
| US07884779B2 |
Multiple-input switch design
A switch designs having very low insertion loss, in which the insertion loss remains the same regardless of the number of inputs. A plurality of inputs are structured for receiving electromagnetic radiation signal having a wavelength λ. A plurality of switches, e.g., PIN diode switches, are coupled to a respective input. A main conductor is coupled to an output. A plurality of leg conductors are coupled at one end to the main conductor and at other end to a respective switch from the plurality of switches, wherein each of the leg conductors has a length substantially equal to nλ/2, wherein n is a whole natural number. |
| US07884777B2 |
Free-space-optically-synchronized wafer scale antenna module osillators
In one embodiment, a device is disclosed that includes: a first substrate, a plurality of antennas adjacent the first substrate; a plurality of oscillators integrated in the first substrate, each oscillator providing an output signal to drive a corresponding subset of the antennas; and a plurality of photodetectors corresponding to plurality of oscillators, each oscillator being adapted to injection lock its output signal to an electronic photodetector signal from the photodetector produced in response to an illumination of the photodetectors with a free-space optical signal modulated such that the photodetector signals are globally synchronized with each other, whereby the output signals driving the plurality antennas are also globally synchronized across the plurality of antennas. |
| US07884776B2 |
High power integrated circuit beamforming array
In one embodiment, an integrated circuit antenna array is provided that includes: a low voltage substrate supporting an RF transmission network, and a high voltage substrate bonded to the low voltage substrate, the high voltage substrate supporting a plurality of antennas coupled to the RF transmission network through power amplifiers integrated into a surface of the high voltage substrate. |
| US07884774B2 |
Planar antenna
The present invention provides a wireless transmit/receive unit, comprising a feeding connecting line, a first radiating line, a second radiating line, a third radiating line and a fourth radiating line, wherein the third radiating line is longer than the first radiating line and the first radiating line is longer than the second radiating line that provides different current paths for getting a broader bandwidth. The first, second and third radiating lines are connected parallel for enhancing an antenna pattern being perpendicular thereto, and form a series capacity between the first and the third radiating lines. The fourth radiating line vertically connects between the third radiating line and a grounding line for forming a grounding capacity. The printed antenna can be reduced in size by the effect of the two capacities. The wireless transmit/receive unit can provide a better isolation with others by the direction enforced pattern and the reduced size. |
| US07884772B2 |
Radar apparatus and alignment sensor
A radar apparatus including: a radar antenna array; and, a sensor for detecting a relative distortion of at least one portion of the radar antenna relative to at least one other portion of the radar antenna array. |
| US07884764B2 |
Active antenna oscillator
An antenna oscillator includes a first strip line type resonator and a second resonator functioning as an antenna. The first resonator is fabricated by stacking a first conductor onto a grounding conductor with a first dielectric part including a gain part therebetween. The second resonator is fabricated by stacking a second conductor, emitting electromagnetic waves to the exterior, onto the first resonator with a second dielectric part therebetween so as to function as an antenna with the configuration between the grounding conductor and the second conductor. The first conductor and the second conductor are separated from each other in a stacking direction with the second dielectric part or the second dielectric part and the grounding conductor therebetween. The first resonator and the second resonator are electromagnetically connected together so as to form a resonance circuit that makes the electromagnetic waves resonate. |
| US07884760B2 |
Method for the location of mobile terminals
The location of a mobile terminal in a given area is determined by including the mobile terminal both in a satellite-based positioning system and in a cellular communications system. The mobile terminal is thus adapted to receive satellite signals from the satellite-based system and to be covered by at least one cell of the cellular communications system. The mobile terminal is configured for determining at least approximately its coordinates, including an altitude coordinate in the area, based on both satellite signals received from the satellite-based system and information related to the cellular communications system. An estimate of the altitude coordinate is derived from the information related to the cellular communications system, whereby satisfactory location performance is ensured also when one or more satellites in the satellite-based system are not visible at the mobile terminal. |
| US07884755B2 |
Filling level radar with variable transmitting power
A level measuring instrument has a variable transmitting power for measuring a filling level in a tank. The level measuring instrument includes a generator unit generating one of a first oscillator signal and a second oscillator signal. The generator unit generates a transmit signal from one of the first oscillator signal and the second oscillator signal. The level measuring instrument includes further a controller controlling the generator unit. The generator unit generates one of first and second transmitting powers for the transmit signal. |
| US07884748B2 |
Ramp-based analog to digital converters
The invention provides an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of the single ramp type, comprising a ramp generator (101), a clock (102), a digital counter (103) timed by the clock (102), and at least one channel (101, . . . , 10i, . . . , 10n) for data processing, the or each channel comprising a comparator (201, . . . , 20i, . . . , 20n) having an input connected to the ramp generator (101) and the output of which causes for each conversion cycle the storage of the current counter value as a coarse conversion data. According to the present invention, the or each channel (101, . . . , 10i, . . . , 10n) further comprises a delay-chain time interpolator (401, . . . , 40i, . . . , 40n, 501, . . . , 50i, . . . , 50n) responsive to the output of the comparator and to the clock (102), for interpolating time within a clock period from the triggering time of the comparator, said interpolator delivering a time-interpolation output signal as a fine conversion data which is combined to the coarse conversion data for each conversion cycle. Application to an increased resolution without excess power consumption or increased conversion period. |
| US07884747B2 |
Digital to analog converters having circuit architectures to overcome switch losses
A digital to analog converter (DAC) includes a pair of operational amplifiers each having a first input coupled to a respective high or low reference voltage. The DAC includes a plurality of switch-controlled cells, each of which includes a resistor and two force/sense switch pairs. Within each cell, all four switches are coupled to the resistor. A first force switch is coupled to an output of a first op amp and an associated sense switch is coupled to an inverting input of the first op amp. A second force switch is coupled to an output of a second op amp and an associated sense switch is coupled to an inverting input of the second op amp. Thus, the force switches provide selectively conductive paths to permit either op amp to drive a given cell. When an op amp drives particular cells, sense switches generate multiple a feedback paths to the driving op amp, which permits the op amp to drive the selected cell resistors at voltages that overcomes any voltage losses induces by associated force switches, and cancels the effect of any variation in the voltage losses induced by different force switches. The switch-controlled cells find application in a variety of DAC architectures, including binary weighted R2R architectures, equally-weighted segmented architectures or hybrid architectures that blend principles of R2R and segmented architectures. |
| US07884746B2 |
Noise limitation of a signal dependent multibit digital to analog signal conversion
Several methods and a system of noise limitation of a signal dependent multibit digital to analog signal conversion are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment provides a method that includes receiving an output of a multibit analog to digital circuit of a continuous time sigma delta converter. The method further includes limiting a noise generation by adaptively selecting a digital to analog converter element out of a plurality of digital to analog converter elements in accordance with an input signal magnitude. In addition, the method includes implementing a selected digital to analog converter element to generate an analog signal. |
| US07884745B2 |
Analogue to digital conversion
An analog-to-digital conversion arrangement converting an input analog signal into an output digital representation. Two or more analog-to-digital conversion paths each applying a conversion mapping between input analog signal magnitudes and respective digital values generate an intermediate representation of the input analog signal, the conversion paths being operable to apply different respective conversion mappings. An output circuit combines the intermediate representations from at least two conversion paths to generate the output digital representation, the intermediate representations being combined according to a weighting dependent on the magnitude of the input analog signal. At least one of the conversion paths has an enhanced sensitivity mode appropriate to a range of magnitudes of the input signal that are below a threshold magnitude. Control logic inhibits operation in the enhanced sensitivity mode if the magnitude of the input analog signal exceeds the threshold magnitude. |
| US07884740B2 |
Multi-lane vehicle detection apparatus
A vehicle detection apparatus adopting microwave sensing schemes for performing the multi-lane vehicle detection is provided in the present invention. According to the present invention, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the detected reflecting wave is varied within an inconsiderable range so that the provided apparatus may exhibit a unique property which is adoptable for the multi-lane vehicle detection and the precision is unachievable by the existing detectors. |
| US07884739B2 |
Systems and devices for assessing fines for traffic disturbances
Traffic disturbances are detected and data is collected by various sensors where the data reflects the entity that is responsible for the disturbance and the number of vehicles that are impacted by the disturbance. The data is analyzed to determine whether a traffic violation has occurred and to then assess a fine based at least on the number of vehicles that have been impacted as a result of the traffic violation. The fine may then be collected by notifying the entity that is responsible, such as by sending a message to an electronic device of the entity. The notification may provide for an automated payment of the fine or an option to appeal the fine. Additionally, those affected by the traffic disturbance may be identified and granted a portion of the fine that has been imposed and collected. |
| US07884737B2 |
Modular wireless fixed network for wide-area metering data collection and meter module apparatus
A one-way direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) communications wide-area network is the data collection channel (uplink) of an automatic meter reading (AMR) system, and a paging network, or other suitable communication channel is the optional forward (downlink) channel. The communications network may include one-way meter modules (transmitters) each communicatively coupled to a corresponding electric, gas or water utility meter, and may include two-way meter modules (transceivers) each coupled to such a corresponding utility meter. The meter modules monitor, store, encode and periodically transmit metering data via radio signals (air messages) in an appropriate RF channel. Metering data air messages are collected by a network of receiver Base Stations (BS) and forwarded to a Data Operations Center (DOC), which acts as a metering data gateway. The reception range of each base station is typically over 5 miles in urban areas, allowing sparse infrastructure deployment for a wide variety of metering data collection applications. |
| US07884736B2 |
Common interface architecture for horizontal directional drilling machines and walk-over guidance systems
A system and method of interfacing a drilling machine with one of a number of different walk-over guidance systems involves receiving an ID signal from a particular walk-over guidance system selected for use with the drilling machine. A protocol library associated with the particular walk-over guidance system is accessed in response to the ID signal. The protocol library is used to effect communication between the particular walk-over guidance system and a control system of the drilling machine during cooperative use of the particular walk-over guidance system and drilling machine. Using the protocol library involves converting, as prescribed by the protocol library, locator signals received from the particular walk-over guidance system from a locator protocol to a common protocol used by the control system of the drilling machine. Locator and drilling machine data of various types can be presented to a drilling machine operator via an on-board display. |
| US07884734B2 |
Unique identification of devices using color detection
Methods and apparatus for uniquely identifying wireless devices in close physical proximity are described. When two wireless devices are brought into close proximity, one of the devices displays an optical indicator, such as a light pattern. This device then sends messages to other devices which are within wireless range to cause them to use any light sensor to detect a signal. In an embodiment, the light sensor is a camera and the detected signal is an image captured by the camera. Each device then sends data identifying what was detected back to the device displaying the pattern. By analyzing this data, the first device can determine which other device detected the indicator that it displayed and therefore determine that this device is in close physical proximity to it. In an example, the first device is an interactive surface arranged to identify the wireless addresses of devices which are placed on the surface. |
| US07884731B2 |
Photoelectric smoke sensor and lighting equipment
The photoelectric smoke sensor includes a casing member 1 having an internal space S formed by a labyrinth wall 1b and an opening 6 communicating with the internal space S on a setting-face side; and a printed board 8 placed on the setting-face side of the casing member 1 and having a hole 8a opposed to the opening 6 of the casing member 1. The light emitting element 2 and the light receiving element 4 are mounted on the printed board 8 in such a fashion that the optical axes of the light emitting element 2 and the light receiving element 4 cross each other on one plane that is substantially parallel to an opening plane of the opening 6. The photoelectric smoke sensor can be reduced in both size and cost with a simple construction. |
| US07884726B2 |
Transfer tape strap process
A method for efficiently producing a plurality of EAS or RFID tags or inlays that form a label ready for use. The process utilizes a first web of RFID chip straps or capacitor straps that are releasably secured to a liner using only a low tack adhesive and utilizes a second web of coils or antennas which are secured to a second liner. After indexing these two webs, selective heat and pressure are applied to the chips straps or to the capacitor straps to transfer them and electrically couple them to a corresponding coil or antenna. Where both chip straps and capacitor straps are applied to a common antenna, a third web of the additional strap is used in the process. |
| US07884723B2 |
Lower power battery-assisted RFID tag having improved recognition distance, and wake-up method thereof
Provided are a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and a wake-up method thereof. The RFID tag includes: a power source that supplies a driving voltage; a continuous wave detector that receives the driving voltage from the power supply so as to detect a continuous wave in a signal received from an RFID tag reader; a command detector that selectively receives the driving voltage and detects a command in the signal; and a controller that executes the command detected by the command detector by supplying the driving voltage to the command detector if the continuous wave is detected, and stops the driving voltage from being supplied to the command detector if no command is received from the command detector for a predetermined time period. |
| US07884721B2 |
Devices for identifying and tracking wireless microphones
The invention is a system for remotely identifying sound amplification devices and other electronic devices. This system introduces the ability for sound technicians to remotely identify which electronic devices have entered the stage or performance area. The system includes an identification tags, visual markers, sensors, receiver, and monitor. Remote identification can be achieved through RFID (radio frequency identification) or Line of sight (like infrared). Using directional sensors or sensors of adjustable sensitivity. |
| US07884720B2 |
Intermediate attachment mechanism and use thereof in RFID transponder
The present invention provides an intermediate attachment mechanism, called a powerposer (10), which includes at least one power source (16) coupled to an integrated circuit (14), at least one integrated circuit, which is arranged to store a code comprising information and powered with energy provided by the power source and a substrate (12) on which the at least one power source and the at least one integrated circuit are disposed, and wherein the substrate comprises connection means (22) for connecting to an application device and attachment means for attaching to the application device. Further, the present invention provides a battery assisted or active RFID transponder featuring a transponder substrate, at least one antenna disposed on the transponder substrate and a powerposer disposed on the transponder substrate. Still further the present invention provides methods of production of a powerposer and an active or battery assisted RFID transponder comprising a powerposer. |
| US07884718B2 |
Frequency selective surface aids to the operation of RFID products
The present invention is directed to systems that use frequency selective surfaces (FSS) to aid in the operation of radio frequency identification (RFID) devices and products. In one embodiment, a system for interrogating radio frequency identification (RFID) tags includes a conveyor belt and an RFID reader. The conveyor belt has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is configured to receive an item to which an RFID tag is affixed and the second surface is configured to slide on a metal slide plate. The RFID reader is configured to transmit instructions embodied in a radio frequency (RF) signal to the RFID tag, wherein the metal slide plate is positioned between the RFID reader and the RFID tag and comprises a frequency selective surface that is substantially transparent to the RF signal. |
| US07884716B2 |
Movie projection system
In a movie projection system, a switch circuit is disposed on a door of a case in which a video server is disposed. A tamper detector detects a state of the door as to whether the door is open or not and a state of the switch circuit as to whether the switch circuit has been tampered with or not, on the basis of an output signal provided by the switch circuit. A projecting operation controller controls the operation of the movie projection system such that when the door is detected to be in the open state or the switch circuit is detected to have been tampered with, the projecting operation controller stops inputting and outputting video data to or from the video server. |
| US07884714B2 |
System and method for altering settings on electronic devices based upon sensing stimuli
Disclosed is a method and system for altering settings on portable electronic devices based upon the surrounding sounds. The system and method create a series of improvements in electronic devices that enable a person to have a greater possibility to hear their name being called, important signals or emergency vehicles while using their electronic devices are in use by the instant user. An example embodiment (i) provides at least one sensor connected to a portable device, each sensor detecting surrounding sounds; (ii) recognizing a specific sound among the surrounding sounds by the at least one sensor by matching the specific sound to one of a plurality of reference sounds; and (iii) altering settings of the portable device from a first setting to a second setting, in a first event the specific sound matches with one of the plurality of reference sounds. |
| US07884711B2 |
Container arrangement tag having positioning and electronic sealing function
The electronic tag of the present invention is mounted under the door holder on the front and right side of the container and the lock bolt on the electronic tag is inserted into the holes of the container door handle and the door seal turnover panel. The lock cap screws to the lock bolt tightly, so that the lock bolt can not be pulled out from the electronic tag. The electronic tag adopts RFID technique, GPS satellite positing and identifying technique and un-touching approach switch door seal technique. When the lock cap screws onto the lock bolt, the door closing information is recorded; when the lock cap screws out from the lock bolt, the door opening information is recorded. The present invention identifies, reads and writes the freight information, logistics information, door seal information of the container through the electronic tag in an un-touching manner. The electronic tag has large storage volume, long life span, and good security. Besides, the electronic tag also has GPS that can position and identify the position of the container. |
| US07884710B2 |
Audio modulation for a child motion device
A method of controlling a child motion device includes the steps of determining data indicative of motion of the child motion device, and controlling an audio output of the child motion device in accordance with the data. In some cases, the controlling step includes the step of modulating the audio output in accordance with the data. For example, the modulating step may involve applying a modulation effect to an audio track available to the child motion device. |
| US07884709B2 |
System and method for providing a synergistic alert condition processing in an automated patient management system
A system and method for providing synergistic alert condition processing in an automated patient management system is presented. An alert condition is classified along a continuum that includes adverse outcome potential versus medical intervention impact potential. The alert condition is managed by assigning a disposition based on relative placement of the alert condition along the continuum. An alert notification is communicated over a selectable mode of communications and is conditioned upon the assigned disposition being actionable. |
| US07884702B2 |
Queued operations in HF/UHF RFID applications
A method for pipelined processing of access commands to a population of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags is provided. The method includes transmitting a first queued access command to a first tag in the population of RFID tags, transmitting a second queued access command to a second tag in the population of RFID tags, and transmitting a status request command to the first tag. The queued access command causes the first tag to perform an operation and upon completion of the operation, to suspend transaction processing. The second queued access command is transmitted while the first tag is performing the command operation. The status request command causes the first tag to resume normal processing. |
| US07884701B2 |
External barrier operator device
A receiver is adapted to receive one or more wireless signals, while also being able to provide a barrier actuation signal to a barrier operator over a signaling line. The barrier operator may then be adapted to actuate a barrier in response to receiving the barrier actuation signal. The signaling line is further used to provide power from the barrier operator to the receiver. In one embodiment, the barrier operator is a garage door opener and the signaling line is coupled to the receiver and a garage door wall button. Alternatively, the receiver may replace the garage door wall button of the barrier operator. |
| US07884700B2 |
Composite electronic apparatus
A composite electronic apparatus that prevents misoperation of a remote control device and provides easy remote control operations for electronic devices is provided. When a DVD mode switching key is pressed, for example, in this composite electronic apparatus, a DVD recognition LED is turned on. When a VCR mode switching key is pressed, a VCR recognition LED is turned on. In addition, when one of action command keys is pressed, the DVD recognition LED or the VCR recognition LED indicating an operation target is turned on in accordance with information indicating a transmission mode stored until the action command key is operated. |
| US07884697B2 |
Tunable embedded inductor devices
The invention provides tunable embedded high frequency inductor devices. The inductor device comprises a dielectric substrate. A first conductive line is disposed on a first surface of the dielectric substrate. A second conductive line is disposed on a second surface of the dielectric substrate. An interconnection is disposed perforating the dielectric substrate and connecting the first conductive line with the second conductive line. A coupling region is defined between the first and the second conductive lines. A conductive plug connecting the first conductive line and the second line is disposed in the coupling region. Alternatively, an opening is disposed in the first and second conductive lines to tune inductance of the inductor. |
| US07884692B2 |
Transformer structure
The present invention discloses a transformer, mounted on a circuit board, including a winding set having a bobbin, a primary winding and a secondary winding, wherein the primary and the secondary windings are wound on the bobbin, and the primary winding has at least a first output terminal; a magnetic core set including a first magnetic core and a second magnetic core, wherein the winding set is sandwiched in between the first and the second magnetic cores; and an insulation base including an accommodation space and at least a pin, wherein the winding set and the magnetic core set are accommodated in the accommodation space, and the first output terminal of the primary winding is connected with the pin for further electrically connecting to the circuit board. |
| US07884690B2 |
Precise multi-pole magnetic component
A method is provided to manufacture a precise multi-pole magnetic component for using in magnetic encoders. A special layout of the circuit pattern is designed and formed on a printed circuit board (PCB). Alternate and regular magnetic field is induced according to Ampere's law after a current flowing through the circuit on the PCB. The multi-pole magnetic component with fine magnetic pole pitch is achieved by forming the high-density circuit patterns on a substrate using the PCB technology. |
| US07884680B2 |
Dynamically adjustable Q-factors
One embodiment relates to a circuit for active loss compensation. The circuit includes a parallel inductor-capacitive (LC) tank circuit having a first single-ended output. A first adjustable capacitor, which includes a first terminal and a second terminal, is coupled to the first single-ended output. The circuit also includes a first pair of transistors having sources coupled to a first common node. One transistor of the first pair of transistors has a drain coupled to the first single-ended output and the other transistor of the first pair of transistors has a gate coupled to the second terminal of the first adjustable capacitor. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US07884679B2 |
Process, voltage, temperature compensated oscillator
A voltage reference connects to a voltage-to-current converter to generate a reference current dependent on the reference voltage. Outputs of a toggle-type flip flop connect to switching transistors controlling the reference current charging capacitors. The toggling of the flip-flop is controlled by comparing the capacitor voltages to the reference voltage, such that the toggle frequency is proportional to the time charging the capacitors. Optionally, temperature compensation data, representing a magnitude and direction rotation of the frequency versus temperature characteristic is stored and, based on a sensed temperature, retrieved to modify the reference current. |
| US07884678B2 |
Single-pin RC oscillator
Apparatus includes a single-pin input interface, which is operative to sense a voltage across a capacitor of a Resistor-Capacitor (RC) network in which the capacitor is repetitively charging and discharging so that the voltage oscillates as a function of time. A measurement circuit is coupled to measure time durations in which the capacitor is charging and in which the sensed voltage lies between first and second predefined thresholds. A clock generation circuit is coupled to generate an output clock signal having a frequency, and to adjust the frequency responsively to the measured time durations. |
| US07884677B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing phase noise in an oscillator signal of a Colpitts oscillator
A Colpitts oscillator includes a tank circuit, a first transistor, and a first feedback circuit. The first transistor includes a first region, a second region, and a control region. The first region communicates with the tank circuit. The first feedback circuit communicates with the second region and the control region of the first transistor. |
| US07884675B2 |
Phase locked loop including a frequency change module
A phase locked loop (PLL) includes a detector, a charge pump, a loop filter, a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a divider, and a frequency change module. The detector provides a phase difference based on a reference signal and a feedback signal. The charge pump provides a charge based on the phase difference. The loop filter provides a voltage based on the charge. The VCO provides an output signal based on the voltage received from the loop filter. The divider divides a frequency of the output signal by a value to provide the feedback signal. The frequency change module processes an input signal having a first frequency to provide a processed signal having a second frequency that is different from the first frequency. The frequency change module selects the input signal or the processed signal to provide as the reference signal to the detector. Changing the frequency of the reference signal can change a frequency of a spur. |
| US07884674B2 |
Clock and data recovery circuit
An embodiment of the invention provides a clock and data recovery circuit. The clock and data recovery circuit comprises a phase detector, a pre-accumulator, a register, an accumulator and a digital controlled oscillator. By using the transmission path formed by the pre-accumulator, the output of the phase detector can be transmitted to the digital controlled oscillator in advance to adjust the frequency of its output clock signal and the latency due to the accumulator can be reduced. |
| US07884670B2 |
Class D amplifier
A Class D amplifier includes a ramp generator configured to generate a first signal and a second signal. Each of the first signal and the second signal oscillate between a minimum value and a maximum value. A signal generator is configured to receive an input signal, the first signal and the second signal. The input signal has a value that is between the minimum value and the maximum value. A signal generator is configured to generate a third signal and a fourth signal. The third signal is generated based on each of the first signal and the second signal transitioning from a value above the value of the input signal to a value below the value of the input signal. The fourth signal is generated based on each of the first signal and the second signal transitioning from a value below the value of the input signal to a value above the value of the input signal. An output stage is configured to drive a load based on the third signal and the fourth signal. |
| US07884667B2 |
Pulse area modulation and high-efficiency linear power amplifier system using the same
A linear power amplifier system using pulse area modulation includes: an envelop/phase decomposer for decomposing an input signal into an envelop signal and a phase signal; a pulse area modulator for modulating the envelop signal such that an area of the modulated envelop signal is proportional to an amplitude of the envelop signal; a control signal generator for converting the modulated envelop signal into a control signal; an automatic gain adjuster for equalizing pulse height of the modulated envelop signal; a mixer for mixing the phase signal with the output of the automatic gain adjustor to produce a RF pulse train; a power amplifier for amplifying the RF pulse train, to generate an amplified RF pulse train; and a band pass filter for restoring the original input signal from the amplified RF pulse train. The output level of the power amplifier is controlled by the control signal. |
| US07884666B1 |
Method and apparatus for reducing interference
A method and apparatus is provided for reducing interference in circuits. A management strategy is provided to reduce reference spurs and interference in circuits. The management strategy uses a combination of one or more techniques which reduce the digital current, minimize mutual inductance, utilize field cancellation, prevent leakage current, and/or manage impedance. These techniques may be used alone, or preferably, used on combination with one another. |
| US07884662B1 |
Multi-channel integrator
A multi-channel integrator includes a first switch, a second switch, and a plurality of integration units. First terminals of the first and second switches receive a first reference voltage. Each of the integration units includes an operational amplifier (OP-AMP), a feedback switch, a third switch, a fourth switch, and a feedback capacitor. A second input terminal of the OP-AMP receives a second reference voltage. Two terminals of the feedback switch are respectively coupled to a first input terminal and an output terminal of the OP-AMP. First terminals of the third switch and the fourth switch are respectively coupled to the first input terminal and the output terminal of the OP-AMP. A first terminal of the feedback capacitor is coupled to the second terminals of the first and the third switches. A second terminal of the feedback capacitor is coupled to the second terminals of the second and the fourth switches. |
| US07884659B2 |
Phase mixer and delay locked loop including the same
A phase mixer includes a phase mixing unit configured to mix a phase of a first input signal and a phase of a second input signal in response to a phase control signal and output a phase mixed signal whose phase is varied by one or more units of a unit phase value, and a phase value adjusting unit configured to control an operation of the phrase mixing unit so that the unit phase value is adjusted in response to a code signal coding at least one of a process, voltage, or temperature (PVT) variation. |
| US07884657B2 |
Oscillation frequency control circuit
Provided is an oscillation frequency control circuit for correcting its frequency, keeping the oscillation frequency stable when self-oscillating, and oscillating with a control voltage generated by making a fixed voltage given from outside variable. In the oscillation frequency control circuit, a CPU selects/outputs the control voltage preferentially according to a command of a control voltage selection. If the command is not given and the level of an outside reference signal detected by a detecting circuit is within an adequate range, it turns a select switch on. If the command is not given and the level of the outside reference signal is out of the adequate range, it turns the select switch off and outputs information about pulse generation stored in a memory to a PWM circuit. |
| US07884655B2 |
Control circuitry
Control circuitry, comprising: first control means operable to generate a first control signal, the first control signal being indicative of a relationship between an output signal and a first reference signal, and to generate said output signal in dependence upon said first control signal, the first control means being configured to tend to maintain a first desired relationship between the output signal and the first reference signal in response to said first control signal; and second control means configured to influence operation of said first control means in response to said first control signal by way of a second control signal so as to tend to maintain a second desired relationship between said first control signal and a second reference signal. |
| US07884646B1 |
No stress level shifter
A voltage level shifting circuit may include a differential first-stage level shifter that receives a binary input signal and generates a non-inverted first-stage shifted output signal and an inverted first-stage shifted output signal, a second-stage level shifter that receives the first-stage shifted output signals and generates a non-inverted second-stage shifted output signal and an inverted second-stage shifted output signal, and a signal generator that generates a level shifted final output signal corresponding to the binary input signal that is based on the non-inverted second-stage shifted output signal and the inverted second-stage shifted output signal. The voltage swing of the first stage output signals may be limited to swing between a non-zero lower value and an upper value that is less than or equal to a source-to-drain voltage rating of transistors in the differential first-stage level shifter. |
| US07884645B2 |
Voltage level shifting circuit and method
In a particular embodiment, a method includes receiving an input voltage at an input to a level shifting circuit that includes voltage pull-up logic. The method includes providing an output signal from the level shifting circuit. The method also includes selectively activating the voltage pull-up logic circuit of the level shifting circuit. |
| US07884641B2 |
Setting operating mode of an interface using multiple protocols
This invention is an integrated circuit having at least one data pin connecting to external circuits. The invention includes a plurality of operational units each having at least one data input/output for data transfer and an enable input. The operational unit have a normal mode and a stall mode controlled by an enable input. The operational units can exchange data via the data input/output in normal mode and are not capable of exchanging data in the stall mode. A selection logic selectively enables an operation unit and connects the data input/output of the enabled operation unit to the at least one data pin. The selection logic is responsive to external signals on at least one data pin to selectively enable operation units. |
| US07884639B2 |
On-chip source termination in communication systems
An apparatus and system are provided to adjust an output voltage of an integrated circuit (IC) die. For instance, the apparatus can include an on-chip source termination and a bias generator. The bias generator can be configured to provide a source current to the on-chip source termination to adjust the output voltage. In particular, when adjusting the output voltage of the IC die, the bias generator can adjust the source current using a first current with a first adjustable current gain and a second current source with a second adjustable current gain. |
| US07884638B1 |
Techniques for providing calibrated on-chip termination impedance
An on-chip termination (OCT) calibration circuit includes one or more transistors coupled between a first terminal and a supply voltage, one or more transistors coupled between the first terminal and a low voltage, and a feedback loop circuit. The feedback loop circuit compares a signal from the first terminal to first and second reference signals to generate a first calibration code that controls conductive states of the one or more transistors coupled between the first terminal and the supply voltage and a second calibration code that controls conductive states of the one or more transistors coupled between the first terminal and the low voltage. The OCT calibration circuit controls an on-chip termination impedance at a pin using the first calibration code and the second calibration code. |
| US07884637B2 |
Calibration circuit and semiconductor memory device with the same
A calibration circuit is capable of correcting an error of a calibration operation by adjusting a calibration code generated thereby. The calibration circuit of a semiconductor memory device includes a code generator, a calibration resistor unit, and a variable resistor unit. The code generator is configured to generate a calibration code for determining a termination resistance in response to a voltage of a first node and a reference voltage. The calibration resistor unit, which has internal resistors turned on/off in response to the calibration code, is connected to the first node. The variable resistor unit is connected in parallel with the calibration resistor unit and has a resistance that varies with a setting value. |
| US07884636B2 |
Single event transient mitigation and measurement in integrated circuits
A method for single event transient filtering in an integrated circuit device is described. The device comprises three sequential elements, each having a data input and a data output with each of the three data outputs coupled to one of three inputs of a voting gate. The method comprises generating first and second nominally equivalent logic signals in first and second SET domains, converting the first and second nominally equivalent logic signals into first, second and third nominally equivalent data channels, and transmitting the first, second and third nominally equivalent data channels to the data inputs of the first, second and third sequential elements. |
| US07884635B2 |
Integrated circuit, system and method including a performance test mode
An integrated circuit includes N configurable cells each including one functional input, one output, one propagation input and one output. The circuit includes a functional mode in which the N configurable cells are coupled by their functional input and their output to logic blocks with which they cooperate to form at least one logic circuit. The disclosed circuit also includes a test mode in which the N configurable cells are coupled by their propagation input and their output to the logic blocks and in which the output of the Nth configurable cell is coupled to a functional input of the first logic block to form an oscillator. |
| US07884632B2 |
Semiconductor inspecting device
In a semiconductor inspecting device having a contact to be electrically connected to an electrode pad formed in a semiconductor device which is an object to be measured, and a substrate provided with the contact, the contact is provided obliquely to a main surface of the substrate. |
| US07884630B2 |
IC carrie, IC socket and method for testing IC device
An IC device (10) held on an IC carrier (24) is a double-sided electrode type BGA IC device (10) provided with bump electrodes (14) on a first surface of a package. The IC device has, on a second surface opposite the first surface, (a) a central protrusion (30), (b) a peripheral portion (32) lower than the protrusion by one step, and (c) upper electrodes (18) formed on the peripheral portion of the IC device. The IC carrier is provided with a frame (36), a cover (40), and a holding means (42). The frame forms a device reception space (38) for receiving the IC device. The cover can cover the upper electrodes while in contact with the periphery of the IC device held on the IC carrier. The holding means can hold the IC device on the IC carrier with the cover covering the upper electrodes of the IC device. The IC device can be set in an IC socket while being mounted on the IC carrier. |
| US07884629B2 |
Probe card layout
Multi-touchdown, parallel test probe cards having probe elements arranged to provide greater efficiency during testing of a substrate having a plurality of die thereon. Probe elements may be arranged in a number of configurations that allow for efficient usage of the probe elements. |
| US07884622B2 |
Method of adjusting moving position of transfer arm and position detecting jig
In the present invention, a position detecting substrate having a capacitive sensor is supported on a transfer arm and transferred by the transfer arm and mounted on a mounting part. The capacitive sensor on the position detecting substrate then detects a position of a target object on the mounting part to detect a mounting position of the position detecting substrate on the mounting part. Based on the mounting position of the position detecting substrate, the moving position of the transfer arm when transferring a substrate is then adjusted. |
| US07884621B2 |
Successive approximate capacitance measurement circuit
A capacitance measurement circuit includes a current source, a switch, and a comparator. The current source is coupled to drive a current through a circuit node. The switch is coupled to the circuit node to switch the current into a device under test (“DUT”) capacitor. The comparator includes first and second input ports. The comparator is coupled to compare a first voltage received on the first input port against a reference voltage received on the second input port. The first voltage is related to the current driven through the circuit node, a frequency at which the switch is switched, and a capacitance of the DUT capacitor. |
| US07884620B2 |
Sensor for measuring moisture and salinity
A sensor for measuring the moisture and salinity of a material is disclosed herein. The sensor preferably includes a soil moisture circuit, a soil salinity circuit and a probe structure. The soil moisture circuit includes a high frequency oscillator, a voltage meter and a reference capacitor. The soil salinity circuit includes a low frequency oscillator, a voltage meter and a reference resistor. A third voltage meter allows for voltage outputs to be measured to calculate soil moisture and soil salinity values. |
| US07884617B2 |
ESD detection circuit and related method thereof
An electro-static discharge (ESD) detection circuit is provided. The ESD detection circuit includes: a first power pad for receiving a first supply voltage; a second power pad for receiving a second supply voltage; an RC circuit having an impedance component coupled between the first power pad and a first terminal and having an capacitive component coupled between the first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the second terminal is not directly connected to the second supply voltage; a trigger circuit couples to the first power pad, the second power pad, and the RC circuit, for generating an ESD trigger signal according to a voltage level at the first terminal and a voltage level at the second terminal, and a bias circuit coupled between the first power pad and the second power pad for providing a bias voltage to the second terminal. |
| US07884614B2 |
Device of electrodes for measuring water content in foundry sand, an apparatus for measuring water content in foundry sand, and a method and an apparatus for supplying water to a sand mixer
This invention relates to a device of electrodes for measuring water content in foundry sand, an apparatus for measuring water content in foundry sand, and a method and an apparatus for supplying water to a sand mixer. When the prior art device for measuring water content in the foundry sand is disposed in it, the size or shape of the device of the electrodes is limited. To solve this problem, the device of the electrodes for measuring water content in the foundry sand by supplying an electric current to it is comprised of a plurality of conductive elements 2, 3 concentrically disposed with certain intervals between them in a longitudinal direction, wherein the elements form an annular shape, a retaining element 4 to retain the plurality of the conductive elements 2, 3, wherein the retaining element 4 has an electrical insulating property and a cylindrical shape having the same diameter as the conductive elements 2, 3, and the two conductive wires 5, 6 to connect alternate respective elements of the plurality of conductive elements 2, 3 so that the conductive elements 2, 3 form two poles, wherein the two conductive wires 5, 6 pass through the cavity in the retaining element 4. |
| US07884612B2 |
Multi-component field sources for subsea exploration
A multi-component field source for surveying subsea formations includes at least two electrodes having a direction of motion, wherein the at least two electrodes are configured to produce an electric dipole in an orientation that is not parallel to both the direction of motion of the electrodes and the seafloor. A method for logging subsea formations includes transmitting electromagnetic energy into the subsea formations with at least two electrodes having a direction of motion and configured to produce an electric dipole in an orientation that is not parallel to both the direction of motion of the electrodes and the seafloor; and receiving signals that comprise electromagnetic energy that has traversed the subsea formations. |
| US07884606B2 |
Cooling device for arrangement between two gradient coil windings of a gradient coil
In a cooling device for arrangement between two gradient coil windings of a gradient coil for dissipation of the heat (arising upon feeding current to the gradient coil windings) by means of a coolant flowing through one or more coolant channels in the cooling device, two films made of thermoplastic material are connected with one another, and are preformed in a thermal reshaping procedure to form coolant channel sections that are complementary to one another to form an inherently stable coolant channel after the connection. |
| US07884605B2 |
Shim support guide jig for magnetic field generation apparatus, magnetic field generation apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging equipment each including shim support in which magnetic material shims are arranged and adjusted by employing shim support guide jig, and magnetic field adjustment method for magnetic field generation apparatus, as well as magnetic field adjustment method for magnetic resonance imaging equipment
A shim support guide jig includes a shim support guide pipe in which a guide passage for guiding the movement of a shim support is formed. In a state where a superconducting magnet has generated a static magnetic field, the designated shim support can be drawn out from the internal space of the superconducting magnet through the guide passage, and the designated shim support for which magnetic material shims have been arranged and adjusted can be inserted into the internal space through the guide passage. A magnetic field generation apparatus has the magnetic material shims arranged and adjusted using the shim support guide jig, and a magnetic resonance imaging equipment employs the magnetic field generation apparatus. Magnetic field adjustment methods for the magnetic field generation apparatus and for the magnetic resonance imaging equipment are performed using the shim support guide jig. |
| US07884593B2 |
Differential and symmetrical current source
A controlled, symmetrical, stable current source that can power floating resistive loads, eliminates the need to connect the load directly to either a power supply or ground and protects the load against overpower should either or both sides of the load be shorted to ground. The current source includes two operational amplifiers for providing a current through the load that is proportional to an input voltage applied across the respective non-inverting inputs of the two operational amplifiers; two current sensing resistors for providing voltage drops that are proportional to the current through the load; and four summing resistors connected to the sensing resistors for providing to the inverting inputs of the operational amplifiers voltages that offset the sum of the voltage drops provided by the sensing resistors so that the current through the load is controlled by only the input voltage. |
| US07884589B2 |
Controllable power supply device with step-up function
A controllable power supply device with a step-up function including a constant voltage generator, a programmable voltage generator, a first switch and a linear regulator is provided. The constant voltage generator is used to provide an initial voltage. The programmable voltage generator is used to receive the initial voltage and adjust the received initial voltage to boost the initial voltage to a power supply voltage. The first connecting terminal of the first switch is used to receive the initial voltage, the second connecting terminal of the first switch is used to receive the power supply voltage, and the third connecting terminal of the first switch is coupled to one of the first connecting terminal and the second connecting terminal. Therefore, the voltage from the third connecting terminal of the first switch is stabilized and is outputted as the output voltage of the controllable power supply device by the linear regulator. |
| US07884586B2 |
Controlling a switching regulator mode determined by an ideal duty cycle for maintaining high efficiency for a wide input voltage range
This disclosure relates to a voltage regulator system where duty cycle value of an input voltage is measured, where the input voltage is supplied to a regulator circuit that provides a regulated output voltage. Based on a calculated ideal duty cycle, which is derived from the measure duty cycle, a determination is made as to whether the regular circuit operational mode is to be changed to achieve greater efficiency. |
| US07884585B2 |
Pre-biased circuit for synchronous rectified power converters
The present invention relates to voltage converters and especially to a control circuit with an input from the voltage converter output and arranged to control the voltage level on the voltage converter output. The problem addressed relates to the situation when there is a pre-bias voltage on the converter output at the moment it is switched on. The object of the control circuit is to increase the voltage on the converter output fast and avoiding any drain of voltage or current from the output at the start up sequence. This is performed by a comparator in the control circuit that is arranged to compare the reference voltage with a division of the output voltage and if the reference voltage is lower that the divided output voltage the reference voltage is increased at the comparator output. The comparator circuit includes an OP-amplifier. |
| US07884581B2 |
Active damping for synchronous generator torsional oscillations
A generator control unit (GCU) provides active damping of a synchronous generator by monitoring the speed of the synchronous generator and detecting oscillations in the monitored speed. The oscillations are indicative of torsional oscillations within the mechanical drivetrain including the synchronous generator or generators. In response to detected oscillations in the monitored speed, the GCU generates a varying set-point value that is used to control the excitation voltage provided to the synchronous generator. Varying the excitation voltage provided to the synchronous generator causes a variation in synchronous generator torque. By selectively varying the torque in the synchronous generator, the GCU provides active damping in the synchronous generator that decreases or dampens the torsional oscillations. |
| US07884578B2 |
Battery charging circuit with backflow prevention transistor, portable electronic device and semiconductor integrated circuit with backflow prevention transistor
A battery charging circuit is used by being connected to a direct-current power source. The battery charging circuit includes a control transistor, a backflow prevention transistor and a charging controller. The control transistor is disposed in a charging path between the direct-current power source and a battery, and is configured to control a direct-current voltage from the direct-current power source, and to output controlled direct-current voltage as a charging voltage. The backflow prevention transistor is disposed in the charging path, and is configured to output the charging voltage to the battery, and to be turned off when an electric current flows backward from the battery to the direct-current power source. The charging controller is configured to turn on the backflow prevention transistor when charging of the battery starts, and to turn on the control transistor after a fixed period of time elapses from a start of the charging. |
| US07884575B2 |
Wireless optical pointing apparatus using battery and method of detecting time for change/recharge of battery thereof
Provided are an apparatus using a battery and a method of detecting a time to change/recharge the battery in the apparatus. The apparatus includes: a battery for applying a battery voltage; a function unit for receiving the battery voltage to perform an intrinsic operation and cutting off the battery voltage; a voltage divider for dividing the battery voltage to generate a divided voltage; an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for receiving the battery voltage to convert the divided voltage into a digital voltage signal in response to a measurement control signal before and after a low-power mode is finished; and a controller for receiving the battery voltage to generate a low-power signal for entering the low-power mode, enabling the measurement control signal in response to the low-power signal before and after the low-power mode is finished, and informing a user of a time to change/recharge the battery by detecting the remaining power of the battery using the digital voltage signals generated before and after the low-power mode is finished. |
| US07884574B2 |
Hybrid vehicle and control method therefor
An HV-ECU executes refresh-discharging of a battery before the battery is charged from a commercial power source using an AC/DC converter. After the battery is refresh-discharged, the HV-ECU outputs a control signal to the AC/DC converter such that the battery is charged from the commercial power source by the drive of the AC/DC converter. |
| US07884571B2 |
Systems and methods for charging a chargeable USB device
Systems and methods are provided for charging a USB device. A USB connector may be used to couple the system to a USB port on the USB device, the USB connector including a bus voltage (Vbus) connector, a positive data (D+) connector, and a negative data (D−) connector. Charger circuitry may be used to receive a source voltage and convert the source voltage into the bus voltage (Vbus), wherein the bus voltage (Vbus) is used to charge the USB device. Presence detect circuitry may be used to compare a first voltage present on the D+ connector with a second voltage present on the D− connector in order to detect when the USB connector is coupled to the USB port of the USB device. |
| US07884570B2 |
Battery charger for portable devices and related methods
A battery charger may include a charger connector to be coupled to a corresponding device connector of a portable device including a rechargeable battery. The battery charger may also include a charging circuit connected to the charger connector, and a controller connected to the charger connector and the charging circuit. The controller may be for causing a portable device connected to the charger connector to identify its corresponding portable device type and its corresponding rechargeable battery type from among a plurality of different portable device types and different battery types, and for causing the charging circuit to charge the rechargeable battery based thereon. |
| US07884561B2 |
Method and apparatus for speed control selection in electronically commutated motor
This invention relates to a method of speed control selection for an electronically commutated motor comprising the following steps: (a) a motor controller receives an input signal T from a speed control selection circuit; (b) the motor controller retrieves a corresponding value for a motor running speed S from a comparison list correlating the input signal with the motor running speed, which list has been stored in the motor controller in advance, by searching the comparison list for the input signal T; and (c) the motor controller controlling a motor M to run at the motor running speed S, achieving the purpose of the speed selection. This method allows for from 2 to 256 speed choices with a single signal wire only. Such a circuit structure has the advantages of high integration, simple wiring, low cost, good performances, low failure rate, higher number of optional speeds, and simpler and more practical control. |
| US07884557B2 |
Protection circuit and method
A light source is protected by selectively coupling a shunt path in parallel with the light source, such that current is diverted away from the light source and through the shunt path. A detection circuit detects the current flowing in the shunt path when the shunt path is connected in parallel with the light source. A comparator determines whether the current flowing in the shunt path exceeds a predetermined threshold and, if so, prevents or limits the flow of current when the shunt path is disconnected from being in parallel with the light source. In this way, a current detector is provided for monitoring the flow of current in a shunt path, the current detector being configured to disable or limit the flow of current through a light source when a predetermined threshold is reached. This aspect of the invention has the advantage of enabling the current flowing through a light source to be controlled by monitoring the current in the shunt path rather than the path having the light source, thus enabling the maximum current to be controlled without potentially damaging the light source. |
| US07884553B2 |
Light-emitting diode illumination circuit, illumination device, and liquid crystal display apparatus
A light-emitting diode illumination circuit includes light-emitting diodes connected in series and compensating elements connected in parallel with the light-emitting diodes. Each of the compensating elements includes positive and negative terminals and at least one conductor having a predetermined melting point. The conductor melts in the event of open-circuit failure so that the terminals are connected. |
| US07884550B2 |
Arc tube composed of yttrium aluminum garnet ceramic material
A transparent sintered yttrium aluminum garnet ceramic material formed from a solid-state reaction of a mixture of yttrium oxide powder and aluminum oxide powder during sintering. The ceramic material preferably has an in-line transmission of greater than 75% so it may used to fabricate arc tubes for high intensity discharge lamps used in automotive headlamps. |
| US07884549B2 |
Gas-discharge lamp
A gas-discharge lamp (1) is described having an inner envelope (2) comprising a discharge vessel (3) and two tubular sections (6, 7) arranged on the discharge vessel, having two electrodes (4, 5) that project from the tubular sections (6, 7) into the discharge vessel (3) and that, to enable them to be supplied with power, are electrically connected to respective electrical conductors (10, 11) that extend through the associated tubular sections (6, 7) and that are enclosed in the tubular sections (6, 7) with a gastight seal along a sealing section (8, 9). The lamp (1) has an outer envelope (18) that is connected at each of its ends to respective ones of the tubular sections (6, 7) of the inner envelope (2) and that surrounds the discharge vessel (3) while leaving an outer cavity (20) between itself (18) and the discharge vessel (3). Arranged on the outside of the inner envelope (2), at least in a region or regions, is a conductive coating (22, 23) that is conductively connected, inside the outer envelope (18), to one (11) of the electrical conductors. Also described is a corresponding method of producing a gas-discharge lamp (1). |
| US07884546B2 |
Electrodeless discharge lamp apparatus and lighting fixture with the electrodeless discharge lamp apparatus
An electrodeless discharge lamp apparatus is provided which is increased in heat dissipation, making it possible to adapt to an increase in output of the apparatus. The electrodeless discharge lamp apparatus comprises a bulb containing a discharge gas and a coupler accommodated in a cavity formed in the bulb for generating a high frequency electromagnetic field. The coupler has: an induction coil; a core inserted into the coil; a heat conductor for conducting heat generated from the coil and the core; and a bobbin made of resin which accommodates the core and the heat conductor therein, and which has the coil wound therearound. The bobbin is designed to be separated in a radial direction of the coil, so that it is possible to separately mold the respective parts of the bobbin. Thus, it is not necessary to form, in the bobbin, a draft angle which has been necessary in the prior art when molding a tubular-shaped bobbin, and it is possible to make the thickness of the bobbin thin and uniform, so that the proportion of the bobbin in the volume of the cavity can be reduced to increase the proportion of the heat conductor. |
| US07884543B2 |
Method of forming wiring of light emitting device, substrate for mounting light emitting device, display, back light, illuminating apparatus and electronic appliance
A method of forming a wiring of a light emitting device having an electrode on a light emission surface is disclosed. The method includes: forming the electrode nearly in a linear shape in which the width is narrower than the light emission surface; and forming a wiring that is connected to the electrode nearly in a linear shape in which the width is narrower than the light emission surface to cross the electrode. |
| US07884541B2 |
Organic electroluminescent apparatus and electronic apparatus
An organic electroluminescent apparatus includes a plurality of light-emitting elements each having an organic layer held between a pixel electrode and a counter electrode, and a partition pattern with which the organic layers of the individual light-emitting elements are defined. The partition pattern has a plurality of openings in which the organic layers are respectively provided, the plurality of openings including first openings provided in a peripheral region of a element area, in which the light-emitting elements are arranged, and second openings provided in a region closer to the center of the element area than the region where the first openings are provided. The first openings have larger planar dimensions than those of the second openings. |
| US07884540B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display with flexible conductive film
An organic light emitting diode display includes a display panel having a display area with a plurality of thin film transistors and a peripheral area provided along a circumference of the display area, an emission layer formed within the display area, a driver formed in the peripheral area which applies display signals including gate signals and data signals to the thin film transistors, a driving voltage pad formed in the peripheral area which applies a driving voltage to the display area, a common voltage pad formed in the peripheral area which applies a common voltage to the display area, a main connector connected to an external voltage source, and a flexible conductive film including a conductive layer electrically connecting between at least one of the driving voltage pad and the common voltage pad and the main connector. The organic light emitting diode display facilitates modulation due to a simple structure, and improves a voltage drop phenomenon. |
| US07884536B2 |
Light emission device and display having the light emission device
A light emission device and a display having the light emission device are provided. The light emission device includes a light emission panel for emitting light, a diffuser plate facing the light emission panel to diffuse the light emitted from the light emission panel, and a heat dissipation plate disposed between the light emission panel and the diffuser plate. |
| US07884535B2 |
Low-pressure gas discharge lamp comprising a UV-B phosphor
A low-pressure gas discharge lamp includes a gas discharge vessel having a gas filling with a discharge-maintaining composition. At least part of a wall of the discharge vessel is provided with a luminescent material including a first UV-B phosphor containing, in a host lattice, gadolinium(III) as an activator and praseodymium(III) as a sensitizer. |
| US07884531B2 |
Piezoelectric thin film device
A piezoelectric thin film device according to the present invention comprises a lower electrode, a piezoelectric thin film and a upper electrode, in which the piezoelectric thin film is formed of an alkali niobium oxide-based perovskite material expressed by (K1-xNax)NbO3 (0 |
| US07884529B2 |
Diaphragm membrane and supporting structure responsive to environmental conditions
An acoustic transducer is disclosed that is capable of converting mechanical motion into acoustical energy may include a diaphragm and a support on one portion of the diaphragm. An actuator may then be provided that is operatively coupled to a second portion of the diaphragm. The support and actuator may be configured to be environmentally responsive to surrounding conditions of, e.g., heat and/or humidity which may then substantially maintain the diaphragm's acoustic performance. |
| US07884528B2 |
Driving apparatus
A driving apparatus has a piezoelectric element as a driver. The driving apparatus includes a first vibrator which generates an elliptical vibration when a voltage of a predetermined frequency is applied; a first member which holds the first vibrator; a second member which includes a first sliding member to which the first vibrator is pressed and makes a relative displacement with respect to the first member by being driven by the elliptical vibration of the first vibrator; and a first resonance preventive member which is provided to the second member and prevents a resonance in the second member from being generated by the elliptical vibration of the first vibrator. |
| US07884526B2 |
Driving apparatus
A driving apparatus (100j) is provided with: a base portion (110); a stage portion (130) on which a driven object (12) is mounted and which can be displaced; an elastic portion (120) which connects the base portion and the stage portion and which has elasticity to displace the stage portion in one direction (Y axis); a first applying device (161, 162, 22) for applying an excitation force for displacing the stage portion such that the stage portion is resonated in the one direction at a resonance frequency determined by the stage portion and the elastic portion; and a frequency adjusting device (170) for dynamically adjusting the resonance frequency. |
| US07884516B2 |
Motor
A motor may include a rotor provided with a rotor shaft, a cylindrical bearing made of resin material and provided with a bearing part for rotatably supporting a shaft end of the rotor shaft, and a bearing holder provided with a through-hole into which the cylindrical bearing is inserted. The cylindrical bearing is slidably held in the through-hole and at least one of a first end face where the bearing part is formed and a second end face which is an opposite end face to the first end face is formed with a ring-shaped groove. Therefore, a wall thickness of resin for forming the bearing can be made thinner and thus shrinkage of the side wall part of the bearing which faces an inner peripheral face of the through-hole of the bearing holder is reduced. |
| US07884514B2 |
Stator for a multiphase electric motor
In a method for winding the stator of a multiphase electric motor a plurality of mutually spaced stator teeth are assigned to each phase, wherein all the teeth of the stator are wound without a break in the winding wire, and wherein the winding wire is taken via a contact-making element of a contact-making device before or after the winding of all the stator teeth assigned to a phase. |
| US07884511B2 |
Motor-type power device
Due to a centrifugal force in a vehicle width direction due to turning of an automobile, oil in an electric motor housing chamber housing an electric motor and oil in a transmission housing chamber housing a reduction gear and a differential gear flows to-and-fro via oil communication passages that penetrate a partitioning wall. An opening on the transmission housing chamber side of the oil communication passages is spaced from the partitioning wall. Hence, when oil moves from the transmission housing chamber side to the electric motor housing chamber side, it is possible to prevent the oil quantity on the electric motor housing chamber side from increasing excessively and suppress an increase in resistance to oil stirring by a rotor of the electric motor while retaining a constant oil amount on the transmission housing chamber side to ensure lubricating performance for the reduction gear and the differential gear. |
| US07884508B2 |
Linear motor
A linear motor comprising a stator core and/or a mover. The stator core of said linear motor comprising an inner perimeter, an outer perimeter essentially encircling the inner perimeter, a first and a second tooth being arranged along one of the inner perimeter or the outer perimeter, a slot for receiving a stator coil, said slot being a cavity arranged within the stator core, wherein said stator core is divided into a first stator part and a second stator part, said first stator part including the first tooth, being arranged to partially define the slot, and being made of soft magnetic powder, and said second stator part including the second tooth, being arranged to partially define the slot, and being made of soft magnetic powder. The mover of said linear motor comprising at least one section of soft magnetic material and at least one permanent magnet, the at least one section of soft magnetic material and the at least one permanent magnet being aligned in an axial direction of the mover, wherein a polarization vector of said at least one permanent magnet is directed axially. |
| US07884505B2 |
Dry-type high-voltage load system apparatus and method of preventing chain breaking and arc discharge for use therewith
A dry-type high-voltage load system apparatus has a space-saving structure, which is resistant to chain breaking, arc discharge and vibration, and a method of preventing the chain breaking and the arc discharge for use with the system apparatus. The system apparatus includes a dry-type high-voltage load system circuit including a low-voltage bank formed of lower-capacity configuration banks which include three-phase resistor circuits which are low-voltage resistor circuit. A high-voltage bank includes lower-capacity configuration banks for a high-voltage resistor circuit formed of three-phase resistor circuits. The three-phase resistor circuits are connected to a high-voltage power generator in parallel and arein the form of a Y-connection of three resistor arrays so that an isolated and independent neutral point is unconnected to other neutral points. The three phase resistor circuits may also be in the form of a Δ-connection. |
| US07884501B2 |
Method for automatic operating voltage detection
A method for automatic operating voltage detection, in which one internal supply voltage (vdd) is selected from at least two different external supply voltages, with a first external voltage supply (VDDA) being applied permanently, is based on the object of reducing the circuit complexity for automatic operating voltage detection, the operating current caused by the selection arrangement and the required chip area, in which case the voltage ratios between the two different external supply voltages can be as required. This object is achieved in that a reference voltage (Vref) and a voltage (VDDreg) is produced from the first external supply voltage (VDDA), the reference voltage (Vref) is compared with a second external supply voltage (VDDIO), and either the voltage (VDDreg) produced from the first external supply voltage (VDDA) or the second external supply voltage (VDDIO) is released as an internal supply voltage (vdd), depending on the comparison. |
| US07884496B2 |
Large power multi-outputs power supply structure having relatively high efficiency in load range and controlling method thereof
The configurations of a switched-mode power supply and a controlling method thereof are provided. The proposed switched-mode power supply includes a first output converter receiving a DC input voltage and generating a first high power DC voltage output and at least one low power DC voltage output, and a second output converter receiving the DC input voltage and generating a second high power DC voltage output coupled to the first high power DC voltage output to generate a coupled output, wherein the first output converter works and the second output converter idles when a transient power of the coupled output is not larger than a rated output power of the first high power DC voltage output, and both the first and the second output converters work when the transient power is larger than the rated output power. |
| US07884495B2 |
Method and apparatus for hot swap of line replaceable modules for AC and DC electric power systems
A method and an apparatus are used in hot swap of AC or DC line replaceable modules (40A). The apparatus according to one embodiment comprises a pin assembly (183), the pin assembly (183) being connectable to a module (40A) and connectable to a backplane (104), the pin assembly (183) resistively reducing a current associated with the module (40A) during disconnection of the module (40A) from the backplane (104), and presenting a high resistance to the module (40A) during connection of the module (40A) to the backplane (104), and a low resistance to the module (40A) at completion of the connection of the module (40A) to the backplane (104); and a hot swap detector (134) connectable to the pin assembly (183), the hot swap detector (134) detecting the disconnection of the module (40A) from the backplane (104), and detecting the connection of the module (40A) to the backplane (104). |
| US07884492B2 |
Methods and systems for wind turbine generators
Methods and systems for reducing heat loss in a generator system are provided. The generator system includes an electrical generator and a power converter. The method includes generating electricity in the generator at a first power factor and converting electricity in the converter at a second power factor in a first mode of operation and generating electricity in the generator at a third power factor wherein the third power factor is greater than the first power factor and converting electricity in the converter at a fourth power factor wherein the fourth power factor is less than the second power factor in a second mode of operation such that the power output of the generator system in the second mode of operation is substantially equal to the power output of the generator system in the first mode of operation and the generator currents are facilitated being reduced. |
| US07884489B1 |
Press-fit integrated circuit package involving compressed spring contact beams
An insulative substrate includes a plurality of flexible retaining clips and a plurality of alignment and retaining pins. A metal leadframe includes a plurality of leads. Each lead terminates in a spring contact beam portion. The leadframe is attached to the substrate (for example, by fitting a hole in each lead over a corresponding alignment and retaining pin and then thermally deforming the pin to hold the lead in place). An integrated circuit is press-fit down through the retaining clips such that pads on the face side of the integrated circuit contact and compress the spring contact beams of the leads. After the press-fit step, the retaining clips hold the integrated circuit in place. The resulting assembly is encapsulated. In a cutting and bending step, the leads are singulated and formed to have a desired shape. The resulting low-cost package involves no wire-bonding and no flip-chip bond bump forming steps. |
| US07884487B2 |
Rotation joint and semiconductor device having the same
Provided are a rotation joint capable of compensating for a mismatch due to thermal expansion and a semiconductor device having the same. The rotation joint can include a support member and a first contact member coupled to a first portion of the support member such that a surface of the first contact member is moveable relative to a surface of the support member adjacent to the first contact member. The first contact member can include solder material. |
| US07884485B1 |
Semiconductor device interconnect systems and methods
Systems and methods are disclosed for forming interconnects between semiconductor devices in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. For example, a method of forming interconnects between semiconductor devices includes depositing a plurality of first contacts on a plurality of corresponding first pads of a first semiconductor device; forming a plurality of plated contacts on a plurality of corresponding second pads of a second semiconductor device; aligning the plurality of first contacts with the plurality of plated contacts; and joining the plurality of first contacts to the plurality of plated contacts to form the interconnects between the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device. |
| US07884484B2 |
Wiring board and method of manufacturing the same
A wiring board includes an insulating layer in which a semiconductor chip is embedded, and a wiring structure connected to the semiconductor chip. A reinforcing member reinforcing the insulating layer is embedded in the insulating layer. This enables reduction in a thickness of the wiring board and a suppression of warpage of the wiring board. |
| US07884481B2 |
Semiconductor chip package and method for designing the same
A semiconductor chip package is disclosed. The semiconductor chip package comprises a package substrate having a bottom surface. At least four adjacent ball pads are on the bottom surface, arranged in a first two-row array along a first direction and a second direction. At least four vias are drilled through the package substrate, arranged in a second two-row array, wherein each of the vias in a row of the second two-row array is offset by a first distance along the first direction and a second distance along the second direction from the connecting ball pads in a row of the first two-row array, and each of the vias in the other adjacent row of the second two-row array is offset by the first distance along an opposite direction to the first direction and the second distance along the second direction from the connecting ball pads in the other adjacent row of the first two-row array. |
| US07884475B2 |
Conductor structure including manganese oxide capping layer
A microelectronic structure includes a dielectric layer located over a substrate. The dielectric layer is separated from a copper containing conductor layer by an oxidation barrier layer. The microelectronic structure also includes a manganese oxide layer located aligned upon a portion of the copper containing conductor layer not adjoining the oxidation barrier layer. A method for fabricating the microelectronic structure includes sequentially forming and sequentially planarizing within an aperture within a dielectric layer an oxidation barrier layer, a manganese containing layer (or alternatively a mobile and oxidizable material layer) and finally, a planarized copper containing conductor layer (or alternatively a base material layer comprising a material less mobile and oxidizable than the mobile and oxidizable material layer) to completely fill the aperture. The manganese layer and the planarized copper containing conductor layer are then thermally oxidized to form a manganese oxide layer self aligned to a portion of the copper containing conductor layer not adjoining the oxidation barrier layer. |
| US07884474B2 |
Method for fabricating semiconductor device and semiconductor device
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having an air-gapped multilayer interconnect wiring structure is disclosed. After having formed a first thin film on or above a substrate, define a first opening in the first thin film. Then, deposit a conductive material in the first opening. Then form a second thin film made of a porous material above the first thin film with the conductive material being deposited in the first opening. Next, define in the second thin film a second opening extending therethrough, followed by deposition of a conductive material in the second opening. The first thin film is removed through voids in the second thin film after having deposited the conductive material in the second opening. An integrated semiconductor device as manufactured thereby is also disclosed. |
| US07884472B2 |
Semiconductor package having substrate ID code and its fabricating method
A semiconductor package with a substrate ID code and its manufacturing method are revealed. A circuit and a solder mask are formed on the bottom surface of a substrate where the solder mask covers most of the circuit and a circuit-free zone of the substrate. A chip is disposed on the top surface of the substrate. A substrate ID code consisting of a plurality of laser marks is inscribed in the solder mask or in a portion of an encapsulant on the bottom surface away from the circuit to show the substrate lot number on the bottom surface. Therefore, quality control and failure tracking and management can easily be implemented by tracking the substrate ID code from the semiconductor package without changing the appearance of the semiconductor package. Furthermore, the substrate ID code can be implemented by the existing laser imprinting machines for semiconductor packaging processes and be formed at the same time of formation of a product code. The complexity of the semiconductor packaging processes is not increased and the circuits of the substrates are not easily damaged. |
| US07884471B2 |
Solder bump and related intermediate structure having primary and secondary portions and method of manufacturing same
Disclosed herein are intermediate and solder bump structures. In one embodiment, a structure comprises a primary solder column comprising primary solder material and configured to electrically contact a bonding pad on a semiconductor substrate. The structure also comprises at least one secondary solder column comprising secondary solder material in electrical contact with the primary solder column, the at least one secondary column having a height and volume less than a height and volume of the primary solder column. In such structures, the primary solder column is further configured to form a primary solder bump comprising the primary solder material and at least a portion of the secondary solder material through cohesion from the at least one secondary solder column when the intermediate structure undergoes a reflow process. |
| US07884469B2 |
Semiconductor package having a bridged plate interconnection
A semiconductor package is disclosed. The package includes a leadframe having drain, source and gate leads, and a semiconductor die coupled to the leadframe, the semiconductor die having a plurality of metallized source contacts. A bridged source plate interconnection has a bridge portion, valley portions disposed on either side of the bridge portion, plane portions disposed on either side of the valley portions and the bridge portion, and a connection portion depending from one of the plane portions, the bridged source plate interconnection connecting the source lead with the plurality of metallized source contacts. The bridge portion is disposed in a plane above the plane of the valley portions while the plane portions are disposed in a plane intermediate the plane of the bridge portion and the plane of the valley portions. |
| US07884468B2 |
Cooling systems for power semiconductor devices
A cooling device is provided for liquid cooling a power semiconductor device. The device includes a coolant diverter for guiding liquid coolant to the power semiconductor device. The coolant diverter has a first plate for dividing the coolant diverter into a first cavity and a second cavity. The second cavity positioned adjacent the power semiconductor device. The first plate further includes an opening to fluidly couple the first cavity with the second cavity such that the liquid coolant flows into the first cavity, through the opening in the first plate, and into the second cavity to cool the power semiconductor device. The first cavity has a cross-sectional area that generally decreases in a downstream direction, and the second cavity has a cross-sectional area that generally increases in the downstream direction. |
| US07884466B2 |
Semiconductor device with double-sided electrode structure and its manufacturing method
According to the present invention, a recess portion is formed in a package substrate which is formed of a multilayer organic substrate having a multilayer wiring, and an LSI chip is accommodated within the recess portion. Wiring traces are formed on the upper surface of a resin which seals the LSI chip connected to the multilayer wiring. The wiring traces are connected to terminal wiring traces connected to the multilayer wiring on the front face of the package substrate and to front-face bump electrodes for external connection on the upper surface of the resin. On the back face side of the package substrate, back-face bump electrodes for external connection are formed and connected to the multilayer wiring. |
| US07884464B2 |
3D electronic packaging structure having a conductive support substrate
The present invention provides a 3D electronic packaging unit having a conductive supporting substrate that can achieve multi-chip stacking through the signal contacts on the both sides of the unit. The packaging unit can be batched manufactured on wafers or substrates, and thus reduce the manufacturing cost of each individual packaging unit; moreover, the conductive supporting substrate can be utilized to provide signal transmission of the electronic elements, and the supporting substrate can be used as a ground terminal for the carried electronic elements to enhance electric performance of the electronic elements. The supporting substrate is also a good thermal conductor that can release effectively heat energy generated by the electronic elements and accumulated inside the package to the outside of the package along the substrate to enhance reliability of the packaging structure. |
| US07884463B2 |
Wiring board, semiconductor device and semiconductor element
On a semiconductor element loading face, wiring patterns are drawn out from those formed in the vicinity of the edge of the semiconductor element of the loading pads formed to correspond to the electrode terminals of the semiconductor element, and connected to via pads formed in the vicinity of the edge of the semiconductor element loading face; area pads constructed of the loading pads corresponding to the electrode terminals formed in the central region of the semiconductor element and its vicinity are electrically connected to external connecting terminal pads formed in the central region on the other side of the wiring board and its vicinity, through the nearest area pad vias encircled by the external connecting terminal pads and passing through the wiring board and the wiring patterns; and a plurality of the loading pads constituting the area pads commonly use one of the area pad vias. |
| US07884462B2 |
Insulation covering structure for a semiconductor element with a single die dimension and a manufacturing method thereof
An insulation covering structure for a semiconductor element with a single die dimension includes: a semiconductor element with a single die dimension and an insulation covering layer. The semiconductor element has a front side surface, a rear side surface, a left side surface, a right side surface, a bottom surface, and a top surface. The top surface of the semiconductor element has two metal pads. The insulation covering layer covers the front side surface, the rear side surface, the left side surface, the right side surface, and the bottom surface of the semiconductor element. A manufacturing process for covering the semiconductor element with a single die dimension is also disclosed. |
| US07884459B2 |
Semiconductor device suitable for a stacked structure
A semiconductor device is provided that forms a three-dimensional semiconductor device having semiconductor devices stacked on one another. In this semiconductor device, a hole is formed in a silicon semiconductor substrate that has an integrated circuit unit and an electrode pad formed on a principal surface on the outer side. The hole is formed by etching, with the electrode pad serving as an etching stopper layer. An embedded electrode is formed in the hole. This embedded electrode serves to electrically lead the electrode pad to the principal surface on the bottom side of the silicon semiconductor substrate. |
| US07884457B2 |
Integrated circuit package system with dual side connection
An integrated circuit package system comprising: connecting an integrated circuit die with a bottom connection structure; placing an adhesive encapsulation over the integrated circuit die and the bottom connection structure with the bottom connection structure exposed; and placing a top connection structure over the adhesive encapsulation at an opposing side to the bottom connection structure. |
| US07884456B2 |
Semiconductor device has encapsulant with chamfer such that portion of substrate and chamfer are exposed from encapsulant and remaining portion of surface of substrate is covered by encapsulant
A semiconductor device and a fabrication method thereof are provided. An opening having at least one slanted side is formed on a substrate. At least one chip and at least one passive component are mounted on the substrate. An encapsulant having a cutaway corner is formed on the substrate to encapsulate the chip and the passive component, wherein the cutaway corner of the encapsulant is spaced apart from the slanted side of the opening by a predetermined distance. A singulation process is performed to cut the encapsulant to form a package with a chamfer. The package is embedded in a lid to form the semiconductor device, wherein a portion of the substrate located between the slanted side of the opening and the cutaway corner of the encapsulant is exposed from the encapsulant to form an exposed portion. The present invention also provides a carrier for the semiconductor device. |
| US07884455B2 |
Semiconductor device
A power module includes: an encapsulation-target portion having at least one semiconductor element; and an encapsulation member that has first and second planes between which the encapsulation-target portion is interposed, and that encapsulates the encapsulation-target portion. The encapsulation member has, on the at least one semiconductor element, at least one opening that exposes part of a surface of the encapsulation-target portion the surface being on a side of the first plane. Thus, a semiconductor device of which size can be reduced can be provided. |
| US07884454B2 |
Use of discrete conductive layer in semiconductor device to re-route bonding wires for semiconductor device package
A semiconductor package assembly may include a lead frame having a die bonding pad and plurality of leads coupled to the first die bonding pad. A vertical semiconductor device may be bonded to the die bonding pad. The device may have a conductive pad electrically connected to one lead through a first bond wire. An electrically isolated conductive trace may be formed from a layer of conductive material of the first semiconductor device. The conductive trace provides an electrically conductive path between the first bond wire and a second bond wire. The conductive path may either pass underneath a third bond wire thereby avoiding the third bond wire crossing another bond wire, or the conductive path may result in a reduced length for the first and second bond wires that is less than a predetermined maximum length. |
| US07884453B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device including a semiconductor chip encapsulated by an encapsulation resin and a manufacturing method thereof, and an object of the invention is to provide the semiconductor chip and its manufacturing method in which the reduction in size may be attempted. It includes a semiconductor chip 15, an external connection terminal pad 18 electrically connected to the semiconductor chip 15, and an encapsulation resin 16 encapsulating the semiconductor chip 15, wherein a wiring pattern 12 on which the external connection terminal pad 18 is formed is provided between the semiconductor chip 15 and the external connection terminal pad 18, and the semiconductor chip 15 is flip-chip bonded to the wiring pattern 12. |
| US07884448B2 |
High performance 3D FET structures, and methods for forming the same using preferential crystallographic etching
The present invention relates to high performance three-dimensional (3D) field effect transistors (FETs). Specifically, a 3D semiconductor structure having a bottom surface oriented along one of a first set of equivalent crystal planes and multiple additional surfaces oriented along a second, different set of equivalent crystal planes can be used to form a high performance 3D FET with carrier channels oriented along the second, different set of equivalent crystal planes. More importantly, such a 3D semiconductor structure can be readily formed over the same substrate with an additional 3D semiconductor structure having a bottom surface and multiple additional surfaces all oriented along the first set of equivalent crystal planes. The additional 3D semiconductor structure can be used to form an additional 3D FET, which is complementary to the above-described 3D FET and has carrier channels oriented along the first set of equivalent crystal planes. |
| US07884444B2 |
Semiconductor device including a transformer on chip
This application relates to a semiconductor device comprising a first chip comprising a first electrode on a first face of the first chip, and a second chip attached to the first electrode, wherein the second chip comprises a transformer comprising a first winding and a second winding. |
| US07884439B2 |
Silicon-based visible and near-infrared optoelectric devices
In one aspect, the present invention provides a silicon photodetector having a surface layer that is doped with sulfur inclusions with an average concentration in a range of about 0.5 atom percent to about 1.5 atom percent. The surface layer forms a diode junction with an underlying portion of the substrate. A plurality of electrical contacts allow application of a reverse bias voltage to the junction in order to facilitate generation of an electrical signal, e.g., a photocurrent, in response to irradiation of the surface layer. The photodetector exhibits a responsivity greater than about 1 A/W for incident wavelengths in a range of about 250 nm to about 1050 nm, and a responsivity greater than about 0.1 A/W for longer wavelengths, e.g., up to about 3.5 microns. |
| US07884437B2 |
Semiconductor device and electronic apparatus using the same
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate having an imaging region in which a plurality of photoreceptors are arranged, and a peripheral circuit region arranged around the imaging region; a plurality of microlenses formed on the imaging region; a low-refractive-index film formed on the semiconductor substrate to cover the plurality of microlenses and part of the peripheral circuit region; and a transparent substrate formed on part of the low-refractive-index film above the imaging region. A through hole is formed in part of the low-refractive-index film above an amplifier circuit arranged in the peripheral circuit region. |
| US07884435B2 |
Pattern mask for forming microlens, image sensor and fabricating method thereof
A pattern mask for forming a microlens includes mask pattern parts alternately arranged and corresponding to pixel regions in a matrix, wherein neighboring corners of the mask pattern parts overlap with each other. |
| US07884433B2 |
High density spin-transfer torque MRAM process
A STT-MRAM integration scheme is disclosed wherein the connection between a MTJ and CMOS metal is simplified by forming an intermediate via contact (VAC) on a CMOS landing pad, a metal (VAM) pad that contacts and covers the VAC, and a MTJ on the VAM. A dual damascene process is performed to connect BIT line metal to CMOS landing pads through VAC/VAM/MTJ stacks in a device region, and to connect BIT line connection pads to CMOS connection pads through BIT connection vias outside the device region. The VAM pad is a single layer or composite made of Ta, TaN, or other conductors which serves as a diffusion barrier, has a highly smooth surface for MTJ formation, and provides excellent selectivity with refill dielectric materials during a chemical mechanical polish process. Each VAC is from 500 to 3000 Angstroms thick to minimize additional circuit resistance and minimize etch burden. |
| US07884431B2 |
MEMS device having a movable electrode
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device includes a semiconductor substrate, a MEMS including a fixed electrode and a movable electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate through an insulating layer, and a well formed in the semiconductor substrate below the fixed electrode. The well is one of an n-type well and a p-type well. The p-type well applies a positive voltage to the fixed electrode while the n-type well applies a negative voltage to the fixed electrode. |
| US07884430B2 |
Isolated metal plug process for use in fabricating carbon nanotube memory cells
The present invention is directed to structures and methods of fabricating electromechanical memory cells having nanotube crossbar elements. Such memory cells include a substrate having transistor with a contact that electrically contacts with the transistor. A first support layer is formed over the substrate with an opening that defines a lower chamber above the electrical contact. A nanotube crossbar element is arranged to span the lower chamber. A second support layer is formed with an opening that defines a top chamber above the lower chamber, the top chamber including an extension region that extends beyond an edge of the lower chamber to expose a portion of the top surface of the first support layer. A roof layer covers the top of the top chamber and includes an aperture that exposes a portion of the extension region of the top chamber and includes a plug that extends into the aperture in the roof layer to seal the top and bottom chambers. The memory cell further includes an electrode that overlies the crossbar element such that electrical signals can activate the electrode to attract or repel the crossbar element to set a memory state for the transistor. |
| US07884426B2 |
Layout design method of semiconductor integrated circuit having well supplied with potential different from substrate potential
Design time (TAT) is reduced in a layout design of a semiconductor integrated circuit having a well supplied with a potential different from a substrate potential. A layout design method of the present invention includes preparing a first cell pattern placed on a semiconductor substrate of a first conductive type, preparing a second cell pattern having a deep well of a second conductive type, placing the first cell pattern in a first circuit region, and placing the second cell pattern in a second region different from the first circuit region. This reduces TAT in chip design. |
| US07884424B2 |
Structure of MTCMOS cell
An architecture of the layout of the MTCMOS standard cell designed for low power consumption is supplemented so that the pick-up cells are included in the power line of the MTCMOS cell. Therefore, when the logic circuit is constructed using the library layout of the MTCMOS cell in which the related pick-up cells are not included, pick-up cells consisting of only the ends of the pick-up cells are not needed every 50 μm during the placement of the MTCMOS standard cell. The flexibility of the cell placement may thereby be improved. In addition, since additional space for the pick-up cells is not required, the size of the MTCMOS may be reduced, saving space on the semiconductor substrate. |
| US07884423B2 |
Semiconductor device and fabrication method thereof
CMISFETs having a symmetrical flat band voltage, the same gate electrode material, and a high permittivity dielectric layer is provided for a semiconductor device including n-MISFETs and p-MISFETs, and a fabrication method thereof, the n-MISFETs including: a first metal oxide layer 20, placed on the 1st gate insulating film 16, having a composition ratio shown with M1xM2yO (where M1=Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Th, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb or Lu, M2=Hf, Zr or Ta, and x/(x+y)>0.12); a second metal oxide layer 24; and a second metal oxide layer 24, the p-MISFETs including: a second gate insulating film 18 placed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate 10; a third metal oxide layer 22, placed on the 2nd gate insulating film 18, having a composition ratio shown with M3zM4wO (M3=Al, M4=Hf, Zr or Ta, and z/(z+w)>0.14); a fourth metal oxide layer 26; and a second conductive layer 30 placed on the fourth metal oxide layer 26. |
| US07884420B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the present invention has a transistor section which includes a trench gate type transistor, and a gate line section which includes a part provided between transistor sections. The device includes a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, a base layer formed in the semiconductor layer, and provided with trenches in the transistor section and the gate line section, the trenches in the transistor section extending in a first direction parallel to a direction in which the transistor extends, the trenches in the bit line section extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the trenches in the transistor section penetrating the base layer to reach the semiconductor layer, a source layer formed in the semiconductor layer in the transistor section, the source layer being located on the base layer, a gate insulator formed on surfaces of the base layer and the semiconductor layer exposed to the trenches in the transistor section and the gate line section, and on an upper surface of the base layer between the trenches in the gate line section, a gate line layer formed on the gate insulator, and including a part buried in the trenches in the transistor section, an inter layer dielectric formed on the gate line layer, and a source line layer formed on the inter layer dielectric, and electrically connected to the source layer in the transistor section. |
| US07884419B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a first conductive well region in a semiconductor substrate and a second conductive well region on or in the first conductive well region. A gate electrode is in a trench on a gate insulation layer, and the trench is in the second conductive region and the first conductive well region. A drain includes a drain insulation layer, a (polysilicon) shield layer, and drain plug. The drain insulation layer is in a trench in the second conductive region and the first conductive well region. The shield layer encloses the drain plug. A lower portion of the drain plug contacts the second conductive well region. A first conductive source region is at a side of the gate electrode. |
| US07884418B2 |
Semiconductor device and transistor
A semiconductor device includes active areas which are insulatedly separated from each other by element-separation insulating films; a gate insulating film formed on each active area; a gate electrode which extends across the active area via the gate insulating film; a source area and a drain area formed in the active area so as to interpose the gate electrode; and a fin-channel structure in which at the intersection between the active area and the gate electrode, trenches are provided at both sides of the active area, and part of the gate electrode is embedded in each trench via the gate insulating film, so that the gate electrode extends across a fin which rises between the trenches. In the gate insulating film, the film thickness of a part which contacts the bottom surface of each trench is larger than that of a part which contacts the upper surface of the fin. |
| US07884414B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of fabrication of the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a first memory cell transistor. The first memory cell transistor includes a tunnel insulation film provided on a semiconductor substrate, a floating electrode provided on the tunnel insulation film, an inter-gate insulation film provided on the floating electrode, and a control electrode provided on the inter-gate insulation film. The floating electrode includes a first floating electrode provided on the tunnel insulation film and a second floating electrode provided on one end portion of the first floating electrode, the floating electrode having an L-shaped cross section in a wiring direction of the control electrode. |
| US07884412B2 |
System and method of forming a split-gate flash memory structure including partial circular sidewalls of the floating gates and control gates
A method for forming a split-gate flash memory structure includes etching a first gate layer to form one or more floating gates and forming an isolation layer over the floating gates. An insulation layer is deposited over the isolation layer and planarized. |
| US07884407B2 |
Semiconductor device, its manufacturing method and electronic apparatus thereof
The present invention proposes a semiconductor device, its manufacturing method and to an electronic apparatus thereof equipped with the semiconductor device where it becomes possible to make a CMOS type solid-state imaging device, an imager area formed with a MOS transistor of an LDD structure without having a metal silicide layer of a refractory metal, an area of DRAM cells and the like into a single semiconductor chip. According to the present invention, a semiconductor device is constituted such that an insulating film having a plurality of layers is used, sidewalls at the gate electrodes are formed by etching back the insulating film of the plurality of layers or a single layer film in the region where metal silicide layers are formed and in the region where the metal silicide layers are not formed, sidewalls composed of an upper layer insulating film is formed on a lower layer insulating film whose surface is coated or the insulating film of the plurality of layers remain unchanged. |
| US07884401B2 |
CMOS image sensor and manufacturing method thereof
The embodiment relates to a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor and more particularly, to a CMOS image sensor and a manufacturing method thereof capable of improving electron storing capacity in a floating diffusion area. The CMOS image sensor includes a first gate electrode on a semiconductor substrate; a photodiode in the semiconductor substrate on one side of the first gate electrode; a floating diffusion area in the semiconductor substrate on an opposite side of the first gate electrode; a capacitor including a lower capacitor electrode connected to the floating diffusion area, a dielectric layer on the lower capacitor electrode, and an upper capacitor electrode; a drive capacitor coupled to the lower capacitor electrode and having a second gate electrode connected to the floating diffusion area. The electron storing capacity of the floating diffusion node is increased, making it possible to improve the dynamic range of the image sensor. |
| US07884400B2 |
Image device and method of fabricating the same
An image device and a method of fabricating the image device include a substrate pattern formed to define an opening and to include a portion of a photodiode for receiving light. Stacked metal interconnection patterns and an interlayer dielectric layer are formed beneath the substrate pattern. A height of the opening equals a height of the substrate pattern, such that an exposed portion of a top surface of the interlayer dielectric layer provides a bottom surface of the opening. An external connection electrode is positioned on the bottom surface of the opening. |
| US07884398B2 |
Floating gate field effect transistors for chemical and/or biological sensing
Specific ionic interactions with a sensing material that is electrically coupled with the floating gate of a floating gate-based ion sensitive field effect transistor (FGISFET) may be used to sense a target material. For example, an FGISFET can use (e.g., previously demonstrated) ionic interaction-based sensing techniques with the floating gate of floating gate field effect transistors. The floating gate can serves as a probe and an interface to convert chemical and/or biological signals to electrical signals, which can be measured by monitoring the change in the device's threshold voltage, VT. |
| US07884396B2 |
Method and structure for self-aligned device contacts
Disclosed are embodiments of a semiconductor structure with a partially self-aligned contact in lower portion of the contact is enlarged to reduce resistance without impacting device yield. Additionally, the structure optionally incorporates a thick middle-of-the-line (MOL) nitride stress film to enhance carrier mobility. Embodiments of the method of forming the structure comprise forming a sacrificial section in the intended location of the contact. This section is patterned so that it is self-aligned to the gate electrodes and only occupies space that is intended for the future contact. Dielectric layer(s) (e.g., an optional stress layer followed by an interlayer dielectric) may be deposited once the sacrificial section is in place. Conventional contact lithography is used to etch a contact hole through the dielectric layer(s) to the sacrificial section. The sacrificial section is then selectively removed to form a cavity and the contact is formed in the cavity and contact hole. |
| US07884395B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus
A semiconductor apparatus includes, a first silicon layer of a first conductivity type; a second silicon layer provided on the first silicon layer and having a higher resistance than the first silicon layer, a third silicon layer of a second conductivity type provided on the second silicon layer, a first nitride semiconductor layer provided on the third silicon layer, a second nitride semiconductor layer provided on the first nitride semiconductor layer and having a larger bandgap than the first nitride semiconductor layer, a first main electrode being in contact with a surface of the second nitride semiconductor layer and connected to the third silicon layer, a second main electrode being in contact with the surface of the second nitride semiconductor layer and connected to the first silicon layer, and a control electrode provided between the first main electrode and the second main electrode on the second nitride semiconductor layer. |
| US07884393B2 |
High electron mobility transistor, field-effect transistor, and epitaxial substrate
Affords high electron mobility transistors having a high-purity channel layer and a high-resistance buffer layer. A high electron mobility transistor (11) is provided with a supporting substrate (13) composed of gallium nitride, a buffer layer (15) composed of a first gallium nitride semiconductor, a channel layer (17) composed of a second gallium nitride semiconductor, a semiconductor layer (19) composed of a third gallium nitride semiconductor, and electrode structures (a gate electrode (21), a source electrode (23) and a drain electrode (25) for the transistor (11). The band gap of the third gallium nitride semiconductor is broader than that of the second gallium nitride semiconductor. The carbon concentration NC1 of the first gallium nitride semiconductor is 4×1017 cm−3 or more. The carbon concentration NC2 of the second gallium nitride semiconductor is less than 4×1016 cm−3. |
| US07884391B2 |
Image sensor and method for manufacturing the same
Embodiments relate to an image sensor. According to embodiments, an image sensor may include a metal interconnection, readout circuitry, a first substrate, a metal layer, and an image sensing device. The metal interconnection and the readout circuitry may be formed on and/or over the first substrate. The image sensing device may include a first conduction type conduction layer and a second conduction type conduction layer and may be electrically connected to the metal layer. According to embodiments, an electric field may not be generated on and/or over an Si surface. This may contribute to a reduction in a dark current of a 3D integrated CMOS image sensor. |
| US07884390B2 |
Structure and method of forming a topside contact to a backside terminal of a semiconductor device
A vertically conducting semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a topside surface and a backside surface. The semiconductor substrate serves as a terminal of the vertically conducting device for biasing the vertically conducting device during operation. An epitaxial layer extends over the topside surface of the semiconductor substrate but terminates prior to reaching an edge of the semiconductor substrate so as to form a recessed region along a periphery of the semiconductor substrate. An interconnect layer extends into the recessed region but terminates prior to reaching an edge of the semiconductor substrate. The interconnect layer electrically contacts the topside surface of the semiconductor substrate in the recessed region to thereby provide a topside contact to the semiconductor substrate. |
| US07884387B2 |
Epitaxial wafer for semiconductor light emitting diode and semiconductor light emitting diode using same
An epitaxial wafer for a semiconductor light emitting device according to the present invention in which at least an n-type cladding layer formed with a mixed crystal made of an AlGaInP material, an active layer, a p-type Mg-doped cladding layer, and a p-type contact layer are stacked successively in that order on an n-type GaAs substrate, and the p-type contact layer is formed as at least two layers that are an Mg-doped contact layer and a Zn-doped contact layer stacked thereon when viewed from the n-type GaAs substrate, comprises a Zn-doped layer which is inserted between the p-type Mg-doped cladding layer and the p-type contact layer. |
| US07884383B2 |
Radiation emitting semiconductor chip
A radiation-emitting semiconductor chip (1) comprising a thin-film semiconductor body (2) which has a semiconductor layer sequence with an active region (4) suitable for generating radiation, and a reflector layer (5) arranged on the thin-film semiconductor body. The semiconductor chip has a Bragg reflector in addition to the reflector layer, and the Bragg reflector (6) and the reflector layer are arranged on the same side of the active region. |
| US07884381B2 |
Light emitting device and method for fabricating the same including a back surface electrode with an Au alloy
A light emitting device includes a semiconductor multilayer structure having a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type, and an active layer. A reflecting layer is provided at a side of one surface of the semiconductor multilayer structure and reflects a light emitted from the active layer. A supporting substrate of Si or Ge is provided at an opposite side of the reflecting layer with respect to the side of the semiconductor multilayer structure and supports the semiconductor multilayer structure via a metal bonding layer. A back surface electrode is provided at an opposite side of the supporting substrate with respect to a side of the metal bonding layer and includes Au alloyed with the support substrate. A hardness of the back surface electrode is higher than a hardness of the Au. |
| US07884379B2 |
Nitride semiconductor light emitting device
A nitride semiconductor light emitting device is provided with a substrate, an n-type nitride semiconductor layer, a p-type nitride semiconductor layer, an n-side pad electrode, a translucent electrode and a p-side pad electrode, wherein the translucent electrode is formed from an electrically conductive oxide, the n-side pad electrode adjoins the periphery of the translucent electrode and the p-side pad electrode is disposed so as to satisfy the following relationships: 0.3L≦X≦0.5L and 0.2L≦Y≦0.5L where X is the distance between ends of the p-side pad electrode and the n-side pad electrode, Y is the distance between the end of the p-side pad electrode and the periphery of the translucent electrode, L is the length of the translucent electrode on the line connecting the centroids of the p-side pad electrode and the n-side pad electrode minus the outer diameter d of the p-side pad electrode. |
| US07884375B2 |
Solar cell, uneven surface on an insulation layer as a screen mesh pattern, and manufacturing method thereof
A solar cell and a manufacturing method thereof. A method of manufacturing a solar cell includes: forming an emitter layer on a first surface of a semiconductor substrate; forming an insulation layer on the emitter layer; applying a chemical compound including a dopant having a conductive type of the emitter layer on the insulation layer according to a pattern; forming a high concentration emitter portion by removing a portion of the insulation layer corresponding to a positioning of the chemical compound and diffusing the dopant toward the emitting layer; removing the chemical compound; and forming a first electrode electrically connected to the high concentration emitter portion. |
| US07884374B2 |
LED backlight device and LCD device
An LED backlight device includes a substrate having an optical transparency and an LED thin-film layered structure fixed to a first surface of the substrate. The LED thin-film layered structure is formed of epitaxially grown inorganic material layers as a P-N junction device. An anode electrode and a cathode electrode are formed on the LED thin-film layered structure. An anode driver IC and a cathode driver IC are provided for driving the LED thin-film layered structure. A wiring structure electrically connects the anode driver IC and the anode electrode of the LED thin-film layered structure and electrically connects the cathode driver IC and the cathode electrode of the LED thin-film layered structure. A phosphor is formed on the second surface of the substrate opposite to the first surface. |
| US07884373B2 |
Gallium nitride layer with diamond layers
In one aspect, a method includes fabricating a gallium nitride (GaN) layer with a first diamond layer having a first thermal conductivity and a second diamond layer having a second thermal conductivity greater than the first thermal conductivity. The fabricating includes using a microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process to deposit the second diamond layer onto the first diamond layer. |
| US07884369B2 |
Wiring and method of manufacturing the same, and wiring board and method of manufacturing the same
The wiring of the present invention has a layered structure that includes a first conductive layer (first layer) having a first width and made of one or a plurality of kinds of elements selected from W and Mo, or an alloy or compound mainly containing the element, a low-resistant second conductive layer (second layer) having a second width smaller than the first width, and made of an alloy or a compound mainly containing Al, and a third conductive layer (third layer) having a third width smaller than the second width, and made of an alloy or compound mainly containing Ti. With this constitution, the present invention is fully ready for enlargement of a pixel portion. At least edges of the second conductive layer have a taper-shaped cross-section. Because of this shape, satisfactory coverage can be obtained. |
| US07884363B2 |
Electronic-ink display apparatus and the manufacturing method thereof
An electronic-ink display apparatus is provided. The electronic-ink display apparatus includes a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate, an electronic-ink layer, a common electrode, a second substrate and an edge sealant. The TFT array substrate includes a first substrate and a dielectric layer located above the first substrate. The electronic-ink layer, common electrode and second substrate are located above TFT array substrate in sequence. The edge sealant surrounds the electronic-ink layer and at least one part of the edge sealant is not overlaid above the dielectric layer. |
| US07884360B2 |
Thin-film device and method of fabricating the same
A thin-film device includes a first electrical insulator, an oxide-semiconductor film formed on the first electrical insulator, and a second electrical insulator formed on the oxide-semiconductor film, the oxide-semiconductor film defining an active layer. The oxide-semiconductor film is comprised of a first interface layer located at an interface with the first electrical insulating insulator, a second interface layer located at an interface with the second electrical insulator, and a bulk layer other than the first and second interface layers. A density of oxygen holes in at least one of the first and second interlayer layers is smaller than a density of oxygen holes in the bulk layer. |
| US07884359B2 |
Integrally gated carbon nanotube ionizer device
Described herein is a field ionization and electron impact ionization device consisting of carbon nanotubes with microfabricated integral gates that is capable of producing short pulses of ions. |
| US07884358B2 |
Aromatic enediyne derivative, organic semiconductor thin film, electronic device and methods of manufacturing the same
Disclosed are a novel aromatic enediyne derivative, an organic semiconductor thin film using the same, and an electronic device. Example embodiments pertain to an aromatic enediyne derivative which enables the formation of a chemically and electrically stable and reliable semiconductor thin film using a solution process, e.g., spin coating and/or spin casting, at about room temperature when applied to devices, an organic semiconductor thin film using the same, and an electronic device including the organic semiconductor thin film. A thin film having a relatively large area may be formed through a solution process, therefore simplifying the manufacturing process and decreasing the manufacturing cost. Moreover, it is possible to provide an organic semiconductor that may be effectively applied to various fields including organic thin film transistors, electroluminescent devices, solar cells, and memory. |
| US07884356B2 |
Method of patterning nano conductive film
A donor substrate for forming a nano conductive film includes a base substrate and a transferring layer that is disposed on the base substrate. The transferring layer includes nano conductive particles and an organic semiconductor. A method of patterning a nano conductive film is provided, wherein a donor substrate in which nano conductive particles are dispersed by employing an organic semiconductor having low molecular weight as a binder is prepared, and nano conductive particles are patterned on a receptor substrate by employing the donor substrate. The method can be used to prepare patterns of various devices including a display device such as an OLED and an OTFT. Such a device can be prepared simply and economically by preparing a device comprising nano conductive particles and an organic semiconductor in wet basis even without deposition. |
| US07884353B2 |
Semiconductor structures employing strained material layers with defined impurity gradients and methods for fabricating same
Semiconductor structures and devices including strained material layers having impurity-free zones, and methods for fabricating same. Certain regions of the strained material layers are kept free of impurities that can interdiffuse from adjacent portions of the semiconductor. When impurities are present in certain regions of the strained material layers, there is degradation in device performance. By employing semiconductor structures and devices (e.g., field effect transistors or “FETs”) that have the features described, or are fabricated in accordance with the steps described, device operation is enhanced. |
| US07884351B2 |
Nitride semiconductor light-emitting device
In a nitride semiconductor light-emitting device (11), an emission region (17) has a quantum well structure (19), and lies between an n-type gallium nitride semiconductor region (13) and a p-type gallium nitride semiconductor region (15). The quantum well structure (19) includes a plurality of first well layers (21) composed of InxGa1-xN, one or a plurality of second well layers (23) composed of InyGa1-yN, and barrier layers (25). The first and second well layers (21) and (23) are arranged in alternation with the barrier layers (25). The second well layers (23) lie between the first well layers (21) and the p-type gallium nitride semiconductor region (15). The indium component y of the second well layers (23) is smaller than indium component x of the first well layers (21), and the thickness DW2 of the second well layers (23) is greater than the thickness DW1 of the first well layers (21). |
| US07884343B2 |
Phase change memory cell with filled sidewall memory element and method for fabricating the same
Memory cells are described along with methods for manufacturing. A memory cell described herein includes a bottom electrode, a top electrode overlying the bottom electrode, a via having a sidewall extending from a bottom electrode to a top electrode, and a memory element electrically coupling the bottom electrode to the top electrode. The memory element has an outer surface contacting a dielectric sidewall spacer that is on the sidewall of the via, and comprises a stem portion on the bottom electrode and a cup portion on the stem portion. A fill material is within an interior defined by an inner surface of the cup portion of the memory element. |
| US07884339B2 |
Color indicator dosimeter for measurement of ionizing radiation
The present invention provides a color indicator dosimeter system to detect and quantify a dosage of ionizing radiation in a wide range wherein said system comprises phenolic glycoside as one of the components. The present invention also relates to a method for using dosimeter system as described hereinabove for detecting and quantifying a dosage of ionizing radiation in a wide range. |
| US07884334B2 |
Charged particle beam imaging method and system thereof
The method includes scanning a sample in at least one first scan line using a first charged particle beam probe; scanning the sample in at least one second scan line using a second charged particle beam probe, and scanning the sample in at least one third scan line using the first charged particle beam probe. The first or second charged particle beam probe is defocused by a control module of the imaging system through adjusting a condenser lens module, an objective lens module, a sample stage of the imaging system, or their combination. An image of the sample is selectively formed from the first, second and third scan lines. The first and the second charged particle beams induce a first charging condition and a second charging condition on the sample surface respectively. The second charging condition can enhance, mitigate, eliminate, reverse or have no effect on the first charging condition. |
| US07884333B2 |
Particle beam and crabbing and deflecting structure
A new type of structure for the deflection and crabbing of particle bunches in particle accelerators comprising a number of parallel transverse electromagnetic (TEM)-resonant) lines operating in opposite phase from each other. Such a structure is significantly more compact than conventional crabbing cavities operating the transverse magnetic TM mode, thus allowing low frequency designs. |
| US07884332B1 |
Radiation detector
An ionization detector having a grid of electrodes disposed perpendicular to an oscillating voltage. Charge released from an ionization event oscillates in the detector medium at the same frequency as the applied oscillating voltage. The electrode grid is configured to measure induced oscillating charge from the oscillating ionization charge in the detector. The detector signal is obtained from readout of the induced oscillating charge on the electrodes. Signal processing electronics processes the measured signal from the oscillating induced charge to derive energy and position information of the ionization event. A bias voltage is applied across the detector to further sweep the ionization charge from the active detection volume. |
| US07884324B2 |
Nanopillar arrays for electron emission
The present invention provides systems, devices, device components and structures for modulating the intensity and/or energies of electrons, including a beam of incident electrons. In some embodiments, for example, the present invention provides nano-structured semiconductor membrane structures capable of generating secondary electron emission. Nano-structured semiconductor membranes of this aspect of the present invention include membranes having an array of nanopillar structures capable of providing electron emission for amplification, filtering and/or detection of incident radiation, for example secondary electron emission and/or field emission. Nano-structured semiconductor membranes of the present invention are useful as converters wherein interaction of incident primary electrons and nanopillars of the nanopillar array generates secondary emission. Nano-structured semiconductor membranes of this aspect of the present invention are also useful as directed charge amplifiers wherein secondary emission from a nanopillar array provides gain functionality for increasing the intensity of radiation comprising incident electrons. |
| US07884322B2 |
Scanning electron microscope and a method for pattern composite inspection using the same
A scanning electron microscope capable of performing alone the critical dimension measurement and the defect inspection is provided. The scanning electron microscope has a reference image storage unit for storing a reference image transcribing a reference pattern, an inspected image pick-up unit for picking up, on the basis of the reference image, an inspected image transcribing an inspection pattern which pattern-matches with the reference pattern, a critical dimension measuring unit for measuring critical dimensions of the inspection pattern by using the inspected image, and a defect inspection unit for performing an inspection of a defect inside or outside the inspection pattern by comparing the reference image with the inspected image. |
| US07884321B2 |
Method and system for non-destructive distribution profiling of an element in a film
A method to determine a distribution profile of an element in a film. The method comprises exciting an electron energy of an element deposited in a first film, obtaining a first spectrum associating with the electron energy, and removing a background spectrum from the first spectrum. Removing the background value generates a processed spectrum. The method further includes matching the processed spectrum to a simulated spectrum with a known simulated distribution profile for the element in a film comparable to the first film. A distribution profile is obtained for the element in the first film based on the matching of the processed spectrum to a simulated spectrum selected from the set of simulated spectra. |
| US07884320B2 |
Ion mobility spectrometer with substance collector
A method for operating an ion mobility spectrometer that comprises a measuring tube, a substance collector and a membrane inlet, the measuring tube, the substance collector and the membrane inlet defining a closed internal gas circuit, comprising separating the closed internal gas circuit from an external sample gas flow through the membrane inlet, transferring circulating gas containing an analyte substance from the membrane inlet to the substance collector, the analyte substance accumulated in the substance collector, releasing the accumulated analyte substances, and transferring the released analyte substances to the measuring tube. |
| US07884319B2 |
Data acquisition system for a spectrometer
A data acquisition system and method are described that may be used with various spectrometers. The data acquisition system may include an ion detector, an initial/transient processing module, and a spectra processing module. The initial/transient processing module is provided for processing the ion detection signals and for supplying processed signals to the spectra processing module. The transient processing module may contiguously sample the ion detection signals at a rate of at least 1.5 GHz. The spectra processing module may generate spectra from the transients at a rate of at least 50 spectra per second. The initial processing module may be configured to have a sensitivity that is sufficient to detect a single ion received within one of over at least 100 transients and to detect and quantify a number of ions simultaneously striking said ion detector up to at least 10 simultaneously striking ions. |
| US07884314B2 |
Light guide mechanism for guiding a light to an illuminance sensor
A light guide mechanism for an illuminance sensor includes: a lighting window configured to pass through an external light; the illuminance sensor configured to detect an illuminance of the light passed through the lighting window; and a light-blocking part provided between the lighting window and the illuminance sensor and configured to block a light other than the light passed through the lighting window. The light-blocking part has an inner surface inclined with respect to a line perpendicular to a light-receiving surface of the illuminance sensor. A direction of inclination of the inner surface is such that the inner surface faces the light-receiving surface of the illuminance sensor. |
| US07884313B2 |
Sensor arrangement for detecting a liquid on a surface of an intrusion detector
A sensor arrangement includes at least one transparent elevation, which is formed on the surface. The transparent elevation is made of a first transparent material. At least one first facet of the transparent elevation defines a first angle with the surface. This first angle is larger than an angle at which a total-reflection occurs at an interface of the first transparent material and air and is at the same time smaller than an angle at which a total reflection occurs at an interface of the first transparent material and the liquid. A light source is arranged for emitting an incident ray into a first direction passing through the surface into the transparent elevation such that in a presence of a liquid at the first facet, an incident ray is transmitted through the first facet. In an absence of a liquid, the incident ray is reflected due to a total reflection at the facets. A light detector is provided for detecting the reflected ray. |
| US07884312B2 |
Sensor device usable as a switch
A sensor device includes a base wall, a plurality of sidewalls cooperating with the base wall to define a receiving space that has an open end, an emitter disposed in the receiving space and having an emitter element to emit a light signal, a receiver disposed in the receiving space and having a receiver element to receive the light signal, a cover body disposed in the receiving space between the emitter and the receiver, a ball chamber formed between inner surfaces of the base wall and the cover body, a ball member disposed movably in the ball chamber, an emitter light passage optically communicating with the ball chamber and the emitter, and a receiver light passage optically communicating with the ball chamber and the receiver. The cover body, the emitter, and the receiver cooperatively close the open end of the receiving space. |
| US07884311B2 |
Imaging devices having a layer of pixel component material with discrete constructs for operating electrical pixel components and methods of forming the same
Methods and structures to reduce the occurrence of crosstalk and pixel noise in solid state imager arrays. In an exemplary embodiment, a section of a layer patterned to form polysilicon buried-contacts in the pixel structure is also patterned to be disposed over the active, photosensor portion of the pixel. The section of the buried-contact layer covering the photosensor portion of the pixel serves to filter the light striking the buried-contact layer before the light strikes the photosensor. The polysilicon light filter reduces the amount of stray light entering from the adjacent pixels without adding significant processing complexity. |
| US07884309B2 |
Digital camera with multiple pipeline signal processors
There are many, many inventions described herein. In one aspect, what is disclosed is a digital camera including a plurality of arrays of photo detectors, including a first array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a first wavelength and a second array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a second wavelength. The digital camera further may also include a first lens disposed in an optical path of the first array of photo detectors, wherein the first lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the first wavelength, and a second lens disposed in with an optical path of the second array of photo detectors wherein the second lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the second wavelength. In addition, the digital camera may include signal processing circuitry, coupled to the first and second arrays of photo detectors, to generate a composite image using (i) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photo detectors, and (ii) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photo detectors; wherein the first array of photo detectors, the second array of photo detectors, and the signal processing circuitry are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate. |
| US07884308B1 |
Solar-powered sun tracker
A power solar panel is maintained in an optimum position relative to the sun during daylight as the sun traverses a solar track elevated above the horizon and extending from a sunrise location to a sunset location during each day of consecutive days of the year by utilizing solar energy to power a sun tracker which carries the power solar panel. The sun tracker includes pairs of solar modules wherein the solar modules are arrayed in an A-shaped cross-sectional configuration for being aimed directly at the sun in response to exposure to the sun, and the pairs of solar modules power motors which tilt the solar panel about a horizontal direction and rotate the power solar panel about a vertical direction to maintain optimum alignment with the sun during the course of a day. Two of the pairs of solar modules are connected alternately to a motor that rotates the solar panel about the vertical direction and are mounted spaced apart in transverse directions, diametrically opposite one another with respect to the vertical direction, and for tilting about lateral directions to aim each of the two pairs toward the solar track such that a first one of the two pairs powers the motor during one day of consecutive days, and the second one of the two pairs powers the motor during a next-consecutive day, thereby compensating for daily changes in the solar track and providing power for effective operation during consecutive days throughout the year. |
| US07884307B2 |
Electric heating textile
An electric heating textile is provided. The electric heating textile includes an electric heating layer, plural heat-insulating layers and a protective layer. The electric heating layer includes at least one conductive yarn capable of generating heat and plural aromatic polyamide fibers. The heat-insulating layers are under the electric heating layer. The protective layer is on the electric heating layer. A method for manufacturing the electric heating textile is also disclosed in the specification. |
| US07884304B2 |
Apparatus and method for storing welding consumables
Exemplary embodiments of the present technique relate to a welding storage structure. In one embodiment, a welding system includes a welding chassis and a storage structure that rotates outwardly from the welding chassis. In another embodiment, a welding system includes a welding storage unit having a storage base with a plurality of storage compartments, a cover removably disposed over the plurality of the storage compartments, and a rotatable chassis mount configured to couple the welding storage unit rotatably to a welding chassis. |
| US07884299B2 |
Switch with capacitive sensing element
A switch adapted to make and/or break a connection in an electric circuit to operate a device has a front to face the user and a rear to face away from the user, a housing, and switch mechanism. The switch mechanism includes in operative connection, a lens facing the front, an information element, a control element, a lighting element, a capacitive sensing element and a power element to operate the lighting element and sensing element. The switch includes a communication element to provide electrical connection to the device and is activated by the control element when a change in capacitance is sensed by the capacitive sensing element such that the information element and lighting element can be viewed through the lens and the device is operated. |
| US07884297B2 |
Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus simplifies the structure of and facilitates the manufacture of the electronic apparatus having a seesaw-type operation button which is tiltable in a plurality of directions. The electronic apparatus has: an operation button; an operation panel provided with a holding portion for holding the operation button; and a plurality of switches to be pushed down by the operation button. The operation button comprises: a plurality of operating portions; a plurality of pressing portions respectively provided on the plurality of operating portions toward the plurality of switches; and a flat-shaped flexible board portion protruded between the plurality of pressing portions. The board portion is held by the holding portion. |
| US07884295B2 |
Push button switch cover member
A silicone rubber composition having such selective adhesiveness that shows high adhesion to an organic material than to a molding die is bonded to a sheet of the organic material and is vulcanized and cured in the mold. Thus, an elastomer keypad of double-layer structure is produced in which an organic material layer, which can be easily subjected to coating, bonding with an adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive, or the like, has been united and bonded as a surface layer to the rubber. Keytops are bonded to the elastomer keypad to produce a covering member for push-button switches. A polyurethane elastomer sheet is preferably used as the organic material. |
| US07884288B2 |
Screened housing with press-fit pins and method for production thereof
A screened housing (1) with press-fit pins (2) for electrical contacting on an electrical support component, in particular for automobile application, is composed of two housing sections (14,15) each including a housing base (3) each with two housing edges (4) with press-fit pins (2). Above all a screened housing is achieved by the invention with press-fit pins around all four circumferential sides which can be produced simply and economically in a follow-on composite tool. Such screened housings are particularly suitable for automobile applications for screening electrical components from incoming or emitting electromagnetic radiation. |
| US07884281B2 |
Photoelectric transfer material, manufacturing method thereof, photoelectric transfer element and manufacturing method thereof
A photoelectric transfer material, manufacturing method thereof, photoelectric transfer element and manufacturing method thereof are provided. In an organic photoelectric transfer element of an organic solar cell or other like device, the photoelectric transfer material is composed of a conductive polymer such as MEH-PPV, electronic acceptor such as a fullerene derivative and antenna porphyrin aggregate. The photoelectric transfer material can be made by coating a mixed solution of the conductive polymer, electron acceptor and antenna porphyrin aggregate by spin coating, for example. This photoelectric transfer material and a photoelectric transfer element using the material exhibit high photoelectric transfer efficiency because of small electric resistance and high sunlight usage efficiency, and simultaneously exhibit stability. |
| US07884278B2 |
Apparatuses and methods to reduce safety risks associated with photovoltaic systems
Apparatuses and methods to reduce safety risks associated with photovoltaic systems by providing a safety switch on a photovoltaic panel. In one embodiment, a photovoltaic panel includes: at least one photovoltaic cell; a connector to output energy from the photovoltaic panel; and a switch coupled between the at least one photovoltaic cell and the connector. The switch is configured to disconnect the at least one photovoltaic cell from the connector during installation of the photovoltaic panel, and to connect the at least one photovoltaic cell with the connector after installation of the photovoltaic panel. |
| US07884276B2 |
Music transcription
Methods, systems, and devices are described for automatically converting audio input signal data into musical score representation data. Embodiments of the invention identify a change in frequency information from the audio signal that exceeds a first threshold value; identify a change in amplitude information from the audio signal that exceeds a second threshold value; and generate a note onset event, each note onset event representing a time location in the audio signal of at least one of an identified change in the frequency information that exceeds the first threshold value or an identified change in the amplitude information that exceeds the second threshold value. The generation of note onset events and other information from the audio input signal may be used to extract note pitch, note value, tempo, meter, key, instrumentation, and other score representation information. |
| US07884273B2 |
Method and use of warm-up instructional video for wind instrument
An instructional system and method for students of wind instrument that include audio/video depictions for viewing by users of the system and method an instructor performing steps on a wind instrument, an animated breathing bar presented at least during a time period over which a user is to attempt to replicate the steps demonstrated by the instructor, such breathing bar to visually command a user to alternatively inhale or exhale (while producing tones on his or her wind instrument), and visual indicia instructing in textual form the step or steps to be carried out by a user. A system can include one or many steps being demonstrated and prompted for recreation by a user, as well as additional presentations, such as metronomes, interactive tuners, and the like. |
| US07884261B2 |
Nucleotide sequences and corresponding polypeptides conferring modulated plant growth rate and biomass in plants
The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules and their corresponding encoded polypeptides able confer the trait of modulated plant size, vegetative growth, organ number, plant architecture, growth rate, seedling vigor, growth rate, fruit and seed yield, tillering and/or biomass in plants. The present invention further relates to the use of these nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides in making transgenic plants, plant cells, plant materials or seeds of a plant having plant size, vegetative growth, organ number, plant architecture, growth rate, seedling vigor and/or biomass that are altered with respect to wild type plants grown under similar conditions. |
| US07884260B2 |
Cell-based screen for agents useful for reducing neuronal demyelination or promoting neuronal remyelination
This invention is in the field of neurology. Specifically, the invention relates to the discovery and characterization of molecular components that play a role in neuronal demyelination or remyelination. In addition, the invention relates to the generation of an animal model that exhibits hypomyelination. The compositions and methods embodied in the present invention are particularly useful for drug screening and/or treatment of demyelination disorders. |
| US07884259B2 |
Absorbent article
An absorbent article including a fiber aggregate formed by opening the tow, a super absorbent polymer particle, and a sheet covering these components. The super absorbent polymer particle are bonded to the sheet with an adhesive that is applied in a continuous plane to the entire surface or the substantially entire surface at least at the portion to be provided with the super absorbent polymer particle in this sheet. |
| US07884254B2 |
Dehydrochlorination of hydrochlorofluorocarbons using pre-treated activated carbon catalysts
The present disclosure provides methods for pre-treating activated carbon before it is used in a dehydrochlorination process. The methods can comprise mixing the activated carbon with an acid, an oxidizing agent in a liquid phase, or an oxidizing agent in a gas phase. Activated carbons undergoing one or more of these methods can exhibit improved stability during the dehydrochlorination process. |
| US07884253B2 |
Methods and apparatus for selectively producing ethanol from synthesis gas
The invention provides methods and apparatus for selectively producing ethanol from syngas. As disclosed herein, syngas derived from cellulosic biomass (or other sources) can be catalytically converted into methanol, which in turn can be catalytically converted into acetic acid or acetates. Finally, the acetic acid or acetates can be reduced to ethanol according to several variations. In some embodiments, yields of ethanol from biomass can exceed 100 gallons per dry ton of biomass. |
| US07884251B2 |
Industrial process for separating out by-produced alcohols
It is an object of the present invention to provide a specific industrial separation process that enables an alcohol to be separated out efficiently and stably for a prolonged period of time from a large amount of a low boiling point reaction mixture containing a by-produced alcohol when mass-producing aromatic carbonates on an industrial scale by subjecting a dialkyl carbonate and an aromatic monohydroxy compound to transesterification reaction in a reactive distillation column in which a catalyst is present. Although there have been various proposals regarding processes for the production of aromatic carbonates by means of a reactive distillation method, these have all been on a small scale and short operating time laboratory level, and there have been no disclosures whatsoever on a specific process or apparatus enabling mass production on an industrial scale to be carried out stably for a prolonged period of time. Moreover, there have been no disclosures on a specific process or apparatus enabling the alcohol by-produced when producing aromatic carbonates the an industrial scale using a reactive distillation system to be separated out efficiently and stably for a prolonged period of time on an industrial scale of not less than 200 kg/hr. According to the present invention, there is proposed a specific process using a continuous multi-stage distillation column having a specified structure enabling the above object to be attained. |
| US07884249B2 |
Bicyclo compound, method for producing pentacene and a film thereof using the same, and method for producing bicyclo compound
A method for producing highly purified fused aromatic ring compounds with high yield by a simpler method. A method for producing a fused aromatic ring compound comprising irradiating the bicyclo compound containing at least one bicyclo ring represented by formula (1) in a molecule with light to detach a leaving group X from a residual part to form an aromatic ring: wherein R1 and R3 each denotes a group to form an aromatic ring or a heteroaromatic ring which may be substituted, together with a group to which each thereof is bonded; R2 and R4 each denotes a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an ester group or a phenyl group; and X is a leaving group, which denotes a carbonyl group or —N═. |